When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 631 - 592: Constitutional Convention (Lower-Middle)
"Population survey, I don't think it's necessary, right?" An elderly count from Mountain County spoke with a heavy accent, swiftly glancing at Moliat before quickly lowering his head.
"Yes, yes." The other nobles echoed, "Isn't a population survey just a rebranded land registration? Even if it's to be proposed again, it should wait until next year."
They could not help but oppose, as population survey and land survey were almost the same thing.
They had finally persuaded Horn, the Shepherd Leader, to veto the "Land Registration Act", paying the price of abolishing the Dead Hand Tax, and now, just two weeks later, the matter was raised again.
Are you two teaming up to toy with us?
"No need? Okay." Moliat opened the ledger and cleared his throat, "According to my finance manager Lanfrank's statistics, this year's estimated expenditures include the following items.
Repayment and interest to the Great Monarch Norn totaling 27,000 gold pounds; due to our independence from Leia Kingdom, the costs for rebuilding six bastions and eleven posts in the border region totaling 35,000 gold pounds, repair for damage to water facilities caused by floods and wars totaling 18,000 gold pounds..."
In fact, these numbers were the result of reductions. Should this involve both castle construction and lack of mortar and Alchemist Priest, not only would costs double, but it's questionable if completion is feasible in two years.
The Saint Hammer Monastery's fixed price for each bastion was 5,000 gold pounds, considering transportation and labor costs. Profit margins are very thin, practically non-profitable.
However, Moliat seeks to resist the war pressure from Leia Kingdom in the northern regions of Hotam County, Shangruifo County, and North Mande County, essentially as a form of transfer payments.
"...Therefore, for 4,500 Extraordinary Knights, based on pre-war promises of granting each at least 1,500 acres of estates and 10 gold pounds yearly pension, expenses amounting to 45,000 gold pounds. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
To resist Leia Kingdom's attack, in the second half of this year, I have appointed André as commander. Emulating the Salvation Army, I expanded forces in Hotam County with mercenary captives, totaling 4,500 recruits, with expenses totaling 30,000 gold pounds, plus an estimated 7,000 gold pounds in administrative costs.
Plus some miscellaneous expenses, the total expenditure is approximately 172,000 gold pounds, which represents this year's necessary taxes."
"170,000 gold pounds, why is it so much?" A count from Mountain County couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
That's 170,000 gold pounds!
The Thousand River Valley annually contributed only 150,000 gold pounds in total gold tribute to the royal and the Pope, yet the expenditure this year is 170,000 gold pounds.
They had originally thought that driving away the royal and the Pope would lessen their tax burden, but instead, it increased.
"We face Leia Kingdom's attack and must expand the military, and it's a standing army, so naturally, it costs money." Horn stood up to help Moliat explain.
Count Sanboli stood up, "But Your Highness the Shepherd Leader, we don't need that much standing army at all, our Thousand River Valley isn't that wealthy."
"If not relying on the standing army, then on whom?" Moliat stared expressionlessly at Count Sanboli.
"We nobles are on your side, all of us stand with you, the knights of the Thousand River Valley can also serve you."
"Hahahaha." Moliat laughed loudly, "Do you think our enemies are what? Nine imperial units suppress us so thoroughly we can't raise our heads, how would you defend against thirty-two imperial units?"
The previously noisy preaching hall immediately quieted down, the joy of warfare victories and the constitutional assembly quickly evaporated by the war clouds.
They are now here sparring over legislation, but the war has already consumed a large number of Thousand River Valley knights and nobles.
Moreover, they have expelled church priests, leaving them vulnerable to being manipulated by the church and royal?
Though currently Leia Kingdom is in a civil war, it's unrealistic to expect the civil war to never end.
Two royal dukes have fought to the doorstep of the new king; the civil war of Leia Kingdom is nearing its conclusion.
At the earliest in two years, at the latest three, they will strike the Thousand River Valley.
Sitting in tidy seats now, in three years, perhaps heads neatly packed on a carriage.
Prince Kongdai and Banifus's heads still placed in the back of the Central Palace, constantly staring at them!
"Boom——"
After a thunderous roar, the flash of lightning cast everyone's faces ghostly pale, with rain pitter-pattering against the windows, reminding them of their overestimation.
"Leia Kingdom lost a quarter of its imperial units; it needs to guard the southern Falan Kingdom too, it's impossible for them to deploy all 32 remaining units at once, right?" A doubtful Mountain County count spoke.
"Even if they only send half, 16 imperial units means 1,600 imperial knights and 3,200 Extraordinary Knights, not counting the accompanying noble vassal armies and mercenary infantry." Moliat spoke forcefully, "You manor knights aren't opponents to castle knights, and the guards aren't rivals to the land servants."
So-called manor knights are land knights or countryside knights with fixed lands, annually summoned to fight, responsible for both military duties and territory management.
Whereby castle knights likened to Nikosak, imperial units, and Mountain Knights, lands are managed by specifically assigned people, annually receiving fiscal grants, spending extensive time in castles honing military skills and combat arts.
Castle knights are evidently stronger than manor knights, but the cost is much higher.
Without efficient tax collection and stable financial resources, sustaining a cavalry and infantry that could stand against Leia Kingdom is clearly impossible.
"But..."
"But what? Previously you nobles and knights resisted enemies, thus granting you such benefits, now without relying on you, I will defend!" Moliat slammed the ledger hard onto the table with a thud, "My money, you get 20,000, I only get 10,000, should I still thank you?"
The noble representatives remained silent.
The noble and landlord representatives on the right seat, politically divided clearly into two categories: one being Mountain Nobility or Kush Nobility, the other being Thousand River Valley Nobility or foreign nobility.
Kush Nobility are Moliat's main supporters and were the main victims after the Thousand River Valley integrated into church rule.
While the foreign nobility were collaborators with the church, not heavily persecuted, merely unable to endure Prince Kongdai's chaos and forced to switch sides amidst the turmoil.
Having sold Prince Kongdai for survival, they entered the church's blacklist, thus joining the Advisory Council, the central apparatus of the Thousand River Valley Holy Monarch Country.
In the Advisory Council, Kush Nobility being numerous but weak in strength, receive support from the highest decision-maker, while the plain nobility, being fewer but stronger, lack backing, hence dependent on Moliat.
Essentially, although internal conflicts exist among the nobility, they're tied to the same fate string, sharing the fundamental interest: survival.
With Moliat's stern declaration, these nobles gradually understood her intent.
It suggests Moliat trading central administrative rights for local administrative rights in nobility's hands, trading exemption from military obligations for fiscal income.
Seemingly fair, but realistically demands nobles relinquish autonomy in taxation, justice, and military, abandoning inter-lord warfare claims, obtaining new territories only via inheritance and noble court.
Though central authority is preferable with greater power than local power, not all nobles could attain it, while local power sees partial deprivation among all nobles.
Right-seat representatives whisper among themselves, yet Moliat distinctly perceives their swirling noises gradually unify—to compromise.
In peaceful times, even if nobles agreed to Moliat's policy, they might not support its implementation.
Merely engaging in shadowed antics, excessively radical or formalistic gestures.
Yet now, different circumstances prevail, facing Leia Kingdom's impending threat, reluctance to incur these costs risks existing power retention.
Apart from compromise, there's no alternative.
"Your Highness..." the elderly count previously voicing opposition stood, wearing a pained expression, "We are willing to contribute more taxes, but this 170,000 number is really excessively demanding."
