-Chapter 161-
-POV MC-
-23rd day of the 7th moon of the year 300 AC-
"Why should we allow the serfs to own and work their own lands instead of working the lands of their lords? This would be much cheaper for the crown," said Kevan Lannister, the new Master of Coin.
I nodded, understanding his complaints, then said: "As I have repeatedly told you, you do not have to do the same, but I will not go back on my decision. I am doing it simply because I believe it will satisfy the population and make them more productive, not to mention all the gold we will save in the supervision of the serfs."
"By offering commoners the opportunity to become owners of certain lands and work lands instead of the owners while sharing the profits at the end, I am sure we can increase agricultural production several times over in a few years."
Kevan Lannister was not a stupid man and saw the potential but could not accept that I wanted to make serfs equal to nobles in a contract. So I said, seeing that he was lost in thought: "I am telling you this because I believe you should be aware of my new policy regarding the people living in the imperial domain."
He nodded, understanding the subject was closed, then said: "The Imperial Council has decided that we can start repaying the loan we took from the Free Cities. Our economy is stable enough for now."
I frowned and asked: "Could you give me a brief summary of our financial situation?"
He opened his account book, then said: "The crown, at the beginning of the year 300, reached the impressive figure of 68 million gold dragons. But of these 68 million gold dragons, a little over 62 million come from a loan we took from the nobility and the Free Cities."
"Each moon, we receive more than 1.5 million gold dragons due to the taxes and levies placed by the crown. One third comes from the commoners, one third from the nobility, and another third mainly from the Stepstones."
Viscount Adrian Celtigar said in a slightly annoyed tone: "We could have raised this figure even higher if you had allowed us to implement a stricter taxation policy to achieve results of 2 to 2.5 million gold dragons each moon, but…"
"I stopped you," I said with a small smile in response to my Master of Taxes' complaints, which were not really complaints.
'Although he is probably complaining because I have been very lenient with the taxes the nobility had to pay, they are the ones filling their pockets by setting up merchant guilds to transport Westerosi products around the world. The merchant ships emblazoned with the noble houses' crests of the empire are exempt from merchandise taxes in the strait, the Stepstones, and the ports of the Imperial Domain; they only have to pay to dock at the port.'
"I know I am giving a lot to my people, but this taxation policy based on income rather than a fixed amount aims at the internal stability of the empire. The benefits must be immediate."
"And fortunately, they are, especially since the formation of the empire and the announcement of our trade partnerships with the Free Cities of Braavos, Volantis, Pentos, Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh," said Kevan Lannister.
"The confidence of merchants and Essosi merchant guilds has returned, which had not entirely been the case even after the announcement of Aegon Blackfyre's defeat and that of that wretched Balon Greyjoy because power still seemed unstable in the eyes of merchants from the East," added Monford Velaryon.
"That is wonderful news, isn't it?" I said.
"Excellent, but it is not the only one. The advantageous taxes for the Westerosi nobility have provoked such great enthusiasm that many houses of the Reach and the Westerlands, relying on solid fortunes, have decided to take the plunge and create merchant guilds, importing products from our continent to Essos and bringing Essosi products back to sell in Westeros," added Kevan, to my great delight.
I smiled because the tax relief policy for maritime and the Stepstones was precisely aimed at encouraging the noble houses of the entire empire to engage in maritime trade, with the goal of filling their houses' coffers and, in turn, mine too, thanks to income taxes while triggering a massive wave of employment.
"As we speak, the crown has already collected the sum of 10.2 million gold dragons," said Kevan before turning the page of his book.
I raised my eyebrows because I did not think the taxes could bring in so much. I thought that given the poverty in which the people lived, it would be logical to earn such a sum in ten years.
'The previous rulers were really stupid or just didn't care.'
"Compared to the trades you have set up, I assure you this is not worth much," he said, making me raise my eyebrows.
"Then let's start with the ice trade. First of all, a fixed price was given, the price per cubic meter block of ice is 45 gold dragons. We have extended this trade to Pentos, Norvos, Qohor, Myr, Lys, Tyrosh, and Volantis. Each city brings us an average of 120,000 gold dragons per moon, which totals 6.7 million gold dragons in seven moons, not counting the additional 2.25 million gold dragons from your share of the Tyrell House trade."
"So all in all, that makes almost 9 million gold dragons."
"Next, we have the shares in Lady Chataya's brothels, which have brought the crown up to 5 million gold dragons per year."
"The sugar trade, entirely managed and administered by Your Majesty's Imperial Company, is steadily increasing and can now produce more than 500 tons of sugar each moon. So far, it has not brought in much because you sell it at a low price. In seven moons, it has only brought in 2 million gold dragons."
"To this, we add the profits of the crown's Imperial Merchant Company, 'the Imperial Company,' the additional agricultural harvests sold throughout the empire, the breeding of warhorses, quality livestock, the fur trade, the wood trade, the perfume trade, the weapons and scorpions trade forged by the Imperial Forges for the private armies of your vassals and the Free Cities allied with us, and more recently, the glass trade as well as the rental of crown-owned housing following the renovation and expansion works of the Imperial Capital."
I raised my eyebrows because, without realizing it, I had projected the empire a few decades, even a few centuries into the future with these few political adjustments to find gold and finance my wars and projects.
Kevan continued and said: "Without going into details, this represents the astronomical sum of 17.8 million gold dragons and in total, in seven moons, the treasury... including, of course, the fortune you recovered from Meereen before Daenerys Targaryen destroyed all the families of our late allies, the Imperial Treasury has increased by 89 million gold dragons."
"Fuck."
Everyone looked at me, and I corrected myself: "That's impressive."
"I said the same thing when he told me the mid-year report," my uncle told me, understanding why he had been silent.
"Although the crown has spent more than 20 million gold dragons this year due to the colossal projects you are undertaking, the report is clear. We have more than enough gold to support the Empire in case of a crisis," he added.
I smiled and then said: "I am happy to see that everything is going well and that you are doing your best for the Empire to progress and establish itself as the world's leading power."
"We are still far from merchant cities like Braavos, but if we continue on this path, we will surpass it in less than a decade," said Kevan Lannister.
I nodded and then said: "I thank you all for the work you have done. You may leave, take a few days to rest, spend them with your families. I will expect you at the beginning of next week."
All, except my uncle, stood, bowed, and then left one by one. Then I sighed with relief, saying:
"I am so relieved. I was more afraid of ruling than of conquering this damned continent."
"Relax and spend time with your family."
I smiled, thinking of Aemon and Visenya, then said:
"You are right, I miss the twins terribly."
"You also have another son."
"I know."
"Don't forget that Blackfyres are not born, they are made. Your experience should..."
"I know!" I said in a louder tone before sighing and saying: "I apologize, but I don't want to run into Cersei. Since I decided to send Joffrey to Viserys' side, she has become completely..."
I did not finish my words, but Benjen said: "You should have thought of that before getting her pregnant, now it's your responsibility."
"Hmm, I know," I said in a calmer tone.
He put a hand on my shoulder and then said: "Don't forget your second wife, Bellegere. Even though she did not want a grand wedding, it has been six moons, and she still does not have an heir. It is time to act. If what you told me is correct, you must have as many children and dragons as possible before they arrive."
"I don't think my children will be ready when they arrive."
"You must try anyway. According to your own words, the resurgence of magic is not only valid for you. Do not forget that your aunt Daenerys has the presence of 200 priests of R'hllor and that all the people who practiced magic before you are surely at a decent level, perhaps even comparable to yours..."
'Maybe in terms of magic, but in combat, today, thanks to the rituals I have performed, I am above all the others,' I thought arrogantly.
"... In the event of your disappearance without an heir capable of practicing the same magic as you, the empire will not last a century, perhaps not even a decade. You have brought too many changes for the nobles of Westeros, the fallen nobles hiding in Essos, and the Essosi to accept this without a dragon on the imperial throne," said Benjen, now Hand of the Emperor.
I nodded thoughtfully, and after a small pat on the shoulder, he left.