Chapter 301
Now, Devers gently lifted the quilt and looked at Cristoya's naked body. Less than half a year after giving birth, she had regained her seductive figure: snow-white skin, slender legs, plump breasts, firm buttocks …
Devers couldn't help but stretch out his hand and slowly stroke her lovely toes … Then he felt the fire rising in his body again …
"… Okay, Devers … Let me … sleep a little longer, I'm so sleepy …" Cristoya wriggled her body and said in a daze.
Devers had to suppress his desire and covered his wife with the quilt.
… …
"So, your brother also went to Cosenza." Devers sat in the study and listened to Aristiras' report. During the time he was away from Turií, some things happened in Diónia and the surrounding areas.
"He has been gone for six days, and there is no news yet," Aristiras answered truthfully.
Devers heard something from his serious tone and asked, "Aren't you worried?"
Aristiras did not say anything.
"Don't worry, Bruti doesn't have the guts to hurt our messengers! They may be on the way back, or they may be imprisoned by Bruti … "Devers comforted him seriously," If there is no news in a few days. Diónia will threaten Bruti with war and force them to release the messengers! "
"… Thank you, sir!" Aristiras said with some worry and some gratitude.
Devers patted his shoulder solemnly and said, "A warrior who dares to risk his life for Diónia, Diónia will never mistreat him! When your brother comes back, he will become an official citizen much earlier than you! But don't worry, I will remember everything you have done! "
Aristiras didn't say anything but bowed respectfully.
Devers asked again, "Is there anything else?"
Aristiras adjusted his emotions and said in a deep voice, "Yes, it's about Polyxis."
"Polyxis?" Devers blinked.
"We found out that Polyxia granted freedom to many slaves in his family, and then with his help, these freed slaves applied to the Ministry of Agriculture to rent a lot of land …" Aristiras paused and looked at the Devers.
Dyvers listened without batting an eyelid. There was nothing unusual in what Aristiras had just said. On the contrary, the Devers had to praise him, for he had responded to their call and set a good example by freeing many slaves.
However, Devers knew that things were not that simple.
"These emancipated slaves used part of the income from the rented land to pay taxes, and part for their own use. Most of the income was given to Polyxis."
Hearing this, the Devers' eyes suddenly widened. "How much profit did they give to Polyxis?"
"I don't know the exact ratio, but I'm afraid it's not a small number. Because he had about 35 emancipated slaves who applied for about 180 acres of land. "Aristiras looked at the records in his hand and said.
"These slaves should know about the law on land rental issued by Diónia. Why didn't anyone report it?" Devers asked loudly.
"It is understood that these slaves were born to Polyxis and have lived in his home for at least 20 years. They should be very loyal to him. Secondly, Polyxis, through his connections with the Ministry of Agriculture, let these slaves rent fertile land. In addition to the 20% rent tax and the money given to Polyxis (registered free people pay 20% land tax when renting land, preparatory citizens pay 10% land tax, and official citizens only pay 1% land tax), the remaining income was far more than what they received as slaves. Moreover, these rented farmlands are close to each other, and the emancipated slaves live together in several large houses, monitoring each other. It is said that some of them live together with 'their families', but in fact, it is very likely that they are supervisors sent by Polyxis … "
When Aristiras finished, Devers's eyes narrowed into slits, and there was a cold glint in his eyes. He asked sternly, "Does Burcos know about this?"
"Judging from the current situation, he should not know," Aristiras replied seriously.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
Devers stared at Aristiras's face for a while, and felt slightly relieved. He had a very good impression of Burcos, especially after Devers led the army to defeat the Crotone and take over Turín. Burcos took the initiative to cooperate and stabilize the political situation in Turín, and he also actively responded to the new policy promulgated by Devers. Although he and Polyxis were famous nobles in Turín and owned a lot of land, Burcos voluntarily gave up the ownership of most of the land and released some of the slaves …
"That's good …" Devers said softly, but he knew in his heart that Burcos was probably going to be dragged down by his friendship this time.
"Is there anyone else who is doing this?" Devers asked with a gloomy face.
"We are still investigating, but there are so many cities, and we don't have enough manpower …" Aristiras said awkwardly.
"How many people do you need? Make a plan. After I read it, if I think it's feasible, I'll increase the budget for you. You have to investigate this matter seriously! Investigate carefully! Focus on all the senators in the Senate and the citizens who hold public office in the Alliance! " Devers's tone was strict. He did not expect that the Diónia had been established for less than two years, and corruption was already rampant. He was very angry.
But as a consul, Devers also had to consider other issues, so he reminded, "The investigation must be carried out quietly, and no one can be alerted. Report to me immediately if there's anything!"
"Understood, Sir!"
… …
"Devers! Devers! " Mercies shouted his name angrily, and hurried into the living room.
Devers knew that this fatty definitely had something to ask of him, so he put on a straight face and said, "Mercies, you have to call me Sir Consul here."
"Alright then, Sir Consul." Mercies walked in front of Devers, stretched out his hands, and said, "Please remove me from my position as the financial officer of the Alliance. I can't do this job anymore!"
"Why? You can't be thinking of taking a break to travel somewhere else, right? " Devers teased at first, but when he saw Mercies' serious face, he said in surprise, "Haven't you been doing well all this time?"
"You asked Marigi to tell me to prepare four legions and two months' worth of food reserves, right?" Mercies questioned.
Devers understood now. He nodded and said, "That's right, I told Marigi."
"I can't do that!" Mercies said in grief and indignation, "Four legions with at least thirty thousand people, and they consume nearly sixty thousand kilograms of grain every day. That's nearly four million kilograms in two months! With such a huge amount of grain, not counting the increase in price in the future, we have to pay at least … There's not that much money in the treasury now. Even if we include the income from the Alliance's land tax in September and October and the usual commercial tax, it's still not enough. This is because we still have to pay for the salaries of all the public officials, the construction of Castellón — Crimissa Avenue and Crimissa — Asplustum Avenue, the reconstruction of the Crimissa Swamp, and Plesinas' application to build small Hades temples in Amendola, Crimissa, Neutum, and other cities. Which one of these projects doesn't cost money? Hmm! A lot of money! "
"Alright, Mercies. I know you've tried all sorts of ways to save Diónia's expenses, and it's been very hard for you! But if you don't do it, I won't be able to find a better financial officer than you in the Alliance! Can you bear to see the Alliance that we've worked so hard to build collapse because of the lack of effective management of the treasury? "Devers quickly praised him.
"Now that the Alliance is getting bigger and bigger, the income and expenses are quite high. To manage them well, it's indeed not something an ordinary person can do!" Mercies was immediately energized after receiving the Devers' praise. The negative emotions from before were also released, and he no longer vented his dissatisfaction. Instead, he thought for a while and said, "Sir Consul, I can at most prepare three legions and a month's worth of grain. If you don't accept it, then it's my turn! "
One month! Devers rubbed his chin. In the past, when he led the army into battle, the battles mostly took place near Diónia's territory. The scope and scale of the battles were not large, and they all ended quickly. The longest battle, the Second Crotone War, did not last more than fifteen days, so he did not feel the pressure of logistics. This time, the war with Bruti was to conquer a region and become the enemy of an entire race. The difficulty would definitely increase greatly. Even if the war went smoothly, he predicted that it would definitely take longer than usual. Two months was just a conservative estimate. But he did not expect that this would already make Diónia feel strained, and they could not provide full support.
War was a competition of national strength! A sentence popped up in Devers's mind. He felt helpless. At the beginning of the year, Syracuse led an army of eighty thousand to attack Carthage. The war had already lasted for half a year, and it was still not over. Diónia had risen too quickly, but their foundation was too weak, and they did not have enough accumulation!
"Devers, I have a way to solve the problem of the grain supply," Mercies took a step forward and called Devers's name intimately, speaking in a slightly mysterious tone.
"Oh, what is it?" Devers's heart skipped a beat.
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