ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 107 The First Senate Meeting ([-])

“I suggest that the wedding day be designated as Amendolara’s Marriage Festival and the celebration of the goddess Hera, so that citizens can remember the suffering and new life that Amendolara has suffered, and also make them aware of the importance of marriage and family. , This is more conducive to the unity of the citizens of Amendolara!..." Daves said solemnly, which surprised Cornelus at how far-reaching he considered the problem, and that he was really thinking about Amendolara, so He nodded with sincerity and said: "Lord Archon, I think all citizens will be happy to have such a wonderful festival!"

"Yes, we all agree to establish Hera's celebration and marriage festival!" The old citizens also expressed their approval, not to mention the new citizens.

At this time, Hilos stood up and asked with concern: "Sir, what should we do with the soldiers who have not found women to marry?"

Davos was already prepared for this, and he motioned for Cornelus to answer.

Cornelus looked solemn: "Before Amendolara participated in the war with the Lucanians, there were four thousand citizens... Now there are only more than 500 citizens and more than 1000 widows... Therefore, there are more than 2000 The couple died, so... there are enough houses to accommodate new citizens. Of course, if the original director of the house has children or elderly people left behind, we hope that the new citizens can be responsible for raising them..." Cornelus finished speaking, his eyes twinkling. There were tears, and other citizens also looked sad.

Davos looked at the new citizens and emphasized loudly: "It is not a hope but a must to support! Because you accepted the inheritance of the original owner, including land and wealth, of course you must also perform your responsibilities for the original owner!"

"Sir, don't worry, we will let our brothers take good care of the elderly and children!" Hilos made the promise first, and other team officers also expressed their support. Amintas even said: "Whoever occupies the house does not take care of the elderly. And child, I beat him to death!"

Davos nodded and said: "Very good, I hope you team officers will strengthen the supervision of the soldiers! At the same time, the Senate will also promulgate a bill to supervise the implementation." Davos said, looking at Antonios: "This is Responsibilities of the Ombudsman. Antonios, once you find someone who violates the law, fails to support orphans or abuses the elderly, report it to the Senate immediately, and we will deprive him of his citizenship and expel him from Amendolara!" Davos's stern words made everyone My heart tightened.

"I will supervise carefully!" Antonios solemnly promised.

The old citizens nodded silently, appreciating Davos's firmness in protecting the rights of the elderly and children.

"Okay, next, let's talk about the issue that everyone is most concerned about." In order to ease the atmosphere, Davos said with a smile: "The Senate will introduce a bill to ensure that each new citizen will receive at least five acres of land. Of course there is If a person is lucky and finds a good wife, he will inherit more land, but some people may have less. It doesn't matter, I will ask the financial officer Melses to make a detailed statistics of the land wealth owned by each person. In the future After acquiring new land, priority will be given to citizens who originally had less land to make up for it. Are you satisfied with this arrangement?"

"satisfy!!"

"That's fair!!" Everyone shouted excitedly.

The meeting lasted for nearly two hours, and it was already very late, but the citizens were very interested, which made Davers decide to raise an issue that he had been thinking about for a long time but had never made up his mind about.He took a deep breath, stood in the center of the venue again, faced everyone, and said loudly: "Everyone, as a citizen of a city-state, it is his right to participate in all political activities of the city-state. It is his right to fight as a soldier and defend the city-state. His obligation is actually his right. Because except for special circumstances, it is impossible for freedmen and slaves to join the city-state army. Only citizens have this right to fight for the city-state, so it is also a political right."

All the old citizens and new citizens sitting here nodded in agreement.

"However, it is not easy to manage a city-state well. It costs money to build various public facilities; it costs money to repair city defenses and equip weapons; it costs money to rescue people when encountering major disasters; and it even costs money to send troops to fight. , if it only lasts for four or five days, it’s okay, citizens can bring their own food rations, but if the time is long, the city-state still has to buy the required food, not to mention hiring pack cars, ships, laborers, etc., which all cost money; and, Public officials in our city-state are now unpaid, and everyone is obliged to contribute to the city-state. In the future, as the area under management becomes larger and the affairs become more heavy, public officials may have little free time to take care of their family's farmland and pastures. Their income will be less than that of citizens who are not public officials, which is unfair. If this continues, people may no longer be willing to hold public offices. Therefore, if a city-state wants to develop healthily, it will not work if there is not enough money in the treasury!"

For most of the new citizens, who were born into poverty, they did not know how complicated the operation of the city-state was, so they listened with great interest.The old citizens felt that this young lifelong consul could think so deeply about the city-state's problems just after taking office, and their worries about his lack of experience dissipated a lot.But Cornelus felt his eyelids twitching, and he had an intuition that something big was about to happen.

Davos continued: "Amendolara's treasury revenue is quite small. Cornerus has just explained the reason. This has hindered the development of the city-state. In the future, we will occupy more land and have more people." If they join Amendolara, can they fight to the death for the city-state like us? I'm afraid not, because they pay too little and get it too easily, so they won't cherish it too much!"

"That's right!" Old citizens shouted first, and they were somewhat dissatisfied with the immigration bill proposed by Davers.

Of course Davos understood what they were thinking, and he sneered in his heart, and he said loudly: "So I propose to charge Amendolara citizens who own land a one percent land tax every year!"

As soon as these words came out, it was like thunder on the ground, and everyone in the venue was stunned, and immediately started shouting like a wasp that had been stabbed in its nest.

Cornelus's hands and feet tightened, and he secretly shouted: Oh no!
"Did I hear you right? You want to collect land tax from city-state citizens?!" Stromboli asked uncertainly.

This was a polite attitude, but the old man Scombbras rushed over, pointed at Davos's nose, and asked: "Are you a Greek?! Don't you know that the traditions of Greek city-states are absolute?" No land tax will be collected from city-state citizens! You are crazy about money! Thinking of you as a lifelong consul, how can we still live!"

Although the new citizens also criticized Davos's words, they must not allow others to insult their respected leaders, especially those squad leaders.Led by Matonis, he quickly rushed over and pushed Scambras away: "Hey, old man, have you ever spoken to a consul like this?"

"I'm going to say, what's wrong! You bunch of ignorant country bumpkins don't know the serious consequences of collecting land tax!" Scombras blushed and scolded contemptuously.

This made the young and energetic squad leaders extremely angry: "What did you say! If you say one more thing, believe it or not, I will beat you up!..." He was scolding and pushing Scombbras.

Scombbras's weak body could not withstand the strength of these battle-hardened officers, so he sat down directly on the ground, gasping for air. Cornelus and several other old citizens hurriedly stepped forward to help, and some Argued with the team officers.

There was chaos on both sides.

"Quiet! Quiet!" Davos became anxious now and stepped forward to break up the fight.

Finally the two sides separated.

Scombbras was still cursing, and Matonis' eyes widened, and he lowered his head again and did not dare to speak.

At this time, Melses stood up and said: "One percent tax is already very little! In Persia, we all know that their land tax is as high as more than 10%!..." As a financial officer, of course he cares about the treasury of fullness.

"That's Persia. Greece has never had a tradition of collecting land taxes from its citizens!" Stromboli retorted.

"There is such a thing as the royal government."

"That was all hundreds of years ago, but now we are in the democratic era. Consul Davos personally promised in the square that he would not be a king. I think if land tax is collected, all citizens will oppose it!" Si Tromboli looked at Davos, his voice was not loud, but it contained a threat.

Davos looked at everyone: the new citizens did not speak out against it because of Davos's prestige, and just watched the changes. The old citizens obviously had their dissatisfaction written on their faces. Only Melxishi truly supported it.He smiled and said: "You are so excited before I finish my suggestions. Don't worry, listen to me slowly finish my suggestions. Citizens who have been living in Amendolara City before today, now The land they own is tax-free to thank them as descendants of the founders of the city and their contribution to Amendolara over the past 200 years. When the treasury has money, we will mint a batch of 'Amendolara founders' silver buckles (on the clothes of the Greeks) decoration, used to fasten cloth)', each old citizen will be given one, kept permanently, and worn on the Bolton on grand public occasions, so that those who come after will know the long tradition and glory of their family."

As soon as these words came out, the old citizens were stunned. Scombbras, who was still chattering, stopped talking. They all straightened their chests: This is an honor!Although they had no choice but to let the mercenaries join Amendolara, their pride as indigenous people and the frustration of reality made them feel uncomfortable, and Davos gave them a chance to show their identity forever!Compared with this, that little tax money is nothing, not to mention that it can't be collected from them.

"Agreed!" Scombras was the first to shout.

"It's not fair! Instead of taxing them, we have to tax us!" Matonis shouted dissatisfied.

　The second one is here!

　　Considering that I have to go out to the clinic tomorrow, I will stop here tonight and update again tomorrow night!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)