Chapter 293

The sun was setting and it was getting late.

Raven town is bustling with campfires rising in the open space. The orange tongue desperately wants to lick the mutton on on the iron frame, but can only taste the hot oil beads. The cook took down the golden barbecue and immediately put on the whole sheep that were still dripping blood. The women were responsible for bringing the fragrant barbecue to the wooden table. While kicking away the running hounds, they scolded the men who tried to touch their buttocks. Those who succeeded had to get a few loud slaps in the face, and then became complacent in the laughter of the people. A large group of children ran barefoot in the mud. They were chasing a bald fat old man, hoping to get a small piece of sugar from his hand.

Father Gary was in a mess. The new priest's robe was covered with oil fingerprints, large and small. In the face of these screaming cubs, even the divine arts given by the Supreme Lord could not help him. The paladin responsible for protecting the priest held a bad smile and didn't mean to give a hand at all.

"Don't pull, don't pull, everyone has, oh, this is a new robe." Father Gary, sweating, finally saw the Savior among the bear children, "bertina! Dear little girl, take care of your men, for the sake of the Supreme Lord."

Bell raised his little red face, stretched out his hand and said, "father, Grandpa, give me the bag and I'll give it to you."

"Baby, that won't work. Unless you wear a white robe." Father Gary awkwardly avoided countless small hands. Although he liked the little girl very much, it was a rule that the church's things could only be distributed to the people by the clergy.

"Then you should reward me for every piece of candy you give. Otherwise, I won't help you." Bertina rolled her eyes and offered conditions.

"Send you three yuan and reward you one."

"Everybody grab!"

"Don't rob, don't rob... Well, you won." Before several bear children climbed onto themselves, the fat priest raised his hand to the child king and surrendered. Bertina nodded happily, and her dog legs immediately lined up the messy bear children in a long line.

"You, bell, next..." the fat priest stuffed bell with a piece of candy and touched her little head: "what a greedy little fellow, why can't you be as generous as your master? Lord Randall donated 7 cows, 60 sheep and 20 wild pigs to hold this relief... Do you want to take these crude candy back?"

Bertina contentedly put the crude sugar in the small pocket of the maid's service and said without raising her head: "it is precisely because the host is generous that we should be stingy."

"Er... Who taught you?" The priest asked as he handed out sugar.

"Mrs. Lilia."

"That's a wise saying."

Father Gary received a warm welcome from all over Raven town. He didn't recognize everyone, but remembered bertina who had just met, but he never thought that this particularly lovely little girl had a wizard father, and he was so strong.

Emerson's most rebellious ability is not to alienate creatures, but to communicate will. This sorcery does not need to cast spells. It is completely a passive talent. It can not only control animals, but also communicate with orcs without obstacles. If Victor is imosen, he will first enslave a group of wise goblins and dog headed people with powerful alienated creatures, organize goblin slaves to engage in production and construction, hunting and collection, farming and mining, and expand their strength, and then conquer the half dragon tribe. Even if he can't dominate in the Everglades, he can live very comfortably. Unfortunately, imosen hates orcs from the bottom of his heart and can't even accept the fact that he has become a wizard. He tortures himself in the way of self exile. He has a powerful ability, but he lives like a savage, and bertina suffers with him.

Traditional education imprisons people's thoughts, and their horizons determine a person's achievements. The shortcomings of the world are my advantages. Victor thought that he closed the window and returned to his seat. The hall was full of candles, the Lord's dinner had just ended, the good wine and food on the oak table had been removed, and boots and others were waiting for Victor's questions.

"Father Gary held prayers and relief, and the people of Raven town have decided. Booth, what are your next plans?" Victor sipped his coffee and asked.

"My Lord, I have investigated." Butz stood up and said: "My Lord, although your land covers 1300 square kilometers, there are many mountains and little land, and the land is not fertile. There is only one stream and one lake, which can reclaim more than 20000 mu of farmland at most. Old ham and I have made a total of plans to build a pastoral village, plant alfalfa, raise cattle, sheep and horses, and then organize people to dig streams and reservoirs to reclaim farmland. It is expected that we can open up 5 villages in three years Ten thousand mu of arable land and three villages will be built. " Seeing that Victor didn't ask if he could, Butz quickly added, "Sir, I guarantee that the villages and towns here will be as clean and tidy as the hill camp."

Victor's earliest followers knew that their adults had almost "harsh" requirements for environmental sanitation. Raven town took in more than 1000 untidy free people, and the town was not very clean.

Victor shook his head and laughed and said, "Butz, the most important thing in Raven town now is to let the free people stay."

Raven town is remote and desolate. Victor thinks it should be a good place to exile prisoners, at least for now. The first pioneers of Raven town were more than 300 mountain people led by Butz. They were once scattered under Randall's leadership and secretly controlled by Victor. The second group of migrants were more than 500 people, divided into more than 60 families, mainly soldiers of the Buryat family, who betrayed Judy mother At the beginning, Victor captured a group of soldiers after shooting Austin Buryat, who had been leading the hard labor in Randall. Later, Judy regained the power of the family. She confiscated the soldiers' wealth and land and expelled their families. Victor asked them to come, not only pardoned them for their crimes, but also gave them the identity and conditions of the leader Must move to Raven town to open up territory for the Randall family.

These mountain people are Victor's old subordinates. Although they are not loyal, they are used to obeying the strong. They are tough and brave, but they don't have much fancy. They are the core force of Raven town. As for the prisoners, they were originally vassal soldiers, capable and knowledgeable, grateful to victor, eager to become vassal of the Randall family, and exploring the North was their only opportunity. Only the newly joined free people are unreliable. Most of them will certainly try to leave Raven town and go to the more stable and prosperous Viscount Sauron to make a living.

"I won't give them the status of leader, but Raven town does need these labor forces." Victor said, "besides, you are the mayor of Raven Town, not the bandit leader. Don't try to force them to stay by means of intimidation. Do you understand?" Booth nodded awkwardly. He really had only this way. Victor continued: "father Gary's coming this time means that raventown is on the right track from now on."

"What is the right track? I don't think you can tell." Victor clapped his hands. Several soldiers came into the hall with three wooden boxes and opened the lid. It was full of dark red copper coins. Butz and others stared round one by one. Although the copper sol was worthless, the three boxes full of copper coins still made people dizzy.

"Raven town used to have no distinction between public and private. Its responsibilities are unknown. The villagers have no money to work. It's like a free people camp! Hehe, fortunately, most of your men are mountain people... Not now. The free people have the support of the church. Who is willing to work for nothing?"

"Here is 300000 copper sols, full of color." Victor grabbed a handful of copper coins and let them slip through his fingers and make a clanging sound. "Free people are free to come and go, work and get money. It's their right to obtain the identity of leading people after three years of development. However, it's not enough to let them stay in Raven town!"

"Raven town refers to Randall's rules. Free people are free to go in and out and are exempted from transit tax. There are not only wages, but also free houses to live in. 20% of the harvest can be reserved for hunting, and their personal and property safety should be ensured."

Victor paused and asked, "old ham, do you have enough soldiers?".

"My Lord, there are 40 elite soldiers, 10 family guards and 60 mountain hunters in Raven town." Old ham stood up and replied, "it was enough. Now the territory has expanded fourfold. I'm afraid we can't take care of this."

Victor nodded and said, "I'll bring you 64 mercenaries this time. They used to be vassal soldiers of the Buryat family. Now they work for me in the name of mercenaries. I'll give these people to you. You should build sentries and arrange patrols as soon as possible to ensure the security of the territory. Only in this way can the free people rest assured."

"Yes, sir." Old ham said happily, "all the mountain people are good hunters, but they can't ride horses. With these people, raven town has enough patrol cavalry at last."

Victor returned to his seat and asked Lilia, "honey, have you counted the people and property in Raven town?"

"Yes." Lilia said, "at present, there are 104 leading families in Raven Town, including 1143 people and 1103 free people. There are more than 11000 mu of cultivated land, 387 cattle, 2303 sheep and 733 pigs." Lilia faced boots and said: "Butz, distribute the land to the collar families as soon as possible. Each family rents 80 mu of land and can keep 30% of the harvest. In addition, I leave 2000 gold sols and 4000 silver sols for Raven town. The first group of collar families can get three gold sols and the second group of collar families can get one gold sols. Only in this way can they have the money to hire free people's helpers. In short, raven town will follow the rules of villages and towns in the future Work. "

"As you wish, madam." Boots bowed deeply.

Victor motioned booth and old ham to sit down, shook his head and said: "Raven town is too far away from Randall's collar. I won't transport any living supplies. I have agreed with father Gary that he will facilitate the trade between Raven town and Viscount Sauron's collar. The future living supplies of Raven town can be purchased from Viscount Sauron's collar, including food and salt. Father Gary's condition is to open a public carriage from Raven town to Viscount Sauron's collar, at least twice a day 。”

"Boots, you first lead people to build a road connecting Viscount Sauron."

Butz hesitated for a long time and muttered, "Sir, the free people have earned money. They will take a carriage to Viscount Sauron to make a living. In this case, raven town will soon have no money to use..."

"So you have to find a way to make money." Victor said with a smile, "I have arranged a mountain stronghold in the mountain area on the west side of Raven town. They are not only the backup of Raven Town, but also responsible for collecting mountain goods. Send someone to contact them to transport the mountain goods, process them into goods, and then sell them to Viscount Sauron or viscount Negus in the north."

"In addition, raven town does not charge the goods transit tax and commodity purchase tax of the caravan, but only 7% of the commodity transaction tax. If the caravan purchases the goods of Raven town with the money from selling things, their commodity transaction tax can also be exempted. I believe Raven town will soon become a place where merchants gather and make a lot of money."

Butz was confused. He looked at Victor with a smile and asked carefully, "my Lord, I know the transit tax. This... What do the purchase tax and transaction tax mean?"

"It's Tariff... Er, well, we've changed our words. There's no tax on buying things, but there's tax on selling things, okay?"

"I see." Butz said happily.

From the 16th century to the 18th century, Western European countries prevailed in heavy money. When foreigners came to their own countries for trade, they must use all the proceeds from their sales to buy their own goods, so as to limit the outflow of gold and silver. This is certainly a wrong approach, because gold and silver are not equal to money, and non circulating money is not equal to wealth.

Victor did not understand the history of trade protectionism, but he especially needed gold coins. If the Lord desperately sells territory resources in order to store kinsol, he must be a real fool, but Victor can replace kinsol with an alchemist. Although the alchemy tower can also absorb materials, Victor vaguely thought it was a bad idea. He would rather feed the alchemy tower with gold coins.

On the other hand, the volume of Raven town is far from that of yeliucheng. It has limited demand for goods, but it controls the resources in the Rayleigh mountains. At the same time, it is also a trade port between Gambis and dodo kingdom. In yeliucheng, caravans can trade with each other, and the Buryat family draws taxes from it. In Raven Town, you don't have to pay tax on buying goods, but you have to pay tax on selling goods. In order to avoid tax, the caravan can only sell goods to Raven town and then buy goods from Raven town. In this way, Victor became a middleman.

Middlemen earn price difference, which is much better than tax collection.

In the final analysis, the wild willow city is the result of mutual compromise among the major Lords. The Buryat family has no strength to take the lead and can only collect a transaction tax of 3%. Victor has the ability to ensure his own interests. He doesn't need to be polite at all.

After completing the development plan of Raven Town, we will solve the personnel problem of Raven town.

"You must already know that Linda is now the family inspector and the family sheriff is Munk." Victor said to Butz and old ham, "Raven town also needs a sheriff now. I'll let Munk transfer people from the sheriff's office to serve as your Sheriff once every three years. In addition, Linda will send his men to investigate the situation of Raven town from time to time. I ask you to cooperate with Linda unconditionally. Do you understand?"

Butz and old ham looked at each other. They could see the Lord's deep and cold eyes. Their hearts tightened and said in unison, "yes, sir."

Victor looked a little slower and asked softly, "I hear you all have women, and there's more than one?"

Butz's face was red, and old Hamlet said with a red face: "yes, my Lord. My woman gave birth to a little child like love to a foal. Butz also has a son and a daughter."

"When they reach the age of eight, they will be sent to Yinyue manor to receive Mrs. Elena's attendant education." Victor said with a smile, "as for whether they can succeed you in the future, it depends on their ability. They must be better than you."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, madam!" Butz was overjoyed. He took old ham and bowed. Victor proposed that the sheriff should be changed every three years. Butz was very worried that his position as mayor would have a term of office. Now he has put down the stone in his heart.

Victor knew boutz's mentality like the back of his hand. He encouraged: "I won't forget your contribution to developing Raven town. As long as you work hard, I promise you can keep working. Raven town is your hard work and your home after all."

Victor's ban on the hereditary system of Randall led village head is conducive to improving efficiency, but it is not suitable for the situation of Raven town.

There is another sentence behind the "iron yamen flowing official": being an official for thousands of miles is only for money. Floating officials either idle away their work and mix their qualifications, or they are corrupt, which will remain unchanged for thousands of years. This is mainly because the floating officials are overstaffed and do not take the place as their home. It is impossible to devote themselves to death. This is also the reason why there was a millennium family in ancient China and no Millennium imperial dynasty. If Victor is the king of Gambis, under the current conditions, he can only adopt the enfeoffment system. Randall's palm is bigger, and under Victor's eyes, naturally he can't turn over any water. Raven town is hanging out alone. It needs the mayor and garrison to do their best to ensure its prosperity and stability.

Butz and old Ham have the same ability, but Victor can trust them at present. The prosperous Raven town is bound to be coveted by various forces. They may not be able to cope with the complex situation, but Victor has a great sense of righteousness. If he firmly grasps the judicial power, he will not be afraid of the Raven town falling to other forces. Alchemy dragon lizard and swift bird riding are not furnishings. When necessary, victor will teach ambitious people a painful lesson.

"This is the end of today's conversation. Go back and have a rest."

Victor waved back the crowd and asked Lilia, "Fermi, are they on their way?"

"Well, Fermi and his kestrel mercenary regiment have gone to Viscount neigus to receive them. After delivering the crude sugar, they will turn to the Giant Eagle City of Dodo Kingdom, and then go all the way north to try to recover the mountain villages along the way." Lilia frowned and asked, "but the kestrel mercenary regiment has neither businessmen nor goods to trade with the mountain people, nor even handcarts. Is it really all right?"

"Don't worry. Barol is in Eagle City. He has everything ready for Fermi. Shuiyin has spent so much money on me. It's finally useful."

Lilia nodded and suddenly thought of another thing, "by the way, I received a message from the Raven that there were guests waiting for you in Pinghu Town."

"Who?"

Lilia said strangely, "Lord Abel, the steward of Mrs. Sophia."

"Lord Abel? It was he who left me alone in Hamburg. I thought he was the Queen's man. I didn't think he was still working for Sophia. Ha ha, interesting." Victor smiled and said, "we'll go back to Pinghu Town tomorrow."