My name is Ren

Chapter 10 Friend or Enemy, It Doesn't Matter at All

Just a few days after the new city lord took office, the city became chaotic. Many forces who pay attention to Renn have gradually given up their attention to him. A stupid doomsday gold aristocrat is obviously more in line with the needs of a part of the ruling class. They put more energy into Put it on the enemies inside the imperial capital, instead of spending resources to pay attention to a fool who can't even look at the carriage.

Of course, there are also a small group of people who still pay attention to Rennes, but this kind of attention is like encountering those junk messages in the middle when reading the newspaper. content.

At this time in Ortrenburg, Ren didn't know that he entered this chaotic city for the first time, so many dignitaries breathed a sigh of relief.At this time, he was sitting with his legs crossed, in the city lord's mansion, holding a piece of manor title deed in the Golden Ring District of the imperial capital, tsk-tsk.In his lower seat, the chubby tax collector Richard kept wiping the oil and sweat from his face, partly from heat and partly from fright.

If it was just forging a land deed in a remote rural area, the nobles of the imperial capital would not be angry at all, because the countryside is too far away, and there are not many interests involved, so it is not worth the trouble.But forging a title deed covering an area of ​​just over one hectare in the Golden Ring District of the Imperial Capital would really kill someone.Touching the cheese on the table of the nobles and leaving a black handprint is equivalent to weaving a noose around his neck, which is no different from dying.

If it hadn't been for the guy named Blair with a sharp sword around his neck, Richard swore by his deceased grandmother that he would never help this young and inexplicable noble make such a forgery.

"It's a good job. If I didn't know that this title deed is fake, maybe even I wouldn't be able to distinguish the authenticity." Ren flicked the title deed in satisfaction. The paper of the title deed was processed by a special magic process, and the process was extremely complicated , which is difficult to forge.This kind of paper is only entitled to the state organs of the empire. For example, the tax report submitted every year will use this kind of paper to prevent layer upon layer of deductions.However, judging from the situation in Ortrenburg, a lot of paper can be saved every year, and the taxes of dozens of gold coins can be listed clearly without even a single piece of paper.

Richard, who was forced to do something bad, could only nod with a wry smile, "It's my honor to help you, my lord."

Ren put down the title deed and praised sincerely: "You are a talent Richard. I don't know why you can still sit in this position without collecting taxes for nine consecutive years, but you are a talent. You have value. Talent is a good talent, you can't play the best role in the position of tax officer, why not help me. Although I am just a down-and-out nobleman, I am still a nobleman. What I can give you is you You can't get it in 100 years as a tax collector."

Richard's small eyes narrowed into slits with a smile. The habit he had developed over the years did not make him agree immediately, but instead asked, "What if I refuse your kindness?"

Ryan laughed, "In my knowledge, there are two types of people in this world. The first type is my friends, no matter how high or low. We will help and support each other. The second type is my friends. I will send them to see the God of Light as much as possible, no matter whether they have provoked me or not." Ren spread his hands and looked directly at Richard with a determined attitude, "Now you are free to choose gone."

Richard shouted without embarrassment: "Of course I am your friend, honorable lord, please accept my request and let me help you!"

This is a human essence, and it is as effective as a hundred warriors.Ren stood up, resting his hand on the rapier at his waist, the gems were shining brightly, and the psychedelic luster formed halos.Richard moved his fat body, tumbling up to Rosie's head, knelt down on the ground with difficulty, and lowered his head.With a choking sound, Ren drew out his rapier and placed it flat on Richard's shoulder, "Be loyal!"

Richard gritted his teeth secretly, the situation was weaker than others, he really couldn't help it.This aristocrat named Renn seems to be different from other aristocrats. As for the difference, he hasn't found much. At least he is as treacherous as a ghost, and his methods are ruthless.To be loyal to this kind of person is to either make a fortune in the future, or accompany him to meet the God of Light. This is not the same as Richard's principles of life.But deep in his heart, there seemed to be a kind of power that was just about to move.

There is a desire that is breaking through the ground!

"I, Richard, now offer unrivaled devotion to a golden thorn as great as you. Your will shall be my goal and the direction of your sword my enemy as long as I live. I swear by my name that I will always be loyal to you as great as you!"

The corner of Ren's mouth curled up, "I accept your allegiance."

Allegiance is a very formal and ceremonial thing, but it is undeniable that in this world full of deceptions, allegiance rituals are still sacred, inviolable and inviolable.Once an oath of allegiance is sworn, even the most capricious of men are hard to betray.This kind of thing that transcends values ​​is sacred and holy.

After the ceremony, Ren asked Richard to sit down. If it was before, Richard would give way, but now he just sat on the chair, and his attitude was much more casual.In a way, Richard is now Ryan's family, a trustworthy family.

Such absurd things can only happen in this world.

"Tell me, why you can still sit in this position without completing the tax collection task for nine years. I'm curious how you did it."

After allegiance, Richard had nothing to hide, and he slowly told the answer to Ryan's question.

The situation in Ortrenburg is also very clear to the Bell Province. This is a very tangled place. From the perspective of the empire's territory, Ortrenburg once belonged to the Bell Province.During the war with the Byron Empire, this place was drawn out from the jurisdiction of Bell Province and became an independent city.As a result, the object under Ortrenburg's responsibility was directly upgraded from Bell Province to the central government of the imperial capital.

In other words, the small officials here are actually "Beijing officials" who are directly appointed by the central government.If this is an economic zone like Alexandria, the central government will definitely watch over and not allow any mistakes or omissions.But this is the city of chaos, the city of evil, and the gathering place of scum.Generation after generation of tax officials were dismissed for failing to collect taxes, and the central government's expectations for this place became lower and lower, and eventually even abandoned this place.

The reason why Richard was not kicked out for nine years was really because he was very smart. Compared with those tax officials who had their heads cut off shortly after taking office, and those tax officials who couldn't collect a single gold coin, he was still worth a lot. Those who are capable can at least see some gold coins every year.This is enough to save the face of those officials, and at the same time ensure that Ortrenburg is still "within controllable range", and it is still the Ortrenburg of the Orlando Empire.

that's enough!
The officials here don't need to do anything here, as long as they can survive.

As for why Richard took the oath of allegiance smoothly, it also came from this question.He has been working for nine years and is already 33 years old. He doesn't know how much longer he can work, but he understands that if he doesn't find a way out, he will be chained here for the rest of his life.Not just him, but his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and all his descendants.They will gradually become mediocre, removed from the privileged class, and reduced to ordinary people.

Maybe his descendants will die from the conflicts and contradictions in the market, and even become criminals, which is something that a tax official cannot bear.But he didn't have the ability to jump out of this pool of stagnant water.The bigwigs in the imperial capital are content with the status quo, as long as there is no fluctuation in the issue of sovereignty, the rest is not important.A tax official who can live and persevere, highlighting the issue of sovereignty is more suitable than those tax officials who always die inexplicably.

At least they don't need to tell His Majesty the Emperor every year that another tax collector died in Ortrenburg.

Ren also guessed part of it. Richard's narration only proved his guess from the side, and he was not surprised.He pondered for a moment, and said: "You can continue to do the job of tax officer, as before. My goal is to completely control Ortrenburg, and you will be of great use at that time. If nothing happens, I will It will be left to you, of course you have to be capable. I never keep someone’s value constant because of their identity and status, only when they show greater value can they be reused.”

"Don't disclose the matter of this title deed, the consequences are not something you can bear. Before the situation becomes clear, keep your mouth shut." Ren waved his hand, "You can go back!"

After watching Richard leave, Rossi fell into deep thought again. Choosing Richard was also a decision he made after careful consideration.He needs to find someone who can cooperate with the inherently privileged class, so that he can seize the power of the entire Ortrenburg.

The captain of the guard should be the No. 1 choice, but through Ren's observation, the seemingly staid guard captain is actually unreliable.If he was as rigid and inflexible as he appears to be, he would be dead long ago.In this city full of crimes, the harmony shown by those guards and the evil forces on the streets is not only the level shown on the surface.It may not be appropriate to use the same word, not to say that this term insults the guard, but that it overestimates them.

The city defense army is not a good choice either. It's not that Renn doesn't like the city defense army of Ortrenburg, but the city defense army here doesn't like him.Just like the garrison, the imperial soldiers, who are the sharpest spears of the empire, actually watched the city derail step by step until it became what it is today. It can only be said that this is the result of their indulgence.The guards and city defense forces are maintaining the status quo intentionally or unintentionally.Why is this happening?In fact, there is no other answer except benefits.

They can also be said to be the representatives of the forces in this city. The only difference from those gangs is that they have official identities. They have the same interest demands. A chaotic city is obviously more in line with their interests than an orderly city. .Think about it, in an orderly city, who would offer sacrifices to them?Only when the city is in chaos can they get what they want-privileges and gold coins.

The clerk is also not a good partner, because he has a way out. As long as the written report is beautiful, the higher authority will not care whether you really do your duty, and you will be promoted when the time comes.Instead of hanging out with a down and out nobleman, he has more options.

So Richard is the one Renne needs.

(End of this chapter)