Three Philosophical Questions for Travelers

"I'm not joking," Hai Wen said. "The premise of doubling the tax is to double the wealth of the people—multiple times. Otherwise, the order will collapse, the money will not be collected, and the ruler will be finished."

"It seems that you understand this very well." The smiling cat stroked his knife with his fingers, staring at the reflection in the knife.

Haiwen nodded and said, "If I don't understand, I wouldn't dare to ask such a high price. Your Excellency Smiley Cat, you are just a ranger. A ranger knows how to use swords to fight for justice. That's very good. I respect you very much." Righteous man; but you don't know how to make a poor town rich, that's not what you're good at."

"I don't understand, but I have never seen or heard of a small town that can be renovated in one year and double in two years."

Haiwen stood up and looked down at the smiling cat. The smiling cat looked at him with its eyelids raised, like a tiger lying on the ground.Haiwen said: "Having never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. No one has seen the four lost civilizations, but don't they exist? What about those majestic ancient ruins? Your Excellency Ranger?"

The smiling cat turned around and looked out of the window, and said in a deep voice, "Are you trying to deceive me, a vulgar person, with sweet words?"

"I never wanted to lie to you. In fact, I really want you to witness the rebirth of Mustang Town." Haiwen looked at his back and said, "Follow me, Smiley Cat. You can witness all this with your own eyes. I let you continue to be my bodyguard, and you can kill me whenever you want."

"You still dare to keep me by your side?" He asked with a look of surprise.

"I can distinguish between good and evil. Smiling ranger, you save my housekeeper, this is 'righteousness'; you don't take my gold later, this is 'honesty'; you do not bow down when you meet nobles, this is shame. In In my hometown, I know that 'propriety, righteousness, honesty and shame' used to be the standard for judging a person's morality. I think you almost meet the standard, so I trust you."

The smiling cat asked, "Your hometown? Isn't it here?"

"It's far away." Haiwen couldn't help sighing, "If you and I can trust each other in the future, I'd like to tell you."

The smiling cat stopped talking. He turned his back and seemed to be thinking about something.Haven sat on the bed, waiting for his reply.The wind and rain outside the window are still howling, but there is silence inside the window.

At this time, Hewen heard a strange sound, which was mixed in the violent rain, and it sounded like a mole digging in the soil.He frowned, looked at the source of the voice and asked, "Wait a minute, what are you doing?"

"Ah?" The smiling cat turned its head, with a big meaty bone in its mouth, and a meatloaf in its right hand, "I said I'm hungry, why don't you have some supper?" While talking and laughing, he returned to his usual expression— — The fat cat is still the fat cat.

Haiwen shook his head with a smile, and lay back on the bed, and the serious atmosphere was swept away.Haiwen ignored him, went to bed and continued to sleep.At this moment, the rain gradually stopped, and the night returned to tranquility. After a while, he fell asleep.

Chapter 26: I know what I'm doing

Chapter 26: I know what I'm doing

They set off the next morning.Before leaving, the baron went out to see him off very enthusiastically, and repeatedly told Haiwen to send the gold coins and land deeds as soon as possible.

The small town in the barony became a mess after being washed by the heavy rain.The stone house leaked water, and the thatched house was blown away by the wind and even lost its roof.People stood at the door and swore while sweeping the water; the sewage was flowing across the street, and dirty poor children ran barefoot beside the sewage, stirring up a cloud of flying insects like black smoke.

Haven and the others led the horse out of the city, and then rode to Mustang Town.All the way to the muddy road, almost stepping on puddles before walking.By the time he got to Mustang Town, Haiwen's shoes and the hem of his clothes were covered with mud.

He bid farewell to Great Charles at the town gate.Before leaving, Big Charles warned him again: "You'd better make something! Town, mayor, big, man!"

"Yes, I'll let you see my whole 'thing' in a short time." Haven said.

So the two parted, and Haiwen returned to the house. Looking from a distance, he saw that the housekeeper Dreyer had already got out of bed, and was sitting in the yard directing the servants to clean the yard.Seeing this scene, Hai Wen quickly got off his horse and shouted as he walked, "Housekeeper! I'm back!"

Dreyer pushed down the arm of the chair with his hands, but couldn't get up. "My lord! You are back!" He shouted weakly.

"Why do you have to do this? You should rest—where's that fat Vandery?"

Dreyer waved his hand and said, "I can't lie on the bed." He coughed twice, "My lord, what's the matter?"

"The seat of the mayor has been taken."

Dreyer nodded and said, "How much did it cost?"

Hai Wen stretched out five fingers and said, "Five thousand."

Dreyer gasped and coughed again, and Haiwen quickly asked someone to fetch a coat to put on him.Delaire said with a wry smile: "My lord, gold coins are a disaster, so it's okay to remove some of them."

Hai Wen also shook his head with a wry smile, and then said: "Housekeeper, it's windy outside, so I'll talk to you later if I have something to do. Besides, I have to change my clothes."

"Ok."

Immediately, Hai Wen quickly returned to the house, he had to meet his fiancée.Due to her sensitive identity, Haiwen ordered her not to leave the house during this period, and it was best not to go downstairs; although she had no worries about food and clothing and had two maids as companions, it was hard to be grounded after all.So the first thing Hai Wen did was to meet her.

He threw his overcoat to the washerwoman, took off his muddy boots, put on a pair of cotton slippers, and went up the stairs.The moment he stepped up the stairs, he heard hurried footsteps upstairs, and then Estelle appeared at the stairs.

Haven stood on the stairs, looking up at the girl above.She was wearing a loose nightgown, with her hair draped behind her shoulders, looking natural and casual—she finally began to regard herself as her own home, and Hai Wen was very happy.At this moment, Isrit's face was flushed, and her hands were tightly clutching the corners of her clothes, obviously emotional.They stared at each other for about three seconds. At this time, Esrit swallowed her throat, then held up the corner of her skirt to salute, and said in a flat tone: "My lord, you are back."

Haven smiled. He walked up the stairs and said, "I thought you would give me a warm hug."

When Estelle heard this, her eyes widened, showing an expression of extreme remorse. "I..." She pursed her lips, "You were standing on the stairs, I was afraid I would make you fall."

"It's too late now." Hai Wen slightly opened his arms.

Estherite lowered her head, her hands were clasped, her knuckles were tense.She looked up at Hai Wen's face, but immediately lowered her head with a blushing face. "Now..." Her voice was extremely small, "I'm sorry now. I'm sorry, I can't do it."

At this moment, Haven wished he could immediately take Estherite to a room with no one but a bed, and love her well.

At this moment, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw something running towards him, "Your Honor!" He heard Hyacinth's voice behind him, and then he felt a pain in his waist. Something big and fast smashes headfirst into his kidneys - a long overdue hug, hot enough to crush his kidney stones (unconfirmed).

Hyacinth hugged him tightly, and rubbed his face against his back, "Master Haiwen!" She made a crisp voice like a lark—"Where have you been? Why did you just come back? When I was outside, I thought of the wind." Hyacinth?”—and three philosophical questions from Hyacinth.

At this time, Violet also came out from the back room. She was always inseparable from this mischievous little girl, "Hyacinth! You are so disrespectful." Then she bowed to Haven and said, "I have seen you, Your Honor."

"Don't call me a judge from now on." Hai Wen patted the back of Hyacinth's hand, and the little girl let him go knowingly, and then he walked to his bedroom, and the three girls consciously followed behind. "I'm already the mayor," he went on.

Hyacinth exclaimed excitedly: "Have you been promoted?" Violet also said: "Congratulations." But only Islet heard the seriousness in his tone and said, "My lord, something happened?"

"Yes." Obviously, my fiancée's ability to perceive words and emotions is better than that of the two maids, "I spent five thousand gold coins for this position."

Isrit let out a low cry, and then hit the ground like a nail; Violet also murmured: "Five thousand, that's a lot." Only Hyacinth looked blank, "Is five thousand a lot?" She raised her hands ten fingers, and then looked at the number and found that the number was wrong, so he hid his left hand behind his back.

Violet said to her: "When the three of us added together, little Charles only paid sixty gold coins."

Hyacinth counted with his fingers, and asked, "Equivalent to twenty gold coins for one bed slave?"

Violet pondered for a while, and said: "No, I'm worth 35 gold, that dead girl is [-] gold..." Hearing this, Hyacinth interrupted loudly: "I'm only worth five gold!"

Violet looked at her, showed a very apologetic smile, and said, "No, you are only worth two, and the remaining three are our food expenses, travel expenses and other miscellaneous money."

Hyacinth stared at Violet with a "Can I say dirty words?" expression.

Haiwen said at this time: "That was in the past, let alone two gold coins now, I would not sell you even [-] gold coins." Hyacinth burst into laughter when she heard this, and she hugged Haiwen's arm , rubbing his face against him like a kitten, "Master Haiwen, you are the best."

Haven touched her head, then went into his bedroom and sat down.He ordered: "Violet, go and inform Vandry, Gellette, and Spike, the smiling ranger, to have a meeting in the housekeeper's room; Hyacinth, bring me some hot water to drink." The two maids took orders. Then he left immediately.Haven then said to Estherite: "Actually, I haven't finished talking just now. In addition to five thousand gold coins, I also promised the Baron to increase tax revenue by [-]% next year and double it the year after."

The moment Estherite heard those words, her face became distorted. Estherite on the execution ground had never shown such a desperate look.All of a sudden, Haiwen suddenly felt that a stranger was standing in front of him. "My lord, you..." Her voice was trembling, "Please tell me, what are you going to do?"

Haven said quickly: "I know what you're worried about, Isrit. I won't exploit the poor. The premise of doubling taxes is to double the money and food in people's hands. I know what I'm doing."

After hearing this, Estherite's expression recovered, and she was obviously relieved. "My lord, I'm so scared." She leaned her face against Hai Wen's chest weakly.

Haven stroked her hair.At this time, Hyacinth poured hot water, and Haiwen took the water glass and asked her: "The lesson I taught you before, the water must be..."

"Boil until it boils before drinking!" She smiled and raised her index finger, "We all remember that. This is how people drink water in the house now."

"That's good." Hai Wen took a sip, and then Violet also came back, she saluted and said, "My lord, everyone has been notified."

"Okay." Haven took Islet's hand, and then said to the three girls, "Come with me, go to a meeting."

Hyacinth stared wide-eyed and asked, "Shall we go too?"

"Everyone I trust will go." He said and walked out.The girls glanced at each other and hurried to follow.

Chapter 27: Emergency Meeting

Chapter 27: Emergency Meeting

So everyone gathered in Dreyer's bedroom.Haiwen ordered the servants to move the benches and chairs, and everyone found a place to sit down.Lying on the bed, Delaire said, "My lord, we should go to the drawing room or the dining room for a meeting."

"Just here, I don't want to torment you anymore." After he finished speaking, he asked the others, "Do you have any objections to meeting here?"

Everyone had no opinion and sat down.

The participants were all friends of Haven: his big housekeeper, Dreyer; the fat jailer who was fished out of the jailer, and now the treasurer, Fandry; The forest witch Geralte with her own emoji and weird mouth; the fat cat who seems to be two catties fatter than yesterday, the smiling ranger Spike; finally, Hyacinth and Violet.

One of Hyacinth and Violet sat behind him, and the other huddled in a corner. The two girls with stamen tattoos on their faces obviously didn't fit in with the atmosphere.The smiling cat glanced at them and said, "My lord, these two sisters are also here to 'discuss the state affairs' with us?" Hearing them talking about themselves, Hyacinth hid her face behind Haiwen, Violet lowered her head, as if she was looking for a crack to get in.

"Yes." Haven said.

The fat Vandry whispered, "They are slaves."

"Now they are not slaves, they are ordinary people like us. Let me introduce, these are Violet and Hyacinth, who are temporarily responsible for taking care of my fiancee and my daily life, and are also my assistants during office hours. Their identities are me and Hyacinth. Islet's personal maid, her status is lower than that of the butler, and she is at the same level as Fandry." He scanned the crowd with his eyes, "Is there any question?"

No one spoke, and everyone may agree or have reservations.

Only the Smiley Cat nodded, and said in a deep voice, "Well, it's amazing." This was the first time that the Smiley Cat had said a word of praise to Haiwen.

Then Haiwen stood up, and the others didn't know, so they also stood up, and he gestured for everyone to sit down.Haven stood in the center of the house and said: "First of all, on behalf of the people in the house, I would like to thank my housekeeper, Delaire Hanslock. If he hadn't risked his life to convey the news back, the consequences now would be disastrous. It is precisely because Thanks to his contribution, I was able to get to the Baron's castle in time and smash the conspiracy of young Charles. I thank him again for his contribution."

People in this world don't seem to have the habit of clapping at the end of the leader's speech, so the scene was quiet and awkward.

"The master does not thank the slave, my lord," said Dreyer.

"Make an exception." Haiwen said, "I will give you a salary increase next month."

Dryden smiled and said: "This is the best thanks, my lord, I like practical things."

After finishing what he had to say, Haiwen immediately got to the point.

"Everyone, we are now facing a difficult problem. Five days ago, the mayor of Mustang Town died suddenly, and the position of mayor was vacant. I wanted to apply for the position of mayor, but I didn't expect that Charles Jr. would take the lead; Charles has a beastly face, and is at odds with me. If he is allowed to take office, it will be a great disaster for us and the people of Mustang Town. Therefore, I... with the help of Charles, I successfully competed for the position of mayor of the town."

"It cost five thousand gold coins, aha!" Smiley Cat interjected, "This one is really expensive."

There are people here who have heard this number for the first time; Vandry opened his mouth so that a pigeon could be stuffed, "Five thousand!" He stretched out five fingers, "Is this business a loss?" Asked Yisruite, said: "Five thousand gold coins? How much does a roast chicken cost?" Then the two whispered.

"Everyone, I haven't finished yet." Haiwen coughed dryly, "Five thousand gold coins, Charles will give you four thousand five thousand, and I will give you five hundred. In addition, I also promised the baron that the tax will be increased by five thousand by this time next year." Success, it will double in the next year."

As soon as the words fell, Dreyer scolded: "You fucking... oh!" The butler clutched his chest and moaned in pain.Gerrit hurried over to help him lie down, and massaged his back.At the same time, Fatty Fan Deli wiped his sweat vigorously, his lips trembled in fright, and he dared not speak.

Hai Wen continued: "Everyone, this is not an impossible task. If I didn't know what to do, I wouldn't dare to boast. I hope you all can calm down."

Dreyer took a deep breath, patted the bed board and shouted: "You said [-]% increase, [-]% increase, we might be able to do it with a ruthless hand; but you said [-]% increase a year!" A finger trembling as if trying to grasp something, "I've never heard of a tax increase of [-]% a year! You're going to force Mustang Town to riot!" After he finished speaking, Gerrit followed suit. Said: "This is really not possible. If you insist on doing this, please allow me to resign. I want to go back to the forest to raise pigeons, my lord." Fat Vandry nodded after hearing this, the flesh on his chin twitched.

"Be safe and don't be impatient." Haiwen said calmly, "Just because you've seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist..."

"Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist!" Smiley Cat raised his finger, imitating Haiwen's previous tone and said, "Old butler, he used this sentence to fool me before. He also said that the tax rate is doubled." The basis is to double the income of the people, listen to what he has to say!" The smiling cat raised two fingers and pointed at Haiwen, "Your Honor, please!"

Hai Wen glared at him and said, "Everyone, you should know what supports the economy of Mustang Town."

Everyone looked at each other, only Dreyer said: "Isn't it just farming? What else can there be?"

Haiwen recalled some previous knowledge about the world's agricultural production in his mind, and then said: "It is thick-rooted barley, water glutinous rice, muddy rice, and jute fruit that can be refined into slag sugar. Let's rely on nature for the time being. The industry is collectively referred to as the primary industry." He suddenly felt that he should get a blackboard, he had passed the teacher qualification certificate test, and he had also learned speech, so when he spoke, he would unconsciously enter the state of lecturing.

Probably because of his influence, the people below gradually became serious.Haiwen continued: "Then, for the time being, I define those secondary production processing industries as secondary industries, including blacksmiths, tailors, architects... These craftsmen are considered secondary industries. Undoubtedly, it was established in the first More than an industry. Without the support of agriculture, they have no raw materials and no market. Let me stop for a moment—you understand what I said before, right?" Everyone nodded, so he continued, "Finally, the innkeeper, Doctors, cooks and prostitutes, the rest of them are service-oriented employees. They need the support of the first and second industries——Smiley Cat, you should be able to feel it when you travel far and wide. It is a prosperous place, and the more developed the tertiary industry is.”

The smiling cat nodded and said: "That's right, my lord, the girls in Eagle Head City are the most juicy. From the tall beauties in the north to the black-skinned whores in the south, they are all tender..."

"Stop!" Haiwen raised his hand to interrupt, and then continued: "So the construction of the town's economy must follow this structure. We must first let the agriculture develop well, so that the farmers can have enough food."

Dreyer said at this time: "My lord, mud legs are still mud legs after they become rich. They are all as stupid as pigs and can't become anything else."

"But they will support my reforms, De Laier. These 'mud legs' are the foundation of everything. With their support and mobilization of their strength, I can take the next step."

At this time, Fatty Van Deli raised his hand to indicate that he had something to say, and Hai Wen said, "Van Deli, you say it."

The fat man swallowed, looked around, and said in a low voice, "The peasants are too lazy to mobilize. They don't want to work too much after being whipped."

Without waiting for Haiwen to speak, Estherite said at this time: "First of all, they don't have enough to eat and don't have the energy to work; secondly, whatever they do is for nothing! The more they do, the more they are taken away. If you look forward to it, you will naturally be lazy. Serfs work under the hands of farmers, and lazy people starve to death. Hardworking people may not be able to eat more. What's more, one person has such a piece of land. What else can one do after plowing the land? ?”

Isrit has always been very daring to speak, and Haven admires her very much. Few women in this era are as brave as her.

Haiwen went on to say: "So we mobilize the enthusiasm of farmers. I want them to know that the more they work, the more they get, the more they work hard, the richer they are, the shame of being lazy. Once the farmers are motivated, the production efficiency will be greatly improved. .In this way, not only will the peasants be liberated, but those with whips will no longer be necessary.”

Hearing this, Dreyer frowned and asked: "Lord Mayor, what you said is good, but what should we do? How can we mobilize the enthusiasm of those muddy legs and make them work harder?"

"Slowdown is because of uneven distribution—someone is taking too much, and we have to make the distribution even." He glanced at Dreyer and said, "You know what I mean?"

"You mean..." the butler said with his eyes widened, "this is no different from a riot."

"This is not a riot, but a just revolution," Haiwen said.

Author's message:

ps: Happy birthday to book friend Fengsan w

Thank you for your support from World Lock to here.

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Chapter 28: Scheduling tasks

Chapter 28: Scheduling tasks

Some people understand, some people are still confused.Haiwen didn't intend to finish his speech right away, this time he ordered directly: