"Lord Baron, I think, perhaps, you should consider the thoughts from the villagers!" Adams said quietly.
"I don't think it's necessary!" William said coldly.
"A good lord will never lose his subjects, Lord Baron." Adams' words were threatening.
"What if they are not my subjects!" William's majestic eyes swept across the villagers. "I am a reasonable person and an honest person! I am the lord of the Decas Territory, and the laws of the principality grant
I have obtained the power to collect taxes from my subjects. I fulfill my power, and I only charge 40% of the local tax from you!"
"The land tax of 40% is too high, Lord Baron!" Adams said weakly.
"Really? Mr. Adams!" William emphasized his tone when talking about Mr. Adams.
"You can go to other territories, as long as you can find a lower land tax than the Baron!" Old John interrupted and looked at Adams angrily.
Adams's face was a little ugly. He also knew that this land tax was quite small compared to other lords!
But, he couldn't help himself. There were some things he didn't want to say, but he still had to say them.
"But the small village of Nisei is a special place after all!"
"Every place is special, Mr. Adams." William retorted expressionlessly, "I never force you! After paying my due rent, you are all free, and you can choose where you want to go.
place!"
"Lord Baron, we are not your serfs. The villagers of Nisei Village are free people. We have the right to move freely!" Adams couldn't help but said.
"Of course, you do." William said casually.
"You are not free people, you are all thieves!" Old John couldn't help but curse.
No one in the villagers refuted that the small village of Nisei was originally a village formed spontaneously by refugees enclosing land.
At that time, they did not pay the lord or the principality the funds to purchase the land. It was whoever occupied it, and if they didn't agree, it would be up to their fists!
So Old John was right when he called them thieves!
Of course, Old John said this from the perspective of a ruler!
At this time, Knight West, a troublemaker, intervened. He sighed and said, "Forty percent of the land tax? Ah! What a kind lord!"
"Well, since your lord doesn't care about your lives at all, we don't have any extra time to waste here listening to your chat."
"Now, if you want to spend the winter in Patras City, come to me and pay enough food or enough gold coins!"
"You must pay the land tax that Dickas received before you damn thieves can escape!" Old John screamed.
The villagers were suddenly in a dilemma. With William as the lord in front, no one dared to act rashly.
Knight West's face was a little confused, and he cursed a pariah in his heart, and then looked at Adams again.
Adams complained secretly in his heart, but he had no way out, so he had to stand up and continue to draw William's hatred, saying.
"Lord Baron, we know, we all know, you are a kind lord and a generous lord. Please, all the villagers are watching you, as long as you are willing..."
"None of your business!" William interrupted impatiently, and used a classic national curse from his previous life!
"What does it have to do with my butt?" Adams was stunned for a moment, then realized he was insulted and his face turned red.
"Lord Baron, if you do this, you will lose us!" Adams said a little rudely.
"Really? Mr. Adams, you do not represent all the people in the territory! What's more, for me, I will spend the entire winter in the small village of Nisei, and those who choose to abandon me and leave will not be Dika.
The people of Sri Lanka." William emphasized again.
"Did you really spend the winter in the small village of Nisei?" Adams asked in disbelief. He always thought William was joking!
But looking at William’s current appearance, it doesn’t look like he was joking!
"It's not nutritious!" William rolled his eyes at Adams.
Adams was silent, while Knight West on the other side seemed to have heard a big joke. His eyes swept over the mountains of dirt and limestone at the entrance of the village, and said, "I have to say, Lord Baron, your courage makes me proud."
I marveled, this can no longer be called bravery, perhaps it should be called stupidity."
"Lord Baron, your stupid bravery is really shocking!" Knight West said unscrupulously.
Old John was so angry that he gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do!
However, William's face still looked calm, not affected by the ridicule at all.
This made Knight West's heart feel a little hazy, and he even felt a little bit...unpleasant!
Knight West thought for a while and then said, "Lord Baron, please forgive my presumption, do you plan to use those soils to defend against the attacks of monsters deep in the dark forest? Do you plan to use those stones to counterattack them?"
"I have to say, this is a genius idea! Hahahahaha..." Knight West couldn't help laughing wildly.
Even the two knights next to him had contemptuous smiles on their lips.
William had always behaved very calmly, even indifferently. He looked coldly at Knight West and laughed wildly.
Everyone in the audience was watching West Knight laughing wildly.
Slowly, Knight West started to feel uncomfortable even as he smiled.
All in all, it was a very unpleasant feeling. He closed his mouth suddenly and roared, "Okay, you untouchables, hurry up, or you can stay here with your lords for the winter!"
"
Adams felt nervous and did not dare to delay any longer. He opened his mouth and said apologetically to William, "Baron, I'm sorry, we can only meet again next year! I'm really sorry!"
"No, you don't need to be sorry, because I don't want to see you next year either!" William said without mercy.
After hearing this, Knight West also added, "Yes, you may not be able to see your Baron next year, hahaha..." Knight West laughed heartily.
William still looked indifferent, which made the anger in Knight West's heart thicker.
"Lord Baron, my children, Kyle Adams and Rick Adams, will also come with me!" Adams whispered again, he really didn't have much confidence.
"As long as they are willing!" William was also very generous.
What he wants is a loyal guard, not a dangerous mine.
And Adams's behavior is just laying a minefield!
It’s better to send it off early!
"Thank you, Lord Baron, you are a good lord!" Adams said to William with complicated eyes, and then looked at the guards behind him, "Kyle, Rick! Come out!"
The other members of the escort were looking at Adams' two sons silently. They hesitated for a moment, then stood up and whispered to William, "Baron, I'm sorry!"
"I'm sorry, Lord Baron!"
"Yeah!" William cherished his words like gold.
On the other hand, Jacques Porter and Derek John looked very angry.
Jacques Porter stood up angrily and scolded Adams' two sons, "You two traitors, how many resources has the Baron invested in you?"
Kyle Adams and Rick Adams lowered their heads and dared not face Jacques Porter.
"Jacques!" William suddenly shouted, "Ignore discipline and be punished by running five times around the village! Now!"
"Lord Baron..." Jacques Porter looked at William's cold face, glared hard at Kyle Adams and Rick Adams, and then ran out of the village with heavy breathing.
!
Knight West looked at this scene amusingly, and he looked down on William a little bit in his heart. He even punished those who thought about himself. No wonder he was called the Child Baron by the Viscount!
He rolled his eyes and said lazily, "Is there anyone else? If not, we'll leave!"
"Yes, Sir Knight, please give us a little more time." Adams was the most active after hearing this. While responding to Knight West's words, he searched the crowd with his eyes.
"What are you waiting for? Do you really want to spend the winter in the small village of Nisei?" Adams said to all the villagers.
Only when more people leave together can William compromise and Adams feel at ease!
"Mr. Adams, I have to remind you that if you paid the entry fee to the people of Patras today, then you are not a citizen of my Decas Territory. Take your property and get out! Your land will be taken back!"
Kyle, Rick, take off your uniforms and boots, you are not worthy of wearing them, and put down your swords and shields!"
William interrupted Adams with indifferent eyes.
Kyle and Rick's faces turned pale, and their original luck was gone. Under the gaze of William and others, they had to slowly take off things that did not belong to them.
Adams's face was also ugly, green and red at first, but he quickly adjusted. He didn't know whether he was mocking himself or comforting himself and said, "Life is far more important than property! Lord Baron, I value these things more."
He and his family’s life! After all, as long as life is still there, then the future will still be there! If life is gone, even if the land is still there, it has nothing to do with him.”
Adams said this to himself, to William, and to other villagers.
As the villagers listened to his words, the argument became louder.
Adams couldn't help but reveal a proud smile.
However, William's indifferent words, "This is your freedom!" made Adams's joy disappear without a trace.
A trace of annoyance flashed in his eyes, and he decided to add more fire, even at the risk of seriously offending William.
"Mr. Smith, Mr. Collis, Mr. Shust, Andrew, Mr. Flake, what are you waiting for? Opportunities are not always there! It's time to make a decision! Life or death?"
Adams was talking about the big families in the village. Their land combined accounted for 60% of the village. This is not a small figure.