Chapter 820 Don’t Do Business at a Loss
Citizens couldn't believe their ears when they heard that the rent was only 1% and there was no need to pay land tax.
Some people went directly to the town of Darwaz to inquire, some went to Bernard Insurance Company to consult, and some called and sent telegrams, which blocked the traffic and telephone lines.
When they received a positive response and were told that they could go through the rental procedures right away, they were all so moved that they couldn't help crying.
Before this, farmers who owned land had to pay 5% to 10% land tax alone, in addition to movable property tax and head tax.
(Note: Land taxes fluctuate in different years and according to the level of production. Fertile and high-yield land has higher land taxes. Movable property tax refers to the taxation of non-land property such as farm tools and livestock. The head tax is imposed on adult males. Adding up various taxes, farmers usually need to pay 10% to 15% of their output.)
This is for farmers who have land. If they don’t have land and need to rent land, they will be treated even more inhumanely:
Tenant farmers usually had to pay 25% to 40%, while sharecroppers had to hand over 50% of their harvest.
(Note: The former only rents the land and is responsible for the farm tools and movable property taxes. The latter requires the landowner to provide the farm tools.)
However, Shire only needs to charge 1% of the harvest to rent out the land, and is also exempt from land tax. It cannot be said to be a bargain, but it is a loss-making business.
The citizens were moved and discussed:
"The land tax alone needs to be at least 5%, but the Shire only charges 1%. Doesn't that mean we will lose 4% by renting the land to us?"
"You think it's only 4%? What about the money that Shire paid to buy the land? If this money is used for lending, how much interest do you think it will have?"
"Yes, Charles has been helping us. He saved all our lives, but now he has to pay us money."
…
So many people took to the streets and walked into the town of Darwaz to protest.
What is different from previous protests is that this time people do not want the Shire to lose money. They think the Shire should at least be able to recover the land tax, and a more appropriate amount should be to add 1% to the land tax.
Djokovic made a moving statement as a representative of Charr:
"Gentlemen, we appreciate your kindness."
"Please believe that the Bernard Group is a company that belongs to French citizens. It was, is, and will be."
"Our goal is to enable everyone to live a happy life. This is the right of French citizens!"
"So please believe that the profits we make will eventually be returned to you, just like we are operating the land at a loss now. Or, it will be used to protect my country and drive the invaders out of the country."
"We will stick to this policy. After all, this is war time and what we need most is food!"
"This is the decision and insistence of Charles, me, and all of us at the Bernard Group!"
…
The town of Darvaz was instantly filled with cheers. The citizens were so moved that they rushed forward to shake hands with Dejoka, constantly expressing their blessings and words of gratitude.
The employees of Bernard Group all had tears in their eyes and stood with their chests straight, feeling proud to be a part of it.
…
In fact, Charles does not do business at a loss, so he will not use his own finances to make up for the 5% or even higher land tax.
Charles has already thought about it. He will raise an issue in parliament: because of the serious shortage of labor during the war, in order to encourage citizens to produce, we should completely abolish land tax.
This issue must be passed whether it is passed or not.
Even if Charles did not use his power to oppress others, if any member of parliament opposed it, as long as Charles spread the word, a large group of farmers would definitely come to his door in shifts to protest on one, three, five, two, four, and six days.
The reason why Charles announced before that it would bear the land tax was just to gain a wave of reputation.
Another benefit is that the prices of arable land and pasture will plummet.
Once Charles paid the 1% rent, most of the arable land in the hands of other capitalists would be left idle.
With a 1% rent for farmland, only a fool would spend 25% or even 40% to rent someone else's land, unless he really couldn't snatch the Shire's land.
Moreover, this "plunge" is no longer limited to the front line, but will spread to other parts of France.
Charles could buy more.
Not to mention the other additional benefits.
Charles's reputation has once again risen to another new height. Technical talents, scientific and technological talents, management talents, etc. are scrambling to jump to the Bernard Group. These are all trivial matters.
There was even a case where a company was surrounded and boycotted by citizens because it did not want to be acquired by the Bernard Group, and its employees voluntarily resigned.
…
At the city defense headquarters, Gallieni took over the investigation report from Lieutenant Colonel Fernan.
He has been following the situation of Bernard Group.
This was the convenience of Gallieni's job. He was the one who arranged the protection of the Bernard Group, so tracking could be done easily.
"Everything is fine, General," Lieutenant Colonel Fernan reported:
"Bernard Group has indeed done what Charles said and is leasing the land at 1% rent."
“Everyone is blessing Charles and praising the Bernard Group.”
"It can be foreseen that France's agriculture, industry, and economy will have a great development under the leadership of the Bernard Group, even though it is wartime now."
Finally, Lieutenant Colonel Fernan added: "You should trust Lieutenant General Charles!"
Gallieni nodded slightly, frowning slightly:
"It's not that I don't trust Ciel, Lieutenant Colonel."
"But I do know one thing: power corrupts people, and too much concentrated power makes people reckless and wanton."
"At that time, he will be like a wild horse that has broken free from its reins, completely releasing all the desires that have been suppressed in his heart."
"He will be a completely different person, and the change may be beyond your imagination!"
Lieutenant Colonel Fernand replied: "You are the reins that hold Charles back, General."
Gallieni burst out laughing:
"Until now, you still think I can contain Ciel?"
"If he wants, he can kick me out of office at any time to 'discuss' military affairs with Joffre."
"And it doesn't take much effort, even just a sentence."
Gallieni's military position and power were given by the parliament, which was basically under the control of Charles.
Lieutenant Colonel Fernan asked in return: "Don't you think this is the crux of the problem?"
Gallieni was puzzled: "What do you mean?"
"He could have done it but he didn't," Fernando explained. "Even though it was effortless, he still carefully sought your consent and tried to seek your support, every time. Why?"
Gallieni was stunned, then nodded thoughtfully: "In other words, when he does this one day, it will be the time to completely abandon his concerns."
"That day will never come." Lieutenant Colonel Fernando smiled confidently, "He is my soldier, General. I trust him."
Gallieni was speechless, and an inexplicable feeling of shame arose spontaneously.
Compared to Lieutenant Colonel Fernand, Gallieni seemed to have too many doubts about Charles.
(End of this chapter)
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