"Mob resistance to tax occurred in three provinces in the Longjiang Basin," Dai Li said.
The Otter Mountains, which run roughly from west to east, divide the empire into two parts, geographically and nationally, north and south.
To the north of the Ote Mountains is the Longjiang Plain. The area where the largest river, the Longjiang, flows through is fertile and wild, and is one of the most important grain producing areas of the empire. It is not an exaggeration to call it the granary of the empire.
"We in the south, especially our province of Genoa, have been exempted from major taxes for two years. Is it because the taxes in the north have been increased?" Sean naturally thought.
The imperial court was already in financial difficulties. When the second emperor Ek-Solon was in office, once the imperial court encountered financial difficulties, it might print banknotes to meet its urgent needs. After Carlos II came to the throne, the imperial court's credibility was not as good as
Real gold, silver, and paper money have long been abandoned by the people, returning to the era of metal currency.
If Carlos II hadn't discovered several large gold and silver mines shortly after he came to the throne, the empire's finances would have gone bankrupt.
In recent years, the South has been hit by successive disasters, especially the major earthquake and tsunami at the end of last year, which have directly affected the tax revenue of the South. The South, known as the imperial coffers, is not only unable to provide tax revenue, but also needs the imperial court to support it in return.
On the one hand, the imperial court had to reduce or reduce taxes in the south; on the other hand, it had to increase the taxes in the northern provinces.
In the far south, Sean's information was not well informed. This time, the court also approached the church. First, it borrowed a huge sum of thirty million gold louis, and then someone proposed to tax the church's property.
This is not surprising. The church as a whole is the biggest moneymaker. Those high-ranking priests who claim to be just the regulators and custodians of these properties are actually bankers. In the old dynasty, they were even able to tax the church members.
Tax.
After two months of repeated wrangling and wrangling, the church was forced to make an additional donation of up to 20 million in the form of increased donations.
The reason why it is called "donation" is to distinguish it from "taxation". The church stubbornly believes that it is a precious remnant of ancient national freedom. It only donates without paying taxes. It even thinks that this is a secular authority over the spiritual authority of the church.
a default.
In fact, the imperial court not only needed this precious donation, but also needed the church to act as an intermediary to borrow money from the people, especially the emerging bourgeoisie - the credit of the church with huge real estate was obviously better than the credit of the emperor.
As a loyal eagle dog of the empire, Daly attributed the cause of the riot to the rebels and werewolves.
"Werewolf?" Sean seemed surprised, but he had seen blood warriors, bloodthirsty people, and strange fish monsters, so the appearance of werewolves didn't surprise him at all.
"Initially, there were rumors that a group of werewolves appeared in Otter Mountain, and they frequently went down the mountain to commit murders." Daly shrugged.
"Just send people to exterminate the so-called werewolves." Sean disagreed.
"Lord Viscount, you don't believe that werewolves exist?" Daley was slightly surprised, but seemed to be asking himself, "Whether they exist or not, it is right to remain vigilant. But because the rumors got out of control, they became the source of riots.
One, on the last day of last year, a village really killed a lone werewolf, so the rumors became facts."
Sean didn't answer. He was thinking about what a werewolf should look like. He only heard Daley continue: "All the villages near the mountains have set up militia groups and armed them. As a result..."
"So you heard the news about the imperial court raising taxes?" Sean immediately thought of this possibility.
"Yes, these mobs killed tax collectors, hung their bodies on the church walls, burned down the church, and set up an ambush to kill the policemen who came after hearing the news. They shouted long live the True God, and the True God Religion has completely degenerated.
.”
Daley looked distressed.
"Director Dai, oh, no, Director Daley, this seems to have nothing to do with me, right? That is something that the court and the Governor should consider." Sean chuckled, "Of course, as the deputy commander of the provincial patrol group,
It is also a heavy responsibility. I don’t want to see those mobs crossing Otter Mountain and entering our Genoa. Genoa cannot withstand the torment.”
"I completely agree with your Lordship's judgment. Although I am not a Genoese, I think I am full of affection for this place, and I do not want chaos in Genoa. Lieutenant Colonel Frank in the Holy City, oh, no, Colonel Frank wrote to me last time, and he was still here
The letter specifically mentions your Excellency, saying that you are a genius and I should respect you as he does in person."
This man spoke very unpleasantly and deliberately mentioned that he should be Frank, the head of the Imperial Secret Police. Sean felt very unhappy.
Because he doesn't know if this is threatening him or trying to build friendship? If it's the latter, he really doesn't want to have such friendship.
Sean frowned and asked, "Are you representing Colonel Frank or the Governor?"
"Oh, of course His Excellency the Governor." Daley nodded and admitted, not wanting to be associated with the secret police, which is human nature. "Your Excellency the Governor intends to form a civil defense regiment. He asked if you are willing to serve as a military adviser?
"
Sean was surprised: "I was just a sergeant before I retired. I was awarded the rank of second lieutenant because I was lucky enough to survive. How could I become a consultant?"
Daley and the Governor probably didn't really think that Sean had any great military talents, so Daley said:
"Sir, this is just a job of honor. Because you are a military hero, a recipient of the Order of the Dragon, and a noble, this can greatly enhance the honor of the Genoese people."
In other words, Sean has become a mascot, because the most important issue in forming a vigilante group is money, and it is the most critical. Sure enough, Daley went on to say:
"The imperial court pardoned our main taxes in Genoa for two years, but extraordinary times require extraordinary means. It takes money to form a militia. The governor intends to levy a special tax on the rich, temporarily called a security tax, because it is the security of their wealth.
the only guarantee.”
Sean suddenly realized it, but he didn't believe that rich people would happily pay for it:
"Isn't this easy? Genoa is a province where the Estates-General is implemented."
As Sean said, this kind of tax is not easy to collect, especially if it is only levied on the rich.
When Sean was still in the army, the poor Earl Cohen-Howard, even though he was a popular man under the emperor, was ostracized because he wanted to impose a twenty-one tax on the rich to improve the finances, and was sent to the Northern Xinjiang Line.
He served as the governor of the province, but his youngest son suffered a misfortune.
Although there are not many fields under Sean's name, although there are many mountains, he has been exempted from taxes for 10 years due to disaster relief.
In addition, Sean still has some money in the bank. Although there has been no money or money in the past few months, he is not worried about bankruptcy yet.
But the governor couldn't resist the idea of setting up another tax. Moreover, this kind of tax temporarily levied to cope with possible riots, in the final analysis, still serves the rich, and it is justified.
Director Dai, no, Director Dai Li smiled mysteriously.
Seeing this snake-like smile, Sean was not afraid to speculate on people's hearts with the worst possible malice.
"Yes, Genoa is a province where the Three Estates Conference is implemented. The church, nobles and bourgeois are our backbone. We implement a one-time payment system for the court. After the total amount is determined, it will be apportioned internally, and the Three Estates Conference will determine the specific collection.
The new tax types, scope, and quantity added this time are local taxes. Of course, they must be reviewed and approved by the three-level meeting before they can become provincial laws. Your Excellency, the Governor, looks forward to your visit."
Sean immediately understood Daley's hint. Governor Byrne just wanted Sean to be on his side.
Sean could even predict that Archbishop Sawyer, Priest Shakri, would definitely side with the Governor, because he really wanted to be the bishop of a province.
With the bishop recently falling seriously ill, Shakeli has become very vocal and will soon be eligible to wear a red coat. He is currently touring dioceses across the province on behalf of the bishop. With his opportunistic and tactful personality, he may agree on behalf of the church.
Add new taxes in exchange for recognition from the administrative authorities.
If Viscount Sean is added to the mix, Governor Byrne's plan may really come true. Whether it can achieve its goal depends on the Governor's next methods.
"I'm looking forward to meeting the Governor in the provincial capital," Sean said.
Daly was obviously very happy, he thought Sean understood what he said.
You have to give something, but there must be something in return.
"The new batch of grain, about 4,000 tons, will be shipped to the port in Vichy in a week!"
4,000 tons, based on the standard of 2 kilograms per person per day, can feed 40,000 people for one and a half months. If more is raised, it can completely solve the food and clothing problems of all victims until the summer harvest.
Transaction complete.
Sean will pay a lot less money.
In fact, some disaster victims have begun to return home after the beginning of spring, and Sean's burden is not as heavy as he publicly claimed. Of course, this is all recorded in his financial controller's small notebook, and the audit officials in Poitou will never see it.
Most of these returning victims are homesteaders and have their own small plots of land. Some of them still have a few gold or silver coins with them, so they are not considered destitute.
Sean threatened that if these people did not return to their homes as soon as possible, pick up crops and miss the summer harvest, their fields would be taken back for auction as unclaimed land.
Such words are very threatening and more powerful than bullets. Obviously, you can't let them eat too much, otherwise they will not be happy.
Some people became employees of Sean's Tea Garden, and some people who had nowhere to go continued to expand and strengthen the docks, while LeBron Gable's engineering team was immersed in the excavation of the Rocky Mountain Highway. Of course, Gable and his group were
There is a salary to be paid, and Sean paid real money in this regard, making this group of people want to continue working for the rest of their lives.
If Sean had more grain on hand and was willing to lend it at low interest rates, some landless tenants would be willing to return to their hometowns and become tenants of a certain landlord again.
Sean now has a deeper understanding of human nature. He must not be too holy, otherwise he will only cultivate laziness and scoundrels.
"Mr. Director, you see that setting up a civil defense group requires manpower. I have ready-made soldiers here." Hearing the explosion from the construction site, Sean had another idea.
Daley hesitated and said: "What we need is..."
"People who are honest, disciplined, and obedient, right?" Sean pointed to the blurry figures working under the Rocky Mountains outside the rose garden. "They hear the whistle at seven o'clock every morning, get up on time, and tidy up on time.
In the small nest, line up on time for breakfast, no queue jumping is allowed, wash your own tableware, place it in the designated location, and then line up to go to work.
They come back every evening, clean themselves up collectively, eat on time, go to bed on time, and repeat the same sequence as the previous day the next day, which is boring and boring, but they have no complaints."
It's impossible without any complaints.
But without food, anything is possible.
"Isn't this the best soldier? Believe me, farmers are the best infantry!" Sean's long list of words left Director Daley speechless.
"They have a mixed staff, and they need to recruit people with clean financial status..." Daly retorted.
"The identity of each of them is on the roster. Even though there are some professional rogues, the majority are innocent! I don't believe that the secret police you installed among them don't know this?"
Sean seized this opportunity and launched an attack to embarrass Daley.
Employing a secret police is not a matter of honor, especially deliberately not letting Sean, a nobleman, know about it. This is a serious offense to Sean's face.
Director Daley spread his hands and said:
"Okay, I will give your advice to His Excellency the Governor. Sir Viscount, please forgive me for being blunt. It is really appropriate for the people of the Holy City to call you a wizard. You can always surprise people!"
After seeing off Director Daley, Sean stood in front of the rose garden and looked at the peaceful and orderly Vichy town.
Everything in this small town in the southeastern corner of the Pian An Empire seemed pretty good, but after all, it was in a chaotic era. How could Vichy town stay out of it?
Rose Cody walked on the tree-lined carriage drive in front of the Rose Garden, passing Director Daley's carriage.
Her steps were light and powerful, and the small bamboo basket on her arm was full of fragrance.