T0 Gaming Guild Saves the World

The Primarch touched his dry lips: "I feel like we're running a powder keg that's about to explode."

Chapter 348 The Territory of Doom

In addition to basic taxes, the territory also has many innovative taxes.

Well tax: A tax must be paid for using wells dug within the territory.

You also need to pay the corresponding taxes if you want to dig your own well.

Crop tax: Residents of a territory who want to grow crops outside the designated areas must pay a high tax, changing the nature of land taxation.

Bread tax: Residents are required to pay a tax on the operation and use of public bakeries within their territory, even if they do not use the public ovens.

All of these are different.

The sheer volume of tax regulations made me dig out of the study next door; just looking at them made me dizzy.

However, European players should feel right at home, as there really was such a period in their history—except for the difference in tax rates.

Zhong Zemo held his head in his hands and looked at Jiang Heyi, hoping to hear some good news.

“There are two powers on our territory that we cannot control.”

"The good news is, they don't care about us."

"The bad news is, they don't care about us."

Zhong Zemo rubbed his temples; this action was contagious, and the person in bed was doing it too.

"At least it's news that's neither good nor bad. Anything else?"

"The tax collectors we send into the territory are more like bandits than officials, but they were all personally recruited and appointed by you, the lord."

"The guards responsible for patrolling and maintaining order used to be adventurers who were paid to do their jobs. It was your discerning eye that led you to hire them."

“They are a mixed group; some are conscientious and some are just taking advantage of the situation, but without exception, they have no sense of belonging to the territory.”

"The money and the people are there. If you run away when you are threatened, that's the last act of loyalty you can show. It's not surprising that you turned your gun on us and led the way."

"Because we are located on the border of the empire and border foreign tribes, our trade location has a decent advantage, and the merchants who come and go are an important part of our economy that we must pay attention to."

"Aside from taxes, the territory's biggest source of income is a variety of gambling, prostitution, and combat sports. I'm glad it's not drugs, which means we don't have to play the role of drug lords in the game."

He sighed in bed, "Is Silent Territory a den of gangsters?!"

Zhong Zemo had already turned his attention to the prison guard and Orange Tea.

“I forgot to tell you, one of the taxes we just discussed was a milling tax. The grain isn't weighed according to the amount paid, but rather after it's hulled. And the hulling rate here is low, maybe only 50%…”

The slaves who were still working in the fields were actually living the best lives, because they were the lord's private property and therefore had enough to eat.

As for the people, many of them had an eerie green glow in their eyes. If Orange Tea hadn't actually seen that they were humanoid, she would have suspected that they were some special humanoid race.

As a farm boy, Orange Tea was already sweating profusely as the tax collector in charge of the grain spoke, terrified that a pitchfork might come flying at him.

Zhong Zemo had a headache, so he spread out a map on the table.

The Silent Territory, located on the border of the Empire, borders foreign tribes to the west and south, but only to the north and east borders Blackfrost City, one of the Empire's territories.

Jiang Heyi asked, "Is there a problem?"

"When I was going through the files on my desk, I found that two months ago, a batch of valuables from Blackfrost City disappeared near Silent Territory during transit."

"The Lord of Black Frost wanted to send more people into the country to search, and sent envoys to negotiate, but 'I' turned them all away."

"This made the other side suspect that some of us, or even my subordinates, had embezzled the valuables."

"Currently, there is constant friction between Silent Territory and Black Frost, and there is a risk of accidental clashes."

Orange Tea scratched her head: "No, that can't be right. Aren't we all part of the same empire? Would he dare to send troops to attack us without authorization? That's a serious crime of treason!"

The jailer sighed: "You can think of it as a vassal state under the Zhou emperor. Power wasn't so centralized; everyone was just living under the empire's banner."

Orange Tea understood a bit: "It sounds like a franchisee."

Jiang Heyi commented: "The grassroots are out of control, unpopular, lacking in military strength, and threatened by foreign enemies. The buffs are stacked up, it's a standard script for the end of a dynasty."

French Fries chimed in: "Squid, you can find a decent-looking tree beforehand and wait to hang yourself."

Zhong Zemo truly understood the anxieties of the last emperor.

"Isn't there any good news at all?"

“Yes,” said the Primal Body. “I checked the castle’s defenses; it’s impregnable. No intruders can get in!”

"You've already started imagining the scene of an uprising? Thank you!" Zhong Zemo said, both amused and exasperated.

To clear the fourth level, Xilu needs to review it. To improve the atmosphere of the territory as quickly as possible at the boundary between the real and virtual worlds, you need to gradually accumulate the unviewable clearance points.

Seven chairs were arranged in a row, and for safety, Jiang Heyi set up a soundproof array.

The first silent discussion of governance began at the boundary between the virtual and the real.

“Let’s reform the taxes first,” Jiang Heyi suggested. “The long-term effects of tax reform may not be immediately apparent in two months. If we abolish exorbitant taxes, our reputation will improve rapidly.”

The proposal was unanimously approved by everyone.

Based on historical experience, Zhong Zemo decided to abolish all miscellaneous taxes and collect a unified eleven-fold tax.

He actually wanted to take a one-step approach and adopt a 30% tax rate, but Fries thought he was being too radical, making too many changes at once, even if they were for the better, could easily cause a major upheaval.

Moreover, the territory's armed forces are basically mercenaries, and the only people they can control are slaves, who are mostly made of flesh and blood and are no match for mages.

"How about we try this out?"

Zhong Zemo walked to the clock that Xi Lu had placed in the lord's room and turned its hands.

The daily time flow rate on the 4th floor can be adjusted by the player, and the ratio of time to real time will also change accordingly.

Following everyone's advice, he decided to wait and see how it went after one day.

……

……

"Tax reform: abolish all miscellaneous taxes and adopt an eleven-tax system."

The castle maids carried the lord's document around, reading it aloud and proclaiming this wonderful stroke of luck.

Strangely, despite the entire day-long propaganda campaign, Jiang Heyi and his team did not receive sufficient feedback from the public.

They generally stood far apart, seemingly afraid that the dust on their bodies would soil the maid's beautiful black and white dress.

One advantage of simulation is that players don't need to personally issue decrees; all administrators under the player's jurisdiction will automatically receive the information.

It should have been known to everyone in a single day, so why is no one paying attention?

To find the answer, Jiang Heyi went to Luo Rui's arena.

Here, he got the answer he wanted.

In the past, the lord has made several impulsive tax reductions, but after some time, he would not only revert them but also secretly collect the taxes that were previously under-collected.

After this back and forth, the public has become indifferent to this almost theatrical performance.

Moreover, there have been rumors circulating recently that Blackfrost City is about to attack Silent Territory.

At this moment, the sudden reduction in taxes has led to much discussion, with many speculating whether it's a temporary measure to appease public sentiment and prevent a large-scale exodus in preparation for war.

As is customary, Lowry still wanted to invite Jiang Heyi and the Four Primals to experience the hot elf girls.

After being rejected a second time, Lowry stroked his chin, watching the two figures as they walked away, lost in thought.

Upon learning the truth, everyone felt a headache coming on.

His less-than-ideal character and inconsistent behavior led to the welfare program becoming a "boy who cried wolf" story.

The worst thing was that rumor.

The excessive tax reductions have increased the credibility of the Black Frost attack, causing many residents of Silent Territory to feel that war is imminent and feel uneasy.

The jailer stared at the territory model that had been moved from the basement and sighed repeatedly.

“Unlike in games, government orders may not be effective or carried out. Those unruly people… In Paradox Interactive games, I only need to press a button to get everyone working together to implement national policies.”

The woman in the quilt suggested, "Why don't we just open the granaries and return all the requisitioned grain to them? That would prove our determination to carry it out."

Jiang Heyi turned the roast suckling pig in front of him, brushing honey water onto the sizzling, oily skin.

Hearing her words, he shook his head repeatedly: "No matter what you say now, the people in the territory will think it's caused by the impending war, and that it's money to buy lives."

"After so many years of oppression, suddenly opening the granaries and distributing grain, don't our people know what kind of scum, beast, and bastard our lord is? How could he do such a good thing?"

"Historically speaking, let me think... Do you believe that Wanyan Gou suddenly had an epiphany and successfully resisted the Jin dynasty?"

Zhong Zemo glanced at Jiang Heyi and said, "When it's your turn, I'll talk to you like that too."

Jiang Heyi laughed: "So you're already admitting that the chances of winning this round are slim?"

Just as everyone was racking their brains to find a way out of the predicament, the butler Navas pushed open the door and entered.

He was somewhat stunned to see the lord's six knights gathered around the oven, tearing apart a suckling pig.

Zhong Zemo adopted the air of a lord: "Why are you in such a panic? What's wrong?"

Navas hurriedly said, "My lord, the captain of the guard responsible for security near the arena, Sonny, has gotten into a fight with his subordinate, Caen. Caen is strongly requesting your intervention."

The six people eating roast suckling pig were all trying not to laugh.

Regardless of whether Black Frost's men will attack Silent Territory, before they even arrive, their men in charge of security are already fighting amongst themselves in the street.

Silent Territory is truly a place full of hope.

"Bring it in!"

Zhong Zemo waved his hand dismissively, startling Navas, who ran away as fast as he could.

The person in bed gave a thumbs-up: "Great presence, awesome!"

He would always praise the bed in some details that he considered trivial.

I received more praise for her in the short time I spent with her than I did with Du Jingwen.

Both Sonny and Caen are human; the former is a handsome, blond man with long, flowing hair.

The latter, with his reddish-brown hair and stubble, looked like a weathered young man in his 30s or 40s, despite being only 20 years old according to the information provided.

Although their loyalty was bought with money, the two men maintained respect in front of Zhong Zemo. They knelt on one knee to pay their respects and kept their heads down without permission.

Zhong Zemo skipped the formalities and went straight to the point: "Why fight in the street?"

Sonny hesitated for a second, but Caen responded firmly and forcefully.

"Your Excellency, you have promulgated a new tax system, prohibiting the collection of numerous miscellaneous taxes from your subjects, is that right?"

Zhong Zemo nodded: "Exactly."

"So, is it against regulations for Captain Sonny to charge brothels a 'hygiene' inspection tax and to meticulously assist young slaves in examining their bodies and inspecting them?"

The group, who were eating roast suckling pig, had initially been listening intently. However, a long string of rapid-fire words from Kaang entered their minds like a blender, transforming all their questions into tangible forms.

They seemed to have indeed heard of this kind of operation...

Sonny hurriedly defended himself: "Any slave needs to undergo a double check for hygiene and safety before entering the market, otherwise, if the plague spreads, who in the territory will be spared?"

"So, Captain Sonny collected a barrel of rye wine from the tavern owner today as a liquor tax, and that was also a security check?"

Zhong Zemo finally understood.

Extortion and bribery are classic practices.

Using various taxes, these guards could manipulate ordinary people at will; it was a common tactic.

After the tax reform, the legal veneer of such operations was stripped away, and they were no longer reasonable.

Zhong Zemo didn't speak. When he was a teacher, if students had a conflict and he couldn't tell who was right and who was wrong, he wouldn't go to the classroom to ask. Instead, he would invite both of them to his office, wait for one of them to finish explaining, and then deliberately remain silent.

Sure enough, Sonny got excited.

"Kaen, don't think I don't know. You just have your eye on that slave, but you don't have the money to buy her, and you don't want her to think you're rude, so you're acting as her protector and pretending to be a gentleman in front of her!"

Wow, that's the benefit of silence. You don't need to ask; the information you want just pops out on its own.

"Bullshit! I'm not like you, grabbing a handful of 'taxes' from children who sell pine nuts and go hungry!"

The two actually started arguing back and forth in the lord's study, their eyes bloodshot, as if they might unleash their magic at any moment for a righteous showdown.