Chapter 115

This was a region under the jurisdiction of Physician Xiao Ren.

There were only three noble families in this county, and the vast majority of the surrounding fertile land was controlled by these three families.

The three noble families were the Mi family, the Fang family, and the Chen family.

And the Chen family happened to be the maternal family of one of Xiao Ren's eighteen concubines.

He put the Chen family last, hoping to collect the taxes gently.

He put the most powerful family in the county, the Mi family, first.

Because he had some grievances with the Mi family, he wanted to use them as the first target!

He was now here under imperial decree to collect taxes.

At the main gate of the Mi family mansion.

Xiao Ren arrived at the gate with two hundred soldiers, looking aggressive.

When the guards at the Mi mansion saw such a large formation and saw the soldiers from afar, they hurriedly ran into the mansion to notify the Master of the Mi family.

By the time Xiao Ren and his men stood at the main gate, the Master of the Mi family, Mi Shengtong, had also arrived at the gate.

Seeing so many soldiers gathered at his gate, the Master of the Mi family was somewhat at a loss.

He thought he had committed some mistake and the government had come for him.

But when he saw that the leader was Xiao Ren, his fear vanished instantly.

He had connections in the imperial court, and his official rank was much higher than Xiao Ren's.

Even seeing so many soldiers at his gate, he didn't flinch.

Because this was brought by that kid Xiao Ren, he had nothing to fear.

After all, Xiao Ren used to respectfully call him "Master Mi" whenever he saw him.

He had never given this Physician Xiao Ren a good look either.

After all, he had someone backing him from above; why should he fear a physician?

Moreover, in previous years when the physician came to collect taxes, he often found excuses to push it off.

He didn't even want to pay the taxes for one hundred mu of fertile land to Xiao Ren.

Making Xiao Ren return empty-handed every time.

Now, although Xiao Ren had come with soldiers, he didn't know what for.

But he, Mi Shengtong, was not afraid; he was a noble, and soldiers couldn't kill him without cause.

In this county, his Mi family had never feared anyone.

"Yo, isn't this Physician Xiao?"

"What wind blew you to the Mi family mansion today?"

"What's the matter? Why bring so many soldiers here?"

Mi Shengtong's tone was flippant; even with many soldiers in front of him, he didn't take Xiao Ren seriously at all.

If this Xiao Ren dared to lay a hand on him, he wouldn't need to keep his official position anymore.

"Mi Shengtong, I hope you can still laugh in a moment!"

Xiao Ren sneered, muttering excitedly to himself.

"Mi Shengtong, today I am here to collect taxes."

"You don't need to say anything; just pay up honestly."

"I'm in a bit of a hurry; after collecting from your family, I have to go to the next one!"

Xiao Ren felt annoyed just looking at Mi Shengtong's appearance.

Mi Shengtong had a lecherous face, small round rat-like eyes, and two thin mustaches on his lips.

His laughter was sharp and piercing, making people shudder.

He actually hoped that Mi Shengtong wouldn't be in a hurry to pay the taxes.

That way, he could use violence to collect the taxes with a clear conscience.

With two hundred soldiers in hand, it would be a waste not to use them.

Anyway, during the tax collection period, these soldiers would listen to him.

"What did you say? Did I hear you right?"

Mi Shengtong picked his ear with his finger, indicating he didn't hear clearly.

His brows furrowed slightly.

This kid Xiao Ren actually dared to call him by his name.

This made him curious; was it because he brought soldiers that his back had straightened?

Xiao Ren smiled and spat out four words lightly.

"Collect the taxes."

"Collect the taxes? Didn't I say there weren't any before?"

"There's been a drought recently, and the fields have no harvest. Where am I supposed to get the taxes to pay you?"

"Besides, wasn't this matter reported long ago?"

He also knew that the imperial court was reforming tax collection recently, especially regarding nobles.

He had been worried and afraid before, but the person above him told him not to be afraid.

After a while, it would all blow over.

Now seeing Xiao Ren come to collect taxes, he didn't feel surprised.

If he didn't pay the taxes, Xiao Ren couldn't do anything to him!

Who told him he had someone backing him from above?

"Reported? The fertile land had a bumper harvest, yet you still refuse to pay taxes."

"Although there is a drought now, the fertile land shouldn't be completely barren."

Xiao Ren didn't believe Mi Shengtong's words.

"Physician Xiao, please go back!"

"The harvest this year is bad; I really have no money to pay taxes."

Mi Shengtong was getting impatient; he had a concubine waiting for him to dote on her.

Just now, hearing the servants say many soldiers had come to the door, he had left his concubine and run out.

He had left his concubine behind, and now that he saw it was Xiao Ren, he just wanted to send him away as quickly as possible.

So he could go back and get intimate with his concubine.

After all, he was getting on in years, and the occasional interest didn't come often; he had to seize the opportunity.

Xiao Ren felt nothing inside upon hearing this; he even wanted to laugh and almost couldn't hold it in.

He remained unmoved; he knew exactly what kind of person Mi Shengtong was.

But what Mi Shengtong didn't know was that Xiao Ren had come here this time prepared to collect taxes by force.

He wouldn't be as gentle as before, when he returned empty-handed every time.