At that moment, Lumba's words were like a cold and threatening blade, reaching the ears of all the archduke:
"A long time ago, Xingchen established a qualification assessment, stipulating that only what kind of people can become specific officials and the arms of the king."
"They use titles and privileges, status and honor to attract low-level nobles with low status, or civilians who are unlikely to be promoted to noble status, and entrust power to these officials from poor backgrounds, allowing them to enter the kingdom only by blood.
and the restricted area in front of the house.”
Lumba's voice was like an anvil of work, ringing in the hearts of the grand dukes: "In this way, thousands of professional officials with different origins but clear responsibilities and clear division of labor stood together to form a
The breathtaking solid carriage, carrying the ancient kingdom inherited from the ancient empire, accelerated."
"What's even more frightening is that in order to obtain such a promotion, many low-level nobles, businessmen and even country villagers are willing to become the king's lackeys and loyal ministers."
Almost all of the four Grand Dukes frowned, carefully chewing on the meaning behind this sentence.
Lumba's eyes were as cold as iron: "First of all, the tax collectors: businessmen and accountants obtained official positions through qualification training and assessment, registered in the Fuxing Palace, and became the king's professional loyal servants, in his direct territory
Collect taxes for him, fulfill his duties, and form a system and practice: each tax collector is directly responsible to the financial controller and his subordinates, strictly abides by the rules, is good at calculation, has a sharp ear and eyesight, will not miss any copper, and dare not hide any money
Accounts.”
"So the tax revenue in the king's hands is more than what he got when he sent his noble cronies to collect it according to the standards of loyalty, favor, and distance. It is also more detailed, and it has been increasing year by year - you think the wealth of the Bright Star royal family is
Is it really as simple as relying on a tyrant to raise taxes?”
Do you know what this means - Lumba added silently in his mind.
Short-sighted and stupid princes.
"And what about us Exeter?"
Lumba's words changed, and his sharp-edged eyes were directed at the four stunned grand dukes: "In order to ensure that their interests are not damaged and their authority remains unchanged, the grand dukes and nobles will only send their cronies and subordinates as tax collectors, holding
Swords and spears, through their favors and relationships with the lord, went to various castles and villages to collect taxes, exercised power, deceived the superiors and deceived the inferiors, exploited at every level, and enriched their own pockets!"
"Every year, if the amount of taxes that my vassals pay to the lord can reach 50% of the planned amount, everyone will be happy and loyal."
Grand Duke Olesiu lowered his head, looked serious, and said no more.
Lumba's words continued: "In many cities in the stars, there is a position called a security officer, which can also be obtained through assessment and training. The security department directly under the security officer is responsible for city security and order, and serves as the city's standing private army.
The city defense teams are clearly separated and are strictly prohibited from interfering with each other."
"What about us?" The Grand Duke of Black Sand gritted his teeth with a horrified expression: "For so many years, business has been sluggish and goods are scarce in Exeter? Except for the Kangmas people who have ulterior motives, half of the merchants would rather go there.
Is it really because the products in the south are more abundant when Xingchen does business and doesn’t want to come to Exeter?”
"No!" Lumba's eyes were serious.
"That's because businessmen all know that in the Star Kingdom, at least the rules and order of transactions are clearly written, at least there are professional officials and departments who can appeal, and at least the security department and security officers openly maintain the market.
Order, at least they don't have to deal with the unreasonable army or the big shots with connections." Lumba thought of something and clenched his fists:
"In Exeter, a small order officer in charge of the patrol team can use connections and gangsters to engage in large-scale weapons smuggling and force away businessmen who don't like it - as long as the people above turn a blind eye.
Close one eye!"
Grand Duke Trudida pursed his lips, and his smart eyes had frozen in one position, blinking only occasionally.
Lumba sneered: "In the city of Star Kingdom, all the officials in the city hall, from the clerk to the scribe, from the signing officer to the judge, are all people who have passed the qualification assessment. They have a clear division of labor and are familiar with the regulations, from top to bottom.
To convey messages and execute orders, only the warrant seal is recognized."
"During the Year of Blood, none of them, from the Supreme King to the Prince, fell into the Hell River. Foreign enemies were eyeing them, and the nobles were terrified! However, only relying on the Prime Minister and his professional officials to act according to the rules, the precarious Yongxing City remained
It operated steadily for more than ten days! Until the last prince returned, compromised with the nobles and was crowned!"
"What about us?"
Lumba punched his chest hard: "Today, less than a few hours have passed since the death of the powerful natural king in the North. Because of the loss of his prestige, Longxiao City has become a mess, chaos, rumors,
Conflicts and contradictions emerged one after another, and the people were panicked. I think Lisban even hesitated for a long time whether to overstep his authority and use the patrol team - he was used to asking Nunn for instructions."
"I led the army on the rampage in the city for several hours! It wasn't until I captured the first city gate, and it wasn't until I stood here, so close that I could spit on you, that the dignified Prime Minister came with his troops in confusion.
."
Grand Duke Ronnie's face darkened, and he took a long breath, his eyes hesitant.
Rumba paused for more than ten seconds.
For such a long time, no Grand Duke made a sound.
Finally, Lumba exhaled a helpless and difficult breath, his face showing exhaustion and pain.
"I know that your territory is far away from the stars. In the past few years, you have only focused on the game with Longxiao City, but..."
"But I've already said it for this reason, don't you still feel it?"
At that moment, Lumba gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and was dripping with cold sweat, as if he was facing an unprecedented terrifying beast.
"Some thrilling, unprecedented and terrifying changes..."
"It is happening quietly in the Kingdom of Stars, behind the country that is the remnant of the empire and has been fighting with us for many years."
The expressions of the several princes changed slightly.
"This change," Lumba trembled slightly, continued his chilling words: "as quiet as the undercurrent, as plain as the dripping water penetrating the stone."
"But please believe me, this is a terrifying situation that has never been seen in the past thousands of years, even if it is as powerful as the ancient empire." Lomba felt that his hair was standing on end, and there seemed to be a chill like polar white ice in his chest, going straight into his heart.
Spleen: "The Kingdom of Stars, our opponent for six hundred years, is undergoing an unprecedented transformation."
The four Grand Dukes looked at each other in pairs, unable to move forward or retreat amid unbelievable hesitation and earth-shattering astonishment.
But Lombard's words continued: "Through the most direct contact with the war, I saw the tip of the iceberg of this horrific transformation."
"It's like the faint vibration coming from the inside on the eve of the chrysalis."
"It's inconspicuous, but it's very important."
Lumba suddenly raised his head, his eyes were like swords, and the sharp light was shining directly at the four princes.
"Everyone, please open your eyes," Duke Heisha gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse and firm: "Where is our biggest threat?"
The princes didn't seem to have reacted yet.
But at that moment, Archduke Lecco's face looked uglier than ever before. He slowly raised his head and looked at Lumba.
The old Grand Duke spoke tiredly and sleepily, his voice hoarse and unpleasant: "Mindis III?"
The expressions of the other three Grand Dukes changed.
Lumba's eyes softened a little when he looked at the old man.
His eyes dimmed.
"Yes," Lumba said silently, sitting down again: "This is the current situation one hundred and fifty years later - the comparison between us and the stars."
Archduke Alessio raised his head in surprise:
"One hundred and fifty years? Could it be..."
Lumba nodded weakly.
"Yeah." He said affirmatively.
"What I just told you," Lumba said calmly, fear and solemnity welling up in his eyes again: "All of this."
"It all started a hundred and fifty years ago..."
"From the High King of the Stars who was ignored by almost everyone."
"Mindis III."
The four Grand Dukes all turned their attention to Lombard at this second.
Complex emotions and mixed reactions.
Grand Duke Heisha looked at their expressions and couldn't help but sneered.
"You said he didn't do anything important?"
Just listen to Charmaine Lombard snort coldly, unable to distinguish between praise and blame:
"More than a hundred years ago, it was Mindis III who did not hesitate to offend the branches, cronies, in-laws, and even direct vassals of the Canxing family. He also had to strictly and accurately establish and separate countless official positions and departments-the city hall and the police department.
, Department of Finance and Taxation..."
"King Mindis granted them his authority, set clear rules, trained and assessed them, and paid them salaries even if they borrowed money to survive, allowing these new officials to manage the royal family's central territory and even the entire Star Kingdom."
"More than a hundred years have passed, and even the most remote and domineering powerful vassals, for the sake of tax revenue, efficiency, and power, and more effectively against the king, are not allowed to compromise and admit to the rules of the game left by the 'virtuous king'
The king's officials," Lumba raised his head, a sharp coldness flashing in his eyes:
"Relying on these people, the royal power of the stars gradually penetrated into every corner of the kingdom, unprecedentedly, controlling the entire country from top to bottom."
"Do you think that behind the scenes of the Star Legion is just luck and talent?"
"No, this steel carriage composed of countless professional officials began with Mindis III. It has already been in conflicts and frictions. In the years when we were powerful in the Western Continent, it has been quietly running, running in, and settling for more than a hundred years. It has been subtle.
Sprout!"
After hearing what he said, Grand Duke Roni of Qiyuan City lowered his head deeply, his eyes full of struggle.
"Also," Lumba spoke again, with a cold tone: "You say King Mindis is cowardly and omnipotent, compromising to the nobles?"
"I'd like to remind you that it was the High Nobles' Council and the National Council that 'compromised with the nobility' that King Mindis left behind..."
"Kather V to our south has turned thousands of civilians in the Kingdom of Stars into powerful tools for him to fight against the great vassals alone! In the past five years, he has faced the fierce opposition of almost all vassals, and has undoubtedly succeeded
A nationwide war was launched and a royal heir was irresistibly appointed!"
"This is his royal power! For the Kingdom of Stars, this is already the norm!"
Lumba slammed his fist on the square table and said loudly with an angry face: "If King Nun stood here and asked you to recruit men and horses within a month and follow him into the desert, how many people would do it without hesitation?
Do?"
Oratio and Trudida looked at each other in the air.
One person looked hesitant and shook his head slightly, while the other person gritted his teeth and breathed rapidly.
"As for what you said, King Mindis borrowed money to survive?" Grand Duke Heisha raised his hand and waved it indifferently: "But what is more ironic?"
Lumba leaned forward, gritted his teeth, and looked cold:
"More than a hundred years ago, Mindis III, who had a large number of officials under his command, borrowed money all day long and never tired of it. So he ordered that all the debtors be gathered in one house, and the royal franchise and even the next year's taxes were used as guarantees.
Write IOUs to debtors."
"Today, more than a hundred years later, the house where countless merchants came and went has been expanded many times and changed its name following the habits of the Conmas city-states," the Grand Duke of Heisha said with an ugly face and a hesitant tone, as if
He wanted to tell a strange thing that he didn't understand: "It's called 'Wang's Bank'."
Several princes cast doubtful looks.
Lumba gritted his teeth and shook his head: "Five years ago, King Kessel did not raise taxes or confiscate his property. He just wrote an IOU to the so-called 'Royal Bank' for this treasury composed of countless businessmen.
He spent a large amount of money, raised countless armies, fought a costly desert war, and even expanded the standing army after returning!"
"Can you imagine this for those of us who have to raise taxes whenever there is a war?"
"Do you still think that this debt-fueled war is only based on the wealth of the Bright Star royal family?"
Silence again.
No one spoke.
A war that can be started without raising taxes?
The Grand Dukes of Exeter are all lords whose territory is comparable to that of a country, and they understand better than anyone what this really means.