Chapter 23 Mersis' Last Wish

Davers listened carefully, and finally nodded and said, "At the next executive meeting, what you said will be an important basis for tax rate discussions."

"What else are you discussing... Your Majesty, just settle it directly." Mersis muttered.

Davos seemed to have never heard of it. After seeing what he said, his spirit became even more lethargic, so he said with concern: "You can rest well, I will visit you next time!"

"Your Majesty, don't you stay for a while?! Next time you come again... I'm afraid you won't see me..." Mersis muttered again in a low tone.

When Davos heard this, his heart was sour, and just as he was about to comfort him, he heard Mersis say softly: "Your Majesty, do you remember the first time we met? ... At that time you just invented the Smoked sausages temporarily solved the problem of mercenaries' rations storage... As soon as I found out, I immediately went to Menon and asked to send you to my baggage unit... I still remember you telling us the story of the treasure that night... Yes Your help was one of the most relaxing times I've ever marched in Persia...I had a faint feeling that you were going to be a great person...so when Menon and you clashed, I stood firmly with you this side...

Now it proves how correct my choice is! ...I, a bankrupt small businessman from Ionia, finally became the finance minister of the most powerful kingdom in the Western Mediterranean, holding tens of thousands of wealth, how lucky I am! I have no regrets..."

After hearing what Mersis said, Davos didn't know what to say for a while, so he forced a smile and said, "Actually, you're not right. Before I was transferred to the baggage team, you met me once... ...At that time, I was walking to the baggage camp, and you met me. You suspected that I wanted to steal food because I was hungry, and you specifically asked the guards to drive me away."

"I don't remember it at all!" Mersis widened his eyes in surprise, and then laughed: "Unfortunately, I only know now, otherwise I would often brag to Antonios, Hiros and the others... Say that I am the only one who has reprimanded you, Your Majesty!"

"I only remembered now, otherwise you would have had such an easy time under me for more than ten years?!" Davos also joked with a smile.

Even Martius, who was usually serious and serious, smiled.

Henibris, who was on the side, listened to them telling their stories, and felt the deep friendship between each other from the laughter, and he couldn't help feeling envy and yearning in his heart.

"Your Majesty." Before the smile on Mersis' face disappeared, he said in a deep voice, "When I die, I will donate most of my property to the kingdom..."

"Oh, you're a miser so willing?!" Davers teased with a smile, thinking he was joking.

"I'm serious, this is my will! I will donate 80% of my inheritance to the kingdom, leaving only 20% to support my family!"

Davos saw Mersis' serious expression, and immediately restrained his smile, and asked in a deep voice, "Are you really willing?!"

"I don't have any children, what can I bear..." Mersis muttered, a little absent-minded: "The Kingdom of Dionia was built by your majesty, and it can be regarded as ours. child……"

Davos was a little moved when he heard this. He sat beside the bed, patted Mersis' swollen hand, and said emotionally, "On behalf of the kingdom, I thank you for your generosity!"

"Your Majesty, I donate this money... Can I get a statue for me... Enter the Pantheon..." Mersis's next words surprised Davos for a moment, and then he burst into laughter: This is Mersis 's true colors!

Davos subconsciously wanted to reprimand him first: the qualification to enter the Pantheon is not a commodity,

Able to bargain! ...

But seeing Mersis' pale face and hopeful eyes, Davos softened his heart and said directly: "Even if you don't donate these properties, your great contributions to the kingdom in the past will make you undisputed. Qualified to enter the Pantheon. Not only that, but I am also going to erect a statue of you in front of the Finance Department so that future Finance Department officials will follow your example, begrudge every opor in the kingdom, and never waste it , let alone corruption!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty... Thank you, Your Majesty..." At that moment, turbid tears flowed from Mersis' godless eyes...

Walking out of Mersis' mansion, Davos couldn't help but stop and look back, thinking of Cornelus who died a few years ago, and of Mersis, who would go to the Elysee at any time, his heart was very heavy: he followed The heroes who created Dionia together with him are gradually entering the last years of their lives...

He was thinking, and when he turned around, he happened to see Martius standing upright, but his gray beard showed his age, and he sighed in his heart: "Martius, you are getting old too..."

"Your Majesty, I can still easily defeat the young guard! I can still serve as your guard!" Martius replied forcefully.

"Okay...Okay..." Davos touched his beard subconsciously, and then said to Henepolis: "Do you remember what I said to Mersis just now?"

Henipolis replied immediately: "Remember, let Lord Merses enter the Pantheon and erect a statue for him in the Ministry of Finance."

"Well, go back and draw up a proposal and discuss it at the next executive meeting as soon as possible... I'm afraid Mersis won't last long..." Davers sighed a long time.

……………………………………

In the past few days, a rumor suddenly appeared in Turii: the Etruscan messenger asked the kingdom for help, and in view of the frequent harassment of the indigenous people on the border of the southern region of Iberia, King Davos was ready to agree with the ministers' proposal and send them separately. One or two legions went to the southern border of Iberia and the northern border of Etruria to build fortresses to defend against the invasion of the natives. According to the Ministry of Military Affairs, each legionnaire must be on duty at the station for at least half a year...

The news quickly spread throughout the city of Turii, and soon spread to other cities. The officers, soldiers, reserve soldiers, family members, and relatives of each legion are discussing this matter every day. It must be known that they already account for a large proportion of the kingdom’s population, which naturally caused a huge stir across the country. waves.

Not long after, news came out: those defensive fortresses will be built at the forefront of the border, there will be no town fairs around, only the indigenous people who keep coming to harass, for the safety of the soldiers, the garrison may not consider giving They take vacations, let them go to the towns behind to rest and relax, and even go home to visit relatives...

As soon as this news came out, the citizens of the legionaries were even more uneasy. Many anxious citizens gathered and went to their respective barracks to ask the senior officers stationed in the barracks for detailed information, and said: "We are not afraid We fought against powerful enemies, even if we shed blood, and even sacrificed our lives; but we were afraid like criminals, trapped in a fortress, without freedom for more than half a year, and completely unable to take care of our family..."

Some radical Turii citizens even assembled to go to the senate and begged the elders: I hope they can oppose this proposal and not let it pass.

Many elders were puzzled and asked the rotating chairmen: "Is there really such a proposal?"

Lysias and the others said in a unified voice: "There is indeed a minister who made this suggestion, but His Majesty did not agree immediately, and is still considering this matter carefully."

Just as the outside world was raging, Davos was sitting firmly in the office of the palace. After listening to Aristillas' report on the investigation of the whole situation, he thought for a while and said, "The water is now boiling. Now, let's put something in first and see if we can cook something good."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Aristillas understood.

"Any other news?"

"Your Majesty, we have collected the evidence of Servius, Frius, Aulus... these former Roman nobles attempted to rebel." Aristillas said, and respectfully handed the stack of records in his hand. past.

Davos read it carefully, and said lightly: "There are still a lot of people. Taking advantage of the people's attention on the issue of sending the border troops, I handed over the evidence and the list to the Turii Inspection Department. Let them take care of the arrest."

"Yes." Aristinas hesitated, then continued: "Your Majesty, there is a secret report from Iberia, Hasdrubal and a few members of the Margonid family often party together, drink alcohol, and abuse the kingdom... "

Davos asked without frowning, "Are there any other suspicious circumstances?"

"Not found yet."

"It's better to vent your dissatisfaction face-to-face than it looks normal on the surface and has a plan in the dark." Davers said disapprovingly, "Keep watching."

"Yes."

At this time, "Bang! Bang! Bang!" There was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" As soon as Davos finished speaking, Aristillas naturally retreated to the corner.

"Your Majesty, Priest Plessinas asks to see you!" Henepolis walked in and said.

"Please come in."

Plessinas did not come alone. Two priests followed behind him, each holding a few wooden boards.

"Your Majesty, the design selection for the colossus on the top of the mountain has ended. We have brought the winner's works. Please make the final judgment on which design to choose to cast the statue on the top of the mountain."

"The result came out so soon?!" Davos became interested and said immediately, "Put them on the table and let's take a look at them one by one."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Henepolis stretched his neck to look here, and Davos waved to the left and right again, and said, "The two of you also come and have a look and give some advice."

Henepolis and Aristillas immediately came over.