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Post by Kortelan on Jan 16, 2007 22:22:50 GMT -5
Kortelen stood on the steps of his palace looking at the city. Not for the first time he was swept away by the recent turns of events that set him here the Ulor of Kajakan Tros. After letting himself be lost in this for a few moments he cleared his throat looking at the assembled staff before him. Time to get down to business. he thinks. "They say the first impression is the lasting impression. Assuming that is true I better do a lot to start turning this Province around least I look like I wish to reap what the old Ulor reaped. So at first I want a census. I want to know how many children in this province, how many adults there are, how many adults that are of working age, how many adults are too old to work, and how many of each of those groups are male and female. While that is happening I want a detailed report of our income. I want how much money we take in and I want to know what we get each baylo from. I want to know how much we spend and what we spend each baylo on. I want to know how much is put away in the Treasury. I want to know how much in taxes we owe the Empire and how much we must pay. I want to know every way we can save money without taking things from our people. I want the entire garrison ready for inspection as soon as possible." He paused for a moment to take a deep breath and to let his words sink in before continuing, "I want details on every settlement in the province. Once I get these reports and I inspect the garrison personally I will start passing new policy." At that he turned around and started up the stairs between two rows of Rizado Kajakan Tros who started marching up behind him after he passed them. Well I hope that made a good first impression. he thought with a smirk.
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 17, 2007 17:45:26 GMT -5
Galan, advisor to Ulor Kortelan reports to the Ulor, "your excellency, I want to let you know that the provincial treasury office is working on preparing budget numbers, but it will take a bit more time. We can't go by the budget documents that were prepared by the previous Ulor because they are full of fictions. As you know, he was removed for emezzling large sums from the treasury and as part of that scheme, he falsified almost all the financial records. We might never find out where all the money really went or even how much really came in. We can, however, prepare a budget for the coming year based on expected expenses. Even those will be guesses because the previous Ulor padded many of the expenses so we don't know what things really cost us last year."
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Post by Kortelan on Jan 17, 2007 18:40:56 GMT -5
Kortelan frowns, "Of course. That makes perfect sence. I want everthing relating to baylos and this government from this instant on recorded. And I mean I want every single one that comes in recorded from where it came from and where it goes. Corruption and embezzlement needs to go and to make it go first thing you must do is make it hard to stay. We need to make it as hard as we can to make it impossible for baylos to disapear or go to costs that don't exist. Anyone who is even suspected of corruption and embezzlement must be rooted out, and I want to hear their story and the case against them. Now when will the garrisons be ready for inspection? I want to inspect them as soon as possible, maybe even have a parade through the city to show this city the face of their new Ulor. Also what records do we have? I would like to look over all records personaly." He smiles at Galan "Once we have everything back in order my leadership will really begin. This is just the clean-up, and I hope this clean up goes well."
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 18, 2007 23:05:10 GMT -5
Galan says, "Your excellency, I will get the budget documents for you, such as they are. Also, I will notify the provincial garrison commander that you wish to inspect the troops and hold a parade."
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Post by Kortelan on Jan 20, 2007 0:53:01 GMT -5
"Good good. The sooner that can be done the better. Do we have any other records apart from the budget documents? If so I would like those as well. I have a lot to do in order to remake this province from the top down and these things are just the start." Kortelen said a bit impatient for the records.
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 20, 2007 23:13:07 GMT -5
Galan says, "Your excellency, I apologize most humbly for the delay, but the financial records are in complete disarray. We know that the amount of baylo in the treasury is presently 70,212. For what it's worth, here is the old budget: nationsandempires4.blogspot.com/2007/01/kajakan-tros-budget.html(OOC: we're still having problems converting to a workable format. If you can't see the budget in this link, try scrolling way down.) Galan continues, "We are sure that this budget includes at least 12,893 baylo of payments to civilian officials who don't exist. It also includes 58,321 baylo of "other expenses" most of which were actually necessary, but not really paid for. At least 29,773 baylo of such recorded expenses were not actually paid and the money is unaccounted for. Also, the income figure is understated by at least 50,000 baylo, probably more. Furthermore, there are probably other debts that are off the books. The treasury officials are working night and day to produce documents for you, but if I may be frank, your excellency, there is no way that a fraud of this magnitude could have been perpetrated without the active collusion of at least some of the officials in the provincial treasury office. On the other hand, they may be the only ones who could ever make sense of this, assuming they are willing to tell the truth."
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Post by Kortelan on Jan 21, 2007 2:09:13 GMT -5
Kortelen looks it over. "I see. Galan, I want a meeting with these officals. I think I can strighten them out. How are the producing of other records comming? Also any news on the census? And I want to get people in here who can give good ways to urbanize this province." He starts pacing feeling the weight of his position and trying to get every thing in order and his province running smoothly upwards. "Another thing I am going to give a speech to the city soon make sure all of my people that can be there are there."
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 21, 2007 21:00:31 GMT -5
Galan says, "We have begun planning the census and hiring census-takers. It is a huge project that will take weeks if not months to accomplish. It has never been done before. I will announce that you will give a speech in three days' time and summon the treasury officials at once."
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 21, 2007 21:10:59 GMT -5
Galan returns shortly afterwards with three other men and says to Kortelan, "Your excellency, I have no idea how we can urbanize the province as you asked, but I have brought your top men for dealing with the province's money. May I present to you Dalan, the provincial treasurer, Kornyva, the treasury's bookkeeper, and Namalon, the chief tax collector. They await your instructions."
Dalan, Kornyva and Namalon bowed deeply and awaited instructions from the Ulor.
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Post by Kortelan on Jan 21, 2007 21:53:36 GMT -5
Kortelen looked at him "Thank you Galan. We will await the census results, and I am sure we will find a way to urbanize this province." Then he looked at Dalan, Kornyva and Namalon. "Well as you three know there was fraud. Lots of fraud. Galan thinks at least one of you was in on it, I am inclined to agree. I think at least one of you was either in on it or at least knew about it. I doubt it was you, Namalon as you only collect taxes a job which makes you hated among the people but you do it because its your job. Since the amount in the treasury is right I don't think it was you, Dalan. Which leaves only Kornyva the bookkeeper. You would be the only person who has easy access to the books." He glares at Kornyva then looks to the others smiling. "But I would be stupid to think it is that easy or simple. Here is what I am going to do. I am going to allow you to clean up the books and set everything straight and if you do a good job you might even get a pay raise. IF however, any of you attempt fraud again you will be taken to trial for all the fraud that happened under the former Ulor. You see all three of you have a choice. Either you fix the books with haste and take the straight and narrow path for the rest of your time in your positions or you go through an unfair trial and get slapped with many counts of fraud and then you will be executed. You see I am willing to forgive and forget anything you did under the last Ulor. I want you to remember this though you will be watched. I would rather be a nice guy but if I have to be I will be a hard ass. Good day gentlemen. If you have anything to tell me I will listen." With that he watched them for a reaction.
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 24, 2007 3:19:58 GMT -5
Kornyva, the treasury's bookkeeper says, "Ulor, you misunderstand us. We have ever been loyal servants of our masters. But of course we were all three involved in the Ulor's special financial transactions. Had we any choice? We were his to command as we are now yours to command. Command us to report the true numbers in the records and make no special payments to you and we shall loyally do so. Command us to record your numbers and make secret payments and we shall also loyally do as we are commanded. Every Ulor, or nearly so, requires special payments. Everyone knows this. So it is in the provinces and so it is in Zekran. The Lord of the Exchequer is the wealthiest man in the Empire, so it is said. I dare not ask if it was so before he became Lord of the Exchequer. It is not our place to question these matters. Command us, Ulor, and we shall obey."
The others nodded in agreement.
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Post by Kortelan on Jan 24, 2007 9:07:20 GMT -5
Kortelen glared at the three "I will not believe for a moment you are spineless dogs that do exactly what you are told no matter what. But whether you are or not I expect you to report the right numbers and I also expect you to give me the right numbers for past budgets. Those are your orders I suggest you follow them."
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 25, 2007 10:46:03 GMT -5
Kornyva shrinks from the Ulor's obvious wrath, but mutters, "I will do my best, Ulor, but sometimes the previous Ulor would take money directly from the tax collectors. It never reached the treasury. There was no way to record it or for us to even know how much was taken."
Namalon says, "It is true. He insisted sometimes that records be destroyed. There were days when we collected tariffs and at the end of the day, the Ulor would tell my tax collectors to hand over the money and destroy all records, or not to make a record in the first place. We could not now find out just how much money was involved. But I can tell you it was a lot more than the 50,000 baylo that Galan was talking about. It was more than twice as much. Perhaps three or four times as much. Maybe more. The taxes in this province bring in vast sums of money."
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 25, 2007 10:49:46 GMT -5
Dalan, the provincial treasurer, says, "It is as they say, Ulor. There is no way now for anyone to reconstruct an accurate record of what happened before. But I assure you that we will keep an accurate record from now on if that is your wish. By your leave, we will go now and do it."
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Post by Kortelan on Jan 25, 2007 18:31:05 GMT -5
He shakes his head "I see why you were hired. Ah well the corruption ends here and now. Make your best guesses on what our budget will be like and also I want a list of all expenses. I want to know the names and salaries of all employed people, I want to know everywhere the baylo go. I need to know everything all my advisers know in order to make informed decisions." He turns to Galan "How goes getting the military that I am paying for ready for inspection? I want to inspect them, then parade through this city and end it with a speech to the people.
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