When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 592 Constitutional Convention (Part )
"Population census? I don't think it's necessary, right?" An old earl from the Mountain County spoke with a thick accent. He glanced at Meliati quickly and then quickly lowered his head.

"Yes, yes." The other nobles echoed, "Isn't the population census just a re-skin of the land registration? Even if we want to bring it up again, we have to wait until next year."

They had no choice but to object, because the population census and the land survey were almost the same thing.

They had finally persuaded Patriarch Horn to veto the Land Registration Bill, paying the price of abolishing the dead hand tax, and now, just two weeks later, they were bringing up the issue again.

Are you two teaming up to play a trick on us?
"No need, that's fine." Flipping through the account book, Meliati cleared her throat, "According to the statistics of my financial director Lanfranc, this year's estimated expenditures are in the following categories.

The repayment and interest to the Norn Lords is 27000 gold pounds. Because of our independence from the Kingdom of Leia, we need to rebuild 6 bastions and 11 outposts in the border area, totaling 35000 gold pounds, and repair the damage to water conservancy facilities caused by floods and wars, totaling 18000 gold pounds..."

In fact, these figures are reduced results. If the castle is to be built without mortar and alchemist priests, not only will the cost double, but it will also be a question whether it can be completed in two years.

The Holy Hammer Monastery of the Holy See charges a fixed price of 5000 gold pounds for each bastion. Taking into account the transportation and labor costs, the profit is very slim, almost no money is made.

But Meliati has to resist the war pressure from the Kingdom of Leia in the northern Hotam County, Upper River County, and North Mound County, which can be regarded as a transfer payment.

“…So, according to the pre-war promise, 4500 extraordinary knights will each have a manor of at least 1500 acres and an annual pension of 10 gold pounds, which means they will have to spend 45000 gold pounds.

In order to resist the attack of the Kingdom of Leia, I have appointed Andre as the commander in the second half of this year. Following the example of the Salvation Army, I will recruit mercenary prisoners in Hotam County to expand the army by 4500 people, which will cost 30000 gold pounds, plus administrative expenses are expected to be 7000 gold pounds.

Adding some miscellaneous expenses, the total expenditure is about 172000 pounds, which is the necessary tax for this year."

"17 gold pounds, why is it so much?" An earl of Mountain County couldn't help but screamed in surprise.

That’s 17 gold pounds!

The Thousand Valleys only paid a total of 15 gold pounds in tribute to the royal family and the Pope each year, but this year it had an expenditure of 17 gold pounds.

They originally thought that by driving away the royal family and the Pope, their taxes would be reduced, but instead they became more.

"We are facing an attack from the Kingdom of Leia. We need to expand our army, and a standing army, which naturally costs money." Horn stood up and helped Meliati explain.

Count Sampoli stood up and said, "But Your Highness, we don't need so many standing troops. We in the Thousand River Valley are not that rich yet."

"If not the standing army, who can we rely on?" Meliati stared at Count Sampoli expressionlessly.

"We nobles are on your side. We are all on your side. The knights of the Thousand Valley can also serve you."

"Hahaha." Meliati laughed. "Who do you think our enemies are? Nine companies of the Imperial Order have suppressed us so much that we can't raise our heads. How are you going to defend against 9 companies of the Imperial Order?"

The previously noisy pulpit suddenly became quiet, and the joy of victory in the war and the establishment of the Constitutional Assembly was immediately diluted by the dark clouds of war.

They are now arguing about legislation, but the war has already consumed a large number of knights and nobles in the Thousand River Valley.

Moreover, they also expelled the priests of the church. By then, they would be helpless and at the mercy of the church and the royal family, wouldn't they?
Although the Kingdom of Leia is currently in a civil war, we cannot expect the civil war to never stop.

The two royal dukes have fought their way to the new king's doorstep, and the civil war in the Kingdom of Leia is on the eve of its end.

At the earliest, in two years, and at the latest in three years, they will take action against Qianhe Valley.

Now they are sitting on neat seats, but three years later, their heads may be neatly stacked on the carriage.

The heads of Prince Condé and Barnifors are still placed behind the Central Palace, staring at them every day!
"Boom——"

After a thunderclap, the light of lightning made everyone's face pale, and the rain splashed against the windows, reminding them of their overestimation of their own capabilities. "The Kingdom of Leia has lost a quarter of its imperial companies, and it also has to defend the Kingdom of Fran in the south. It is impossible to send out the remaining 32 imperial companies at once." A mountain earl said uncertainly.

"Even if they only send half of them, 16 companies of imperial orders, that's 1600 imperial order knights, and 3200 extraordinary knights, not to mention the noble vassal troops and mercenary infantry accompanying them." Meliati said in a resounding voice, "You manor knights are no match for the castle knights, and the guards are no match for the land servants."

The so-called manor knights are fiefdom knights or country knights who have fixed fiefdoms and are summoned to participate in wars every year. In addition to military duties, they are also responsible for territory management.

Castle knights are similar to the Cossacks, the Imperial Company and the Mountain Knights. Their fiefdoms are governed by dedicated people, they receive an annual pension from financial appropriations, and they spend a lot of time in the castle undergoing military training and honing their martial arts.

Castle Knights are obviously stronger than Manor Knights, but the problem is that they cost more.

Without efficient taxation and stable financial resources, it would be impossible to maintain a large infantry and cavalry army capable of fighting against the Kingdom of Leia.

"But……"

"But what? In the past, you nobles and knights were needed to defend against the enemy, so I gave you these privileges. Now you are no longer needed. I will defend you!" Meliati slammed the account book on the table with a dull thud. "You get 2 of my money, and I only get 1. Do you still want me to thank you?!"

The noble representatives were silent.

Among the nobles and landlord representatives on the right seat, they were clearly divided into two categories according to their political stance: one was the mountain nobles or the Kush nobles, and the other was the Thousand Valley nobles or the foreign nobles.

The Kushite nobles were the main supporters of Meliati and the main victims of the Thousand Valleys' inclusion in the Church's rule.

The foreign nobles were collaborators of the church. They did not suffer much persecution, but they could not tolerate Prince Condé's chaos and had to turn to the church under the circumstances.

After selling out Prince Conde for their lives, they were all blacklisted by the church, and only then did they enter the Senate, the central system of the Holy Monarchy of the Thousand Valleys.

The Kush nobles in the Council of State are numerous but weak in power, but have the support of the highest decision-makers, while the plains nobles are small in number but powerful, but have no one behind them and must rely on Meliati.

So in essence, there are conflicts among the nobles, but they are all on the same boat and their fundamental interests are the same, which is survival.

Following Meliati's strong statement, the nobles gradually understood what she meant.

In other words, Meliati exchanged the central administrative power for the local administrative power in the hands of the nobles, and exchanged exemption from military obligations for fiscal revenue.

It seems fair, but in reality it requires the nobles to give up their tax autonomy, judicial power and military autonomy, as well as all civil wars and claims between lords, and can only acquire new territories through inheritance and noble courts.

Although the central position is good and has more power than local power, not every noble can obtain it, while every noble has been deprived of a part of local power.

The representatives on the right seat were whispering, but Meliati could clearly feel that their noisy voices were gradually becoming unified - compromise.

In peacetime, even if the nobles agreed with Meliati's policies, they would not necessarily support her implementation.

It is nothing more than playing small tricks under the table, either exaggerating things or engaging in formalism.

But it’s different now. The Kingdom of Leia is facing a powerful enemy. If it doesn’t pay these prices, it may not be able to keep its existing power.

There is no other way except compromise.

"Your Highness..." The old earl who had raised the objection earlier stood up and said with a bitter face, "We are willing to pay more taxes, but the number of 17 is really too much to ask."

(End of this chapter)