Merchant From Earth in the Magical World
Chapter 48 Tax Collection_1

Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Tax Collection_1

「After dawn.」

Duan’er ordered the women and children of the tribe to move to Eternal Domain, along with thirty Werewolf Warriors, to begin their two-month labor as reparations for the war debt.

Steel Fang from Stenchwater Forest, along with the captured Stenchwater Forest Werewolf Warriors, were also escorted towards Eternal Domain.

With this, Yan Xing’s series of battles over Red Mud Wetland had come to an end.

In the north, towards Thunderous Swamp, Eternal Domain gained a loyal ally. The Duan’er Tribe from Red Mud Wetland would become a bridgehead established by Yan Xing at the edge of Thunderous Swamp, providing a barrier for Eternal Domain.

At the same time, Red Mud Wetland would soon take on a greater strategic role.

Yan Xing’s campaign plan for Thunderous Swamp was rapidly unfolding with the movements of the Red Mud Wetland werewolves, who were dispatched in all directions to deliver messages.

Yan Xing, driving the cargo truck, looked at the swamp area receding in the rearview mirror.

Surrounding the cargo truck were walking werewolves.

Most of them were headed to Eternal Domain for the first time. Their faces were filled with confusion about the unknown future and awe for the steel-clad beast beside them.

The Stenchwater Forest Werewolves dared not harbor even the slightest ill thought, and even the hero-ranked Steel Fang followed the troop obediently.

The pressure from those Werewolf Warriors holding Steel Chains and wearing half-plate armor was truly immense.

The Swamp Tribe lacked steel; hence, they held deeper reverence for it.

Yan Xing drove the cargo truck, slowly following the troop.

Inside the truck’s compartment, the militia guarded dozens of pieces of agarwood. These had been salvaged from the pits in the Red Mud Wetland’s tall forests. They were the greatest spoils of war Yan Xing had gained from this conflict.

Agarwood is an extremely precious spice in the real world. Due to long-term harvesting, naturally occurring agarwood in the wild has become increasingly scarce. High-quality agarwood is like a rare treasure.

Its price is naturally soaring, climbing steadily.

Ordinary wild agarwood is priced higher than gold, and the finest agarwood sells for tens of thousands per gram.

Although Yan Xing wasn’t familiar with agarwood, the human merchants said the agarwood from the Red Mud Wetland forests was of good quality. Therefore, it must be good.

In any case, whether it was good or not, 200 kilograms of food in the real world would cost at most a little over a thousand Gold Coins.

A thousand Gold Coins for a kilogram of agarwood... However you calculated it, it was a profit.

Therefore, Yan Xing didn’t stand on ceremony with Duan’er, directly extracting several hundred kilograms of agarwood from the forest.

At the farewell, Yan Xing generously said, "I’m taking these pieces of agarwood. If you’re not in urgent need of food or weapons, just keep a note of it... and come to my domain whenever you’re lacking something."

The future looked bright for Duan’er, who was spirited and replied to Yan Xing, "Lord Yan Xing, you think of everything. The swamp is damp, so food brought here spoils quickly, and weapons easily rust. Lord Yan Xing, you keep your word. Please take care of these supplies for me..."

"That’s right! Lord Yan Xing, you keep your word... HAHAHA..."

HAHAHA...

Thinking of all the money he could exchange for so much agarwood, Yan Xing couldn’t help but laugh proudly as he drove. I’ve struck it rich, truly struck it rich this time!

HAHAHA...

Upon returning to Eternal Domain, the triumphant team received a warm welcome from the people of the domain. However, among the welcoming crowd, Yan Xing saw some farmers who were sallow, emaciated, wearing ragged clothes, and holding dung forks.

Yan Xing was certain these were not the subjects of his own domain.

The provisions in Eternal Domain were really excellent. Despite the heavy daily workload, the subjects still grew plumper and walked with a lively spring in their step.

Even their clothes were different; the farmers in Eternal Domain wore durable workwear.

Each one wore gloves and carried a shovel.

Imposing and formidable.

Seeing these farmers reminded Yan Xing of the first time he met Gao Sipa and Eddie.

Yan Xing brought the truck to a halt and had Gao Sipa settle the werewolves who had come to the domain to serve as laborers. Then he called Lao Hansi over and asked, pointing to the unfamiliar farmers who were gathering around, "Who are these people? Where did they come from?"

Bowing respectfully to Yan Xing, Lao Hansi replied, "My Lord... these are all refugees. They admire the prosperity of our Eternal Domain and your esteemed reputation, My Lord, and they earnestly request to join your domain.

Since you were away on campaign at Red Mud Wetland, I did not dare to decide on my own authority to let them join the domain. I just allowed them in and gave them some food."

Refugees? Yan Xing remembered the conversation he had with Gao Hans over hotpot.

Human domains could recruit farmers through huts. Additionally, high domain prosperity and the lord’s reputation could attract refugees.

Even though the prosperity of Eternal Domain wasn’t high, Yan Xing’s personal reputation had grown considerably after a few battles. Moreover, his hero specialty, ’Popular Support,’ naturally attracted refugees.

Now that the threat of war around Eternal Domain had been lifted, refugees had immediately begun to arrive.

It’s like someone bringing a pillow when you feel sleepy! Eternal Domain is in dire need of farmers to work right now.

As for the werewolves... I’ve seen their home at Red Mud Wetland; it was truly a pitiable sight. I have no expectations of them performing delicate work, as they only possess brute strength. For genuine domain construction, I still need to rely on human farmers.

"How many refugees have come this time?" Yan Xing asked.

Lao Hansi answered, "Twenty-four have come, and they’re all here."

Wow! That many! A farmer’s hut can only recruit about fifteen farmers a week, and now twenty-four people have suddenly arrived! Even though these refugees include the old and young, while the farmers from the huts are all able-bodied young adults, Eternal Domain has plenty of job opportunities now. No matter their age, there’s always a position that suits them.

Yan Xing looked at the refugees surrounding them. Their expressions were very anxious, as if they feared this Lord might not take them in.

Shouldn’t I say a few words suitable for my status as a Lord? But after thinking for a while, Yan Xing could not come up with an impressive speech.

So, he simply waved his hand grandly and declared, "Lao Hansi... collect taxes!"

The Lord collecting taxes signified his acceptance of these wandering farmers as subjects of Eternal Domain.

It’s a blessing!

All the refugees knelt joyfully, presenting their weekly taxes with both hands, and echoed Lao Hansi in shouting, "Lord Yan Xing, your word is your bond!"

Looking at the gleaming God-given gold coins in each hand, Yan Xing also smiled.

Lao Hansi, as the tax collector, quickly collected the taxes from these new domain subjects and presented them to Yan Xing.

Yan Xing stored these God-given gold coins in his God-given item space and then said to Lao Hansi, "In the future, if any more refugees want to join the domain, you don’t need to ask me; you can just tax them directly.

Our Eternal Domain has food and clothes... no matter how many refugees come, your Lord can support them."

"Yes, My Lord," Lao Hansi replied.

Tax-paying farmers were good, but not all human domains dared to endlessly accept farmers.

Because God-given gold coins could not be eaten as food.

If there wasn’t enough grain, famine would affect the domain’s prosperity and morale, leading to various crises within the domain.

However, Yan Xing, who dared to trade 200 kilograms of grain for 1 kilogram of agarwood, never worried about the domain’s food supply.

Thinking of agarwood, Yan Xing grew even happier and said, "Lao Hansi, take these new subjects and move the agarwood from the truck into the warehouse. Then go find Gao Sipa and Eddie to get clothes and shovels.

The taxes are collected... now it’s time to work!

Your Lord will go and fetch your breakfast."