Chapter 289: Adapting to the times

Everyone couldn't help but shudder. Although Maximus said it in an obscure way, everyone understood it clearly: Isn't this a replica of their rebellion in the past!

Karina said unconvincedly: "Chief, I think you are making this matter too serious. The reserve tribesmen only need to work hard for three years, or even less, to become formal tribesmen and obtain a large amount of land. This is written into the tribal law! And there are also... their compatriots who have become formal tribesmen of Nix as examples. Even if they are a little dissatisfied, they should be able to stick to it."

"Yes, chief. Didn't the reserve tribesmen of Segestica in our tribe do a good job before!" Volenus reminded on the side.

"Everyone, I have just said that the situation today is very different from last year!" Maximus tapped the wooden table with his fingers and said loudly: "The number of Segestica people who joined the tribe last year was not large, and they were captured by our army. They were not killed or handed over to the Ardi people for abuse. They just lost a little freedom and did some hard work to be with their families. They felt very lucky, so they could still endure it.

But now we are standing on the land of Segestica, and there are many people here! According to Cassinos, their entire tribe has a population of more than 100,000, which is several times the population of our Nix! Several times, everyone! They are here, on their own land! Then they are willing to lose their houses, property and fields, lose their freedom, and work hard again. A few years, just to get more land? !

Ladies and Gentlemen, most people in this world are short-sighted. They can't see the beauty of the future and are only willing to hold on to the immediate benefits! Although we defeated the army of the Segestica people and occupied their main village, it does not mean that we already own the land of Segestica!

The territory of Segestica is very vast. We not only need the Segestica captives to join the tribe, but also need more Segestica people to join the tribe as soon as possible, so that the tribe can occupy more Segestica land as soon as possible, thereby rapidly strengthening our strength and greatly reducing the possibility of Segestica people resisting us, so that the tribe can concentrate on dealing with the counterattack of other Pannoni tribes! "

After hearing this, everyone present was touched and fell into thought.

After a moment, Quintus said in a deep voice: "We should indeed find a way to get more Segestica people to join the tribe voluntarily, instead of letting them all become foreign auxiliaries. Otherwise, we need a lot of subordinates and soldiers to supervise such a large number of foreign auxiliaries. At that time, we will not have the energy to supervise the reserve tribesmen, and I am afraid there will not be enough manpower to handle other affairs of the tribe. And if the Pannonian army attacks again, we have to leave some soldiers to prevent the foreign auxiliaries from making trouble..."

Quintus's reminder made everyone else present look solemn.

Cornelius said with a relaxed expression: "Don't worry, wise leader, you should have figured out a way to get more Segestica people to join our tribe voluntarily, and at the same time let them work well without our supervision, right?!"

"I did think of a way, and I was just about to discuss it with you." Maximus took over the conversation and said in a deep voice: "That is to modify the requirements of the tribal decree for reserve tribesmen. Anyone who voluntarily joins the tribe and becomes a reserve tribesman will be immediately allocated 50 acres of land!"

"Ah?!" Everyone was very surprised.

Pigris blurted out: "As soon as they join the tribe, they are directly given land. Are they still reserve tribesmen?!"

"Listen to me!" Maximus looked at Pigris with a little dissatisfaction, and frightened him to lower his head quickly. Seeing this, the others did not dare to say anything more.

Maximus said in a strong tone: "Reserve tribesmen are of course reserve tribesmen. Under normal circumstances, they have to work honestly for another three years before they can become formal tribesmen. Although they were given 50 acres of land, they must hand over 60% of the harvest from heaven and earth to the tribe every year. After becoming formal tribesmen, they only hand over 15%.

Their existing property still belongs to them, but their existing houses may not still belong to them, because the tribe will find new houses for them to live in in the villages near the land they have been allocated, which will not be worse than the previous houses. As for the food stored in their homes now, they have to hand over 60% to the tribe. If they don't have enough food before the autumn harvest next year, the tribe will subsidize them with some food according to the situation... What do you think of this method?"

"Or is it the chief? The idea you came up with is good! "Cornelius spoke first: "First, give them the land, so that the reserve tribesmen can feel that what we say is not empty words, but real benefits. The land is their own, so they will naturally take better care of it and grow crops better! Their property is still their own, and we will give them better houses to live in, and they will only be more grateful!

As for the confiscation of 60% of their existing grain, they should not complain, because they will also have to hand over 60% of the land harvest in the next three years. They will think that this makes them the only price they need to pay for becoming the reserve tribesmen of the Nix tribe. "

"But leaving 40% of the land income to the reserve tribesmen every year, isn't this too much? ! You know, in September, I handed over nearly 50% of the grain. "Capito raised an objection.

"That's because you don't farm your own land at all. You have hired several tribesmen to help you farm. According to the regulations, you will naturally hand over a lot of food to the tribe." Cornelius teased while also making a decision to the Finance Department. Explanation: "But according to your position, the salary paid to you by the tribe every month (the salary paid to officials by the Nyx tribe today is wheat, which is paid annually by the Finance Department, and the date is set in October after the harvest), plus It also exceeds the grain you turned in. Many tribesmen in our tribe, such as Quintus, Frontinus, Lebirus, Sidonius, etc. who are usually busy with affairs and do not know how to farm, are in the same situation. You too."

The people whose names were called all looked at Cornelius, and he shrugged calmly: "What I said is the truth, isn't it!"

Volenus hurriedly said: "I don't think the 40% of the food left by the tribesmen each year is too much. At least 10% of the 40% must be used as food for the next year, and more than 20% is barely enough for them to survive until the next year. From next year's autumn harvest, there is still some food left over that they can exchange for new farm tools and some daily needs...

In this way, the tribe does not need to provide additional funding to the reserve tribesmen, so that the reserve tribesmen can live independently like the official tribesmen, which saves our tribe a lot of trouble... These 40% No more, no less, just right! Chief, you are so considerate! "

"Not only does it save the energy of various departments, but it also allows these new Segestika people who have joined the tribe to live more comfortably, making them feel that the tribe really treats them as their own people. Coupled with the restrictions of the oath, They should live a relatively peaceful life in the tribe," Pigris also emphasized.

Everyone quickly recognized the suggestions put forward by Maximus, and revised and confirmed the new provisions of the preparatory national laws.

Maximus knocked on the dining table hard and said slightly excitedly: "Everyone, the new laws have been revised. Next, let's discuss how to own the territory of Segestica! Marcus, stop it Get Gostika’s map!”

The attendant quickly placed the map he had prepared in the middle of the dining table. Everyone immediately put down their food and moved towards the center of the dining table.

This is a sketch of the Segestica territory drawn by Maximus based on Cassinos's narrative. It only briefly depicts the Sava River, surrounding mountains and the main village, without marking other villages.

Maximus gestured with the map and said: "Everyone, I will roughly divide the territory of Segestika into four parts, north, south, east and west of Segestika. In the north, only the upper reaches of the Sava River are The narrow, flat land, the rest of which is mountainous, is said to border the territories of the Yabods and Norikis.

There are not many Segostika tribes in the north. They had conflicts with the Yabods before, and were later defeated by their leader Andres. In recent years, the Yabods have attacked the Segostikas The infestation almost ceased in northern Stika. The Segestika people have a good relationship with the Noriki people and have been buying iron ore from the Noriki people. Therefore, the northern territory is also very important to us and is another channel for us to obtain iron ore. , but it is not the focus of our business for the time being.

The western part of Segostika is connected to our Kupa River territory through dense forest roads. The land here is flat and fertile, with dense villages and a large population. The West Village where we are located is also among them, so the western part is what we want to focus on. Only by stabilizing the western part of the region first can we truly connect it with the Kupa River territory, and resources and people on both sides can flow freely without hindrance, allowing us to gain a firm foothold on the plains along the Sava River.

The eastern part of Segestica also has flat and fertile land, but the area is smaller than that of the western part, because its eastern part is hilly and adjacent to Daisitiatai, another large Pannoni tribe in the northeast. According to Cassinos, Desitiatai has a very good relationship with Segestica. Their leader Temagis is also a good friend of Andres, so they besieged our temporary camp and this place before. When the Pannoni Tribe Alliance invaded, the Desitiatai people were all active participants, and I am afraid they will inevitably fight with us in the future..."