king: peasants who have cultivated a new swathe of land in the past two years in a village where half the children are starving will have the option of receiving an extra draft animal on a zero-interest, 10 year loan

peasants: can we keep a greater share of our harvests?

king: sweetie i wish i could do that but the East Francians want to kill all of you and its up to me to protect you. gotta feed all those soldiers. its hard work keeping you all safe but i do it out of the kindness of my heart. now toil for ur lord and he will share the spoils of war!! we promise!