Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 608: Arial policy (2)

It is very idiot move to levied taxes onto a kingdom that could barely feeds itself.

Only after the chaos subsided, the markets could be opened and merchants could move around that the economy could breathe again

In the Empire for example, after Arial had finished his vengeance against Zettel, he had begun exempting them from taxes for a few years.

But while Zettel were exempted from taxes, this did not mean everything was exempted. After all, if that kingdom did not produce anything for the Empire what use does it have?

And it is not like Arial did not gain many golds when he was sacking the cities and capital of Zettel

It is only after all of these kingdoms is stable that Arial could maintain a fixed rate of taxation for every kingdom under the Empire

He wanted to make it uniform. 

As for the state of Balhae, he first wanted to maintained existing levels of taxation. That was his original plans. 

After all, drastic changes are not good for anyone.

And it would also help the economy to not be in chaos.

But when eh look at the memorials and read the levels of taxation he was shocked.

He was shocked because the tax rate is very high than normal. To him, these rulers were basically sucking their people dry.

So, instead he scrapped that idea as he could see an opportunity to widen his influence.

Now, without Silas beside him, Arial could finally show the world that while Silas was a genius in his own rights, Arial was not that far behind.

It is only because he rarely steps at the forefront and having no need to show himself that no one knows that beside being talented in warfare, Arial talent in scheming and his cunningness would not lose to his most trusted advisor.

He usually maintains existing levels of taxation so as to not upset the local economy. But, clearly the Shadowlands is not like any other lands.

The taxes are too high more than is necessary. 

It seems that while the Three Kingdoms does emulate certain parts of the nobility systems, they also absorb the worst part of it and instead of improving upon it, they use it to their hearts content.

The people under them is repressed as nobles are treated holier than thou. Even the castle he is occupying now, even though it looks dull, everything other than the decoration is exquisite. 

Some of them come from some other continents.

The cushion, the medicines, the chairs and tables, all of it shows that it is made from an artisan. 

It is ostentatious. 

It is just that it is hard to see it and recognize that these are expensive items because of how dull the exterior and interior of the castle

It is not that they lacked artistic expression. It is that the owner of this castle did not seem interested in decorating the interior.

What the owner did not spend in interior he spends it on other thing. There were all kinds of unique things in the secret study that his soldiers had found

There is also the fact that only people who have been living in luxury could recognize these things to be expensive.

Diamonds and rubies are easy indicators. The subtle one hides in plain sight. It is the same with wealth.

The owner of this castle is rich. But, the people under him, other than the merchants and the hunters, most of them live in abject poverty.

The produce of the land sustains them. If not, they would die. They also could not get out and live in the land of the ten tribes. 

The Shadowlands is like a cage to them. The nobles prosper and the people suffer. 

No wonder the ten tribes did not like the Three Great tribes of the Shadowlands. The reason for such situation is none other than taxing more than necessary. 

Arial surmise that the reason why the people were taxed is of course no simply because of their desire to want to live ostentatiously. It probably also had something to do with military expenditure.

After all, the people of the Three Kingdoms have been fighting the Darkspawn for thousands of years.

They could not fight using sticks and stones. Arial notices that many of the soldiers of Vernium possess enough armor and weapons.

Of course not all of them are high quality but there is armor and weapons for everyone. The nobles or the stronger ones on the other hands have more freedom in choosing their weapons and their clothing. It separates them from others.

This shows that not all the taxes go toward fattening the nobles. After all, if they wanted to live, they still have to contend with Darkspawn.

But still, this is something that Arial could use to his advantage. 

Since such level of taxation is unnecessary and even ostentatious Arial decided to change the rates of taxation 

After all, this method of maintaining level of taxation is not a strategy that is a one size fits all approach.

He could use this taxation matter to quickly assimilate the other cities all over the state to acknowledge and recognize his rule. 

He smiles as he thinks of something. There are many cities that is under heavy taxation by the High Lord of Balhae.

Since he had taken over; he could use the taxation to draw people to his side. It is the same methods he had used before

He could reduce an even abolish certain taxes to reward those he wished to influence.

If news come out that under him, the taxation is not as high, some of these lords might not be that reluctant to support him

Some of them might even join him out of their own free will. 

There is none like the present moment, where everything is in chaos that one could change their fate.

There is always the spiritual seeking of the people of the thirteen tribes which is more important for them

But not all things could be convinced by using the excuse of the Savior. Majority of them believe in Asrana. 

But even they do believe in it, does not mean that they are blind towards benefit. 

Arial wanted to be perceived as a liberator. Not only as an undefeatable conqueror but as liberators

From what he had read, the rule of the Three Great tribes in the Shadowlands is absolute. They rule almost in a militaristic manner and the laws favor the powerful

As for the people under them, the marhaen, an equivalent term for peasants in Davarus, the law for them is really simple.

Most of them follows the judgement of the Village Chief. Their court system does exist but it is only use for trials when it involves nobles.

The King is immune to criticism and any criticism could be considered treason. An absolute power is necessary so that from top to bottom the chain of command is clear

It is useful when trying to fight against Darkspawn or any enemy. A unified army and a fast chain of command is needed for such mission.

If they were to be like a Republic, arguing all day about bureaucratic matters then when they do decide to make a decision it might have been too late.

But the thing about the Three Kingdom was that they took it too far. 

And now as there is no longer the threat of Darkspawn, at least not in such urgent need, the people still suffers while the nobles live like kings.

The three kingdoms did not hesitate to draft young men from the outskirt of their kingdom to fight in a war they did not want to fight, to kill someone they do not know, for a cause they don't believe.

Arial had decided that cultivating an image as a liberator from these oppression is good for him. 

Arial had always stressed the importance of reputation. Because of his reputation as an undefeatable general, his soldiers always in high morale. 

His soldiers have an unbreakable faith in him to lead them to victory. His reputation motivates them. And as for the enemy, it demoralizes them.

And Arial knows that while reputation is also important here, the reputation that he must cultivated for himself here must not be that Conqueror king that drenched an entire kingdom with blood.

He would be their liberators. He would liberate them from the oppression of the Three Kingdoms

He would protect them like a father protect his children. 

He would establish the imperial court, and reduce and abolished certain taxes and afforded them privileged status.

The land would be then under the Laws of the Empire of Eden. He would put Balhae as one of the states of the Empire

Of course, he could not announce this to the people of Davarus. But he would announce it to the Three Kingdoms.

This would add legitimacy and at the same time shows his intent to rule. 

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