The wooden table placed next to the wall was moved back to the hall. Ryuri ordered his mercenaries to retreat and ordered them to scrub their bodies with linen soap before returning to the dormitory to rest.
A box full of silver coins was placed on the table. Under the dim oil lamp, the silver coins reflected an intoxicating silver light.
Nowadays, Otto doesn't become restless when looking at them. He has actually seen too much and has too much money, and his spirit is a little numb.
"Rurik, where did you get all this money?" he asked quietly.
Rurik looked like flowers were in bloom, and he stood up, holding these Roman and Carolingian silver coins of very good quality in his hands.
"Dad, this is a brand new tax I'm collecting."
"Tax? You..." Otto's mind was spinning crazily. He thought this scene was absurd. "Those immigrants holding wheat may have just sown the seeds. How do you collect taxes? Are you saying this is a real tax? Is it a tax for you?!"
"It's the businessmen!" Rurik said bluntly.
"Businessman? Tax?"
Looking at his father's suspicious face, Rurik understood in an instant that his father still didn't understand what tax was until now. It seems that I still need some explanation of my own?
No! There is no need for too much explanation. Rurik guesses that his father doesn’t have time to listen to his explanation. Anyway, the money is here, and getting the money is the last word.
Commercial taxes must be collected, and not just commercial taxes.
There are also very important tariffs.
The Rus tribe has three major tax systems: agricultural taxes, business operations taxes, and customs duties. These three very critical taxes must be established.
Of course, Rurik feels that his tribe will only need these three core taxes to support the tribe's finances for a long time in the future. As for the head tax and stamp tax, they are not needed for the time being.
Especially the poll tax, which Rurik did not feel was necessary. Even this poll tax, in the eyes of the feudal lords of the Frankish Kingdom, was a legitimate tax and one of the most critical sources of wealth.
For the Ross tribe, which is still in the state of a tribal alliance even with the concept of a feudal country, it must be a little difficult for everyone to accept even the concept of "taxation".
At this stage, Rurik doesn't dare to ask his native tribesmen to pay any taxes. He doesn't even think about it. He wants his tribesmen to take money "for no reason". Don't even think about it!
A relatively complete tax system must be established. Rurik does not expect his native people to accept it quickly, but those who live there must accept commercial taxes immediately.
Perhaps, as Gould said, businessmen are generally very resistant, and may even have a negative impact on the Russians' future business.
Rurik knew in his mind that those small businessmen who lacked strength would lose. As long as the obedient big businessmen were there, what would be the problem?
Those small businessmen had better cooperate. Rurik acquiesced that they were generally resistant. This required Otto, as the big leader, to personally come forward with his soldiers to collect taxes armed! Especially during this period of ice-freezing, while the sea ice has not melted, small businessmen cannot escape by boating and take advantage of this opportunity to raise taxes.
They understand that whether love comes or not, they can run away anyway, and the remaining residence will be taken over by Ross.
In fact, Rurik is also worried about his group of newly promoted servants, such as the "Archer" Terravis who has moved to his new camp of the Gray Squirrel Tribe, and the Kovin tribesmen are still living in tents for the time being. This is inappropriate!
Therefore, the houses left behind by the fleeing merchants were just the temporary dormitories for the new slaves in the future.
Rurik pointed to the suitcase and said bluntly: "This may be regarded as my new invention. I talked a lot with the big businessman Gould today. Starting from this year's trade season, he will pay me a tax every year." . As long as he does business in our Roseburg, he must pay a sum of money every year. Not just Gould, I have decided that starting from this year, all guest merchants must pay money!"
"Ah?" At this time, Otto had been the leader for more than ten years, and he really hadn't thought about it at all.
"You...you actually asked them for money, and you succeeded? You...you are such a genius! Why didn't I think about it!"
Otto's answer also surprised Rurik. etc? Could it be that my father also wanted to make money, and he didn't collect "commercial tax" just because he lacked imagination?
Otto couldn't help but pucker his lips, and simply drank the liquor on the table in one gulp.
He banged on the desk with enthusiasm, making the box full of silver coins tremble.
Rurik felt that his father, who had lost a lot of his beard, was as happy today as a monkey grabbing a banana.
But when Otto calmed down a little, he suddenly questioned: "Rurik, you said if we just ask for money, they will give it?"
Rurik shrugged. He knew that Otto had given a very clear answer - this business tax must be collected.
"We have to collect money, and they have to pay. If they refuse, dad, you can expel them and let them walk into the ice sea alone. As for whether they will freeze to death, it depends on God's attitude."
"What about God's attitude?" Otto asked cautiously, "Have you noticed any good omens?"
Rurik was startled and wondered if Otto was really superstitious. No matter what, the mouth is on your head anyway, so it’s up to you to say whatever you want.
"It's a good sign!"
"Really? That's great! When are we going to collect the money?!"
"This..." What surprised Rurik was whether it was because his father drank a bottle of strong wine and his mood became very excited and direct. Youdao speaks the truth after drinking. In the final analysis, this old guy loves money!
In fact, everyone loves money and longs to sleep on a bed paved with gold and silver. It is best to lie in a boat-shaped tomb and cover the whole body with silver coins after death.
Arik wanted to use militaristic means to win strong war dividends and replicate the previous great victory. Otto is more reserved. He is older and is more willing to use relatively peaceful means to make money.
There is no doubt that Rurik's determination is to invent a new method of making money, and as the setter of rules, this money should naturally be controlled by the chief family.
Otto only told the truth when he was drunk, and he had no intention of lying to his son.
Otto needed time to act, and now the problem was handed back to Rurik.
"You asked me when I will take action? This matter...maybe..."
"Hurry up and make up your mind! Our time is very tight, otherwise the ice and snow will melt!" Otto urged.
"That's two days later!" Rurik stood up with a slap on his thigh, "We need to call all the businessmen first and ask each businessman to send people to have a meeting. In order to ensure that they take the money obediently, we must ensure the threat of force. They It’s best to cooperate, if not, force them to cooperate.”
"I think it's okay." After saying that, Otto laughed regardless of anything.
Anyway, the purpose of making money is not the Russian people, but the businessmen who live there. Otto had no doubt whether Rurik's decision would have a bad impact. Anyway, those residents had occupied the territory of Roseburg for so many years, so they had to pay at least some rent.
Early the next morning, Otto, with his son's plan in mind, immediately summoned a meeting of the tribe's main respected people. The issue is no longer about war revenge, the issue is how to make money. Although some people have strong doubts, because most people strongly support this decision, the minority obeys the majority.
I never thought that maybe someone was eavesdropping, or some of the participants were not trustworthy, or maybe the wooden walls of the meeting room were not thick enough.
Some of Gould's men even revealed that the leader wanted to collect commercial taxes for various purposes, and revealed that Gould paid 10,000 silver coins.
It was this news of "ten thousand silver coins" that, through the mouth of the disseminator, completely turned into a heavy tax of 10,000 silver coins per household by the Russians on all guest merchants.
Most people didn't believe it at first, but then three people became a tiger.
Merchants with a disadvantaged population have always felt that they have a very solid alliance with the Russians for decades. They are also in the same tribal alliance. How could it suddenly become like this?
However, the sea was frozen, and the land was covered up to the waist with snow, making it impossible for ships pushed ashore to sail.
Escape with the goods and cash box? That's crazy!
Of course, there were indeed merchant families who took advantage of the night to pack up valuable belongings. They pulled sleds and quietly escaped from Roseburg, leaving behind their empty wooden houses and some less valuable things.
Most businessmen, they are overwhelmed by bad news. Escape? Before selling a large amount of goods, all the silver coins on hand will be gone. The family is just waiting to make a fortune selling the leather obtained by the Russians. If they give up these goods, the family will be on the verge of bankruptcy. Let’s talk about escaping. Risking an escape in the cold winter is inherently dangerous.
When it was almost evening, after hearing these rumors, Otto realized that these merchants obviously had a strong feeling of not wanting to take money.
This emotion has seriously interfered with the normal transactions between tribesmen and merchants.
Those merchants were accusing the Russians of being indifferent and just winter fishermen who planned to sell fresh seal meat and cod meat to the merchants. They simply stopped doing business after being criticized inexplicably.
Rumors were spreading, and Rurik and Otto couldn't think of who spread the news about tax collection.
From what the two heard, it was obviously a misinterpretation of tax collection.
"Ten thousand silver coins? If I could squeeze ten thousand silver coins from door to door, I could build a mountain of silver coins!"
Rurik urged his father to send people to the businessmen to publicize the leader's decision. The so-called business tax was necessary, but it was not the amount of 10,000 silver coins at all.
Don’t have ten thousand silver coins? That amount is definitely a lot. Since the Ross warrior with a sword is personally explaining this matter, it can only mean that the situation is serious.
Some people ran away at night, while others watched in numbness and hesitation. Only a small number of businessmen believed that the leader of Ross was not a coward.
Everyone got an order from the leader.
That is, tomorrow morning, each businessman needs to send his family members to gather on the now frozen beach to hear the specific matters regarding tax collection.
Going to the beach? Of course I want to go. If you don't go, who can guarantee that the Russians won't serve you with an iron fist?
After all, these guys conquered the "Land of the East", and it is said that 300 people killed 800 enemies without any injuries. There are a large number of business veterans in the guest merchants. They have dealt with many warriors and understand that once such warriors fall into mania, they will really disown their relatives. It is ridiculous to negotiate a contract with them. For the sake of their own safety, they can only express submission.
At least the Russians revealed that the purpose of the tax was not to hurt businessmen.
Everyone had some illusions about the Russians. That night, most of the businessmen who decided to stay and watch what happened stayed up all night with their families.
The appointed day finally arrived.
The cold wind from the Arctic is still pouring into the bay, and even though it is April, the climate is still terrible.
What's the point of having nice weather? The climate is really cold, and the businessmen who gather on the frozen beach are dressed in gorgeous furs, their furry snow fox hats decorated with gold threads, they wear dyed wool felt boots, and they use calfskin belts to restrain their waists.
They dress gorgeously and decently, and their dressing itself is also normal, just to show their status as wealthy businessmen.
And these gorgeous clothes made the soldiers who were ordered by Otto to hold short spears and swords look like a large group of fat sheep that could be blackmailed.
The businessmen couldn't help feeling nervous when they saw the large number of soldiers standing on the beach.
Youdao is armed with a sharp weapon and a murderous intention. The businessmen really feel that they have suddenly become lambs to be slaughtered. Who knows what the Russians want to do.
But Otto really had no intention of resorting to violence first.
The idea of collecting commercial taxes was proposed by Rurik. As the destined next generation leader, he was interested in explaining and ordering merchants to pay taxes in public.
The beach was very lively, and a large number of men and women from the tribe gathered to watch a rare show.
Under the attention of all kinds of people, Rurik and Otto had a very dreamy way of appearing.
There are more than fifty young warriors, most of whom are just twenty years old.
They were shirtless and their tendon flesh ignored the arctic wind and cold. They shouted trumpets and pulled fifty ropes, pulling Otto's longboat with the monster's bow carved by himself, and pulled it to the beach, just like a big ship sailing on ice.
Rurik and Otto, the glorious father and son, stood at the bow.
The dragon-headed warship carried a strong sense of pressure as it slid on the ice and snow, causing the merchants to retreat.
The Russians were cheering and the merchants were silent.
Under the gaze of more than 400 businessmen, Otto finally spoke with a rich yet domineering voice.
Otto was simple and direct in everything he did, and he always asked for money.
"You businessmen have lived in my Roseburg for a long time! Starting from this year, you will have to pay a tax every year. This is the rent you must pay and the price you must pay for doing business in Roseburg. I Let me tell you! Every merchant must come up with fifty silver coins today! Listen! Fifty silver coins! That's the amount.
If you spend your money, you will be protected by us Russians this year. If you don’t get money, don’t think about going home today! "
What happened was indeed beyond the expectations of the businessmen. Compared with the tax of 10,000 silver coins, everyone could actually afford fifty silver coins. Even if some businessmen cannot come up with the money for a while, there is no obstacle at all in taking out goods of equal value to offset the tax.
The businessmen were discussing, and Rurik squinted his eyes to observe. He felt that the clouds on the brows of these well-dressed guys had disappeared.
Rurik still had something to say.
He was picked up directly by Otto and let him ride on his neck.
Rurik is in a very high position, as if sitting on the shoulders of giants.
He roared in a childlike voice: "All merchants! Listen to me! This is the leader's order! Starting from this year, every one of your merchant ships entering our Fort Ross will have to pay a port entry fee of ten silver coins.
You have no reason to refuse. As long as you do business with us, you must pay this amount again.
As long as you pay the entry fee of ten silver coins, your ship will be protected by us Rus people. Anyone who dares to damage your ship will be killed.
Remember, starting from this autumn, commercial ships entering our fjords will have to pay this port entry fee. "
The so-called port entry fee, Rurik prefers to call it a tariff.
At first, Rurik had the idea to explain the purpose of taxation to them. After all, it was a bit cold outside. Rurik didn't want to waste time. He also felt that it was a waste of words. I need to be as decisive as my father, so I only give businessmen two options: cooperation and protection, or get out now if they refuse.
But Rurik still underestimated his father's methods.
Otto raised his arms and ordered: "You need to get the money now, and I will notify your family members to bring silver coins or goods of equivalent value. Only when I receive the money and goods can you leave."
this……
Why does taxation sound like extortion? ! Rurik's head was a little dizzy. Since his father insisted and it seemed that this could collect the money very quickly, let's do it! Although some of it goes against my own ideas.
Rurik hoped for a very peaceful way to collect commercial taxes. As a result, Otto assumed that businessmen were iron roosters and needed to use iron pliers to pluck out their iron feathers. So, why is this happening?
The reason is also simple. At least ten merchants ran away overnight, which had a negative impact. Otto thought of the commotion among the merchants yesterday, and he had completely lost his patience.
As far as the results are concerned, Otto's method is simple and direct!
Even if the trapped businessmen were wearing thick clothes, they would inevitably feel cold if they stood on the beach where the cold wind blew continuously for a long time.
Out of concern and dependence on the head of the family, the merchant's wives and concubines obeyed the messenger's request and hurried to the beach with their own money or tax-deductible goods.
There are 3,000 guest residents, but the actual number of guest families is less than 500. Most of them are family workshop workers engaged in the processing of various materials. They are also businessmen themselves. In a sense, they are mostly "self-employed" and "mom-and-pop shops". Among them, there are many leather processing workers, while the number of pure second-hand dealers is very small.
The main reason is that a large amount of currency flows into Roseburg, causing this limited market to quickly become inflationary.
Once upon a time, it was normal for a guest family to earn a net profit of ten or twenty silver coins in a winter. Now, the income of many families has increased tenfold!
The Russians have spoken out. If you don’t pay taxes immediately, your husbands and masters will freeze to death and your property will be confiscated. But if you pay the money, you will be safe and your business activities will be perfectly protected.
More than a thousand guests gathered on the beach, almost all of whom were women. If a businessman got rich, he would first dress up his women. The women were also more well-dressed, and they readily paid money in order to save their family members.
As long as the tax of fifty silver coins is paid, the matter will be over.
The Ross warriors who were in a human wall were ordered to open a small opening, and only one person could pass through at a time. The wives paid the money and a businessman was released.
Rurik, who was still standing at the bow of the warship, was paying attention to all this. At this moment, he had to admire his father's methods. Sure enough, he was still smarter with age. Of course, those businessmen were eager to get out of the encirclement immediately, and those women would not allow anything to happen to their family members out of dependence. They immediately settled the problem with money, and their ease was unexpected.
On this day alone, the collection of commercial tax was completed in a very efficient manner!
Including tax-deductible goods, there are a total of 430 merchants paying taxes, which is more than 20,000 silver coins and equivalent materials.
A fraction of the tax, Otto, with Rurik's acquiescence, used it as a reward and gave it to all the soldiers who so-called "maintained order."
The remaining 20,000 silver coins and goods of equivalent value were returned to the leader's warehouse.
Could it be that no one stood up and told the leader that as a member of the Ross tribe, he should get a share of the pie?
No. Absolutely nothing.
The tribesmen were all praising the leader's family as they were indeed noble and extraordinary, and they actually let the merchants take out the money easily. Compared with the actions of the chief family, they feel increasingly insignificant. They saw that the soldiers were just standing in a human wall. Afterwards, each of them received a reward of some silver coins.
The tribesmen are more envious of those warriors who get money, that's all.
Ordinary tribesmen don't have the courage, let alone the thought of making demands to their leader. They just hope to win the battle with the big leader Otto, or to make money by doing things for the future big leader Rurik.
Now it's fine, 30,000 silver coins have been credited to the account. The money was actually very large, and Otto was shocked that such a huge amount of wealth could be obtained by collecting taxes. His desire to crusade against the Gotlanders and steal the money suddenly faded a little.
Making money has become such a wasteland! Why risk your life to fight an outsider with the same fighting ability as yourself? Otto knew that the purpose of the war was actually to plunder and take revenge.
Otto asked Rurik what he thought: "What do you want to do with this tax?"
Rurik gave his answer without thinking: "I collect taxes for construction. I want to use the money to buy the labor of our people and let them go to the mines in the north to build camps and the Kovin settlements in the east to build our Fortress, we also need to build our new Fort Ross. All this money will be spent, and our tribe will earn these 30,000 silver coins. In the end, they will build a stronger settlement for our tribe.
When our people become richer, our tribe will become stronger, so I can collect more taxes and build better settlements.
We will become stronger every year, just like rolling a small snowball. Our strength is like this snowball, growing bigger and bigger. "
Although Otto still doesn't understand it, large-scale infrastructure construction will have very long-term benefits for the development of the tribe. He could at least feel the vitality in Rurik's words.
Also, Otto knows his people best. The tribesmen are fed up with poverty, and their living conditions have improved in the past two years. Undoubtedly, this kid Rurik has made a lot of contributions.
The tribesmen just want to obtain more materials and more silver coins.
They just long for more wealth. If they can sell their labor to make a lot of money, that would be great.
