The Rise of the European Emperor

This trick is very ruthless and very effective. Historically, many new rulers who seized power also issued orders similar to tax exemptions. And the only purpose of this move is to maintain stability!

What Marin is worried about is that the nobles of the eight vassal states will slip through the net and take advantage of him to lead troops south to confuse the peasants to start an uprising.

Once a peasant uprising occurred in the territory, Marin had to send troops to suppress it. At that time, you have to go back to the teacher. Even, when the time comes, they have to raise the butcher knife and slaughter the rebels wantonly. After all, in order to prevent the latecomers from following suit, he had to deal with the rebels with killers.

Therefore, the best countermeasure is to let those German serfs not have any ideas against him. In this way, even if someone with ambition instigates it, no one will pay attention to it.

Regardless of whether it was the peasants in ancient China or the serfs in Europe in this era, what they were most concerned about was probably the output of grain and the land rent paid to the serf owners. In fact, most of the grain harvested by the serfs was to be handed over to the manor owner, leaving only a small amount of grain to barely survive.

Therefore, Marin simply ordered that this year's tax be exempted, and even let the serfs keep all the harvested grain and not pay the land rent, so that the serfs can have a good year this year. At least, this year, the serfs in these eight vassal states will definitely have enough to eat and drink. Because they can keep all their food, so they don't have to hand over most of it.

In this way, serfs who have received huge benefits will be overjoyed. Even, I will be grateful to Marin.

At this time, even if there are ambitious people who jump out and instigate them to rebel, no one will pay attention...

...

Sure enough, when Marin posted and promulgated the order "Exemption from all taxes this year" in the eight vassal states, the serfs everywhere rejoiced.

Contrary to them, it is the anger of those nobles, big and small. Because of Marin's decree, they will have no income this year, and life will become difficult.

But Marin didn't care what they thought, because the main noble members of the eight vassal states basically participated in the war to invade the North Sea State. Then, he either died in Beihai State or was imprisoned in Oldenburg. Nobles who stay at home are either too old or too young. Even if they want to rebel, they can't make waves.

And if they wanted to incite the serfs to rebel, it would be even more impossible. Because this decree has brought huge benefits to the serfs, and made Marin's favorability in the eyes of the serfs soaring. Who would oppose Marin? As long as there are no serfs to follow, these nobles who are either too old or too young will not be able to make waves!

...

Of course, Marin didn't want to offend these nobles too much. After all, he will rule these areas in the future, so he can't offend everyone.

Therefore, while announcing that he would not collect serf taxation, Marin also told the nobles of the eight vassal states-he would then give these people certain compensation. The premise is that they must be obedient. In a word - those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish...

In fact, if Marin hadn't been eager to lead his army south to coerce the princes of the alliance of princes to admit his occupation of the 8 princes (including Schaumburg), how could he care about the economic losses of the nobles of these 8 countries? Keeping them alive is considered a gift...

But for Marin, it is obvious that going south to obtain the recognition of the princes is more important than dealing with the nobles of these eight princes. That's why Marin begged for compromise and was willing to compensate them for their economic losses.

In order to reassure these veteran nobles, Malin specially gave each noble a white note according to their harvest in previous years,

Promises come back and are fulfilled. Anyway, the income per mu of these nobles' fiefdoms is only tens of pounds of rye, and Marin has a lot of food, so they can afford it...

As long as these people don't make trouble for themselves when they lead their troops south, all these efforts are worthwhile.

...

Before leaving, Marin hosted a banquet for a group of aged aristocratic representatives from the 8 vassal states, and reiterated that they would retain their aristocratic status and fief interests in the future. Of course, he didn't say - in the future, he will still transfer the fiefdoms of these nobles to Bremen Province for the convenience of unified management...

After pacifying these noble representatives, Marin regrouped 40,000 troops, set off from the city of Goslar, and headed west to his hometown of Bochum. Then, after the grain transport ship from East Frisia brought enough military rations through the Münster Canal, they regrouped and continued southward, heading straight to Switzerland...

When passing through Bonn, the residence of the Archbishop of Cologne, and Mainz, the residence of the Archbishop of Mainz, Malinte visited the two archbishops, and offered a lot of gold and silver looted from the city of Goslar, and bribed the two The respected teaching elector hopes that the Archbishop of Mainz can temporarily convene an interim meeting of the Imperial Parliament to discuss and recognize Marin's right to rule over the eight vassal states. Of course, Archbishop Marin of Trier, who is also the elector of the church, was not left behind—he also sent envoys to send a large amount of gold and silver...

...

The relationship between the church princes of Germany and Marin is very delicate. On the one hand, out of vigilance and dislike of the Habsburg family, these church princes did not like Marin, who was closely related to the Habsburg family; but on the other hand Because of the close relationship between Marin and the current Pope Julius II, it is not convenient for these church princes to openly turn against Marin, so as not to be remembered by the Pope.

You know, these church princes care more about the Pope's attitude than those secular princes. The rights of secular princes come from the inheritance of blood. The pope can only announce excommunication, that is, excommunication, to secular princes. However, it is not fatal. At least, it does not affect those secular princes to continue to be his princes. Unless, an enemy of life and death came to challenge with this excuse.

Therefore, in real terms, the emperor is more afraid of the pope's excommunication than the secular princes who inherit by blood. Because the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire was elected by the princes and needed a good reputation. If expelled from the church, the princes can also use this as an excuse to depose the emperor.

But those princes are different. Their fiefs and titles do not need to be elected and recognized by others, but come from the inheritance of blood. Even if they were excommunicated by the Pope, their reputation would be ruined at most, but it would not affect them continuing to be his vassals. It's like some notorious celebrities in later generations, even if everyone despises them, so what? People are still living well...

But these religious princes are different. Like the emperor, they are all elected. Moreover, in terms of status, they are all subordinates of the Pope. The status of the emperor and the pope is similar, and at most the emperor is not as famous as the emperor. Even the emperor is afraid of the pope's excommunication, let alone these church princes who are subordinate to the church?

Therefore, even if they are unhappy with Marin, they dare not publicly diss Marin. Otherwise, if you offend the pope and get dissed by the pope, it will be a big deal...

...

Therefore, in the face of Marin's request, the Archbishops of Mainz, Cologne, and Trier all felt very embarrassed.

In the end, the attitude of the three church electors was surprisingly unanimous-agreeing to hold an interim meeting to discuss Marin's annexation of the eight vassal states. However, they are only responsible for holding meetings. After the interim meeting is held, these church princes will express their neutrality. If Marin wants to legally obtain the ruling power of the 8 vassal states, he must obtain the consent of more than half of the secular vassals...

This attitude is actually equivalent to a tactful rejection. Because, under normal circumstances, it is impossible for those secular princes to agree to Marin's legal occupation of the 8 princely states, even if there is a duel book.

But Marin didn't care, because he was already ready to coerce the group of secular princes to agree. Therefore, as long as the Archbishop of Mainz agrees to hold an interim meeting, his goal will be achieved...

...

After Uriel, Archbishop of Mainz, promised to notify the princes to hold an interim meeting, Marin led his army to leave Mainz with satisfaction. In fact, Marin had planned that if Archbishop Uriel refused to agree, he would lead his troops to stay in Mainz and prepare for not leaving...

Outside the city of Mainz, Marin's 40,000-strong army was waving banners. The aura displayed by the 40,000 elite veterans as they marched was extremely astonishing.

On the city wall, Uriel, Archbishop of Mainz, saw the 40,000 elite army of the North Sea Kingdom with banners covering the sun, and heaved a long sigh

"Germany is about to usher in troubled times again..."

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