ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1073 Melses’ last wish

Davers listened carefully and finally nodded and said: "What you said will become an important basis for the tax rate discussion at the next executive meeting."

"What are you still discussing... Your Majesty, just settle it." Melses muttered.

Davos seemed to have not heard anything. After seeing what he said, his spirit became even more depressed, so he said with concern: "You should have a good rest. I will come to visit you next time!"

"Your Majesty, why don't you stay a little longer?! If you come back next time... I'm afraid you won't be able to see me..." Merses muttered again in a low tone.

When Davos heard this, he felt sad. Just when he was about to comfort him, he heard Merses say softly: "Your Majesty, do you still remember the first time we met?... At that time, you had just invented Smoked sausage temporarily solved the mercenary's ration storage problem... After I found out, I immediately asked Menon to have you in my baggage train... I still remember the story you told us about the treasure that night... Yes With your help, it was the most relaxing time I felt while marching in Persia... I had a vague feeling that you would become a great person... So when Menon and you conflicted, I stood firmly with you. This side...

Now it proves how correct my choice was! ...I, a bankrupt small businessman from Ionia, eventually became the finance minister of the most powerful kingdom in the Western Mediterranean, with tens of thousands of wealth in my hands. How lucky I am!I have no regrets anymore…”

After hearing what Mercis said, Davos didn't know what to say for a moment. He forced a smile and said: "Actually, what you said is wrong. You saw me once before I was transferred to the baggage team... …At that time, I took a walk to the baggage camp, and I was met by you. You suspected that I wanted to steal food because I was hungry, and you specifically asked the guards to drive me away."

"There is such a thing, I have no impression at all!" Mersith's eyes widened in surprise, and then he laughed: "It's a pity that I only know about it now, otherwise I would often brag to Antonios and Hilos... Say I am the only one who has ever reprimanded Your Majesty!”

"I only remembered it now, otherwise you would have had such an easy life under my hands in the past ten years?!" Davos also joked with a smile.

Even the usually serious Martius smiled.

Henibris, who was on the side, listened to them telling their past events. From the laughter, he could feel the deep comrades-in-arms friendship between them, and he couldn't help feeling a little envious and yearning in his heart.

"Your Majesty." The smile on Mersith's face had not disappeared, and he said in a deep voice: "After my death, I will donate most of my property to the kingdom..."

"Oh, you're a stingy guy and you're willing to do it?!" Davos teased with a smile, thinking he was joking.

"I am serious, this is my will! I will donate 80% of my inheritance to the kingdom and leave only 20% to support my family!"

When Davos saw Mersith's serious expression, he immediately stopped smiling and asked in a deep voice, "Are you really willing to give up?!"

"I don't have children, what's the point of being reluctant..." Merses murmured, a little absent-minded: "Your Majesty, you led us to build the Kingdom of Dionia through hard work. It can be regarded as ours." child……"

When Davos heard this, he was quite moved. He sat on the edge of the bed, patted Mersith's swollen hand, and said emotionally: "On behalf of the kingdom, I thank you for your generosity!"

"Your Majesty, I am donating this money...can you buy me a statue...to be stationed in the Pantheon..." Merses' next words made Davos stunned, and then he laughed dumbly: This is Merses. True character!
Davos subconsciously wanted to reprimand him first: the qualification to enter the Pantheon is not a commodity and can be bargained for! ...

But seeing Melses' pale face and hopeful eyes, Davos softened his heart and said directly: "Even if you don't donate these properties, your past great contributions to the kingdom can make you undisputed. I have the qualifications to enter the Pantheon. Not only that, I am also planning to erect a statue of you in front of the Finance Department, so that future Finance Department officials will follow your example and be stingy with every Opal in the kingdom and never waste it. , let alone corruption!”

"Thank you, Your Majesty...Thank you, Your Majesty..." At that moment, turbid tears flowed from Mersith's godless eyes...

Walking out of Melsis' mansion, Davos couldn't help but stop and look back, thinking of Cornelus who died a few years ago, and Melthis who would go to Elysee at any time, his heart was very heavy: he followed The heroes who founded Dionia together with him are gradually entering the end of their lives...

Just as he was thinking about it, he turned around and saw Martius standing upright, but his gray beard showed his age, and he sighed in his heart: "Martius, you are old too..."

"Your Majesty, I can still easily defeat the young guard! I can still serve as your guard!" Martius replied forcefully.

"Okay... okay..." Davos subconsciously touched his beard, and then said to Henipolis: "Have you remembered what I just said to Melses?"

Henepolis immediately replied: "Remember, let Lord Melses stationed in the Pantheon and erect a statue for him in the Ministry of Finance."

"Well, go back and draft a proposal and discuss it at the next executive meeting as soon as possible...Mercis may not be able to hold on for long..." Davos let out a long sigh.

.............................................

In the past few days, a rumor suddenly appeared in Tulii: Etruscan envoys asked for help from the kingdom. At the same time, in view of the frequent harassment of indigenous people on the border of southern Iberia, King Daves was prepared to agree to the ministers' proposal and send separate One or two legions went to the southern border of Iberia and the northern border of Etruria to build fortresses to defend against the invasion of the indigenous people.According to the Ministry of Military Affairs, each legionnaire must be on duty at the station for at least half a year...

The news quickly spread throughout the city of Thurii and soon spread to other cities.The officers, soldiers, reserve soldiers of each legion, as well as their families and relatives are discussing this matter every day. You must know that they account for a large proportion of the population of the kingdom, which naturally caused a huge stir across the country. of waves.

Not long after, news came out: Those defensive fortresses would be built at the forefront of the border. There would be no town markets around them, only the indigenous people who kept coming to harass them. For the safety of the soldiers, the garrison troops might not consider giving them any protection. They are on vacation, let them go to the back town to rest and relax, and even go home to visit relatives...

As soon as this news came out, the citizens of the legionnaires were even more uneasy. Many anxious citizen soldiers gathered together and went to their respective military camps to ask the senior officers stationed in the military camps for detailed information and said: "We are not afraid. We fight against powerful enemies, even if they bleed or even sacrifice our lives; but we are afraid of being trapped in a fortress like criminals, without freedom for more than half a year, and completely unable to take care of our families..."

Some radical citizens of Thurii even gathered together and went to the Senate to petition the senators: I hope they can oppose this proposal and not let it pass.

Many elders were confused and asked the rotating chairmen: "Does such a proposal really exist?"

Lysias and the others said in a unified voice: "It is true that a minister made this suggestion, but His Majesty did not agree immediately and is still considering the matter carefully."

While the outside world was making a lot of noise, Davos was sitting quietly in the palace office. After listening to Aristelas' investigation report on the entire situation, he thought for a while and said: "The water has been boiled now. Now, let’s put something in it first and see if we can cook something good.”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Aristelas understood.

"Is there any other news?"

"Your Majesty, we have collected all the evidence against Servius, Phrius, Aulus...these former Roman nobles for their attempted rebellion." Aristelas said, respectfully handing over a stack of records in his hand. passed.

Davers read it carefully and said calmly: "There are still a lot of people. While the public's attention is focused on the dispatch of border troops, transfer these evidences and lists to the Thurii Inspection Department. Let them be responsible for the arrest.”

"Yes." Aristinas hesitated for a moment, then said: "Your Majesty, a secret report came from Iberia. Hasdrubal and a few members of the Magonid family often party together, drink heavily, and insult the kingdom... "

Davers didn't even frown, and asked, "Are there any other suspicious situations?"

"Not found yet."

"It's better to vent your dissatisfaction in person than to appear normal on the surface and have secret plans." Davos said disapprovingly: "Continue to observe."

"Yes."

At this time, "Bang! Bang! Bang!" There was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" As soon as Davos finished speaking, Aristelas naturally retreated to the corner.

"Your Majesty, Priest Plessinas wants to see you!" Henepolis walked in and said.

"Please come in."

Plessinas did not come alone. He was followed by two priests, each holding several wooden boards.

"Your Majesty, the design competition for the statue on the top of the mountain has ended. We have brought the winner's work. Please make the final judgment on which design to choose to cast the statue on the top of the mountain."

"The results came out so soon?!" Davos became interested, and immediately said: "Put them on the table, and let's take a look at them one by one."

From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Henepolis craning his neck to look this way. Davos waved to the left and right again and said, "You two should come and have a look and give me some opinions."

Henepolis and Aristelas immediately came together.

(End of this chapter)