There is a large stone-wood structure in the west area of Kaubicius Port. This is the meeting hall of the Nikancha people in the Tiersim direct territory. Basically, if there is a conflict between the Nikancha settlements in the direct territory, all parties will be summoned. The elders and leaders of the settlement negotiated settlements in this meeting hall. The main reason why the governors and admirals of the former direct territories tolerated the Nikancha people having this meeting hall was to facilitate them in dispatching labor and collecting poll taxes.
"What you mean is that in the past, the Nikancha people in the direct jurisdiction were not registered. Every time a poll tax was levied, tax collectors were sent here to inform the leaders and elders of the Nikancha people how much they would charge, and they were left to their own devices. Distribute them to each settlement or replace them with various materials."
Claude got off the carriage and looked at this rough and crude shed with great interest. Standing next to him was the old man who was the envoy sent by the governor and admirals to persuade Claude to be loyal to Prince Hansback II
To Claude's surprise, when the officers and soldiers who commanded the Thunder Legion from three direct territories were arresting officials and local people who had signed the oath of allegiance to the great prince, the old man who was the envoy actually refused to sign the oath of allegiance. And escaped capture.
Claude was very surprised. He originally thought that the old man who was the messenger was a confidant of the governor of Tiersim, but after asking, he found out that the old man was just a helper, hanging around the governor just to earn some money to support his family.
He and the governor were classmates in junior high school, but they immigrated to the direct-administered territory very early and did not do well. He could only rely on his eloquence to help others settle accounts to earn a living. Two years ago, he went to the dock area to look for work. He accidentally bumped into the Governor's carriage and was almost beaten. Fortunately, the Governor recognized him as a junior high school classmate and was spared a whipping.
There was nothing to say. One of them was a junior high school graduate, one was prosperous, and the other was living in poverty. The governor showed mercy and allowed him to run errands in the government. He clung to the governor's thigh for his own personal gain. Because this mouth is relatively sharp and flattering and funny, which makes people feel comfortable, the governor gave him the task of persuading other generals in the war zone. ii
As a result, he had the misfortune to meet Claude, was slapped three times by the big man Gemi and lost a tooth, and saw how vulnerable the local defense forces of the three demesne were. Then he was tied to a horse and followed the march until he arrived under the city wall of the inner city of Copicius Port, and then became a messenger for Claude to deliver an ultimatum to the governor and admirals.
After the governors and admirals of the three territories were arrested, the old man lost his livelihood and came to Claude directly because he knew some secrets about the territories. Claude really lacked a person like a local snake, and the old man could talk, so he temporarily kept him by his side to help. This time, the elders and leaders of the Nikancha settlements in the three direct jurisdictions were summoned to discuss matters. Thanks to the old man's running around, it took him several months to complete.
"Yes, General, that is indeed the case." The old man replied very respectfully, "The kingdom's head tax collection is actually insignificant to the kingdom residents. A kingdom resident only has to pay one sunar a year. But. Each of these Nikancha people has to pay about one riaso every year. Because there is no population registration, the three directly governed territories are calculated as one million people, and the Nikancha people in the three directly governed territories are required to pay about one riaso every year. Hand over one million riyals or its equivalent”ii
"How much did you say one million riaso?" Claude was simply stunned. The head tax had increased tenfold. One million riaso was equivalent to one hundred thousand silver thalers and twenty thousand gold crowns. These Nikancha people How can I afford this huge sum of money
"No, I see in the tax registration that the income from the head tax of the three direct jurisdictions is only about two thousand gold crowns. How can such a large amount of tax come from?" Claude felt that this amount was very unreliable.
"Your Excellency General, these Nikancha people are actually very wealthy, but you don't know it. Otherwise, why would those local garrison forces be so keen on raiding Nikancha settlements in the past years, mainly because they can earn extra money." The old man explained "Most of the Nikancha people here in Kaubicius Port are indeed poor people. They just eat and drink and live day by day. The rich ones are the elders and leaders of the settlements. They use the youth of their settlements to The young men who work in the dock area take commissions, and they get more than the young men who do the work, so the head tax falls on them ii
On the surface, the elders and leaders of these settlements have to pay a head tax of one riyaso per person for the people in their settlements once a year, but every month they can get three or four sunars from the people in their settlements. In total, They broke. The Nikancha settlements scattered throughout the direct territory are wealthier than the settlements gathered in the outer city of Kaupicius Port. They have their own territories where they can hunt and fish, plant and graze, collect herbs and mine mineral resources. The former governor and admiral had always suspected that these Nikancha people had several small gold and silver mines in their hands, but unfortunately they could not find out.
The year before last and the year before last, these Nikancha settlements took a lot of gold and silver ore as head tax, worth nearly three thousand gold crowns. But the tax collector only mortgaged them two thousand gold crowns. The governor and admiral both sent people to find out where the gold and silver ore came from. The elders and leaders of the Nikancha people deduced that they were paying the poll tax and using materials to exchange supplies with the indigenous Etate tribe in the Obenmuk Mountains. Exchanged. When they heard that it was the Etat tribe in the Obanmuk Mountains, the governor and admiral lost interest. ii
In addition, regarding the head tax collected from these Nikancha people, the actual amount paid by the three direct territories was about two thousand gold crowns, which was also paid according to the head tax of one sunar for the residents of the kingdom. The rest is divided into two parts. The larger part is divided equally among the governors and admirals of the three direct jurisdictions. Each of them can receive 2,500 gold crowns a year. The smaller part is distributed to the officials below. Each Depending on the position, a person can earn more than a dozen gold crowns, while those with high official positions can receive dozens or even a hundred gold crowns. "
Claude suddenly felt a pity at this time. If these Nikancha people were sent to the Nikancha country north of Vibato Port, then there would be no head tax in the future. But think about it, compared with the trouble caused by these Nikancha people, it is better to send them all out for 20,000 kronor to keep these three million Nikancha people and become a hidden danger to the three direct jurisdictions. .
"By the way, Zha, what's Zha?" Claude pointed at the old man and said. ii
"Your Majesty General, my name is Zach Karassen." The old man burst into tears, and the respected General finally remembered to call me by my name. Although I can only remember the word "Zha", I have made a lot of progress. I usually call me "hey" or "that person".
"Okay, Zacharasen, are all the elders and leaders of the three Nikancha settlements here?" Claude asked.
The old man replied very respectfully, "Your Excellency General, it is impossible for all the elders and leaders of the Nikancha settlements in the three direct jurisdictions to come here. We have only notified the leaders of twenty-seven settlements with more than 3,000 people." and the elders. You don’t know that there are hundreds of Nikancha settlements in the three direct jurisdictions, with a population of less than a thousand and about a hundred. If all the elders and leaders of these settlements come, there will be no room for them here.
In fact, we only need to notify these twenty-seven large settlements of Nikancha people with more than 3,000 people. They will naturally help us notify the small settlements that vassal them. Just like how they distribute taxes, a large settlement will receive five or six thousand gold crowns, and they will distribute this amount to their vassal settlements after they return. Those vassal settlements were given dozens to hundreds of gold crowns according to their number of people, and they could quickly collect taxes."ii
"Since the elders and leaders of the twenty-seven Nikancha people you mentioned have arrived, let's go in." Claude nodded.
"Please come first, Your Excellency General, Chief McJack has already checked the surroundings and set up a cordon." Old man Zachary Larson stretched out his hand and bent down respectfully, asking Claude to go first.
Four guards had been posted in front of the large wooden door of the meeting hall. Seeing Claude approaching, they hurriedly saluted and opened the large wooden door. Noisy sounds suddenly came from inside.
The inside of this meeting hall is not as big as it looks from the outside, probably because there are some small rooms separated inside. Claude felt that this hall was only as big as two or three tavern halls, and could barely accommodate nearly a hundred people. The hall was a little dark, because the lighting performance of the building was not very good. There were several fire pots lit in the middle, and there were many people surrounding the fire pots. Some were talking and laughing loudly, and some were grilling meat. The smell was a bit weird. ii
"General Claude, please be quiet." Old man Zacharasen took two steps forward and shouted loudly at the elders and leaders of the Nikancha settlement who were crowded around the brazier.
The crowd suddenly fell silent, and everyone turned their attention to Claude. Old man Zachariassen dragged a chair from somewhere, wiped it with his sleeve, and asked Claude to sit down diligently.
Claude waved his hand, and then looked at the elders and leaders of the Nikancha settlement. The light in the room was not very good, especially under the flickering light of the fire burning in the brazier. Claude felt that the faces of the brown-skinned Nikancha people in front of him all looked the same. Except for their different beards, they really looked different. It's hard to tell who is who.
"I am the deputy commander-in-chief of the overseas territorial theater, Lieutenant General Claude Hanfield, Viscount of the Kingdom." Claude introduced himself first. Old man Zacharasen said that Nikancha people respect officials very much, and the higher the position, the higher the position. The more honest and obedient they are. Sure enough, as soon as Claude reported his position, there were no more whispers below. ii
"Now the three direct territories of Mormali, Tilsim, and Arturas have been placed under the jurisdiction of our war zone. That is to say, the Nikancha people in these three direct territories must accept the control of our war zone today. I have summoned you, the elders and leaders of the three largest Nikancha settlements in the direct jurisdiction, here, mainly because I have something to inform you."
"General, do you want to collect taxes? Just tell me how much you want to charge," someone asked below.
"Uh?" Claude was a little dazed when he was asked, and then he became angry. Does labor and management look like tax collectors? It makes no sense.
"Shut up, bastard. Do you think the General is here to collect money from you? Just open your ears and listen to what the General has to say. Why are you interrupting?" Old man Zach Karassen jumped up next to him and pointed at the crowd and yelled.
Claude looked at old man Zacharson, who quickly closed his mouth with a smile. ii
"He is right. I am not here to collect taxes from you. Tax collection is not my responsibility." Claude continued, "What I want to tell you is that on the northern coast of our territory directly under the jurisdiction of Vibato Port In the mountainous area, your Nikancha compatriots have established an independent country there. They are currently conquering the inland colonies of the Hicks Kingdom and occupying a large area."
With a "boom", the elders and leaders of the Nikancha people sitting together below almost jumped up. This news was so shocking. The Nikancha people have always wanted to establish their own country, but in overseas territories, they have no chance or possibility to realize this wish.
Although the Nikancha people in the north have established their country for a long time, nearly two years. However, due to the separation of the war zones, the Nikancha people in these three territories did not receive any news at all. Even the Nikancha people who worked as miners in the Amphiston territory did not know about the new independence in the northern part of Vibato Port. A country of Nikancha people was formed. ii
This is mainly because the war zone did not take the Nikancha country seriously at all. Claude originally encouraged the Nikancha people to launch an armed rebellion and establish their own country just to cause chaos to the Kingdom of Hicks. In addition, it is much better to let the Nikancha people annex the inland colonies of the Hicks Kingdom than to send troops to the war zone to sweep them away. Because the total area of the inland colonies of the Hicks Kingdom is as large as more than four overseas territories, and it is basically wilderness and hilly areas, there is really no way to spend troops and time there in the war zone.
After capturing the Colonial County of Vibato Port and making it the eighth overseas territory of the kingdom, the war zone decided to make the Nikancha country in the north a barrier to the overseas territories. At the same time, the Nikancha people are also allowed to capture the inland colonies of the Kingdom of Hicks. Then the theater will only have to deal with threats from the sea. This will be of great help and convenience for the theater to maintain the security of overseas territories.
"General, is this news true?" an old Nikancha man with a gray beard asked Claude excitedly. ii
"This is the elder of the Luo Luo Bird settlement, called Chali. There are more than 4,000 people in their settlement and they live on the river beach to the west of Manledo Town." Old man Zacharasen introduced Claude from the side.
"Elder Chali, this news is true." Claude said to the old Nikan very kindly, "You don't know that mainly because of the war, there is no one in the Cromwell and Beringana territories. The Kamchat settlement can still remain there, so the news has been isolated north of the Dolinibara River.
But now this Nikancha country has made a request for assistance to our war zone, and hopes to relocate all the Nikancha settlements in its overseas territories to them. They said that the Nikancha country they established was the homeland of all Nikancha people, and that any Nikancha people could live a free and happy life there.
Our theater has agreed to their request. In half a month, their envoys will be here, hoping to persuade you to move the Nikancha settlement to their country. If you have anything to ask then, just ask the envoy directly, and our war zone will help you relocate and transport you there from the offshore for free by sea ship, which can reduce the journey by half. ”ii
Sometimes Claude really admired the brains of his young companion Boker. He sent a hawk message to General Albert, who was sitting in Vibato Port, asking about the three million yuan from the three direct territories. Will there be any bad effects if the Nikancha people are sent to the northern Nikancha country? As a result, Albert left this matter to Bokoar, who was doing arms deals with the Nikancha people.
Then Claude received the falcon message from Bokoal. When he opened it, Claude was shocked. Bokoar actually used these three million Nikancha people as business chips to exchange a large amount of money from the Nikancha country. Mineral resources and gold and silver reserves.
Bokoal explained in his letter the reason why he did this. It turned out that the total number of people in the northern Nikancha country was less than two million. When attacking the inland colonies of the Kingdom of Hicks, he suffered nearly 10,000 casualties. After all, most of the inland colonies of the Kingdom of Hicks are mine developers, and there are many extremely vicious people working here, as well as the nobles' private mine-protecting slaves and slaves. ii
It was no problem for the newly established Nikancha people to defeat the minority with a large number of people, but the Nikancha people who had just learned how to use muskets still paid a heavy price in casualties. As a result, having only occupied one-third of the area of the inland colonies so far, there is insufficient stamina and no way to continue the attack. They are in great need of follow-up troops and more people, as well as supply support of weapons, ammunition, equipment and food.
Therefore, there was no problem in the talks between Bokoar and the Nikancha people. They were overjoyed when they heard that the war zone was willing to allow the Nikancha settlement in the direct jurisdiction to move to their country. Bokoar took the opportunity to demand a large amount of mineral resources and gold and silver as a reward for abandoning these Nikancha settlements in the war zone. At the same time, he allowed the Nikancha country to send envoys to persuade the Nikancha settlements in the three directly-administered territories to move north.