Chapter 95 Secret News

Now, Davos gently lifts the quilt and looks at Cristoia's body. Less than half a year after giving birth, she has regained her slender and attractive figure: snow-white and soft skin, slender and slender legs Legs, plump breasts, firm buttocks...

Davos couldn't help but stretched out his hand again, slowly stroking up her lovely toes... Then he felt the flames rise again inside him...

"...Okay, Davos...let me...sleep for a while, I'm sleepy..." Cristoia said in a daze as she twisted her body.

Davers had to endure his desire and cover his wife with a quilt.

…………………………

"So, your brother also followed to Cosenza." Davos sat in the study listening to Aristillas' report: While he was away from Turii, what happened to Dionia, the surrounding area some things.

"It's been six days, and there's no news yet." Aristillas answered truthfully.

Davos heard something from his earnest tone and asked, "Aren't you worried?"

Aristillas was silent.

"Don't worry, Bruti still doesn't have the courage to hurt us! They may be on their way back, or they may be imprisoned by the Bruti..." Davos comforted him earnestly and said, "If a few more hours God, there is no news yet. Dionysius will make a 'war threat' against Bruti to force them to release him!"

"...Thank you, my lord!" Aristillas said with some worry and some gratitude.

Davos patted his shoulder solemnly and said, "A warrior who dares to risk his life for Dionysian, Dionysus will never treat him badly! When your brother comes back, the time for him to become a full citizen will be shorter than that of him. You are early! But don't worry, I will keep everything you do in my heart!"

Aristillas did not speak, but bowed respectfully.

Davers asked again, "Anything else?"

Aristillas adjusted his mood and said in a deep voice, "Yes, it's about Polyxis."

"Polyxis?" Davos blinked.

"We found out that Polyxis gave his family a lot of slaves to be free, and with his help, these emancipated slaves applied to the Ministry of Agriculture to lease a lot of land..." Aristillas said here,

Look at Davos.

Davos listened calmly. There is nothing unusual about what Aristillas said about Polyxis. On the contrary, Davos may have to praise him, respond to his call, and set an example to free many slaves.

But Davers knew it would never be that simple.

"These emancipated slaves used part of the proceeds from the rented land to pay taxes and part for their own use, and most of the proceeds went to Polyxis."

Hearing this, Davos opened his eyes suddenly: "What is the profit they handed over to Polyxis?"

"The exact proportion is unclear, but I am afraid it is not a small number. Because he has about 35 emancipated slaves and applied for about 180 acres of land." Aristillas looked at the records in his hand and said.

"These slaves should know about Dionia's law on renting land, why didn't anyone report it?" Davers asked loudly.

"It is understood that these slaves are all domestic slaves of Polyxis, who have lived in his home for at least 20 years and should be very loyal to him. Secondly, Polyxis, through the relationship of the Ministry of Agriculture, let these slaves rent crops fertile land, except for the 20% tax and the money handed over to Polyxis (20% land tax for registered freemen and 20% for prospective citizens) Ten, and the official citizens only pay 1% of the land tax), and the remaining income is far more than what they earn as slaves. Moreover, these rented farmlands are all next to each other, and the emancipated slaves live collectively in several large houses There, they monitor each other, and it is said that some of them live together as 'their family', but it is very likely that they are the overseers sent by Polyxis..."

When Aristillas finished speaking, Davos squinted his eyes into slits, and a cold light flashed in the slits. He asked sharply, "Does Burkes know about this?"

"Judging from the current indications, he should not know." Aristillas answered seriously.

"you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Davos stared at Aristillas' face for a while, and felt a little relieved. He had a very good impression of Burkes, especially after Davos led his army to defeat Crotone and entered Turii, Burkes took the initiative to cooperate and stabilized the political situation in Turui, and he also responded positively to Dai Firth's new policy. Although he and Polyxis were both famous nobles in Turii and owned a lot of land, he voluntarily gave up the ownership of most of the land and released some slaves...

"It's fine if you don't..." Davos said softly, but he knew in his heart: Only this time Bulcos might be dragged down by friendship.

"Is there anyone else doing such a thing?" Davos asked again with a gloomy face.

"We are still investigating, but there are not enough people in so many cities..." Aristillas said in embarrassment.

"How many people do you need, and make a plan. After I read it, if I think it is feasible, I will increase the funds for you. I must check this matter carefully! Check it carefully! Focus on all the elders of the Senate and the alliance. Citizens in public office!" Davos's tone was stern, he did not expect that Dionysian was founded less than two years ago, and there was corruption, and he was very annoyed.

But as a consul, Davos also has to consider other issues, so he reminded: "The investigation should be carried out quietly, no one should be alerted, and report to me immediately if there is any situation!"

"Understood, my lord!"

…………………………

"Davos! Davos!..." Mersis shouted his name angrily and hurriedly stepped into the living room.

Davos knew that the fat man must have something else to ask him, so he turned his face and said, "Mercis, you have to call the consul here."

"Okay then, Lord Consul." Mersis came to Davos, stretched out his hands, and said, "Please remove my position as the Alliance Treasurer, this job can't be done!"

"Why? You don't want to take a vacation for a while, go to other places to travel." Davers teased first, then saw Mersis' serious face, and then said in surprise: "You haven't been doing it all the time. Is it good!"

"You asked Marigi to give me a message and let me prepare four legions and two months of food reserves in advance, right?" Mersis asked.

Davos understood now, he nodded and said, "Yes, I told Marigi."

"I can't do this!" Mersis said sadly and indignantly: "The four legions have at least 30,000 people, and consume nearly 60,000 catties of grain every day, which is nearly 4 million catties in two months! Such a huge amount of grain, it is impossible to Counting the rising prices in the future, we have to pay at least... There is not so much money in the national treasury now, even if you count the Union land tax revenue in September and October and the usual commercial tax revenue, it is not enough, because we still have to pay all Salary of public officials, construction of Castellon-Crimissa Avenue and Crimea-Aspurustum Avenue, reconstruction of the Swamps of Crimea, and Placinas Apply for the construction of small temples of Hades in other cities like Amendolara, Crimea, Niutum, and none of these projects cost money! Mmmm! A lot of money!"

"Okay, Mersis. I know you've tried everything to save Dionysian money. It's really hard! But if you don't do it, I'll never find it in the league. A better financial officer than you! Don't you have the heart to watch our hard-earned alliance collapse due to the lack of effective management of the treasury and lack of money!" Davos quickly praised.

"Now that the alliance is getting bigger and bigger, and there are quite a lot of income and expenses, it is really not something ordinary people can do to manage them well!" The good mood was also released, and he no longer vented his dissatisfaction, but thought about it and said: "Master Consul, I can prepare up to three legions and a month's grain. If you don't accept it, then change it. I!"

One month! Davers rubbed his chin. In the past, he led the army to fight, and most of the battles took place near the Dionysian territory. The scope and scale of the battles were small, and they ended quickly. The second Crotone War, which lasted the longest, did not exceed ten. Five days, so haven't felt the logistical pressure yet. And this war with Bruti is to conquer an area and become an enemy of the entire race, and its difficulty will inevitably increase greatly. Even if the war goes well, he expects the end time to be longer than before, and two months is just a conservative estimate. Unexpectedly, this has already made Dionia feel very difficult and unable to provide full support.

War is about national strength! A sentence popped into Davos' mind. He was a little helpless. Thinking about the beginning of the year, Syracuse led an army of 80,000 troops to attack Carthage. The war has lasted for half a year, and it is not over yet. Dionia is still rising too fast, the background is too thin, and the savings are not enough!

"Davers, I have a way to solve the problem of ration supply." Mersis took a step forward and called Davos's name affectionately, and said slightly mysteriously.

"Oh, what can I do?" Davos moved in his heart.

"The autumn harvest is coming soon. After the autumn harvest, almost all citizens have enough food in their homes. Can they each bring their own rations for 20 days or a month?"