After leaving Fluorite Castle, Russell did not immediately return to his own territory. Instead, he detoured to the town.
There, at the Governor's Office, he met Bencote, the Town Mayor of Glimmering Town, a middle-aged man in his forties with two handsome little mustaches.
"Young Master Russell, welcome to the Governor's Office." Bencote's greeting was not particularly warm. "How may I help you?"
As an official of the territory, he pledged loyalty only to Baron Roman and Roland, the baron's heir.
"Town Mayor Bencote, I wish to invite merchant caravans to Wuyou Snake Manor." Russell stated his purpose directly. "The manor's Small Market Town has begun reconstruction. In the future, whenever caravans arrive each month, they may go to Wuyou Snake Manor to sell their goods. I will exempt the caravans from taxes."
Commercial taxes were an important source of revenue for a lord, including transit taxes, import taxes, export taxes, and so on.
Whenever merchant caravans traveled through Guangguang River Valley, they had to pay taxes to Fluorite Castle.
If they also had to pay commercial taxes to visit Wuyou Snake Manor, it clearly would not be worthwhile. Thus, Russell could only attract caravans by offering tax exemptions—without them, given Wuyou Snake Manor's location, he likely would not collect any commercial taxes at all.
At this stage, Russell merely wanted to stimulate consumption in the territory first.
"Tax exemption? If that is the case, I will have the clerks notify the town's merchant caravans. Of course, whether they are willing to go is up to the merchants themselves. I will not force them." Bencote said.
"Naturally. Trade is based on mutual willingness." Having achieved his goal, Russell took his leave.
After returning to his territory,
everyone was busy. Charles had been rushing around the manor all day, the Wildcat