The Knight's Journey to the Empire

Today is the third day since Baron Soran came to the territory and took office as lord.

In just three days, he established his prestige in the new territory, won the hearts of the people and gained a firm foothold by suppressing the vampire tax collector Sir Jacques, hanging Mayor Corbett, wanted police captain Benny, and exempted all exorbitant taxes and usury debts.

At the same time, a considerable amount of original start-up capital was also seized.

Including gifts sent by Corbett, property looted from the mayor's mansion, and the ransom that Sir Jacques' family will send in the next few days.

All the money added up would amount to about four or five thousand gold coins.

Sauron would not be foolish enough to return all this unexpected windfall to his subjects.

What he did was to put it directly into his own small treasury and treat it as his private property!

My Lord, I am already merciful and kind enough to forgive all your debts!

And you're thinking of returning these to you too. Are you asking for more?

You're dreaming! Do you really think I'm a rich man?

Besides, I, the Lord, did not force you to pay this money, so what does it have to do with me!

But this money now is the stolen money of corruption and bribery that I, the lord, seized!

Stolen money! Naturally, it is public money!

There is also the issue of territory taxation!

Exempt from all?

How can this be?

In his previous life, when Soran was reading online novels, he saw that the lords in those novels, as soon as they arrived at the territory and took office, immediately ordered the exemption of all taxes for the people in order to win the hearts of the people.

He thinks this kind of rubbish plot is really funny. Ignorance is fearless!

In the early stages of development, in a small, remote territory with low productivity, you not only have a small population, but also no roads, and your business cannot develop.

These main taxes, mainly agricultural tax and population tax, were originally the main sources of territory tax revenue.

You exempted them all with just one order, so you are ready to starve, right?

(Except for the high magic plane, after all, that cannot be explained by common sense)

Also, if you exempt them all, what will you do with the other nobles and lords around them?

You are outstanding? You are kind? You are good?

You are noble! You are amazing! You 1080P!

Are you using us as a backdrop or a stepping stone?

If you don't ask for taxes, free people and merchants will all run to you, then we will make no money at all!

Isn't this just making enemies for yourself? If not you, who else should I mess with?

This is a society, a society full of human relationships, not a stand-alone game!

Of course, Soran would not do such a thankless task!

Besides, Javier and the others would not allow him to do that!

……

In the meeting room of the former tax collector's villa, Soran sat at the head of the long table.

Gubellini, Ramos, Henry, Adam, Javier, and others sat on the left and right, facing each other.

This was the second collective meeting held by Soran and his confidants after arriving in the White Bear Territory.

The theme of this conference is: How to develop and build the White Bear Territory?

"Come on, my brothers, there's no need to be so polite, everyone just sit down and relax!"

"The purpose of today's meeting is mainly for us to discuss how to develop and build our territory!" At the beginning, Sauron set the topic of discussion for this meeting.

“I hope everyone can use their wisdom and talents, speak freely, brainstorm, and put forward more valuable suggestions for the construction and development of our territory!”

Then Soran gestured to Javier who was sitting next to him and said, "Javier, please write down everyone's useful or important comments and questions, and then we can discuss them together."

"Yes, young master!" In fact, Javier had already prepared pen, ink and paper before the meeting started.

Suddenly, the people sitting on both sides of the table looked at each other.

Then everyone pretended to think seriously.

In fact, during dinner yesterday, Soran had already told them that a meeting on this topic would be held today.

After thinking about it for a night, they all had their own ideas in mind, and everyone had their own questions to reflect on and suggestions to make.

Now everyone pretended to be thinking, they just didn't want to be the first to speak.

(Readers, please try to put yourself in the same situation as when you are in a group meeting, especially when the leader raises a question and you have a suggestion that you think is good)

Of course, this does not mean that they are not concerned about the development and construction of the territory.

The relationship and bond between them and Sauron is that of a community of shared interests, where they prosper together and suffer together.

Therefore, Sauron's territory is also their territory, and there is nothing wrong with this.

Who doesn't want his or her territory to grow and develop?

Who doesn’t want to get more and more benefits?

Who doesn’t want their share of the pie to get bigger and bigger?

The atmosphere at the scene was silent for a while, and finally Ramos stood up and spoke first: "Master, there are large tracts of fertile wasteland in the territory that are suitable for cultivating wheat. We can't waste it."

"Before, Sir Jacques, Mayor Corbett, and Benny, these three vampires oppressed the people in the territory, so the people did not pay attention to land reclamation and production. So I think we need to mobilize more people in the territory and use lower tax policies to encourage them to vigorously reclaim wasteland and grow a lot of wheat."

"Well, that's a good point. Javier, write it down for Ramos. The first point: mobilize the people to reclaim the wasteland." Soran nodded with satisfaction, expressing his agreement.

Now that someone has started the conversation, the speeches that follow will naturally become much easier.

"Young Master, the development of the territory must not ignore the development of commerce. Commerce is one of the important industries that drive the development of the territory. Because commerce can bring a continuous source of tax revenue to the territory, we should also pay attention to the commercial development of the territory!" This was the question raised by Adam.

As Soran's chief economic adviser and head of the reserve caravan, Adam is indeed very concerned about the development of business.

And commerce is indeed different from agriculture:

Agriculture in this era basically depends on the weather. The lords will only receive taxes when there is a harvest in the harvest season.

Furthermore, Soran's White Bear Territory can only be cultivated once a year, so taxes are also collected once a year;

As for business, except for the period when the roads are blocked by heavy snow, business can be carried out at other times, so it is indeed relatively stable.

Of course, business is not necessarily a sure-win business.

Ups and downs, gains and losses, this is the normal state of business development.

But compared with agriculture, business is more operational.

"Well, Javier, remember the second one too: develop business!" Soran nodded in agreement. Obviously, he also knew the importance of this.

After all, he is an excellent student who studied at the Donbass Knight Academy.

"Young Master, I think the most urgent task is to first establish the name of the White Bear Territory and announce it. This will declare the sovereignty of the territory, establish the authority of the lord, and stabilize the hearts of the people. At the same time, appoint corresponding officials to form a leadership team to be responsible for managing the specific affairs of the territory. Only in this way can the various tasks of the territory be put into operation quickly, and the various affairs and conflicts of the territory can be handled more quickly!" Gubellini hit the nail on the head and directly pointed out the current urgent needs of the territory.

"Well said, Gubellini, that's true! Javier, write it down quickly, the third item: appoint officials and form a leadership team." Sauron praised happily and expressed his affirmation of Gubellini's opinion.

"Master, I think the territory's military construction cannot be neglected. Although Benny is wanted, he escaped with a security team of more than 30 people. I don't know if he will fight back! This is always a hidden danger."

"Moreover, there are often wild beasts around the territory. If we want to open up the land, we will definitely need a guard team to protect it!" Henry's voice sounded at the right time.

Whether it's Benny on the run or wild beasts roaming the wild, these are serious threats.

Sauron himself is certainly not afraid, after all, his own strength is there, and he is protected by the guards when he goes in and out.

But the villages and people under the White Bear Territory, and even the free people who come to seek refuge with Sauron in the future, or the merchants who come to the White Bear Territory to do business, may be threatened.

And at this moment, Soran suddenly remembered the gathering of the guards yesterday morning.

So he nodded seriously and asked Javier to write it down.

"There is another point, and that is the problem of the road. The road from Flanders Town to Kingdom Avenue is too small and too bad. It cannot meet the requirements for people to walk on or for developing business. I suggest that it needs to be repaired to facilitate travel!" This was another problem of Adam.

Indeed, what exactly is that road like? Sauron himself has walked it and knows what it looks like!

It's too shabby, it really needs to be repaired!

"There is also the issue of personnel resettlement. Those people we brought from Conant City need to be resettled in a timely manner. We can't let them live here anymore! It will cause chaos and affect the young master's life! It will also seriously affect your noble reputation!" This was the question Javier raised himself.

He always puts taking good care of the young master and safeguarding his interests as his first starting point.

Soran nodded with great satisfaction and asked him to write down his question.

As time passed, the meeting room remained silent for several minutes.

Soran then continued to ask: "Can you think of any other questions? Just speak up, there is no need to hide it!"

However, no one spoke, everyone was racking their brains to think hard.

Seeing this, Soren added: "I also have a problem, which is to re-plan Flanders Town. The environment here is too bad, dirty, messy, smelly, feces and urine are everywhere, garbage is thrown everywhere, and sewage is flowing. I feel very uncomfortable and disgusted when I see it. It needs to be transformed."

Everyone frowned slightly when they heard this, but didn't say much.

Because no matter they are born in the city or in the villages and towns below, they have actually lived in this kind of environment since childhood.

Therefore, even though they are very disgusted with this harsh living environment, they have long been accustomed to it and are not surprised by it.

For them, it doesn’t matter whether this kind of environment is changed or not.

Anyway, among these people, some have some unhealthy living habits, such as urinating and defecating anywhere, littering, etc!

This is normal!

Um~

The norm for the entire society!

But not Sauron!

Although he grew up in such a "magical" environment in this life, he is a person who has witnessed the "beautiful and healthy society"!

We had no choice before, but now, we definitely can’t endure it any longer!

Moreover, this harsh environment is most likely to breed bacteria, germs, fungi and the like, which can easily contaminate the human body and then cause some special diseases.

This is common sense in life and hygiene. These natives may not have it, but as a citizen of the Celestial Empire in his previous life, Sauron cannot be without it.

Because with the current medical level in this world, if you get this disease, it is basically a death sentence!

Oh no, it's burning at the stake. You'll be tied to a pile of wood and burned to death!

What if there were a disaster like plague or the Black Death?

Wuhu, let’s just call it a day!

Even Soran himself was not sure whether his extraordinary power - Dou Qi - could stop the invasion of these things.

What about the large number of ordinary people?

Besides, this is my territory! This is my home!

Sauron certainly wants to develop and build his home towards a well-off society that is "prosperous, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful".

Instead of living in a "heavy metal periodic table" like the "Ganges River".

It would be better to just die!

It feels more painful to be alive!