kingnovel Chapter 1149 Bloodstains Found at the West Gate
Chapter 1149 Bloodstains Found at the West Gate
Just as Leng Rongyue and Xiao Jingyu had predicted, Dongchang Prefecture was indeed on the verge of chaos.
The constables patrolling the streets are inspecting the area...
He claimed to be inspecting the streets, but all he did was grab a few meat buns from a stall on the east side and eat them.
He grabbed a pancake from a stall on the west side and started eating it.
The freshly cooked wontons were snatched up by the customers before the vendor could even hand them to them, and they ate and drank them, then threw back an empty bowl and left.
Pay me? That's impossible!
The street vendors were all angry but dared not speak out against their behavior.
How could they dare offend these officials and yamen runners who were even more unreasonable than bandits!
After all, they still have to make a living here!
There was nothing they could do but swallow their anger!
However, as the officers walked and observed... they soon realized something was amiss...
They noticed that the expressions on the faces of the people coming from the west gate were quite different from usual!
In the past, people entering the city, especially those carrying baskets or loads, would feel as if they had been skinned alive after passing through that city gate!
The people were either crying out in pain, or looking gloomy and distressed!
But today, they all wore expressions of surprise!
They'll definitely be pleasantly surprised!
Entering the city gates of Dongchang Prefecture was unimpeded!
Not only did we no longer have to pay so many city entry fees, and no longer have to be skinned alive and have our profits taken, we didn't even see one of those shrewish, arrogant yamen runners and officials who used to be so loud and domineering!
That city gate, that former gateway to hell, is now open and bright. People entering the city are as if in a dream, and in a daze they have already passed through the city gate and entered the city of Dongchang Prefecture!
When they finally realized that they had entered the city without spending a single penny, how could they not be overjoyed and smile!
However, the expressions of surprise and joy on everyone's faces did not seem so to the patrolling constables.
An official reached out and stopped a middle-aged man carrying a load on a shoulder pole. "You, stop right there!"
"I'm asking you, are you new to the city?"
The man who was stopped saw that it was an official from the government office who had stopped him to ask questions. How could he not answer properly? He quickly put down his load and replied with a smile, "Yes, sir, I just entered the city."
"May I ask, sir, what brings you here?"
"I'm asking you, what's making you all so happy?"
Everyone was all smiles...
But what good thing happened that Master doesn't know about?
As he asked the question, the official pointed to the people who were also walking from the direction of the west gate.
That man came later.
He had no idea what had happened at the city gate before.
All he knew was that he entered the city without any hindrance, no one charged him a city fee, and no one took a cut. He saved more than ten coins today!
So he asked the question that was on his mind.
"Sir, do you really not know?"
How could you not know?
The officer glared at the man, somewhat annoyed. "What are you babbling about!"
"Just answer my questions. What do I need to know?"
The man was also puzzled. Logically, the city entrance fee and commission were no longer being collected; this should be the government's decision!
How could an official in the government not know this!
So he hurriedly said, "Sir, it's like this. In the past, when we commoners entered the city, we had to pay an entrance fee of five coins each. If we wanted to sell something in the city, we had to pay a commission first."
Today is great! There are no officials collecting city fees or taking a cut at the city gates, and no officials blocking our way. Not only can we commoners enter the city freely, but we can also save a lot of copper coins!
The officials and the prefect have truly done good deeds and accumulated merit!
As the man spoke, he repeatedly bowed and thanked the officials.
"What did you say?
There was no official revenue or city fee.
"Aren't there any officials guarding the city gates?"
The officer was so astonished by what the man said that he could hardly believe his ears!
The officer thought he had misheard, so he raised his hand to clean his ear and asked another question.
The man opposite him nodded repeatedly, just like before, confirming once again that everything he had said was true.
The officers looked at each other, then, without asking any more questions, abandoned the man and ran quickly toward the city gate.
As I ran toward the city gate, I saw people entering the city, all with the same look of surprise on their faces.
The group dared not delay any longer and quickened their pace toward the city gate.
When they passed through the barbican and reached the outer city gate, they were immediately dumbfounded...
Just as that man said, not only are there no more official fees or commissions, but even the tables and chairs that used to be placed at the city gate every day have disappeared!
Of course it's gone!
Not to mention the tables and chairs, even the people and the tables and chairs... even the basket containing the city entrance fee and commission, were all put into Leng Rongyue's spatial storage!
"Ah! Blood!"
Suddenly, the officer at the front cried out in surprise, then hurriedly backed away, and then turned around and ran back. As a result, he bumped headfirst into the officer behind him!
The official who was hit stumbled and almost fell over.