Chapter 13. Using other people’s logic as a weapon. (3)
After finishing speaking, I raised the corners of my mouth as if showing off.
“…….”
A smile crossed Carlo’s lips as if he had taken the opportunity,
“……Tsk.”
Mikel shook his head slightly.
And, the inside of the conference room was frozen. Everyone looked at me with puzzled faces.
Soon their gazes crossed.
‘What did I just hear?’
‘Did you hear that too?’
They just blinked blankly, looking like they were doubting their hearing.
“Now, what did you say?”
The one who broke the silence was the emperor, whose face hardened. The mouth that had been tightly shut was finally opened.
“I told you that the current method is unfair.”
I answered innocently, as if I hadn’t noticed his anger.
Emperor Theodore was silent for a moment. I guess I never thought I would hear something like that in this place.
He gestured to the servant, who quickly brought him some water and offered it to him. He just drank cold water in silence, as if trying to calm his anger for a moment.
The one who stepped forward on behalf of the emperor was,
“Prince Abel.”
Likewise, it was Carlo who was making a bewildered expression.
“Do you know what you just said?”
“of course.”
He laughed at my shameless response.
“Now Confucius is saying things that destroy the foundation of nobility.”
“Me?”
“Okay. How do you think we exist as nobles?”
Carlo began speaking in an admonishing tone, as if teaching an immature boy.
“His Majesty gives territory and gives appropriate positions. We pay taxes in return.”
“…….”
“If you think this is unfair, it means giving up everything you have enjoyed as a noble.”
He shook his head from side to side and asked.
“Doesn’t Confucius know the term noblesse oblige?”
Noblesse oblige.
This means that wealth and power come with accompanying responsibilities and obligations. In other words, it meant a duty that a nobleman should have.
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“Why are you still saying that? What you said earlier was a very dangerous statement.”
He was hinting that I was thinking of treason. And that while the emperor and other lords were listening.
‘Ha, a fox-like old man.’
It shows that you have been out of politics for a long time. It’s so cunning that it scrawls the fox’s cheek back and forth.
“Prince Abel.”
Mikel seemed to feel bad that Carlo was pushing me too hard, so he came forward.
“I also have some regrets about this method. But it’s something that can’t be helped.”
It was a kind tone, as if soothing a young boy. It also contained sympathy for me, who had been caught in Carlo’s obvious trick.
“So I hope you don’t think that way.”
He didn’t forget to add another word while looking at Carlo.
“I hope that Lord Carlo will not misunderstand Prince Abel’s intentions.”
Instead of answering, Carlo just shrugged his shoulders.
“Of course, I know that the situation in Obest Territory is difficult.”
Not to be outdone, Benifer stepped forward. She said with a friendly smile.
“But this is the duty of the lord who rules the territory. It cannot be avoided.”
Her eyes sparkled with passion for the empire, or rather for the emperor.
“Only by paying this tax can the empire run smoothly, and only then can the residents of the Obest Territory live well.”
Words, words, words.
Words spoken as if they were thinking of me or as if they were giving me advice.
However, hidden underneath it all was the pressure to bow down and follow the words of vested interests.
“I see.”
I smiled brightly at them.
“Now that you say that, I am even more confident in my thoughts.”
He looked around and sneered.
“I think the current tax calculation method is unfair.”
“I still can’t come to my senses….”
The moment Lord Carlo was about to raise his voice,
“Then how about this?”
My lips formed a slick smile.
“It’s about changing the tax calculation method to a percentage system.”
The conference room froze again. The gazes of people looking at each other were similar to before, but contained a slightly different meaning.
‘Did you hear that too? You said it was a ratio system?’
‘What is the ratio system?’
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
It seemed like they didn’t immediately understand what I said.
however.
“…….”
Carlo kept his mouth shut. Confusion and caution flashed across his face.
‘Oh, I see you understood right away.’
After all, those who have the ambition to devour the empire are different. So now you can guess what I’m going to do.
“Rain, ratio system? What does that mean?”
One of the lords asked in a confused voice.
“It’s literally true.”
I raised my voice so that it could be heard clearly throughout the room.
“The net income of each territory minus expenses. A certain percentage of that is paid as tax.”
He added it with a smile.
“The ratio… ok, how about about 10%?”
thud.
It wasn’t an actual sound. However, the conference room felt as if a huge rock had fallen.
No one could respond to what I said. I just purse my lips and try to interpret what I said.
“So, what Prince Abel said.”
Carlo’s voice fell heavily to the floor.
“The current method is unfair, so let’s change it to a ratio system?”
“Yes, but.”
“Why bother?”
Carlo crossed his arms and tilted his head.
“I don’t know why we should change the method that the majority of the lords agree to to such an inefficient method.”
“It’s inefficient.”
I laughed as if I had heard something interesting.
“Well, I think this way we can collect taxes more efficiently.”
“I’m very curious why you came up with such unique, unique thoughts.”
Carlo looked like he wanted to bite me.
In particular, the emphasis on the word unique seemed intended to somehow undercut my opinion.
‘Do you think anyone will be scared if you say that?’
I opened my mouth with a calm face.
“Of course, the environment and situation are different for each territory.”
A calm voice flows with logic.
“If the net income of the fiefdom is high, you pay more taxes. If it is less, you pay less.”
“…….”
“That is a reasonable way to pay taxes in accordance with the equity of each territory.”
“What Confucius is saying now is….”
Cutting off Carlo’s attempt to counterattack immediately,
“And just this way,”
I spoke in a firm tone, as if stamping a seal.
“It is truly a path for the empire.”
The lords began to stir at the unexpected remark.
“Truly the path to empire?”
“What kind of fat bullshit are you talking about?”
“It seems like they just put it on the surface.”
In the midst of the controversy, Benifer raised his hand.
“I would like to hear a more specific explanation.”
There was blatant interest on her face as she asked that question.
“About income and expenditure.”
Even though he knows everything, he acts like a snobbery.
But since it was a necessary explanation, I smiled and opened my mouth.
“First of all, as everyone knows, income is the revenue generated from each territory.”
The lords began to listen to me with curious faces.
“It includes taxes, as well as the profits earned by the lord from selling goods to other fiefdoms with full authority.”
The moment he finished speaking, Carlo’s eyebrows twitched. I pretended not to see it and continued.
“And expenditure means the opposite, right? It is the amount used for the operation of the fiefdom.”
“It’s the management of the territory….”
Benifer smiled brightly.
“I think that’s the point, right?”
“That’s right.”
I smiled at her. It was a smile as black and sinister as Benifer’s.
“This includes security issues within the territory, technological development for agricultural development, etc. And….”
He slowly dragged out his words and finished it.
“It also includes the cost of securing the border.”
“What!”
Carlo got angry and jumped up.
“Confucius is saying things that are biased towards fairness! Isn’t this logic purely for the sake of one’s own territory?”
“Ovest territory is not the only one bordering the border.”
I answered Carlo’s words with an expression that showed no hesitation whatsoever.
“And why is it biased toward equity?”
He shook his head and got up. He spread his arms out towards the people sitting in the conference room.
“Think about it. Why do so many knights risk their lives at the border to fight?”
People looked dumbfounded at my sudden question.
“For the Emperor, the sun and light of this empire. And isn’t it to protect His Majesty’s people?”
After speaking, I looked directly at Carlo.
“But why is this logic only for our territory?”
His blue-violet eyes flashed and he gave a warning.
“Is it possible that there is an order of knights that only works for my territory? That is such a sad thing.”
Carlo bit his lip as he understood what I was saying. When I repeated his words back to him, green tendons even started to sprout on his forehead.
‘So why did you come forward?’
After silencing Carlo, I asked everyone in the conference room:
“Do you have any more questions?”
There were no more hands raised. Everyone was lost in thought, pondering what I said.
Soon, mixed emotions appeared in people’s eyes.
“…….”
Emperor Theodore stroked the corner of his mouth. A greedy light flashed in his red eyes.
‘The corners of his mouth are shaking so much he looks like he’s dying.’
He would have immediately understood that this method would ultimately bring me great benefits.
“……Oh my goodness.”
Benifer rested his chin and grinned. Her bright red nails tapped her cheek like she was tapping an abacus.
She is also a person who calculates profits and losses quickly, so she will know that the taxes she has to pay will increase.
‘That would be better.’
This is an opportunity to legally send money from my fiefdom to Emperor Theodore.
“……Huh, this is it.”
Mikel leaned back in his chair with a sigh of relief. He seemed to have been completely caught off guard, and his eyes were relaxed.
‘I guess I understand now.’
This way, the amount of tax you have to pay will be much reduced.
Soon, Mikel looked at me with surprised eyes. She looked completely amazed at me.
On the other hand, he seemed relieved as if his worries about Yeongji had diminished.
“…….”
Carlo gave me a sharp, piercing look. No, if he had a knife in his hand, he would have stabbed me right now.
‘How about a hit?’
I smiled proudly at him. And then he slowly licked his lips.
It was a blatant ridicule.
“-!”
Carlo’s face was distorted ugly.
‘Well, it’s troublesome to be that excited already.’
Because there are still many mountains for him to overcome.
I muttered in a sad voice.
“Do you know Magna Morten?”
People’s eyes were focused on my sad face.
fantasy,
