"I said this is the best time to come to this shabby village." A middle-aged man with a huge figure, riding a brown war horse and wearing a red aristocratic dress, said loudly in a deliberately aristocratic accent, "This time is the best time to come to this poor village."
, this is the coolest among several run-down villages."
He wiped the sweat that fell from time to time on his forehead with a purple handkerchief, and complained endlessly: "On such a hot day, we have to go to the countryside to collect taxes. How much money can they pay? It's a waste of time. This tax officer's job is mine."
I will never do it again."
The followers who followed him on foot did not say anything. They knew that Tax Collector Ion was making incomprehensible complaints as usual. He said this every year and every quarter, but he never intended to let anyone else do his job as Tax Collector.
.
How could Tax Collector Ion relinquish such a lucrative position? Since becoming a tax collector, his body has grown at least twice a year, and the horse under him can no longer bear his weight.
As long as he, the baron, pays the largest sum of money among all the barons to the viscounty and the political officer in the town, he can obtain the right to collect taxes from each village under the viscounty's jurisdiction. Then he alone can decide how to collect taxes.
never mind.
As for how to achieve the "maximum", that is the secret of tax collector Ion.
After that, as long as we accurately calculate the affordability of those villagers, squeeze as much grain, linen, fruit or other valuable things from their hands as possible, and then sell them in other towns, we can earn at least three times as much as before.
The Viscount received the money.
For those who cannot pay taxes, men act as debt slaves, and women decide how to act as debt slaves depending on the situation.
"How long do we have until we get to that - that - what - Lac village?"
"At the current speed, we will reach Laxius Village in less than twenty minutes, Tax Collector Ion." The follower closest to him replied.
"Very well. Go tell them and prepare some cool water. I need to take a good bath. It's really killing me."
"Okay, Tax Collector Ion." The entourage responded immediately, turned around and rode on a spare horse in the team to rush to the village of Laxius.
Lorenzo, Brutus and Fabrice were waiting at the entrance of the village very early, and the three of them were talking about something.
"Village Chief Lorenzo, prepare the house where Tax Collector Ion lives and the cool water. I think you should know the other things that need to be prepared." The entourage stopped not far in front of the three of them and asked the three who were standing at the entrance of the village.
people said.
"I know, Mills." Lorenzo replied to the attendant named Mills, "I'm ready."
"Very good." Mills nodded in surprise. He had come to notify the village as soon as possible, thinking to let them prepare early so as not to dissatisfy the tax officer Ion, but he did not expect that the people in Laxius Village seemed to have arrived early.
I knew they were coming, "Very good."
He got off the horse, led the horse over, and stared at Brutus closely: "This one seems to be a stranger?"
"Hello, I am Brutus, a foreigner who has just arrived here."
Mills looked at Brutus's face and compared it with his memory: "I need to check your identity documents."
Brutus took out the identity document that he had prepared and handed it to Mills. Mills opened the scroll and read it carefully: "Village Chief Lorenzo, his identity document was issued by your village. Do you know what this means?
?”
"I think there is nothing wrong with him." Lorenzo returned calmly, "I think this document also complies with the laws of the kingdom."
"I still need to ask a question." Mills checked the issuance date of the document, "Mr. Brutus, where did you come to the Kingdom of Loma from?"
"Gris, do I need to say a few words of Gris?"
"No need." Mills returned the document to Brutus, "As long as it is not a belligerent country, it is fine. Although it is not in compliance with the procedures, there is no need to check so carefully."
"As for what you did before coming to Laxius Village, I have no interest in knowing about it. But I also want to remember one thing. What you do next will affect the place that issues your identity document."
Brutus took the identity document: "I will remember it."
The four of them stood at the entrance of the village, and the atmosphere fell into silence. It was not until the arrival of tax officer Yann twenty minutes later that the situation changed.
"Chief Lorenzo, I hope you have prepared everything I need." Tax Collector Ion stepped on the back of a follower and dismounted, wiping the sweat on his face with a handkerchief.
Brutus felt that the tone of voice of the Ion tax collector was a bit uncomfortable, with a strong sense of artificiality, but of course he knew that he needed to be more honest at this time and not make any mistakes.
"Yes, the village is ready, Collector Ion."
"Very good." Tax Collector Ion glanced at Brutus. He felt that Brutus's temperament was somewhat similar to that of the nobles in the city he had met occasionally.
Mills whispered something in his ear, and Tax Collector Ion nodded, now he understood the situation.
He put his right hand on his left shoulder and gave Brutus a noble salute: "Grissian, welcome to the Kingdom of Loma."
Brutus felt a little strange, but he still returned the greeting: "Thank you for the welcome, Tax Collector Ion."
Tax Collector Ion signaled the village chief to lead the way, and walked toward the village humming a tune. Several maids got out of the motorcade, holding up their skirts and running quickly to keep up with Tax Collector Ion.
The entourage led the horse and carriage to the open land at the entrance of the village, and then found more than a dozen bundles of hay from the baggage to feed the horses.
"Do you know what this is, Fabrice?" Brutus asked Fabrice on the way back to the village.
"How can I know everything?" Fabrice glared at Brutus, "Don't you know this? You must have lost your memory after being caught in the door, right?"
If there wasn't the prefix "caught in the door", what you said is quite right... Brutus didn't explain it either. He did have some guesses in his mind, but he was not sure about this guess at all.
"How do tax officials usually collect taxes?"
"You'll find out if you take a look tomorrow." Fabrice and Brutus were just on their way, and he turned back to his home without even saying hello.
"You don't have to answer if you can't answer." Brutus complained silently, shook his head, and thought about his manuscript that represented the identity of half a million people.
"Since the identity inquiry process is so casual, I guess there won't be any more checks. But it's better not to keep this thing. I don't want to appear in any bounty portrait."
Brutus thought it was better not to take any chances and to be more careful in a strange world.
"Tomorrow, take a look at the tax collection procedures of the Kingdom of Loma to gain some insights."