e-booksonline Chapter 4 The Master Wants to Speak
Chapter 4 The Master Wants to Speak
After traveling for more than ten days and passing through several towns, the team finally officially entered the wilderness today.
This wild land welcomed its new owner in the simplest way.
—The cold wind howls, and the desolate silence is palpable.
Richard did not immediately find a place to unload his supplies and rest, but instead stood on the Grand Canal facing the serfs.
Some things to say.
We need to tell them in advance.
...
The serfs did not look well.
Many people's ankles and wrists were frozen purple, and some of the older people had lost all color in their lips and were shivering slightly all over.
Their eyes held no expectation for the new territory, only numbness and despair.
Having spent their entire lives working the land, they were all "agricultural experts of the old era."
Just one glance.
I knew that farming in such a place would be extremely difficult and yield very limited results.
In this way...
For his own benefit, the lord would certainly cut back on their rations, squeezing every last bit of nutrition from their stomachs, leaving only scraps that would keep them alive but not kill them.
That's what Wade thought.
He mingled among the serfs, secretly glancing at the young lord standing on the monster's back, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Having been sold into slavery five times, he knew all too well the true colors of the lords.
But what can we do?
The land is vast.
But they had nowhere to go.
Anyone who dares to run away will die—either hanged by imperial soldiers or bitten to death by wild monsters.
Revolt?
What can we use to resist?
Use your weak and powerless body to test the sharpness of the swords in the guards' hands.
Or should we compare which is harder, the body or the teeth of that terrifying monster?
Such thoughts are unacceptable!
Now that he's come to this desolate wasteland, he's even prepared to eat grass roots every day.
That's all we can do.
One can only hope that the new master's whip will be gentler.
Don't be like the third lord, who, because of low yields, used a salt-soaked whip to severely lash his rotten backside.
In this kind of weather.
Abrasive wounds are difficult to heal, which can affect subsequent work.
At this time.
Wade noticed the young lord standing atop the terrifying monster, slowly sweeping his gaze across the serf ranks, his eyes icy. The serfs all lowered their heads.
Wade quickly shrank his neck as well.
Slump in the back.
Try to make yourself as inconspicuous as possible.
—Listen up, all of you!
The authoritative voice traveled through the cold wind to everyone's ears.
Oh...
The master is about to speak.
Wade straightened his back, widened his eyes, and pretended to listen attentively.
Based on past experience.
You must stand up straight to listen when the lord speaks.
Anyone who dares to hunch over or fail to applaud after a speech will surely be whipped.
The other older serfs were all like that.
Only those young lads dared to peek around and look about.
Youth is wonderful...
Aside from the lingering poop, his buttocks were white and tender, just like the legendary refined wheat bread.
Wait until you get a few lashes.
When their white buttocks turn into painted buttocks, they learn to behave.
but...
In fact, Wade knew that no one was looking forward to what the lord was about to say; he always started with the same line.
—"Work hard and do not run away, or you will be executed."
It is only after this sentence that the lords will have something new to say.
They would specify the method of execution: hanging, beating, drowning, burning, or starving to death, using various methods to threaten and intimidate the serfs.
What this gentleman is about to say is likely the same; there can be no difference.
Here it comes!
The new master has spoken!
He said.
"Everything you have belongs to me."
Wade almost laughed.
Hi!
if not?
Everything is yours, even your life. If your heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys could be exchanged for money, you'd probably rip them out too.
...
However, Wade couldn't quite understand what came next.
—"I will implement a work point system."
Work point system...?
What is that?
Wade quietly exchanged a glance with the serf brother next to him, but both of them only had confusion in their eyes.
Sudden.
He caught a glimpse of the master's gaze sweeping over him out of the corner of his eye, so he quickly feigned surprise to fool him.
The master continued speaking.
"You can earn a few work points by completing my requirements each day."
Oh...
But what's the use of work points anyway?
The master quickly answered his question.
他 说:
—"Work points can be exchanged for food."
Yo!
That's something new!
Honestly, these lords have an endless variety of ways to exploit people!
Wade looked down at his rough hands, covered in chilblains and calluses, and smiled silently.
He toiled on five different plots of land and endured four different kinds of salt water whips.
It is known that each territory treats serfs differently.
In wealthy territories with high land productivity, the lord collects 80% as tax, leaving the remaining 20% to the serfs.
In territories with lower yields, the lord collects 60% as tax, leaving 40% for the serfs.
In barren territories with extremely low yields, the lord collects 30% as tax, leaving the remaining 70% to the serfs.
...
In the end...
He got it!
Regardless of which lord it is or what distribution method is used, it's really just a different way of saying it and a different name.
Final result.
The portion left for the serfs was always carefully calculated, and it was always just enough for them to barely survive a life of half-starvation.
Yes.
The lords would never allow them to be well-fed.
otherwise...
Then they would have the strength to resist...
Just as Wade was feeling melancholy about realizing the philosophy of serfdom, a sparse clapping sounded beside him.
One of Wade's serf brothers nudged his arm, signaling him to clap his hands.
It turned out that the master was so thirsty from talking that he was drinking water from a leather water bag.
Oh...
What a pampered old man...
Wade immediately clapped.
But inwardly, he was complaining.
When will you finally finish telling this story?
It's getting late.
Let's get to work!
The wind blowing from the snow-capped mountains was freezing cold; only working could warm up my body.
...
The old man finished moistening his throat.
The speech continued.
Let's still talk about work points.
他 说:
—"Every point can be exchanged for one kilogram of grain."
oops...
Okay, okay...
It's just a new form of exploitation...
Um...?
wrong!
One work point can be exchanged for one kilogram of grain!?
Wade was taken aback, thinking he had misheard, and quickly turned to ask the serf brothers beside him in a low voice.
"Hey, hey..."
"Didn't the master just say that we'd get a few work points for a day's work?"
"I guess so, I wasn't really listening..."
Wade cursed under his breath.
How dare you daydream while the master is speaking! Are you craving salt water whip?!
Unable to get any definite information from the deaf man, he became anxious and began to look around.
He noticed that everyone was whispering among themselves, seemingly wanting to know the answer to the question, just like him.
They whispered and buzzed softly, like a swarm of bees preparing to feed.