The Blessed Beauty Returns with a Dimension-Chapter 970 - 946: Beating Them to Death

Jiang Xiaoxiao and Li Tieniu, leading more than a hundred people, found the village gate wide open as they approached the entrance.

The city walls showed no signs of attack, meaning the village wasn't breached by outsiders.

They could breathe a little easier.

However, it was evident that the village was on fire, and it seemed like houses were truly burning.

Jiang Xiaoxiao gestured to Li Tieniu, suggesting that they discuss dispersing around the perimeter.

For now, don't act recklessly.

The two of them stealthily entered the village to investigate the situation.

Could it be not bandits?

As they crept into the village, they saw a group of five officers whipping people, while the villagers stood on the threshing floor, simmering with silent anger.

"What are you looking at? Listen up, there's a head tax of two taels of silver per person. Plus, other levies make it three taels per person in total. You have to pay this silver right now. If not, my lord will have you all arrested immediately.

Your village has a total of 580 people, which amounts to 1,900 taels of silver. Quickly hand over the silver, or my lord will have no choice but to arrest people!"

A steward-like person sat on a chair, holding a folding fan in one hand, striking a pose of literary elegance, looking down on the villagers with disdain.

The village elder hurriedly bowed, "Steward Wang, in past years, the head tax was only one and a half taels per person. Why has it doubled this year? How can the villagers come up with so much silver, and there's also the matter of the 400 newcomers to the village this year. They are refugees who just settled here recently.

The government posted a notice saying that newly settled refugees are exempt from taxes."

Naturally, the villagers had calculated, there are only 180 people in the village.

If charged one and a half taels of silver per person, they calculated it would be 270 taels of silver, which was the exact amount set aside for taxes, excluding the silver needed to buy salt.

Who knew that not only had the head tax doubled this year, but they also included the 400 refugees in the taxable population, raising the village's tax burden several fold, leaving the villagers unable to produce such a sum.

Steward Wang glanced coldly at the elder, "You old thing, new rules from the government say the tax this year is three taels per person. And these 400 people aren't refugees just because you say they are.

The officials above said that although they are refugees, they have been working in your village for over a month. Since you can afford to feed them, naturally you can pay the tax silver, so don't blame my lord for meddling.

I heard that your village is prospering and even built such a sturdy wall, how come there's no silver for taxes? If you don't pay the silver, don't blame my lord for being rude; I'll have you try out the government's prison to see if your bones are tougher than our punishments."

Jiang Xiaoxiao and Li Tieniu exchanged a look, smiling bitterly; looks like their spending silver on the wall caught someone's eye, witnessing even a minor government official dare to extort. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

It's just because they have the backing of the government; Jiang Xiaoxiao was truly indignant.

The villagers' lives are incredibly hard, with bandits and invasions from all kinds of foreign tribes at the border town. The ordinary folks were already struggling.

Yet the government office officials behave like this.

Almost like scavengers, making life unbearable for the people, it's said that the emperor does nothing while the officials beneath him are utterly corrupt; how can such a nation govern well or ensure its people lead prosperous lives?

"Steward Wang, we didn't spend much on the wall, we sourced the materials locally, using sand and stones from the nearby hills for a quick make-do, just for temporary defense, otherwise bandits raid the village constantly, and barbarians come here to seize grain, there's no way to live.

We came up with this desperate measure, it really didn't cost much silver.

These refugees are settling in the village, now clearing the fields, barely able to keep them half-fed, that's the best we can do; truly, the village can't provide extra silver. Please show some lenience, speak well of us to the officials, when these fields can be planted this year, we'll hope for a good harvest next.

Naturally, they'll be able to pay the head tax."

Steward Wang raised his eyebrows, "What do you count for, to ask me to speak to the officials positively? I'm telling you that silver can't be less than before, or you'll all end up in jail."

A government official grinned widely, pulling out a young maiden, "Well now, can't pay head tax, such a beautiful girl in the dungeon would sure please the lads."

The girl was terrified and cried out.

The other officials laughed heartily, "I just saw it, they have two cows in the village we can take away. That would also offset money. Oh, and search further, I see many young wives and maidens here quite pretty.

If they were taken back to homes, the men could add two more concubines."

Their talk grew increasingly outrageous.

The village elder was fuming with anger.

"You are government workers, how can you act like this? You leave us no way to live! You're driving us to death!"

"Get lost, you old man, what are you doing mixing in here? Get out now! Or you'll lose your life."

The other officials laughed arrogantly.

At this moment, one official actually went to grab Li Tiehua; although she was only thirteen, she was truly strikingly beautiful, known as the village flower.

Usually, she had her brother's protection and stayed out of sight, naturally no one dared bother her.

Unexpectedly with Li Tieniu away, such an incident occurred.

The man held Li Tiehua tightly in his embrace, grinning with satisfaction.

"Come with me to live a good life!"

Li Tiehua grew desperate, stabbing a hairpin into the official's chest; due to the unexpectedness and her strength from farm work.

The official's eyes rolled and he fell dead.

Everyone was stunned for a moment.

Steward Wang was furious, "You country girl, you dare commit murder in broad daylight, someone come for me..."

In an instant, more than a hundred people surged forward, each holding various weapons.

Before Steward Wang could finish his sentence, Li Tieniu slashed him dead.

The group surrounded the remaining four officials, glaring with fury, knowing that Steward Wang often twisted the truth.

This time, if they didn't kill Steward Wang, their village might get marked by the county magistrate, who would then bring government troops to obliterate them.

The remaining officials were terrified, never imagining the villagers would dare kill people.

At this point, in order to survive, they remained still on the ground, pleading for mercy.

Jiang Xiaoxiao stepped forward, now what to do?