The First Marquis of Daxuan

Chapter 7 Blackmail
"There really is no such thing as pie in the sky. Even if there is, it won't fall on my head."

Su Mu looked at the wasteland overgrown with weeds in front of him and couldn't help but sigh.

Five hundred coins can get you a household registration in Wuling City, and you can also get an acre of land. How great would that be if there were no pitfalls?

But if there was no pit, it would never have happened to refugees like Su Mu.

This acre of land is basically uncultivated wasteland. Not to mention how much effort it takes to reclaim wasteland, the annual land tax of this acre of land is enough to give Su Mu a headache.

The land tax in Daxuan was one liter and six grains per mu, equivalent to one qian and seven fen of silver, or one hundred and seventy wen and three zhu coins.

This is compulsory. If you don't pay it, you will be sentenced to forced labor at the very least, and exiled at the worst.

In other words, from the moment he exchanged his household registration, Su Mu had to work like a slave for Wuling City.

"The annual land tax is 170 wen, how much can one mu of land harvest in a year?"

Su Mu cursed in his heart.

"If I didn't need an identity, anyone could have this crappy household registration!"

Su Mu sat on the edge of the field, looking at the wasteland that belonged to him. Regardless of whether the wasteland was reclaimed or not, the land tax had to be paid in full.

[Name: Su Mu]

[Identity: Hunter (white body)]

【Points: 11】

[Martial Arts: Fu Bo Sword Technique (Beginner)]

Su Mu looked at the panel in front of him. If his identity had not changed from a refugee to a commoner, this household registration would really be worse than having nothing.

“Let the land lie idle, you can’t really be a farmer, right?

Just pay the land tax. It's not difficult to make money from your talent as a hunter.

When I have perfected my sword skills, I will find an opportunity to obtain an identity and be exempted from taxes."

Su Mu thought for a while, and seeing that it was getting dark, he did not dare to delay and got up and walked towards the city.

It's okay during the day, but after dark, there are dangers everywhere outside the city, with robbers and bandits roaming around, and you're more likely to encounter demons.

Su Mu originally went out of the city this time just to take a look at the piece of land allocated to him, but now he has completely given up.

It’s better to just practice swordplay honestly, there’s no future in farming.

As I was walking quickly, three people suddenly came towards me.

"Master Zhang?"

Su Mu was thinking about something with his head down, and subconsciously dodged to the side, but a hand reached out and stopped him.

Su Mu looked up and said with some surprise.

The person who stopped him was Zhang Chong, the small leader of the Chai Gang.

"Su Mu."

Zhang Chong looked at Su Mu with an unhappy expression, "I heard someone say that you became a naturalized citizen?

You are going out of town this time to see the land that was allocated to you, right? How about it, do you feel great?"

"Master Zhang, you will understand."

Su Mu was very humble and smiled bitterly, "It's just a piece of wasteland. It will take several months to cultivate it. I don't have enough time to cultivate it this year, but the land tax still needs to be paid. I'm worried."

"worry?"

Zhang Chong sneered, "Since you have the money to become a citizen, why do you still care about the land tax? I think you are secretly happy in your heart."

"Master Zhang, don't you know my ability? The money for naturalization was all given by Master Zhang. Now that I'm a naturalized citizen, I have almost no money left."

Su Mu said.

"is it?"

Zhang Chong's face was grim, "I gave you a chance."

"Master Zhang, what do you mean?"

Su Mu said in some surprise.

"Let me remind you again."

Zhang Chong sneered, "Two months ago, Mr. Zhao from Pingkangfang was murdered in the south city, and all his belongings were looted. That day, you did not go out of the city to chop firewood."

Su Mu was stunned.

You are just a small leader of the Chai Gang. When did you change your career to solving cases?

Are you doubting me?

"I had a fever that day."

Su Mu explained.

Zhang Chong sneered twice in response and continued, "A month ago, three beggars were killed in the dilapidated temple where you lived." Su Mu's pupils shrank slightly.

It was my first time killing someone, so my skills were a bit shabby and I couldn’t resist the investigation of someone with ulterior motives.

"You, Su Mu, have earned a total of 572 coins from selling firewood in the past few months."

Zhang Chong stared at Su Mu and shouted, "Even if you only spend three coins a day, you can only save four hundred coins at most now. Why do you want to change your household registration?"

Su Mu sold firewood through Zhang Chong, and Zhang Chong knew exactly how much money he made.

Su Mu didn't expect that a gangster could have such a meticulous mind.

"When I'm not chopping wood, I occasionally shoot a couple of rabbits to sell for money."

Su Mu sighed and said.

"Make it up, keep making it up."

Zhang Chong folded his hands and looked at Su Mu with a mocking expression.

"Su Mu, from your frail appearance, I didn't realize that you are so skilled at killing and looting."

A man next to Zhang Chong spoke.

"Things like murder and looting are the responsibility of the government, not ours. But the rules of the underworld are—"

Another man rubbed his fingers.

"Master Zhang, this is not a gift of respect, please accept it."

Su Mu took out ten cents from his pocket and handed it over.

Snapped!
Zhang Chong slapped Su Mu's hand, and ten three-zhu coins fell to the ground.

"Su Mu, you don't want to drink my toast, so I'll drink the wine for you."

Zhang Chong said coldly, "You used my money to get naturalization and I haven't settled accounts with you yet. Now you want to use this little money to get away with it?"

Your money?
Su Mu felt a chill in his heart. What a bastard, so fucking greedy!
Let's not talk about whether I killed people or looted goods. Even if I did, what does it have to do with you, Zhang Chong? How did my money become yours?

"Su Mu, don't say that Master Zhang didn't give you a way out."

Zhang Chong's lackey pinched his waist and said, "You have made at least 20 taels of silver from killing people and looting these days.

Now if you take out twenty taels, everything will be fine."

"I'll give you half a month to earn back the 500 wen you need to buy your household registration."

Zhang Chong glared at the lackey with some dissatisfaction. You don’t want the five hundred coins?
"Yes! Master Zhang is very generous and will not charge you interest. However, since you spent Master Zhang's money, you must earn it back for Master Zhang!"

The lackey quickly made amends.

The three of them spoke in unison and quickly made their purpose clear.

Even though Su Mu could bear it, he was now furious.

This is blatant extortion. They are clearly treating me as a lamb to be slaughtered!
"Master Zhang, I really don't have the guts to kill people and rob people. The money for naturalization was all saved up by me with great difficulty."

Su Mu half bowed and smiled apologetically, "After changing my household registration, I only have twelve coins left, Master Zhang, you can take it all.

The 500 coins for changing your household registration are considered as something I borrowed from Master Zhang. I will definitely find a way to return it to Master Zhang within half a month!"

He thought it over again and again and decided to endure it.

He has not yet mastered the swordsmanship, so he may not be able to defeat these three young and strong thugs.

"Su Mu, I said twenty taels and five hundred coins. Did you not hear clearly, or are you deaf?"

Zhang Chong said coldly, "I don't think you will cry until you see the coffin.

You two, wake him up."

Zhang Chong waved his hand.

The two men immediately rubbed their hands together and walked towards Su Mu with grim smiles on their faces.

"Master Zhang, let's talk!"

Su Mu took a step back.

"What the hell!"

Zhang Chong cursed, "I gave you a chance but you didn't use it. Now, either put twenty taels of silver in front of me immediately, or I will loosen your bones, break your arms and legs to make you sober."

As he spoke, his two men had already placed their hands on Su Mu's shoulders, with their empty hands raised high and clenched fists ready to strike.

"Why do you have to force me?"

Su Mu's heart gradually became gloomy, and there was a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.

…………

(End of this chapter)