Kingdom’s Bloodline Chapter 53: 0 year chess game (middle)
At that moment, Rumba’s words passed into the ears of all the princes like a cold and pressing blade:
"A long time ago, the stars established a qualification assessment, stipulating that only what kind of person can become a specific official and become the arm of the king."
"They used titles and privileges, status and honor to attract low-ranking nobles, or commoners who could not be promoted to the ranks of nobles, and entrusted power to these poor officials and let them enter the kingdom. Only the restricted area of blood and family."
Rumba’s voice was like an anvil for work, and it struck in the hearts of the princes one after another: “In this way, thousands of professional officials of different backgrounds but clear responsibilities and clear division of labor stand together to form A suffocating solid carriage, carrying the ancient kingdom inherited from the ancient empire, speeding up."
"What's more terrifying is that in order to obtain such a promotion level, many low-level nobles, merchants and even rural villagers are willing to become running dogs and loyal ministers of the king."
Almost everyone of the four grand princes frowned, chewing on the meaning behind this sentence.
Rumba’s eyes were as cold as iron: “First of all, the tax collectors: Merchants and accountants have obtained official positions through qualification training and assessment, and they have been registered in the Fuxing Palace, and they have become the king’s professional servants. Collect taxes for him in the immediate territories, do their responsibilities, and form systems and conventions: every tax collector is directly responsible to the treasurer and his subordinates, strictly abides by the rules, is good at calculations, has clever eyes, and will not miss any copper, dare not conceal Any account."
"So the king’s tax revenue is more and more detailed than when he sent his noble cronies to collect the tax according to the standards of loyalty, favor, and relationship. Is it really so simple for the wealthy royal family to rely on tyrants to raise taxes?"
Do you know what this means—Rumba silently added a word to his heart.
Short-sighted and dull princes.
"Where are we Exeter?"
The style of Rumba’s conversation changed, and the sharp-edged eyes shot directly at the four stunned grand princes: “In order to ensure that the interests are not compromised and the authority is not shifted, the princes and nobles will only send their relatives and subordinates as tax collectors. , Holding a sword and a spear, and relying on his friendship and relationship with Fengjun, he went to various castles and villages to collect taxes, act as a blessing, deceive the top and conceal the bottom, layer by layer, and fill his pockets!"
"Every year, the amount of tax paid by the vassals to Fengjun can be 50% of the plan, even if everyone is happy and loyal."
Grand Duke Olesiu lowered his head, his expression serious, and stopped talking.
Rumba’s words continue: “In many cities in the stars, there is a position called a police officer, which can only be obtained through assessment and training. The police department directly under the guard officer is responsible for urban security and order, and as a city The city defense teams with private armies are clearly divided, and mutual interference is strictly prohibited."
"Where are we?" Grand Duke Heisha clenched his teeth, with a terrifying expression: "Exter, whose business has been sluggish for so many years, and goods are scarce? Except for the ulterior motives of the Kangmas people, half of the merchants I would rather go to the stars to do business than to come to Exeter. Is it really because the south has more abundant products?"
"No!" Rumba scowled.
"That’s because business people know that in the Star Kingdom, at least the rules and order of transactions are clearly written, and at least professional officials and departments can appeal. At least the Security Department and the Security Officer are on the surface. To maintain the order of the market, at least they don’t have to wrestle with the unreasonable army and deal with the big people who are related.” Rumba thought of something and clenched his fists:
"And in Exter, a small order officer in charge of the patrol can engage in large-scale weapon smuggling through relationships and blackmail, forcing away unpleasant merchants-as long as the upper People open one eye and close one eye!"
Grand Duke Trudida pursed his lips, his smart eyes were frozen in place, only blinking occasionally.
Rumba sneered: "In the city of the Star Kingdom, all the officials in the city hall, from the clerks to the scribes, from the approvers to the judges, are all people who have passed the qualification assessment. They have a clear division of labor and are familiar with regulations. Send messages from top to bottom, execute orders, and only recognize the warrant stamp."
"In the Scarlet Years, from the highest king to the prince, they all went to the prison river without landing. Foreign enemies watched and the aristocrats were anxious! However, relying on the prime minister and his professional officials to follow the rules, it was precarious. Everstar City has been operating steadily for more than ten days! Until the last prince returns, he compromises with the nobles and crowns!"
"Where are we?"
Rumba slapped his chest fiercely: "Today, the natural king of the Northern Territory of Megatron died less than a few hours. Because of the loss of his prestige, Longxiao City became a mess, chaos , Rumors, conflicts, and contradictions are endless, and the people are panicking. I guess that Lisban even hesitated for a long time whether to use patrols beyond his authority-he is used to asking Nunn."
"I led the army on the city for several hours! Until I took the first city gate, until I stood here, close enough to spout on you, the dignified prime minister was confused. The soldiers came."
Grand Duke Ronnie's face darkened, he let out a long breath, his eyes hesitant.
Rumba paused for a full ten seconds.
For such a long time, no grandpa has spoken out.
Finally, Rumba exhaled a breath of helpless and difficult air, tired and pained on his face.
"I know that your territory is far away from the stars. In the past few years, you have only been playing games with Longxiao City, but..."
"But I have already talked about it, don't you still feel it?"
At that moment, Rumba clenched his teeth, clenched his fists, dripping with cold sweat, as if facing an unprecedented terrifying beast.
"Some thrilling, terrible changes that have never been seen before..."
"It is happening quietly in the Kingdom of Stars, at the back of the country that is the remnant of the empire, who has been fighting with us for many years."
The expressions of several grand princes changed slightly.
"This change," Rumba shivered slightly, continuing his chilling words: "It's as quiet as an undercurrent, and as plain as dripping through rocks."
"But please believe me, this is a horrible situation that has never been seen in the past thousands of years, even if it is as strong as the ancient empire." Rumba only felt that his hair was upside down, and there was a polar white ice chill in his chest. , Straight into the heart: "The Kingdom of Stars-our opponent for six hundred years, is undergoing an unprecedented transformation."
The four grand princes looked at each other in pairs, unable to advance or retreat amidst incredible hesitation and shocking horror.
But Rumba’s words continue: "Through the most direct contact with war, I have seen the tip of the iceberg of this horrible transformation."
"It's like a faint vibration from the inside on the eve of pupa formation."
"Unremarkable, but vital."
Rumba suddenly raised his head, his eyes were like swords, his sharp light was compelling, and he shot straight at the four princes.
"Everyone, please open your eyes," Duke Heisha gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse, and his tone resolute: "Where is our greatest threat?"
The princes seem to have not reacted yet.
But at that moment, Grand Duke Lecco's face was more ugly than ever, he slowly raised his head and looked at Rumba.
The old man spoke tired and tired, his voice hoarse and unpleasant: "Mindis III?"
The expressions of the other three grand princes changed.
Rumba's eyes softened as he looked at the old man.
His eyes dimmed.
"Yes," Rumba said silently, and sat down again: "This is the current situation one hundred and fifty years later-our contrast with the stars."
Grand Duke Olesiu looked up in surprise:
"One hundred and fifty years? Is it..."
Rumba nodded weakly.
"Yeah." He surely said.
"What I told you just now," Lombard said lightly, his eyes filled with fear and solemnity again: "All this."
"They all originated one hundred and fifty years ago..."
"From the Supreme King of the Stars who was ignored by almost everyone."
"Mindis III."
The four grand princes all turned their eyes to Rumba in this second.
Complex emotions and mixed reactions.
Duke Heisha looked at their expressions and couldn't help sneering.
"You said he didn't do any major things?"
Just listen to Charman Rumba snorting indistinctly:
"More than a hundred years ago, it was Mindis III. He did not hesitate to offend the collaterals, cronies, in-laws, and even direct vassals of the Canstar family. He had to strictly and accurately establish and separate countless official positions, countless departments-city hall, The Security Department, the Finance and Taxation Department...grant their authority to them, clarify the rules, train and evaluate them, and even pay for them even if they borrow money, so that these new officials can manage the central leadership of the royal family and even the entire Star Kingdom."
"More than a hundred years have passed, even the most remote and domineering vassals, for taxation, for efficiency, for power, to fight the king more effectively, and must not compromise with the rules of the game left by Xianjun. Recognizing the officials of the king," Rumba raised his head, a sharp coldness flashed in his eyes:
"Relying on these people, the kingship of the stars gradually penetrates into every corner of the kingdom, and has unprecedented control of the entire country from top to bottom."
"Do you think that behind the scenes of the Star Legion is just luck and talent?"
"No, this steel carriage composed of countless professional officials began with Mindis III. It has long been in conflict and friction. In our years of Megatron, it has quietly operated, adapted and settled for more than 100 years. , Subtly, take root and sprout!"
Hearing what he said, Grand Duke Ronnie of Qiyuan City lowered his head deeply, his eyes struggling.
"Also," Rumba said again, in an indifferent tone: "You say he is weak and omnipotent, and compromises with nobles?"
"Excuse me to remind you, it is the High Council and the State Council that "compromising with the nobles"..."
"The King Kessel V to the south of us turned thousands of civilians in the Star Kingdom into a powerful tool for him to stand alone against the vassals! For five years, he resisted the fierce opposition of almost all vassals, Undoubtedly, a nationwide war was launched, and a royal heir was established irresistibly!"
"This is his kingship! For the Star Kingdom, this is already the norm!"
Rumba slammed his fist on the square table, and exclaimed with an angry face: "If King Nunn is standing here, if you want you to recruit troops within a month and follow him into the desert, how many people will not Hesitate to do it?"
Olesiu and Trudida looked at each other in the air.
One side hesitated and shook his head lightly, while the other gritted his teeth, breathing quickly.
"As for Mindis III, you said he borrowed money to survive?" Grand Duke Heisha raised his hand and waved indifferently: "But what is more ironic?"
Rumba leans forward, clenches his teeth, his face is cold:
"More than a hundred years ago, Mindis III, who was raising a large number of officials, raised debts all day long. So he ordered all debtors to be concentrated in one house, based on the royal franchise rights and even the next year’s taxes. Guarantee, uniformly write to the debtors IOU."
"Today, more than a hundred years later, the house where countless merchants came and went~IndoMTL.com~has been expanded many times, and changed its name after emulating the habits of the city-states of Kangmas," Grand Duke Heisha said. Ugly, with a hesitant tone, as if to tell a strange thing he didn't understand: "It's called'Wang Family Bank'."
The princes cast doubtful eyes.
Rumba clenched his teeth and shook his head: "Five years ago, King Kessel did not raise taxes or ransack his home. He just wrote to the so-called'Wang Family Bank' to this money vault composed of countless merchants. I took out a large sum of money, pulled up countless troops, fought a costly desert war, and unexpectedly expanded the standing army after returning!"
"This is for us who have to increase taxes as soon as we fight—can you imagine?"
"Do you think that this war depends only on the wealth of the Canstar royal family?"
It was silence again.
No one speaks.
The princes of Exter are all princes of territories comparable to a country, and they understand what this means better than anyone.
(End of this chapter)