Chapter 112: Ambitious Goals
"Black market?" Russell shook his finger, "I am a lord, and even more a nobleman, I will not allow the existence of the black market."
Hearing this, Howes immediately became dejected: "Sorry, sir, I said too much."
But the next moment, Russell said: "However, the Xiangshui River Cave does not need a black market, but according to your idea, we can build an open and legal cave trading market, and pay taxes normally for normal transactions."
"Ah." Howes was stunned.
Then he was overjoyed: "Your Excellency is right, please forgive my stupid brain, the dark environment of the cave has covered my eyes. Your Excellency is the blood of the noble fluorescent mushroom family, you can build a legal cave trading market!"
Although the free people of the cave have always been despised by the nobles.
But the free people of the cave are not criminals in law. On the contrary, they have the civilian status of the Grand Duchy of Shadow Flame. It's just that they are not the subjects of the Valley of the Dark Light, so they can only live in the caves around the territory.
Russell established a trading market in the Xiangshui River Cave to provide services for the cave freemen, which is completely in line with the law.
It does not violate the rules of the Youguang Valley.
However, Russell only said that he would not establish a black market. As for whether to build a cave trading market, further investigation is needed.
"Report your proposal to Charles later, and then you can discuss whether to do this business." Russell said, "Report the final discussion results to me, and then I will decide whether to do it."
The cave trading market, after all, involves all the caves around the Youguang Valley, and there are more than 3,000 cave freemen involved.
Including the concealed population, it is even possible to have 4,000.
This also includes some fugitives and even murderers, so whether the business can be done and how to do it, Russell has to ask his father. Even if he gets his father's permission, he has to say hello to several other lords.
Halls didn't know Russell's concerns.
At this moment, he was already excited, and immediately said: "My lord, I will go to the small market to find Mr. Charles and report to him about the underground trading market."
Russell waved his hand: "Go, go."
After Howers left, he and Eric also took the two fantasy beasts and prepared to go back. The road was a bit boring. Eric has never been a suitable chat partner. He doesn't like gossip, doesn't like to talk about the world, and doesn't like to make dirty jokes.
So Russell simply asked boredly: "Eric, do you think it's feasible to build a trading market in the underground cave?"
"I don't know." Eric said in a muffled voice, "But, my lord, don't worry, the free people of the underground cave must abide by your rules when they come to the trading market. Whoever dares to make trouble in the territory, I will be the first to take them down!"
He doesn't care about the economic effect of the trading market, he only cares about public security issues.
Russell chuckled, chatting with Eric and describing his own thoughts: "What attracted me to Halls' proposal was not the small amount of money earned from the free people in the cave, but the fact that with this trading market, I might be able to introduce more free people from other places."
Eric listened quietly and did not interrupt.
Russell continued: "The population of the territory is too small, and even the population of the entire Youguang Valley is too small."
The entire Youguang Valley is about 2,600 square kilometers.
This area is not small. After all, in Russell's hometown, this area is larger than the area of many counties. It is even larger than the area of some big cities, such as Shenzhen, Xiamen, Sanya, Zhuhai, etc.
But the total population of Youguang Valley, including the surrounding free people in the cave, as well as those who concealed, misreported, and missed reports, did not even exceed 70,000 people.
This led to the fact that the territory was not short of land to support people, but a lack of people to farm.
Of course.
This is also related to the low output of the fields. The fields that a serf can cultivate are limited, but the majority of the fields have to be handed over to the lord. After all, the lord needs a lot of resources to train knights to participate in the snowfield battles in the future.
The serfs are not well fed, and many knights die in the snowfield every year. Over time, the population growth rate of the territory has slowed down.
The fluorescent mushroom family has cultivated the valley of the light for several generations, and so far, it has only accumulated more than 60,000 people.
"If I want to develop the territory, I need a large population. If I rely on the people to give birth to children, I don’t know how many years it will take to double the current population of less than 4,000. And once I start training knights, the people will have to tighten their belts."
This is a dead end.
If humans want to open up territories and clear trade routes, they have to fight against snow ghosts and snow demons, and fighting requires knights.
And training a qualified armored knight requires a huge amount of resources. Basically, dozens of serfs tighten their belts and dig food from the land day and night to provide the normal training needs of an armored knight.
There are only more than 700 serfs in the Black-waisted Snake Manor, which cannot provide many knights with training and practice.
"Sir, you are still young and can wait." Eric comforted him. He did not quite understand why Russell was so anxious.
In his opinion, Russell spent decades to fight for a baron title, which was a great success.
Even if Russell could not complete it, Russell's children continued to complete it, which was also a great success.
Just like the founding of the fluorescent mushroom family.
If he cannot help Russell win the title of baron in his lifetime, he still has a son, and his son can continue to assist Russell's son. One generation after another, as long as each generation strives to make progress, they will sooner or later create great achievements.
For him and his descendants, three generations of hard work can complete the advancement from commoners to nobles. This is the most inspiring story.
It is enough to be engraved on the epitaph.
"Haha, although I am young, I often feel a sense of urgency that time is running out." Russell smiled calmly and said, "Maybe I am too ambitious. I am not willing to stay here for the rest of my life... Black-waisted Snake Manor is just a starting point."
Hearing this, Eric patted his chest: "Your Excellency has a lofty goal, which is our luck. I am willing to drive for you!"
"Teacher Eric, let's work together."
...
The plan to build a trade market in the Xiangshui River Cave was soon discussed and approved at the office meeting-the manor office has not yet been built, and the current office location is a wooden house near the small market. It will take until the slack season for people to build the house.
Then Russell's letter to Baron Roman also received a reply.
Baron Roman agreed to build the cave trade market, but he had to advise Russell not to be too ambitious and blindly increase the population of the territory. He believed that the stability of the territory was more important than anything else, and asked Russell to practice honestly.
"The Baron's way of governing the country is not my way of governing the country... I am a man who wants to ride a dragon, how can I bury my talent in a country manor."
Russell shook his head and laughed.
Then he started writing again, and wrote a letter to Lord Atlas of Red Falcon Manor, Lord Sally of Gray Cat Manor, and his uncle Rosen Fluorescent Mushroom, expressing his intention to build the cave trade market.
The manors of these three lords are adjacent to the caves, and they often deal with the free people of the caves, so it is necessary to say hello.