Although Werther was very angry at what the messenger had just done, he still wanted to confirm what was written in the edict. He picked up the edict and found that it was written in a king's tone:
My son, Werther, it’s been a long time. I have something to tell you. In order to reduce the loss of the palace, I specifically ordered you to make up for the twelve years of taxes in Dawn Town within one day. The monthly taxes for each citizen are
You need to tax their taxes on one-tenth of the property you earn, and then hand over 20% of the total amount to the palace.
In order to save you time, I have roughly estimated the taxes you need to pay, so you don’t have to investigate on your own. Also, in order to reduce your burden, I have deliberately reduced the amount of money you need to pay. Don’t overdo it.
Thank me, I am your biological father after all, and it is my duty to help you.
The taxes you need to pay are five hundred gold coins, four hundred bags of wheat flour, four hundred bags of corn kernels, two hundred bags of potatoes, fifty boxes of pickled meat, ten boxes of pickled fish, five boxes of seasonal fruits and vegetables, and ten bottles
Wine, twenty pieces of cloth. The quality of the grapes in Frank City this year is very good, and it should be the same in Dawn Town. I look forward to the wine you send~
After reading it, Werther trembled with trembling hands and almost bit his teeth off. If it were just an ordinary letter from father and son, the tone would be really warm and interesting, but what it describes is something that will push his own son into a desperate situation.
"This tone is so informal, what kind of edict is it? My father is too messy! And how can I prepare so many things? Even if I buy all the assets, it will not be enough. Wait, maybe I can buy the castle.
That's enough." Werther narrowed his eyes and looked at Tom with a hint of expectation.
However, Tom quickly gave up his expectations. Tom closed his eyes sadly and shook his head: "Your Highness, each lord's castle and the furnishings in the castle are regarded as property donated by the king. If they are sold, they will be regarded as
Disrespect to the king will be punished."
"I knew it." Werther rested his head on his hands in despair, "Now we can't even get the money together, let alone the food."
"Your Highness, I have an idea." Wile said, "Why don't you collect some of the property from the wealthy people, and then sell all your assets except the castle. If it's not enough, you can borrow it from other nobles."
Witte shook his head and said: "It's useless. There were originally no more than twenty households of wealthy people in Daybreak Town. After twelve years of poor management of the town, they are now the same as the poor. It can be said that except for Egg, now
Everyone in Mrs. Liz's family and the Treasurer's family are extremely poor. If their property is confiscated, they won't even be able to eat.
I heard that the judge had already returned the little money that Mrs. Agnes gave him to some common people, and he couldn't help. Also, the nobles who know me now have no time to avoid me, so how can they borrow money?
Give me."
Wile suddenly thought of it again: "Your Highness, let us use our own money to give it to you."
Others agreed.
Werther looked at them and asked, "How much money do you have that you can lend me?"
Potter and the three maids shook their heads.
Tom explained for them: "Potter, Kath, and Kara's wages have to support the whole family. But my wages are higher. In addition to sending them to my family, I also saved twenty gold coins, which can be given directly to His Highness.
.”
Ivan said: "I have no family to support. I can give all my wages last month to His Highness."
Wile said: "I had no wages in the palace, and the first day after I came to the castle
One month’s wages will also be given to His Highness.”
Linna also said: "Our Weisper family will definitely give you everything we have, but my family is no longer what it used to be. We can only give you twenty gold coins at most."
It was still far from enough. At this time, Margery stood up, and everyone's eyes were focused on her. She seemed to have a halo. Even Werther felt embarrassed at this time. Alas, at this juncture, Margery
Li will definitely help, but should he accept her kindness?
Margaery showed a confident smile, took out her embroidered money bag, gently pulled open the gold rope used to tie the money bag, then tilted the money bag, poured out a few copper coins, and the copper coins fell on
The sounds on the table sounded chilling.
Margaery was stunned for a moment, and then showed an embarrassed expression: "I remembered, before I left Frank City, I originally brought eighty gold coins, but most of them were paid to York in advance for next year's wages. York
I used that money to build a house in my hometown. And I spent all the rest."
Everyone is like a deflated rubber ball.
And Werther was the most sentimental one. He looked listless at this time, and his eyes seemed a little hollow. He raised his head slightly, stared at the chandelier on the ceiling that could not be blown by the wind, and said slowly: "I will not collapse, and neither will Dawn Town."
I won't collapse. If they really want to deal with me, I can escape, and if they want to harm you, I can protect you."
After saying that, Werther went up the stairs alone. He had decided not to care about taxes, but to continue to run the town seriously. He believed that the ship would be straight when it reaches the bridge. Moreover, at this moment, he had to practice hard.
Magic, if it really comes to a life-or-death moment, he only hopes to save himself and his friends.
He practiced in the bedroom for a whole day, even eating lunch and dinner in a hurry. By midnight, his third-level magic had improved a lot, and he could move 500 meters more than the previous day. However, by the end of the practice, he was getting worse and worse.
It's difficult, even if you wear a magic ring, you will make no progress.
He can now move 4,950 meters instantly without a magic ring, and he still has 50 meters left before he can truly learn the third level of magic.
There was no way he could finish the last fifty meters. He was exhausted both physically and mentally, and fell asleep the moment he fell on the bed.
The next day, he was woken up by Wile's scream. He hadn't heard such a harsh sound for a long time, and he actually felt a little nostalgic.
Werther kicked off the quilt and slowly opened his eyes. What he saw was Wile lying by his window with a look of astonishment on his face.
"Wow! What are you doing?" Werther suddenly sat up, holding his hands on both sides of his body, breathing heavily, "When I first woke up, seeing you like this almost scared me out of my mind!"
Wile was also panting heavily: "Your Highness, um, what happened last time happened again."
"What's going on?"
"At the gate of the castle, there is a mountain of money and a lot of grain. One of the sacks contains gold coins!"
Wile's expression was so exaggerated and serious that Werther couldn't help but believe what he said.
Werther stretched out his hand and pinched his cheek, feeling a burst of pain. It looked like he was not dreaming, but he still had to go out and confirm, because I sometimes feel pain when dreaming.
"Your Highness, what are you doing? Why don't you go out and broaden your horizons?"
"Of course I want to learn more. I have never seen so many gold coins in my life."
Werther quickly changed his clothes, and then jumped out like a rabbit, with Wile dangerously behind.
Some can't keep up with his pace.
When he arrived in front of the mountain-like pile of money, his eyes that were originally not round suddenly opened wide. He walked around the mountain in circles and circles, and his eyes were dazzled by wheat flour, corn, and potatoes.
, pickled meat, pickled fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, wine and cloth, the most eye-catching thing is the bag of shining gold coins.
This was a big bag of gold coins. Werther stood in front of the bag, smelling the money hard, holding up the gold coins with both hands and throwing them in, and then repeated the action.
"Haha, so much money~" Werther's eyes sparkled as if they contained the entire galaxy, and he drooled unknowingly.
"It turns out... His Highness also likes money, ha, ha, ha." Wile narrowed his eyes and smiled in embarrassment.
"Ahem." Werther stood up straight and adjusted his emotions, but still couldn't hide his smile. "These things seem to be enough for the tax. However, what is very strange is who sent such money and goods. Could it be that
Is it the Black Shadow Knight? And, where do these things come from?"
Wile handed the note in his hand to Werther: "Your Highness, I found this in one of the boxes."
Witte opened it and saw the familiar and twisted handwriting. It was indeed the Black Shadow Knight.
It says:
I sneaked into Mrs. Agnes's house late at night and tried my best to persuade her. I made her understand that Werther was the lord and should return the taxes to him. Unexpectedly, after several hours of persuasion, she actually agreed to let me take part of the money.
She gave the property to you and signed the guarantee letter to prove that she gave it to you voluntarily.
I sneaked into her warehouse and found that she had spent only one thousand and nine gold coins from the tax money, so I took out five hundred gold coins.
Then I sneaked into her cellar and found 218 bags of wheat flour, 108 bags of potatoes, 79 bags of corn kernels, 12 pieces of cloth, 20 boxes of bacon, 7 boxes of dried fish, and 10 boxes of dried fish.
A bottle of wine and five boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables. So I moved all these things for you. I also took out twenty-three gold coins and went to the neighboring town to help you buy the remaining grain and cloth.
These money and materials are enough for you to hand over, I wish you good luck. Remember, I will try my best to help you when you are in danger or confused.
Werther was extremely excited and burst into tears with gratitude to this shadow knight. Anyway, these money and things were originally taxes collected by Mrs. Agnes from her people, and it was right for Werther to hand over this part of the tax to the king.
"But why doesn't the Shadow Knight bring more taxes? Originally, most of the taxes in Daybreak Town should be in my hands, so it's appropriate to give them to me." Witte frowned and thought.
After a while, he seemed to understand a little. Although there was a certain reason for the Black Shadow Knight to take away the money and items, it was not an aboveboard matter. Maybe the Black Shadow Knight didn't want me to get my hands dirty. I only had to hand over the part.
The king will not embarrass him, but if he uses more money from Mrs. Agnes's warehouse, he may be troubled by the king.
"That's great! We can just wait for the guards in the palace to take away the money and things!" Werther said happily, "This time we don't have to worry about father's blame anymore."
"Wow, brother Witte has succeeded in breaking through again!" Margery also happily ran to the money bag, bent her arms in a victory gesture, and said with a smile, "If the Dark family has any other tricks, just come over.
Brother Werther is not afraid of you! It’s so exciting, hahaha!”
Werther looked at her helplessly: "I still hope it would be better to use fewer tricks."