In a nearby village in Handan County.
"Those of you who planted sweet potatoes, give me half of your harvest!"
Wu Sheng said arrogantly while standing on the stone pillar at the entrance of the village, with four ferocious-looking armored soldiers beside him.
"Sir, isn't it time to collect taxes yet? And haven't taxes been converted to currency?"
Seeing that the visitor had ill intentions, the village chief suppressed his anger and asked respectfully.
"What do you know, old man? This is the new sweet potato tax imposed by the government."
Wu Sheng scratched his ears disdainfully and looked a little impatient.
"Do we still have to pay the original 40% tax?"
The village chief swallowed his anger and asked again.
"Of course we have to pay taxes. All citizens of the Qin Dynasty have to pay taxes."
This sentence hit all the villagers like a blow on the head.
"What? Doesn't that mean we have to pay 90% tax?"
"Ninety percent tax?! So much higher than before!"
"If only 10% of the food is left for us, how can we survive..."
"I said at the beginning that these Qin people gave us such good grain seeds, they must have bad intentions."
The people, who were originally immersed in joy, suddenly became angry when faced with the almost bandit-like taxation.
The village chief, on the other hand, remained calm.
He had a hunch that there was something wrong with this official, as he was not the one collecting taxes in previous years.
"The city's official newspaper clearly stated that only 40% of the tax would be collected. Where did the sweet potato tax come from?"
Being stared at by such a penetrating gaze, Wu Sheng became angry and embarrassed as if his thoughts were exposed.
"My brother-in-law is the county magistrate, don't I know that? This is the imperial decree!"
"Hurry up and hand over the sweet potatoes to me, or I'll put you all in jail."
Wu Sheng's triangular eyes were full of greed.
We can definitely make a lot of money by selling so much grain.
But to his disappointment, the people were not afraid at all, but looked very angry.
If it was just the little things from the past, it would be fine.
Now almost all the sweet potatoes that fill their homes are going to be taken away. Isn’t this like cutting flesh from their hearts?
This is not only food, but also their lives!
Some clever villagers ran back home to get hoes, shovels, flails and other farm tools, and confronted Wu Sheng and others.
In an instant, the atmosphere became tense.
"Okay, okay, you bunch of troublemakers are rebelling against the heavens. Arrest them all."
In the past, because of Wu Sheng's status as the county magistrate's brother-in-law, people always treated him with respect wherever he went.
This scene now aroused his irritable nerves, and regardless of the difference in numbers between the two sides, he drew his knife and chopped at the villagers.
Seeing that the officials were going to put them to death, the villagers' blood was aroused.
At once, both sides began to fight, with blood and flesh flying everywhere and wailing and screaming continuing.
However, the villagers soon won an overwhelming victory with their superior numbers.
Wu Sheng and others were beaten all over their bodies and tied up with hemp ropes.
"Everyone, take your things and come with me to the government office to seek justice. Are you deliberately treating us harshly just because we are originally from Zhao?"
The village chief wiped the blood off his face, his expression firm.
He knew that this matter could not be resolved peacefully. If he did not get to the bottom of it today, the whole village would suffer tomorrow.
"Seek justice!"
"Seek justice!"
“…”
Although the villagers didn't know why they had to go to the government, they just followed the smartest village chief.
A large group of people entered the city holding various farm tools.
When the guards saw so many people coming in such a menacing manner, they thought they were planning a rebellion.
He did not dare to stop them, for fear of being hacked to death, so he could only run to report to the county magistrate.
When the people in the city saw such a spectacular scene, they also started talking about it.
The brave ones pulled the villagers aside to ask questions, and after learning the whole story, they were also indignant about the government's heavy taxes.
Gossip spread very quickly. By the time the village chief and his entourage arrived at the government office, the news had spread throughout the city.
Some of the onlookers who were originally from Zhao began to curse the Qin officials for being unjust and exploiting and oppressing them, the people of Zhao.
Zhao Quan, hidden in the crowd, could no longer conceal the madness on his face.
Yes! This is the effect he wanted.
Let’s make noise! Let’s make noise!
Even if this matter is clarified, it will leave a thorn in the hearts of the people of Zhao.
Ying Zheng, how should you respond?
At the same time, the county magistrate looked at the excited people with a headache. Are they going to rebel?
However, after learning the cause of the incident, he cursed the county magistrate in his heart.
You are so greedy! You have taken more than the imperial taxes.
Who gave you the courage?
Even rabbits bite when cornered! Now you're leaving this mess to me, right?
"My fellow villagers, this is all a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding? Are you saying that you Qin officials came to our village to demand half of the sweet potato tax without explanation?"
The village chief had Wu Sheng and his companions, who had bruised faces and noses, thrown to the ground.
When Wu Sheng saw that his backer had arrived, he immediately cried for his parents.
"My Lord, quickly arrest these unruly people! They beat me like this! They are simply defying the imperial court and acting lawlessly!"
The arrogant and domineering words made the people all look hateful and made the county governor's face even darker.
"Put people in jail."
"The court's tax revenue this year is only 40%, as clearly announced in the court bulletin."
"As for today's incident, it was this petty official who privately advocated for an increase in taxes. This prefect will definitely punish him severely!"
The county magistrate made promises to the villagers with a smile on his face, but he was secretly feeling wronged in his heart.
I thought that my reputation as a diligent and incorruptible person was ruined by that old county magistrate.
It must be him who ordered Wu Sheng to do this.
Are you trying to squeeze me out and get the position?
The county magistrate started to have conspiracy theories and ordered his clerk to call the county magistrate so that he could settle the account.
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