Herald of Steel

Chapter 1355 Midshire (Part-2)

1 table- 1,000 wesa or 10,000 ropals

1 chair- 50 wesa, or 500 ropals

1 set of wine cups- 500 wesa or 5,000 ropals...

Salary for 1 guard- 125 wesa... the list goes onNôv(el)B\\jnn

"As you can see my lady everything here is at least ten times the normal prices. I wonder what advice you can offer me about this?"

A visibly angry and frustrated Alexander showed the city's account books to Lady Parthia, hoping that being an experienced queen, she could give him some idea on how to deal with such rampant corruption and mismanagement.

Surely she had come with something similar if not worse in her long career.

"Did you point these out to them? What did they say?"

While glancing languidly at the bound book made of sheepskin, the gorgeously dressed radiant lady slowly asked this, her voice flat and cool.

"They either said that the things were of high quality, that this was the standard price and I didn't know any better, that many taxes and hidden costs were involved, or that they simply paid their workers much better! Bullshit!"

Alexander was unable to keep the neutral by the end, his frown worsening. It was clear they were taking him for a ride.

"So it seems they have no respect for you. Heh!" The disdain in Lady Parthia's voice was clear, "This is all because of how you dress! Look at what you are wearing. Did you go meet them wearing these rags? I have always been telling you... dress like a beggar, get treated like a beggar! Hmmmp serves you right!"

"....." Alexander was suddenly struck mute by this sudden change in tone.

Sometimes Lady Parthia really acted more like a mother than a noble lady, chiding Alexander like she would her son over many of his bad practices.

It really created a glaring disconnect with his 'other experiences.'

Having his wardrobe pointed like so, Alexander also could not help but subconsciously glance down at the simple linen tunic he was wearing and he thought it was of good quality and comfortable- not too thick to make it hot but thick enough to resist the occupational chill.

Its only drawback was that it was neither gaudy nor flashy to dazzle others.

And this was the main problem- this type of 'stealth wealth' really did not work in this time period.

Here, the more wealth you flaunted and showed off, the more the people respected and admired you.

'No wonder that Baron Lamp looked at me like they were looking a pauper. He must think I am some small time mercenary who got there kissing Lady Miranda's ass.' Alexander gloomily realized, recalling a glaring contrast between his and the man's dress and the looks he had sent him upon first meeting him.

Hence the pasha did not dare argue about his clothes with the irritated lady, letting her chastise him until she was satisfied.

Fortunately, Lady Parthia managed to quickly get back to the point, thus leaning on her chair, she lightly tapped on the table to ruminate with a murmur,

"So the best thing for you to do is suck the whole city dry and leave! Invite these scoundrels for dinner and then arrest them using corruption charges. Extract confessions from them and then hang them in the market square. Raid their treasuries and forcefully take all blacksmiths and sailors back to Zanzan as slaves."

"....." It was like a small bomb had gone off in Alexander's head and he slightly shivered.

'Yo... you can do that? That is possible? Should I be writing this down?'

Alexander found himself being surprised over and over again at just how heartless and utterly without mercy Lady Parthia could be.

There was not a trace of regret in her as she gave the idea, and Alexander subconsciously could not help but think what would happen if one day she turned her attention to him.

But at the same time, he could deny the potency of the idea.

This was indeed the easiest way to solve his problem and maximize his gains.

He had once thought about overhauling the tax code, developing roads, building a brand new sewage system and even setting up a small school here to develop the place using his steward but now that Lady Parthia had pointed it out he had a far better option.

He could make his money back far more quickly by simply taking everything he needed and leaving Lady Miranda to deal with the aftermath.

So that was exactly what he did!

After a week of gathering information, he invited all the relevant men to a party held at the military camp garrisoned outside the city and....

"I thank you could attend the party, my lords," Alexander began the party with a toast, and then once dinner was done, ended the most Stalin like way, announcing to his guests with a straight face,

"I have found significant corruption in the city's accounts books! All of you are under arrest!"

Most of them did not even get a chance to understand what was going on as a horde of soldiers burst from all sides of the garden, 'escorting' the man under swordpoint to the tents at the back.

And while the men there beat the living shit out of Baron Lamp and his goons for information, another group launched a city wide raid, busting doors and knocking down gates to capture literal heaps of gold and silver.

The total value of the seized goods, which included only not precious stones and metal, but also wood, clothes, incense, and ivory would amount to nearly 10 million ropals, an astronomical amount for a city such size.

Alexander would use them as an example to execute most of the captured men.

Let us say no to piracy! Don't take part in a crime! Don't patronize thieves!

Please come Here!

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