Chapter 31: Tracing taxes back to a hundred years ago (please follow up)

 Blackwater Valley, in the meeting hall of the castle.

Pastor Abraham is sitting upright, and the Knight of Glimmer is standing upright next to him.

And Levi was sitting opposite Pastor Abraham, with Fred Knight guarding him. Levi looked a little reserved and scared. These small expressions were captured by Pastor Abraham, who was good at observing words and expressions.

"Sure enough, he is just an immature young man." The priest said to himself. Before he came, he had naturally done investigation work on the major nobles in the surrounding area. This was especially true for Blackwater Valley where such big figures as the Black Snake Knight had appeared. Notice.

I heard before that this young baron was timid and afraid of getting into trouble, but now that I saw it, it was indeed true.

With a cough, Pastor Abraham said seriously: "Baron Levi, I came here this time to buy the Blackwater Valley." Pastor Abraham said straightforwardly.

In this era, the church itself was a super lord. Through various annexation methods, the area of ​​territory directly controlled by the church was second only to the royal family. Many local churches and monasteries directly or indirectly controlled many manors and land.

 One of the important ways of annexation is to acquire the territories of down-and-out nobles.

 Hearing this, Knight Fred's expression changed, and he looked at Levi.

Li Wei was not in a hurry to refuse. If the price offered by the other party was good, then it would not matter if he sold it. He just lowered his head and remained silent.

Pastor Abraham smiled slightly and continued: "Two thousand gold coins, this price is twice the price I paid for the heirs of the Rock Bear family and the Frostwolf family, mainly out of the church's respect for the Black Snake Knight.

I also know that the annual financial income of Blackwater Valley in recent years is less than one hundred gold coins. This amount of money is enough for Baron Levi and Knight Fred to live without worries for a lifetime.

　　Baron Levi must also be aware that a remote and poor land like Blackwater Valley is destined to be unable to develop into a rich land. The innate natural conditions limit the development here.

 Instead of doing this, it is better to sell it to us and run it by the church. "

After finishing speaking, Pastor Abraham looked at Levi with a smile, calm and confident.

He believed that this famous "coward" and "prodigal son" would not refuse this excellent offer.

But today's Li Wei is no longer what he used to be. With 2,000 gold coins and his own forging skills, he can earn it back sooner or later. Why sell the land? It's easy to sell land but hard to redeem it!

 Under normal circumstances, unless the nobles of this world are desperate, such as the heirs of Baron Frostwolf and Baron Rockbear, the territory that is the foundation of the noble status will not be traded.

Two thousand gold coins are needed to buy Blackwater Valley. The price is a bit low. Although Blackwater Valley is remote and backward, it is huge. Even though most of the area is steep mountainous land that cannot be cultivated, but the church wants to buy it for two thousand gold coins. This is a bit excessive for the church.

The most important thing is that Levi has formed absolute prestige in this territory. This is an intangible value that requires long-term management. Even if he uses the money given by the church to buy a new territory, it means that he To start from scratch and run in again, the time cost is too great.

"Sorry, Pastor Abraham, our Black Snake family has been living here for two hundred years. Every brick and tile here has been poured into our family's emotions. Every citizen here also regards us as their masters. For their lord, how can I abandon them?" Levi shook his head and refused, and Knight Fred looked relieved.

This is the backbone that the heirs of the Black Snake should have. They cannot keep the Tulip Territory and the Storm Territory because those two territories involve too many interests. With their strength, they are indeed unable to participate. However, as the Black Water Valley, as a black The ancestral land and last territory of the Snake family must not be lost.

Moreover, even if it is the Tulip Territory and the Storm Territory, Li Wei is still the master of those two territories in name, but he has no real power. But if Levi has the strength one day, he can definitely ask for it back. With this The name is there, and it is justifiable to take it back.

 But if all the land deeds are sold and the ownership of the territory is transferred to the church, then the territory completely belongs to the church. If you want to get it back, you must either buy it back from the church or launch a war against the church.

 Both of these options are impossible.

"Oh, Baron Levi, don't you think about it anymore?" Pastor Abraham said with a smile, but his tone was unquestionable.

To be honest, a little baron dared to reject him, which made Pastor Abraham a little impatient, but he was very good at hiding his emotions.

"Sorry, if the purpose of the pastor's trip is to take away our family's last territory, I cannot agree. Even if I agree, my people will not agree." Levi looked a little nervous, but his tone was Very determined. Although he is still weak now, this does not mean that he still has to make unlimited concessions on issues related to his core interests.

The Wild Boar Gang snatched away Old Toby, who was just a blacksmith. He could still operate as usual without a territory. But without a territory, how could he practice the breathing method? Without a territory, all his food, clothing, housing and transportation would require a lot of expenses, and he had no source of income. You can't work for others as a blacksmith. Two thousand gold coins may seem like a lot, but in fact they are worthless.

“Well, let’s not talk about this issue for the time being, but I welcome Baron Levi to come to Silvermoon Land to talk to me about this matter at any time. Let’s talk about the second thing next, about the issue of unpaid taxes in Blackwater Valley.

Baron Levi should know that you have three territories under your name, and all of them need to pay taxes to the church.

Among them, after your father's death, the church in Tulip Territory and Storm Territory gave maximum tax incentives to take care of the Black Snake family. However, due to the remote location of Blackwater Valley, the church has always turned a blind eye and closed its eyes. One eye.

Baron Levi, you should know that according to regulations, the church can tax all territories under the light of the Father of Heaven, regardless of whether the church has taxed them before, without a retroactive period limit. The church can decide whether to retroactively tax them.

In other words, the church has the right to collect taxes for the past two hundred years since your family took over the Blackwater Valley, but it did not do so before.

Baron Levi, what do you plan to do with the taxes previously owed by Blackwater Valley?"

Pastor Abraham asked in a calm tone, and the meaning was self-evident.

"We will pay the taxes that should be paid." Levi said, and he sneered inwardly. He couldn't enjoy the tax benefits of those in the church who took care of the Black Snake family. After all, the income from those two territories was not for him?

To put it bluntly, because of the death of his father, a top powerhouse, in this era of chaos and greed, various forces, large and small, want to carve up the last thing left by his father.

 It would be good for the church to buy land, at least it would give money. At that time, the situation in Tulip Territory and Storm Territory was much more serious than it is now. The minions from the Duke of Montenegro were arrogant in front of Li Wei, threatening him directly or indirectly.

 “It’s so uncomfortable to feel weak!”

Even if you are a noble, you cannot directly refuse to pay taxes.

If you reject this, it means that Levi has completely rebelled against the authority of the church. It is just that Abraham, a priest, is not afraid of Levi.

What he is afraid of is the Holy Glory Church, a huge force composed of monasteries, churches, clergy and intricate relationships across the country, including the most powerful armed force of the Holy Glory Church: the Knights of Glory!

 A powerful force composed of hundreds of formal knights and seven high knights, the church's invincible sword is enough to crush all forces in the kingdom who dare to resist the church.

Levi has a proficiency panel, and it may be unknown to become a wizard, but becoming a great knight or even a legendary knight is a sure thing as long as he lives.

So he knew that he had to endure some things. Pastor Abraham turned buying land into paying taxes. To be honest, among those in the church, it was already a very "merciful" approach. Levi stepped down.

"Well, thank you Baron Levi for your cooperation. This is the total amount of back taxes we have calculated in Blackwater Valley over the years. In view of the Black Snake Knight's great contribution to the cause of the church, we have forgiven the huge amount of back taxes. The late payment fee is only the principal, please pay it, Baron." Pastor Abraham handed over a tax bill, which he had obviously prepared.

Let's talk to Li Wei about buying the territory first. It would be best if he agrees.

 If you don’t agree, fine, you can pay me the tax arrears right away.

Li Wei took the tax bill, looked at the amount on it, and couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his eye.

  “1000 gold coins.”

 Old guy, this is really going back a hundred years in tax arrears.

   Thanks to the lost fish for the 100 reward

　　

　　

 (End of this chapter)