Chapter 718: Meeting an Old Acquaintance Again
"Back then, those princes who dominated their regions truly didn't treat people like human beings. Later, rebellions broke out. Only after forcefully suppressing them did they realize how fierce the commoners' backlash could be. It's a bit better now, but honestly, not by much."
"You must have seen it when you entered the city. Right past the gates, there are so many beggars. Some died by the roadside long ago. They're rotting and stinking, yet no one cleans them up. No one cares."
"Moreover, for the many who die unjustly or suffer an undeserved calamity, the Local Government does nothing. It's a complete mess. Just staying alive is difficult."
Chen Changsheng paused and asked, "Has it already reached such a severe state?"
"Hasn't it..."
Long Zhongzheng sighed. "This area of ours was originally a barely governed place in the Northwest, but now it's even more chaotic. Currently, those four princes and the Imperial Court are fighting back and forth; everyone wants to be emperor. Our region falls under Prince Kang's jurisdiction. Earlier, all the able-bodied men in the city were forcibly conscripted. I only managed to escape that disaster by bribing them with quite a few silver taels."
"Given the current situation, only the commoners under the King of Wei have it a bit better. The King of Wei treats the people well and focuses on their livelihood, which has drawn in the populace from the territories of the other princes. Relying on this population advantage, he has gained a firm foothold. Many people travel hundreds or thousands of li to seek refuge in the King of Wei's fief. As for the rest, they flee toward the Capital City."
"Of course, it also depends on luck. Some might get snatched away for conscription halfway there. There's no need to even mention the women, children, and the elderly. The old can't walk very far, and children even less so. As for the women... sigh..."
Many things had already spiraled out of their control.