Imperial Crown

The meeting lasted from morning to afternoon. The bodies of Karl and the half-dwarf named Jupiter had already been dragged away, but the air was still filled with the vague smell of blood.

But this does not stop the enthusiasm of businessmen.

Because Raven gave too many orders!

Stone, wood, quicklime, construction tools; pigs, beef cattle, ewes, hens, baking soda, salt, cheap alcohol; roses, jasmine, violets, mint; long swords, shields, spears, leather armor, crossbows...

Contracts flew in front of Raven one after another, and stacks of gold coins flew into the pockets of the businessmen, making everyone smile.

Generally speaking, the annual transaction scale of Gold Flash Town is about 5,000 gold coins, and the merchants here can account for about 45% of it.

Raven provided them with an order for nearly 1,200 gold coins in one fell swoop, which was almost half of their usual transaction volume.

What's more, the wine Raven provided was Angel's Tears!

Although there is a limit for each person, it is Angel's Tears after all, a fine wine that only a few nobles can enjoy!

For a time, Raven's image in the eyes of these businessmen was no longer that of a lord, but simply a moving humanoid gold mine.

"Now that we're done with business, let's move on to my personal needs." Raven's eyes fell on the face of Feili, who had been sitting with him: "Can we get twenty first-order magic cores, plus two sets of large alchemy equipment? "

The newly appointed president has a bloated figure and a dazzling Mediterranean-style bald head. He may have gained weight in middle age. Although he is not very fat, his belly is round and his cheeks are covered with fat.

Without smiling or speaking, the golden front teeth were exposed when he smiled: "Of course, no problem. As for the magic core, what attributes do you want?"

"Attributes don't matter." Raven said: "It's best to have a few pieces of each type."

Feili calculated in his mind for a while and said cautiously: "The alchemy equipment is easy to say, the market price is eighty-three gold coins per unit, and it will be available at the beginning of next month at the latest; but for the magic core, it is not easy to calculate the price, and the time cannot be guaranteed. ”

Raven asked: "Oh? How do you say this?"

"That's right, Lord Baron." Fili explained: "Magic cores are usually only produced in the bodies of Warcraft, and as you know, most of the Warcraft in Nord Province were wiped out decades ago, and now there are also many Warcraft nearby. Only the Bloody Highlands have a large number of wild monsters, so the output is not stable and the market price fluctuates."

"Just like a common fire-attributed magic core, the first-level one costs about three gold coins, while if it's a dark-attributed one, it may cost eight or nine, or even more."

"Oh, that's it." Raven nodded: "In this case, based on the price of four gold coins for a first-order magic core, including the deposit for the alchemy equipment, it is one hundred and twenty-three gold coins."

When this batch of gold coins was distributed, Raven only had more than forty gold coins left on hand.

But the money is not in vain, part of every order will be turned into taxes and flow back to Raven's pocket.

After spending a large amount of gold coins, the large-scale flow of goods will also bring a large floating population to Gold Flash Town, further stimulating the economic vitality of Gold Flash Town.

What is left in the warehouse is only gold coins, and they are not called money until they are spent.

"Okay!" Lei Wen clapped his hands: "It's getting late, so I won't keep everyone for dinner. Your chamber of commerce should pay more attention to the goods. As long as the quality is up to standard, I won't lose your money."

The businessmen all stood up and saluted: "Your will will be carried out, Lord Baron!"

The merchants left in a hurry, and Raven moved his neck twice: "Hey, I'm tired!"

Raven shouldn't be doing this kind of work of dealing with businessmen, but he really doesn't have anyone available.

"Sir, do you need me to help you find some women...?" Eric asked.

Raven teased: "Hey, I didn't see it, but you still have the potential to become a court jester."

Eric blushed: "This..."

"I'm teasing you." Raven patted him on the shoulder: "I'll give you two days off later, so you can all relax."

"But before that, we still have to talk about business."

"map!"

After Raven gave the order, Eric quickly took the map stored in the government hall from Simon and spread it out on the table.

"What is this?!" Raven was shocked.

"Map, sir." Eric didn't know why.

"Hiss..." Raven chewed his teeth: "Are you sure Viscount John didn't leave a fake copy here just to embarrass me?"

Eric scratched his head: "No, sir, this is the most standard map. Most armies also use this type of map."

Raven resisted the urge to curse, and couldn't stop complaining in his heart.

standard? Tell me the standards for this piece of shit! ?

The lines are twisted and twisted, and it’s okay to draw a box and say it’s a building. It’s understandable that there are no height differences or contour lines. At least it’s marked with east, west, north, and south...

But isn’t it too much to not even have a scale! ?

On a map of Goldsmith Town, the government affairs hall occupies nearly one-fifth of the area. When did Goldsmith Town become so small! ?

There are also four gates, one of which is clear and eye-catching. If Raven hadn't walked through it just once, he would have thought it was the size of the Arc de Triomphe!

"Forget it, let's make do..." Raven sighed: "How many private soldiers do you think is appropriate to leave here?"

Eric said: "According to the previous rules, at least a team of ten people must be stationed at the entrance to Xuefeng Territory in the west; there must be five people in the entrance in the south, three in the east, and there is no need to station in the entrance to Eagle Town in the north. ”

"But we only have a total of twenty-two people now!" Raven smiled bitterly: "You can't let me be a polished commander, can you?"

He rubbed his chin and said: "In this way, in addition to connecting the entrance and exit of Gold Shine Town, there will be two people at each entrance and exit, alternating shifts day and night, and four more people will be arranged to patrol in the city during the day. In this way, only sixteen people need to be left here. ”

Even with extreme reductions, there were still only six people left. Raven scratched his head: "Hey, there are not enough people!"

At least for now, the empire is still peaceful. Although there are bandits and thieves in the Nord province, no gangs dare to openly attack the nobles' territories.

Of course, except for the gangsters on the Bloody Highlands; but if those gangsters really came, it would not be enough to send troops to guard the entrances and exits - there was no city wall in Gold Gold Town, only a low wooden fence on the outer perimeter.

Eric looked at Raven's face and carefully suggested: "Although I also agree with reducing the number, the soldiers guarding the entrance are not only on guard, they are also responsible for collecting the city gate tax. If there are too few people, it may cause congestion."

"The city gate tax..." Raven nodded slowly: "It's exempt."

Eric said: "Lord Baron, the city gate tax can also generate revenue of twenty or thirty gold coins every year. If you are worried about manpower issues, we can hire local idle personnel to guard the four gates. This is what Xuefeng Leader did before. "

"No!" Raven immediately rejected Eric's proposal: "Just do what I say!"

Having been around Meng'en City for many years, Raven is very aware of the tricks here.

The city gate tax is five copper coins per person, and the annual revenue of twenty or thirty gold coins, if calculated backward, is fifty or sixty thousand people entering the city a year.

For the gatekeepers of this era, it was fifty to sixty thousand fat sheep.

If you order five copper coins on it, you dare to accept eight at the city gate. If you are in a hurry to do something, you will spend more money.

If a family member is sick, do you need to call a doctor? Okay, the city gate tax will be temporarily raised today, fifty copper coins, whether you like it or not.

Want to bring a large number of seasonal vegetables and fruits to the city?

Hey, I'm sorry, who knows if you have any contraband in your carriage? Wait outside the city for now. We will check it in two days. If there is no problem after the check, we will definitely let you go!

Want us to check first? This... oh, fifty silver coins, okay, okay, I wish I had done this earlier. Let's go in.

Things like this are so common that sometimes in a year, the gatekeepers exploit more money than the city gate tax itself!

Raven canceled the city gate tax and used his own private soldiers to guard the gates. This was to make it a rule in Goldsmith Town to make free entry and exit into the city before they were corrupted by money, and to eradicate all the previous bad habits.

After all, money will not disappear. With the abolition of the city gate tax, the floating population of Gold Flash Town will be more than before. As long as the construction of Gold Flash Town gets better and better, they will always spend their money elsewhere.

When he told Eric his idea, the latter said with admiration: "Sir, your idea is so far-sighted!"

"Speak as if you understand." Raven teased with a smile.

Eric blushed because he really didn't understand.

"Okay, we've got down to business, it's time to relax." Raven put a gold coin into Eric's hand: "We are all very tired during this period, and I just give you two days off. You first Arrange the guard and rotation shifts, and then notify the guards to come over, and I will give them a round of bonuses! "

Eric took the gold coin and said with a smile: "Yes, sir!"

Taking out the silver coin box prepared in advance, Raven sat in the conference room.

The private soldiers walked in one by one without knowing why, and then walked out happily, with a satisfied smile on everyone's face.

Two silver coins per person was enough for them to have fun for several days.

Simon was the last one to come in. He took the silver coins and was about to salute, but was stopped by Raven: "Okay, no need to be so formal, you deserve the money."

"Lord Baron, I just did what I should do." Simon was happy but a little embarrassed at the same time.

"Then you have done a good job, and I should reward you." Raven patted him on the shoulder: "Take off your armor for a while, go for a walk in the town, relax and gain insights, don't always I blush when I talk!”

"Yes!" Simon hit his chest with his hands and gave a military salute.

"You!" Raven laughed dumbly: "Okay, let's go play, don't waste time here."

Simon left, and Raven took a bottle of Angel Tears. Just as he poured himself a glass, Simon opened the door again and walked in.

"Lord Baron, President Philip would like to see you."

"It came too soon." After drinking the wine in one gulp and tipping the glass back, Raven said, "Let him in."

Fili walked into the conference room and immediately saw half a box of Angel Tears in the corner, and couldn't help but swallowed secretly.

The taste of the wine is truly unforgettable.

He carefully raised his eyelids: "Lord Baron, I am here to give you a gift."

But Raven didn't seem to hear what he said. He stood by the window with his hands on the window sill, overlooking the territory he had just taken back from a high position: "Golden Town is such a good place."

Compared to the decline of Eagle Territory, Gold Flash Town is visibly wealthy. The streets are spacious enough to accommodate three carriages traveling side by side, and the ground is paved with whole bluestone slabs.

There are rows of shops on both sides of the street, including clothing stores, jewelry stores, barber shops, and daily necessities stores. The facades are all clean and decent, and the signboards are colorful. It is obvious that a lot of thought has been put into them.

"President Philip, as a local businessman, have you ever thought about why a prosperous place like Goldshire was born on the border of Nord Province?"

Hearing this question, Fili's breath froze: "Lord Baron, I have never thought about this problem."

Raven came over and put his arm around his shoulders, pulled him to the window, and whispered in his ear: "The answer is actually right in front of us."

Glancing at the hand on his shoulder, Fili swallowed, with a slight cold sweat on his forehead.

He remembered clearly that Raven used this hand to lightly slit Carl's throat!

Amid fear, he became more focused than ever before, and his eyes fell on the bustling streets.

It was already dusk, and the streets were still crowded with people. They walked together in small groups, laughing and talking, pouring into the shops on both sides of the street in twos and threes, and coming out of them with smiles on their faces from time to time.

Every time you go in and out, there will always be some changes, either there is an extra basket of bread or a jug of wine in your hand, or there is an extra hat on your head, or you have a new pair of shoes or a new set of clothes.

"Sir...I can only see...many...people?"

"Yes, that's the answer!" Lei Wen tightened his shoulders and said eloquently: "There are 3,237 registered citizens in Shining Gold Town, and the number of free citizens is not less than that of the citizens. On average, every day More than two hundred people will flock here. In total, the permanent population here will probably not be less than ten thousand. "

"It is precisely because there is such a large population, especially the floating population, that money and goods from all directions are continuously imported here, that Goldsmith Town is so prosperous!"

"They work, make money, and then spend it, and the money they spend becomes the income of others to buy their products. This is the lowest level logic of business activities!"

Raven's magnetic voice seemed to carry some kind of magic, bringing Fili's thinking to an unprecedented level.

This statement may not be accurate, but to Feili's ears it was like seeing the sun through the clouds. The world unfolded in front of him in an unprecedented way. He suddenly said: "I seem to understand, Lord Baron! This is why you refuse our discount." The reason! You are so wise, compared to you, I am as stupid as a groundhog!"

"Don't belittle yourself, President Fili." Raven's voice was like a devil's whisper, penetrating into Fili's heart little by little: "In my opinion, you far surpass Karl in terms of ability, temperament, and character. "

"But why, he can become the president of Goldsmith Town, and you can only be a foil; why is it that you sent me the land deed of Carl and Jupiter's shop when no one else dared to come?"

Karl's eyes suddenly widened. The gift he sent this time was indeed five land deeds, but he had never mentioned it to outsiders?

How could the Baron know?

"You should be a native of Goldshire, right?" Raven asked.

"Yes, sir!" Fili quickly replied: "My parents were merchants and later settled in Goldsmith Town, and I inherited the family's shop."

"No wonder." Raven smiled softly and said, "Many times you can't figure things out, not because you're not smart enough, but because your vision is not broad enough."

"Why is Carl able to hold the Chamber of Commerce in Goldshire? Because he is backed by the Fox family; his predecessor, President Baiden, is backed by the Luke family."

Feili suddenly answered: "The merchants from the Chamber of Commerce are unwilling to jointly operate Feili's shop. Is it because they are afraid of the Fox family's revenge that they asked me to give you these five land deeds!?"

As Raven said, he only thinks about the immediate benefits.

From Feili's point of view, Raven's handing over these shops to the Chamber of Commerce for joint management was essentially a gesture of goodwill to the Chamber of Commerce, but it did not mean that he was really willing. Now that the president has voluntarily handed over the five land deeds, it is Give up the interests of the Chamber of Commerce and express your loyalty to the Griffith family.

In this world, although merchants are not serfs, they have no status at all. To the nobles, they are just cattle and sheep on the pasture, which can be slaughtered for meat at any time.

In order to prevent himself from being eaten dry, taking the initiative to please his master was the best way that Fili could think of.

But after Raven's guidance, he finally figured it out.

Other businessmen did not dare to take over the five land deeds because they were afraid of the Fox family's revenge.

Then by doing this, not only is he not trying to please, but he is putting the blame on Raven's head!

Thinking of Raven talking and laughing about killing people, cold sweat instantly filled Fili's half-bald head. He flopped softly to the ground, tears mixed with sweat flowing out, and he slapped himself and said: "Lord Baron, Spare me——"

"Stop howling." Raven looked at his empty arms and couldn't laugh or cry. He bent down to pick up the box that fell on the ground: "I didn't say I didn't want it."

"Sir... what are you doing!?" Feili stopped crying, his eyes full of doubts.

Why did Raven take the initiative to take the blame on himself even though he knew he was the one to blame?

"I am a noble, Imperial Baron!" Raven said loudly: "The Fox family's revenge on you can be assassination or robbery, but in my case, they cannot and do not dare to use these methods."

Fili still doesn't understand. Fox is from the earl family, but Raven is just a baron! This is not just as simple as being separated by two ranks of titles, the wealth, strength, and status are all worlds apart.

"You are not a noble, of course you don't understand, and you don't need to understand." Raven looked at him and said seriously: "You just need to know that your interests and mine are the same."

"The more prosperous Goldshire is, the more the Chamber of Commerce will make, the more you will make, and the more my taxes will be."

"As long as you don't betray this goal, you can continue to work as president of the Chamber of Commerce for a long time."

This time, Fili understood.

He immediately pointed to the sky and said: "I, Feili, would like to swear to the Lord of Light! From today on, I will be the hound guarding your money bag. I will serve you with all my heart. The Flash Gold Chamber of Commerce will fully cooperate with your decision-making. !”

"Get up." Raven said in a teasing tone: "Don't kneel everywhere in the future. You are also several decades old. Are you too timid?"

"Well...I've never been brave enough." Feili stood up holding on to the window sill and smiled flatteringly: "And I'm soft-eared. This time, it was those dogs who provoked me, so I came here to deliver the documents to you. "

Raven suddenly smiled: "No wonder you are called 'Beared Rabbit', you really did have the wrong name, not the wrong nickname."

"But, being soft-eared is not entirely a bad thing. At worst, he is a bad person, but at best, he knows how to listen to advice."

Having said this, Raven shook his head and tutted: "What a pity, touching interests is much harder than touching souls."

Fili said with a little shame: "Sir, I... don't understand."

"If you don't understand, just think about it yourself! This is not a school." Raven chuckled and said, "When you figure it out one day, you won't be a good person anymore."

"I will definitely keep your Lord Baron's teachings in mind!" Feili saluted respectfully: "Then, if your Lord is fine, I will leave first."

Fili turned around and left. As soon as he turned his head, the smile on his face disappeared.

It can be considered as a lucky escape!

"etc."

Raven's voice sounded, and Feili's heart began to tighten again. He swallowed, quickly turned around with a smile, "What else do you have in mind?"

What answered him was a wine bottle flying towards him. Fili quickly hugged it with both hands, and his fat face suddenly turned into a chrysanthemum of joy.

That turned out to be a whole bottle of angel tears!

"Thank you Lord Raven for the reward!"

"I saw you staring early in the morning." Raven waved his hand: "Go!"

Feili held Angel's Tears in his arms and hummed a little tune as he left the government affairs hall. He walked out for most of the street. He didn't grow until he turned the corner and entered a deserted alley. After confirming that he couldn't see this place from the government affairs hall, he He sighed and slid to the ground, leaning against the wall.

"Damn you bastard, you scared me to death. How could there be such a scary person..."

From the moment he entered the room to the time he finally left, the entire conversation was planned by the baron.

He was a big businessman with a net worth of several thousand gold coins, an old man who was almost fifty years old, but he was actually taken advantage of by a twenty-year-old young man.

Baron Raven...is he really only twenty years old?

That kind of control over people's hearts, his precise grasp of the ways of the world, and his high-level view of things made Fili feel ashamed.

Could it be that...even me going to find him was part of his plan! ?

"Impossible, absolutely impossible! No one can scheme to this extent."

Fili opened the Angel's Tears, took a sip, and sighed: "It is said that Baron Raven was born in a humble background, behaved badly, and had a bad character. Now it seems that they are just baseless rumors. They are probably spread by the nobles themselves. The wind deliberately belittled him."

"But the Baron still has a shallow foundation, otherwise he wouldn't have put so much thought into using humane and sophisticated means to win me over."

After slowly catching his breath, Fili's eyes gradually became clear.

There is nothing wrong with being attracted by others. In this world, only those who are valuable deserve to live.

"Unexpectedly...a cruel and greedy wolf died, and a shrewd and ruthless lion came."

Feili thought with burning eyes.

The latter had a far-sighted vision and would never sit in a muddy pond and eat meat from the mouths of small fish and shrimps like the former. Instead, they followed behind and could eat the fallen residue.

"But now that I'm on this chariot, I have to find a way to tie myself more securely."

I caught a hoof when I was trying to flatter you today, so I must find the right position to take the picture again.

"By the way, 'Little Bee'." Fili's eyes lit up: "My lord said, there was a wrong name, but there was no wrong nickname!"

"Then if this happens..."

…