Chapter 231: The Villain Hu Magistrate
Ding Xiaodie even noticed a few male victims who looked relatively strong, looking greedily at their wheelbarrows.
In this era, wheelbarrows were not something that every household had. But at this moment, if anyone had one, it would be very useful. It could be used to carry people, pull things, or exchange it for food with others. All of these are possible.
So now the unicycle in the team has become the most eye-catching thing.
"Dad, go and inform Guardian Geng." Ding Xiaodie was secretly sweating. Although the victims looked skinny, if someone suddenly rushed up, the situation would be like a firefight, and hundreds or even thousands of victims would rush up.
Steal the wheelbarrows, the gourd bottles and cloth bags hanging around their waists, and tear them into pieces. In short, no one should think about talking nonsense about human nature at this time.
When you still have some humanity, it's because you haven't been extremely hungry.
Therefore, we must restrain the other party before these people who are ready to make a move take action.
How to solve it?
Ding Xiaodie whispered, "Tell Guard Geng to have the Lu family's guards and all the men in our village show their weapons."
Ding Gui understood immediately, and hurriedly bent over and walked forward to pass on the news to everyone.
Afterwards, the men from Aozigou, the Lu family's guards, and even the women who looked more sturdy, quietly clenched their kitchen knives in their hands.
Seeing this group of newly arrived disaster victims with weapons in their hands, and some of them even showing real swords, the men who had already left their butts and were about to pounce on them slowly sat back down.
But the greedy glint in their eyes did not disappear.
These people are waiting for the opportunity. If they don't enter the city, something will happen sooner or later.
At this time, Mr. Lu, who took his two sons to the city to negotiate with the county magistrate, also knew that the situation outside was not optimistic.
It turns out that the magistrate had some friendship with Mr. Lu. In the early years when the country was not in such a turbulent situation, Mr. Lu had a lot of assets in Wo County. Even today, in this county town that is a transportation link for all directions, Mr. Lu also has many street-facing shops.
As the saying goes, one should worship the gods of the land where he lives, so Magistrate Hu had benefited a lot from the Lu family in the past.
Seeing the exhausted Lu father and son, Magistrate Hu quickly ordered tea and began to speak: "I know a thing or two about the situation in the north. Master Lu, the two young masters, you have suffered so much. Come, come, sit down and rest for a while."
Mr. Lu didn't sit down. He clasped his fists and said, "Master Hu, when we came here just now, we saw that the disaster victims were all outside the city. Why didn't you let them in? I see that there aren't many people in the city. It's a little less desolate than before."
Many shops on the street are closed, and there are very few people going out. Some people go out to make a living by selling small things, but there are not even a single customer.
This is completely incomparable to the previous Wo County.
But the city was empty, and Magistrate Hu refused to let the victims enter the city.
Magistrate Hu frowned and shook his head. "Alas, Master Lu, you don't know. After such a long drought, there's no food left in the city for the victims. If we let them in, it will be a disaster. If they burn, kill, and loot, the city will be unsustainable!"
Mr. Lu could understand the difficulties faced by Magistrate Hu. Since he could not speak for so many victims, he would just talk about his own team and ask Magistrate Hu to let them enter the city first for the sake of their past friendship.
Unexpectedly, County Magistrate Hu started talking business with him.
"Let me put it this way, Master Lu. Wo County is not only depopulated right now, but also many houses are empty due to the disaster. You have at least a hundred people in your group. For your sake, I will let you into the city and even arrange accommodation for you. But you have to agree to one condition."
"Master Hu, just say there is no defense."
"Once you enter the city, no matter who you are, from now on you will strictly obey the laws of our country, including labor service and military service. Laborers will be required to build bridges and roads, clean streets, work in the county government, and guard warehouses. They will not be paid and must provide their own food, lodging, and clothing. In addition, every household will be required to pay taxes and provide supplies. Tax silver is only one of the items; you must also pay for fire consumption. If you agree to all of this, then I will allow you to enter the city."
“…”
What is this called?
According to County Magistrate Hu, after their team entered the city, they not only had to be honest taxpayers and fulfill their obligation to defend Wo County, but Wo County would also provide them with a city wall and a small house to live in, and they would also have to take care of everything themselves.
This is not an official appointed by the court who cares about the people, but a villain who takes advantage of others' misfortune.
Mr. Lu turned around and glanced at Lu Chenhe who was also having an attack.
The two Lu brothers were so angry that they wanted to go up and beat up the bastard county magistrate. In the past, when the country was peaceful and the people were prosperous, County Magistrate Hu wanted to hold the Lu family in his hands, but now he was using his small official power as a county magistrate to make things difficult for others.
After stopping the two brothers, Master Lu suppressed his anger and said, "County Magistrate Hu, how about this? Since we're staying in Wo County, we'll do our best to serve the government and the military. But can we please hold off on the taxes, silver, and supplies? After all, we're all disaster victims out to get help. Even a single copper coin would have been spent on food. How could we have any money on hand? If we had any, we wouldn't be called disaster victims anymore, would we?"
Lord Hu chuckled and said, "Those poor people don't have any, but you, Master Lu, do! These hundred or so people each have only two taels of silver. You, Master Lu, can pay for them just by opening your mouth."
"Two taels of silver?"
Stealing people! ?
Even when the country was at its peak, the people did not have such heavy taxes. What's more, now that the country is in chaos, people are running away or dying, and no one cares about paying taxes. It is obvious that this guy surnamed Hu wants to make a fortune.
Although this amount of money is not much for the Lu family.
What's hateful is that it fell into the hands of such a villain.
Lu Chenhe and Lu Xingluo had to try hard to suppress their anger, their fingertips quietly clenched into fists.
Mr. Lu, mindful of saving people, could only force a smile and say, "Master Hu is right. Please let them into the city first. After we've counted their number, we'll calculate the tax silver. The Lu family will pay for everything."
"Okay, okay, Mr. Lu is indeed a straightforward person." Lord Hu's eyes instantly turned into slits with a smile, and he immediately asked someone to bring pen and ink and sign his name.
After all the formalities were completed, he said, "But Lord Lu, you have also seen that there are countless victims outside the city. If I let your team in in front of them, they will definitely rebel. Therefore, this is the only way..."
After Lord Hu whispered a few words in his ear, Master Lu nodded and said, "Then do as you say."
…
Just when Ding Xiaodie and her group were on the verge of a fight with the disaster victims, the city gate suddenly opened and a dozen yamen runners ran out and stood on both sides of their team. Then a chief clerk came out.
The chief clerk unfolded a document and read aloud, "You, the disaster victims who came from Yangliu Town in the north, knowing full well that General Min was bravely fighting the enemy, not only refused to help, but even dared to flee to Wo County. You are now being apprehended by Magistrate Hu of Wo County and are being brought into the city to be punished for your crimes. Come, capture them."
(End of this chapter)
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