At that moment, Rumba's words reached the ears of all the archdukes like a cold and pressing blade:

"A long time ago, Xingchen established a qualification examination, stipulating what kind of person can become a certain official and become the king's arm. ”

"They used their titles and privileges, their status and honor, to woo the lowly nobles of their original status, or the commoners who could not rise to the position of nobility, and entrusted their power to these officials of poor origin, and let them enter the forbidden areas of the kingdom that belonged only to blood and family. ”

Rumba's voice rang in the hearts of the Grand Dukes like an anvil of work: "In this way, thousands of professional officials of different origins, with clear responsibilities and a clear division of labor, stood together to form a suffocating solid carriage, carrying the ancient kingdom inherited from the ancient empire, and driving. ”

"What is even more terrifying is that in order to obtain such a promotion, many low-ranking nobles, merchants, and even rural villagers are willing to become and can only become the lackeys and loyal servants of the king. ”

Almost all of the four Grand Dukes frowned, chewing on the meaning behind these words.

Rumba's eyes were as cold as iron: "First of all, the tax collectors: merchants and bookkeepers obtained official positions through qualification training and examinations, made records in the Fuxing Palace, became professional loyal servants of the king, collected taxes for him in his direct domains, fulfilled their duties, and formed systems and customs: each tax collector was directly responsible to the chief financial officer and his subordinates, strictly obeyed the rules, was good at calculation, had a clear ear and eyes, did not miss a single copper, and did not dare to conceal any accounts. ”

"So the tax in the king's hands is more and more detailed than when he sent his noble cronies to collect it according to the standards of loyalty, favor, and distance, and it has increased year after year—do you think the wealth of the Bright Star Royal Family is really as simple as a tyrant raising taxes?"

Do you know what that means—Rumba silently added in his mind.

The short-sighted and dull dukes.

"And what about us Exeter?"

Rumba's tone of speech changed, and his eyes were like sharp blades staring directly at the four stunned-looking grand dukes: "In order to ensure that their interests are not damaged and their authority is unswerving, the grand dukes and nobles will only send their cronies and subordinates as tax collectors, holding swords and spears, and collecting taxes in various castles and villages through their personal favors and relationships with feudal lords.

"Every year, the amount of taxes paid by the vassals to the feudal monarch can be fifty percent of the plan, which can be regarded as happy and loyal. ”

Grand Duke Auretheus bowed his head, looked serious, and said no more.

Rumba's words continued: "In many cities of the stars, there is a position called the guard officer, which can only be obtained through assessment and training, and the guard hall directly under the garrison officer is responsible for the security and order of the city, and it is clearly separated from the city defense team as a standing private army of the city, and it is strictly forbidden to interfere with each other. ”

"What about us?" Grand Duke Heisha gritted his teeth and his expression was terrifying: "For so many years, business has been depressed and goods are scarce in Exeter? Except for the Kangmas people with ulterior motives, half of the merchants would rather go to Xingchen to do business than come to Exeter, is it really because the southern products are more abundant?"

"No!" Rumba's eyes froze.

"That's because the merchants all know that in the Kingdom of Stars, at least the rules and order of trading are clearly written, at least there are professional officials and departments to appeal, at least the guard hall and the guard officers maintain the order of the market on the surface, at least they don't have to deal with the unreasonable army and deal with the big people who have connections," Rumba remembered something, and clenched his fists:

"And in Exeter, a small orderly in charge of a patrol can engage in large-scale arms smuggling and drive away unpleasant merchants through connections and blackness, as long as the people above turn a blind eye!"

Archduke Trudida pursed her lips, her eyes frozen in one place, blinking only occasionally.

Rumba sneered: "In the city of the Kingdom of Stars, all the officials of the city hall, from the clerk to the scribe, from the signatory to the judge, are all people who have passed the qualification examination, have a clear division of labor, are familiar with the regulations, convey information from top to bottom, carry out orders, and only recognize the warrant seal. ”

"In the bloody year, they all went to prison one by one from the supreme king to the prince, and the foreign enemies were eyeing each other, and the nobles were panicked! However, relying only on the prime minister and the professional officials under him to do things according to the rules, the precarious Yongxing City still operated steadily for more than ten days! Until the last prince returned and compromised with the nobles and was crowned!"

"What about us?"

Rumba slammed his chest: "Today, it is less than a few hours before the death of the Heavenly King of the Mighty Northland, because of the loss of his prestige, Longxiao City is in chaos, chaos, rumors, conflicts, contradictions emerge in an endless stream, the people are panicked, I estimate that Lisban has been hesitant for a long time whether to use the patrol beyond his authority - he is used to asking Nunn." ”

"I rode through the city with my army for hours! until I took the first gate, and when I stood here, close enough to spit at you, that the dignified prime minister came with his troops in confusion. ”

Grand Duke Ronnie's face darkened, and he let out a long breath, his eyes hesitant.

Rumba paused for a full dozen seconds.

For such a long time, no Grand Duke spoke out.

Finally, Rumba exhaled a breath of helpless and difficult air, and his face was tired and painful.

"I know that your territory is far away from the stars, and you have only cared about the game with Longxiao City in the past few years, but ......"

"But I've said that, don't you feel it?"

At that moment, Rumba clenched his teeth, clenched his fists, and was drenched in cold sweat, as if he was facing an unprecedented terrifying beast.

"Some thrilling, unprecedented, and terrifying changes......"

"It is quietly born in the Kingdom of Stars, on the back of that country, which is the remnant of the empire and has been fighting with us for many years. ”

The faces of several grand dukes changed slightly.

"This change," Rumba continued his chilling words, trembling slightly, "as quiet as an undercurrent, as plain as a drop of water piercing through a stone." ”

"But believe me, this is a terrifying situation that has never been seen in the past thousands of years, even if it is as strong as an ancient empire," Rumba only felt that his hairs stood on end, and there seemed to be a chill like polar white ice in his chest, which went straight to his heart: "The Kingdom of Stars, our opponent for six hundred years, is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. ”

The four Grand Dukes looked at each other in pairs, unable to advance or retreat in disbelief and shock.

But rumba's words continued: "Through the most direct contact with the war, I have seen the tip of the iceberg of this horrific metamorphosis. ”

"It's like a faint vibration coming from within on the eve of a pupa transformation. ”

"It's unremarkable, but it's important. ”

Rumba raised suddenly, his eyes were like swords, and the sharp light was pressing, shooting directly at the four Grand Dukes.

"Everyone, please open your eyes," Grand Duke Heisha gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse and resolute, "Where is our biggest threat?"

The Grand Dukes don't seem to have reacted yet.

But at that moment, Archduke Leco's face was unprecedentedly ugly, and he slowly raised his head and looked at Lomba.

The old duke spoke tiredly and sleepily, and his voice was hoarse and unpleasant: "Min Dith III?"

The faces of the other three Grand Dukes changed.

Rumba's eyes softened a little as he looked at the old duke.

His gaze darkened.

"Yes," Rumba said silently, sitting back down, "this is how it will be in a hundred and fifty years—how we compare to the stars. ”

Grand Duke Auretheus looked up in surprise:

"One hundred and fifty years......?"

Rumba nodded feebly.

"Hmm. "He's sure it.

"What I told you just now," Rumba said lightly, his eyes once again welling up with jealousy and solemnity: "All this. ”

"It all started a hundred and fifty years ago......"

"From the Supreme King of the Stars, who was almost ignored by everyone. ”

"Mindice III. ”

The four Grand Dukes all set their eyes on Rumba in this second.

Mixed emotions and mixed reactions.

Grand Duke Black Sand couldn't help but sneer when he looked at their expressions.

"You say he didn't do anything big?"

I only heard Charman Rumba snort bitterly:

"More than a hundred years ago, even Min Disi III, at the expense of offending the side branches, cronies, in-laws, and even direct vassals of the Bright Star family, had to strictly and accurately set up and separate countless official positions and countless departments—the city hall, the guard hall, and the finance and taxation department...... And give them their authority, set the rules, train and assess, and pay salaries even if they are in debt, so that these newborn officials can manage the central leader of the royal family and even the entire kingdom of stars. ”

"More than a hundred years have passed, and even the most remote and powerful vassals, for the sake of taxes, for the sake of efficiency, for the sake of power, and even more effectively against the king, must not compromise with the rules of the game left by the virtuous king, and recognize the king's officials," Lomba raised his head, and a sharp coldness flashed in his eyes:

"With these people, the kingship of the stars gradually penetrated into every corner of the kingdom, controlling the entire country from top to bottom as never before. ”

"Do you think behind the scenes of the Starlight Legion is just luck and talent?"

"No, this steel carriage composed of countless professional officials, starting from Min Dith III, has long been in the midst of contradictions and frictions, and has been quietly running, running-in, and precipitating for more than a hundred years in our years of Megatron West 6, imperceptibly and taking root!"

Hearing him say this, Grand Duke Ronnie of Qiyuan City lowered his head deeply, his eyes full of struggle.

"And," Rumba spoke again, in a cold tone, "you say that he is cowardly and omnipotent, and compromises with the nobles?"

"With all due respect, I would like to remind you that it is by virtue of the High Council and the Council of States that 'compromised with the nobility'......"

"That Kessel V to the south of us has turned the thousands of civilians of the Kingdom of the Stars into a powerful tool for him to fight against the great vassals alone! In five years, he has fought an unquestionable war against almost all the vassals, and has unresistibly ordained a royal heir!"

"This is his kingship! For the Kingdom of Stars, this is already the norm!"

Rumba slammed his fist on the square table, and said in a loud voice with an angry face: "If King Nun stands here and asks you to recruit men and horses within a month and follow him into the Great Desert, how many people will do it without hesitation?"

Olesius and Trudida looked at each other in the air.

One side looked hesitant and shook his head slightly, while the other side gritted his teeth and breathed heavily.

"As for Mindis III, you say he is in debt?" said the Grand Duke of Black Sand raised his hand and waved it indifferently, "But what is more ironic?"

Rumba leaned forward, clenched his teeth, and looked indifferent:

"More than 100 years ago, Min Dith III, who had a large number of officials under his command, borrowed money all day long, and he never tired of it. So he ordered that all the debtors should be gathered in one house, and that IOUs should be written to the debtors as security for the royal franchise and even the next year's taxes. ”

"Today, more than a hundred years later, the house where countless merchants came and went, expanded many times, and changed its name, following the habits of the city-states of Commas," said the Grand Duke of Black Sand, whose face was ugly, and his tone was hesitant, as if he wanted to tell a strange thing that he did not understand: "It is called the 'Royal Bank'." ”

Several Grand Dukes cast puzzled looks.

Rumba clenched his teeth and shook his head: "Five years ago, King Kessel did not raise taxes or raid his house, but just wrote an IOU to the so-called 'Royal Bank' to this treasury composed of countless merchants, and then took out a large sum of money, pulled up countless troops, fought a desert war with huge costs, and actually expanded the standing army after returning!"

"Can you imagine this for us who will have to raise taxes as soon as we go to war?"

"Do you still think that this war only depends on the wealth of the Bright Star Royal Family?"

Silence again.

No one spoke.

The Grand Dukes of Exeter were all feudal lords whose territory was comparable to that of a nation, and they understood what that meant better than anyone else.

(End of chapter)

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