Kingdom’s Bloodline

At that moment, Lumbard's words reached the ears of all the Grand Dukes like a cold and threatening blade:

"A long time ago, Xingchen set up a qualification examination, stipulating that only what kind of person can become a specific official and become the king's arm."

"They use titles and privileges, status and honor to recruit lowly nobles, or commoners who are unlikely to become nobles, entrust power to these poor officials, and let them enter the kingdom. And the restricted area of ​​the house."

Rumba's voice sounded like an anvil at work, knocking in the hearts of the grand dukes one after another: "In this way, thousands of professional officials from different backgrounds but with clear responsibilities and clear division of labor stood together to form a battle. The suffocating solid carriage, carrying the ancient kingdom inherited from the ancient empire, speeds up."

"What's even more frightening is that in order to obtain such a promotion, many low-ranking nobles, businessmen and even rural villagers are willing to become the lackeys and loyal servants of the king."

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

Lombard's eyes were as cold as iron: "First of all, tax collectors: merchants and bookkeepers have obtained official positions through qualification training and assessment, registered in the Fuxing Palace, and became professional loyal servants of the king. Collect taxes for him, fulfill his duties, form systems and practices: every tax collector is directly responsible to the treasurer and his subordinates, strictly abide by the rules, be good at calculation, have good ears and eyes, never miss a single coin, and dare not hide any sum accounts."

"So the tax in the king's hands is more than when he sent his aristocratic cronies to collect it according to the standards of loyalty, favor, and relationship. Is it really as simple as relying on a tyrant to raise taxes?"

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

Short-sighted and dull princes.

"And what about us, Exeter?"

Rumba's words changed, and his eyes, which seemed to be sharp blades, were directed at the four stunned grand dukes: "In order to ensure that the interests are not damaged and the authority is not shaken, the grand dukes and nobles will only send their cronies and subordinates as tax collectors. The sword and the spear, through the favor and relationship with the lord, go to various castles and villages to collect taxes, domineering, deceiving the upper and lower, exploiting layer upon layer, and enriching private pockets!"

"Every year, the amount of tax paid by the vassals to the lord is 50% of the plan, and it can be regarded as happy and loyal."

Grand Duke Olsio lowered his head, his expression was serious, and he said nothing.

Rumba's words continued: "In the many cities of the stars,

There is a position called a security officer, which can only be obtained through assessment and training. It is directly under the security office under the garrison officer, and is responsible for city security and order. It is clearly separated from the city defense team, which is the city's standing private army, and mutual interference is strictly prohibited. "

"What about us?" Grand Duke Heisha gritted his teeth, with a horrified expression: "For so many years, business has been sluggish and goods are scarce in Exeter? Except for pickled goods with ulterior motives like the Comus people, half of the merchants would rather go to Stars do business, and they don't want to come to Exeter, is it really because the products in the south are more abundant?"

"No!" Rumba looked solemn.

"That's because the merchants know that in the Star Kingdom, at least the rules and order of transactions are clearly written, at least there are professional officials and departments to appeal, at least the security department and the security officers maintain the integrity of the market on the surface. Order, at least they don’t have to wrestle with the unreasonable army, and deal with big figures with connections,” Lumba remembered something, and clenched his fists:

"In Exeter, a small order officer who is in charge of the patrol team can use connections to eat gangsters, engage in large-scale arms smuggling, and force away businessmen who don't like it—as long as the people above open their eyes. Just close one eye!"

Grand Duke Trudida pursed his lips, his nimble eyes had already frozen in one position, only blinking occasionally.

Lunba sneered: "In the cities of the Star Kingdom, all the officials in the city hall, from clerks to scribes, from sign-offers to judges, are all people who have passed the qualification examination. They have a clear division of labor and are familiar with regulations. Send messages, execute orders, and only recognize the warrant seal."

"During the Year of Blood, all of them, from the supreme king to the prince, fell into the prison river. Foreign enemies stared at them, and the nobles were terrified! However, only relying on the Prime Minister and his professional officials to follow the rules, the precarious Eternal Star City is still in danger. It has been operating steadily for more than ten days! Until the last prince returns, he compromises with the nobles and is crowned!"

"What about us?"

Rumba slammed his chest hard: "Today, less than a few hours have passed since the King Megatron Northland's Born King died. Due to the loss of his prestige, Dragon Clouds City is in chaos. Confusion, rumors, Conflicts and conflicts are emerging one after another, and the people are panic-stricken. I guess Lisbane hesitated for a long time whether to use the patrol team beyond his authority—he is used to asking Nunn for instructions."

"I led the army to run rampant in the city for several hours! It wasn't until I took down the first city gate, until I stood here, so close that I could spit at you, that the dignified Prime Minister led the troops here in a daze .”

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

Rumba paused for a full dozen seconds.

For such a long time, no Grand Duke made a sound.

Finally, Rumba let out a breath of helpless and difficult air, exhaustion and pain appearing on his face.

"I know that your territory is far away from the stars, and you have only been focusing on the game with Dragon Clouds City in the past few years, but..."

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

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

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

"It's happening quietly in the Kingdom of Stars, behind the country that, as the remnant of the empire, has been fighting with us for many years."

The complexions of the Grand Dukes changed slightly.

"This change," Rumba trembled slightly, continued his chilling words: "It's as quiet as an undercurrent, and as calm as a drop of water piercing a stone."

"But please 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 the ancient empire." Lunba only felt his hair stand on end, and there seemed to be a chill like polar ice in his chest, which went straight to his heart Spleen: "The Kingdom of Stars, our opponent for six hundred years, is undergoing an unprecedented transformation."

The four grand dukes looked at each other two by two, unable to move forward or retreat amidst incredible hesitation and shocking astonishment.

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

"Like the eve of the chrysalis taking shape, a weak vibration came from inside."

"Inconspicuous, but crucial."

Rumba raised his head suddenly, his eyes were like swords, and the sharp light was piercing, shooting directly at the four princes.

"Everyone, please open your eyes." Grand Duke Heisha clenched his teeth, his voice was hoarse, and his tone was firm: "Where is our biggest threat?"

The Grand Dukes seem to have not reacted yet.

But at that moment, Grand Duke Lecco's complexion was unprecedentedly ugly, he slowly raised his head and looked at Luba.

The old man spoke wearily and with difficulty, his voice hoarse and unpleasant: "Mindis III?"

The faces of the other three Grand Dukes changed.

Rumba looked at the old man with softer eyes.

His eyes dimmed.

"Yes," Rumba said silently, and sat down again: "This is the status quo one hundred and fifty years later—the comparison between us and the stars."

Grand Duke Olsio raised his head in surprise:

"One hundred and fifty years? Could it be..."

Rumba nodded feebly.

"Hmm." He said with certainty.

"What I told you just now," Lunba said lightly, with dread and solemnity in his eyes again: "All of this."

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

"From the Supreme King of the Stars who is almost ignored by everyone."

"Mindis III."

The four Grand Dukes all turned their attention to Luba in this second.

Mixed emotions and mixed reactions.

Grand Duke Heisha looked at their expressions and couldn't help sneering.

"You said he didn't do anything serious?"

I only heard Charmain Rumba coldly snorted indiscriminately:

"More than a hundred years ago, it was Mindis III who did not hesitate to offend the offshoots, cronies, in-laws, and even direct vassals of the Canxing family. The Department of Finance and Taxation... grants them its own authority, formulates regulations, trains and assesses, and pays salaries even if they borrow money to survive, allowing these new officials to manage the central leadership of the royal family and even the entire Star Kingdom."

"More than a hundred years have passed, even the most remote and domineering vassals, for the sake of taxation, efficiency, power, and more effective confrontation with the king, must not compromise with the rules of the game left by the wise king, and recognize the king's Officials," Rumba raised his head, with sharp coldness flashing in his eyes:

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

"Do you think that the behind-the-scenes of the Starlight Legion are just luck and talent?"

"No, this steel carriage composed of countless professional officials began with Mindis III. It has long been in the midst of contradictions and frictions. During the years of our Megatron West Continent, it has been quietly running, grinding, and settling for more than a hundred years. Sprout!"

Hearing what he said, Grand Duke Ronnie of Qiyuan City bowed his head deeply, his eyes full of struggles.

"Also," Lunba said again, with a cold tone: "You said he was cowardly and omnipotent, and compromised with the nobles?"

"Forgive me to remind everyone, it is precisely because of the High Council and the State Council that 'compromised with the nobles'..."

"Kessel V in the south of us has turned thousands of civilians in the Kingdom of Stars into a powerful tool for him to fight against the big vassals alone! In the past five years, he has resisted the fierce opposition of almost all the vassals, and there is no doubt that A national war has been launched, and a royal heir has been installed irresistibly!"

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

Rumba slammed his fist on the square table, and said loudly with an angry face: "If King Nuen stands here and asks you to recruit troops within a month and follow him into the desert, how many people will follow him without hesitation?" Do?"

Olsio and Trudida looked at each other in the air.

One side looked hesitant and shook his head lightly, while the other clenched his teeth and breathed rapidly.

"As for Mindis III, you said he was living in debt?" Grand Duke Heisha raised his hand and waved it indifferently: "But what is more ironic?"

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

"More than a hundred years ago, Mindis III, who had a large number of officials under his command, borrowed all day long and never tired of taking the trouble. So he ordered that all debtors be gathered in one house, guaranteed by the royal franchise and even the next year's tax, and unified Write IOUs to debtors."

"Today, more than a hundred years later, the house where countless merchants came and went has been expanded many times, and it has been renamed after the habits of the Komas city-states," the Grand Duke Heisha looked ugly and hesitated, as if To tell of a strange thing he didn't understand: "It's called the 'Royal Bank.'"

Several grand dukes cast puzzled eyes.

Rumba gritted his teeth, shook his head and said, "Five years ago, King Kessel didn't raise taxes or confiscate his property. He just wrote an IOU to the so-called 'Royal Bank' to this money bank composed of countless merchants. They took out a lot of money, raised countless troops, fought a huge desert war, and even expanded the standing army after returning!"

"For us who have to raise taxes every time we go to war—can you imagine it?"

"Do you still think that this war depends only on the wealth of the Canxing royal family?"

Again there was silence.

No one spoke.

The Grand Dukes of Exeter are all lords with a territory comparable to a country, and they understand what this means better than anyone.