bullyxtreme Chapter 30 Robin Hood-like Revenue
Chapter 30 Robin Hood-like Revenue
In less than fifteen minutes, Liu Wu and his men came out carrying a large box.
The box was heavy, and inside was a thick stack of documents neatly piled up.
Li Sheng walked over and casually flipped through a few pages.
Every single incident, every single matter, every year and month, every household, how much grain was borrowed, how much was repaid, and what kind of land was used as collateral—all are remembered clearly and plainly.
Although the paper looked extremely rough, the handwriting on it was neat and tidy, with not only the fingerprints of both parties but also the official seal.
Li Sheng flipped through it, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"The Wang family certainly knows how to keep their accounts straight."
He closed the box, turned around, and faced the anxious people.
"Gentlemen, I understand your concerns about the land deeds."
His voice was loud and clear, and everyone could hear him.
"Today, I will give you an explanation."
Li Sheng gave Liu Wu a wink, and Liu Wu understood. He pulled out a stack of land deeds from the box and handed them over with both hands.
Li Sheng took it and held it high.
The morning light shone on the yellowed paper, making the densely packed writing clearly visible.
"These are proof that the Wang family has seized your land through trickery and coercion. Without these documents, the Wang family is nothing."
He turned around and pulled a still-burning torch from the gate of the fortified village.
The torches flickered in the morning breeze, their orange flames dancing.
All eyes were fixed on the torch.
Li Sheng did not hesitate.
He walked up to the pile of land deeds and sent the torch down.
The flames licked the paper, first curling and blackening the edges, then suddenly leaping up, the orange-red light reflecting on everyone's faces.
"Burn it!"
"Burn it all!"
Someone in the crowd shouted, and then cheers erupted from all sides.
The fire burned brighter and brighter, and the ashes of the paper were swept up by the heat waves, fluttering in the air like black butterflies.
The land deeds, covered in writing, twisted and shrank in the fire, eventually turning to ashes.
Li Sheng stood by the fire, the firelight reflecting off his face, creating a play of light and shadow.
His leather armor was still stained with blood, he held a torch in his hand, and behind him lay the corpse of Wang Mao.
The lame man looked at the burning land deed, then suddenly squatted down, covered his face with his hands, and his shoulders trembled violently.
The thin woman next to him was also crying uncontrollably, muttering to herself.
"My lord...can you see...our land...is back...it's back..."
The old man knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times towards the fire. When he raised his head, his forehead was covered in dirt and ash.
"Thank God for his protection! Thank you for your bravery!"
The flames raged, burning not only the land deeds.
Li Sheng threw the torch into the fire as well, his gaze sweeping over the people.
"The land deeds are gone. Now, everyone can take back their land."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear and distinct.
The people looked at each other, still unable to believe it.
Over the years, they have been oppressed for so long that they no longer believe anyone in this world will stand up for them.
"What's wrong?"
Li Sheng's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, carrying an undeniable sharpness.
"You don't even dare to take back what's rightfully yours?"
These words were like a knife, piercing deep into everyone's heart.
Yes, that's our own land, why shouldn't we dare to take it?
The middle-aged man with the limp was the first to stand up, his eyes filled with tears, his voice hoarse but firm.
"I dare! I dare! That's my land! Why wouldn't I dare take it!"
"Yes! That's our land!"
"Take it back!"
"Take it back!"
The people stood up one after another, their faces still wet with tears, but their eyes shone with a long-lost light.
Someone else shouted it out again.
"Thank you, Your Honor!"
Immediately afterwards, everyone joined in the shouting.
"Your Honor, the Just Magistrate!"
"Your Honor, the Just Magistrate!"
"Your Honor, the Just Magistrate!"
The sounds rose in waves, echoing back and forth between the walls of the fortified village.
Li Sheng stood still, his face slightly flushed by the firelight.
At this moment, Liu Wu walked to his side and lowered his voice.
"Brother Sheng, kill Wang Mao, what about the Xu family..."
Li Sheng did not turn around.
"Don't worry, A-Wu. The world is about to descend into chaos. It's uncertain whether the Xu family, which rose to power through eunuchs, can even protect themselves."
Liu Wu paused for a moment, then nodded and said no more.
Li Sheng stood beside the still-burning bonfire, the ashes of the paper fluttering down like black snow.
As the cheers of the people subsided, many remained kneeling on the ground, tears welling in their eyes, their gazes towards Li Sheng filled with gratitude and awe.
Li Sheng raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.
"Gentlemen, does anyone know where the Wang family's granary is?"
There was a moment of silence in the room.
The tenant who had led the way to find the land deed was the first to step forward. He was in his early twenties, thin with high cheekbones, but the timidity in his eyes had mostly faded, replaced by an indescribable eagerness.
"My benefactor, I know! The Wang family's granary is in the backyard of the fortified village. It has three large warehouses, and they are usually locked. The key is hanging on the waist of that old thief Wang Mao. I... I was once sent to the granary to move grain, so I know the way."
Li Sheng nodded, bent down and took a bunch of keys from Wang Mao's body, weighing them in his hand.
"Liu Wu".
"exist!"
Li Sheng turned around, his gaze sweeping over Liu Wu, Zhao Hu, Li Shi, and the others, and quickly assigned tasks.
"Liu Wu, you take Zhao Hu, Li Shi, and the other three brothers and stay here to guard these bandit prisoners. Don't let any of them escape."
Liu Wu clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"promise!"
Li Sheng then looked at the others, his gaze landing on the few strong men who had followed him out from Dongping.
"You lot, come with me to the granary."
He paused, his gaze falling on the group of people, his voice softening slightly.
"Come on in too, there was already a share of that food for you."
The people looked at each other in disbelief.
Returning land and distributing grain?
Could it be that celestial beings descended from heaven to save us from suffering?
"Walk!"
Li Sheng waved his hand and led his men deeper into the fortified village.
Behind him, the people stumbled and staggered after him.
……
In the backyard of the fortified village, three large warehouses stand in a row.
The warehouse walls were even thicker than those of the courtyard in front, and the doors were made of solid material, covered with sheet metal, and had brass locks on them.
Li Sheng tried several keys before finding the correct one.
With a "click," the copper lock opened.
Li Sheng pushed open the heavy door, and a fragrance mixed with the aroma of grains wafted out.
The morning light streamed in through the doorway, illuminating the interior of the warehouse.
Everyone was stunned.
Inside the warehouse, neatly stacked grain bins, all packed in burlap sacks, were piled up from the ground all the way to the roof beams.
The wheat, rice, millet, foxtail millet, beans... all kinds of grains were stuffed to the brim.