Chapter 209 - 140: Dividing Land, Granting Titles and Collecting Taxes
Maximus loudly said, "The lowest rank of tribe members is Reserve Tribe Members. Most of us are born from slaves, so we will not keep slaves in the future. However, if we defeat and capture foreigners or if foreigners voluntarily join our tribe later, they will all be Reserve Tribe Members. Besides ensuring their right to survive, they temporarily do not enjoy other tribal rights. But as long as they work diligently for the tribe for three years, they will become Official Tribe Members of the tribe.
The rank above Reserve Tribe Members is that of ordinary tribe members. The tribe will allocate land to them, and they will enjoy the rights given by the tribe, but they must also fulfill some obligations of citizens, such as serving in the military and paying taxes—"
As Maximus said this, murmuring broke out inside the tent.
Maximus had somewhat anticipated this but pretended to be displeased as he shouted, "Any different opinions? Say them outright, don’t whisper among yourselves!"
The tent was silent for a moment, then Volenus, pushed by those beside him, reluctantly said softly, "Leader, Roman citizens do not pay taxes, and many Greek City-States also do not pay taxes."
"That’s right, Roman citizens do not pay taxes, but Roman province citizens have to pay heavy taxes. Rome uses provincial taxes to support its citizens, making itself stronger. Many Greek City-States may not collect taxes during peacetime, but in the event of war, they impose direct taxes amounting to 20-30% of people’s income, enough to bankrupt many..."
Maximus persuasively said, "When the tribe has a land tax, it has money to buy weapons and armor, can provide free food to starving tribe members during famines, can hire craftsmen and laborers to build roads and bridges, and can pay salaries to the tribe’s officials, rather than expecting them to contribute to the tribe without compensation... Do you think these taxes should be collected?"
"They should be... they should be!..." came the responses from within the tent, eventually converging into a unified voice. Everyone agreed that Maximus had a point, especially with that last line.
"Leader, how much land can us ordinary tribe members be allocated?" Quintus asked the question everyone cared about most.