The focus of the meeting finally focused on the list of taxpayers and the calculation of the wealth of taxpayers.

No matter how extravagant the rich are and how much they boast of their wealth, when it comes to paying taxes, everyone begins to cry poverty, and the ugliness of human nature is extremely prominent in this meeting.

The tax list of the tax collector is mainly registered according to immovable property, especially land, because land is the best calculation and cannot be hidden.

This displeased the wealthy who owned a lot of land, because bankers and big businessmen not only owned land, but also other income, and the latter brought in more income. A usurer's earnings are definitely much higher than that of a country aristocrat.

If the tax is levied according to 1/20 of the output, the Robinson family alone has to pay a tax of 150,000 gold louis a year, plus other rich people, roughly calculated that the rich people of Genoa have to pay up to 5 million gold louis, which is enough to equip a division.

The 5 million is just counting the land. The landlords strongly questioned the list and demanded a clear survey of the wealth of the urban bourgeoisie.

The bourgeoisie, on the other hand, claimed that all their daily dealings, which required the payment of transaction tax and market tax, had been levied by the tax-bearing companies, and that the aristocracy, although they had no input other than land, had the privilege of not paying the land tax, and that all the output of the land belonged to them and should be paid more.

This scene of quarrel made Shackley feel very happy, fortunately he took the initiative to donate 500,000 gold louis, standing on the moral upper hand, otherwise the war would have burned to the head of the church.

Shakli felt that the auditorium was out of breath, and sneaked out to catch his breath.

When he came to the corridor and saw that it was already dark, Xia Keli glanced at his pocket watch, and before he knew it, it was eight o'clock in the evening, no wonder he felt a little hungry.

Sean was standing in front of the hallway, smoking a cigar.

"Sean, you're going to be out of hiding. Shackley walked over. Sean smiled back and shook the cigar in his hand:

"Your Excellency the future Bishop, would you like one?"

"No, no, Sean, you're testing my morals. Shakli was angry, but he didn't care, I am afraid that the future Bishop's remark was in his heart.

Sean, a cowardly and heartfelt man in his memory, would not dare to speak to himself in such a frivolous tone. He thought it was a change in status.

"It's a pity. Sean laughed, "You've lost a lot of fun." ”

"Then I'd rather not have such fun. When I was younger than you, I chose the path of serving God and serving the parishioners, and I broke off these vices. "Of course, making and selling wine is not on the list. ”

In fact, the Church is one of the largest brewers, despite the fact that the doctrine forbids clergy to drink alcohol.

"Then you need the Connell sterilization method, but unfortunately the patent office in the Holy City refused to apply for a patent. Sean joked.

"Haha!" Shackley smiled as well, "it's your worst loss, but it's a boon to all brewers." ”

After chatting a few words, Shakley suddenly said, "Viscount Brandon is not a good candidate. ”

"I don't know him very well. Sean told the truth.

"I always believe that professional things should be done by professionals. I'd rather see you as commander than a nobleman obsessed with historical glory to take on the heavy responsibility. Seeing that Sean didn't have a face, Shackley continued, "This is not the era of knights, relying on spears and straight swords, and courage, charging to solve the enemy, now the era of guns. The bravest knight is no match for a pistol in the hands of a child. ”

"Just now inside, I heard Governor Byrne say that Viscount Brandon had been in the army in his early years, and he had a lot of experience. Sean said.

"Of course there is, and I have been a clergyman, but dare I say that I can command battles?" said Shakli scoffed, "a nobleman who can only talk on paper. ”

Shakley was able to say this, and also hinted at his proximity to Sean—a distant relative if it was counted from the old Viscount Connery.

"What do you mean?" Shaun didn't understand what Shakley meant.

"When necessary, you have to take responsibility. Shackley hinted.

Sean's expression changed: "Is the situation so tense, I thought the governor was just going to use this to collect 1/20 tax." ”

With a look of approval on his face, Shakli said, "This is only one aspect, all the governors want to levy this kind of tax. But mainly because of the tense situation, which is why the Church took the initiative to donate, we had to build a civil defense regiment of the Genoese themselves, and nothing else could be relied on. ”

Xia Keli looked around and said quietly: "The latest news, the war in Northern Xinjiang has rekindled. ”

The news shocked Sean and sent his mind back to the war-torn battlefield of the North.

I only heard Shackley continue:

"I have to admit that the Assyrian Empire is really an enemy that cannot be defeated and dragged down, and their resilience is helpless, because the pressure brought is too great, the energy of the emperor and the cabinet is attracted by the north, and the elite troops are gathered in the north, so the chaos in the south can be successful, and the empire does not have enough troops to suppress it for a while. ”

This would explain Governor Byrne's eagerness to set up a Civil Defense Corps, and his clever combination of the 1/20 tax was a good idea.

"That's really bad news. Sean had to admit.

The meeting was held late into the night, and before a result could be reached, the focus became again on the quarrel between the landlords and the urban bourgeoisie, who exposed each other for concealing their property and made a pot of porridge.

The second focus is that someone has finally realized that the 5% tax rate is very problematic, and if it is based on this standard, it will be far more than the standard of 200,000 gold louis.

Everyone was exhausted and Siyes had to announce a suspension of the meeting, which will resume tomorrow at 9 a.m.

Sean had nowhere to go, and he had expected the meeting to be over that day, and then return to Vichy that day. Priest Shaclay invited him to Sawyer's Chapel for a night's rest, and Sean gladly complied.

It was Sean's old home, and the bedding and toiletries were all new. As the most powerful senior priest under the bishop alone, Shackley only had to open his mouth, and his servants quickly prepared everything.

Even Nelson and Mafrabo were well arranged, with their own private rooms with hot bath water and soft beds.

It was already 1 o'clock in the night after eating something hastily and washing up, and Sean was about to lie down when he suddenly heard a gunshot outside.

Blowing out the candles, Sean quickly loaded his pistol into the dark and hid by the window.

"Are you alright, sir?" said Nelson's voice outside the window.

"I'm fine, Clark, what's going on?" Sean replied.

Although his mouth answered, Sean did not move. He crouched down and moved the coat rack towards the window, when suddenly another shot rang out, and a lead bullet pierced through the glass and hit the coat rack, which fell to the ground.

Immediately afterward, another gunshot rang out. Sean judged that the gunshot came from next door this time, and only heard Nelson shout:

"Don't come out, sir!" I bit him!"

Another gunshot rang out, and Sean saw Nelson throw away his rifle, pull out a pistol, and quickly cross the garden, swiftly past the flower beds, and into the bottom of the tower.

The gunfire alarmed Shakli, several priests, and a bunch of servants, and the gunman was found to have escaped from the tower through a rope. The gunman, who was already hiding in the tower, didn't seem to figure out which room Sean was living in, and fired the first shot into Nelson's room.

Seeing that Sean was not injured, Shackley breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm sorry, Sean, for frightening you." ”

"I'm fine. Sean was very unhappy, "I don't seem to have offended anyone, right?"

"The basic logic, this should be the work of the chaotic party. Know that you have just been nominated as a military adviser to the Civil Defense Corps. Shakli thought for a moment and said, "Although the rebels in Genoa rarely assassinated in the past, the situation is different now, they are echoing the same party in the north, and naturally they don't want to see Genoa defend themselves." ”

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, but I've caused trouble for the Church of Sawyer. Sean said.

"No!" Shackley shook his head, "these sinister bastards don't care where they commit crimes. Sean, this is exactly what shows the need for us to build a civil defense corps, tomorrow, no, it's almost dawn now, and I will strongly demand at today's meeting that all rich people must pay taxes, regardless of the so-called 200,000 gold louis limit. ”

"I just don't know if Viscount Brandon has been attacked. Sean said.

When Xia Keli heard this, his expression changed: "The courage of the chaotic party will not be so big, right?"

Back in his room, Sean had insomnia, and if a gunman tried to kill him, although he didn't succeed, it also made him feel uneasy.

Nelson patrolled the garden in front of Sean's window with a gun, cigar smoke flickering in the dark.

Sean suddenly reached under the pillow and touched it, and a hoarse and low voice sounded:

"Don't move, your gun is in my hand. ”

Sean, however, had another gun in his hand, pointing at the curtain, where a pair of feet were exposed.

But what scared Sean was that he really didn't know when there was a person hiding in his room, which should have been when he went to check on the fleeing gunman just now, and this guy quietly hid in. If the other party shoots when he returns to the room, he is afraid that he will have to confess here.

The voice Sean was familiar, belonging to the hostess of the city of Ars in the far north.

The hostess didn't expect Sean to have another gun, so she couldn't help but be stunned:

"You coward, you even have two pistols when you sleep!"

"Actually, I have another gun, right in my crotch, do you want to try it?" Sean half-leaned on the head of the bed, "Now we're tied again." ”

"It's not fair, I could have shot first. Bang and you're done. The waitress said viciously, but her tone was a little sarcastic.

"Then you can try it. Sean said in a deep voice.

The hostess was silent for a while: "The gunman who escaped just now has nothing to do with me." ”

"Why are you telling me this?" Sean was surprised, "You're not a mess, oh, the True God Party?"

"Of course I am. The hostess hid in the shadows, "We don't want to kill you, so I'm sure." ”

Sean's mind was racing, and he thought of a possibility.

"What are you going to do when you come to the door again and again?" asked Sean, "I don't seem to have anything to do with your business." ”

"I just wanted to remind you that we've been watching you, that's all. The hostess said.

"That's all?" Sean, of course, didn't believe it. Just listen to the hostess:

"Now you let that bodyguard of yours leave, I'm leaving. ”

"It's been a long night, so we might as well talk. Sean said.

"You're not so bold that you want to bet with me?" said the hostess viciously, and she failed to gain the upper hand in both fights.

"I don't know how, I have a special sense of danger. Sean said fearlessly.

"Hehe, you are a nobleman, and you still have a lot of good life to live, don't take risks easily. ”

"That's right, I just want to live the days of spring flowers facing the sea, but it's not always reassuring to have someone staring at me in the dark. Sean said, "If you don't quit yourself, I'll shoot." ”

The hostess's figure shook a little, and she was a little emotional, she probably didn't expect Sean to be so tough.

Bang!

Suddenly, a loud bang rang out, and Nelson crashed in through the window. The hostess subconsciously fired, and Sean rolled into the other side of the bed, and the shot missed.

In the darkness, Nelson fought with the waitress, and with a muffled grunt, Nelson fell to his knees in pain, and he suffered a loss by underestimating his opponent.

Sean didn't hesitate to shoot at the fleeing black shadow, but unexpectedly, the flintlock was unreliable, but fortunately there was no bet.

Nelson and Sean chased after each other.

The hostess was as light as a swallow, and she followed the momentum, stepped on the wall to borrow strength, and turned over with a vertical leap.

Nelson squatted with his back against the wall, put his hands together, and Sean used his strength to climb over the wall, and then pulled Nelson up. The two cooperated for the first time, and the speed was not slow.

The hostess didn't make it far, and Sean and Nelson were in hot pursuit. However, at an intersection in front of them, two groups of people suddenly appeared, one left and one right.

The two groups couldn't help but say, across the crossroads, raised their guns and fired at each other, and the flames were splashed everywhere.

Sean wanted to scold, but he and Nelson had to stop and watch the hostess escape.

The two groups exchanged fire briefly, the group on the left was weak, suddenly turned and fled, and the group on the right chased after them, and one of them spotted Sean and Nelson, and several people surrounded them menacingly.

"Don't shoot, this is Lord Viscount of Rocky Mountain!"

Nelson hurriedly stopped in front of Sean.

"Is it Viscount Connery, it's not safe here!" someone recognized Sean. At this time, Sean also saw that the group was wearing patrol uniforms, and it was the secret police chief Daley who was speaking.

"Don't worry about the viscount, let's keep chasing. ”

Daley didn't stop and continued to run forward with his men.

There was a lot of going on tonight, and Sean and Nelson had to go back empty-handed, and Sean only then realized that Nelson was covered in glass ballast, and he almost broke his face.

"I'm sorry, my lord, this woman's fighting skills are good, I was careless, I should have been able to subdue her. Nelson said ashamedly.

"It's okay! You're doing well enough, it looks like I need to give you a raise. ”

"My lord, I feel the need to strengthen your defenses, and I can't handle it alone. ”

"Well, I've learned a profound lesson. ”

Sean nodded in acknowledgement.

Back in the church, Shackley was yelling at the servants, his robe turned upside down, and his face was gloomy.

In the same place, two attacks occurred in quick succession in one hour, and it cannot but be said that it was a disgrace to the Sawyer Church and to himself.

Sean was surprised.

When I was attacked for the first time tonight, the lead bullet was going for me, obviously for my own life. However, the hostess said that it had nothing to do with her. Aren't they all in the same boat?Or is there internal strife within Poitou's True God who doesn't even obey higher commands?

This hostess is also very strange, as if she has no intention of killing herself.

Sean pondered, unable to find a possible answer, unable to sleep at all, and watched until dawn.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Sean and Harkley went to the Great Hall of the Governor's Palace, and they found that many of them had dark circles under their eyes.

Viscount Brandon hung his arm with a bandage, he didn't choose to stay in the city last night, his house was a castle called Whale Castle in the north of the city, because it was not far from the city, so he chose to go home.

On the way home, his carriage encountered a tripline, and the car overturned in a ditch, but fortunately he brought many guards and repelled the murderer. Except for him, who broke his right arm, no one else was injured.

In addition, Siyes's mansion caught fire, and a jewelry merchant encountered robbers, killing and wounding several servants.

All kinds of information came together, and everyone's expressions were grim.

There was a series of emergencies, and Director Daley did not dare to show his face today.

Because of the hostess's relationship, Sean even suspected that this was an incident starring the secret police, and then framed the True God Party to create a situation of deterioration and achieve the purpose of smoothly collecting the security tax.

Conspiracy theories suggest that this is quite possible, and Governor Byrne had this motive. He asked the secret police to do this, no problem.

But he has a private deal with Byrne, and Daley himself is a lobbyist, they know their position, and it is impossible to use themselves as props to act.

Poitou's complex situation is like seeing flowers in a fog.

There was an invisible web that shrouded Poitou, perhaps even Byrne and Daley.

(Wood has!@#¥)