xymnovel Chapter 144 Yuan Shao is courting death!
Chapter 144 Yuan Shao is courting death!
While Gao Shun was training the elite troops, Bingzhou also made new moves.
Yuan Shao had a sudden inspiration and directly increased taxes in all areas!
Merchants, in particular, had their share of the tax increase from 40% to 80%!
It's doubled!
Although other taxes have increased by a similar amount, many people simply cannot afford to pay them, so the increase makes little difference.
However, business is different. Recently, many merchants have seized the opportunity to take advantage of Gongsun Zan's cooperation with this side and his secret dealings with Li Zhao.
They seized the opportunity to trade between the two sides and made a lot of profit!
Yuan Shao's sudden increase in taxes was clearly aimed at them!
Good guy.
They've only made money for a few days, and they're already trying to collect their share? Is there any logic to this?
The merchants were the first to object, but Yuan Shao originally thought these people wouldn't cause any major trouble.
It's easy to suppress them as long as the military intervenes!
Anyway, that's how it's always been done. How could we possibly lack people who do business?
however.
However, he overlooked an important factor: in the process of these merchants trading back and forth, many people in the military were involved.
Perhaps influenced by the past, they tried every means to bind the generals in the army to them.
Targeting businessmen now is tantamount to targeting military commanders.
The merchants sprang into action, while most of the army remained unresponsive.
On the contrary, they were also waiting for the right opportunity to protest against Yuan Shao's absurd taxation.
Simultaneously.
The people were in an uproar!
They were already living a very difficult life, and it was only with a moment of conscience that Yuan Shao gave them some food so that they could barely survive.
How long has it been? They've already doubled the taxes!
Are you trying to kill us?
Actually.
Yuan Shao's idea was simple: since most people couldn't pay taxes anyway, it didn't matter to them whether the tax rate doubled or increased tenfold.
The main purpose is to avoid making the collection of commercial taxes too obvious.
Who would have thought that this would become the last straw that broke their back?
Countless people gathered and demanded that Yuan Shao be driven out.
Li Zhao's actions in Ye City, where he mobilized the military and civilians to drive Yuan Shao away, played a crucial leading role at this time.
Since we're all going to die anyway, let's all just quit!
Less than a day after the news of the tax increase spread, the entire Jinyang County was thrown into chaos.
"My lord..."
"My lord, you are foolish! How could you impose additional taxes at such a time?"
In the main hall of the governor's mansion, Tian Feng paced back and forth with a pained expression on his face.
at this time.
All the strategists and generals that Yuan Shao could mobilize were standing here.
Everyone looked extremely grim, and Yuan Shao wore a particularly somber expression, filled with deep regret.
He never imagined that he would get so used to taking money from businessmen.
Why can't it work this time?
Besides...
If we collect this money, won't it ultimately be used for the benefit of the people?
Why did they suddenly rebel?
"The trouble now is..." Ju Shou had no mind to dwell on Yuan Shao's strategy.
"Most of the weapons and equipment in the army are unusable; those issued in the past were just for show."
"Furthermore, many soldiers in the army were also dragged into this; when the wall falls, everyone pushes it down!"
"If we don't take effective measures, I'm afraid... we'll really be doomed!"
Upon hearing this, the others in the hall immediately panicked.
They didn't want to die here so pathetically!
Where is Zhang Yang?
"Where are Zhang Yang and his men?" Tian Feng seemed to have thought of something and quickly asked.
One of the military officers immediately replied, "He led his men to quell the rebellion!"
"He knows this place best; he'll do his best to control the situation and protect our lord!"
Yuan Shao, as if grasping at the last straw, exclaimed with immense emotion, "Good...good good good good!"
"I never expected that we could rely on them at a time like this!"
"Tian Feng, you all immediately take men to support him, and tell everyone that anyone who tries to stop Zhang Yang should be killed without asking for permission!"
Without saying a word, Tian Feng quickly left with the few remaining military officers in the hall.
He was completely disillusioned with Yuan Shao, and dying in this rebellion would be a kind of relief for him.
"How could this happen... how could it turn out like this?" Yuan Shao slammed his hand on the table in front of him, filled with deep regret.
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have taken that small benefit...
……
Jinyang border.
A large caravan was rapidly approaching under the cover of night.
The wagons in the procession were loaded with large quantities of iron and newly mined ore.
They all came from Youzhou, specifically to deliver these materials to Yuan Shao's people.
Then we can exchange them for a large amount of grain!
Unlike before, Gongsun Zan was also in the team this time!
He sat in the carriage, his gaze cold as he looked ahead, his hand gripping the scabbard tightly.
He came here in person this time, and even brought hundreds of elite soldiers with him, just to teach those bastards who don't know the rules a lesson!
The previous interactions with Yuan Shao were relatively normal. Although some benefits were withheld, most of them were handed over to them.
But after those few times, the other party became more and more outrageous!
Sending out the same materials resulted in bringing back half the amount of grain!
If there is still no response, then there won't be a single grain of food left!
Gongsun Zan understood why there had been no response to the letter he sent to Zhao Yun for so long.
Since we can't count on Li Zhao for the time being, we'll have to take matters into our own hands!
If those people still don't know what's good for them, he wouldn't mind replacing them with a new group for Yuan Shao.
More than half an hour later, they arrived at the designated location.
For safety reasons, they agreed to meet several miles away from the border.
But after waiting here for a long time, there was still no response from the other side.
This greatly displeased Gongsun Zan!
They took advantage of him, and now they won't even come anymore?
Just then, a man and a horse came quickly from a distance. Because it was too dark, they could not see each other's faces clearly.
Gongsun Zan immediately ordered his men to stop him. After a long while, someone rushed over to report, "General Gongsun, Jinyang County is in chaos..."
"Chaos?" Gongsun Zan frowned deeply. "Explain clearly, what do you mean by 'chaos'?"
The person who came to deliver the message was immediately brought up.
This person was specifically tasked with monitoring the movements in Jinyang, and he quickly reported the situation there.
For some unknown reason, all the people and soldiers in Jinyang went into chaos.
Not only did the military not intervene, but they themselves were also involved.
The situation is chaotic right now, and nobody knows what's really going on inside!
Upon hearing this report, Gongsun Zan gripped his longsword tightly!
That's great!
Could it be that even the heavens are giving me a chance for revenge?
……