novelraw Chapter 586: Task Settlement
Chapter 586: Task Settlement
The settlement proceeded for a full three days, because after all factions were settled, the next step was precision down to each individual.
As long as one had set foot on the Ascension Continent, then they would all receive this kind of settlement. Whether good or bad, it would give an objective evaluation as well as a legal identity as an Imperial Freeman of the Aussenville Empire.
Even for the kings and Lords, as well as the legions and Commoners of the Sarleon Kingdom, Rylinbas Kingdom, and Locke Kingdom who had long since left, none were an exception.
This had nothing to do with other external conditions, but rather, the moment the three great kingdoms took away the Ascension Continent's Mana Reserve, it was destined that there would be such a result.
Of course, this identity as an Imperial Freeman was merely an identity. The three kingdoms merely nominally became Vassal States of Aussenville.
However, indeed a large portion of the small and medium-sized factions that had been beaten until they were Scuttling in panic and regretting everything obtained the qualification to re-enter the Ascension Continent. These were those people who had started off as mountain bandits, Thieves, and uprising armies.
A massive quantity!
It was roughly around ten million. This was inherently a reward after the success of the Imperial Restoration mission.
Of course, these people could also choose to refuse and continue to be loyal to the kings who had once abandoned and betrayed them. There truly were such independent-minded individuals.
So it was also hard to judge anything.Ultimately, approximately nine million people surged back into the Ascension Continent, allowing the Total Population of the entire Aussenville Empire to successfully break through to eleven million. It could barely be considered to have a bit of the appearance of an Empire.
After these people surged in, Karl immediately issued welfare policies akin to a covenant with the common people, similar to a Three-point agreement, but in reality somewhat more complex.
First of all, the first part was to firmly and persistently follow Basic Humanistic Care.
Secondly, it was to not pursue all past crimes. Everyone was innocent, and old scores would not be brought up.
Thirdly, everyone would receive a piece of land ranging from ten to fifty mu in total, depending on quality and location.
Fourthly, everyone would receive a Sequence Two Magic Crest, which could serve as a family heirloom.
Fifthly, tax exemption for ten years. After ten years, Farmer-type Professions would only be charged a 10% basic income tax, commercial trades would only be charged a 15% transaction tax, and professional Mercenaries would only be charged a 20% income tax.
Sixthly, in principle, this generation of Imperial Freemen could all choose not to execute relevant tasks. They could live their whole lives safely and steadily as empire natives. But once registered as a professional Mercenary or exiled Lord, they must execute a Mandatory Quest once every five years.
Seventhly, if a new pioneering Territory was established in a mission plane, it would automatically transform into an imperial autonomous territory. An autonomous territory could be Upgraded at highest into an autonomous Vassal State, but required paying a high Tax of 45%. Specifically, it was the same as back then; even the Taxes were somewhat less.
Eighthly, all Imperial Freemen at the Third-Circle and above had the obligation and responsibility to serve in the military.
Ninthly, all Imperial Freemen at the Fourth Tier and above had the obligation and responsibility to obey the summons of the Nine-Star Council and go execute Special Missions. This was once every hundred years, but could be exempted using certain Resources and items (This clause was only visible to Imperial Freemen at the Fourth Tier and above).
Tenthly, all Imperial Centurions, Chiliarchs, and Myriarchs were exempt from paying Taxes and exempt from executing additional tasks. However, they must serve long-term and be ready for combat at any time.
The above was Karl's Ten Imperial Commandments.
And as the Ten Imperial Commandments were issued, the Imperial Magic Seal also finally successfully coalesced. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled, and fierce winds howled like a Doomsday Calamity. Massive amounts of Mana across the entire Ascension Continent were extracted and ultimately transformed into a single Magic Seal, as if it could suppress fate, and then immediately transformed into a Magic Web covering the entire Ascension Continent.
Following closely, Karl promulgated the rules and standards for using the Magic Web, including that all Spellcasters must come to the imperial capital's Spellcaster Association to register and participate in a three-year special training————
At the same time, the imperial capital also established three types of professional associations: the Rangers Guild, the Knights Guild, and the Warriors Guild. From now on, relevant professional paths could all come to the associations for inquiries and resolutions.
And with the successful coalescing of the Magic Seal, it also announced the formal establishment of the Aussenville Empire.
Subsequently, a paragraph of Global Proclamation floated in front of all Imperial Freemen.
[Global Proclamation]
[The establishment of the Aussenville Empire represents a new pattern and system. Having achieved centralization to the greatest extent and nationalized the Mana Reserve, the Empire can unleash even more powerful productivity and combat power. From now on, the Empire will not establish provinces, will not establish Lords with actual power, and will not grant Enfeoffments of Territories. From top to bottom, it will establish a management model centered around the Magic Seal, with a five-level Magic Web covering the imperial territory.]
[Explanation: The five-level Magic Web, from top to bottom, is divided into Level 5, Level 4, Level 3, Level 2, and Level 1. Among them, the Level 1 Magic Web is the lowest-level Magic Web, and also the most widespread Magic Web. It possesses the standard of a Low Magic World, with a Mana content of 0.5%. It cannot naturally release Magic, can only sense Mana Fluctuations, and can only collect Mana by planting farmlands, fruit trees, and vegetables. However, registered and enrolled Spellcasters can release Sequence One Magic by accessing and communicating with the Level 1 Magic Web.]
[The Level 2 Magic Web allows for casting Second-Sequence Magic.]
[The Level 3 Magic Web allows for casting and releasing Sequence Three Magic, and so on.]
[Outside of the Magic Web, the Spellcaster Association, Rangers Guild, Knights Guild, and Warriors Guild will be extremely important management institutions. They will similarly follow a five-level structure. Level 5 is the highest, located in the imperial capital, and hosted by the imperial authorities. Level 4 is next, and will establish branches in appropriate locations based on population distribution and regional size.]
[According to imperial law, there can only be one Level 5 Association. There will temporarily be nine Level 4 Associations. The four types of associations must be established in the same region, set up level by level together with the nine departments of the Empire.]
[There will temporarily be twenty-seven Level 3 Associations. The rules are the same as above.]
[Level 2 Associations and Level 1 Associations temporarily do not have a set limit.]
[When the Empire's four major professional associations and the Empire's nine departments complete their level-by-level establishment, the Empire's framework will also be completed. At that time, as the Empire officially operates, it will formally generate Collective Sanity.]
[The creator, pioneer, and founder of the Aussenville Empire, Emperor Orson Vale, currently a Seven-Star Councilor of the Nine-Star Council, will obtain a permanent 20 points of Collective Sanity. That is, even if it temporarily drops, it will slowly recover after a battle concludes.]
[The successor and glorifier of the Aussenville Empire, Emperor Karl, will obtain 15 points of Collective Sanity (including the previous 10 points).]
[The Chiefs of the Aussenville Empire's four major associations and the Imperial Myriarchs will all obtain 10 points of Collective Sanity.]
[The Deputies and third seats of the Aussenville Empire's four major associations (corresponding to Level 4 and Level 3 associations), Imperial Chiliarchs, Imperial Centurions, as well as association managers and department officials of the same level, will all obtain 5 points of Collective Sanity.]
[All Imperial Freemen of the Aussenville Empire, prior to violating imperial law and committing crimes, will all obtain 3 points of Collective Sanity.]
[Friendly reminder: the above are all established on the basis that the Aussenville Empire continues to exist. If the Empire ceases to exist, these Collective Sanity points will not only be deducted, but a 50% penalty will also be applied. Therefore, being totally loyal to the country and defending the Empire will be the responsibility and obligation each Imperial Freeman ought to fulfill.]
And after this large paragraph of Global Proclamation, it was finally time for Li Wei's settlement. However, more accurately speaking, it was a negotiation between Li Wei and Karl.
Because this fellow, Black Hawk Hulk, acting as Karl's Special Envoy, personally arrived at Liwei Keep on the fourth day and was about to commence negotiations with Li Wei.
"Brother Li, I've heard your great name for a long time ah!"
This fellow looked exactly identical to Mountain Eagle Parker, but was a Fifth-tier Epic Mage, and possessed extremely high oppressive force. Li Wei didn't dare let Hathaway, Li Yue, and the others get close, guarding against them being subjected to Mind Control and having the thoughts in their hearts read.
Of course, there was also another reason, which was that the Moor Kingdom's royal princess Istana was filled with hatred towards this fellow. Because this fellow was the true culprit who caused the destruction of the Moor Kingdom.
"Lord Hulk is too polite. I'm just a nameless pawn. It's all relying on Emperor Karl's brilliant and divine martial prowess that I regained a new life ah. Therefore, my Loyalty towards Emperor Karl and my Loyalty towards the Empire can be witnessed by Luo Mountain."
Li Wei sat alone with Black Hawk Hulk in the vast reception room of Liwei Keep. Along the entire way, not a single Human Silhouette could be seen. As for outside, eight hundred Knights of the Blazing Legion were devoting their full attention to executing security tasks. Their Illusion-Piercing Killing Intent surged like a rainbow, the Blazing War Standard burned fiercely, and eighteen entire-army Legion Skills were Poised for Action.
Absolutely not giving any Assassins or scoundrels the opportunity to assassinate Lord Hulk.
"Hehe, Lord Li Wei truly is a pillar of the Empire ah."
Even with the shrewdness Black Hawk Hulk had accumulated over hundreds of years of living, at this moment he could only force a smile. Motherfucker, thinking of how he, a dignified Fifth-Tier Epic Mage, had ever suffered this kind of anger? What kind of person dared to be Sarcastic and Cynical right to his face like this?
And even having Luo Mountain as a witness, your granduncle!
However, there was no other way ah. This disgust churned in his chest, but ultimately he still had to swallow it down himself.
Having already entered the new Imperial Age, one shouldn't haggle over these things.
"The Empire has the intention to establish the Level 4 branches of the four associations and nine departments at Kahndorf Fortress, and connect to the Level 4 Magic Web. This matter still requires much support from Lord Li Wei."
Black Hawk Hulk cut straight to the chase. He didn't want to stay here for even a minute longer, much less want to see this face in front of him.
"We can, but the Luo Mountain region has always been a bitterly cold frontier area. I'm just afraid that you Lords won't be able to bear the hardships here wa." Li Wei said with a deeply affectionate face.
But Black Hawk Hulk remained expressionless. "Since it is a bitterly cold frontier, then naturally a garrison is needed. The Empire permits stationing no more than ten thousand Soldiers here, and at the same time can grant one hundred Centurion identities."
"Ten thousand active-duty, full-time standing army troops is acceptable. But one hundred Centurions is too few. How about a thousand? Lord Hulk, you also know that Luo Mountain's terrain is complex. Wild beasts and savages in the mountains frequently appear and are difficult to manage. Without heavy troops guarding, I fear that unspeakable matters might occur."
"You're freaking Joking!" Black Hawk Hulk finally couldn't suppress the fury in his heart.
"Not so. I am only doing my utmost Loyalty for the Empire ah, Lord Hulk. The Aum Empire established by the Neanderthals has always been A serious hidden threat to us. In the future, if the Omnians invade, I am willing to serve as the vanguard!"
Li Wei hastily said. He also knew that demanding one thousand Imperial Centurions was too excessive, but there was no other way. Only like this could he avoid to the greatest extent Karl slipping sand into his side and sending Infiltrators. This aspect was truly impossible to guard against completely.