Mage Joan

The trick to the technique of "taxation" is to "pull the most feathers" and "listen to the least goose calls."

At the end of 1625, the "Stamp Duty" that the Fijian Council decided to levy in the colony of Jotunheim was such a tax with the characteristics of "listening to the least goose calls".

The designer of the "stamp tax" can be described as unique. He observed that people frequently use documents such as contracts and loan vouchers in their daily lives, and the tax base is spread across all levels of society; and people generally hold the idea that the government stamps on the vouchers will become legal Vouchers can be protected by law in litigation, so they will not be too disgusted with paying stamp duty.

The "stamp tax" has been implemented in Fiji for many years. It is an efficient "direct tax", requiring many printed materials to use "stamped" paper, which is provided by a specialist licensed by the Fiji government.

In late November 1625, the Fijian Council decided to extend this tax that was effective in the mainland to the colonies of the New World. It was first tried in Jotunheim for a period of time. As for the two newly acquired colonies, Midgard and Alfheim will also implement the "Colonial Stamp Duty Act" after the integration of the administrative and military aspects is completed in the future.

This new bill stipulates that all official documents, qualification certificates, and press releases of the colony are publicly issued, such as lawyers and doctors’ practice certificates, franchise certificates, bank notes and insurance documents, contracts, stocks, securities, and business Loan bills, import and export bills of lading, legal documents, newspapers, pamphlets, books, and even cards, every page of paper must be stamped with the government's "stamp".

Of course, in order to print "flowers", you have to pay taxes to the government, and the amount is not high. Each page of the document is only one copper coin; forging "stamps" is a felony that started in five years!

Since the amount of "stamp duty" levied is not large and the distribution is very even, coupled with the legal status given to documents and publications by the government seal, it seems very fair and reasonable. The Fijian Parliament passed the bill unanimously with almost no debate.

However, the subsequent evolution of the situation greatly exceeded the expectations of the "stamp duty" makers.

The "geese" in the colonies are particularly sensitive to taxation. No matter the simple and rude "sugar tax" or the more gentle and low-key "stamp tax", as long as they try to "pluck their hair", they will eventually trigger fierce resistance. .

This wave of protests against the "stamp tax" is even more violent than the previous boycott of the "sugar tax"!

The "sugar tax" mainly affected the interests of importers, but the "stamp tax" affected all strata of the colony, especially angering the most socially influential groups, including journalists, lawyers, priests, businessmen and bankers. They quickly united. A coalition to boycott stamp duty was established, and a vigorous anti-tax movement was set off.

This time the people of Jotunheim no longer simply boycott the "stamp duty", as a political pamphlet pointed out:

"'Stamp Duty' is a dangerous sign, the epitome of tyranny!"

"Yesterday was the'sugar tax', today it is the'stamp tax.' God knows what tax will be levied tomorrow. If things go on like this, when is the end?"

"If the'stamp duty' is not abolished, the Fijian Council will think that we are weak and can be deceived, and in the future, we will intensify and do whatever we want!"

"If we dare not speak out today and actively boycott the'stamp duty', we may not have time to protest when we are noose tied in the future!"

...

This kind of alarmist propaganda has successfully aroused the deepest fears in the hearts of the Jotunheim people and even the Midgardians and Alfheim people. The colonists seemed to see a pair of evil black hands reaching out to them, to be brief. Hold their throats so they can't breathe.

It is generally believed that the Fijian Council repeatedly attacked the colonists, indicating that they had begun to abandon the "laissez-faire" policy adopted in the colony before and instead "strictly disciplined". For the free and unsophisticated colonists, this is simply a matter of fact. Same as the end of the world!

Instigated by leaflets and pamphlets, tax-resistant people took to the streets one after another. First they demonstrated demonstrations, and then naturally turned into smashing and looting. Even the local customs and tax bureaus were also attacked. The mobs smashed glass and destroyed tables. Chairs, burned houses, beat up tax officials, and made a mess.

In the center of the new wave of anti-tax movement, New Avalon, the capital of the colony of Jotunheim, of course, the active figure of the “sons of freedom” who is engaged in professional affairs is indispensable.

Joseph Adams, the spiritual leader of the "Children of Liberty Association," as early as 1622 foresaw that the northern city of New Avalon would become the main stage of the independence movement in the New World, so he moved here to develop his power.

After more than three years of painstaking efforts, the "Freedom Sons Association" has established a solid foundation in Jotunheim. In the capital New Avalon alone, there are no less than 2,000 full members, which is equivalent to one "freedom" out of every 100 people. The tentacles of the forces have penetrated into all strata of the colony, from the nobles, celebrities, wealthy merchants and magnates to the traffickers, pawns, gangsters and bandits.

Starting from the month when the Stamp Duty Act was promulgated, a large group of "sons of freedom" responded to the organization's call, either by car or horseback, rushing from Midgard and even farther Alfheim to Jotunheim to help local comrades who lack experience in struggle. They made plans and launched violent attacks against tax workers.

With the rich experience in riots accumulated over the years, the elite backbone of the "Free Sons Association" from the south quickly gained the leadership of the Jotunheim tax resistance movement.

In addition to continuing the traditional arts, painting the tax collectors with tar, sticking feathers, and then putting ropes around their necks, and pulling them out to parade, the "children of freedom" also boldly innovated and developed many designs aimed at humiliation. Lynching to torture the victim.

For example, pierce a scarecrow, put it on clothes, write the name of a tax collector on the back, hang it from a tree and flog it, and then set it on fire-this kind of naked threat is enough to scare people into nightmares!

For example, poison the dog of a certain "King Party" person, cut off the head of the hound, stuff it into the package and send it to the owner. When the other party unpacks the package and sees the **** head of the dog, if he can still insist on not being caught Frightened, you will find the threatening letter attached to the package.

"Mr. XX, do you like this little gift?"

"We know that you have two lovely sons and three beautiful daughters. If you still don’t want to be smart and want to be right with the people, you might as well guess that the next one will be packaged and sent to you. Whose head will it be?"

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