readsfreenovel Chapter 432: City Gate Head Tax
Chapter 432: City Gate Head Tax
Zhou Chang, Gao Yuan and Shou Hou watched the two carriages leave in opposite directions.
They waited for about half an incense stick of time before finally setting off. This time they went straight into the city and returned to Prince Yi's Mansion.
It was already dark when they were almost at the foot of Jindu City. The skinny monkey's carriage stopped at a long distance.
"Why did you stop? If you don't hurry up, the city gate will be closed." Zhou Chang lifted the curtain and looked out, wondering, "What's going on?"
Not only them, but all the carriages entering the city were lined up in two rows and blocked outside the city gate.
The skinny monkey raised the curtain: "I don't know, do you want me to go and ask?"
"Go and ask." Zhou Chang was anxious. He lowered the curtain and glanced at Gao Yuan who was sitting like a wooden stake.
On the way back, Zhou Chang also comforted Gao Yuan many times that rescuing the people was the greatest hope, and they would have to wait and see what would happen in the future, and they should not panic for the time being.
Gao Yuan was obviously greatly stimulated when he was saving people.
Indeed, no one could remain indifferent after seeing Liu E's injury, but it was not wise to go to Peng Liang to settle the score at this time.
According to Gao Yuan, Liu E was not the only one in the room. There were also several other women of unknown origin who were also abused to varying degrees.
Among the three rooms in Peng Liang's yard, the room where Liu E was imprisoned was the most secluded, and it was filled with various torture instruments.
When he saw Liu E, her hands were tied behind her back and she was hanging on a torture shackle. She was in tattered clothes, with marks of whipping on her limbs and body, and she was in a semi-comatose state.
At that time, Gao Yuan brought the man down, but when Liu E opened her eyes, she didn't recognize him.
There was a woman imprisoned in the house, like a lamb to be slaughtered. Unfortunately, they did not have enough manpower and time, so they could only release the woman but could not take her out.
Zhou Chang had repeatedly considered whether or not to report to the government so that they could send a large number of people to rescue the people. However, the existence of such a strange place must have a bigger umbrella behind it, and she knew Prince Yi's weight best and had no ability to fight against him.
We are lucky to have been able to rescue Liu E during the chaos this time. It would be even better if we could avoid being exposed afterwards.
Fortunately, Gao Yuan's actions were not discovered by anyone. At that time, the two Jiangs led people to search extensively. After finding the target yard, they didn't care about anything and pulled out the people and beat and scolded them regardless of who they were.
In addition, Peng Liang was scratched by Xiao Jiang, so he probably couldn't take care of the rest of the things.
Gao Yuan took advantage of this opportunity to sneak in and then withdrew with Liu E on his back.
During the whole process, Liu E seemed to be dead. There were several times when Gao Yuan wished he could go back and kill Peng Liang directly.
Zhou Chang could do nothing but try his best to comfort her.
Gradually, Gao Yuan turned back into a piece of wood.
The thin monkey came back soon: "Your Majesty, this is the head tax at the city gate. From today on, whether it is a carriage entering or leaving the city, each person will be charged one tael of silver according to the number of people on the carriage."
"When did this happen?" Zhou Chang wondered why they didn't see anyone collecting taxes when they went in and out the past two days.
"What was just issued by the Jin Caosi today will be implemented today, and the time for closing the city gates has been extended for this purpose, so there is no rush to enter the city." The skinny monkey is already accustomed to this.
Zhou Chang had no choice but to say, "If we go over there, do I, a prince, have to pay this kind of tax?"
"Your Majesty, we are recruiting people like you." The thin monkey laughed, "Otherwise why don't we recruit people based on the carriages and horses instead of the people in the carriages?"
Zhou Chang was confused for a moment: "Isn't there a tax on carriages and horses?"
According to Prince Yi's memory, there has always been a tax on carriages and horses, but in the past it was mainly aimed at horse-drawn carriages carrying goods, and also included various donkeys, cows, sheep, as long as they were pulled by livestock.
The skinny monkey sneered, "Only rich people can afford to ride in a carriage. As for the people in the carriage, besides the passengers, there is at least a driver. One tael of silver is not a lot, but it is not a small amount either. But if you ask the barefoot people for it, they really can't afford it. It costs a month's food rations. This is a considerable income for three hundred days a year after going through the four city gates in a day."
Zhou Chang was completely speechless and couldn't say a word for a long time, but the carriage moved forward two more steps.
"That's not right. If you pay, you'll be allowed in. Why are you so slow?" The skinny monkey put his hands on the pergola and looked ahead. "Oh, why are there still people arguing?"
Zhou Chang had already accepted his fate. He reached into his sleeves to get some change and stuffed it into the thin monkey's pocket: "Cut in line, squeeze through."
The skinny monkey caught it with his hand, and when he turned around, he was surprised: "Hey, Your Majesty, look, that looks like the princess' carriage."
"Hmm?" Zhou Chang looked over there.
The skinny monkey waved to Yuan Qi's driver: "Master Cao, Master Cao..."
Yuan Qi's carriage was low-key and luxurious, and there were only a few of them in Jindu City, so it was very easy to recognize.
Yuan Qi heard the noise and lifted the car curtain, just in time to meet Zhou Chang's eyes.
"Wait, I'll go over." Zhou Chang hurriedly got off the carriage and went over.
Yuan Qi's carriage has always been more comfortable than Prince Yi's, so Zhou Chang was not shy about it.
The driver stopped aside.
"What are you going to do?" Zhou Chang asked as he got on the carriage.
I have been going out early and coming back late these days, so I don't know Yuan Qi's whereabouts.
Yuan Qi gave up the main seat and shook her head regretfully: "I went to Chaotian Temple again. I wanted to ask Taoist Yun Hezi for some information about Taoist Yun Huazi, but unfortunately I got nothing."
"No need to look for it. I guess we can't find it." Zhou Chang had given up hope long ago. He didn't expect Yuan Qi was still looking for it.
"It's not just about looking for someone, I'm also here to burn some incense and pray for Aunt Jing's safety." Yuan Qi has been staying by Aunt Jing's side every day these days, even longer than Zhou Chang.
"Well, as long as you don't go to Anle Temple to burn incense, anywhere is fine." Zhou Chang did not believe in burning incense and worshiping Buddha.
Yuan Qi knew about today's operation, but it was not easy to ask too many questions because there were so many people around. He glanced in the direction of the city gate and said, "What's going on? If the traffic jam continues for a while, we won't be able to get into the city in time."
"Head tax at the city gate." Zhou Chang informed directly.
Yuan Qi was not surprised: "Oh, another new title."
"Make way ahead, let's all squeeze in." Zhou Chang ordered the skinny monkey outside the carriage.
She was already impatient to wait, and when she saw Yuan Qi, she wanted to go back for dinner earlier. Because of Liu E's matter these days, she really couldn't have a peaceful meal.
The skinny monkey followed the order and cleared the way. Just as he squeezed through the city gate, he was blocked by a carriage that tried to squeeze in from the side. He had no choice but to retreat: "Your Majesty, that seems to be the carriage of Prince Duan's Mansion."
Zhou Chang had to lift the curtain again to look over.
"My carriage is empty, why do I have to pay the head tax?" The carriage of Prince Duan's Mansion was naturally luxurious, and there was a sign hanging in front of the carriage, making it very easy to recognize.