Chapter 264: Suppression

Chapter 264: Suppression

Throughout the night, there were no disturbances. The following morning, Paul, with bloodshot and reddened eyes, announced his subsequent measures to everyone: If the rioters refused the final ultimatum, he authorized the martial law troops to use all available means to quell the unrest, including the use of muskets and cannons. Since those involved in the riot had lost their reason, it was unlikely that they could be pacified without harm.

Sitting on the throne of a feudal lord required the resolve of one. Even if failure was inevitable, Paul motivated himself, determined not to end like the locksmith king who died humiliated by his subjects due to his constant compromises and retreats.

Members of the Administration Council and the military praised the lord’s ‘wise decision’. The arrival of Gedwin and other salt field owners further strengthened his resolve.

“Lord Count, please stand up for us!”

Gedwin and the others threw themselves on the ground, sobbing loudly. Their disheveled appearance indicated they had come to Lakeheart Town overnight.

“The rioters destroyed our salt fields by the sea! They also killed many workers. Please, send the troops to capture and hang them all!”

Through the tearful pleas of the salt field owners, Paul realized the gravity of the situation had worsened.

“We had to come to you because your naval commander insisted on waiting for your orders before deploying his forces.”

Gedwin’s tone revealed his strong dissatisfaction with Austin. If Austin had been more flexible, the riot would have been nipped in the bud, and he wouldn’t have suffered such losses.

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“Report! Lakeheart Town has authorized us to use all feasible means to suppress the riot.”

Captain Quik, who personally led the sailors to block the roads, received the written order from the messenger.Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

Last night, they received orders from Lakeheart Town via a falcon – to isolate the riot area and then wait for further instructions.

The navy sprang into action. Divided into units based on their ships, with more than a hundred men per ship, they blocked all the roads.

“All personnel, assemble!”

Following Quik’s command, the sailors on the Southern number quickly formed ranks.

“Our next target is Faber Village. According to the orders, we must quickly restore order there!”

Quik waved his hand, “Move out!”

Someone asked, “But isn’t the tax set by the lord?”

Kevin explained, “I’ve told you before, Baden is just a tax farmer. He’s contracted the tax collection for our region. The lord’s mansion only collects a fixed tax from him, but the actual tax he collects from us is far more than what he pays to the lord’s mansion. The difference naturally goes into his own pocket.”

Seeing the people still hesitant, Kevin urgently persuaded them, “We’ve already beaten his men. What are you hesitating for? We’ve caught Baden in a wrongdoing. We must seize this opportunity to force him to reduce taxes, or else we’ll go to Lakeheart Town and report him.”

Another person asked, “Then why don’t we directly go to Lakeheart Town to report him?”

Kevin explained, “Baden is the one who set the private tax. If the lord’s mansion changes the tax farmer, we will have no bargaining chips with the new one. All tax farmers are the same; the new one will also want to make a big profit from us. It’s better to keep Baden, exchange not exposing him, and let him earn a bit in return for reducing our taxes.”

“That’s a good idea!”

“I think this method will work!”

More and more people began to support Kevin, and gradually everyone sided with him.

They had no choice; everyone wanted to avoid offending the powerful landlord, but life was getting harder. The imposition of a non-existent ‘war tax’ made survival even more difficult.

Better to fight than to starve to death.

Seeing his proposal gain support, Kevin arranged for people to carry away and treat the unconscious henchmen of Baden’s family lying on the ground. Although he despised these lackeys, they were important living evidence and couldn’t just be left to die.

Someone suggested, “Baden’s family is large and has many henchmen. Our single village is too weak. But other villages are also oppressed by him. Why not persuade them to join us in confronting Baden?”

This idea was quickly unanimously agreed upon.

“Let’s go and get an explanation!”

“Expose the fraudster!”

Voices like these continually emerged from the crowd.

Thus, a team of young and strong villagers set out, swelling in numbers as they passed through other villages, with more people joining them.