Once upon a time, with a contract, what each village dedicated was fixed.
Depending on the number of people, a certain amount of grain is donated, which is probably enough for a family of five, including two parents in their prime, for one year. Then there is a certain number of fruits, plus one young animal.
These things are very large for a family, but if it is a village of three to five hundred people, it is very simple to put together.
But starting from the past few years, the witches in the forest wanted more and more things. Not just simple food, but also began to secretly capture children of appropriate age.
Because of the occurrence of these things, many people in the villages were angry and wanted to find someone from above to bring justice to them. Although I got a verbal response, the result was that for several years, the people above me didn't care at all.
For the sake of their own peace, the people in the village can only swallow this pain themselves.
Anyway, we only lose seven or eight people in a year and give birth to a few more. If someone's child is lost, it will be enough for the village to make up for it.
But the year is not even half over yet, and there are already ten children in the village, so the village chief and others have no choice but to report the news in the forest. They were worried that the agreement made many years ago might be broken, so they hoped to send someone from above.
Only when Wang Xing heard this did he understand why the village chief immediately greeted him warmly as soon as he appeared. This was because he was regarded as a person sent from above.
However, Wang Xing did not explain too much, but drew conclusions from various intelligence messages he heard. The village can go deep into the forest, which is about a day and a night's distance.
If you continue to go deeper, it is easy to get lost, and behind you will be the range of wild beasts.
According to the testimonies of hunters in the village, starting last year, it used to be safe to enter the forest during the day and return at night, but now the bodies of wild beasts have begun to appear. It is likely that witches and demons are coming out.
This is one of the reasons why the village chief is worried.
Just when Wang Xing was thinking about these things, another unexpected person appeared.
Outside the village, two horses first sped up and entered the village street. Then whistles sounded, followed by the sound of horses from behind. Then a one-person carriage and the carriage carrying goods and people entered the village one after another.
Two teams of elite people wearing leather armor, holding swords, axes, or holding crossbows, were riding horses or sitting in carriages. Behind them were more than a dozen people who were not looking messy, wearing commoners, and with a The man wearing a layer of shoulder pads and carrying a wooden gun trotted behind the carriage.
When Wang Xing heard the sound and walked out of the stone house, he saw a man on horseback wearing leather armor with several daggers hanging side by side on his chest. He rode his horse to the open door in front of the courtyard of the stone house.
The cavalryman raised his eyebrows when he saw Wang Xing and the people around him.
"Who is the village chief!"
"Me! Me!" The village chief stood up hastily.
"Get your house in order, the tax collector, Carl Jr., is here!"
Deliberately loudly announced, some of the people on horseback behind him were indifferent, some were laughing and shouting, and the sound was passed all the way to the carriage near the people with calm faces, but some helpless eyes, and they also looked at it.
Then the people wearing iron plate armor on the back of the carriage, who looked like the lord's soldiers described by the village chief, jumped out of the carriage as quickly as possible, trotted quickly, quickly arranged their appearance, and then came with their heads held high. Next to the carriage, open the door of the carriage.
Until this time, although the people in the carriage could see some scars on their clothes, they were still well-kempt. They held the big hats on their heads and stepped out of the carriage with their chins slightly raised.
A soldier stood on the other side and glanced around. After seeing Wang Xing, who was wearing the most luxurious clothes, he walked quickly and arrogantly to him and spoke.
"The village chief, Mr. Carl, the most trusted tax collector of the nobles in the city, is here. Come and greet him immediately!"
The expressions of the village chief and the strong man wearing leather armor on horseback changed slightly.
When the strong men saw Wang Xing, they could clearly feel the power of Wang Xing. The village chief has experienced it with his own eyes and in person.
Afraid that Wang Xing, the ruthless man who was directly chasing down the demon, would conflict with the tax collector that night, the village chief rushed over to explain, while he smiled apologetically and hurriedly led everyone towards the house opposite the stone house.
There is no way, after what happened last night, the meal has just been prepared, and many people are squatting near the stone house, carrying weapons to defend. Anyone with a clear mind can see that this place is occupied by women and children inside, and is defended by strong men outside. , I’m afraid something happened.
Therefore, compared with the defense here, the other courtyard, which is slightly inferior, looks clean and peaceful, without so many rude people.
Although the few soldiers were swollen by the people behind them, they could still see that these ruthless characters who they regarded as ferocious and savage, but absolutely powerful, immediately became vigilant after he offended the best-dressed man. When you encounter enemies on the road, you should feel as if you are facing a formidable enemy.
Those who realized that they had done something wrong did not dare to stay any longer, but hurriedly left with the tired people in the carriage.
Some peasant women were taken away to fetch and boil water for the tax officials to make arrangements for.
Although Wang Xing did not take action directly, he still locked the most powerful person in the team after a scan.
"Come on, guests, tell us your identities."
Among the many people who had delivered the message before, the cavalryman who was always near the carriage was also the one who looked helpless when shouting. He looked at Wang Xing.
The other party did not hesitate and dismounted.
"I am Hu Jie. I am currently working as a mercenary with the brothers around me. I am currently employed by the tax collector of the aristocratic Jefferson family in the Maple Leaf Territory. I escort them to collect food nearby and gather the food four villages away from here. Beale Town.”
Wang Xing was a little surprised. He didn't expect the other party to be so honest, and even made his identity and purpose very clear.
But Wang Xing soon realized that he was not a small fish now. In the eyes of these people, he should be a strong man who could decide the life and death of everyone present according to his will.
The people in front of them are mercenaries. Although they will protect their employers for money, these people are obviously motivated to survive, far more than creating conflicts and foolish loyalty everywhere.
Knowing that the idea of these people should be to weaken everyone's hostility, Wang Xing did not really take action.
Because rather than falling out with these people here, the enemy Wang Xing wants to take down is the witch who is the closest and obviously has more good things on hand.
When the time comes, go and communicate with these witches. If you can trade good things and avoid fights, it will be considered a benefit. If that didn't work and the other party still attacked him, he would be disrespectful to the witches' treasure.
