As soon as the government came to arrest someone, all the members of the Benevolence and Righteousness Association who were supposed to be at home rushed there on their own initiative. Chenjiacun was influenced by the Renyi Society, and most of them were people with a sense of justice.
Many people also followed closely after the Renyi Association members set off.
Even women and widows are not exempted.
They took their children and held wooden sticks to strengthen their strength together.
Not long after, members of the Renyi Society who knew Qinggong quickly arrived at the scene.
As far as the eye could see, there were nearly a hundred officers and soldiers standing at the entrance of Lijia Village, waiting in full formation.
Several officers and soldiers led by him entered the village and forcibly dragged a young man away.
The young man's mother pulled back and tried to snatch her son back from the officers and soldiers.
But how can she be a match for so many big men?
The result was that she was pulled to the ground.
Unable to let go, she was forcibly dragged a short distance away, where she cried and begged for mercy: "Sir, please let my son go! Didn't you pay the tax to exempt him from the corvée? Why are you still arresting my son? Ah~"
"Go away! If you don't let go, don't blame us for being rude!!"
Seeing this, Chen Jinlan stepped over and immediately stopped both parties: "Master, wait a minute! If you have something to say slowly, please let this young man go first."
When the officer and soldier saw that the person coming was Chen Jinlan, they frowned slightly, and then used their eyes to signal to several of their companions to let him go for the time being.
Seeing this, the young mother quickly pulled her son back to her.
Holding her son in her arms and crying.
Chen Jinlan then politely raised his hand and said, "My lord, I wonder what this mother and son have done? Why do you need to bother me to send out so many troops to take this person away by force?"
The attitude of the officers and soldiers was very tough: "Gang Leader Chen, I am not afraid to tell you that there is an imperial edict passed down from the royal city. For all adults between 20 and 50 years old, regardless of whether you pay taxes or not, each village must hand over at least a hundred people! Therefore, not only the young man in front of you, but also ninety-nine people from Chenjia Village have to be handed over! I advise you, the Renyi Association, to stay out of your own business! Otherwise, you are going against the entire imperial court!"
Hearing this, Chen Jinlan's face suddenly turned ugly.
In the past, when he dealt with these officials, he could always be accommodating or negotiate.
I didn't expect that the government's attitude would be so tough this time.
Chen Jinlan thought for a moment and asked again: "Master, can you tell Chen why Wang Cheng issued this order?"
The official sneered and said proudly: "Oh, so that you know! Do you know why Chechi Country has good weather after the spring begins? Why was there a bumper harvest last season?"
Chen Jinlan looked surprised.
Good weather and a bumper harvest, are they related to this matter?
He really didn't know this.
Seeing Chen Jinlan's ignorant look, the officer and soldier became even more frustrated. The look in Chen Jinlan's eyes seemed to be that of a country bumpkin.
"That's because your Majesty loves his people like his own children, and he invited eminent monks to hold water and land meetings to pray to God. He received a response, and that's why we have such a good life." The officers and soldiers raised their hands to the sky, their expressions showing. Yearning and obsession.
But suddenly the scene changed, and his attitude changed completely. He scolded Chen Jinlan: "Otherwise, where do you think your good life now comes from, huh?! You really think it's God's mercy. Are you mud-legged people?! If God is really merciful, why didn’t God show mercy to you for the last two seasons’ harvests? Isn’t it thanks to the king and the eminent monk?!”
Chen Jinlan was greatly surprised.
He didn't expect that there was such a reason behind the good times during this period.
Now it becomes difficult.
Even he couldn't make up his mind when it came to gods.
After all, people in this era are still very superstitious.
"Then... Officer, you came here to arrest people this time because..."
The officers and soldiers once again raised their hands to the sky, but they stared at Chen Jinlan with an unkind expression: "Your Majesty has been ordered to build a Zhiyuan Temple to thank the eminent monk for praying to heaven for the people of Chechi Kingdom! This time, I will take you back to the royal city. To help build the temple!
So you should be grateful to be able to contribute to the temple!
Maybe you will get a blessing from this.
Otherwise, if the gods are blamed and the entire Chechi Kingdom faces drought again, your Chenjia Village being destroyed ten times will not be enough to make amends! "
Hear this.
The woman who was still crying while holding her son suddenly became excited: "No! I don't want my son to leave! I don't want it!"
In fact, it’s no wonder women are so excited.
Because compulsory corvee work like in ancient times was unpaid, and you even had to provide your own food. Deaths were common.
Moreover, the place where he served this time was still as far away as the royal city.
Over and over again, the risk becomes greater.
It was understandable that she didn't want her son to go.
However, there are extenuating circumstances, but Chen Jinlan is in trouble here.
He didn't know what else he could do.
Are you going to lead the Chenjiacun uprising and go against the imperial court now?
What's the difference between that and committing suicide?
It doesn't take much. As long as Xian Nancheng has mobilized two thousand guards, it will be enough to kill them several times.
At this moment, a member of the Renyi Association with a bad temper couldn't help but rushed up and said: "Damn it! You think it is the credit of the eminent monk that is the credit of the eminent monk?! Last year when our village was starving and freezing, No eminent monk appeared?! Where were they at that time?!"
Immediately afterwards, another member came forward and said: "That's right! Brother Lan, every time you go to the royal city to serve, how many of them can come back safely? We must not let them go this time! The worst is to fight with them!"
Sounds of resistance rang out one after another.
More and more villagers gathered.
The momentum of the Chenjiacun side gradually became stronger.
On the other hand, the officers and soldiers who were so arrogant just now could not help but move back slowly, their expressions solemn.
"Gang Leader Chen, have you thought about it? I don't need to tell you what the consequences of going against the imperial court will be, right?"
"I'm afraid of you, bitch!"
"At worst, he will be a good man again in eighteen years!"
The noises came and went, making Chen Jinlan's head hurt.
He suddenly shouted: "That's enough!!"
Immediately afterwards, the whole place fell silent for an instant.
Chenjiacun and Renyihui all looked at him quietly, waiting for his answer.
The officers and soldiers couldn't help but swallowed, waiting for his reply. The more nervous ones even gripped their spears and prepared for battle.
But what everyone didn't expect was that Chen Jinlan would say something that delighted the officers and soldiers but disappointed the brothers: "Let them take the people away!"
"Brother Lan...!"
"I said! Let them take people away!"
When the officers and soldiers saw this, they breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time they returned to their arrogant and domineering appearance.
Needless to say, naturally the young men of Chenjiacun were brought out one by one. Of course, due to the kindness of the Renyi Society, the officers and soldiers no longer forced the selection, but let Chenjiacun select volunteers.
After the incident was over, 100 young men followed the officers and soldiers and left.
But here in Chenjiacun, the atmosphere throughout the day has become extremely heavy.
No one is in the mood to talk...
