I’m the Only One Who Can Put the Tyrant To Sleep

Chapter 42 “… Yes?”Count Fergie looked bewildered.“I understand that Count of Fergie’s territory is a plain located at the southernmost part of the Empire. Most of the local are engaged in agriculture, correct?”“Yes, but does that matter?”“And your family demands taxes from the harvested crops every month, 40 percent each.”I looked at Caesar in surprise.There were many nobles in this empire, and they all had different ways of running their estates.‘But for Caesar to not only know where Count Fergie’s land is but also that its people are engaged in agriculture and the exact tax percentage?’“But, His Highness, that is within the limits permitted by Imperial law.”Count Fergie responded with no shame. As he said, Imperial law allowed tax collection of up to 40 percent.“But why don’t other nobles get 40 percent full? Is it because they are particularly generous?”As if waiting for an answer, Caesar paused and looked around the table. But no one opened their mouth.“Of course not. It’s simply because collecting 40 percent taxes is practically impossible. When taxes are that high, most farmers would rather quit farming or move away.”Caesar spoke quietly.“Then how can Count Fergie get a 40 percent tax? Very generously, I might add, by deferring any shortfalls to the next month.”Count Fergie’s face flushed red.“His highness, that-”“Of course, there is a high interest rate for the carryover. Young people who carried over their taxes without knowing anything, started farming again to pay off their debts, couldn’t pay taxes again, owed them again, and then…”“His highness, we are here to discuss national taxes! I’ll take care of my estate’s business-”“They live lives no different from slaves, handing over every bit of their harvest to the Fergie family.”‘That’s outright usury!’I looked at Count Fergie with disgust. Yet, deep down, I couldn’t help but be impressed. How did Caesar know all of this?‘Did he investigate the noble factions beforehand? Was he prepared for a situation like this?’I wasn’t the only one surprised. The atmosphere at the table grew tense.“But… but, His highness, none of this violates Imperial law! For you to criticize me and my family in this manner—!”Count Fergie protested in a loud voice. Caesar nodded slowly.“I didn’t say a word that you broke the law, did I? It’s not me who is blaming you and your family. Perhaps it’s the remnants of guilt in your heart that are doing so?”“…….”“Count. The commoners aren’t starving because of an individual noble’s extravagance, but because lords like you exploit them under the guise of legality.”“I, I just followed the law-”“Do you think the law can forgive everything?”Caesar delivered the final blow.“Let me return your own words to you. Politics doesn’t exist solely in books.”The flow has completely changed.I barely restrained myself from clapping. The aristocrats faction began subtly distancing themselves from Count Gergie, their expressions stiff, and the Duke of Bryden was looking at Caesar with curious eyes.“But, but I…”Count Fergie, who had been muttering, suddenly shouted as if he had caught.“But what difference does it make if national taxes are increased? You may criticize me all you like, but isn’t raising national taxes the same as what I’m doing? Ultimately, it’s just forcibly taking money from the commoners!”“I said I agreed to increasing national taxes, yes, but I don’t recall ever saying the target would be commoners or that it was forced supply.”“Ha, then are you suggesting taxing the nobles instead?”Count Fergie, excited, half-raised his body, spitting and vomiting. It was very ugly to see him gradually losing his manners.On the other hand, Caesar was relaxed from beginning to end.“I didn’t say it would be nobles, either.”“Are you playing word games with me?”“Of course not. I propose collecting taxes from all citizens of the Empire, regardless of status. And, rather than being compulsory, it will be voluntary.”When Caesar finished speaking, there was a moment of silence. And…“Pfft… Haha!”Count Fergie burst into laughter.“Everyone voluntarily paying taxes? Truly remarkable! So, what will you do? Will you personally go out onto the streets to beg?”He crossed the line.The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly became quiet. If Caesar made up his mind, he could very well charge Count Fergie with insulting the Imperial family for that comment.Realizing his mistake, Count Fergie’s face stiffened. He hesitated, as though he wanted to apologize, but ultimately said nothing.‘What a fool. Is this really the time to cling to your pride?’“Begging, you say? That hadn’t occurred to me, but it’s an amusing idea.”Caesar smirked—a smirk identical to the one he had given Duke Spiegel at the banquet.‘Ah, he’s about to reveal it now.’“Unfortunately, I have a slightly better method in mind.”I looked at Caesar with a pounding heart. Whether by design or coincidence, this was undoubtedly the perfect timing.Suddenly, Caesar picked up his copy of the meeting minutes and began tearing the paper into pieces.“W-What are you doing? Surely you’re not invalidating this meeting entirely—”“Of course not.”Caesar continued to tear the paper. He tore it in half, then again, and again. By the time he was done, the paper had been shredded into tiny scraps the size of fingernails.“That would be enough.”The nobles just stared blankly at the pieces of paper lying on the table, but didn’t say anything. All of them looked puzzled.Caesar said with a smile on his face.“I plan to increase the national tax with this.” **** Duke Bryden did not intervene in the confrontation between Crown Prince Caesar and Count Fergie. Instead, he watched the situation unfold as if he were a spectator.As if to prove that what he saw at the banquet was not a lie, the Crown Prince easily defended Count Fergie’s attack.‘Was it only defense? No, he counterattacked as well.’Caesar’s performance exceeded what Bryden had initially expected. Perhaps it would be best to end it here. Any misstep born of overconfidence could lead to disaster, undoing all progress.‘However…’As a close ally to the Emperor, he knew that the Emperor’s illness was worse than publicly known. After the Emperor died, the Duke of Bryden had to make a choice.Would he align with Caesar, the legitimate heir of the imperial family? Or would he break the longstanding ties and seek a new path?This, perhaps, was his final opportunity—a chance to see the Crown Prince’s capabilities.‘There is no chance of winning if he doesn’t capture even half of the nobles here, or at least sway some of the Emperor’s faction.’So the Duke of Bryden chose to watch without interfering.Duke Bryden looked now at the pieces of paper scattered on the table.‘What on earth does the Crown Prince going to do with this?’“Well then…”Caesar picked one of the pieces of paper and made a small checkmark on it with a pen. Then he folded the paper so that the mark was not visible.“Hm… Duke of Bryden.”“Ye-yes?”Startled, Duke Bryden, who had been intensely focused on Caesar’s actions, flinched at the unexpected call.“Would you mind helping me fold these?”“All of them?”“I fear it will take too long to do it alone.”It looked like there were more than 50 pieces of paper. The Duke followed his orders, not understanding what Caesar was thinking.After folding all the fifty or so papers, Caesar gathered them into a single pile and shuffled them thoroughly, ensuring no one could tell which piece bore the mark.‘Is it a lottery?’Duke Bryden speculated with growing curiosity. Perhaps Caesar planned to distribute the papers to the nobles and offer some sort of prize to whoever drew the marked one…‘But what does that have to do with the national tax?’Moreover, there were just over twenty nobles present. To ensure a winner, each person would need to take at least two pieces.As the Duke pondered, Caesar began to explain.“From now on, I will sell these pieces of paper for one silver each.”The table was very noisy. It was absurd to sell such useless paper for 1 silver.“And to the person who draws the piece with the checkmark, I will award 10 gold coins.”“… Yes?”Ten gold coins amounted to 1,000 silver coins—a staggering return of 1,000 times the investment. It was a tempting proposal. Furthermore, 1 silver was such a trivial amount to the nobles that they wouldn’t bother to pick it up if they dropped it on the road.“Now, who will buy first?”There was a moment of silence at Caesar’s question. Everyone hesitated, unsure of the purpose behind this odd proposal.“I’ll buy one.”To break the mood, the Duke of Bryden was the first to raise his hand. For now, this was the best he could help.A servant from the Duke’s household hurried forward to hand over 1 silver coin. Caesar allowed the Duke to personally select a piece of paper from the pile.