Chapter 203: Chapter 202: Poaching People

Although buying slaves was the fastest and most convenient way to expand the territory’s population, it still cost money.

At a price of around one thousand five hundred gold coins for one thousand slaves, Ronin could only buy four or five thousand slaves even if he used all his savings.

This was far from the thirty thousand people required for the [Population Prosperity] achievement.

But aside from buying slaves, there were other ways to increase the population.

For example, Ronin could attract outsiders to join Wubei Territory by publicizing certain policies.

These policies included, but were not limited to, leasing fertile land at a favorable price to new settlers;

granting new arrivals tax exemptions for a period of time to lighten their financial burden;

and protecting the personal and property safety of these newcomers.

Ronin would discuss and finalize these policies with Wilson and the others in the coming days. However, some things could be arranged in advance.

“I want to use favorable policies to attract outsiders to join Wubei Territory, but I need someone to help me publicize this.”

Ronin explained his idea. “As the Steward of the Poisonous Snake Slave Exchange in Pasture City, you must be very familiar with Wushan Territory and other places.”

“I want you to help me promote Wubei Territory in these areas, attracting Free People to come here and settle down.”

Anthony was stunned. He hadn’t expected Ronin to approach him about this matter.

“Lord, although Free People have the right to move freely, the nobles in various regions restrict their movement to ensure they maintain their labor force and tax base.”

He thought for a moment, his expression turning troubled. “I can help you with the publicity, but if it antagonizes the other nobles, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do.”

Ronin nodded slightly. The situation he described was indeed a real possibility.

Take Swamp Town, for example. If some noble came here to promote policies that would lure away his Free People, Ronin would probably expel the person immediately.

But there were always exceptions.

The lords of some nearly bankrupt Pioneer Knight’s Domains or Baron’s Domains might sell off their population to liquidate their assets.

Also, in some large cities with huge populations, lords under pressure from food shortages might tacitly allow their subjects to move away.

The key was publicity and negotiation.

“Anthony, how are you treated at the Poisonous Snake Slave Exchange?” Ronin asked.

The Slave House Steward hesitated, then glanced around. The exchange’s guards hadn’t come with him, and everyone nearby was from Wubei Territory.

Only then did he say in a low voice, “You must think it’s laughable, my Lord. My daily wage is twenty Copper Coins, but if a deal is made, I get a bonus of three Silver Coins for every ten slaves sold.”

Ronin was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected there to be sales commissions.

“I won’t ask you to help me for free, either.”

He said, “Just like the higher-ups at your Poisonous Snake Exchange, I’ll give you a reward of three Silver Coins for every ten people you bring to Wubei Territory.”

Ronin smiled and said, “Compared to trading slaves, attracting Free People is much simpler. I don’t need you to train them, and you don’t have to guarantee their loyalty to me.”

“Of course, I have my own requirements.”

Ronin added, “I will allow the elderly who cannot work to join, but they must be accompanied by healthy laborers.”

Anthony was tempted.

Before Ronin had even made an offer, he had already been prepared to help out of goodwill from their three previous deals. Now that the man had named a price, he was even more willing to give it a try.

Besides, it was quite possible that earning money from Ronin would be easier than selling slaves.

After all, large orders for a thousand slaves at once were very rare. Anthony had never encountered one before meeting Ronin.

“Lord, do I need to go through the Slave Exchange for this?”

“As I said, this matter is just between you and me.”

Ronin didn’t spell it out. “Whether you inform your superiors or not is no concern of mine. The person I’m cooperating with is you.”

“But rest assured, if this affair displeases your superiors and they kick you out of the exchange, you’re welcome to join me here. On top of the same daily wage, I will also grant you ten acres of land.”

Anthony’s eyes lit up. The terms Ronin offered completely eliminated his worries. Even if he switched jobs, his life probably wouldn’t be any worse than it was now.

He quickly stood up. “Lord, I would be delighted to serve you in this matter!”

“Haha, a pleasure doing business with you!”

Ronin laughed, shook the man’s hand warmly, and signed the cooperation agreement.

Anthony had no intention of leaving the Poisonous Snake Slave Exchange for the time being. After all, Ronin’s new order hadn’t been completed yet. If he were to leave, it would be after he received his commission for it.

What’s more, the nature of his work allowed him to handle this side job for Ronin without giving up his main profession.

’How great would it be to easily earn two incomes?’

Ronin had Anthony stay the night in Swamp Town. That evening, he gathered Wilson, Sailin, and the others to discuss and finalize the policies for attracting outsiders.

Wubei Territory’s current land tax policy was as follows:

For subjects who owned their own land, they were required to pay 30% to the Lord as tax.

For those who rented land, Peasant Slaves had to pay 50%, while Free Tenant Farmers had to pay 40%.

To attract more people, Ronin and his advisors came up with a new tax policy.

First, for any Free People who joined Wubei Territory, Ronin would provide five acres of land per person. For families migrating as a group, every single member—regardless of gender or age—would receive a five-acre share.

Second, for the first year, the tax on this distributed land would only be 10%. For the following four years, only 20% of the harvest would be collected as tax. After five years, the rate would return to the Free Tenant Farmer rate of 35%.

Yes, Ronin had also slightly lowered the tax rate for the Free Tenant Farmers in his territory.

In reality, if the goal was truly to allow the people to recuperate and build up their strength, the current agricultural tax was extremely high.

However, Ronin didn’t dare to adjust the current policies too drastically. If he lowered the rates and found it was a mistake, raising them again would cause problems.

For now, it was best to maintain the current level and then make appropriate adjustments based on the situation.

But even these policies, which Ronin considered high, were seen as a sign of the Lord’s benevolence in the eyes of Anthony, Wilson, and the others.

This was because the agricultural taxes collected by lords in other territories were only ever higher than in Ronin’s Wubei Territory, never lower.

Some lords even exploited their subjects to the absolute limit. After paying taxes and setting aside seeds for the next year, their people had extremely limited rations and could only survive by eating tree roots and turf to stave off hunger.

According to Anthony, as long as Ronin publicized these policies, people would absolutely flock to him.

He was also quite certain that this extra income was a sure thing.

And for Ronin, it was a mutually beneficial, win-win situation.

After all, Wubei Territory was vast. He didn’t lack land; he lacked people.

As long as the people came, everything else would fall into place.

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