News that the Lord of Alda was abolishing tax farmers and introducing an income tax swept through the Northwest Bay like a whirlwind.
Nowadays, whenever the Administration Council or the Lord’s Court enacted a new policy or regulation, they would almost always release the news in advance to gauge the public’s reaction first.
“What? That’s impossible!”
In a certain manor, Fergus, a knight of the Grayman family who had quit when Paul was forming his new army, cried out in astonishment when he heard the news his steward had gathered from the city.
“Lord Grayman is not that kind of cruel lord. This must be a rumour.”
Fergus shook his head. Abolishing the tax farming system was one thing, but levying an income tax on the wealthy was going a bit too far. Wasn’t that just robbery?
“Someone must be slandering Lord Grayman’s reputation. If I find out who it is, I definitely won’t let them off.”
Fergus clenched his fists hatefully.
Just then, a servant came to report, “Respected Master Fergus, Master Warren invites you to a banquet at his manor this afternoon.”
Fergus was a little surprised. He had just met with Old Warren the day before yesterday. Why would he be invited to another banquet so soon?
‘Could the rumour be true? Does Count Grayman feel the “conditions” are now ripe to push for reform? Is Steward Ford not dissuading him this time?’
Old Warren must be inviting him to discuss matters.
“Prepare my horse. I’m going over right away.”
Fergus made the decision on the spot.
Inside the lord’s mansion in Lakeheart Town, Bernard placed a stack of envelopes on Paul’s desk.
“They are all for you. Some were written in a private capacity, while others are joint letters from merchants, and also from the country gentry.”
Paul raised his eyebrows and said, “Hmph, I don’t even need to read them to know what they’ve written.”
He impatiently tore open the envelopes one by one.
When Paul had finished the last letter, he exclaimed, half angry and half amused, “Ha! Look at this, Bernard! Just as I said. Every last one of them wants to protect their little bit of power and profit.”
Bernard took a letter from Paul’s hand. As expected, it was filled with words urging Paul not to abolish tax farming and not to introduce an income tax.
“Bernard, write an open letter for me, responding to the various issues raised in this joint letter.”
Paul listed the key points that the reply needed to contain.
“First, clearly explain the purpose of our current tax system. The money we collect is used in the following areas: one is the construction and maintenance of public facilities, such as roads, bridges, canals, and river dams. These things concern the interests of all subjects in the domain, including them. Their travel, irrigation, cargo transport… who among them hasn’t used facilities built with tax money? Second is the salary expenditure for public service personnel, like the affairs officers at all levels of administration, who conduct the census, handle lawsuits, and manage various taxes…”
Paul stopped, hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand and said:
“Forget it, forget it. No need to mention all that. They probably don’t want to hear it anyway.”
“Third is expenditure on education and technology… er… no need to mention that either. I estimate many people can’t and don’t want to understand it. Fourth is the development of our armed forces. A strong military is the basic guarantee for protecting all the people of the domain from covetous outsiders. They should understand that.”
He concluded, “In short, make a big deal out of the construction of public infrastructure and the development of the armed forces. Anyone who objects is an enemy of the interests of all residents of the domain! And be sure to make it clear that the collected taxes are absolutely not being used for the lord’s personal enjoyment.”
Bernard, holding a quill pen, wrote it all down on a sheet of white paper.
“Lord Grayman, I will finish this open letter as soon as possible.”
“Print several copies and post them on the notice boards.”
Just then, a pungent smell drifted into Paul’s office through the window on the south wall.
“Damn, damn, damn! What is that smell! It stinks.”
Paul immediately covered his nose, and Bernard did the same.
The smell… it reminded him of how he felt when he visited the saltpeter fields built by the alchemists. It was stinky and nauseating.
They both looked south through the window at the same time. There was nothing unusual inside the castle. But when their gaze went past the outer walls to the street outside the castle, they saw a cargo wagon overturned on the road. Something had spilled all over the ground. Two men dressed as carters were bustling about; one was trying to right the wagon, while the other was shoveling at the ground.
The guards of the lord’s mansion, who were on duty at the castle gate, had surrounded the two men and were supervising their actions.
A short while later, the guards tied up the two carters.
“What’s going on? It’s just an overturned wagon. Is that any reason to tie people up?”
Paul exclaimed strangely, “Bernard, go and ask what happened. Find out why they arrested them.”
“Yes!” Bernard replied and went.
Before long, the secretary returned with a detailed account of the incident.
But his expression was very strange. He said with some hesitation, “That wagon… was a dung cart.” Thıs text ıs hosted at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩
“A dung cart?” Paul’s expression also soured.
“Yes, and your guards are preparing to throw the two carters into the dungeons on charges of disrespecting the lord.”
Paul threw up his arm. “Just because their cart accidentally overturned at my gate? Ridiculous! Go and tell them to release the men immediately.”
“We cannot release them!”
His guard captain, Victor, burst in without knocking.
“Why not, Victor?” Paul was very confused.
Victor said angrily, “I believe this was a deliberate provocation against you. Nothing has ever happened before.”
“A deliberate provocation?”
“Yes, or perhaps… a warning! Lord Grayman, think about the tax reform you are about to carry out,” Victor reminded him.
Paul’s heart tightened. He suddenly felt that what his guard captain said made a lot of sense.
“Then go and interrogate the two carters. See if there is anyone behind this. If it was just an accident, then let them go.”
Victor said, “My lord, I will carry out your orders, but I don’t think we’ll get anything useful from the interrogation. The person behind this must have hidden themselves well to dare to do such a thing. Perhaps the cart was tampered with in some way, and the two carters were unaware. Therefore, I suggest…”
“What do you suggest?”
“I suggest that regardless of what we find, you have these two carters beheaded and their heads displayed publicly, to intimidate those behind the scenes.”
Bernard chimed in, “Captain Victor’s suggestion is very reasonable. I think you should consider it.”
Paul did not respond immediately, but simply stared at the two of them for a few seconds.
“I have considered it, and the answer is… no! Victor, interrogate these two men as I just ordered. If you can’t find anything, release them.”
The guard captain bowed and accepted his orders.