I led the Goblin Culture to victory.

Chapter 178 Excess Taxation

Is this considered caring?

The saintess felt something was off.

However, she didn't know either.

"The only problem is that this family no longer has the ability to withstand risks."

Li Mosi shook her head and then spoke.

"The woman still seems strong enough to work, but her health is failing. The man's leg is broken, and the two remaining children are only capable of basic self-care. Any further problems could break this family apart."

"That's right."

Li Mosi nodded in agreement when she saw that Haki had been silent the whole way.

"It's already very lucky to be able to have a child at this age."

She simply couldn't say anything more.

I thought that since the lords here had all trespassed on the forbidden area, even if it was just to keep quiet, they would at least give some benefits to the people.

But now it seems that not only were the profits not shared with them, but many strange taxes were inexplicably added.

She doesn't understand.

Seeing that she had shut up and stopped talking, Li Mosi turned to look at Farol.

"Of all the people I've seen along the way, it seems only that man recognized the church's insignia? And I haven't seen any churches here or in the surrounding knightly territories?"

"How could that be?!"

Haki Saint suddenly became excited again.

"I already said, the Church doesn't recognize knights as nobles! They were just appointed by local nobles without their consent!"

Did I ask you to speak?

Li Moss covered Hagi Saint's mouth and looked at Farol, waiting for his answer.

"Sir, I don't know the answer to the second question."

He carefully lowered his head, avoiding looking at the incomprehensible interaction between the two.

"As for the first question, all I know is that since the second generation of Valos Knights inherited the territory more than forty years ago, we have been forbidden from going to Taris Town to contact the church."

"Now only a few of us old folks know anything about the church; the vast majority of the people have only heard that such a place exists."

You can play it like this?

Li Mosi didn't know what to say.

Does being high above the heavens and far from the Holy See mean one can do whatever one wants?

Why is this happening?!

It's been so many years, why didn't the local pastor report it?

The lords here should have been exterminated as heretics long ago!

"Hmm!"

Li Mos quickly suppressed the slightly flushed Hagi Saint.

As he struggled with Haki Saint's head, which was twisting from side to side, he continued to ask, "What happened back then?"

Upon hearing his question, the saintess frowned and stopped making a fuss.

"Back then..."

Farol made a recollection gesture.

"Nothing happened at that time, but the following year, a lot of slaves suddenly appeared in our territory."

What else is there to say?

Case solved.

Li Mosi vaguely guessed the cause and effect.

Clearly, Farol, who could link these two events together, was aware of the inside story.

Zi Yi looked at the next house they were about to approach and quickly asked a question.

"Doesn't that church know about this? Didn't you tell them?"

He remembered his late teacher saying that the church was a very, very large tribe, and now it seemed that it was much stronger than the few nobles they had defeated.

Why were these nobles able to break away from the church?

It's like when his tribe split up a few years ago.

Even after the tribe split up, he could easily recall many of his people.

If Longma runs that fast, that church should be able to do it too.

How could no one have tried to report it?

Farol shook his head.

"Several people tried to sneak off and report it. Then they disappeared, and their families were sold into slavery. I only learned some of what happened a few years ago when I started working for the steward."

Li Mo thought of what Ziwang had said.

The priest and the baron in Talis are in cahoots.

It must be said that Baron Talis is indeed a remarkable figure.

I just really love the F2A's combat aspect.

"Um."

Zi'an was puzzled for a while, then suddenly remembered a question.

"How did that family get into that mess?"

No.

Li Mosi then realized just how exhausted Zi'an had become.

I walked quickly to the next shop before remembering the problem at the previous one.

Farol shook his head: "That must have happened a while ago. I was busy with other things and don't know anything about it."

Is there anything he doesn't know?

Ziyi and Zian raised their eyebrows.

Li Mosi expressed his understanding.

Farol was just a local notable, not a poverty alleviation cadre, and certainly didn't possess any supernatural powers like "Enjoying the Mountains and Rivers".

It's normal to be unaware of things when you're busy.

ga-

The wooden door of the house in front of them was pushed open, and the man who had just peeked out came out.

"Sir, I know about their family situation."

Li Mosi glanced at the young man.

This young man was probably of marriageable age in the area. He was dressed like an ordinary person, and his clothes were fairly complete, but he looked a bit too thin.

He nodded to the young man: "Go on."

"Yes, sir."

The young man's gaze swept over Zi'an and Ziyi before he answered.

"A while ago, they put pigs in the woods to eat acorns to fatten them up. But then the pigs got startled by something and bumped into Old Mushroom's leg, breaking his leg."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand to the side of his knee.

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand to the side of his knee.

Was that man called Old Mushroom?

Ziyi thought the name was strange.

But Li Mosi and Zi'an understood what the young man's gesture meant.

That man may never be able to stand up again!

After saying this, the young man rubbed his hands together somewhat awkwardly.

"Sir, my single tax..."

It's taxes again!

Upon hearing this word, Zi Yi instinctively gasped.

What kind of terrifying place is human territory?!

You have to pay taxes whether you mate or not, and you have to pay taxes even when you have a baby!

No wonder there are only a little over a hundred people in so many fields!

The fields he sees now are already four times the size of the fields on the edge of the tribe!

If the tribe does this, it's no wonder everyone will run away!

It's too late for nobles to die now!

wrong.

The nobles of this territory are not dead yet!

Li Moss was not surprised by this tax category.

He asked the young man before him, "Are you an adult?"

"Yes, sir."

The young man nodded and glanced at Farol beside him.

"I will come of age this winter."

"Then we'll waive your single tax for this year. Show us the house."

"Yes! Thank you, sir! Thank you for your kindness! Thank you!"

The young man thanked them profusely and led them into the earthen house.

After hearing about his family situation, Li Mosi finally understood why he was so happy.

His parents died of malaria after the autumn harvest, and if he paid the single tax, his food reserves would not be enough to get him through the winter.

After they finished looking around, the group left the house.

With the young people expressing their gratitude, they continued on to the next place.

Soon, they had seen all the families along West Road.

The group arrived at the crossroads again, and Farol led them toward the south road.

Until they reached the southernmost point, they saw no more tragic situations than they had expected.

Most people are still able to struggle on the edge of survival.

Although they still felt somewhat uncomfortable, they gradually accepted the situation.

As Li Mosi walked, she saw the team guarding the southernmost end of the road.

"I still have work to do! Go directly to the main house and find my father!"

"My job is what the lord tells me to do!"

A tall, muscular man is arguing with the team.

However, he only dared to talk from a distance and did not dare to make any other moves.

"Chief! Someone here wants to leave!"

"Chief! This man wants to leave!"

Upon seeing Li Mosi and his group, the new tribesmen and goblins reported together.

"What leader? I need to fetch water... Dad!"

The tall, muscular man frowned and turned around. The moment he saw Farol, he jogged over to him.

"Dad! Why won't these people let me fetch water from the ditch? Uh, Lord."

The man's eyesight seemed poor; he only noticed Zian's armor when he got closer.

Li Moss looked at Farol: "Your son?"

"Yes." Farol nodded. "This is my son, Iron Hammer. Iron Hammer, this is our new lord."

Li Mosi looked Tiechui up and down.

He was naked from the waist up, wearing linen capri pants and soft leather shoes. His body was covered only by a leather apron stained with black ash and oil. His hair and eyes were brown, just like Farol's.

He turned to look at Farol: "Since we've run into each other, let's start by looking at your house."

What are you looking at?

Iron Hammer scratched his head.

Farol reached out and patted the hammer.

"The new lord is inspecting the territory; let's take them to our house first."

"Okay, Dad."

Iron Hammer didn't quite understand, but he was very obedient.

Farol had introduced it to them when they first set off on the South Road.

In the southernmost part of the Valos Knights Territory, the architectural logic here is different from that of other places.

Here, a long row of workshops stretches out along the ditch, with carpenters at the top and leatherworkers at the bottom.

The blacksmith shop was located right at the southernmost part of South Road.

Upon entering the blacksmith's workshop, the group, who had just finished working all night, smelled the aroma of wheat porridge.

"Gurgle~"

The little boy who had followed them all the way swallowed hard.

"Father!"

"grandfather!"

A woman about the size of a hammer and three children—one man and two women—looked over.

They were all wearing soft leather shoes.

Li Mosi looked at their dining table.

A large bowl of wheat porridge.

Gone.

That's it?

Li Mosi pointed to the porridge on the table: "Is porridge all you have to eat?"

He remembered that the blacksmith should be able to eat meat.

Especially now that it's after the autumn harvest!

Logically, this should be the time when they are at their richest.

"It's still that Varos!"

Iron Hammer got a little angry when he heard this.

"He collected more taxes this year than in the previous two years combined."