What's meant to come will come, and what's meant to leave can't be kept.
Henry's matter had barely passed when the village chief immediately heard more bad news: the lord's Tax Collector had arrived ahead of schedule.
"This isn't a tax collector, it's a death sentence," the village chief muttered to himself, just as the chubby Tax Collector pushed open the door and walked in.
"Village Chief, we meet again." The chubby Tax Collector greeted him with a smile.
"Yes, sir, it's a pleasure to see you again," the village chief replied with a smile.
"Village chief, lying is not a good idea. I don't see any happiness on your face," the chubby Tax Collector said with a smile.
The village chief laughed again, but the wrinkles on his face seemed to have increased as he laughed.
"Yes, this is how you should welcome me." The chubby Tax Collector seemed satisfied with the village chief's performance and casually found a place to sit down.
"Excuse me, sir, what brings you here today?"
"Don't be nervous about small things."
"Hmm," the village chief responded.
The atmosphere in the room was both quiet and tense.
"Sir, there have been some people in the village recently..."
"Village Chief, let's not worry about these trivial matters for now. We have more important things to discuss," the chubby Tax Collector said after glancing at the village chief.
"You probably know that other lords wanted to seize our salt mines, but we were very powerful and drove them away. Since we're so powerful, it's reasonable for us to take some of their Copper Mine, isn't it?"
"That makes sense, that makes sense," the village chief quickly nodded in agreement.
"Hmm, the village chief is very reasonable. Right now, the lord's warriors are short of food, so it's only fair that they ask you for some! After all, they're the ones who protected the salt you're eating." The chubby Tax Collector glanced at the village chief again.
"That's reasonable, very reasonable."
"Hmm, I think the village chief's words make sense. So how long will it take to hand over the tax revenue to me?"
"Sir, the crops in the fields will be ready for harvest soon, in at most half a month."
"Oh, this is not good news. Half a month later, all of the lord's warriors starved to death." The chubby Tax Collector looked at the village chief again.
"Sir, what do you suggest we do? We can't do anything if it's not ripe yet."
What are you eating?
" Black bread ".
"Just collect your food first, that's all."
"ah?"
"What? I don't have time to argue with you. Hurry up and finish collecting it in three days, or you'll lose your head. The lord's longsword is not something to be trifled with."
"Yes, sir, I'll go collect it right away." The village chief said, and then went out to collect the taxes.
"Wait a minute," the chubby Tax Collector called out to the village chief.
"Sir, is there anything else?" The village chief's heart jumped again.
"Yes, village chief, the lord wants to take down the Copper Mine as soon as possible, so he needs more warriors. Your village doesn't have many people, so send five of the stronger ones!"
The chubby Tax Collector glanced at the village chief again.
"This..." The village chief didn't know what to say.
"Village chief, forget about this and that, get these two things done within three days."
The chubby Tax Collector stood up, looking like he was about to leave, and the village chief quickly got up to open the door.
"I can go by myself. You just need to get things done quickly. I need to go to the village next door now. I'll come back in three days."
"Yes, sir."
The village chief watched as Tax Collector's plump body left the earthen house.
"Village chief, is the tax collector here to collect taxes after the autumn harvest?" A villager came running in, panting, just as the tax collector left.
No.
"No? Are they here to play?" The villager who ran in asked, somewhat puzzled.
"It's about levying the current taxes and recruiting soldiers incidentally."
"ah?"
"Oh, what? Go and spread the word. Get it done within two days."