I was a priest in the city-state era.

Chapter 234 The Kingdom of Athens Begins to Collect Taxes

In this era, usually only the local royal family or aristocrats had the financial resources to do business.

The royal family and nobles with privileges certainly did not pay taxes, so there was no concept of commercial taxation in this era.

Seeing the curious expressions of Procne and Philomela, Roy continued.

"Now that the city of Athens has replaced Knossos as a trading hub, I plan to formulate import tax and commercial tax in Athens at the same time. The import tax is one-twentieth of the value of the goods collected, and the commercial tax is based on the income level of the operator. Taxation. Families with an annual income of less than [-] catties of grain do not need to pay tax, and families with more than [-] catties of grain pay one-tenth of the tax on the excess. If the annual income is [-] catties of grain, one thousand catty of grain will be taxed. Annual income A family with [-] catties of grain needs to pay two-tenths of the tax, which is [-] catties of grain. A family with an annual income of [-] catties of grain needs to pay three-tenths of the tax, which is [-] catties of grain. , you need to pay tax of four tenths, that is, [-] catties of grain. Those with an annual income of [-] catties of grain need to pay tax of five tenths, that is, [-] catties of grain. The higher the income level, the lower the tax rate. higher."

After listening to Roy's words, Procne and Philomela's eyes widened in surprise.

After recovering, Philomela couldn't help but said.

"Brother Luoy, your commercial tax is too horrible. A family with an annual income of [-] catties of grain has to be taxed by you for [-] catties of grain. Don't you worry that they will leave the Kingdom of Athens?"

Roy shook his head without hesitation and said.

"Even after 1000, a family with an annual income of [-] catties of grain is still the first-class citizen of Athens. This kind of aristocratic class is the biggest enemy of the royal family, and it should be taxed even if it is two-thirds. Because The greater the wealth of these aristocratic classes, the greater their threat to the crown."

In the history of another world, King Charles I of the British Kingdom was not only deprived of his royal power by the new aristocratic group, but also sent to guillotine for execution. In the final analysis, it was because the aristocratic group was too rich.

If the new aristocratic group does not have the financial resources to recruit troops to fight against the king, Charles I will neither need to surrender power in exchange for the support of the new aristocratic group, nor will he be executed by the rebels.

What is the concept of a family with an annual income of [-] catties of grain?
In just 20 years, the wealth accumulated by this family can support 2000 people for a year.

As long as there are ten such families, [-] soldiers can be recruited to fight for a year.

If such a family accumulates wealth for a hundred years, just one family can recruit [-] troops to rebel against the royal power.

Roy's taxation standards only hurt the noble class, so Roy will never make any concessions to his own taxation standards.

Port of Piraeus.

After enjoying lunch with Procne and Philomela, Roy came here and told Chione, who was in charge of port trade, about taxation.

"Kione! Starting tomorrow, merchant ships entering the port will be charged one-twentieth of the import tax, with the exception of merchant ships in the duty-free zone."

Roy said patiently.

"If those merchant ships have any objections, you can tell them that we collect taxes to develop the Athens navy and combat piracy. After they pay taxes to the city of Athens, they will also benefit from the safety of the waterway."

Kaone nodded and said.

"Since the city of Knossos could collect taxes in the past, there is no reason why we in Athens cannot collect import taxes. Except for some unreasonable people, no one should object to our tax collection."

At this moment, a shepherd driving ten sheep at the port caught Roy's attention.

Because Roy recognized the shepherd as the Spartan king Perieres.

Seeing Perieuris observing the port of Piraeus like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, Luo Yi took the initiative to walk over and said.

"Perius, why did you come to my port disguised as a shepherd?"

"Loy, King of Athens—"

Perrieres obviously didn't expect to meet Roy here, and said with some embarrassment.

"Goddess Hera told me that we Spartans can conduct duty-free trade in your Kingdom of Athens, so let me take a look at the scale of trade in your city of Athens."

Roy joked with a smile.

"Then after you observe, do you think the scale of trade in our city of Athens is large?"

"It's huge!"

Perryus nodded.

"Although the trade scale of the city of Athens is not as good as that of the city of Knossos, it can already meet the trade needs of our city of Sparta."

"The city of Knossos—"

Hearing Perieres compare the city of Athens with the city of Knossos, Roy shook his head and said.

"Pelieuris, haven't you heard that the city of Knossos has been destroyed by the tsunami? The city of Athens is already the only trading hub in the Aegean Sea, and the scale of trade in the city of Athens will soon surpass that of Knossos. The city's heyday."

"Knossos destroyed by tsunami - when did this happen?"

"Just the day before yesterday! The Thera Island volcano erupted—you may not know what a volcanic eruption is, and you don't know the relationship between a volcanic eruption and a tsunami. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to check the city of Knossos yourself Case."

Perieress said with a serious face.

"Since you told me an important news, let me tell you an important news too! The Mycenaeans have conquered the city of Arcadia guarded by the goddess Artemis in the Arcadia region. King Lu of Arcadia Kaon and his sons were all killed in battle, only Lycaon's daughter, Princess Callisto, is missing and may still be alive."

Hearing the news, Roy didn't care.

Because although the Arcadia region has an area of ​​[-] square kilometers, it is a region with poor land and a small population.

Even if the Mycenaeans ruled the Argos region and the Arcadia region, they would not be able to shorten the gap in strength between them and Loy.

"Perius, the Mycenaean conquest of Arcadia is not good news for you. Perhaps the next target the Mycenaeans want to conquer is the fertile Sparta region and the area of ​​Pylos."

Perryus nodded and said.

"In order to fight against the Mycenaeans, we Spartans have formed an alliance with the Pylos. King Roy of Athens, do you people of Athens join us to destroy the Mycenaeans?"

Roy shook his head without hesitation and said.

"I have an agreement with Acrisius, king of Mycenae, so the Athenians cannot take the initiative to attack the Mycenaeans while Acrisius is alive."

This is of course a superficial reason.

Roy did not want to become allies with the Spartans and Pylos because Roy would definitely conquer the Sparta and Pylos regions in the future.

"Perius! Since you have come to Athens, now I am extending an invitation to you as the host, would you like to be my guest?"

Perryus shook his head and said.

"We were still at war a few days ago, how can I be your guest now. In order to thank you for your invitation, I will give you these ten sheep now."

After speaking, Perieris handed his shepherd's whip to Roy.

Roy also shook his head and said.

"We are not friends, I cannot accept your gift."

(End of this chapter)