Chapter 265 Obligations of Vassals
After the last appointment document of the pioneer knight was auctioned for a sky-high price of 246,000 gold pounds, this almost carnival-like auction came to an end.
A few thin pieces of paper, just because the content recorded on them represents the title of a hereditary noble, can be auctioned for a sky-high price that is difficult for ordinary people to reach in their lifetime. This has to be said to be quite humorous. matter.
However, this is not the focus of Purficott and the Duke of Gloucester and Sir McClintock who came to the north specially.
What really concerns the three imperial ministers is the ownership of these five pioneering knight documents and their subsequent handling.
Although Purficott took out these five documents in order to make money and promote the Northern Territory, this does not mean that the five people who got the development documents only had to pay.
“The reason why aristocrats are aristocrats is that in addition to enjoying power, nobles also have to pay obligations.” Purficott drank the black tea brewed by Befa and faced the five people in front of him. He said: "You or the people you represent have obtained the development documents, which means that from now on you are vassals in the north, and vassals must perform corresponding obligations to their lords.
< br>These obligations include managing and guarding your own fiefdom, responding to the lord's recruitment, and more importantly, paying taxes.
I know that the essential purpose of getting the pioneering documents is to be in the upper echelons of Langton. There is nothing wrong with getting a stepping stone in the social circle, but as I said just now, to enjoy rights, you must pay obligations, and you or the people you represent are also indispensable for the obligations that a northern vassal should fulfill. "
Regarding Purficott's words, the five people who successfully bid for the five development documents were naturally prepared. They also understood that the rights and obligations of the nobles were corresponding.
So one of them immediately said: "Lord, please rest assured that since we have accepted the status of the Northern Frontier Knights, we will naturally use it to fulfill our responsibilities and fulfill our obligations.
It’s just that our foundation and industry are in the empire. Although we intend to expand in the north, the places where we can serve you are limited. Is it possible to make a donation to offset some of the obligations that are not convenient for us to fulfill? "
This is a factory owner in Langton. He runs several large textile factories and controls almost one-third of the textile industry in the empire. He is an out-and-out big capitalist.
Whether it is a royal shipyard or a private shipyard, more than 70% of the canvas is produced in his factory.
And the airships and airbag skins used in the current manufacturing are all produced by his factory. It can be said that he has a decisive influence on the empire.
This time I came to the North in person, originally just to get closer to Perficot, and at the same time to see if there were any suitable business opportunities in the North.
However, he did not expect that he would encounter the northern lord's auction of development documents. Naturally, he, who had been seeking noble status, did not miss this god-given opportunity.
As for the nobles' obligation mentioned by Purficott, he has naturally considered it. After all, he is a big businessman and has a huge business to take care of in Langton. He occasionally takes time to do it. Traveling to the north is not a big problem, but having to stay in his so-called fiefdom in the north to fulfill the obligations of a vassal for a long time is a bit too much for him.
So from the beginning, he planned to offset his vassal obligations by donating money, even if it was only a partial offset. After all, money is not a problem to him, and anything that can be solved with money is not a problem.
But in the face of his words, Purficott directly asked: "Do you think I am short of money? Or do you think the North is short of money?"
"This..." Faced with Purficott's question put the big businessman in a bit of embarrassment, but he quickly replied: "Lord, you own the entire northern territory, so there is no shortage of money, but the more money, the better."
Hearing this, Purficott laughed, but she quickly shook her head and smiled: "More money is just a burden that takes up space for me, and a person with the power of a sage If the stone alchemist needs money..."
Perfect took out his Midas Philosopher's Rod and knocked it on the coffee table nearby, and then the entire coffee table turned from wood into gold.
“Look, wouldn’t it be nice if I changed it?” Purficott smiled a little narrowly, but she did not embarrass the businessman. She just said to him and the other four people beside him: “I Knowing that you or the people you represent are important businessmen in Langton, with a large number of industries in the empire, it is understandable that it is not convenient for you to come to the north to fulfill your vassal obligations.
But this understanding does not mean that you do not need to fulfill your obligations. As I said, while enjoying power, you must also pay obligations. This is the foundation for the maintenance of the imperial aristocratic system, and no one can violate it. it. ”
When Purficott said this, he also glanced at the Duke of Gloucester and Sir McClintock beside him, and these two people also nodded to Purficott’s words. Agreed.
The nobles enjoyed privileges in the past because they had the responsibility to defend their territory, but now it is because they surrendered their military power and territorial management rights, which gave them the power of the royal family and the imperial government. Preferential treatment.
However, today's nobles have also lost many privileges after losing their territorial management rights and military power, and some of the lower nobles have even declined and only have one title.
So the statement that rights and obligations are corresponding is a truth in their view
But this sounded somewhat unsatisfactory to the businessman in front of him, although he also heard that Purficott had not finished what he said.
"I understand your special situation, and I also understand that this kind of thing cannot be forced, so I can give you some preferential treatment." Seeing that the beating was almost done, Perficott did not continue to embarrass the five people in front of him. Instead, he stated the plan he had already thought of: "You or the people you represent can appoint an acting official to replace you in the north and manage your territory...
Oh, Your development documents only delineated the scope of the territory. It is still deserted, so your territory needs to be built by yourself.
This is also one of your obligations as a vassal in the north, and it is also right now. Your most important task, I need you to establish at least a village of 500 people in your respective territories within a year and allow them to maintain a basic life.
In addition, get the documents. You also need to come to the North in person to accept the canonization, and come to see me at least once a year. Other than that, I do not force you to stay in the North.”
(End of this chapter)