Imperial Crown.

Chapter 28: Conquering the Shining Gold Chamber of Commerce
The meeting lasted from morning to afternoon. The bodies of Carl and the half-dwarf named Jupiter had already been dragged away, but the air was still filled with a faint smell of blood.

But this does not stop the enthusiasm of businessmen.

Because Raven placed too many orders!
Stone, wood, quicklime, building tools; pigs, beef cattle, ewes, hens, baking soda, salt, cheap alcohol; roses, jasmine, violets, mint; swords, shields, spears, leather armor, crossbows...

Contracts flew in front of Raven, and piles of gold coins flew into the pockets of merchants, making everyone smile.

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

Raven gave them 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 provided by Raven is Angel's Tears!
Although each person has a limited amount, it is Angel's Tears after all, a fine wine that only a few nobles can enjoy!

For a moment, Raven's image was no longer that of a lord in the eyes of these merchants, but simply a moving human-shaped gold mine.

"I have finished my official business. Now I have some personal needs." Raven's eyes fell on Fili, who had been sitting with him. "Twenty first-level magic cores and two sets of large alchemy equipment. Can you get them?"

The newly appointed president is obese, with a striking Mediterranean baldness. Perhaps it is due to middle-aged obesity. Although he is not very fat, his belly is round and his cheeks are full of fat.

He didn't smile or talk, but when he smiled, his golden front teeth were exposed: "Of course, no problem. As for the magic core, what attributes do you want?"

"The attributes don't matter." Raven said, "It's best to have a few of each."

Fili calculated in his mind for a while and said carefully, "The alchemy equipment is easy to deal with. The market price is 83 gold coins per unit. It will arrive at the beginning of next month at the latest. But as for the magic core, it is not easy to calculate the price, and the time cannot be guaranteed."

Raven asked, "Oh? What do you mean?"

"That's right, Baron." Fili explained, "Magic cores are usually only produced in magical beasts. As you know, the magical beasts in the Nord Province were almost wiped out decades ago. Now only the Bloody Highlands have a large number of wild magical beasts gathered nearby, so the production is not stable and the market price fluctuates a lot."

"For example, a common fire-attribute magic core costs about three gold coins for the first level, but a dark-attribute one might cost eight or nine, or even more."

"Oh, I see." Raven nodded. "In that case, let's estimate the price based on four gold coins for a first-level magic core. Including the deposit for the alchemy equipment, it would be 123 gold coins."

After this batch of gold coins were distributed, Raven only had more than forty gold coins left.

But the money is not wasted. A portion of each order will turn into taxes and flow back into Raven's pocket.

After a large amount of gold coins are invested, the large-scale circulation of goods will also bring a large number of mobile population to Shanjin Town, further stimulating the economic vitality of Shanjin Town.

What remains in the warehouse is just gold coins; it is only called money when it is spent.

"Alright!" Raven clapped his hands. "It's getting late, so I won't keep you guys for dinner. You guys should pay more attention to the goods. As long as the quality is up to par, I won't lose your money."

The merchants all stood up and saluted: "Your will will be implemented, Baron!"

The merchants left in small groups. Raven stretched his neck twice and said, "Hey, I'm tired!"

This kind of work of connecting with businessmen should not be done by Raven, but he really has no one available.

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

Raven teased, "Oh, I didn't realize you have the potential to become a court jester."

Eric blushed: "This..."

"I'm just teasing you." Raven patted his shoulder and said, "I'll give you two days off. Go and relax."

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

"map!"

At Raven's command, 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.

"A map, sir." Eric was confused.

"Hiss..." Raven sucked his teeth and said, "Are you sure Viscount John didn't leave a fake one here just to embarrass me?"

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

Raven resisted the urge to curse, but couldn't stop complaining in his mind.

Standard? You're telling me about standards!?

It's fine if the lines are crooked and a box is drawn to say it's a building. I understand that there are no height differences or contour lines. At least the east, west, south, and north are marked...

But isn’t it too much to not even have a scale?!
On a map of Shanjin Town, the government hall occupies nearly one-fifth of the area. When did Shanjin Town become so small?

There are four gates, which are so clear and eye-catching that if Raven had not just walked through them, he would have thought they were the size of the Arc de Triomphe!

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

Eric said, "According to the previous rules, the western entrance leading to Xuefeng Territory must be stationed with at least a team of ten people; the southern entrance requires five people, the eastern entrance requires three people, and the northern entrance leading to Xiongying Town does not require a team."

"But we only have 22 people in total!" Raven smiled bitterly: "You can't let me be a commander without any troops, right?"

He stroked his chin and said, "In this way, in addition to the entrances and exits connecting to Shining Gold Town, there will be two people at each entrance and exit, alternating between day and night shifts, and four more people will be arranged in the city to patrol during the day. In this way, only sixteen people will be left here."

With the extreme reduction in staff, only six people were left. Raven scratched his head fiercely: "Hey, not enough people!"

At least for now, the empire is relatively peaceful. Although there are bandits and robbers in the Nordic province, no gang dares to openly attack the territories of the nobles.

Of course, the bandits on Bloody Highlands were an exception; but if those bandits really came, it would not be enough to just send soldiers to guard the entrances and exits - Shining Gold Town did not have a city wall, only a low-lying wooden fence on the outer circle.

Eric looked at Raven's face and carefully suggested, "Although I agree to reduce the number, the soldiers guarding the entrance are not only responsible for vigilance, but also for collecting gate taxes. If there are too few people, it may cause congestion."

"City gate tax..." Raven nodded slowly: "Let's waive it."

Eric said, "My Lord Baron, the city gate tax can generate 20 to 30 gold coins in revenue every year. If you are worried about the manpower problem, we can hire local idle personnel to guard the four gates. This is what Xuefeng County did before."

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

Having been in Mon'en City for many years, Raven knows all too well the tricks involved.

The city gate tax is five copper coins per person, and the annual revenue is twenty to thirty gold coins. Working backwards, it means there are 50,000 to 60,000 people entering the city each year.

For the gatekeepers of that era, these were 50,000 to 60,000 fat sheep.

The price was set at five copper coins, but they dared to collect eight at the city gate. If they encountered people who were in a hurry to get something done, they would ask for money in various ways.

Someone in your family is sick and you need to see a doctor? Okay, the city gate tax will be temporarily increased today, 50 copper coins, you can choose to enter or not.

Want to bring in large quantities of seasonal vegetables and fruits into the city?
Oops, I'm sorry. Who knows if you have any contraband in your carriage? Please wait outside the city first. We will check it in two days. If there is no problem, we will let you go!
Want us to check first? Well... Hey, fifty silver coins, okay, it would have been better if we had done this earlier. Let's go in.

Things like this were very common. Sometimes, in a year, the money extorted by the gatekeepers was even more than the city gate tax itself!

Raven abolished the city gate tax and used his own private soldiers to guard the gate, taking advantage of the fact that they had not yet been corrupted by money, making it a rule in Shanjin Town that people could enter and leave the city for free and eliminating the previous bad habits.

After all, money will not disappear. With the abolition of the city gate tax, the floating population in Shanjin Town will be more than before. As long as the construction of Shanjin Town gets better and better, they will always spend the money on other things.

He told Eric his idea, and the latter said admiringly: "Sir, your idea is so far-sighted!"

"You speak as if you understand," Raven teased with a smile.

Eric blushed because he really didn't understand.

"Okay, we've talked about business enough, it's time to relax." Raven stuffed a gold coin into Eric's hand. "We've all been exhausted recently, so I'll give you two days off. First, arrange the guards and rotations, then notify the guards to come over. I'll give them a bonus!"

Eric took the gold coin and smiled: "Yes, sir!"

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

The private soldiers walked in one by one, not knowing why, and walked out happily, with a satisfied smile on everyone's face.

Two silver coins per person were enough for them to have fun for a few days.

The last person to come in was Simon. He took the silver coin and was about to salute, but Raven stopped him: "Okay, no need to be so formal. You deserve this money."

"My Lord Baron, I just did what I should do." Simon was happy but also a little embarrassed.

"You did a good job, so it's my duty to reward you." Raven patted his shoulder and said, "Take off your armor and go for a walk around town. Relax and learn some new things. Don't blush whenever you talk!"

"Yes!" Simon slapped his chest with his hand and saluted.

"You!" Raven laughed dumbly: "Okay, go have fun, don't waste time here."

Simon left, and Raven picked up a bottle of Angel's Tears. Just as he poured himself a glass, Simon pushed the door open and walked in.

"My Lord Baron, President Fili wants to see you."

"He comes so fast." Raven drank the wine in the glass, turned the glass upside down, and said, "Let him in."

When Philip walked into the meeting room, he immediately saw half a box of Angel's Tears placed in the corner, and he couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

The taste of that wine is truly unforgettable.

He raised his eyelids carefully: "My Lord Baron, I came here to give you a gift." But Raven seemed not to hear him. He stood by the window with his hands on the windowsill, looking down at the territory he had just recovered: "Golden Town, it's such a good place."

Compared to the desolation of Eagle Territory, Shining Gold Town is visibly prosperous. The spacious streets are large enough to accommodate three carriages running side by side, and the ground is paved with whole pieces of 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 storefronts are all clean and presentable, and the signs are also varied, which clearly shows 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 Town was born on the border of Nord Province?"

Hearing this question, Philip's breath stagnated: "Baron, I have never thought about this question."

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, Philip swallowed and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

He remembered clearly that Raven used this hand to easily cut Carl's throat!

In fear, he was more focused than ever before, his eyes fixed on the busy streets.

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

There will always be some changes when you go in and out, maybe there is an extra basket of bread or a jug of wine in your hands, or a hat on your head, or a new pair of shoes or a new set of clothes.

"My Lord...I can only see...many...people?"

"Yes, that's the answer!" Raven gripped his shoulders and said, "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, more than 200 people flock here every day. So, the permanent population here is probably no less than 10,000."

"It is precisely because of the large population, especially the floating population, that money and goods from all directions are continuously imported here, that Shining Gold Town is so prosperous!"

"They work, earn money, and then spend it. The money they spend becomes other people's income to buy their products. This is the underlying logic of business activities!"

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

This statement may not be accurate, but it sounded like a ray of light in Philip's ears. The world unfolded before him in an unprecedented way. He suddenly said, "I think I understand, Baron! This is why you refused our discount! You are so wise. Compared with you, I am as stupid as a groundhog in the field!"

“Don’t underestimate yourself, President Philip.” Raven’s voice was like the whisper of a devil, penetrating into Philip’s heart little by little: “In my opinion, your ability, character, and personality are far superior to Carl’s.”

"But why is it that he can become the president of Goldshire Town, while you can only serve as a foil? Why do others dare not come, but you are the one who brings me the deed to Carl and Jupiter's shop?"

Karl's eyes suddenly widened. The gift he brought this time was indeed five land deeds, but he had never mentioned it to outsiders?
How did the Baron know?
"You should be a local of Sheishing Gold Town, right?" Raven asked.

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

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

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

Philip suddenly answered: "The merchants in the Chamber of Commerce are unwilling to run Philip's store together because they are afraid of revenge from the Fox family. That's why they asked me to give you these five deeds!?"

As Raven said, he was only thinking about the immediate benefits.

In Philip's opinion, Raven's handing over of these shops to the Chamber of Commerce for joint operation was essentially a gesture of goodwill to the Chamber of Commerce, which did not mean that he was really willing; now that he, the president, took the initiative to hand over the five deeds, he was giving up the interests of the Chamber of Commerce and expressing his 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 and can be slaughtered for meat at any time.

In order to avoid being eaten up, the best way Philip could think of was to actively please his master.

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

The other businessmen did not dare to take over the five deeds because they were afraid of revenge from the Fox family.

If I do this, instead of trying to please him, I am putting the blame on Raven!

When he thought of Raven laughing and killing people, cold sweat instantly covered Philip's half-bald head. He fell to the ground with tears and sweat flowing out. He slapped himself and said, "Baron, spare my life--"

“Stop howling.” Raven looked at his empty arms, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He bent down to pick up the box that had fallen on the ground. “I didn’t say no.”

“Sir… what are you doing!?” Philip stopped crying, his eyes full of confusion.

Why did Raven take the blame on himself even though he knew it was him?

"I am a noble, an imperial baron!" Raven said in a resounding voice, "The Fox family's revenge on you can be assassination or robbery, but they cannot and dare not use these methods on me."

Fili still didn't understand. Fox was from an earl family, while Raven was only a baron! This was not just a difference of two ranks of nobility. The wealth, strength, and status were all very different.

"You are not a noble, so of course you don't understand, and you don't need to understand." Raven looked at him and said earnestly: "You just need to know that my interests are the same as yours."

"The more prosperous Goldshire is, the more money the Chamber of Commerce will make, the more money you will make, and the more taxes I will collect."

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

This time, Fili understood.

He pointed to the sky and said, "I am Fili, and I swear to the Lord of Light! From today on, I will be the hound guarding your purse. I will serve you wholeheartedly. The Shining Gold Chamber of Commerce will fully cooperate with your decision!"

"Get up." Raven said in a teasing tone, "Don't kneel everywhere in the future. You are also in your forties. Aren't you too timid?"

"Well... I've never been very courageous." Philip stood up with the help of the windowsill, smiling flatteringly: "And I'm easily influenced. This time, it was those bastards who instigated me to come here to deliver the documents to you."

Raven smiled in realization, "No wonder you're called 'Flat-eared Rabbit'. There's really no wrong name, but there's no wrong nickname."

"But being easily influenced is not always a bad thing. In the worst case, it's called being a pushover. In the best case, it's called being able to listen to advice."

At this point, Raven shook his head and said, "What a pity! It is much harder to touch interests than to touch souls."

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

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

"I will definitely keep in mind the Baron's teachings!" Philip bowed respectfully: "Then, if you are all right, I will take my leave first."

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

At least I escaped a disaster!

"and many more."

Raven's voice rang out, and Fili's heart tightened again. He swallowed his saliva, quickly put on a smile and turned around: "Do you have any other instructions?"

The answer he got was a wine bottle flying towards him. Philip quickly caught it with both hands, and his fat face suddenly turned into a chrysanthemum with joy.

It turned out to be a whole bottle of Angel's Tears!

"Thank you Lord Raven for the reward!"

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

Philip held the Angel's Tears in his arms, humming a little tune as he left the government hall. He walked halfway down the street until he turned the corner and entered an empty alley. After making sure that he could not be seen from the government hall, he let out a long breath, slid down to the ground, and leaned against the wall.

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

The entire conversation, from the moment he entered the room to the moment he left, was designed by the baron.

He was a wealthy businessman with thousands of gold coins, an old man in his late 50s, yet he was controlled by a young man of only 20 years old.

Baron Raven...is he really only twenty years old?
That kind of control over people's hearts, accurate grasp of the ways of the world, and high-level insights into things made Philip feel ashamed of himself.

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

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

Fili opened the Angel's Tear, took a sip, and sighed, "It is said that Baron Raven was born in a humble family, behaved badly, and had a low character. Now it seems that these are purely unfounded rumors. I guess those nobles spread them themselves to deliberately belittle him."

"But the Baron's foundation is still shallow, otherwise he wouldn't have put so much thought into using human connections to win me over."

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

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

"I didn't expect... after the death of a brutal and greedy wolf, a shrewd and ruthless lion came."

Fili thought with burning eyes.

The latter have a far-sighted vision and will never, like the former, stay in the muddy pond and eat meat from the mouths of small fish and shrimps. Instead, they follow behind and eat the leftovers that fall down.

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

Today I flattered the horse but hit its hoof. I must find the right place to flatter it again.

"That's right, 'Little Bee'." Fili's eyes lit up: "The adults said that there are wrong names, but there are no wrong nicknames!"

"In that case..."

……

(End of this chapter)