41 Episode 9 How to properly make heavy taxes




 "What do you think, Lucanos? What's the reaction?
 The extremist priests are protesting, but ...... they have been subdued. Some of the Orthodox are unhappy, but there are no signs of any major action. The Alexandrians seem to be taking a favorable view.
 And the infidels, the heretics?
 There's been no significant movement.

 Good.
 And Hercule sips his tea with satisfaction.

 Tea with cookies is wonderful.
 While Hercule was enjoying the aroma of the tea, ......

 "Your Majesty!
 "What the... Carolina?
 "Tell us what it is. ...... I don't know what's going on anymore!

 Carolina said, confused.
 That's just as well.

 After holding a council to unify the doctrine, narrowing it down to a single orthodoxy, and even kicking aside the prior emperor Hadrian's conciliatory measures to show his conservative stance, ......
 It is that tremendously tolerant and innovative edict.

 It was understandable that Carolina was confused, and in fact the nobles, clergy, and even pagans and heretics of the Lemurian Empire were confused.

 "Okay, let me explain to you ...... the religious policy of our country so far, do you understand?
 ...... is to unify doctrine and national opinion.
 "Very well. Great, great, great.

 Hercule pats Carolina on the head.
 Karolina has a complicated expression on her face. You're making fun of me, aren't you?

 The Lemurian Empire was originally a polytheistic state, but ...... 
 The Lemurian Empire was originally a polytheistic state, but it lost its centripetal force during the civil war. The emperor then turned his attention to Messianism, which was growing in power at the time, and made Messianism the state religion.

 Messianism is a monotheistic religion dedicated to a single god.
 Therefore, its centripetal force was tremendous.

 One god means only one justice, which means that the emperor is the greatest, and it was a good way to affirm the emperor's right.

 However, the problem was that there were various factions within Messianism.
 Therefore, successive emperors organized councils, sometimes eliminating conflicting patriarchates, to unify their doctrines.
 This is orthodoxy.

 But ......
 But from the time of Hadrian, it became more difficult.

 This is the existence of the Alexian school.  
 The Alexandrians are very numerous. ......
 They were so numerous that even if the Council rejected them, they could not be eliminated.

 In addition, the provinces of Misrule and Suria, where there were many Aretheans, were important military and economic centers for the Empire.
 The emperor could not afford to lose the support of the citizens of these regions.

 Therefore, Emperor Hadrian tried to unify the doctrines by issuing the "New Orthodoxy" and to refine the Messianic doctrines by issuing the "Decree of Destruction of the Holy Image".

 But they failed.
 In other words, ......
 It is no longer possible to unify the doctrines.

 That is, it is no longer possible to unify the doctrines, unless one separates the territories.
 So Hercule thought.

 "What, Hercule? 
 Are you saying that the Alexandrians won't abandon their doctrine?

 Hercule, that's because you're trying to force them apart.

 Think of it the other way around. "It's okay to admit it.

 So, Hercule decided to go for the "Let's just admit the Alectarians, it's too much trouble" strategy.
 In addition, other heresies and paganism are also safe as long as they pay a per capita tax.

 This is a clone of the I'm-ism.

 Pay the jizya, and we'll forgive you.

 And so it goes.
 Isn't there a lot of opposition to ......? The orthodox extremists are at .......
 I fired the radical Patriarch Alexandria. Patriarch Orontia, also a radical, surrendered to me. You can't do anything without a leader.
 "...... You didn't go to Alectia to execute the Patriarch from the beginning!
 I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I'm here.

 It's true that the flames in the Aletheia library were unexpected and I was really upset.

 I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure what to do. Don't they have any objections?
 "No. I made a secret agreement with them beforehand. We had a secret agreement. The Patriarch of Lemuria and the Patriarch of Lemuria will be allowed to make friends with the Western heretics in exchange for not complaining about my policies. In addition, I've granted him the right to the throne, even if it's "honorary," and I've stipulated that the decisions of the council must be made with the joint names of the princess maidens (mediums). ...... That old woman is a tricky one.

 In fact, the Patriarchate of Lemuria is located within the nation of the Warbeasts of the West.
 The Patriarchate of Lemuria is actually located in the Warbeast Nation of the West, because Lemuria was part of the destroyed West Lemurian Empire.

 The city cannot be moved.

 That is why the Lemurian Patriarchate is soft on the West.
 The Patriarchate of Lemuria is therefore lenient towards the Western faction, because it is afraid of being invaded if it is hostile.



 Hence, ......
 It is impossible to intervene in the religious policy of the Lemurian Empire with a big face.

 The other reason is that they wanted to collect taxes in addition to doctrinal unity. If you are dealing with pagans, you can't be blamed for taking a little tax money. Now we have the money to expand the military.
 "Is it going to work? Tax dodging is ......
 What do you think Article V of the Imperial Decree requires you to report your name and address?

 Pagans and heretics can go to ...... if they want to seek the protection of the laws of the Lemurian Empire.
 If a heretic wants to seek the protection of the laws of the Lemurian Empire, he must report himself.

 What about rebellion? 
 "It's a per capita tax 'according to your wealth'. It's a per capita tax based on wealth. Besides, ...... all the discrimination and persecution will be abolished and people will be able to practice their religion freely.

 No one would be stupid enough to revolt.
 Hercule thought.

 He also thought that it would be enough to kill them if they did.
 In fact, it would be easier if the potential terrorists rose up in force as soon as possible.

 Besides, this per capita tax is also a way to recover taxes that were missed.
 "Missed?

 Karolina tilted her head.
 Hercule played with Karolina's long ears as he gently and carefully explained.

 Carolina, do you think a heathen or a heretic can be a government official?
 "No, I don't. ......
 "Then what about landowners and sharecroppers?
 ...... would take their land, wouldn't they?

 In Messianism, infidels and heretics are not human beings.
 In Messianism, infidels and heretics are not human beings, and therefore cannot be blamed for taking their property, and have done so many times before.

 Therefore, they do not own land that cannot be carried ...... and is easily taken.

 So what about business?
 ...... can't be trusted.

 No one likes to buy things from infidels and heretics.

 That's why most pagans and heretics are menial ...... jobs, working like peasants or slaves, but some of them become successful and rich. What's that?
 ".................. ah!!! Moneylender!
 That's right, moneylending, which is frowned upon in the Messianic religion. There are many pagans and heretics who have made a fortune doing it.

 There are many pagans and heretics who have made a fortune from it.
 They cannot carry land, but they can carry gold, jewels and other goods, as well as knowledge.

 Some of the pagans and heretics used them to survive strong.

 And ......
 Under Herculean fiscal reform, commercial taxes are levied at the guild level.

 However, there was virtually no tax on pagans and heretics who could not form guilds in large numbers.

 Hercule planned to collect it in the form of a per capita tax.

 "So, everything's going according to ...... plan?
 "No, not yet. It's not over yet.

 Hercule grinned.

 We've funded our military expansion with per capita taxes. But there's not enough money for flood control, horses for the Horse Act, and other national projects. We will secure this next.
 "......, but no more heavy taxes.
 It's not a heavy tax. But ...... is a continuation of this religious policy?

 Hercule smiled wickedly.







 "Gentlemen, thank you for coming. To put it bluntly, I need you to lend me some money. For the betterment of the Empire, right?

 Hercule invited the pagan and heretic moneylenders into the palace and said so.
 As expected, they were unfazed.

 One man stepped forward and asked Hercule on behalf of the others.

 "Your Majesty. We have been saved by Your Majesty's decree. We can now sleep at night without fear of raids or unreasonable violence, and we can make pilgrimages to ...... holy places that were forbidden to us until now. We are all grateful to you, Your Majesty.

 The man who said this was a pagan moneylender called ...... the Six Star Sect.
 The six-star religion is the mother religion of Messianism, and is the oldest monotheistic religion in the world.

 It is the oldest monotheistic religion in the world and believes in the same god as Messianism. ...... is the so-called People of the Book.
 The Son of God, who is said to be the founder of Messianism, was also originally a Six Star.

 However, they betrayed the Son of God, which led to his crucifixion, and were subjected to severe discrimination by Messianism.

 Seventy percent of the pagan and heretic moneylenders in the Lemurian Empire were Hexadians.

 But, Your Majesty. We are moneylenders. We lend money and pay interest on it to .......
 "You don't have to try and be polite about it. You want to say, "Are you going to pay me back? That's what you're trying to say, isn't it?

 Hercule smiled.
 The Sixth Star man's face paled.

 This is the palace of the Lemurian Empire.


 If Hercule wanted to kill them on a whim, he could.

 And ......
 There are a lot of Messianics who are happy to hear that the Sixth Star was killed, but how many are angry and resentful ......
 I wonder how many of them are angry and resentful.

 Don't worry. I understand how you feel. I can certainly overthrow it if I wanted to. ...... And I already have your names and addresses. I can kill you if you try to defy me in any way. You don't have the option of not giving me your name and address. In this country, ...... at least, you will be subjected to unreasonable violence if you do not.

 Hercule says calmly, but ......
 It was practically a threat.

 The moneylenders realized that they had no choice.

 Hercule knows this and still says with a smile.

 Don't worry. I'm not foolish enough to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Besides, the money I borrowed from ...... will be invested in public works such as flood control, irrigation and roads, promotion of industry and trade, and education. In other words, we can expect a return on our profits. We will not squander it on military expenditures, court expenses, or church construction. So I will definitely repay the debt I borrowed from you. Yes, I swear to God.

 The moneylenders looked at him in surprise.
 They were surprised because Hercule had said "investment".

 In Japan, where capitalism has taken root, "investment" is not a new thing.
 It is a matter of course.

 But ......
 It is still not a common practice at the economic level in this world.

 Of course, merchants are aware of the concept of "investment" and it is common.

 But ......
 Basically, commerce is regarded as "making a profit by distributing people's products from right to left, in other words, making an unfair profit without sweating," so of course the common sense of merchants, "investment," does not spread to the private sector.

 This is especially true for the elite bureaucrats, soldiers, politicians, and clergy.

 What Hercule is trying to do, moreover, is not at the level of investing "surplus money".
 It's about borrowing money and then investing it to make a profit. ......

 At least, it is too shallow and dirty to be thought up and implemented by the "monarchs" of this world. ......

 Shallow, dirty, ......

 And innovative.

 It could be considered by the economically illiterate, or even the average person in this world, as "the emperor gambling".  

 It is such a revolutionary idea "in this world".

 Invest in me. You can't lose.

 Hercule smiled and said to the moneylenders.
 The moneylenders gasp.

 This is different.
 He's not an ordinary emperor or monarch. ...... At least he's looking at the world from a perspective similar to our own!

 The moneylenders felt this intuitively.

 There was no reason to refuse.  
 They couldn't say no anyway.
 Besides, ......

 Invest in this guy and you'll make money!

 Their noses sniffed out the profits.


 Thus, ...... 
 Hercule had just acquired a huge cash asset that he could use right now without any effort.