Chapter 377: Generous Tax R`elief
The banquet held at the pa.s.s was exceptionally grand.
This was Kant’s first official appearance after he had taken control of the place. He announced the news. This was so that he could test the people here.
Of course, everyone showed respect. All the squires and knights that were invited came as promised.
And those who were not invited also came.
For example, the managers of the large trade caravan stationed at Stone Pa.s.s came to the official residence in the name of representing the trade caravan behind them. They brought all kinds of exquisite and expensive crafts and wanted to attend the banquet.
Kant treated all of them equally and allowed them to enter the official residence to attend the banquet.
Even the civilians and poor people in the pa.s.s were treated well.
Normal food was distributed free of charge.
Rye bread that was as hard as stone baked with rotten flour.
And at the bottom of the warehouse, dried meat and dried sausage that were already damp and hairy were the free ingredients distributed among them.
It was impossible for the Knights to eat these things. Even the guards in the mansion or the slightly wealthier civilians would not eat them. Only the lowest-cla.s.s civilians and the poor would eat them.
However, it was precisely because the large number of the lowest-cla.s.s commoners and the poor that it even caused a fight.
No one objected to Kant.
Almost everyone was praising the new lord’s benevolence.
That’s right. In the eyes of the poor and the commoners, as well as the small squire and the small merchant, Stone Pa.s.s had indeed changed its Lord. The former Baron Dylan had been replaced by the current Baron Kant.
Of course, they had no way of knowing the details. They just went along with the flow.
The sorrow of the small characters.
However, to them, it was really rare for the poor and civilians to have a chance to eat their fill.
The main reason was that these things were not Kant’s own. They were all found in the warehouse of the official residence in Stone Pa.s.s. Taking other people’s things to give away as his, this boost in reputation was really worth Kant’s while.
The banquet began in the official residence.
A few bards hired at the last minute were playing and singing the common poems of the Dukedom of Leo.
Beautiful maids were walking in the crowd, adding desserts that were constantly being demolished on the long table. At the same time, they were carrying ale in small wooden barrels, allowing the guests to enjoy the temptation of alcohol.
At this time, the Knights of Swadia had already taken off their chain mail.
They had changed into new and decent clothes.
There was a smile on their faces.
Their every move carried the elegance of a n.o.ble. They chatted happily with the guests, causing the atmosphere in the official residence to become even more intense. It was extremely lively and harmonious.
This was something that Kant and Fatis had specially arranged.
After all, the guests needed someone to guide them.
The knights of Swadia were already knights in the kingdom, and even had the status of a small n.o.ble. They would be able to complete this mission very well. At the very least, they would be able to chat casually about the weather without any problems.
What Kant needed was for everyone to feel the harmony and peace of this place.
He needed to stabilize the Stone Pa.s.s.
Slowly nibbling away at it!
Beside him, the va.s.sal knights who originally belonged to Baron Dylan also dispersed and blended in with the guests. Most of them were chatting with smiles on their faces. There were obviously familiar people among them.
There were also a small number of cold-looking people who sat alone in the corner, drinking their ale without making a sound.
Kant arranged for people to memorize them one by one.
These were all loyal to Baron Dylan.
If there were no accidents, they would be arranged to go to a mountain to quell the chaos of the demonized creatures. However, due to some unfortunate circ.u.mstances, these knights encountered even more terrifying and ferocious demonized creatures, which led to their total annihilation.
The final result was that no one survived.
He did not need someone who could betray him at any time.
As for the idea that time would change everything, Kant would not even consider it.
Even Fathis would not consider it.
What they needed to do now was to quickly bring Stone Pa.s.s under their control. Whether it was on the surface or in the dark, they needed to let everyone know that the current ruler was Kant from the Nahrin Desert!
At the same time, there was a better reputation to promote Kant’s reputation in the Dukedom of Leo.
This was related to the future strategic plan.
Kant needed more than that.
He also needed the entire Dukedom of Leo, and even the Silver Platter Kingdom in the south!
The pa.s.s was just a key node that Kant had carefully designed in order to reach into the Dukedom of Leo so that he wouldn’t be cut in half by a sudden knife.
After all, the position of this pa.s.s was too shocking.
“It looks good.”
Kant raised his wine gla.s.s in the middle of the banquet.
Fatis was standing beside him, and so was Baron Dylan.
But at this time, the real protagonist was Kant. Everyone looked at him with fear and respect. As for Baron Dylan, he had been ignored by most people.
Even if someone looked at Baron Dylan, their eyes were full of amus.e.m.e.nt.
This was a loser.
Facing such a deriding gaze, Baron Dylan clenched both his hands and gritted his teeth.
These people who were still humble and flattery not long ago actually dared to appear in front of him. They pretended to look at him with contempt and even showed a pitiful and mocking smile?
However, Baron Dylan could endure it. His forbearance was even more profound than his brutal character.
In the past, it was through forbearance that he obtained his current power.
The so-called brutality.
It was just a mask deliberately added to conceal himself!
Now, he was as obedient as a lamb. However, in reality, Baron Dylan, who had already established a connection with Countess Agatha, was still sneering in his heart. He longed to see the faces of these fellows when his allies appeared in front of him.
Although Baron Kant would not be killed by him personally, it was not certain about these people!
It was not long.
Because Countess Agatha’s troops would arrive next week.
At that time, Kant, the little brat, was still at Stone Pa.s.s. These people who had come to attend the banquet did not leave. After all, this banquet had lasted for a full week. It was a grand banquet.
For Baron Dylan, that was the time for the banquet to begin!
Everything was calm.
Kant did not seem to notice.
The entire Stone Pa.s.s went through six days of grand celebrations.
The drunken banquet was finally coming to an end. All the young n.o.ble and small businessmen who came to attend the banquet gathered in the hall with satisfaction and chatted with each other excitedly.
They had received news that Baron Kant was going to announce the important arrangements for the table salt trade.
There was very likely.
The table salt trade that was originally in the desert would be s.h.i.+fted to the Stone Pa.s.s!
Furthermore, the amount of table salt trade would increase exponentially. As long as someone had a great silver coin or a golden eagle, they could buy piles of fine white salt at Stone Pa.s.s. There was no upper limit at all, and it would be sold until it was gone!
Whoever had the money could purchase it. This was the method that the large-scale trade caravan was most pa.s.sionate about.
It was almost a monopoly.
Although the large-scale trade caravans would compromise and balance each other, those small-scale trade caravans definitely did not have the strength to be compromised. They could only be excluded from the rich profits of the table salt trade.
However, the reason why they were so happy was Kant’s announcement.
The trade caravan at Stone Pa.s.s had priority!
In other words, the merchants at Stone Pa.s.s could purchase the table salt first.
Although the table salt would eventually be bought by the large-scale merchants with little profit, as long as they changed hands, they could obtain a huge profit for the small-scale trade caravans. Why not!
From this, they could get involved with the large-scale trade caravan. If they latched onto their thighs, that would be an even better future!
Merchants would only care about themselves.
Right now, they were extremely eager for Kant to announce this news.
As for the managers of the large-scale trade caravan, they were still standing there and listening. To them, it was just a small amount of profit, and they could get more profit. There was no problem at all.
The exchange of interests between merchants was sometimes that simple.
As for Baron Kant’s interests.
Everyone automatically ignored it.
They were not fools. If they could cling onto the legs of a stronger n.o.ble, they would not need the help of a small baron like Kant. They all knew in their hearts that this baron would not be able to control Stone Pa.s.s for long.
It was true to take advantage of this period of time to make a large sum of money and obtain the relations.h.i.+p of some large-scale trade caravan.
This was the same idea as those va.s.sal knights!
Kant came to the specially built stage.
Looking at the guests in front of him staring with all kinds of emotions in their eyes, Kant’s lips curled up slightly and said, “Everyone may know that I’m going to announce the table salt trade in the future.”
“That’s right!”
Everyone cheered.
Kant pressed down his hands to show that he was calm.
Looking at them, he said without hesitation, “Next, the table salt trade will indeed come to the stone pa.s.s. As for the specific regulations, I will write a notice and post it. Of course, the specific details are the same as what everyone knows.”
“Long live Baron Kant, you are really merciful! The most merciful Lord!”
“Merciful lord, that’s right, the most merciful lord!”
The merchants and small landlords cheered one after another.
At this time, the wish in their hearts had come true. It was almost like they had obtained the cornerstone for their rapid rise, especially when it came to the table salt trade. In front of such a huge profit-making trade, everyone would become rich.
That’s right, they would earn a profit that that they had never even dared to dream of after operating for several years!
“At the same time, I will lower the taxes.”
Kant smiled.
Looking at the merchants, he continued, “Especially the business tax and the agricultural tax. I will reduce some trivial taxes to make our business more active.”
“Merciful! The most merciful lord!”
Hearing the tax reduction, how could the merchants reject it? They all cheered.
This was something that even a foolish lord would not do. Now, when they looked at Kant, it was as if they were looking at a fool. They wanted to pounce on him and take all the advantages.
Taxation represented the income of the lord, especially in a territory with a strong business atmosphere. Tax was the biggest part of the revenue.
Baron Dylan was also watching from the side.
Looking at Kant on the stage, the corners of his mouth curled into a ferocious smile. “Come on, it’s almost time.”