Seeing the noise in the square growing ever louder, Ji Fu bellowed in a rage, "Shut up! All of you, shut your mouths! If you make another sound, I’m raising next year’s land rent by thirty percent!"
At these words, the boisterous crowd instantly fell silent. The commoners had not come to "denounce" Li Feng out of any deep-seated hatred for him; rather, they had long since been reduced to tenant farmers, forced to submit to the whims of great landlords like Ji Fu. If the rent were to rise by another thirty percent, they would have to tighten their belts even further, assuming they didn't starve to death by next year.
"Dare I ask, General," a thin, elderly man stammered, finally summoning the courage to speak, "are you really going to kill Ji Bancheng?"
Chapter 188