In the room, the person sitting in front of Char was none other than Yulia with a big belly.
Now Xia's group, from him down, whether it's Kato Sharba or Afrekat, are either born in the army, or a mountain hunter, or a samurai - they are all fighting men.
After Xia Ya came to the imperial capital, she made a lot of windfalls, large and small, and gradually gained a large family business, but maintaining the daily expenses of the family and keeping account details and other things... A few big men can only stare blankly. .
Fortunately, there is another Kevin's widow, Yulia, at home. Yulia's spirit has gradually improved these days. Seeing that several big men are staring at the family's accounts every day, she comes forward.
Although Yulia does not have any major talents, but she comes from a middle-class family, and she has some ink in her stomach, and Kevin is out in battle all the year round, and she is a woman who manages the family affairs, although it may not be a big deal. Talent, but I don't know how many times stronger than a few big men. She refused to be kept in vain under the care of Xia Ya, and volunteered to give some strength. Xia Ya also felt that letting her do some things would help him relieve the stagnation in his heart. Besides, the trivial things that people eat, horses, rice, oil, and salt really gave him a headache. He could have someone as assured as Yulia to manage him. It was unreasonable, so I agreed.
As a result, Yulia became a character like the housekeeper in Char's family.
"Xia Ya." Yulia sighed, with a worried expression on her face: "Don't worry, I'll take it slow for you."
Xia Ya has great respect for this Kevin's widow. Although he occasionally acts like a rogue to others, in front of Yulia, he has always been rigorous and respectful—even when he lived with the old guy back then, he was not so honest. Respectful.
Turtle took a deep breath and said sternly: "Well, I was in a hurry just now, you say slowly, um... It's not just money, the big deal is I'll sell this house."
"There's no need to sell the house." Yulia smiled lightly, caressing her stomach with one hand, and said slowly: "I calculated, such a big house has a total of forty-nine rooms - this does not include the inner court, the outer courtyard and the back. The horse carriage yard. Many places are too dilapidated. If you want to repair it again, even if it is not extravagant, try to simplify and save it as much as possible, and only restore it to its original appearance. At the price of building materials in the imperial capital, it will cost at least 2,000 gold coins. !"
Xia Ya stared: "So expensive?"
Two thousand gold coins! At the price of the imperial capital of Osgilia, about two silver coins are enough for a civilian family of three to live for more than a month, and only two gold coins are enough for a year's expenses. Two thousand gold coins is enough for an ordinary family to live for a thousand years!
Yulia didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "This is impossible, the floor was originally made of first-class granite marble, and the wall tiles were not ordinary, the grass and trees in the yard were transplanted, and the lamps and lanterns were damaged... In some places If it's damaged, we don't replace all the damaged ones, but we have to buy the same things as the original ones... Although the house looks dilapidated, I looked carefully, and the original things in all places are first-class. One of the top grades! The cost of this house back then, I am really surprised when I think about it carefully. All the large and small places have been repaired, and the two thousand gold coins have been saved as much as possible."
After a pause, she continued: "There is still such a big house, and after it is repaired, the daily expenses are also indispensable. The gardener who takes care of the garden, the cook and maid, the coachman, the servant and the handyman will all be hired. You are a noble and a high-ranking official now, but you can’t just pull a few people back on the street. The kind of servants who have undergone strict training and are used by large families, the salary is not low. In addition, there are daily salaries. Expenses, such a large group of people, everyone eats horses, is an expense every day, I calculated it, and added it up. In a month, our expenses are also at least 100 gold coins! This is only a visible cost. For such a big mansion, it does not mean that you can repair it once. The maintenance cost of such a manor is not low on weekdays. Well, I just inquired about it, the nobles of other families, like this kind of manor, the annual maintenance and repair costs will be nearly a thousand gold coins - this is already the least."
Having said this, Yulia hesitated for a while, she glanced at Xiaya and sighed: "Xiaya, it's just you and me now, I have a few words to remind you. I'm just a woman, if I say No, you don't mind either."
"Well, just say it." Xia Ya said calmly, "I treat you like a family member in my heart!"
"These people around you, Sharba and Cato, are life and death brothers in your army. From now on, they will follow you to serve in the borderlands of More County. Naturally, they will be supported by the state's salaried army. But... Mr. Avrecart, And the dozens of wolf-toothed warriors he brought are all serving you. Although these people are loyal to you, but... they have been here for so many days, you... can't just let them stay by your side like this in vain. Bar."
"Eh?" Xia Ya was stunned for a moment.
Seeing Xia dazed, Yulia smiled and said, "It turned out to be an independent warrior group. Although they don't make much money, they still make money every year, and they also have their own business and are not controlled by others. Now I'm following you, Although Mr. Avrecart is very loyal to you, and you are very kind to him, but... kindness, you can't be a meal for a lifetime, right? Think about it carefully, people used to lead the samurai group to make a living, and every month there are more than ten The income of a gold coin, I have been with you for so many days... Even if Mr. Avrecart doesn't want your money, the warriors he brought may not be so loyal to you, you must pay them salaries, right? Otherwise, why would people follow you in vain?"
Xia suddenly realized. After all, he doesn't know anything about this kind of thing. These days, he has really forgotten about this stubble!
To put it bluntly: people follow you, they are your subordinates, and you should pay for the food and drink... Besides, you always have to start working, right
Otherwise, why do people follow you
Xia Ya has never been a leader. Although he has led people in the army before, all the soldiers under his command are paid by the state. Where does he need to worry about this? But I completely forgot about it!
These days, everyone has followed him. He just thinks that everyone has wine and meat to eat together, and everything will be fine, but he never thought of paying people salaries...
Fortunately, Avre Carter never complained, but he didn't say it, the warriors below may not have any ideas in their hearts.
Xia Ya stood up and bowed to Yulia with sincerity: "I was careless! If it wasn't for your sister-in-law, you reminded me that I would still be stupid!"
Yulia smiled slightly: "You are a noble and a high-ranking official. Naturally, someone else will do these little things for you. You can't think of it yourself. I don't blame you. Well, I have actually thought about it quietly. Are some of the warriors Mr. Avrekat brought, you can choose to go to the army, and you will be paid for in the future, and some are not suitable for soldiers, you can stay at home as guards, and the expenses are your own. As for salaries, I have inquired about their previous income in the samurai group, and they can't be lower than before. After all, you have to spend dozens of gold coins every month... People's salaries are not that much, but Weapons, armor, and horses cost a lot. The so-called poor people are rich in martial arts, and raising so many warriors is not only for people to eat, but also for weapons, swords, and armor."
Xia Ya frowned: "Well, as you said, all the money in my hand is spent, how much is left?"
Yulia sighed: "One thousand gold coins."
"Oh?" Xia Ya was overjoyed. In his opinion, 1,000 gold coins was already a lot. "It's okay! There are so many more! It's enough for me to go to More County!"
"No... I mean, you are still short of a thousand gold coins! The money in your hand is not enough now. Although you have made a lot of windfalls recently, you have not been small recently. The messengers come and go to give rewards... and the expenses at home are all money. I have carefully calculated, if you want to repair the house now, and you don't have enough money, then you have to go out and borrow money. Unless the house is left untouched Xiu, first use the money to collect these warriors brought by Mr. Alfrekat. Let everyone calm down, and this family will be considered stable."
Xia Ya has a carefree temperament, so he laughed loudly: "That's it, let's not repair the house if we don't repair it, and it's not that we don't have a place to live."
"It's not that simple." Yulia smiled bitterly and glanced at Xia Ya: "You careless temperament, alas... I figured it out for myself, this house is not repaired today, not tomorrow, but it will always be repaired in the future. Calculated by seven, seven, eight, eight, and every month from now on, our family expenses cannot be calculated without a few hundred gold coins per month. Is there any additional expenses for a year? You will also be a noble person in the future. It costs money to entertain, welcome and send. In general, it’s not enough to have three or four thousand gold coins every year—if something happens, I’m afraid that five thousand gold coins won’t be enough.” He paused. , Yulia looked at Xia Ya: "Although you have been named a baron, you will have your own fief in the future, and if you have a fief, you will have income, and your own salary as an official... But I also inquired about it. In the empire, an ordinary The baron of the lord, the fief is a small town at most, and the tax is only two or three thousand gold coins a year... This is quite good! That is to say... With the income of your title and fief, you can't support such a fief at all. Everyone."
"..." Xia was stunned, completely stunned! !
Can't afford a home
What a joke! !
Xia Ya scratched her hair with hatred.
He used to be a small villager in the mountains. He used to eat with one mouth, and he would not worry about feeding the whole family by himself. Occasionally he sold a game of prey. In addition to eating and drinking, he could leave a little surplus, and maybe he could have more in his pocket. A tinkling copper plate for a drink.
Now, as a nobleman, with fancy clothes and delicious food, with an official position and a fief, and a large number of fiefs on the land... But on the contrary, he can't even support his family? !
Yulia smiled wryly, looking at Xi Ya's ignorant and surprised expression, she explained it patiently to the boy: Generally speaking, a baron can only be regarded as a low-level title in the noble class. As for fiefs, a baron's Generally speaking, a fief is only the size of a small town, which is not bad - if it is some rural nobles in remote areas, a baron's fief is only three or five villages. A baron like Xi Ya, who is deeply favored by the emperor, can get a relatively prosperous town, even if it is very good.
But how many people can a small town have? But it's just a million people. To collect taxes, agricultural taxes and commercial taxes must be handed over to the center of the empire, and the rest can go to the nobles themselves. After a year, a small town with a population of 10,000 people can have a surplus of two or three thousand gold coins— This is already a very wealthy area.
Of course, as a feudal lord, Xiaya has the right to levy taxes and taxes, and cleverly set up other names to search for wealth - but as a person, Xiaya really wants him to be extremely vicious to squeeze the people's fat and the people's ointment, and the people in the fiefs will be destroyed. People can't make a living - he can't do it either. (In my opinion, the life of the bully landlord in his heart is nothing more than trolling chicks on the street with a few dog legs.)
Then the problem is in front of us: the income of such a name is obviously not enough to support such a large family.
Char began to scratch his hair.
"I really don't understand. The noble gentlemen I saw, one by one, dressed in bright clothes, went in and out of the mansion, served by noble servants and beautiful maids, beautiful wives and beautiful concubines, brocade clothes and jade food... How could they live so well? I didn't see those The guy is worried about money?" Xia frowned.
"Poor and rich." Yulia sighed: "You recruited Mr. Afrekat and his subordinates. Actually... I said something that shouldn't be said, which seems out of place."
"Uh?"
Yulia smiled and said: "Although I am not from a noble family, my family is also a middle-class family, and I have seen how those little nobles live. Xia Ya, those noble nobles you mentioned are indeed some. , but those are the real rich and powerful. In fact, in the empire, barons can only be regarded as low-ranking nobles, and most of the low-ranking nobles' lives may not be as glamorous as you say. In fact, in my hometown, A baron's family just lives in a mansion that is better than ordinary families. There can be three or five old servants in the family, and there are carriages to ride out. The food and clothing are not much better than ordinary wealthy families. As for... private soldiers? , Generally speaking, a small baron's territory is only a town. How many private soldiers are needed? It is enough to gather a few peasants to maintain law and order. But you are good, and you recruit a samurai group, Alfred Mr. Carter's martial skills are superb, and the warriors under his command are also of good strength, but such elite private soldiers, looking at the entire empire, no baron can recruit. But you are very generous, not only recruiting these warriors, They were also equipped with armor, good weapons, and each with two good horses... This is considered an elite cavalry. Have you ever seen such an elite cavalry stationed in a small town? "
Shaya was speechless.
"There are no more than a few ways for the nobles to make money: first, taxation. I will deny this way on your behalf. After all, the national tax items of the empire are no longer low, and ordinary people cannot afford to pay higher taxes. Blindly squeezing and looting this kind of thing, don’t say you can’t do it, even if you do, I won’t agree. Second, it’s a secret and shameful way: doing business, getting a few properties in the territory, You can do all kinds of food, clothing, housing, and transportation, open taverns and hotels, and do business. Some nobles make loan sharks, and I even heard that in the remote areas of the empire, some nobles are also involved in the trade of slaves.”
Xia Ya shook his head: "Business can be done—but I can't do it either. As for usury, I don't have any money now, where can I lend it to others? Buy and sell slaves? Who do I sell to? I can't sell myself. right?"
Yulia smiled and continued: "Then there are other ways: to make money! You are an imperial official, the military officer of a county, and you can be regarded as a military general. So in the army... Hmph, there are many ways to make money. , I don't need to teach you. The corruption of military supplies, as well as eating empty pay and drinking soldiers' blood... You are in the army, you will not be ignorant of these. But if you do these things, I absolutely cannot agree! If you It is such a person, even if my orphan and widow mother starve to death, they will not stay with you."
Xiaya hurriedly said: "Yulia, don't worry, I came from the Rodriguez Corps, I can do other things, but I can't do things like eating empty wages and drinking soldiers' blood."
"Well... it's not like you can't do anything." Yulia hesitated for a moment, then whispered: "We don't do big things, but some small things are reasonable. Since you are serving as the military for a county. Sir, then you can have your own personal guards. These personal guards are considered to be the establishment of the imperial army. That is to say... the warriors brought by Mr. Avrecart can be supported by the imperial army salaries-although this method is a bit bad, But everyone is doing it, and I won't be unkind to forbid you to do it..."
Xia Ya nodded, just to use the country's money to support his bodyguards. People eat horse chews, weapons, armor and horses are reimbursed with public funds—although this is also an advantage, but looking at the whole country, even people like Ruhr and General Adric can’t help but act like this, so if Xi Ya does it, it will also There will be no psychological barriers.
"Also, your territory has not been decided yet. If it can be placed in Moore County, in the frontier land, there will be income from trade routes and trade taxes, and it will also be a way to make money..."
When Yulia said this, she rubbed her slightly sore eyes: "These are all things to say later, you have to find a way to find money in the future. Now it is imminent, you have taken over such a big mansion, it is really... It is really a little bit. It doesn't match your current status."
She sighed: "You are only a small baron now, but such a mansion, in the imperial capital, only those princes and counts can live in such a house. For you, such a big mansion is really It's not a beautiful thing, but it's a big burden."
Oh shit! Xia is furious!
He was originally happy. He had recently been promoted and made a fortune. He didn't know that he was so poor. Today, Yulia broke his situation. The old guy gave me the house, I am afraid he is deliberately trying to harm Laozi, right? !
"Then sell the house!" Xia gritted her teeth and stomped her feet.
What's he doing about the Tulip family's secret... Fuck the Tulip family! Turtle's ideal in life is to get promoted and rich, and now he is inexplicably tied to the boat of the Tulip family, and he is trying to get rid of it! Sell it and sell it! What is the secret treasure of the tulip family, I don't want it! Happy to go to the frontier to be a local tyrant bully, how happy!
Yulia shook her head: "Is it sold, I agree, but it's not easy to do."
"What? Can't sell it?"
"It's not that I can't sell it." Yulia smiled bitterly: "Xia Ya, don't you understand?"
"Is there anything I don't understand?" Xiaya's eyes widened: "I heard that there is a trade guild in the south of Osgilia, where the merchants and buyers can be listed and traded. Let's go and put this house in the trade guild. In the meeting, once the brand is put up, what is the price... The target is lower, as long as it does not lose money - anyway, I got it for nothing, and if it is sold cheaper, it will only make a profit."
"It's not that simple." Yulia smiled bitterly: "You are a noble now, and the noble family sells houses and properties, which is different from ordinary people. If ordinary people sell their houses and properties, they can naturally go to the trade guild to hang a sign. But you are a noble now! If you go to put up a sign today, then tomorrow the news of your Baron Char’s sale of the house will spread throughout the noble circle of the imperial capital, and everyone will think that you are a degenerate, poor and selling your house. It immediately became a laughing stock in the imperial capital. Besides, you are a noble, and even if you are a nobility, ordinary people may not dare to buy it, and even those wealthy businessmen who are rich in their families will probably not dare to pay for yours. house."
"Why is that?"
"You are the baron, God knows that you are short of money today, you sold your house, and you will be rich in a few days, in case you run back to find them to buy it back... They are ordinary businessmen, you are a noble, if there is a dispute, where are they? Can you fight against you, a baron who holds real power? One thing is worse than one less thing. The big houses on the market are not just you, and others would rather buy other houses than you." Yulia explained patiently: "So , Generally speaking, if a noble family wants to sell an industry, they will not go to the trading guild to list it. They will only trade privately with other noble families that they have made friends with. Everyone is noble, so you can rest assured when trading. And they will try to keep the news as secret as possible, so as not to look ugly on the face of the party selling the property.”
Xia Ya's face turned pale: "Damn, there are so many rules..."
He suddenly slapped the table: "Fuck! I won't sell it! The house won't be repaired! Just leave it there! Let it rot and forget it!! When it falls down, it will be quiet!"
Yulia asked Xia Ya to tell him this, not to force him on purpose, but to tell him the accounts of the family, lest Xia Ya really think that she is rich now and spend money recklessly.
The reason is clear, let this turtle spend money and be careful about everything in the future, and it will achieve its goal.
As for repairing the big house, it is Yulia's intention to let Xiaya dispel this thought: put it there first, and then repair it later when there is money. If there is no money, it can only be left there. Although I am unwilling, it is too stupid to go bankrupt for a house.
※※※
For the money, Xia Ya had a bad face for the next three days, and felt a burst of anger in her heart. Fortunately, he understood the truth and the situation at home. He knew that he was just an empty pretence. However, according to Yulia's suggestion, he first paid a salary to the samurai that Afrekat brought, and sure enough. , After these guys took the money, they were very happy, and their secret grievances disappeared.
People, it's all like this, and Xiaya understands this very well. In other words, he would have grievances: I used to have income as a samurai, but now I rely on you, the baron, but I have no money. Who would do it?
However, the word "bankruptcy" has been pressing on Xia Ya's heart, which really makes him unable to relax. In the past two days, he dreamed that he was wearing tattered clothes, and he was bringing a group of brothers to the street begging for food with tattered swords and tattered armor...
Oh shit! money! I really didn't expect that when I became a noble and an official, I became troubled about money instead.
In the past few days, I met some noble children in the royal garden hunting ground that day. They were instructed by the elders in the family to befriend and win over with Xia Ya. Xia Ya also had to be invited out for a few drinks—but now Xia Ya, but He has become stingy. If it is normal, with his temperament that he likes to imitate the uncle everywhere, when someone invites him to drink, he must invite others to drink three times.
Now... Hmph, someone invited him to dinner, and he wished he could go to dinner after being hungry for a day.
With that experience in the hunting grounds, the entire noble circle of the imperial capital now understands that this little baron is a person whom His Majesty the Emperor has cultivated, and the process of reviewing Xi Ya's title by the noble council is much faster. Originally, I was afraid that the formalities that might not be available in the first half a month were all completed within three days.
When the nobility's reward procedures are sent to Xiaya, the clan emblem, family logo, seal and other things are in Xiaya's hands, then from this moment, his Xiaya thunderous, even if he officially entered the noble class of the Byzantine Empire one member.
As for the fief, as he did not expect, the Great Lancer directly marked a place in Moore County, a small town near Denzel City, and handed out a civil affairs booklet, indicating that the town accounted for The land is not as big as Wildfire Town, and the population is only 8,000. Although Xi Ya is still a little dissatisfied, he also understands that, as a baron, and he is a new noble, it is already very good to have such a fief. .
If you change someone else, have no foundation, and have no His Majesty's appreciation, even if you are given a baron title, you may be assigned to a certain edge of the eastern wilderness...
More County, after all, it is still a grain-producing area.
After the completion of the knighthood formalities, it is said that the Great Lancer originally planned to confer knighthood on him, but he was stopped by his courtiers: His Majesty the dignified emperor, to confer knighthood on a small baron, then once this example is opened, will it be possible in the future? Are all the titles of such minor nobles to be bestowed by His Majesty
So the emperor finally didn't come forward, but sent a messenger to see Xia Ya, with a few words of encouragement, nothing more than "work hard and do well, I won't treat you badly."
It was Xia Ya, who almost cried after hearing the words of the emperor brought by the palace messenger. Seeing that the baron was so excited, the court emissary couldn't help but comfort him: "Your Majesty, the baron, your Majesty appreciates you so much, and you have to make some achievements to repay your majesty..."
How could he know that what Xia Ya cried was not the emperor's worthless words of encouragement, but the money in his pocket!
This sent a palace messenger to come and go once, and I had to secretly stuff a piece of gold! !
The title was settled, and soon the official appointment document from the military department came down.
After these things are done properly, Xiaya has no reason to stay in the imperial capital. According to the imperial military law, he must leave the imperial capital to take office within six days of receiving the appointment letter, otherwise it will be a serious crime of malfeasance if he fails to leave.
Before leaving, Xiaya's family was packing up and saluting, but suddenly someone came to the door. The person who came was a servant dressed in sackcloth. : "Come and visit."
Xia Ya was busy at home, and when she heard Soyite's words to report back, she was on fire on the spot!
Apprenticeship? Worship the ghost! Giving Lao Tzu such a house, it is clear that it is hurting me!
"No worship!!" Xia was furious and said to Soyite: "I don't see him anymore! Let him go back and say it! I don't want to worship - it's fine if you want to, send 30,000 gold coins, and I will worship!"
Seeing that the master was angry, Soyite didn't dare to ask any more questions. He went out and relayed what Xia Ya said to the person who came, and sent the person to leave.
But after a while, Xia Ya calmed down and regretted it!
(Damn, I'm courting death! Who is not good to offend, the terrifying Lone Star of Scorpio Kavisher?! He wants to play with me, isn't he doing what he likes?)
Thinking of this, Xia Ya was in a cold sweat, and suddenly felt uneasy.
On this day, Xia Ya was a little distracted, for fear of angering Cavie Hill and attracting revenge from that guy.
But at night, Cavie Hill's family sent someone again. This time, Xia Ya didn't dare to see others. After the meeting, the person who came was a servant with a wooden expression. When he met Xia Ya, he saluted respectfully, and then reported it. After saying a word, Xia Ya almost fell off the chair. down.
"Our master said that 30,000 yuan is too expensive, how about a 20% discount?"