(Wait a moment, I am writing, I will change it when I finish)
Jinlongdu
Different from the coldness of the snowfield, the Golden Dragon has entered the hottest time of the year at this time. Most pedestrians on the road only wear a short shirt to cover their bodies, and some even go topless. But no matter where they stay, they sweat. There is always an unstoppable flow.
Those who can take shelter in the shade are lucky, but there are many people who still have to work hard when the sun is at its peak.
Since the beginning of the year, the burden on the people has more than doubled, and materials from all over the world are gathered at the docks of Jinlongjiang River every day.
Every time a ship docks, hundreds of coolie workers must brave the scorching sun to board the ship to carry goods. These are all laborers recruited from nearby farms. And when working in this kind of weather, it will get hot almost every day. Some people die.
Not only has the labor force become much heavier, but the land tax has also increased significantly. Fortunately, the Golden Dragon Kingdom has enjoyed peace for so long, and most people still have some food left in their homes, so they will not be unable to survive. As for those who really cannot pay the money and food, it is easy. , naturally someone will give them more labor to offset the showdown.
As for resistance? There is no need for knights to take action. A quasi-knight with simple equipment and a few soldiers can easily suppress an entire village of peasants. If they can't handle it, there will be even more terrifying knights who will take action in person. Ordinary civilians face onerous tasks this year. There is no other way to deal with corvee and taxation except to curse a few words in my heart.
In this era when extraordinary power dominates everything, the pyramid structure of the kingdom is extremely stable. Not to mention that the Charman family has ruled the kingdom for five hundred years. If there were no foreign threats, this kind of rule would probably be able to maintain for another five years. century.
For ordinary people, the increase in the kingdom's corvee taxes is a real tyranny, but for Ren, who implements tyranny, it is a last resort. The war is coming, and he has to do his best to squeeze the people's strength and prepare for the war. , as for doing this to resist the orcs, before the orcs came to the city, how many people understood this truth.
…
In a side hall of the palace, Ren, who has been regarded as a tyrant by the people, is sitting on the main seat. Below him are more than a dozen people who are important ministers of the kingdom, including top officials like the Prime Minister and Thor, as well as the recently arrested people. The great prince Wolf had many garrison troops in his hands.
Most of the people present have a knight-level physique. Even King Ren himself is a master of the knight-level, not to mention a sky-level expert like Thor. Everyone wears very solemn clothes because they have certain abilities in cold and hot weather. resistance.
Although the hot weather will not make them impetuous, the matters being discussed at this time are a bit heavy for everyone except Sol.
"So when we raise the tax burden on the common people, everyone can reach an agreement for the sake of the country's racial justice. Now I say it's so difficult to ask the noble families to contribute people and efforts?"
There was a hint of anger in Ren's tone. Faced with Ren's questioning, most people lowered their heads and did not dare to answer, fearing that something wrong would be brought upon them. It would not be wrong to agree then, no. Neither does consent.
After all, according to Ren's idea, all nobles must increase taxes like ordinary farmers. For these nobles, they usually try their best to pay less taxes, so there is no reason to accept more taxes.
And not only did they have to pay taxes, the king actually asked the nobles to take responsibility, and they had to bring their equipment and private soldiers to the military camp to report and participate in the war according to their title and territory.
The barbarian nobles in the north or some recently awarded military nobles may be able to recruit some capable personal guards to fight. Most of the nobles have enjoyed wealth for hundreds of years. Except for a few big nobles, every generation
To have a knight who can't even swing a sword to kill someone to inherit the title is their greatest pursuit of force.
It is conceivable that if Ren's two demands must be implemented, it will be like poaching the kingdom's vested interest groups. If he comes out to answer the question, he may be ostracized by the entire interest group.
Don't agree. Faced with Ren who was obviously a little angry now, they didn't have the courage to say anything. They just kept their heads down and pretended to be dead. No matter how Ren's eyes swept around, they wouldn't move.
Only Thor looked at Renne calmly. One-third of his status came from blood, one-third from the golden dragon, and one-third from his personal strength. It had nothing to do with these nobles. He was Renne's most important person.
A staunch supporter.
But his support was useless. Among the others, even Wolf, as the eldest prince, did not dare to stand up and answer the question. In addition to Ren's support, his reorganization of the garrison also required the support of various noble families. Many of them were under his control.
The rich nobles gave him real talent and material support. If he stood up to support Ren's approach, it would probably shake his own base.
"boom!"
The angry Renn slapped the table hard. Renn's strength was not weak, and the blow made a loud noise. The quality of the table was good enough to withstand Renn's angry blow.
Ren was so furious that the people below could no longer remain calm. With this loud noise, more than a dozen people below, including the eldest prince Wolf, fell to their knees on the ground, with their heads on the ground.
They looked horrified, but they just didn't want to answer Ren's words. Only Thor still stood firmly in front of the crowd, standing out.
"Prime Minister Zuo, what do you think about sending more troops to the nobles?"
After angrily banging on the table, Ren simply called someone by name to ask someone to speak.
The left prime minister, who was named by Rennes, had no choice but to bite the bullet and go out. After thinking for a long time, he replied:
"Now the military actions of the orcs at Longxingguan have become more and more obvious. The Golden Dragon clan is going to betray its alliance again. The kingdom is already in crisis. All the noble families are vassals of the kingdom. It is necessary for someone to provide money and help others.
Regarding the matter, even if His Majesty does not send additional troops, each family should take the initiative to contribute to the war."
Although everyone had their heads buried, they listened with open ears when the Prime Minister Zuo spoke. The Prime Minister Zuo talked about a lot of truths that everyone knew. Now the news that Jin Long will betray the alliance is no longer as strict as the control.
The less well-informed middle- and lower-class nobles have already heard the news. If all the nobles can rely on reason to cooperate with the kingdom's actions, there won't be so many troubles.
Now Renne obviously wants to implement a specific and executable order to poach the flesh from the nobles. Specific measures are needed, but the left prime minister did not respond directly. After saying a lot of good things, he looked to the side.
The old enemy of the head smiled slightly in his heart and changed the subject and said:
"It's just that I'm not as familiar with the right minister as to how to apportion the money to each noble family. It's up to the right minister to come up with specific measures on how to do it."
Right Prime Minister: “…”
"oh?"
"Then the right minister thinks the apportionment to the nobles should be increased?"
Although the left minister's change of topic was a bit abrupt, Renn didn't seem to care. He followed the left minister's words and handed the conversation to the right minister. He had already got the attitude he wanted from the left minister.
And the right minister who was named by Ren slowly came out. According to the system of the kingdom, no fool can reach this position. In fact, he was like a mirror in his heart. He had already figured it out when Ren was furious just now.
The key point is that he is the right prime minister and administrative officer of the kingdom. He cannot run away when both the left and right prime ministers are named. He behaved quite calmly when he was out of the queue, and said unhurriedly:
"Your Majesty, it is natural to increase the assessment to all the nobles of the kingdom, but I am afraid it is not appropriate to double the tax collection as before."
"Why, civilians can get it, but not nobles?"
Of course it won't work. The common people are being taxed. No matter how dissatisfied they are, they have to suppress it. They can't form any resistance force that can affect the kingdom, and the nobles are the foundation of the kingdom's rule. If these nobles with financial resources and military force are pushed into a hurry,
It can really shake the foundation of the kingdom's rule.
Renn acted so aggressively, but he was actually just trying to bargain.
Yes, the king bargained with the domestic aristocracy, using the king's authority and some means to get the entire aristocracy to hand over some of its benefits.
"Your Majesty, these are the descendants of meritorious ministers. If you want to force the apportionment to the common people, I am afraid it will chill the nobles in the country."
"Then how does the right minister think the material gap at Longxingguan should be replenished? The war is about to begin, and the corvee and field taxes have already doubled, so we can't continue to send more."
At present, the burden of the kingdom is mainly placed on the shoulders of the common people. Although the nobles are also contributing, but compared with the interests and resources they occupy, the amount of effort is definitely not enough. If they can achieve the level of the Ross family in the Western Region, Lei
Well, I won't have such a headache anymore.
"I suggest that the increase in dispatch be increased by 20% on the existing basis, and that the nobles be allowed to use money and food instead of sending troops."
"The bonus will be at least 30% higher..."
"If each family cannot fulfill its obligation to join the conscription, it must pay five hundred gold nards, and the amount will increase with the title."
"Your Majesty, is this too much? I think..."
In the end, the discussion became like a market negotiation. After several rounds of bargaining, the two parties settled on a number, and then Renne announced the end of the discussion with a livid face.
After everyone dispersed, Ren's expression returned to normal. His goal had actually been achieved. Renn didn't really want to alienate the nobles, although he knew very well that at least half of the nobles in the kingdom had been completely transformed.
For the moths.
But he couldn't violently remove these moths. He was different from Richard. Richard could carry out reforms without scruples because the power of the northern nobles was not strong in the first place, and Richard's rule did not rely on that group of nobles. They did not
It's not Richard's base. Even when he was fully fledged, Richard could directly use violent means to suppress the nobles in the valley and directly seize the benefits.
But Ren is different. The foundation of the Golden Dragon Kingdom is based on these nobles. Although they are corrupt, Ren does not dare to remove them at will. That will only plunge the kingdom into greater chaos. He can only fight and compromise.
Just gradually find a balance point.
Judging from the results of this small court meeting, Renn still achieved his goal. By singing and harmonizing with the two prime ministers on the left and right, he set the tone of adding more factions in front of more than a dozen people. I believe that this news will be announced soon.
It will spread throughout the aristocratic class through these dozen people.
With the authority of the king and the endorsement of the left and right prime ministers, I believe that most nobles will not do anything impulsive for the sake of this relatively small increase.
"Uncle King Sol, after this additional dispatch, it should be enough to maintain the Longxingguan army."
There were only two people left in the hall, Saul and Harris, and Ren was no longer as tense as before.
"That's enough for now."
"call."
"Uncle King Thor, why do you think that during His Majesty Aragon's time, our clan's population was less than one-third of its current size, but we could easily maintain ten million soldiers? Now, the kingdom's population of one hundred million can maintain
The five million troops at Longxi Pass are so exhausted."
To put it bluntly, the problem is that the people's power was not exploited as well as in the Aragorn period, and the subjective initiative was insufficient. At that time, humans followed Aragorn to fight for the human race, and most people did their best to fight for the human race.
.
Nowadays, people can rest on their merits and live a comfortable life. The oppression of the orcs has become a thing of the past hundreds of years ago. Human beings no longer have the spirit of the Aragorn period. In addition, Renne has grown from strength.
The prestige is not on the same level as that of Aragon, and the relationship with the domestic nobles is subject to mutual checks and balances. At the time of Aragon, in one word, the nobles under his command would not even sacrifice their lives, not to mention money and food.
Blink your eyes.
Thor was silent for a moment after listening to Ren's question, and it took him a long time to reply:
"The nobles at that time were always the first to rush into battle."
It is better not to have the current aristocracy.
When Ren thought of this, he couldn't help but think of Richard who was "messing around" in the Northland.
"Is there any new news recently with my good son-in-law?"
"Your Majesty, Sir Richard seems to have launched troops against Xueyuan recently."
Harris, who had remained silent, opened his mouth to answer when Lane asked about Richard's situation.
"Deploy troops against the snowy plains?"
When Ren heard about this strange place, he didn't react for a moment. After thinking for a while, he roughly figured out where the snowfield was.
"Why did he send troops to the snowy fields to fight those giants?"
"Yes, and according to the intelligence, Lord Richard has achieved another great victory."
"Can even the Snow Giant win? He is so capable, why not save your energy and prepare for the next battle with the orcs."
Renn was already a little surprised that Richard had done some magical things. In addition, he knew very little about the snowfield, so he did not delve into this issue and turned the topic back to the orcs.
"Send someone to remind him. It's almost time to report to Longxi Pass."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
…
Northland, Miracle City
Half a month has passed since the battle in Snowfield City. It seems that the Snow Giant Royal Court has not even elected a new king. The construction work on the outer positions of Snowfield City has been going on. The surrounding Snow Giants are now looking at nothing.
After intervention, Snowfield City finally gained a firm foothold in the snowfield.
Several flag regiments that suffered serious attrition during the war have basically been replenished. The Hunter family is very efficient and has replenished new recruits shortly after the battle.
After being busy for a few days, Richard became the hands-off shopkeeper again. Every day he was either patrolling around or waiting for Messiah to stay with her for a while after she returned home from learning magic.
But today was an accident. Richard did not accompany Messiah in the mansion, but came to the Stone Castle, waiting for the market and tavern to be refreshed...
