He was secretly ruthless in his heart, but facing a group of muscular angry orcs, the fat manager couldn't help but feel a little scared, smiled stiffly a few times, and patiently explained to the villagers: "Dear fellows, it's not that I don't understand everyone, the lord My lord has sent a letter, and there is good news from him. I will soon be engaged to the daughter of the head of the Sharp Tooth Wolf Clan. The Sharp Tooth Wolf Clan is a big tribe. Marrying with them, the Lord Lord has a reliable Yue family. From now on, we Xuefeng There are many benefits to receiving it. But the engagement requires a large gift, and we have to share the Lord's worries."
He was almost moved to tears, recalling the past emotionally, "If the Lord's father is still alive, seeing his son get married, How happy you are. Everyone worked hard, and you will pay more for this year, and the rent and tax will be guaranteed to return to the same way next year." The
manager's words were moved with emotion, and most of the villagers were very simple, so they couldn't help but be persuaded. Some were very honest, and put themselves in the lord's shoes: Yes, the lord's engagement is a big deal, and to marry the daughter of the chief of a big tribe, of course, a lot of bride price is required. His father suffered misfortune to protect us, and we must not treat his son badly. Some people were still dissatisfied and muttered: "Even adding 20% is too much." The
fat manager immediately nodded sincerely: "Yes, but this year's situation is special, there is no way. Next year I will definitely put aside my old face and persuade The lord collects less tax." When he returned, he sent a letter to the capital, asking the lord to send more people.
Lin stood at the back of the crowd, watching the fat man's clumsy performance with cold eyes, and suddenly asked loudly: "Sir, my brother is getting engaged, I'm very happy, can you let me read my brother's letter. I also want to write a letter to my brother , send him blessings." The acting was exaggerated and guilty, and he deeply suspected that the 20% tax increase was the fat man's own idea.
Lin was right to be skeptical. His half-brother just sent someone to deliver a letter, asking the manager to pay the taxes on time. Although it is impossible to love the people like a child, it is not so frantic that it requires the villagers who have suffered from the disaster to pay more taxes. The fat man heard the news that the lord was going to be engaged by the messenger, and after a second thought, he thought it was an opportunity he could take advantage of, so he thought of adding 20% to the tax. He didn't know how long he could work here, so of course he wanted to get some benefits as soon as possible.
Now being pierced by a clear and sweet child's voice, the fat manager choked, how could he dare to take out the letter. He raised his eyelids and looked at the overly beautiful half-beast boy in the crowd, unconsciously feeling ashamed. The fat man put away his round and big belly, and said with a smile that was not a smile: "Master Lin, you are still young, can you read? If you have anything you want to say to the lord, just tell me." "
We Brother's private matter, can I tell you? And I am learning to read from Wu, so even if there are words I don't understand in the letter, I can ask Wu for advice." Lin looked calmly and glanced at Wu. He has the soul of an adult and has a strong language learning ability. He has learned the commonly used orc characters in the past few months, and it is not difficult to read a letter.
Seeing the fat man's expression getting more and more guilty, the witch man also stroked his gray beard, and helped his apprentice: "Yes, Xiaolin is smart, and he has learned a lot of words within two months of studying with me, you Show him the letter. He is the lord's younger brother, and his brother is engaged, so he will definitely give a congratulatory gift. On the day of the wedding, he will go to the capital to attend in person."
"Well, the lord's letter contains a lot of secrets, you can’t just show it to outsiders.” The manager hastily thought of a reason to refuse.
But the more he refused, the more suspicious he became. Even the villagers saw that something was wrong with him, and clamored: "Is it the lord who wants to increase the tax? Is it you, an old boy, who made it up for himself?"
The fat manager also has some dog-legged followers, and several families in the village have paid a lot of money to curry favor with him. Seeing that the manager was at a disadvantage, a man with a narrow face stood up to defend him: "Your Excellency, the manager represents the lord, Master Lin. You are from Yuexi Village now, so it seems that you can't control our Xuefeng leader?"
At first, the big icy blue eyes seemed to be filled with ice and snow, and he looked at the man coldly, until he felt uncomfortable looking at the man, and then said word by word: "This is my father's territory, I don't want to Some people will be allowed to bully the villagers. Last year, everyone suffered a serious disaster, and it was impossible to raise taxes regardless of whether it was the lord's decision. Please reply like this."
The villagers cheered excitedly: "The little village chief is too majestic." The fat manager blushed in shame, but he couldn't hold back when facing hundreds of tall and burly orcs. He was about to leave in despair when there was a commotion outside the crowd.
"Steward Mai is back!" Someone yelled, and not far away, a group of people galloped towards him on a velociraptor. It was really Mai who had returned from the capital.
Velociraptor is a medium-sized herbivorous dragon with short forelimbs and particularly developed hind feet. It is often domesticated as a mount. However, for the sake of safety, the village has always prohibited riding a horse in a hurry, and it is usually parked in the animal pen outside Yuehu Village. There are some wild animals that are used as mounts domesticated, and there are special people to take care of them. This time the matter was urgent, Mai Cai rode in directly.
When he was almost in front of the crowd, he jumped down in a hurry, gasped and said loudly: "Master Lin, something serious has happened! Your brother, the young master, he went hunting with the young chiefs of several other tribes a few days ago, and he accidentally got into trouble." A female black tyrannosaurus with cubs. The black tyrannosaurus went berserk, the young master and a young patriarch were killed on the spot, and several others were seriously injured." The incident was so sudden that everyone was stunned, and there was a lot of
discussion for a while. The fat manager couldn't believe it, he stared wide-eyed and questioned repeatedly: "Don't talk nonsense, what happened to the lord? The letter just came a few days ago!" Mai glanced at him: "Before I rushed back, I went to the young master personally
. At the residence of the king's capital, preparations are already underway for the young master's funeral."
Now the fat chief couldn't stay any longer, and hurriedly led people back to the manor. The most urgent task now is to send someone back to the capital to check the news.
A young life returned to the embrace of the Beast God, and the villagers had mixed feelings. However, in this orc world that lacks medical care and is full of dangers, death is very common. At most, everyone sighs because the other party is a lord. In fact, most people don't have any feelings for this new lord who has only met once. Some people even think that if the lord dies, they don't have to pay so much tax.
Lin's heart also surged: Could it be that he received the lord's mission because of his brother's accidental death? Could it be that the inexplicable voice in his mind had the ability to foretell?
"Let's leave first, let's go back and discuss this matter first." Wu said loudly. The villagers left in twos and threes, and Lin, Mai, Grandpa, and a few elders were left, and they all followed Wu to his place. "Xiaolin, what do you think about this matter? If your brother is really unfortunate enough to meet the Beast God and he has no descendants, as his younger brother, the son of the previous lord, you are the first heir to this territory. Unless The great chief took back this territory, and this kind of thing has happened before, so we have to prepare early."
As soon as he entered the door, Wu asked Lin directly.
Lin was already mentally prepared and nodded calmly. A small child, but his eyes are extremely firm: "This is my father's territory, and I will not give it up to others. If there is another greedy person, everyone will suffer again. Please, Grandpa Wu, tell me what preparations I should make."
He He still doesn't know much about the succession process of territories in this world, but he absolutely doesn't want to see another incompetent lord in Xuefeng Territory.
The elders all looked at the steady and generous boy in front of them with approval. Although the boy is still young, he is so smart and motivated, studious and diligent. Everyone believes that Master Lin will be a good lord in the future.
Mai Cong, who followed Lin's father back then, understood this matter very well, and immediately explained: "Young Master Lin, you need to go to the capital to inherit the territory and get the approval of the great chief. If your grandfather is willing to support you, it will be much easier. Otherwise, we It is necessary to prepare some gold and silver property and bribe people close to the great chief, otherwise this matter will be delayed for a long time, and may even be deprived of the territory."
Bartering is prevalent in most parts of the tribe, only the king's capital and a small number of prosperous Metal minerals such as gold and silver, or special stones are gradually becoming popular in cities and towns to exchange things and make decorations. However, because the smelting technology is not high, there are many impurities in the metal, which is incomparable with modern gold and silver, and the color is much darker. Even so, the average orc may never have seen gold or silver in his life, nor would he have used such things.
Lin couldn't help being a little silent. The family doesn't even have much food left. Last year, everyone was hit by a disaster. Grandpa and the housekeeper suggested that the village tax be halved this year, barely enough to be handed over to the tribe. There are also some villagers whose families are really in difficulty, and they all sent food to them. As for gold and silver, he didn't seem to have seen it yet.
At this time, Mai said: "The sales of our goods are still the same. I rushed back and stored them in other people's stores. I might get a gold ingot when I sell them out. I have saved a few pieces over the years. When I go back Bring it."
Grandpa suddenly said, "I also have 20 yuan, it's a gift from Xiaolin's father back then, and it's been left unused.
" Grandpa is too low-key, even he keeps it a secret. Lin couldn't help but glanced at Grandpa.
Grandpa knew that his grandson was smart, so he touched his little head with a smile: "This gold is reserved for emergencies, I didn't tell you children because you think you have money and won't do things in a down-to-earth manner, and your temper will grow bad. "
I see." Grandpa was very wise, and Lin secretly praised him in his heart.
Wu and several elders had some metals in their homes more or less, and they not only said they would take them out, they would also produce some grain, dried meat and good animal skins.
Wu nodded with satisfaction: "Okay, everyone is united, there is nothing that can't be done. We old guys will go to the nearby tribes to see if we can borrow some gold and silver. Mai, you choose ten or twenty young people Let’s go to the capital together, and we must protect Xiaolin well.”
The elders nodded one after another. Now Master Lin is the hope of the entire territory. In case of any misfortune, if a greedy lord is sent over, everyone's life will be even more difficult.
Soon, the villagers heard that Master Lin was going to the capital to inquire about the news, and they all spontaneously took out the surplus food at home and sent them over. Mai Ranglin wrote down all the things brought by the big guy on a piece of animal skin, and he will have to return it later.
Grandma, mother, and aunts in the village are also busy, preparing animal fur clothes and fur mattresses, dry food for the road, and dried meat... Although the orcs don't have the saying "It's a good day at home, but everything is difficult when you go out", and they know more than twenty When people go out together, they should bring enough everything. Going out is not as convenient as being at home. If you are short of something for a while, you can't buy it even if you have money.
The shaman and the elders also attacked separately, and borrowed more than 20 pieces of gold, silver and iron ingots from nearby tribes. "It's almost like this." Wu felt that his old face was still very respectable, and stroked his beard with a smile.
It was late at night, in the lord's mansion, the fat steward was sitting alone in the living room, smoking precious tobacco leaves. He can't sleep. Originally thought that at least a few years could be made here, but unexpectedly something happened to the young master. Young Master Lin cannot be allowed to inherit the territory. That child is too smart. Will there be a way for him to survive then? He has to figure out a way.