Chapter 810: Chapter 38: The First Civil Service Exam in Xiawei Territory_3
Roland felt that if he was rotten, then other people must be rotten as wellâeveryone was in the same boat.
The last part only had two questions.
But this might be the hardest part.
The first question: Currently, in the territory, there are two individuals eligible for subsidies, but the territoryâs funds are limited, enough for only one personâs subsidy.
The first individual is a veteran from the northwestern desert campaign who, due to the war trauma from Fiery Flame Land, cannot adapt to normal life, work normally, or interact rationally with others. For this reason, he has no family or friends and struggles to live a normal life.
The second individual is a Mountain People man who was critically injured while heroically saving three children from a fire. Now he lies bedridden due to severe burns, without living parents or relatives and no income from work, he is unable to live a normal life.
What would you do?
âA trap!
Roland instantly felt as if a bolt of lightning had passed through his brain, and he immediately sensed the seductive aspect of this question.
It lists various conditions before telling you thereâs only enough money for one person as if to have you judge who should receive it based on the conditions, thereby assessing the examineeâs moral leaning and making a choice... but in fact.
It didnât ask you to decide who to give it to, nor did it tell you that youâre the person making the decision.
It simply asked what you would do.
"Report to the Lord, Iâm not qualified to decide on such matters. If everyoneâs being so politically correct, then why would an Ordinary Golden Folk like me be fit to judge?"
"Thatâs too presumptuous!"
Without a second thought, Roland wrote âReport to the Lordâs Mansion.â
Roland could evade the trap laid out in the question thanks to his innate sensitivity, but the last question truly posed a bit of trouble.
The second question: In the territory, a farming household failed to harvest enough due to crop failure, owing a total of twenty-four Talle for seed costs and taxes. However, the family is poor and itâs almost impossible for them to repay the debt and taxes.
If you were a tax official, what would you do?
Very simple.
If it were the former lord, thereâs no need to think about itâit would definitely be forced taxation. Isnât that what tax officials are for? Is there justification for not having money due to crop failure?
Failing to yield a harvest while farming on the landlordâs land, whose fault is it now? Itâs already crystal clear.
Roland didnât believe there was anything wrong with this idea. Regardless of how intelligent he was, he couldnât transcend the limitations of the era. If he truly had to act, Roland would probably loan the household money to get through the year. However, if they failed to grow anything next year, then there was nothing he could doâit would just be bad luck if the heavens willed this family to die.
But here lies the problem.
Should a tax official do this?
If Roland himself were to become a tax official, maybe he would do so... but is that the kind of tax official the Lord wants?
Rolandâs expression was uncertain as he truly wasnât sure what choice he should make.
In this era, tax officials are supposed to be heartless tax-collecting machines. Households with hardships abound, surely you canât lend money to each one, can you? Although Rolandâs family used to be the steward for the former Baron, Steward Moda was not corrupt, his elder was very loyal, so the household was not very wealthyâthey couldnât save so many people.
After much deliberation, Roland had no idea how to respond. He wanted to write âEnforce taxation and if money is not available, sell all their properties to repay the debt,â which would be the standard Terra answer.
But his instincts told him that such a choice was too cruel.
Not cruel in terms of the examinationâs answer, but too cruel as a person.
Writing down such an answer, if he succeeded in being chosen it would still be okay, as he could comfort himself, but if he failed...
He would definitely regret it.
After a long silence and much agonizing, Roland finally wrote down his answer.
He wrote âPostpone collection and wait to see next year,â a hesitantly indecisive answer. He even wrote down thoughts about potentially lending money, but if there were too many such farming households, he wouldnât be able to lend much.
"Sigh." Writing this, Roland suddenly realized that he might indeed not be suitable to be a tax official: "Isnât the heart needed for this job too hard? Itâs true that there are specialties for every craft; Iâd better stick to mechanical engineering..."
"I wonder if the Lordâs Mansion is recruiting scholars in mechanical engineering..."
With this thought, Roland promptly and decisively rang the bell to turn in his paperâno need for a review, he was certain that his answers were the best he could provide.
Once out, he was surprised to find that he was among the first few to submit.
Even, simply the second one.
Before him was only an old man.
And Roland knew this elder well, for he was none other than one of the most famous tax officials from Xiahui City, âOld Farl,â who had served under three lords, including the present Ian.
"Whatâs the matter, young man, coming out so soon, you didnât just submit a blank sheet, did you?"
Sitting in the examination rest area, smoking his pipe, the old man switched the position of his pipe in his mouth and, smiling, said to Roland who looked baffled: "I remember you, youâre the youngest son from the Moda Steward House who ran away from homeâhmm, with your knowledge, you shouldnât have submitted a blank sheet, and should have even been quicker than me in responding."
The silver-haired elder with golden eyes smiled and nodded: "Let me guess, those last questions troubled you, didnât they?"