Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 18: Tax increase?

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So Archibides settled down and retorted boldly: "We have harvested some gold and silver mines, but your majesty has warned our Ministry of Finance that gold and silver cannot be distributed indiscriminately. It must be combined with the annual grain Corresponding to production and taxation... In short, as the amount of gold and silver is distributed, the silver coins in our hands become worthless, so gold and silver are directly mined from the gold and silver mines. As the expense of this new mercenary, the Finance Department can If you can't be the lord, you must get your majesty's approval." After that, Archibides turned and bowed respectfully to the doctor.

Daves said softly: "Archibides is right. Gold and silver mines are strategic materials for the kingdom and cannot be used as long-term financial expenditures unless there are special circumstances."

"Your Majesty's decision is right! If the gold and silver mines are trampled, digging, and hairless, allowing gold and silver in the kingdom to overflow, it will only destroy the kingdom's trade prosperity and cause chaos." Commercial Minister Mariji said immediately Agree and endorse Archibides.

Archibides continued excitedly: "Also...Master Alexis, you have only seen how much land has been added to the kingdom, but you have not seen how many officials we have added to manage these land. To pay more, this is already a big expenditure. Not to mention the large relocation expenses that need to be spent to move citizens to these new lands, as well as the repairs on these new lands. Roads, bridges, temples... all kinds of public facilities and maintenance costs are a huge expenditure. To tell you the truth, if it were not for the prosperity of commerce and trade in the past few years, the increased business tax revenue would barely make up for it. These increased expenditures, I am afraid that the monthly salary paid to you will be reduced."

As Archibides said, he nodded to Marigi to express his thanks.

Alexis was dumbfounded. He thought that with this new decree, the kingdom would have two or three more special legions that could be put into battle at any time, and the military department would feel much more relaxed, but he did not expect it to be really difficult. The ones are still behind.

He reluctantly said: "Since everyone has agreed to build such an army composed of free foreigners, and believes that sufficient military spending must be needed to maintain it, but now the national treasury cannot provide military spending for it, but there is no military spending. , This army cannot be established, so what should I do?"

Lysias looks at his nose, and his nose looks at the heart, with a contemplative appearance.

Sipoulos' eyes rolled, and he stopped talking several times.

What Mariji and Sedorum were whispering.

Hermon shrugged and said apologetically: "I don't know much about the kingdom's finances."

Archibides, who shouted for no money before, remained silent at this moment.

The other ministers either really didn't know it well, were a little at a loss, or put on a thoughtful appearance, and there was a strange calm in the palace hall.

This is, a loud voice sounded: "Because the establishment of an army that is truly free from daily work and ready to go into battle is the growing need of our kingdom’s territory. It is a new and long-term important national policy, so it It’s best to levy new taxes on the people’s military expenditures separately!"

As soon as this statement came out, some people were astonished, some were still looking, and some were obviously relieved.

Tax increase, someone finally said it! ...Daves grabbed the armrest of the seat with both hands and looked at the speaker: Ataris, it really was him! Dare to do things, dare to do things, worthy of being the outstanding talent recommended by Kuno Gorata that year, knowing that this will offend the general public, or do not hesitate to say that the safety of the kingdom is more important than your own gains and losses. In comparison, the other rotating chairman he valued, Cipros, who is more capable of doing things, obviously thinks too much. As for the people like Lucias, Hermon, and Sedorum...hehe.

Davos glanced calmly at the ministers and took all living beings into his eyes. When he came into contact with Cipros’s gaze, Cipros quickly moved his head away. He had realized that his performance just now made Dai Firth was disappointed.

"Tax increases? This is not so good. I am afraid it will be difficult for the people to accept." The first to respond was the Medical Secretary Helps.

"Yes, since the establishment of Dionia, the kingdom’s direct tax has always been one percent. It has remained the same for almost 20 years. The people are used to it. If you want to collect taxes now, let them pay more. I’m afraid it’s hard for them to accept the money.” The Minister of Construction Heraclide also expressed his attitude. As technical officials, neither he nor Helps seemed to consider the problem from the perspective of the kingdom. The first thing that came to mind was The mentality of the people.

"Your Majesty has just said that the times are changing, the environment is changing, and the kingdom is changing. Of course, our laws should also be changed to meet new needs! When Dionia was established 20 years ago, There are only three or four small towns with a population of less than 30,000, which is very inconspicuous; and now the kingdom is the overlord of the Western Mediterranean. Less attached to our city-states and forces, it is no longer the small city-state alliance back then!"

Sipoulos finally stood up and spoke. He said emotionally: "When Dionia was first established, all public officials, including the elders, were not paid, but now the junior officials of the kingdom can roughly buy one for a month’s salary. Niu, let alone us;

Twenty years ago, Dionia sent troops to fight, and all the citizens who were able to fight together were less than 10,000. They could reach the front line within a few hours, and after a day or two, they could end the battle and return to the city state. The time is so short that the soldiers have not finished eating the rations they brought from their homes;

Nowadays, once the kingdom starts a war, it can easily dispatch tens of thousands of people. The battle time is calculated in months, and the rations required are counted in tons as the basic unit, not including other material consumption. These are all Is provided by the kingdom;

Twenty years ago, Dionia didn’t spend much on building roads. Today, there are countless public buildings in the kingdom. The money earned by schools and public hospitals in cities and towns is simply not enough to maintain its operation, and it needs subsidies from the kingdom to maintain...

The larger the kingdom, the greater the consumption. Will the 1% tax alone meet the growing needs of the Kingdom of Dionia? of course not! We rely on the commercial tax collected due to the prosperity of the trade brought about by the power of the kingdom! It depends on the inheritance tax collected because the kingdom is strong and the citizens are rich! It depends on the other expenses that the Kingdom is strong to make people's lives colorful and colorful (such as the competitive lottery hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, the library borrowing fees, etc.)! It is the wise work of your majesty and everyone's hard work that can barely guarantee the kingdom's development today!

To be honest, the direct tax collected by the kingdom has been maintained at 1% for 20 years. This is definitely a huge miracle! This is the blessing of Hades! This is the kindness of your majesty! Even in the most difficult times of the war, the kingdom only borrowed money from the people, rather than outrageously charging high war taxes. The Dionian people should feel very lucky that they live in such a happy kingdom and not elsewhere. .

Look around us. This is no longer the traditional world where citizens of Greek city-states did not charge direct taxes decades ago.

In the eastern part of Sicily, during the reign of Dionysius, each city-state’s war tax was as high as 30% and lasted for many years. Even after he was overthrown, Syracuse’s annual direct tax was also It is close to 10% to ensure that the city-state can recover its strength as soon as possible and guarantee safety under our pressure;

In the western part of Sicily, the tax rates of the Phoenician city-states and the Carthaginian sub-states are relatively lower, but they are also over 5%. It is said that the money from these taxes was spent on the conquest of southern Iberia.

Look at the Greek mainland again. In the past few decades, wars have been frequent. Which city-state’s direct tax is not more than 20%. Even the wealthiest Athens, they even came up with a wonderful tax collection method, which will govern the Democrats. In zoning areas, there must be many wealthy foreign businessmen who settle in each tax area, and then stipulate the amount of tax that must be paid in the area. If it fails to reach it, it will be punished. Often due to the plea and persecution of the people in the area, more than half of the tax amount These wealthy businessmen are all responsible.

Not to mention Sparta, it has always been a city-state that all the wealth earned is controlled by the government, and then it is responsible for the distribution.

Everyone, this is a world where wars are frequent and dangerously reborn. Countries and forces around us are accumulating strength and fighting. Even if Dionia is now strong, it cannot be taken lightly. The kingdom should not only increase taxes, but the tax rate should not be too low, so as to ensure the normal operation of the kingdom and have sufficient strength to protect the security of the territory and the interests of the people! "

Sipoulos's remarks were so shocking that some people lost their senses, and some people suddenly realized it.

Immediately afterwards, Daves gave a loud praise: "Well said!"

Many people realized at this time: Your Majesty supports tax increases!

The atmosphere in the hall began to change, but Lysias still worriedly persuaded: "Your Majesty, once the additional taxation is proposed, it will not only cause a lot of controversy in the Senate, but also a lot of people. His dissatisfaction may cause turmoil in the kingdom and will have a great impact on your prestige!"

Daves smiled faintly, and said in a deep voice: "For the sake of national interests, Cypros has the courage to make such a proposal, regardless of personal honor and disgrace. As the son of Hades, the patron saint of this kingdom, I am Do you still care about this ruin! I just ask you, Lucias, should the tax increase be?"

Davos pointed directly to the center, and Lycias could not avoid it, and could only answer: "Your Majesty, from the current state of the kingdom, we... need an army formed by free foreigners; in order not to Affecting the normal operation of the kingdom, we also...need to increase a little tax to provide material support for this army."