According to the calculations of Hercule and Galfis, the minimum number of troops needed to defend the territory of the Lemurian Empire is over 150,000.

　To put it bluntly, Lemuria does not have the national strength to gather such a large number of soldiers.
　However, it is absolutely necessary for Hercule's future comfort.

　So, Hercule thought.
　Let's separate the shield and the pike.

　If we're just protecting the city, we can hide in the city.
　And if you're just holed up in a city, your soldiers don't need to be that skilled.

　So ......

　This is the outline of the Tunda system. ...... This is more than a tax reform, it is a major reform. What do you think?

　Hercule gathered a group of military and civilian officials and explained the new system to them.

　The system of the Tunden army.
　It is a political system in which the military system and the land system are inextricably linked.

　It is a system in which soldiers are sent to live on the land and cultivate the land in peacetime, but in times of war they are sent out to fight with weapons they have supplied themselves.

　There are three major advantages to this system.

　The first is that it stabilizes the land near the border, which had been devastated by the enemy.
　The second is that morale will be very high as soldiers fight desperately to defend their land.
　Finally, since the weapons are self-supplied, there are no maintenance costs.

　This is a good system for quickly gathering a good number of soldiers.

　It was Hercule who came up with the idea of introducing this system. ......
　The idea was not originated by Hercule.

　Generally speaking, the best known example of the Tonden-hei in Japan is the settlement of Hokkaido.

　They were introduced to prevent the southward expansion of Russia and at the same time to develop Hokkaido.

　It was also introduced by Cao Cao of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms fame.

　Also, this is a little less familiar to Japanese, but ......
　Heraclitus I of the Byzantine Empire also introduced this system to prevent the invasion of Islamic forces.

　Of course, it is not exactly the same system, but ......
　The outline is similar.

　"Your Majesty, may I?
　Yes, Mr. Krol?

　"What is it, Mr. Krol?" The bureaucrat Krol raises his hand and asks Hercule a question.

　Doesn't this system lead to decentralization?
　It's fine as long as it's properly monitored and kept under the control of the central government (well, they might still end up being independent warlords at some point ......).

　It would be fine during his own lifetime, Hercule thought.
　Hercule was confident that he could control the provinces.

　In the first place, it is natural for the regions to separate when the central power weakens, no matter what the system is.
　Even if you have a strict centralized system, if the bureaucracy becomes corrupt, decentralization will continue.

　Hercule's plan for the Tunda system will only allow soldiers to be stationed in the countryside.
　The existing administrative divisions will not change.

　More importantly, Hercule was not going to give cavalry or siege weapons to the local armies.

　The main central army, the standing army, would be sufficient to have them.

　I have one more question for you.
　What is it?
　Wouldn't that hurt the tax base?　You're going to lower the land tax instead of letting us pay for our own weapons, aren't you?
　Well, yes. But you ask a good question.

　Hercule praised Krol for listening well, and then explained.

　I'm not so worried about the loss of tax revenue. Look, the land we're taking in is a desolate area around the border. If this land is cultivated by the colonists and even a small amount of land tax revenue is generated, the tax revenue will increase. And it's mainly the landless exiles who are putting pressure on our treasury.

　There are many exiles in the Lemurian Empire.
　Many of them are peasants who lost their land in wars or barbarians who invaded the empire in ethnic migrations.

　Their number is estimated to be around 200,000.

　The Lemurian Empire provided them with a certain amount of wheat to prevent them from becoming a mob.
　Originally, the Lemurian Empire had the Wheat Law, a law to help the poor (like a welfare system), so it was not a big problem at first. ......

　The number of exiles has been growing every year.
　The Wheat Law was definitely putting pressure on the treasury of the Lemurian Empire.

　If the exiles became farmers, the burden of the wheat law would be reduced.
　Plus, we'd get tax revenue.

　Yes, in fact, more tax revenue.

　Any more questions?

　Hercule looked around at the bureaucrats.
　There were no objections.

　Hercule already had the bureaucrats under control.

　Now, get to work drafting specific legislation. I'll leave the details to you, such as how much of the land tax will be reduced and how much of the land will be settled first.

　Hercule has already drawn up the outline.
　All that remains is for the bureaucrats to flesh it out and for Hercule to revise it.

　Hercule can't run the country by himself.
　The Lemurian Empire is governed by a bureaucracy with Hercule at the top.

　There's also another law that came into effect at the same time as the Tontine system. There is also another law that was enacted at the same time as the Tunnels. This one is not so urgent and can be done gradually. ......

　The Horse Protection Law.
　This is one of the new laws of Wang Anshi of the Northern Song Dynasty.

　Here is a brief description: ......

　Liao's cavalry is really strong: ...... Our cavalry is too weak: ...... We need more cavalry: ...... But we don't have enough money: Oh, yes!　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.　And if there is a war, we can collect the money. That way we can expand the farmland and save money!　Oh my god, we're geniuses! (Wang Anshi is not a gal.)



　In the end, the Northern Song dynasty was destroyed due to the opposition of the Old Law Party led by Shiba Kou.
　Nevertheless, it is said to have been effective in reducing costs.

　However, Hercule certainly did not intend to use the horses provided for farming as cavalry.

　The abilities required of a farming horse are physical strength and the strength of its legs and feet.
　On the other hand, the abilities required of a warhorse include physical strength and leg and foot strength, but above all, speed is also important.

　Moreover, war horses need to be trained on a daily basis.
　Even though it is flattering, a farm horse cannot organize a strong cavalry unit.

　But, however, ......
　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.
　Hercule thought.

　As a beast of burden, it does not need to be fast.
　Physical strength and power would be enough.

　Hercule was thinking of enforcing the Horse Retention Law in line with the Tun Tin Hyang system.
　This would allow us to quickly expand our fields even in the roughest areas.
　Besides, he could order the troops to train their horses to be used as farm animals.

　But, Your Majesty. But your majesty, how will we finance the horses?　With our current finances, we can only do this on a very small scale.
　We're working on that separately. ...... Well, for the time being, the Tunda system is sufficient.

　Hercule grinned.






　Your Majesty, I have a question.
　"What is it, Carolina?

　Hercule turned at the sound of his beloved fiancée's voice.
　Karolina was a little puzzled and then asked.

　"Is it for this?
　"For what?
　"For purging the ...... great nobility. Is it because of the Tontine system?

　Hercule cowered in response to Carolina's question.

　What makes you think that?
　...... For the sake of the Tunda system, the land around the border needs to be nationalized. ...... Did you purge the land in order to make that happen smoothly?
　No way, I wouldn't do a purge just for that.

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.

　But it might be one of the reasons.
　"......

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that.

　"...... As expected. You are.
　Is that a compliment?
　I'm complimenting you. ...... Always looking ahead, always acting. Are you saying that everything is going according to your plan?
　If everything had gone according to plan, the emperor wouldn't be here now.

　Hercule laughs.
　Then Hercule suddenly took Karolina's lips.

　"!!!

　Karolina's eyes widen in surprise.
　Hercule grinned at Karolina.

　The only reason I'm emperor is so that I can show you how good I am. Give me more praise.
　You are ...... totally .......

　Karolina sighed.

　And ......

　"Your Majesty, may I ask you one more question?
　"What?
　How do you intend to provide the money?　...... Don't tell me you're going to raise taxes?

　Hercule's military expansion and domestic policy will inevitably require initial investment funds.
　How is Hercule going to secure that? ......

　At least, the only way Carolina can think of is to raise taxes.

　"Well, it's not too far off the mark, is it?
　...... Please don't raise taxes too much.
　Hmm?　Why?

　Hercule tilted his head.
　At least, it doesn't seem like something that Karolina cares about.

　I don't want you to make too many ...... enemies. I don't want you to make too many enemies, because you're the kind of person who unintentionally tramples on people's hearts. Please be careful.
　"......

　There are so many things that come to mind that Hercule chokes on his words.
　I'm not going to fix it at all.

　"Well, don't worry. I believe that taxes need to have a 'cause'. A good cause that everyone can agree on. This time, too, I will have a good cause. Complaints can be sent to ......, and I'm not saying there won't be some, but we'll make it work.

　Hercule closed one eye and winked.
　Carolina looked at Hercule with concern.