stjorthotic Chapter 15: The Slums
Chapter 15: The Slums
Foye was speechless. The young man's words reflected the mentality of many free people in the slums.
Suddenly a commotion arose from the slums, and several stewards appeared with a group of guards.
The portly butler at the head of the household shouted, "Foreign Minister Tester is recruiting slaves! Anyone who signs a slave contract will be rewarded with three pieces of black bread every day! On royal festivals, they will receive an extra bowl of porridge or a piece of salted fish!"
The slums are never short of hungry poor people.
Sometimes, a piece of black bread here can spark a bloody battle between the two sides.
The fat butler's words instantly made countless people's eyes turn red with envy!
Three pieces of black bread are enough to fill my stomach and keep me from starving!
On festive days, there is also congee and even dried salted fish to eat!
That was a delicacy that these starving people could not even imagine!
"My lord, I am willing to be a slave!"
Several elderly men shouted repeatedly.
The fat butler's expression turned cold, and two guards swung their fists and feet, throwing the elderly man away.
"I forgot to mention earlier, Lord Tester only recruits young and strong individuals or skilled artisans! Furthermore, young female slaves will receive an extra piece of black bread daily!"
The younger, starving people were immediately overjoyed, and thousands flocked to the scene, vying to sign up to become slaves!
Hundreds of younger, poor women hesitated for a moment, but when faced with the choice between dignity and survival, they too chose the latter.
Seeing more and more free people driven to desperation and forced to become slaves, Foye was heartbroken.
However, reality is cruel. If you don't become a slave and just scavenge for food in the garbage dumps of the slums, it's only a matter of time before you starve to death!
For the first time in his life, Foyer, who had dedicated his life to charity, felt utterly hopeless!
The fat butler and the others sneered inwardly. Their master Tester was buying up slaves at this critical juncture to facilitate negotiations with the alien races later.
"Haha, look at these starving people, these lowly people, they're really worthless!"
One of the fat butler's colleagues jokingly tore a piece of black bread into small pieces and threw them onto the dirty floor.
They laughed uproariously as they watched the emaciated poor and starving people licking bread crumbs off the ground and fighting over them.
As Foye watched more and more impoverished people, driven to utter desperation, numbly and eagerly selling themselves into slavery, the pain in his eyes was so real it was almost overflowing.
Fuye, hunched over and trembling, tried to push his way forward, grabbing a few young men he vaguely remembered who seemed to know a little about the craft: "Wait! You have skills. If you just persevere a little longer, you'll definitely be able to get into the workshop! Once you become slaves, there's no turning back!"
Fuye's actions naturally attracted the attention of the fat butler and others.
A guard strode over fiercely and kicked Fuye to the ground.
"Damn it! You old man, you're really annoying!"
The guard then drew his sword, brandished it, and was about to cut off Fuye's head.
Foye's eyes were filled with despair, and he felt completely powerless. In the instant before he died, a figure suddenly appeared in his mind!
That was His Majesty King Leon, who pardoned their innocence!
However, Fuye quickly dismissed the thought.
How could His Majesty the Great and Noble King appear in a slum?
Throughout the thousands of years of history of the Kingdom of Grant, no king has ever set foot on this "filthy" land!
Even some knights, lords, and minor officials rarely ventured into it.
The guard grinned maliciously, watching as the long sword fell and would soon sever Fuye's head.
"Bang!"
A loud bang was heard!
The guard was sent flying.
Immediately afterwards, a court warrior in full armor appeared.
However, the appearance of a court knight was just the beginning.
At the end of the street, the dull yet orderly footsteps thundered from afar, striking the numb hearts of every poor person.
The royal banner fluttering in the wind came into view first, followed by two rows of court warriors in strict formation, fully armored, holding halberds or swords, with solemn faces as firm as rocks, numbering in the hundreds!
They poured in silently and efficiently, like an impregnable wall, instantly separating and controlling the chaotic scene.
Following the ranks of warriors were four magnificent, solid-colored warhorses with glossy coats, pulling a royal carriage that, while not enormous in size, was richly decorated and exuded an aura of majesty!
The fat butler and his colleagues were all dumbfounded.
"They're court knights...! And Lord Andrew, the Cabinet Minister! And Lord Edmund, the commander of the garrison...!"
The portly butler had served Foreign Minister Tester and had some discernment.
He trembled all over and immediately knelt down on the ground, trembling: "Your Majesty, Your Excellencies! I am the steward of Foreign Minister Tester!"
Many starving people, poor people, and refugees who have lived in slums their whole lives were stunned!
"Your Majesty?"
"Your Majesty the King has arrived?"
"My God, this is absolutely unbelievable!"
Everyone exclaimed in surprise.
Fuye was moved to tears; he never expected that Li Ang would actually come!
"Your Majesty, you have never abandoned us!"
Fuye was extremely excited.
Li Ang glanced at the fat butler who was prostrate on the ground.
"Tester, what are you doing here?"
Li Ang questioned in a cold voice.
The portly butler then explained the purpose of his and his group's visit.
Li Ang naturally guessed some things. Tester obviously wanted to purchase people in advance to serve as slaves, so that Tester would have some "resources" when negotiating with the alien race.
Do you think you can turn a large number of people in the slums into slaves with just a little bit of black bread?
Tester, you really know how to do business, don't you?
"It seems Tester has also issued orders to the wineries, bakeries, weaving workshops, and general stores within the capital?"
Faced with Li Ang's questioning.
The portly butler dared not conceal the truth: "Your Majesty, Lord Tester did indeed send some people to give instructions that it is forbidden to hire commoners with criminal records or those who have been imprisoned as workers or apprentices! If any shop violates this rule, the lord said he would send guards to arrest the owners and convict them of 'disgracing the nation's prestige in front of a foreign delegation'!"
"Nonsense!"
Li Ang waved his hand angrily: "You can all get lost!"
The fat butler and the others still couldn't believe it. Why would His Majesty the King, who was high and mighty, stop them from buying slaves?
The capital city has no shortage of commoners, starving people, and poor people!
Moreover, their purchase of slaves seemed reasonable.
Seeing the hesitant movements of the portly butler and the others, Li Ang grew even angrier: "Didn't you hear me clearly?"
The fat butler and the others broke out in a cold sweat instantly. Not daring to disobey, they bowed and prepared to leave.
"Wait a minute!"
Li Ang moved his fingers.
The portly butler and the others were taken aback: "Your Majesty, is there anything else you require?"
The tall and imposing court warrior strode forward and arrived in front of the guard who had just attacked Old Fuye.
"Andrew! What is the punishment for wantonly slaughtering the kingdom's poor?"
Li Ang asked in a cold voice.
Andrew nodded: "Your Majesty, the death penalty is warranted!"
As soon as Andrew finished speaking, at Li Ang's signal, the court warrior sliced off the guard's head with a single stroke!
Blood splattered everywhere. The fat butler and all his colleagues and guards, witnessing this scene, were so terrified that they all wet their pants!