Imperial Law and politics have got bugger all to do with having been told to collect 500 gold instead of a "regular amount". Depending on who oaths you, you may get set different criteria for getting past the oath stage. Like Blitz said, click your heels and salute like a good grunt, until you get to the point where you can throw your own weight around. Stop feeling you are owed something in the Empire, and f**kin earn it.