Rome Must Perish

Maximus paused briefly: "My idea is... all families that have Reserve Tribe Members work their fields for them should pay an additional tax of twenty to forty percent to the tribe. The tribe will then transfer ten or twenty percent of this tax to the Reserve Tribe Members as their compensation. However, the current Reserve Tribe Members don’t have their own houses or apprentices to store grain, so we can settle it with them altogether when they become Official Tribe Members.

This way, when they live independently, the tribe won’t need to provide additional assistance. It also ensures fairness for other families who don’t have Reserve Tribe Members helping with farming, so they won’t cause trouble for the tribe."

"But leader, we think it’s a bit unfair to pay two to three times more tax than others—" Pigeris boldly objected.

"Everyone, don’t be anxious. Let me finish." Maximus waved his arm and seriously continued: "The Iron Workshop, Furniture Workshop, Pottery Workshop... all belong to the tribe, not private individuals. Therefore, these craftsmen work for the tribe, just like the officials in the tribe. We shouldn’t let them work for nothing. I believe the tribe should pay these craftsmen salaries.

Officials receive different salaries based on the rank of their positions, and craftsmen receive different salaries based on the quantity and quality of what they produce. This way, although everyone has to pay considerable land taxes, they earn compensation by working for the tribe, and these salaries are tax-free. What do you think?"

There was a commotion in the hall.

It was understandable for craftsmen to receive salaries for their work, but the idea that officials could also get paid for working for the tribe was unheard of among the tribes and City States in the Western Mediterranean. As far as Quintus, Capito, and Volenus knew, Rome’s Elders and civil affairs officers not only wouldn’t earn salaries, but sometimes spent their own money to please citizens, such as hosting large banquets or Gladiator games for citizens to watch free of charge.

"Leader, if we are to pay everyone, how much should it be?" Gaius asked.

"As for how specifically to pay the officials and craftsmen? How much to pay?... We can discuss and formulate this separately later. In essence, we must ensure that those striving for the tribe’s interests are not at a loss."

"But in the future, the tribe’s finances will primarily come from taxes, and distributing them as salaries every month will leave little left. Should a war break out, there might not be much material to support the army in fighting." As the Chief Officer of the Finance Department, Gaius naturally expressed his concern.

"Everyone doesn’t need to worry." Maximus had considered these issues and patiently explained: "Having tribe member families that let Reserve Tribe Members help with farming pay extra tax already offsets the issuance of salaries.