Game of Thrones: From a deserter to a high-ranking official

Chapter 37 Flexible Handling

When Tiberius saw this, he couldn't help but marvel once again at Jules's high prestige.

In a normal mercenary group setting, Calvin's actions would undoubtedly be seen as a coup, and even if Jules had explained the disadvantages of smuggling accounts to everyone, there would still be some who would be dissatisfied and demand a share of the land.

But under Jules's authority, they actually agreed to let the big boss use the public accounts, while they themselves only took a small share of land and dividends.

It can only be said that, in terms of sheer numbers, Jules' White Legion is not top-tier, but rather second-rate. However, in terms of his control over his subordinates, Jules is definitely one of the top mercenary leaders in Essos!

More than a mercenary leader, Jules is like the president of a brotherhood, responsible for uniting his men into a cohesive force.

After hearing Jules' decision, no one had any further objections, so they went out in twos and threes, preparing to go back to wash up and go to bed.

Vito walked over to Tiberius and patted him on the shoulder somewhat awkwardly.

"See that, kid? That's what mercenaries are like!" Vito pointed at the backs of Calvin and the others. "We're just like duckweed in a pond. When the sun shines, we float steadily on the surface, but when the storm comes, we're just rootless weeds, battered to pieces by the rain and wind! Don't be fooled by Calvin's loud argument today; he's really scared! What he said today is the sentiment of all mercenaries: a mercenary, even until death, is still just a mercenary!"

"You don't know, the biggest dream of us mercenaries is to have our own land, our own business, to steadily make money, to grow some loose, flabby fat around our waists, and ideally, to eat cured ham every day with a bottle of wine—that would be absolutely wonderful!"

But then, Vito sighed again.

"But even such a life is just wishful thinking! For those governors and wealthy merchants, paying mercenaries is one thing, but giving them land and property dividends? Don't even think about it! Braavos defeated Pentos by issuing land deeds and dividend certificates to three thousand mercenaries, and the result? Ha, Pentos's army was directly breached by those three thousand men!"

"But to be fair, actually, using official accounts is fine too..." He clicked his tongue. "After all, Tiberius, you know I'm known throughout our company for being quite frugal and thrifty!"

Tiberius's mind flashed back to Vito's extravagant spending at the Les Eroica and his boasting to old Tom and Jules in the bar, "This round's on me." His lips twitched slightly, and he expressed deep skepticism about the assessment of "thrifty and frugal."

Vito, oblivious to Tiberius's subtle expression, continued his grand pronouncements, lowering his voice even further: "To actually have such a large piece of land directly allocated to me, oh, just thinking about it gives me a headache! I'd have to worry about whether those hundreds of slaves are well-fed and obedient, I'd have to watch out for those envious neighbors who might set fires in the middle of the night, and I'd have to scheme against those tax collectors who are more cunning than foxes... I'm good at accounting, I can do the math, and even thinking about it makes me uncomfortable, let alone Calvin and old Tom, who barely know a few words!"

"And besides..." Vito glanced furtively at the departing figures and quickly lowered his voice.

"I've heard plenty of stories from those maesters in Oldtown! The peasants, even the big landowners and lords of Westeros—these nobles, of course—are all sordid when it comes to dividing land and property among their offspring: Why is most of my land a rocky slope, while yours is fertile land near the river? Why do I only have a few houses, while you have a great fortress?"

"That's how it is even among blood brothers, let alone us! By then, the complaints from these old guys will be overwhelming! Chief Jules has high prestige now and can keep it under control, but what about in the long run? That'll be a problem too!"

At this point, he chuckled, with a hint of mockery directed at his old buddies who knew him inside and out.

"Besides, with the character of Calvin and Old Tom... Ha! You don't know, do you know why Old Tom is so devoted to the boss? Because Old Tom is a gambler! Several times, the boss has had to pay his gambling debts with a dark face and get them back from the casino owner!"

"As for Calvin, ha! He wasn't just an old drunkard, he was a lecherous glutton! Back in the Ries's Erotic Garden, he squandered three months' worth of military pay in a single night! When he woke up the next day, besides a splitting headache, he couldn't remember a thing!"

"To put it bluntly, if they get the land today, they'll dare to pawn it to a pawnshop tomorrow! Then they'll be penniless. Does Chief Jules really think he can just watch them get kicked out? It's better this way: the land belongs to the legion, and we get a share of land and dividends according to our merits and ranks—a steady stream of income. That way, we won't end up with anyone having to sell their land!"

"Besides, even if they don't indulge in drinking, gambling, and prostitution, managing them is still a difficult task! Just like I told you before, those countless taxes are what really give people a headache!"

"Vito, you've reminded me of something," Tiberius said, as if he had suddenly thought of something.

"According to what you said before, if we honestly pay according to the law, the brothers will probably be skinned alive."

"Exactly!" Vito scoffed. "That's why so many small landowners and self-sufficient farmers secretly engage in shady dealings! Don't want to? Hmph, wait until a year of famine, or when the agricultural market is saturated, or even worse, when war taxes are levied... Ha! You'll be bankrupt, forced to sell your children, pawn your wife, and become a debt slave!"

Tiberius pondered for a moment, then a smile suddenly appeared on his lips: "I understand... So, the key is 'flexibility,' not 'following the rules.'"

Vito paused, then asked, "What do you mean?"

Tiberius interrupted him, his eyes sharp. "Vito, your previous 'bookkeeping fees,' 'parchment fees,' and 'entertainment expenses' when the tax collectors came down to inspect... these might be a turning point! Feed the brats, and their accounts will naturally become 'uneven'!"

He continued his analysis. "If enough money is given, the number of slaves can be 'dynamically changed,' mills can 'seasonally shut down,' and livestock can 'unexpectedly die out' or 'not grow up to be satisfactory. Land grades and areas can be determined through 'friendly negotiations' and 'natural disasters'... As long as the bribes are properly paid, those gray areas in the implementation process become our living space."

"So..." Vito grinned. "You little rascal, what 'idea' have you got this time?"

"This matter must be handled discreetly. Vito, you have a wide network of connections. Find a few trustworthy, clean-cut old brothers to do some preliminary research. Find out what kind of people the tax collectors in charge of our area are, what their preferences are, and what difficulties they may be facing at home. We need intelligence."

Tiberius squinted and said, "Among the tax officials, we need someone 'inside our own,' someone who understands the tax code, knows how to 'legally' circumvent it, and can even use those rules against us. We need to find a 'partner' among the tax officials, or cultivate one."

Vito's eyes widened: "You little rascal...you've got some nerve! But, every manor owner in Ries does this!"

"Those tax collectors may not accept favors from the White Legion, nor from the 'Keepers of Faith,' and they probably won't accept favors from me, 'Lightning' boy Tiberius... But!" Tiberius pointed to a gold-threaded handkerchief on his person—a gift from Lisanro.

"Lisangluo Luojiaer, this young master Luojiaer, he should at least repay the favor, right?!"