King
Chapter 739 - 739 31 Each Takes What He Needs_1

739: Chapter 31, Each Takes What He Needs_1 739: Chapter 31, Each Takes What He Needs_1 Returning to his mountain domain from Bera City, Hudson was immediately swarmed by a group of minor nobles who had heard about his arrival.

To pay the “Repayment Tax” from their own pockets, regardless of the amount, was certainly unpleasant, let alone when it was levied excessively.

“In regard to the repayment tax’s allocation, we’ve borne a whole forty percent more, Count.

This action hasn’t gone through the Provincial Noble Council.

If you, Count, take the lead, we can surely veto this illegal decision inside the council!

If this happens, you’d be considered our saviour, and in the next term, you’d surely be the Governor…”

Watching the bombastic performance of the old man, Hudson used a magic shield to protect himself from his spittle.

Deceiving people also requires some planning, huh!

There wouldn’t be any issue if the Provincial Noble Council were to veto the Governor’s decision.

But the problem wasn’t only with Governor Piers, but also with the high-level meeting in the capital.

Back then, everyone had only symbolically opposed the decision during the meeting.

How could Hudson make a scene at this time, openly overthrowing the decisions made in the capital?

No one likes an unruly man.

If such a thing, undermining political rules, were to happen, he could then forget about competing for the next Governorship, let alone maintaining his footing among the major nobility circles.

In order to cater the interests of a group of flip-flopping people, it would not be worth it to gamble his political career.

“Baron Lesley, what’s done is done.

It’s too late to talk about this now.

Among the fifteen prefectural governors in the province, only I have openly opposed it, which is insufficient to change the overall situation.

If you are not satisfied with the repayment tax allocation, you can appeal to your respective Prefecture Government, the Governor’s Mansion, or initiate an impeachment in the Provincial Noble Council!”

Hudson issued evasive responses.

If the appeal was effective, everyone wouldn’t bother coming here.

As a province of great taxation, it wasn’t weird for the Southeastern Province to bear a high proportion, but that too has a limit.

As per tradition, the ‘Repayment Tax’ assigned to the Southeastern Province should not exceed ten percent, but this time it had increased to fourteen percent.

In the past, if money was expended over the normal proportion, compensation would be received in one way or another, but this time, not even a hair of war loot was acquired.

Major nobles bear the brunt of the additional disbursements, however, this ‘main burden’ is relative to the total amount.

If it is broken down and examined minutely, the reality would prove to be entirely different from theory.

Under the traditional taxation system, tax collection was a top-down process, imposed on one level after another by the Governor and prefectural governors.

Minor nobles lacking considerable say in the matter would most likely carry the heaviest burden of taxation.

The primary reason people run to the mountain domain is: they neither wish to spend more nor dare to publicly confront the Dalton Family.

“Count, we do want to initiate an impeachment, but we lack a well-respected leader.

If you could take the lead, we would certainly be able to…”

Watching the elderly Baron Lesley make strenuous efforts in dramatizing the situation, Hudson inwardly shook his head.

This was typical minor noble thinking, not wholly understanding the bigger picture.

The approach of Earl Piers was killing several birds with one stone.

By compromising the interests of minor nobility at present, he not only won over the several intermediate nobility within the province, but also gained an advantage in his competition with the Koslow Family; thereby laying a foundation for his family’s expansion in the coming decades.

Under the system of rules, if minor nobility doesn’t fall, how could everyone else expand their territories?

The vast domain currently owned by the Dalton Family wasn’t granted en masse by the king, rather obtained through numerous land mergers.

Under these circumstances, if Hudson were to stick his neck out, he would be offending not just the Dalton Family but also numerous intermediate nobility and several ambitious minor nobility within the province.

Furthermore, the way the Dalton Family was playing this, was also beneficial to Hudson.

Nobles do not fall overnight, it’s a long process.

During this period, they are bound to resort to all sorts of tactics to patch their holes.

While he doesn’t expect to obtain many treasures, there should be no issue with buying some serfs to increase the population of his domain during this time.

With some luck, he could also attract some talent.

Taking over someone else’s business invokes deep-rooted, irreconcilable enmity.

With some guidance, these losers, in order to take revenge or rebuild their family business, would come to him, an opposing force to the Dalton Family, completely reasonable.

Lands are dead, people are alive.

You cannot move territories, however can one not move the people living on it?

If he had not had a plan in mind, Hudson wouldn’t have bothered bantering here with these people.

Did they think his count’s house threshold was so low that anyone could just come in?

“Baron Lesley, that’s all for today.

After a long journey, I need to rest now.”

“Nelson, arrange a banquet tonight to entertain our distinguished guests!”

After speaking, Hudson turned around and left directly.

His lack of respect left Baron Lesley without a temper.

Today, he came to seek help, not to offend.

It was okay for a major nobleman to have arrogance and willfulness, but minor noblemen couldn’t overstep their bounds.

Luckily, Hudson did not completely ignore the matter.

Although he left, he left Nelson to handle the reception.

By having the elder brother of the count to receive them, the etiquette was without a doubt perfect.

…

Back in the inner courtyard, looking at Melissa, who was noticeably pregnant, Hudson immediately put on a welcoming smile.

He had been away for three months, with very little correspondence in between.

Had it been in his previous life, there would have been an uproar, but now the courtyard was unusually harmonious.

Before he could say anything, Hudson was confused.

A person who should not have been there, appeared here.

Seeing Melissa and Isabel chatting and laughing, he felt something was off.

When the wife and mistress meet, a row is usually inevitable.

Not fighting was considered having restraint.

“So, was your trip to the capital successful?”

Melissa’s words brought Hudson back from his surprise.

“I encountered a bit of trouble, but overall it went smoothly.

What’s going on with you two?”

Barely uttering the question, Hudson cursed himself for his stupidity.

He should have acted as if he knew nothing.

Why did he have to bring up this topic?

“Aren’t all these your own doing?

Now I’m dealing with the aftermath for you, aren’t you happy about it!”

Melissa rolled her eyes while speaking.

Frankly speaking, she was very content with her current life.

Hudson’s moral restraint was far higher than she had expected.

Besides Isabel, his mistress, she could hardly find any faults.

However, for a young major nobleman, this was not even considered an issue.

Originally, she had prepared herself for the addition of numerous women when Hudson returned from the capital, but nothing like that happened.

“Happy, why wouldn’t I be happy!”

Hudson quickly responded.

Since they are together, they should just be together.

Isabel is not an easy target, nor is Melissa a naive girl.

In terms of capturing a man’s heart, Isabel definitely has the upper hand; but if it comes down to schemes, perhaps even three Isabels together wouldn’t be a match for Melissa.

Noble education is not only about academic knowledge and etiquette, but also practical tactics, including household strife.

The upper the aristocracy, the stricter the education in this respect.

“Political marriage” is a connection between two families.

Without certain tactics, how can one ensure that the marriage alliance can actually have an effect?

After a lot of coaxing and deceit, Hudson finally understood the ins and outs.

While he was away, Isabel voluntarily went to Melissa and promised her that she would not bear a child for Hudson within ten years.

This guarantee was almost meaningless.

Isabel, who was in pursuit of power, had no interest in having a child at the moment.

The golden age of a knight’s training lasts only several tens of years.

If she wanted to reach higher ground, of course, she couldn’t waste time.

After all, she is the mistress, not the main wife, so she wouldn’t face pressure to bear children.

Even if she never had a child, no one would talk about it.

Rather than living in constant fear, it’s better to just come out clearly and state she is not a threat.

So she wouldn’t end up being killed one day without knowing why.

Isabel was not naive enough to think that having Hudson’s protection can guarantee a worry-free life.

As the main wife, Melissa had many resources at her disposal.

If she really wanted to kill her, there were plenty of ways.

Of course, whether there were any other stories behind this, Hudson didn’t know and didn’t want to know.

As long as the result was good, the process often wasn’t that important.

…