After that, Li Qingwu walked around the winery in a circle. The production was divided into three large zones.
The work zone – this is where almost all the winemaking equipment was located. There was a lot of free space: if Li Qingwu wanted to double production in the future, these areas could be used.
The wine cellar – a vast underground space with many wooden shelves and oak barrels. It could hold two thousand twenty-liter barrels at a time.
Dormitory and dining room for workers – inside, there were iron bunk beds, designed for about three hundred people.
Having inspected everything, Li Qingwu was quite pleased. He immediately took out his backpack and handed it to Reno.
"You'll help me sort out the water and electricity, won't you?"
Reno unzipped the backpack, pulled out a wad of banknotes, and brought it to his nose, sniffing.
"Don't worry. I'll sort out absolutely everything for you – after all, you paid me three hundred thousand service fee."
Li Qingwu hesitated, then said quietly:
"The grapes I have are of impure origin, you know that. I'm connected with rebels outside – that's where they're supplied from."
Reno made an "okay" gesture.
"Oh, that's trifles! What's the big deal about connections with rebels – who doesn't have them? It's enough to bribe the right people at the top. As long as you pay your taxes regularly, there will be no problems!"
"Don't you have contacts in the Public Safety Service? Have them bring the cargo in military trucks."
"Don't worry, I'll talk to the judicial bailiffs – they'll put a transit mark on the goods."
The mention of the Public Safety Service gave Li Qingwu an idea.
"By the way, how much tax will I have to pay after opening the winery?"
Reno held up four fingers. Li Qingwu's eyes widened slowly.
"Damn it, forty percent tax?!"
Reno nodded seriously.
"Exactly – at least forty percent. And once the tax rate is set, it will never change! No matter what your sales are – the tax amount, determined once, will remain unchanged forever!"
One of the peculiarities of the Warhammer 40k universe is extremely low administrative efficiency. The tax collection process works like this: government officials come once, set the tax amount, and then do nothing for a hundred years.
During this time, it doesn't matter if you're starving or swimming in money, whether your production has increased tenfold – the tax amount is not reviewed.
Such an absurd approach is explained by the enormous population and technological backwardness.
The population size is not to be discussed – a hundred billion people live in one Hive alone.
As for technological backwardness – it sounds absurd at first glance. How can a civilization that has conquered space, with warships everywhere, be technologically backward?
This is related to the history of humanity.
There was a period in human history called the Golden Age – the apogee of science, military power, culture, and territorial expansion.
Currently, the Imperium of Man owns a million planets scattered across the galaxy.
All these planets were terraformed for human life – this is the achievement of the geniuses of the Golden Age.
But, unfortunately, an artificial intelligence rebellion occurred.
During the Golden Age, human technology was highly automated, and AI was used everywhere.
Then, one day, for various reasons, these AIs rebelled and almost destroyed humanity completely. However, humans still prevailed.
Later, under the leadership of the Emperor, the Imperium of Man was founded. Fearing a repeat of a catastrophe on the scale of the Men of Iron rebellion, humanity uses artificial intelligence with extreme caution – in fact, it doesn't use it at all.
AI is even called the "Hated Mind" – you can imagine how much people reject it.
Not only is there no artificial intelligence – there are no high-performance computers either.
Take, for example, a cogitator – it has a human brain inside. How can the computational power of one human brain compare to a processor?
Therefore, the Imperium of Man in the world of Warhammer 40k is a true cosmic Middle Ages.
To manage hundreds of billions and trillions of people using medieval technology – it's no wonder that the political system is so deformed. The fact that the tax rate hasn't changed for a hundred years is quite natural.
Since taxes were mentioned, Li Qingwu mentioned that he had the right to tax exemption and told about the lieutenant commanding a battalion, Captain Rudolf.
Reno whistled.
"Why didn't you say so earlier? You almost ruined things."
"If it's about a lieutenant commanding a battalion, then according to the rules of our Hive, he is considered middle management even in the Upper Hive. He definitely has the right to tax exemption."
Every inhabitant of the Upper Hive is an aristocrat without a title, but the status among them differs.
The Planetary Governor, generals, and high-ranking officials – these are the true masters of the Upper Hive.
Junior officers, minor aristocrats, big merchants – they only belong to the middle stratum.
Toilet cleaners, maids, janitors – although technically they are also inhabitants of the Upper Hive and bear the honorary title of "aristocrats without a title," they have little real status.
The Electronic Eye is from this category: it has the status of an Upper Hive resident but is forced to hide in the Lower Hive like a rat. In essence, just a guard dog for the Upper Hive aristocrats.
Reno continued:
"Since you have the right to tax exemption, your factory can be completely exempt from taxes."
"But if you want to develop normally, I advise you to voluntarily give twenty percent."
Li Qingwu was a sharp guy – he understood immediately.
"This twenty percent should go not to the treasury, but to private individuals?"
Reno put on a pleased expression.
"Something like that. Ten percent – to the judicial bailiffs, ten percent – to the Administratum."
"To be frank: if you pay these two structures – you can kill ten people on the street, if they are not important persons, there will be no problems!"
Li Qingwu hastily exclaimed:
"Teacher, teach me!"
Reno smiled and slung the money-stuffed backpack over his shoulder.
"In three days, here, at the winery, set the table. I'll bring people from the Administratum and the judicial bailiffs. They will determine the tax amount. Give them a good dinner, and then, I think, you understand?"
Li Qingwu nodded vigorously.
"Understood, understood! I'll definitely organize everything properly!"
Operating in this world, Li Qingwu was always willing to share profits – let everyone earn together.
This was due not only to his lack of personal strength but also to his desire to expand his circle of useful connections for future endeavors.
For example, this business with bribes to the Administratum and judicial bailiffs – Li Qingwu could have avoided it. With tax exemption from Captain Rudolf, he would have received one hundred percent of the profit.
But if he acted like that, given his impure past, wouldn't they check on him every day?
Come for an inspection once a month, which lasts a month – who could endure that?
So it's easier to give up a portion of the profit, establish relationships with them. When trouble strikes, they will do you a favor – it will turn out that you solved a big problem with small money, turning potential enemies into real allies.
Of course, all these calculations were ultimately due to Li Qingwu's insufficient strength. If he were truly powerful, why would he engage in such intricacies?