Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Restore the Territory (2)
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Humans are beings who forget the past, but they are also animals that learn from past experiences.
In other words, if they've had success in the past, they build on that foundation to improve.
But if they've suffered abuse from someone or endured painful failure, a passive attitude, a sense of helplessness that nothing will work out, and fear become ingrained without them even realizing it.
And why am I thinking this now...
It's because the people who had been brutally tormented by the previous lord grabbed me the moment I entered the meeting hall and started begging shamelessly.
"My lord, please lower the taxes just a bit. Spare us. No, more than anything, abolish those damned commons rights and death taxes!"
"Other territories accuse landlords and village heads like us of tormenting the common folk, but we've never done such a thing—not once!"
"Even if you demand my daughter as a concubine, I'll gladly offer her! Please, just reduce the taxes by two-tenths. We have nothing to eat. Last winter, ten people in our village starved to death because they had no food."
As I listened to their pleas, I scanned the clothing, faces, and skin conditions of these local gentry and village heads.
Their clothes weren't complete rags, but they were made from terribly coarse and crude fabric—proof they hadn't eaten properly for a long time—their skin rough and devoid of any oiliness.
Their faces, starved of proper nutrition and stripped of fat, had bones and eyes protruding sharply.
Usually, fat-cat gentry would dress in rough clothes on purpose before the lord to squeeze out even one more coin...
But if they had enough food to survive, they wouldn't show up looking this miserable just to fake desperation before me.
So I let out a sigh and said,
"This is serious. Extremely serious. I heard that bastard Cocoon, the previous lord, levied crushing taxes that left the territory in ruins. But to think even you folks, who hold some status in the countryside, have fallen to this state."
My sympathetic words made the village heads and landlords' eyes well up with tears.
A few even looked at me with eyes full of expectation and curiosity—clearly hoping I'd cut their taxes.
I was planning to normalize the taxes anyway, even without you asking, village heads and landlords.
"Before I get into my full plans, let's settle this first. I'll lower the taxes that Lord Cocoon imposed on you—nine-tenths—to six-tenths, in accordance with Imperial law. The three-tenths of this year's harvest that the previous lord extorted will be returned from Bruno Castle to your villages. And starting now, I'll completely abolish the commons rights and death taxes."
As soon as I finished speaking, the landlords and village heads sitting in their seats all jumped up, cheering and even embracing each other.
"Long live the lord!"
"We're saved now. Thank you, Deus."
"The taxes are so light! Just six-tenths now! Is this a dream or reality?"
In Korea, the government would riot over deducting 60% of income in taxes, but here they cheer it as benevolence.
It's been nearly fifteen years since I was reborn into the Reich Empire, but this place feels like another isekai world within it.
"Not only that—I'll use this year's tax revenue on public works and projects that benefit you as much as possible."
With the 11,000 gold from the Emperor and Crown Prince, I can go three years without taxes if I skip welfare, or two years if I include it.
But if I declare 'no taxes for one or two years' just because the territory's in bad shape?
The neighboring nobles would claim the commoners are demanding tax cuts after seeing the absurd antics of the new lord next door, impeaching me for disrupting the Empire's order.
Even my sole supporter, the Crown Prince, would likely let me fend for myself if I faced such criticism.
Besides, taxes feel good when waived once, but humans can't go back to paying after tasting 'tax-free' life.
"But my lord, what exactly do you mean by 'projects that help us'..."
"Reclaiming unused land in the territory, building reservoirs, constructing roads, and refurbishing villages."
At that, the village head who'd asked me crossed the line a bit.
"How exactly does that help us? We're serfs obligated to work for free on whatever the lord demands anyway."
He's not wrong.
That's how the tax-devouring pig of a previous lord could levy nine-tenths in taxes, then squeeze death taxes to drain the serfs' assets.
And wield commons rights to slap huge marriage taxes on newlyweds.
It was too horrific to mention to the landlords and village heads, but records even showed many couples, unable to pay the marriage tax, had to spend the bride's first night with the lord.
The lord held absolute dominion here.
So I understood his words. Instead of violence to assert my authority, I explained gently.
"In exchange, for those who participate in such work in their spare time, I'll give one cow to their household and enough food to survive winter and spring. Of course, since I'm providing the food myself, I won't grant benefits like 'cultivation rights to that land and ten years tax-free' under Imperial law... but isn't food for tomorrow the most urgent need?"
This is like a New Deal policy—even serfs with no way to eat can secure food, clothing, and shelter.
Plus, it's winter now, not a busy farming season, so putting over 3,000 laborers and oxen into land reclamation?
We can plow an enormous area, no doubt.
They nodded vigorously, pleased with the benefits I offered.
"If you do as you say, my lord, we want for nothing more."
"No more serfs starving in winter now..."
"Thank you, my lord. Thank you."
I understood their joy, but to think I'd live to see people of deputy company commander rank in the provinces thanking me for solving serfs' worries...
Inside, I was exasperated at how the previous lord had ruined them, but I couldn't show that before people on the verge of tears.
Instead, I clapped twice to liven the mood and said,
"Unmarried maidens without fiancés in the territory, and second or third sons from each village—if you work six days a week on road construction and such, I'll provide food to sustain your livelihood. And after two years of that, I'll support marriages between suitable men and women of marriageable age."
In Korea, where love marriages are the norm, this policy would get me flayed for human rights violations.
But in this era, even serfs marry more often by family arrangement than romance.
So my proposal would be seen as a good policy to marry off old bachelors and spinsters, boosting marriage rates.
I hammered it home.
"The cost of loaning oxen to serf households and the minimum grain needed for serfs to eat right now will come from the funds I brought. And I'll provide you—who bear heavy responsibilities—with at least minimal wages too."
It'll cost a pretty penny, but the Emperor and Crown Prince gave me that huge sum to spend here.
Best to see it as an investment in the future.
"Also, using my authority as acting battalion commander, I'll judge and punish the non-commissioned officers and soldiers who led the exploitation of the commoners. The officers are already headed to military court, out of my hands—understand that."
Mentioning I'd cut ties with those who'd exploited the people made the village heads and landlords thank me sincerely once more.
"Thank you. Thank you, my lord..."
"Can we finally live like humans? We'll pledge our full loyalty."
To that, I replied matter-of-factly,
"I just enforced the law. When I send the officers to military court, I'll detail every one of their crimes, so they won't escape execution either. So forget the past and start a new life under me."