People as Tax?

From each of the eighteen metal ships, five to six proud and aggressive Jia Clan warriors walked out, while swinging their arms.

They were wearing the same metal armors and carrying exactly same weapons, and had the same totem embossed on their chest armors. Obviously, this was an official troop that had strict rules and a hierarchical system.

Along with a series of metal clashing sounds, a door opened on the deck of each ship, from which, a zhang-wide metal ladder was being thrust out, step by step. The ladders seemed as thin as the wings of a cicada and quickly reached the caravan city. It hooked firmly onto the city wall with two metal claws at the beginning of each ladder.

Groups of slave warriors, wearing partial armors and carrying round shields and sharp swords, walked out using the ladders, onto the city wall. They seemed very familiar with the caravan city, and soon occupied the central area of every single watch tower and other vital spots of the city.