Igniting the fury in the hearts of the common people

When Ngo Son told him that Han Tam had killed an official and fled with his men, Tran Mac knew that this group would want to return to their village.

Because their family members were still in the village.

In this world, those who could abandon their families were still in the minority.

Therefore, Tran Mac deliberately didn't remind those village aunts, waiting for the government soldiers to arrive. When the soldiers arrested their family members, he would then appear and rescue their families.

By doing so, when they returned to the village to get their families, Tran Mac could win over their hearts.

And this group of "deserters," already forced onto a desperate path, would have no choice but to pledge allegiance to him.

It could be said that he was also gambling.

If he won, he would gain a group of men and no longer have to confront the authorities alone.

Even if he lost, he wouldn't suffer any loss; at worst, he could just hide in the mountains.

It was just that he hadn't expected these "deserters" to return so early, and even target his house.

But that was also good; it saved some steps.

"Brother Mac, I am willing to follow you!" A voice emerged from the crowd. He was also a fortunate person from Phuc Trach Village. (Translator's Note: "phúc phận người" means a person from Phuc Trach, and "phúc phận" also implies good fortune/karma, a slight play on words).

Actually, when he had previously seen Truong Ha following Tran Mac and living a good life, he had sought out Truong Ha, asking if he could also follow Tran Mac. However, he was rejected at that time. Now that there was an opportunity, and hearing his promise, he immediately expressed his agreement.

With someone taking the lead, dozens more people fluently agreed to follow Tran Mac.

"Then... what about the third matter?" a person from another village asked.

Seeing the situation developing in the desired direction, Tran Mac was also joyful in his heart. He smiled slightly and said, "Third, this year, Phuc Trach Village will not collect taxes. Not only will Phuc Trach Village not collect them, but the neighboring villages also won't. Furthermore, starting next year, only a thirty percent land tax will be collected, with no other heavy taxes or levies!"

Tran Mac's ambition was no longer just satisfied with Phuc Trach Village.

As for the possibility of less tax revenue?

Anyway, given the current situation, they couldn't expect to collect grain this year, so he might as well make a grand promise.

Boom!

Tran Mac was like a bomb, instantly detonating the villagers. For the common folk at the bottom, owning a few acres of barren land was an anticipation in their hearts, and even more so, an aspiration for their lives.

Some people, even if they couldn't afford to eat, were unwilling to sell their fields. One could imagine the importance of fields in their hearts.

Soon, someone raised a question: "Our land deeds have been lost. These fields no longer belong to us. We no longer have the right to cultivate them. Even if we wanted to pay taxes, we couldn't."

"That's right, we don't have fields anymore. What's the use of you saying this?"

"..."

The crowd became noisy.

"Fuck your mother, quiet down for Laozi! Wait for Brother Mac to finish speaking!" Truong Ha pointed his Tang saber at the person making the most noise and cursed. (Translator's Note: "Laozi" is an arrogant way of saying "I").

The crowd immediately quieted down.

"Brother Thuy, do not be impolite," Tran Mac softly chided Truong Ha, then said, "I have just said, Phuc Trach Village, and the neighboring villages, are all under my management. The land deeds taken by the authorities do not count here. Right here, the authorities cannot take them away. You can all just go ahead and cultivate."

Hearing this, the crowd members all put their heads together and whispered, each face excited.

Tran Mac didn't interfere, quietly watching them.

After a good while, the noisy sounds of discussion gradually subsided.

At this time, a slightly older-looking person spoke up: "What if the authorities investigate?"

This sentence was like a basin of cold water poured over everyone's hearts.

But Tran Mac's next words reignited them once more: "You are all facing capital punishment, are you still afraid of the authorities investigating? If the authorities still dare to snatch your fields, then fight them! You even dared to kill officials and desert military service. Now that your lives are almost forfeit, do you still not dare to fight the government soldiers?"

These people had been oppressed by the authorities and gangs for a long time. A fire had long been simmering in their hearts. From the moment they became "deserters," it showed that this fire had begun to be released.

What Tran Mac wanted to do was to help them completely unleash this fire.

"Brother Mac is right! Fuck it! Anyway, we've fled to the mountains. We'll have to oppose the authorities later anyway. We might as well fight them now! If they don't let us live, then we won't let them live either!" The person who had first agreed to follow Tran Mac roared.

"Well said! Fight the authorities! They're too bullying!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

The anger in everyone's hearts was stirred up, and the atmosphere reached a climax.

Tran Mac scanned the surroundings and said loudly, "Now I've said what I needed to say. Whoever wants to leave, whoever wants to stay, it's up to you."

The three or four hundred people all stood there quietly; not a single person left.

"Good!"

Tran Mac shouted loudly, nodding with satisfaction, and continued, "Since everyone has chosen to stay, then you agree to follow me.

In that case, follow me."

Tran Mac's gaze swept over those ten-odd men from Dai Han Village, then he walked towards the outside of the courtyard.

"Brother Han Vu, he... what does he mean by that look?" Han Tam was dead. This group of men from Dai Han Village looked towards an older man from their village, regarding him as their backbone.

"How would I know? Hurry and follow!" Han Vu quickly jogged to keep up.

Three or four hundred people holding torches followed behind Tran Mac, a vast and surging procession.

"Brother Mac, where are we going?" Truong Ha asked.

"Dai Dong Lake."

"What are we going to Dai Dong Lake for?"

"To kill people."

The fire of anger in these people's hearts had already been drawn out by him, so he had to find them a target to vent it on.

Attacking the county seat was not very realistic, but taking Dai Dong Lake was still not difficult.

To prevent people from secretly fishing at night, Dai Dong Lake was also guarded by members of the Qinghe Gang at night.

And these people were the best targets.

Tran Mac pulled Truong Ha over, leaned into his ear, and whispered, "You don't need to go. Find Luu Thu for me, and take care of him."

Truong Ha was shocked. This was Tong Man's biological father. Now Tong Man was with Brother Mac, yet Brother Mac was asking him to kill Luu Thu. This...

"What, can't do it?" Tran Mac raised an eyebrow when he saw Truong Ha hesitate.

"Brother Mac, rest assured, I guarantee it will be done."

"Mm, make it clean."

...

Tran Mac didn't immediately lead his men to Dai Dong Lake but first went to the neighboring Vuong Gia Trang.

Almost everyone in Vuong Gia Trang was a tenant farmer of the Vuong family from the city. The reason they weren't affected by the conscription this time was not due to the Vuong family's kindness.

Rather, if the tenant farmers in the village were all conscripted, who would carry out this year's spring plowing?

Not only was the Vuong family not kind, but they also heavily exploited the tenant farmers in the village.

Moreover, during the previous incident when the Qinghe Gang raided the village, the Vuong family did not protect these tenant farmers.

The Vuong family had stationed a ninth-grade martial artist and several guards in Vuong Gia Trang. Their purpose was to manage the tenant farmers in the village and supervise their spring plowing.

After Tran Mac led his men into Vuong Gia Trang.

He had Han Vu gather all the people in the village.

He then led men to the Vuong family's compound built in the village, which was used as a garrison, dragged out the Vuong family's martial artist, who was still in bed hugging a maidservant, in front of all the tenant farmers...