Mortal Epic of Douluo

"Pan City and even the entire northern territory of the empire have been suddenly rampant with bandits since not long ago. Pan City is surrounded by mountains to the west, and the west and south directions are the main channels to communicate with the outside world. However, they were occupied by two groups headed by Bai Mao Xiong and Zhang Mazi respectively. The host is stuck by bandits. Due to the banditry, the farmers in Pancheng are unbearable. They die or run away. Most of the ones who can stay are attached to the three major families and make a living by renting."

Atreus pursed his lips and said: "So, in this environment, you can't bypass the three major families to contact the poor people, and you can't attract new blood?"

"Yes," Sebastian nodded, "The three major families arrange their own martial soul awakening ceremonies every year. For the landless people who can only rely on renting their land, they not only do not help them awaken for free, but also charge a fee Cost. Without money and food, those landless people cannot let their children undergo martial arts awakening. At the same time, they are also forced by the three families and dare not participate in the free awakening we hold. "

Atreus added: "I have some idea of ​​your strength. It seems that even if you take the initiative to come to the door, you will be driven away, right?"

Sethus smiled bitterly and said: "That's not true. The three major families will not drive us away, but they will send people to intimidate us. How dare those landless people who rely on renting to survive and have no power dare to do so in front of the three major families? In the name of others, do you want to hand over the child to us for the awakening of the martial spirit?"

After understanding these things, Atreus was now really sure that with the strength of the Pancheng Wuhun branch, not only could he not be able to help him, but it might actually be a hindrance, and he felt a little disappointed.

"Okay, I have a general understanding of the situation in your branch hall, so I will take my leave first." Atreus stood up and said goodbye, "By the way, if you need help, you can come to the City Lord's Mansion to find me."

"The City Lord's Mansion?" Sebastian asked doubtfully, "Could it be that the envoy is friends with the newly arrived Earl Panson?"

Atreus then remembered that when he entered the city during the day, Pancheng Wuhun Branch did not send anyone out to congratulate him, and there was no information here. It was normal for Sebas not to know that Atreus and Panson were the same person. .

"Not a friend, actually...I am Pantheon, and Pantheon is me."

********

In the palace garden, Wang Erlang was enjoying dancing and eating delicious food accompanied by his lovely wife and concubine. Hu Wan walked gently to him and whispered in his ear.

Wang Erlang's expression did not change, and he said calmly: "I knew he would find that old boy Sebas a long time ago, but will it work? This is Pan City, which is a hundred and eighty thousand miles away from Wuhun City. Just those old guys He's weak, sick, and disabled, so it's good if he doesn't hold him back."

Wu Chong, who was eating meat and drinking alcohol at the side, shouted: "Master, why bother with him in a roundabout way and just take him to the house to coerce him? He is just a young boy, so I'm sure he won't be able to do anything wrong!"

Hu Wanye said: "Yes, sir, the way he forced Jin Ge to kill horse bandits during the day is definitely not something that can be dismissed at [-]:[-]. This kind of young boy is full of youthful spirit. What if he goes to the mining area to cause trouble?" If there is chaos, then the gains outweigh the losses. How about a preemptive strike?"

"Don't worry, play with him!" Wang Erlang took a sip of wine and said with an arrogant and confident expression: "To be awarded the title of earl at such a young age, his spirit must be as high as the sky. To step on such a person Could it be a beautiful thing to destroy his ideals and crush his dignity under his feet?"

"understand!"

********

"It's late, it's late!"

The next morning, Chang Song suddenly howled wildly, attracting everyone to the main hall of the city lord's mansion.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Chang Song sighed and said: "After checking the documents all night, there are only 310 households in Pancheng's list that qualify as food towns. If we want to classify these poor and lower-middle peasants into food towns, the remaining In addition to dozens of families of middle peasants and rich peasants, there are only three major families left, and they cannot collect much land tax at all! There are also the people in the city. The previous city lords collected too many taxes under clever names, and the people have long been impoverished. There’s no oil and water left…there’s no way to collect taxes!”

Atreus heard what Chang Song wanted to say and smiled: "When I left Tiandou City and came to this remote place, I never thought about making money from ordinary people!"

Chang Song said with a strange expression: "You are a distinguished earl, and Pancheng is your fief. You collect taxes from them. That is the power given to you by His Majesty! Besides, if you don't make money... you won't make money. Who do you earn the people’s money from?”

Atreus casually threw the top hat Wang Erlang gave him yesterday on the table and said calmly: "Of course, whoever has the money gets it."

"This...it seems like you have no experience."

"That's right, I'm not one of those old nobles who inherited the title from my grandparents. A few months ago, I was just an ordinary citizen."

"I've been to Pan City several times, and now I'm here to tell you," Chang Song said with his fingers: "A distinguished person like you, who controls a fiefdom, has to create a clever name after taking office to win over the gentry to pay taxes and donations. Only after they pay it can the common people follow suit. After the transaction is completed, the gentry's money will be returned in full, and the common people's money will be divided into [-] and [-]."

Oscar couldn't listen anymore and said: "Why is it only [-]%? It is only natural that they pay taxes, but they have to pay it back? And they should get [-]%?"

Chang Song waved his hand, "Seventy percent belongs to others, and getting [-]% depends on Wang Erlang's face."

Everyone said in unison: "Whose face are you looking at?"

Chang Song pointed to the top hat: "He!"

"Him?!" Atreus picked up the top hat and said amusedly: "I came all the way from Tiandou City just to see his face?"

"Yes."

Atreus said angrily: "I have been practicing hard since I was a child. I have been working hard day and night to hone my combat skills for ten years. I finally won the championship of the Soul Master Competition, became an empire count and had a fiefdom. The good times haven’t even begun yet, and now you’re telling me that you want to win over wealthy gentry?”

"Correct."

"You want to create a clever name?"

"Correct."

"You still have to look at Ta Ma's face?"

"Correct!"

"Then I can't kneel down and beg for food?!"

"This..." Chang Song said awkwardly: "I know you are angry, but please don't be angry first. In fact, if you have to say it, when you come to Pan City to be the city lord, you really just kneel down and beg for food. That's it, How many people want to kneel but have no way!"

"Huh -" Atreus breathed a long sigh of relief, sorted out his thoughts, and continued: "Let me ask you, I can obviously do nothing in Tiandou City and wait for you to hand over the taxes. Do I want to come here too?"

Chang Song shook his head and said he didn't know.

"Because there are too many big people in Tiandou City, and I am just a small person, but my legs and feet are weak and I can't kneel down!"

Chang Song suddenly realized: "Oh, it turns out you want to make money while lying down, so you should go back to Tiandou City."

"Eh? I don't understand what you're saying." Atreus put his hands on his hips and said, "I am a nobody in Tiandou City, but here I am a genuine imperial earl. Why am I not as good as in Tiandou City?"

Chang Song explained: "In the eyes of the people, you are an earl and a city lord, but in the eyes of Wang Erlang, you are just a beggar. To make money, kneel down and you will not be shabby."

"Shabby, very shabby!"

Chang Song looked confused and said, "Then do you want to lie down, or do you want to make money?"

"Does that need to be said?" Oscar yelled, "Of course I was lying down and I made money!"

Chang Song shook his head like a rattle, "You can't make it."

"Can't you make it?" Atreus was so angry that he activated his martial spirit and slammed his spear onto the ground, cracking the limestone floor tiles. "Can I make money from this?"

"You can earn it, Tiandou City."

Oscar was furious and slapped the seal and the letter of appointment as city leader on the table, "Can I make money from this?"

"Can earn, kneel down."

"I understand what you mean." Atreus took back his martial spirit unwillingly, "It seems that these two things combined can't make me earn money while lying down. Without enough strength, I can't You can't take food from Wang Erlang's mouth!"

"You finally understand!"