The tax collectors followed Lorraine and Leo, and this time it was an eye-opener.
These frogs in the well had always thought that they were good players in the system when they practiced torture to extract confessions. Now that they saw Lorraine's methods, they realized that there are people outside the world, and there is a world outside the world.
Especially those instruments of torture, many of which they had never dreamed of, and these tax collectors did not even know the uses of these things.
The soldiers of the Praetorian Guard enthusiastically gave demonstrations to the tax collectors and taught them step by step.
What are the top ten tortures of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and what are the advanced experiences of American soldiers in abusing prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison...
The tax collectors who looked at it couldn't help but admire it, and their eyes almost popped out of their heads.
Gretan and his fellow tax officials, with an attitude of visiting and learning, ordered their subordinates to observe and record carefully, and later copy them and use them to deal with those who evade taxes.
Everyone said that with this advanced torture equipment, as soon as it was moved out, they would not be tortured. Just scaring them would make them pee. How much effort would this save in the future?
At the same time, the interrogation work was also proceeding in an orderly manner, and the information extracted from the mouths of the slave traders was quickly gathered in Lorraine.
These people captured by Lorraine were directly responsible for capturing slaves.
They are the backbone of the entire slave trade network. Apart from selling slaves, these people do all the substantive work. They collect information from informants, capture slaves, and bargain with bribed customs and defense personnel until
Transport the slaves to the master's hands.
From the mouths of these people, all the most useful information comes out.
Lorraine pressed the information she got, listed them one by one on the blackboard, and drew a network diagram. Finally, she drew a complete network from slave capture, to transportation, to trafficking. A shocking network~!
The slave trade has existed in Naian for hundreds of years. Although it went underground after the abolition of slavery in the empire, in this remote province where the mountains are high and the emperor is far away, the slave trade has always been semi-open.
Lorraine also expected that this would be a big network with a strong foundation and wide implications, but he still underestimated the scope of this big net.
The upper and lower families provide information to the slave catchers, those who directly participate in the capture of slaves, the local officials who cover them, those in charge of transportation, those in charge of receiving goods, and those in charge of slave trading, who sit behind the scenes and command, and get a share of the money.
Yes, it quickly became clear on the blackboard.
Looking at the densely packed names of people and arrows indicating their relationships on the blackboard, Lorraine's brows furrowed more and more tightly, and Greitan and the tax collectors also kept breathing in the cold air at this time.
Every time they thought they had dug out a big enough fish, bigger fish would soon follow, and more and more names familiar to the tax collectors were written on the blackboard.
When they saw the cold look in Lorraine's eyes, they immediately knew that he was really angry.
When I think about the person who was drinking at the same table with me half a month ago, he will soon become the victim of this young governor~!
Greitan and his gang of tax collectors felt embarrassed when they judged themselves and others, and these tax collectors looked at Lorraine with more and more respect.
Looking at the official position marked behind his name, Lorraine's smile became colder and colder, and he thought to himself: Okay, okay, just right. I'll wait for my head to be used.
But Gretan also sighed in his heart, a big shock in Naian seems inevitable~!
Starting from local businessmen, street grocer, ordinary villagers, to local civil servants, then to mid-level officials in a certain area, to the city lord's retainers and auxiliary officials.
From ordinary soldiers in the garrison, to squad leaders, to squadron leaders stationed in a certain place, officers and soldiers at the guard station, soldiers and officers at the checkpoints, and even tax collectors in some places.
The owner of the warehouse, the owner of the hotel, the wealthy manor owner, the big businessman in the city of Nidel, even a hereditary noble family and two people at the Lorraine conference table.
Lorraine suddenly turned to look at Gretan and the tax collectors, stared at them sharply, and said sternly: "From now on, all tax collectors involved in the operation are not allowed to leave here for even half a step. The Guards will be watching you."
, the matter is of great importance, until I lift the order, anyone who steps out of the manor will be executed on the spot, do you understand?"
Gretan and the others were startled by Lorraine's stern order, and they all swallowed their saliva. They also understood the seriousness of the problem, and nodded quickly and said: "Yes, yes, I will definitely obey the order."
"Well," Lorraine nodded, softened his expression, and said gently: "It's difficult for you all. The tax department has made great contributions in this operation. This governor will not forget your contribution. After the matter is resolved, I will
I would like to ask Rumancheng for your merits.
Relying on my connections in Ruman City, I won’t make big claims, so you gentlemen can just wait for your promotion.”
Of course, after beating him with a stick, he also quickly gave me a date. Lorraine is very familiar with these methods now. This group of tax collectors worked very hard in this arrest. They never retreated when faced with the gang of desperadoes like slave traders.
, of course this is also because Lorraine and Leo are watching from the side.
These tax collectors all know the title of Lorraine Empire's number one pretty boy. When Lorraine said that he could get rewards for them from Ruman City, these people were convinced that Lorraine had the ability. Even if Lorraine
No, Her Royal Highness Princess Catherine also has this ability.
Just based on the big fish dug out and the positions of this and that chief on the blackboard, the contribution of these people on this trip is also obvious. Compared with getting promoted and making a fortune, staying in this small place for a few days is simply not a big deal.
thing.
These tax officials immediately smiled, bowed respectfully to Lorraine, and said, "It's all up to the Governor to take care of it."
"We will never forget your kindness."
"..."
Everyone, Lorraine flattered her again.
Greitan also knew that Lorraine had a good relationship with Baron Rocund, the undersecretary of finance, and the undersecretary of finance was also their immediate boss.
When the time comes, with Lorraine saying a kind word for him, there might be an office waiting for him soon in the luxurious tax department office building in Ruman City. At the moment, he didn't have to worry about much and quickly took pictures of Lorraine.
Flattery said with a smile: "With this achievement, the Governor's reputation will be praised by the people of Nai'an."
Lorraine smiled modestly, then nodded and said: "Everything is for the empire and the people of Nai'an."
"Your Excellency is so noble and honorable!"
"Having you in our Naian is really good news to our Naian people."
"That is, on behalf of the people of Nai'an, we would like to thank you, sir, except for the cancer in Nai'an."
"That's right, that's right, thank you, Mr. Governor."
"..."
Everyone below was flattering Lorraine again.
"Is there any?" Lorraine laughed and said, "It should be done, it should be done."
Leo jumped in from outside the door at this time. Seeing the people below him trying to flatter Lorraine, and Lorraine looked like she was very comfortable being patted, he let out an incomprehensible voice and said: "You still have the nerve to say that about me?"
,Boss, you are so arrogant!"
Gretan and the others wanted to laugh but did not dare to laugh, so they quickly looked down at their toes.
Lorraine sighed, curled her lips, and then turned to ask Leo: "Why don't you play in that room anymore?"
Leo sighed and said: "Those guys were not cooperative at all. I didn't even touch the gutter oil. I just changed two things and they couldn't help it. They turned over and over and started shouting at the top of their lungs.
There's not even one person saying, "I'll be a good man again after eighteen years." It's so boring.
"By the way, is there anything else fun down there?"
Lorraine pointed at the blackboard and said, "What you like most is to confiscate your home."
Leo turned his head and looked at the blackboard, looking at the densely packed names on it. He immediately became energetic, his eyes shone with excitement, and he exclaimed: "So many! All of them?"
Lorraine nodded.
"Okay!" Leo cheered, jumped to the blackboard in two steps, raised his little head and scanned the names on it, and said eagerly: "I can finally live the addiction of confiscation. These guys actually dare to poach the empire.
, Mr. Heiben’s money, I’ll let you know why the flowers are so red! Boss, tell me, where do we start?”
Lorraine said: "No rush, let's go back to the city first. We need to mobilize too many people. The soldiers in the garrison and the guard station can't believe it now. We can only use the imperial guards."
Lorraine and Leo took a thick pile of testimonies and set off by boat overnight to return to Naider City.
It was already midnight, Lorraine pulled Catherine and Adele out of bed, and General Philip ordered the Guards to assemble urgently.
Catherine and Adele were wearing pajamas, gasping and flipping through the things Lorraine had brought. After reading two pages, the two girls were completely sleepy.
Adele threw down the confession in her hand and exclaimed: "Really, I didn't expect so many people to be involved. Lorraine, how much profit is there from the slave trade?"
Lorraine thought for a while and said: "Those who capture slaves bring their wages, and it costs about a thousand gold coins for a trip. If they caught sixty-six slaves this time, they can probably sell them for a total of twenty thousand gold coins."
Now they mostly catch women, especially girls and young children.
Girls aged thirteen or fourteen are the most valuable. Each of them can be sold for about a thousand gold coins. The other women are probably sold for about three hundred gold coins.
And those male slaves, except for some special ones, are generally not worth fifty gold coins each. But the dwarves rescued today are more special. They are all craftsmen, and each one is worth three to five hundred.
The most disgusting thing is the buying and selling of boys. Good-looking boys are now very expensive and there is no market. Some people want to buy one for as much as 3,000 gold coins.
Especially after we started to crack down on female slaves, the price of slaves has doubled. Even if we take away the officials and pay for customs clearance, they can earn at least 20,000 gold coins for a trip like this. Those two slave traders
You can make three trips a month, which works out to more than 350,000 gold coins a year, which is much faster than robbery.
The bandit and the baron we robbed in Freetown totaled less than one hundred thousand. Compared with this group of people, it was just a small business and not worth a cent."
Adele wondered: "Boy?"
Lorraine stood aside, showing an expression of "It's just what you think" and nodded.
Adele let out a sigh, twitched the corners of her mouth, covered her mouth, and said: "It's so disgusting."
"Ah?" Leo calculated on his fingers for a while, shook his hands, and said angrily: "I worked so hard to build a salt farm, and it took a lot of effort from the boss. It's still a capital- and technology-intensive industry, and it doesn't take more than a year.
If you don't earn two hundred thousand, these people... these people... are really hateful."
He was muttering hateful words, but in fact Leo's eyes were full of jealousy. Leo jumped up from his chair, waved his fists, and shouted: "They actually poach my young master's corner and make so much money every year. I want to make them a
Spit them all out on me."
Catherine and Adele looked at each other and saw each other's shock.
Catherine stroked her smooth forehead and sighed: "Nai'an's annual tax revenue is only three million, three hundred and fifty thousand, twenty times the profit. No wonder the slave trade has never been eradicated in Nai'an.
For this money, not to mention this baron, even the princes of Ruman City will not hesitate to get involved."
Leo said anxiously: "Stop talking about those useless things, we are going to raid those guys' lair now."
Catherine threw away the documents in her hand and said: "Diel, take out our swords. These Naian people are respectable enough. I didn't personally go into battle against the Almohads."
"Okay," Adele slammed the table and jumped up, saying, "Let's not talk about those ugly men. Beautiful girls are meant to be loved, but these people actually treat them like goods. It's unforgivable~!"
Lorraine was stunned for a moment, scratched her head, and said in a nagging tone: "Is this what I should say?"
Catherine and Adele put on warrior attire and looked heroic. Catherine's rapier and Adele's sword were also hung on their waists. Even the dazed Vera, who was yawning, was fully prepared.
Outfit for a fight.
Lorraine looked at the girls whose strength levels suddenly soared, and said with a wry smile: "Although you look very beautiful dressed like this, Leo and I are enough. You guys should stay in the Governor's Mansion."
Adele rolled her eyes at Lorraine and said: "Thank you for being a general. This is our attitude. We are trying to boost morale. Do you understand? This is what happened during the group fight in Maple Leaf Danlin."
Lorraine nodded quickly and thought to herself: I don't know whether to encourage morale or not. You two little goblins have already made me feel itchy.
The tight-fitting clothes wrapped up her perfect figure, and her waist was so small that she could easily hold it. Lorraine's mouth almost watered when she saw it.
Catherine and Adele looked at Lorraine's Piggy statue and knew that he was not thinking of anything pure. They stepped forward and stepped hard on Lorraine's feet.
Lorraine said: "You should just stay at home and go out dressed like this. If others see me, I will suffer a loss."
Catherine and Adele both spat at Lorraine, looking angry, but still feeling happy in their hearts.
Lorraine and the others came to the lobby on the first floor and called General Philip in.
After General Philip entered the door and saluted, he said loudly: "Your Highness, Your Excellency, excluding a small team that went out on a mission, the 900 Guardsmen have been assembled.
Catherine nodded and said: "General Philip, leave a small team to guard the Governor's Mansion, and the rest will be deployed by Lorraine."
After General Philip saluted again, he said: "Please forgive my difficulty in obeying my order. Your Highness, protecting the 20,000 His Royal Highnesses is the primary duty of the Guards."
Catherine was stunned for a moment and said: "General Philip, nothing will happen in Naider City. One hundred people are enough."
General Philip strangled his neck and said: "Your Highness, the Guards cannot make mistakes."
Catherine looked at Lorraine and said helplessly: "Okay, how many people does the general say should be left behind?"
"The entire first squadron will stay behind, and the rest can follow Lord Lorraine's orders," Philip said.
Catherine flicked her fingers at the target she was about to capture and said, "A team of twenty people, only six hundred people, is not enough."
Leo suddenly jumped out and said: "How about I recruit the security team from the Flying Eagle Company, there will be 600 people there. They are all capable of fighting, and they are also the old man's old subordinates, and they are all loyal."
Catherine slapped Leo on the head with her hand and said, "Go ahead and don't look at the situation. Can you use private weapons in this situation?"
"Your Highness," General Philip said suddenly: "Although there are not many Guardsmen that can be mobilized, we still have more than a thousand Guards attendants, and they are all qualified soldiers. I think they will be able to carry out the arrest mission.
Still competent.”
Lorraine slapped his head and said, "That's right, why did you forget about them? These people are still temporary workers and they are not afraid of trouble. Okay, let them go."
Hearing what Lorraine said, Philip's mouth twitched slightly, and he said to himself: "No wonder he is the governor at such a young age. He is really a qualified politician.
Catherine glared at Lorraine, then curled her lips helplessly.
Lorraine said to General Philip: "Let's do this. Every ten Guards soldiers will lead twenty attendants, assign tasks according to this list, and then ask their captains to come to me to get the warrant. With the warrant, they can order local officials and
garrison.
After arriving at the place, you go directly to the local governor and order them to cooperate with the guards' actions. If you disobey, you will be punished as disobeying military orders. I give you the right to kill them first and then report them.
Also, I will order now that all the gates and ports in Naian will be under martial law, and they will obey the orders of the Praetorian Guards."
When Philip heard that Lorraine had given them the right to act cheaply, he knew that Lorraine was determined to deal with them this time, so he said in a deep voice: "Yes, sir. Please rest assured, your Highness."
The soldiers of the Guards and their attendants immediately took action. After getting the warrant from Lorraine, they got on their horses and roared away along the streets of Nadel City with their men.
Leo had been waiting eagerly beside Lorraine. When he saw the people were sent out, he pulled Lorraine and said: "Boss, boss, it's our turn. Tell me, who should we copy?"
Lorraine rubbed his chin, chuckled, and said: "Last time we copied one, this time we copied another baron, Baron Rathmore, he is the head slave trader who earns thirty-five gold coins a year."
Adele said nervously: "Is it dangerous? A slave trader like that has many desperadoes under his command. We don't have many manpower here."