Chapter 795: 2. The 17 Moments in Spring (1)

In the eyes of travelers, Tars is a laid-back, green village. …≦,
In the eyes of contraband traders, Tars is a safe and concealed transfer station and trading venue.
In the eyes of the high-ranking people, Tars is a concrete example of the local lords who adhered to the old traditions and resisted the decree and the trend of the times with their own privates, which led to a serious lag in the level of development.
The earth wall made of mud and straw is mixed, and the white plaster coating is peeled off. The bright red "coexistence and common prosperity" and "Wang Dao Le Tu" slogans are dazzling. The wooden roof is pressed against the stone, and the fence made of grass Large areas of wasteland are dotted with limited arable land. Roughly dressed, unkempt old men, women and children are all working on the land. Young and middle-aged people are rare. The people here can only rely on the land at their feet, a limited number of loved ones, and loyal animals. Everything else—including the women’s carriage passing by in front of them—can’t interest them.
"...Official information records that Tars has no special products and places of interest worth mentioning. Because Lord Mikael Knight refused to introduce new policies such as asphalt roads, new agricultural laws, water supply systems, and postal delivery, modern industries cannot be mentioned. Now the entire tower The economy of Ersi Village is dominated by the small peasant economy and basically maintains self-sufficiency."
In the women's carriage pulled by two horses, through the curtain, Roland carelessly looked at the wheat field outside the window, and a phrase in the spider's report pulled Minerva's sight back into the carriage.
"Lord?"
When Titans attacked Castile, quite a few nobles died in the battlefield. In order to deter the aborigines, some of the original lords were also cut off their heads. The remaining "peace" accounted for a small proportion of the nobility, and the instructions to Master Charlemagne were rarely violated. So despite the fact that they said a lot about Roland's New Deal at first, they still followed suit. Later, after obtaining many substantial benefits from the New Deal. The voice of opposition at that point also disappeared. It was a surprise for Minerva that a country like this could have a knight lord who resisted the New Deal so thoroughly.
"Is it the original lord?"
"It is precisely the Cavalier Fernandez de Miquel knight, the poor rural knight that can be seen everywhere, the earliest surrender lords after Salbadu was captured."
Strong contradictions and doubts rose from the bottom of my heart, and Minerva frowned slightly.
Since it is the lord of surrender. Then this person should be the same as the "Peace", not daring to defy the Governor, who symbolizes Charlemagne's will, but this person not only resolutely resisted Roland's New Deal, but he still has nothing at all...
Roland is not the kind of dictator who uses iron fists against any opposition. One or two villages have limited influence on his overall plan. Even if it is left alone, it will be subtly changed over time. However, Titans is not a patient organization. It’s the goddess’s eye-opening that doesn’t provoke something every day. Those fanatics will actually let go of the spike of the Mikael Knight. It's hard to believe.
Due to the persistence of almost the entire aristocracy, Charlemagne officials were particularly stingy about the title granted to the Titans by officers, not to mention the titles of Baron and Viscount, even the title of Knight was difficult. The only exception is the
Border Noble
title that cannot be hereditary. According to the accumulated military merits and qualifications, some outstanding officers will be granted titles such as
Border Earl
to become new lords to manage the newly conquered territory.
of course. The premise is that the land is ownerless. As for whether there was no owner, or the original owner died for some reason. There is no need to struggle.
Therefore, it is quite strange that Titans did not kill the Mikael knight in the name of "rebellious governor".
"The apparent reason is to worry about church protests. The church here is much stronger than Charlemagne. Even Titans cannot be indifferent to the church. There is no strong reason to kill a person who has a strong relationship with the church. Nobles will inevitably cause unnecessary trouble. The real reason. It should be that."
The carriage began to slow down, following the expression of the spider's wry smile, Minerva looked forward.
Along the avenue, another section of the village. A cylindrical military fortress looks at the entire village, with the golden iris flag and the small Titans eagle flag at the top. Under the fortress commonly known as the "gun tower", people who are going to enter and exit the village of Tars hold a "resident's card" in a quiet line and wait for inspection. Several National Guard soldiers patrolled the queue and used a butt, leather whip and scabbard from time to time to hit a guy who tried to jump into the queue.
At the junction of the two streams of people was a wooden sentry box painted with green paint on the outside. Several Titans soldiers were armed with guns and stared at each face that walked in front of them. Get rid of a foreign spy or resistance. In front of them was a large man wearing a military uniform and a third-level commando leader's badge on the neckline, sitting on a folding marching chair, leaning on a saber, squinting, and wearing a 12 cm wide white on his left arm Armband.
"Gendarmerie?"
"Yes, it is the gendarmerie. As a concession to the promotion of the nobles of the Titans, the nobility and the army agreed to Titans to establish their own gendarmerie to expand their power."
"But the gendarmerie is not just a policeman who is in charge of military personnel, how can he directly control the people?"
The military police in the usual sense, the so-called military police, is mainly responsible for maintaining military discipline, ensuring the execution of military orders, organizing military courts, and is a veritable policeman in the military. But Titans' military police are different. From the very beginning, this department had a huge power beyond imagination. Even the highest-ranking soldiers of the lowest rank in the gendarmerie can arrest high-ranking generals covered with medals.
"Besides, there is a clear stipulation in the "Gendarmerie Order:" The Gendarmerie is one of the military corps, under the jurisdiction of the highest command of the service, and is responsible for military security and military discipline maintenance, as well as the judicial police business. Please pay special attention to the last sentence-His Royal Highness The police business means that the gendarmerie can also take charge of the duties of the judicial police, not only the military but also the civilians."
This is actually a trick played by the second prince Bernard in order to form his own spy police agency. Since I am not allowed to get a spy, then I am going to consolidate the gendarmerie. If the military does not have discipline, is it not a mess? Could it be that after studying the Imperial Army, the battlefield discipline is to cut the belly after defeat? With such a platform, it is not trivial to expand the business in the name of military security agents.
The fact is also as the second prince and his senior staff conjecture. Almost overnight, Titans with the military police armbands haunted the streets. In the occupied area, apart from the Salba Du special zone, the military police is carried out. The native Titans of the Gendarmerie are called Edict Gendarmes and are only responsible for domestic security. The gendarmes in the occupied area outside the homeland are called military gendarmes. The military command gendarmerie is directly under the command of the occupying forces and is responsible for ensuring the security in the combat area and the occupied area. Prevent the enemy's anti-war propaganda and squat espionage and guerrilla operations. The accusation of suspicious elements and so on are the routine work of the military gendarmes. Even sneaking into enemy activities such as gathering intelligence and carrying out assassinations is the work of the military police.
As if this was not enough, the Gendarmerie recently established a new subordinate department-the Special High Police, commonly known as "Extra High". The two spies who were halfway down the road ran rampant in the occupied area. They didn't take those downcast nobles into consideration, as long as they cooperated with them to keep their lives alive. As for the title of the noble "Border Noble", this group of uncles is temporarily unsightly. Compared with being a poor noble, it is more important to find a way to stuff the wallet first.
Generally speaking. In addition to looting and frustrating supplies, Titans' way of getting money is mainly to set up cards to collect road money, otherwise it is to collect taxes. After all, as a new army, the cost of training soldiers, paying military supplies and purchasing military supplies requires a lot of money. It is impossible to fill the funding gap by the second prince and increasing the domestic budget alone. The fastest and easiest way to solve this problem is to " To fight for war". Specifically, a bureaucratic management system dominated by the army is constructed in the occupied area. Promote an efficient and tough tax system.
Before Roland took office, the largest source of tax revenue in the occupied area was agricultural tax. Since Titans passed the pressure on military expenditure growth to the indigenous people, the tax burden on farmers has increased greatly. In addition, due to the lack of barracks immediately after Titans was stationed, the soldiers were allowed to live in the serf's home. The soldiers who lived together with the army and horses must be supported by the serf's family, which is called "food expenses". Although grain taxes can be used to offset military taxes, the grain prices paid by migrant workers to soldiers and horses and horses are converted at a price that is much lower than the market price. Therefore, farmers have suffered great losses. When the troops are transferred elsewhere, they must also use the horses of the serf family to transport the luggage (so-called "foot strength"), which often causes the serf to lose a lot of farm animals.
Taxes, food expenses and hard work put a heavy burden on the farmers in the occupied area. On the other hand, the frequent use of troops by Charlemagne caused a sharp increase in the demand for food, wine, beef cattle and wool. Therefore, many "peaceful" nobles and landlords who surrendered reclaimed the land leased to serfs and changed to themselves or joint ventures with Titans and consortia. By opening the joints in this way, the transit tax and tedious inspection procedures in the transportation process are exempted, and a certain degree of political security is guaranteed while gaining more income. This behavior caused the serf to spend free time on the landlord's land. The overwhelming majority of landlords believed that the serf had three days a week to perform too little, and simply adopted an indefinite number of labor systems that were randomly distributed according to demand. Even the food and wine produced by the landlord's own camp must be transported by the serf in a horse-drawn carriage to the Titans grain collection station or the port warehouse controlled by the consortium.
In contrast to the fierce waters of the peasants, both Titans and the great aristocracy got rich. They spend a lot of money on luxury living and building construction, as evidenced by the neoclassical architecture that has been widely seen recently. The aristocratic manor no longer has a defensive function, but is used to enjoy and show off platoons. There are often galleries, theaters and concert halls in the manor, as well as special hunting forests for the recreation of the host and guests. The huge gap between the rich and the poor is even more abhorrent, which further ignited the peasants' resistance.
The direct consequence of the intensification of social conflicts is the successive uprisings and terrorist activities. Before the implementation of the New Deal in the SAR, no riots, assassinations or reprisals occurred in any week. The desperate peasants killed landlords and fierce soldiers who sold their country for prosperity, while Titans implemented the cruel hostage shooting bill, shooting civilians in retaliation, or throwing entire villages into concentration camps.
It was not until Roland began to implement the New Deal that the above situation was contained. Military expenditures were included in government management, the taxation rights of Titans were stripped, the financial system was clarified, and after industrialization was introduced, with the rise of commercial activities, more and more nobles began to participate in commercial investment, either through proxy entrusted investment, or in Build manufacturing factories and shops on your own land. Now everyone's interest in land is gradually beginning to be indifferent. Roland can finally free his hands to solve the practical problems for the peasant representatives who go to the governor's office every day.
"This is a big project. You know that the nobility of Castile is the most rigid group of people in the world. For these brainy "orthodox," decent guys, land is life, who moves the land or engages in population The census is to kill them. They won’t mind pulling the flag of patriotism and rebellion at this time."
Elena teased with a consistent ironic tone, even though she was also a noble of Castile. But she is one of the few enlightened factions, and she has made a complete break with the "must follow" idea early on because of her natural rebellion. I don’t like my country’s nobility or Charlemagne, but I support Roland’s New Deal, hoping that this mild social change will bring fresh air to Castile, which has been closed for hundreds of years, and awaken the entire nation.
Because of her delicate position, she can clearly see the achievements and problems of the SAR today.
"In addition to the nobility, Titans is also a problem, taken by the influence of the consortium and the political covenant. They dare not say anything to you, but they are still very dissatisfied with the deprivation of political and tax powers, in order to'defend the border and prevent terrorists. An example of a cross-border nominal collection of transit tax is disguised. In addition, there are rumors that Titans and some lords are engaged in illegal activities such as smuggling of illegal drugs."
"Wait for me, this kind of thing...!"
"Unfounded rumors? Your Highness, I don't know what the nobleman is on Charlemagne's side, but ours has been rotten. Before the war, many noblemen participated in the smuggling of Charlemagne. Among them are "Duke of One-eyed" Anna de Mendoza I. La Zelda, Marquis Carpio, Count of Castaneda, Duke of Ascoli, Duke of Alx, May Duke Dina Serry-such a large nobility. For them, it is nothing to betray the country for money. Not to mention the illegal drugs."
Elena smiled fearlessly, unconsciously overlapping that sneering smile with someone, and Minerva's heart flashed unpleasantly.
-For the benefit of 300%, people dare to trample on all laws in the world.
The sound of mockery sounded again in my ears, overlooking others from a height, denying the wisdom and cruelty of others.
"In addition, if it is not to confirm the authenticity of the gossip, the Governor-General needs to be like a masquerade. Do you come to such a small village for inspection in such a low-key manner? If you set foot on the stage, you will find nothing."
It seems that it is a very interesting thing to tease a king girl. As long as there is a chance, Jelena will provoke provocation. In an aggressive manner, the shadow of a thief wearing a black cape was faintly visible.
but. That's all for her game.
"Miss Lolita, please pay attention to your statement. As far as my position is concerned, these words will trouble me."
"That's really sorry, Governor."
"Thank you for your understanding, if you can correct even the title in the future, I would really appreciate it."
"Understood, young master."
Nodded at Elena, the wry smile faded from her face.
As Elena said before, he did have the idea of ​​restricting Titans and the lords from being too greedy, but that was only part of the reason for this trip.
The recent atmosphere is a bit wrong.
It’s not just the special zone, the whole world seems to be filled with calm and strange air. No one knows what is going on under the appearance of peaceful confrontation, strange material mobilization, military mobilization disguised as training, private activities of diplomatic envoys... … Various signs are pointing more and more clearly to the war. In this context, the consortium has nothing to say, which is beyond explanation.
Is it really not ready? I'm afraid not necessarily.
Perhaps the ordinary citizens of Alfheim, like the citizens of other countries, feel the great prosperity of the past ten years, new technologies, new life, financial prosperity, economic prosperity, everything is amazing, everything seems to be in Endlessly flourishing. People who have not experienced war seem to indulge in war if they instigate it until they win victory or raise the banner of war and disappear under the surface of history... But in fact, the way of thinking of elves is the same as that of contemporary humans. big difference. In addition to different values, a very important difference is the awareness of war.
Geographically speaking, the area controlled by Yalfheim is the heart of the mainland, and can be called the "land of four wars." In terms of geopolitical environment and military security situation, it is even more "singing on all sides", but in terms of national defense strength, especially military theory and technical equipment, Yalfheim is definitely a military power. Regardless of whether they are independent or not, the elves have to face the situation of the newly established state and have to deal with the situation of the surrounding hostile countries. Once the sovereign and independent elven country appears, I am afraid that none of the surrounding countries want to erase this new country from the map. The area controlled by the elves is small, lacks strategic depth, has a long border and is easy to attack and defend, and lacks local and natural resources. It relies heavily on overseas colonies and foreign trade. The above-mentioned practical problems and historical factors have always led the elf camp to have a strong sense of worries and an instinctive pursuit of improving living space. All levels from the government to the civilians have a deep-rooted desire to seek military superiority to secure the country’s solidarity. Psychologically, they maintain a "temporary war" mental state at all times. Compared with the Charlemagne who do not know what the war is, they are more rational.
But rationality does not mean always refusing war and being willing to be a shadow country lurking in the huge shadow of the human camp. As long as there is a suitable opportunity, this war machine will start full force, crushing everything that is in front of it.
In order to defend the strength of the army, I am afraid that under the full attack, Charlemagne, the seemingly powerful giant, will also be placed. The reason for the delay in taking action is simply not meeting the right time. Now the various changes in Charlemagne are really just the arbitrary actions of the military as in the past, or is it that Alfheim is behind the creation of opportunities to promote the action of fanatical soldiers? In the absence of conclusive evidence, it is really difficult to say...
To prove this is quite difficult, Li Lin does not need to say, the consortium has already issued a password early, and it is impossible to obtain relevant information by circumventing Stasi's surveillance and security system~EbookFREE.me ~Charlieman's military department can't count on them either. They don't even know the existence of Yalfheim and the fact that they are influenced and induced, and they don't feel very cold about their political positions. The church can try to get in touch, but their information is afraid to be less than themselves.
No matter how reluctant or uncomfortable, the investigation of this matter can only stop here. Now only Titans and the Army can be investigated first to see what they are planning.
The village of Tars was the first entry point of the investigation.
There have always been reports claiming that Tars Village is a transshipment station for illegal drugs, and senior Titans personnel are involved. If you can seize any handle to negotiate, you may be able to find out what intelligence...
As he began to plan the next plan and schedule according to his thoughts, the carriage stopped and a loud cry came from the front.
"Asshole! Dare to ask for money?! Don't mention taking you a few rotten eggs, I never give money for eating watermelons in Laozi city and eating watermelon outside the city!!"
Roland's expression became menacing. (To be continued...)