Papa Hugo has deep prestige among the residents of Bainiao Town. He just said a few words and the two or three thousand people gathered in the square began to disperse. In less than half an hour, there were only dozens of people left in the square. An idler with nothing to do.
"My lord, please sit down with me at the town hall." Father Hugo said, pointing to a three-story brick-and-wood structure house not far away.
The layout of the town hall is very simple. In the hall on the first floor, there are a few dilapidated desks and an old sofa with a few patches.
"My lord, I usually live on the second floor above. The first floor is the office that handles the administrative affairs of Bainiao Town and the villages below. The third floor is the storage room, which is also a warehouse. There are still some things that have been accumulated over the past five years. Property, I’ll show you the account book right now.” Papa Hugo said.
"Don't worry about this, Father Hugo, first tell me about the situation on Hilovas Island in the past five years. In the past five years, I have not cared about the new territory of Hilovas Island, so I, the lord, have neglected my duties, and I really feel sorry for the people here, and I have wronged them." Lorist casually found a stool and sat down. , while inviting Papa Hugo to sit down, he apologized to him.
"My lord, please don't say that. I have been in the army for a long time, and I have naturally heard of the reputation of the Norton family in the Northland, the roaring and angry bear. The Northland is thousands of miles away from here, and there is a hostile country called the Principality of Madras in the middle." , the inconvenient transportation is indeed impossible to take care of, and this is not the fault of the lord..." Father Hugo waved his hands repeatedly.
"Now there is no traffic inconvenience. The family has built a port in the Northland. This time I also take a direct boat. If there is anything to do in the future, it will take less than a month to go back and forth. Father Hugo, let's talk about the situation here. "
"Okay, Lord Lord." Father Hugo thought for a while and said, "I returned to White Bird Town in March 1765 because of the disbandment of the White Lion Army. I was fifty-three years old when I retired. Hope Lovas Island was still in the princedom at that time, and I often saw His Highness the Second Highness standing at the port and looking towards the direction of the imperial capital. Two years later, a messenger came suddenly, saying that His Highness Second Highness had regained control of the kingdom, and sent Hilovas The island was canonized to the Norton family.
Many of the Second Highness's people boarded the ship and went back. They took everything away, even the garrison was disbanded, and all the weapons and equipment of the garrison were taken away. Silovas Island was left unmanaged and became very chaotic. After a month like this, Bainiao Town has become a garbage dump, no one cares about anything, there are people fighting every day, and the residents can no longer live.
At this time, an incident happened. A small cargo ship came here to resupply, but the sailors on the ship found that there was no one under their control and started to act wildly. Within three days, they killed seven residents and arrested several women. At that time, I found that three sailors broke into the neighbor's house to rob and rape their mother and daughter. I couldn't help it, so I took the sword and killed the three bastards. So the people in the town followed me to eliminate the sailors on the small cargo ship, and elected me to be the mayor of Shiratori Town temporarily, to manage the town of Shiratori before the lord came.
At that time, I felt that since I returned to my hometown, I should contribute to my hometown. So I reorganized the White Bird Town Defense Team and restored the order in White Bird Town. And arranged various positions in the town, such as sheriff, clerk, tax collector, accountant, etc. The desks you see, my lord, are where they usually sit.
When Shilovas Island was still in the prince's domain, the tax rate set by His Highness the Second Prince was 50%. I don't know what the rules of the Lord's family are, and I have no place to ask, so I collected taxes according to the tax rate set by the Second Prince. , and then pay public funds and civil servants' salaries from taxes. All account books list detailed income and expenditure, and adults can inquire at any time.
When the Second Highness was here, apart from the tax rate of 50%, there were only seven other taxes, namely poll tax, wine tax, boat tax, fishing tax, land tax, salt tax and commercial tax. The tax can be about 2,000 gold, and the life of the residents is not bad, as long as they work hard, they will not worry about food. When the Viscount Aslan came to collect taxes for the first time, he was quite satisfactory, only collecting 10%. But in the second year and the third year, it increased by 10% every year, and even the head tax, wine tax and other taxes were forcibly taken over.
When Viscount Aslan came over the year before last, he raised the tax rate to 50%. Not only did he take over the seven miscellaneous taxes, but he also added six additional taxes, which are said to be the national restoration tax. I protested, but Viscount Aslan said that I am not an official appointed by the lord, but the town mayor elected by the residents, which is illegal. I have no choice but to ask him to list a detailed tax bill and issue a receipt, so that I can pay the tax in full.
Lord Lord, according to Viscount Aslan's calculations in the past two years, we have to pay more than 5,700 Jinford in taxes on the entire Shilovas Island every year, which has almost doubled... "
"Wait a minute, Father Hugo, didn't you say that the annual tax revenue of White Bird Town was only more than 2,000 goldfords? How did Viscount Aslan calculate the tax amount of more than 5,700?" Loris special asked.
"Oh, that's right, my lord. It is correct to say that Bainiao Town is the administrative center of the entire Hilowas Island. Before the Second Highness came, Hilowas Island had only three villages and one town. But after the Second Highness arrived, follow He also came with nearly 4,000 people, half of them lived in Bainiao Town, doubled the expansion of Bainiao Town, and the remaining half built a village on the island to live there.
After the Second Highness left, he conferred the title of Shilowas Island to the Lord, and most of the people who followed him left again, leaving only a thousand or so people who were unwilling to leave and continued to live in that village. In the next few years, many more immigrants arrived, and now the number of residents on Hilovas Island has reached more than 12,000. Since the year before last, the tax revenue has increased significantly to about 4,000 gold merits. Adding the miscellaneous taxes formulated by Viscount Aslan, the total is about 6,000 gold merits. However, we can’t collect so much taxes at all. According to Viscount Aslan's calculation, we lose more than 700 goldfords every year. "Papa Hugo explained.
"Why do you have a tax of more than 6,000, but you still lose more than 700 gold points if you don't receive it? What's going on?" Fatty Shi, who was listening strangely, interrupted and asked.
Father Hugo shook his head helplessly, and brought over a map of Hilowas Island: "Master, look, there is a manor castle not far from the east of White Bird Town, called Wanghai Manor, which is the entire Hilowas Island. The most beautiful place on the island, every evening, under the setting sun, the large sandy beach in front of Wanghai Manor is shining with golden light, almost comparable to the platinum sandy beach in the West Degrad Province of the Principality of Madras, but the area is much smaller , but it is also a good place to play in the water in summer.
This manor was originally the place where the Second Highness lived, but after the Second Highness left, it was occupied by several nobles of the kingdom. They turned Wanghai Manor into a place for them to play and play, and we couldn't even get close. When the adults came, they should have seen those gorgeously decorated sea ships at the pier. Those ships were used by the nobles to ride and transport their goods when they came to play.
And here, the village called Farama, which is half a day away from Wanghai Manor, is the settlement of the people left by the second prince. They occupy the richest field on Hilovas Island, but they have always refused to pay taxes. Those who claim to be the second prince have lived and died for the second prince. Whoever asks them to pay taxes is disrespectful to the second prince. We have never been able to do anything about them.
Viscount Aslan didn't care about this, he also credited us with the taxes that should be paid by Wanghai Manor and Farama Village. We were very helpless and refused to listen to our complaints. Later, Hickerd came up with an idea. We organized a fleet to fish, and then sold the catch to merchants. I have enough money to pay everyone's salaries and a little food and lodging subsidy for the defense team... "
"My lord, we have captured that Viscount Aslan." Jim walked in and reported at attention.
"Where did you catch it?" Fatty Shi asked.
"He took two entourages and wanted to escape by boat. But the sailors on the boat went to the bar in the town for entertainment, so they couldn't sail. When I went to the pier to inform Captain Wilson, some sailors saw them boarding the boat. I went to check and found them. Got them," reported Jim.
"Bring this shit viscount here, I want to hear how he explained it to me." Lorist ordered.
"I protest, I'm a nobleman, you can't treat me so disrespectfully." Less than a minute after Jim went out, he came in with a thin man in a noble dress, maybe it was the shitty viscount he heard Lorist talking about, so He acted very viciously, grabbing the dress on Viscount Aslan's chest and dragging him into the room.
"Father Hugo, who is that Sickled you mentioned just now?" Lorist ignored Viscount Aslan who was protesting loudly, and continued to chat with Papa Hugo instead.
"My lord, Sickled is our clerk. He graduated from Moble College in the imperial capital and served as a trainee teacher. Later, Moble College was destroyed by the war, and he brought his family and followed the Second Highness to White Bird Town. , became a steward in charge of cargo transportation. Later, when the Second Highness left, he was unwilling to leave and stayed in Bainiao Town. Because he was proficient in writing official documents, I hired him to be the clerk of Bainiao Town." Yu Father Guo replied.
"Oh, Papa Hugo, you have done a good job. I am very pleased that Hilovas Island has your existence, so that it has not fallen into chaos. As the lord, I would like to express my gratitude and respect to you, thank you for your efforts The Norton family will never forget the painstaking efforts you have made." Lorist stood up and paid attention to Papa Hugo. Fatty Shi, Al, Pat, Jim and others who were still in the room also stood at attention and saluted Papa Hugo at the same time.
"This, this, Lord Lord, this..." Father Hugo was at a loss, not knowing what to do.
Lorist waved his hand, signaling that he is not welcome, then turned around, looked at the pale and startled Viscount Aslan, and smiled very gently: "Viscount Aslan? I have heard of you for a long time. I am Hilo Lord of Gas Island, Norton Lorist, I am really glad to meet you."
Lorist's smile gave Viscount Aslan an illusion, maybe he felt that Lorist was easy to talk, just a bumpkin from the border of the Northland, and had never seen anything in the world. The thin Viscount Aslan straightened his crumpled dress and raised his voice: "You are the Earl of Norton from the Northland? As a nobleman, you must apologize and compensate me. Your family soldiers are rude You have offended me, it is an intolerable crime for nobles, you must punish your soldiers in front of me and obtain my understanding, otherwise I will sue you Norton family for no noble demeanor in the noble court of the kingdom , despise the dignity of the nobles, and let your barbaric deeds spread to the ears of all the nobles in the kingdom... "
"Ah, that's terrible, and the consequences are unacceptable to us..." Lorist yelled pretentiously, then turned to Jim and said, "Did you offend the honorable Viscount Aslan? Come here, I want to punish you." you!"
Jim strode up to Lorist, and Lorist stretched out his right hand and patted Jim's face lightly twice: "You idiot, how could you let the respected Viscount Aslan appear in front of me in a well-dressed manner? You Look now he's getting his feet wet. You should strip him naked and smear him with horse manure and drag him over, so he'll just beg for a rag to cover his body and keep his aristocratic dignity, instead of asking Nothing else is too much to ask for."
Lorist slapped Jim on the face twice again: "Have you remembered this lesson? These two slaps are your punishment."
Jim opened his mouth and smiled: "Remember, my lord, next time I won't make such a mistake again."
Lorist nodded: "Very well, stand aside."
"Yes, my lord!"
Everyone in the room laughed, only Viscount Aslan was dumbfounded.
"Protest! I want to protest!..."
Lorist slapped him hard when he walked over. The thin Viscount Aslan turned 180 degrees on the spot, his face was swollen, the corner of his mouth was broken, and when he opened his mouth, several teeth fell out, and blood flowed out from the corner of his mouth. Chung. Then the dazed Viscount Aslan collapsed on the ground.
"Protest a bird! You called me before the labor and management came to settle accounts with you. Let me talk about your sins first. First, labor and management are land nobles, and your title is an earl. You are just a viscount with an honorary title, no matter your status or status , Labor and management are several times higher than you. How dare you point fingers in front of me, not only do not show respect, but also dare to accuse labor and management of offending your aristocratic dignity? Are you joking? You have a bullshit dignity! In the eyes of labor and management Here, you viscount is a piece of shit!"
Lorist stretched out his right foot and stepped on Viscount Aslan's face: "How dare you protest to me! You are provoking the honor and dignity of the Norton family. It has only been a few years, and the roar of the angry bear has been captured by the kingdom. It is a pity that the nobles of the kingdom have been forgotten. I think it is necessary for the nobles of the kingdom to recall what the anger of a raging bear is."
Viscount Aslan lay on the ground and danced with his hands and feet: "Under the May 4th hunger, there will be no succession to mine mines. I have a tree of life..."
"Do you still dare to talk back?" Lorist didn't hear what he was saying, he stepped harder, and Viscount Aslan let out a scream...
"By the way, what did you say just now?" Lorist forgot what he was talking about just now when he was interrupted.
"My lord, you were announcing Viscount Aslan's charges just now. First, he disrespected you and provoked our Norton family." Schwader next to him reminded.
"Oh, by the way, secondly, why are you so paralyzed that you come to my family territory to collect taxes? Who gave you the courage? Labor and capital must hang all your family members..." Lorist cursed viciously.
The Viscount Aslan at the foot suddenly became quiet, and he took out a small roll of animal skin tied with a golden rope from an unknown pocket with his right hand and waved it in the air.
"What is this?" Fatty Shi grabbed the animal skin roll, unwrapped it, and clicked his tongue: "My lord, this viscount is really here to collect taxes. Look, this is from the tax inspector given to him by His Highness the Second Highness." letter of appointment."
Lorist kicked Viscount Aslan away: "Get up, I have something to ask you."
He took a look at the animal skin scroll handed over by Fatty Shi, and it read that Viscount Aslan Robbiosen was hereby appointed as the tax inspector of the Qilingang area of the Antinac Kingdom and the Earl of Norton on the Isle of Hilowas. job. I hope that this official will be dedicated to his duties, be honest and honest, do his best, and dedicate himself to the revival of the empire.
The lower part of the hide scroll is signed with the name of His Royal Highness Christen.. Ogthello, Galint Ayon May 23, 1768, and the signature and date are stamped with the kingdom of Antinac The seal of the Regent and the private seal of His Highness the Second Highness.
"Oh, I never thought that Lord Viscount Aslan is really a tax inspector appointed by His Royal Highness, I thought he was a liar!" Lorist now remembered what Viscount Aslan said on the ground just now meant me It's the tax inspector of His Royal Highness, I have a letter of appointment... It's not that I thought he was talking back, it was Viscount Aslan who was slapped and couldn't speak clearly.
"You, how dare you treat me like this! You, the Norton family, just wait for the thunderous wrath of the second highness, the 300,000 troops of the second highness will turn you, the Norton family into powder..." Viscount Aslan got up from the ground and covered his face, staring at Lorist with resentful eyes.
"A 300,000 army? Hehe, I'm so scared. I didn't expect that you, a bastard viscount, would be so valued in the eyes of His Royal Highness, that you would dispatch an army of 300,000 to destroy our Norton family. It's too scary. Since You said that His Highness would dispatch an army of 300,000 for you, so is it because His Highness ordered you to come here to collect taxes, that’s why you collected more and more taxes? Say it!" Lorist yelled violently, Viscount Aslan Immediately jumped up in fright.
"Didn't you see my letter of appointment?" Viscount Aslan was still stubborn.
"Hehe, since you are the tax inspector sent by the Second Highness, why did you run away in the square just now?"
"I didn't run away. I just went to the ship to get my letter of appointment as proof of my identity. It was your family soldiers who broke in and offended me."
"Really, it doesn't matter even if you are still pleading not guilty. Anyway, in a few days, I will take you to the imperial capital to confront His Highness the Second Highness. See if he ordered you to raise the tax rate, and you will know then. Aye Er..." Lorist called.
"My lord, please order." El stepped forward.
"You and Jim tie this shitty Viscount to the hanger outside, strip off all his clothes, and then give me thirty lashes. If he dares to give our Papa Hugo three lashes, we'll pay him ten times." Pay him back. Get some glue to smear him after beating, and some chicken feathers and duck feathers to stick it on. Don't forget how Beidi punished those liars..." Lorist lazily ordered.
"Yes, my lord, I know the custom in the North is to parade a liar with feathers attached, and we'll make it right," replied El.
"Yes, my lord." It was Jim who was so straightforward.
Then came the voice of Viscount Aslan who killed a pig: "No! You can't do this! I am a nobleman, and I am the tax inspector of His Highness the Second Highness..."
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