Chapter 85

Ask them to risk their lives?

In that instant, many commoners felt their scalps go numb.

Many commoners were deeply terrified!

But the nobles were laughing:

"Commoners will always be commoners; you are all lowly people, all inferior beings. Born, you are our nobles' slaves!"

"Hahahaha..."

He laughed loudly, recklessly, with utter audacity!

However, just as he was laughing happily, suddenly, a squad of garrison soldiers arrived. The moment that noble saw the garrison soldiers, he wanted to flee!

But... Huang Chao's gaze turned icy cold; he stepped forward and grabbed the other's collar!

"Did you just say the Xiaoguo Order?"

He asked, his gaze extremely cold!

And that noble, upon merely seeing those eyes, was so terrified his soul scattered! He waved his hands repeatedly: "No! No!"

Zhang Liang's eyes went straight to a commoner:

"What is the Xiaoguo Order?"

That commoner looked at Zhang Liang, daring not to speak!

Zhang Liang spoke gently and softly:

"Everyone, do not be afraid. We are special envoys sent by the New Emperor to collect taxes. Before we leave Outside Xianyanggong, the Emperor has granted us discretionary authority; we have the power to execute first and report later on any matter!"

"This Shangfang Sword was bestowed by the New Emperor!"

As he spoke, he raised the Shangfang Sword high above his head!

Hearing Zhang Liang's words and seeing the sword in Zhang Liang's hand, many people believed it was true!

Finally, someone spoke out the Xiaoguo Order!

"The so-called Xiaoguo Order means everyone must give up sixty percent of their grain to honor the state!"

"Sixty percent of the grain, to honor the state?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liang's eyes seemed ready to spit fire!

He inquired carefully and finally understood what the Xiaoguo Order was all about!

Although there was no proclamation issued by the imperial court regarding this matter, shortly after they learned of the general amnesty, they heard many nobles speak of the Xiaoguo Order.

That is to say, although taxes were exempted for three years, the commoners should still honor the state and feel gratitude toward the state!

Everyone should give up sixty percent of their grain to honor the state!

And after clarifying this point!

Zhang Liang's teeth clenched so tightly!

You must know, even when the imperial court collected taxes, it only took fifty percent.

But now, they actually demand sixty percent!

Plus the twenty percent land rent paid to the nobles, that means commoners must give away eighty percent of their grain every year!

With that pitiful twenty percent of grain, what could that possibly suffice for!

Forget feeding the whole family; even for one person to have enough to eat would be incredibly difficult!

He stared at a noble before him, his gaze icy cold as he said:

"The imperial court has never issued any Xiaoguo Order. You dare to slander the imperial court! You deserve death!"

Having finished speaking, his hand rose and his sword fell; with one strike, he severed that noble's head, letting it drop to the ground.

At the same time, he grabbed that noble's head and shouted toward the commoners:

"The imperial court has never had any so-called Xiaoguo Order. The grain you paid according to the Xiaoguo Order never entered the imperial court; it all went into the pockets of these nobles!"

"And the New Emperor's order to stop repairing the Great Wall was absolutely not to exploit you, but to return wealth to the people, allowing the commoners to rest and recuperate!"

"Even waging war against the Xiongnu has nothing to do with you. If the imperial court needs soldiers, it will only set up recruitment points in various regions. Those willing may sign up; those unwilling, the imperial court will absolutely not force conscription!"

"This is the New Emperor's iron law. Anyone daring to spread false edicts of the New Emperor, according to our Qin laws, must be executed!"

"From now on, any commoner who suffers oppression from nobles may take off their outer garment, go bare-chested into Xianyang City, and find the New Emperor to lodge a complaint!"

"Anyone entering Xianyang bare-chested may enter any government office or relay station seen along the way to eat, drink, and lodge. No imperial official may block them; no one may treat them lightly. Whoever dares to block them, whoever dares to treat them lightly, according to our Qin laws, will be executed without mercy!"

Zhang Liang spoke in a furious voice.

And the moment these words left his mouth, countless commoners cheered and leaped with joy, countless commoners frantically shouted the New Emperor's name!

"The New Emperor far surpasses the First Emperor!"

"May the New Emperor reign for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations!"

"Long live the New Emperor, eternal!"

In that moment, countless commoners were shouting, countless commoners were excited!

And seeing this scene, Zhang Liang smiled!

He smiled with utter joy.

Next, they would begin their actions!

Collect taxes!

Begin collecting taxes in Sanchuan Commandery!

And without a doubt, under Zhang Liang and Huang Chao's tax collection, the nobles of Sanchuan Commandery were in for trouble!

And with the posting of the proclamation, in just over half a month, this matter spread throughout the entire nation!

In that moment, everyone knew about the halt in Great Wall repairs and the taxation based on cultivated fields!

Countless commoners cheered and leaped with joy.

Countless commoners shouted in excitement!

They cried out the name of the new Emperor!

But... the nobles one by one felt their scalps tingle; they complained bitterly, and even, many nobles were already shouting to raise an army!

March on Xianyang, eliminate the rebellious son, and welcome the First Emperor!

Welcome the First Emperor to ascend the throne!

Many nobles were shouting such slogans!

Many had also already begun contributing their family's private armies!

In less than half a month, such a private army had already gathered to a total of one hundred thousand men!

On one hand, to resist Zhang Liang and Huang Chao and refuse to pay taxes!

And on the other hand, to prepare to march on Xianyang, break into Xianyang City, eliminate the rebellious son, and welcome the First Emperor to ascend the throne!

"Eliminate the rebellious son!"

"Humbly welcome the First Emperor!"

"Eliminate the rebellious son!"

"Humbly welcome the First Emperor!"

On that day, the cries shook the heavens!

And among those shouting such slogans was Xiang Liang!

On that day, Xiang Liang ran over to Xiang Yu with immense excitement:

"Yu-er, the time for rebellion has arrived. Yu-er, now, we can raise an army!"

058, Four Hundred Thousand Troops Gather! Overthrow the New Emperor, Humbly Welcome the First Emperor!

"Rebellion?"

"Raise an army?"

Kuaiji Commandery!

The twenty-two-year-old Xiang Yu looked at Xiang Liang with a face full of excitement: "Rebellion? Raise an army? Is... is this true?"

He asked, his face filled entirely with the joy of being about to go to war.

Yes!

Not long after he could remember, he learned the news that the Qin State was going to attack the Chu State!

After he could remember, he even witnessed firsthand the ferocity of the Qin State attacking the Chu State!

First, Li Xin led two hundred thousand troops to attack the Chu State, but was defeated by his grandfather Xiang Yan with ten thousand troops and forced to retreat!

Later, Wang Jian led six hundred thousand troops to attack the Chu State and faced off against his grandfather Xiang Yan's ten thousand troops for a full three years!