Chapter 191: |
Chapter 191
“Is it because of the damage from the war?”
Raymond’s voice trembled.
Not only his voice, but his heart was pounding. He was so surprised that the happiness he had felt just a moment ago disappeared without a trace.
“Yes, that’s true. Although the central government did provide support for the cost of restoration, there were still many additional costs that had to be raised on our own. In addition, due to the war and this epidemic, mines, livestock, and wheat production all suffered great losses, so tax revenues decreased significantly.”
‘But, still, 2.73 million pennas is too much…’
Raymond’s hair turned white.
By the way, it is said that this is the extent of the damage compensation that was taken out from the Magic Tower. If not, it would have been a much bigger deficit.
“So what about the finances in a normal year?”
“If we take the average year as the standard, the deficit is small. It is a deficit of about 1.27 million pennas per year.”
“… … !”
Raymond screamed.
‘What is? There is nothing written!’
That means 1.27 million pennas get punctured every year!
“Huh, why? Has it always been like this before?”
Raymond asked, seeming not to understand.
When he researched before, he thought the lords of the Rafald region lived a wealthy life?
As expected, the wise man Mevinson answered like this.
“That’s not true. We’ve always had huge surpluses before.”
“But why?”
The wise man Mevinson answered cautiously.
“It’s because of the tax rate.”
“What about it?”
“The new tax rates proposed by the lord are too low.”
Raymond kept his mouth shut.
‘It’s 20%?’
‘I didn’t offer it that low.’
He simply suggested a reasonable tax rate.
The most ideal tax from an imperial perspective is 10%.
However, it is practically impossible to run a real estate at that tax rate, and 20% is considered the most ideal tax rate.
In other words, Raymond simply suggested a rate that was just right.
“The previous lord collected taxes of about 60%. That was the case throughout the Kingdom of Droughton under the Archduke Berard.”
Raymond opened his mouth.
As expected of Berard.
It was a crazy tax rate.
The wise man Mevinson spoke with an impressed voice.
“When my lord spoke of the current tax rate, I, Mevinson, was so moved that I shed tears… … but it is difficult to run the estate with this tax rate. In order for the estate to run smoothly, at least 30% of the taxes must be collected.”
Raymond was silent.
“The problem is that the Rafald region is poor.”
“Yes, unfortunately, there are no major sources of income in this region of Rafald. The terrain itself is rather harsh.”
A region where people barely make ends meet without any means of making much money.
That was the Rafald region.
There were mines, but they were low-grade mineral mines with little value.
‘If this were a wealthy area, a 20% tax would have raised enough revenue.’
Raymond bit his lip.
‘The area is small, the terrain is harsh and monsters appear frequently, so a lot of public funds are needed.’
Raymond broke out in a cold sweat.
Something didn’t feel right.
It was cheap.
‘Shouldn’t I be enjoying a life of wealth and honor? If things continue like this, let alone enjoying a life of wealth and honor is impossible.’
He swallowed hard.
Just then, Mevinson spoke.
“There is one way. It is to reduce your spending budget as much as possible.”
Spending budget.
It refers to the cost of maintaining the dignity of a vassal.
If he lived in poverty, he could reduce the deficit.
Raymond was silent.
‘I want to live a life of wealth and honor…’
But now it didn’t seem like that was the case.
Raymond answered, swallowing his tears.
“…Let’s try to reduce what we can.”
Still, the deficit could not be fully covered.
Raymond thought with a trembling heart.
‘Surely I won’t end up like the Holy King of the Holy Country, right?’
Holy King!
He is a superhuman who is an E×-class healer and a Grand Sword Master. It is said that the money he earns by treating patients supports part of the vast budget of the Holy Nation.
Raymond shook his head, imagining himself becoming a therapeutic slave and earning money for the estate.
‘No. I became a lord to enjoy the sweetness of wealth and honor!’
There was absolutely no way a future like that could happen.
At that time, the lords told sweet stories.
“Tax rates need to be raised further.”
“Please reconsider.”
All these problems were caused by Raymond’s underestimation of the tax rate.
Everything would be solved if only the tax rate was raised.
Raymond also wavered for a moment.
But soon he shook his head.
30%.
It was too much of a tax on the poor commoners.
‘Even if it’s 30%, if you add in the transaction tax and other additional fees, it actually amounts to more than 40%.’
In fact, most estates collected taxes of more than 30%.
So, it cannot be said that a 30% tax is excessive.
‘But most of the people here are poor. For them who value every penny, a 30% tax would be a huge burden.’
In the end, there was only one way.
“We will not raise tax rates.”
“Then?”
“Instead of taxes, we will increase the revenue of the estates.”
Everyone who attended the meeting had a puzzled look on their face.
The Rafald region had no place to make money.
But Raymond said this:
“If there is no way to make money, then we will create one. It is a little earlier than expected, but we will proceed with the new industry project.”
“What if it’s a new industry?”
“Treatment industry… … So, the official name is medical industry.”
Those attending the meeting looked puzzled, and Raymond explained the specifics.
The eyes of those attending the meeting widened.
Something no one could have imagined.
It was a completely new concept of industry!
“Treatment as an industry?”
“Indeed?”
Everyone had a look of mixed surprise and doubt on their faces.
Since it was a completely new industry, they weren’t sure if it would succeed.
But Raymond spoke with conviction.
“Don’t worry. We will definitely achieve great success.”
It was also a promise to himself.
The medical industry had to succeed.
For the sake of the people of Rafald, and for Raymond himself.
‘I don’t want to enjoy the luxury of wealth and fame alone.’
The people of Rafald are poor, while their lord eats well and lives well.
Raymond saw it as the worst kind of luxury, a shabby, ugly luxury.
‘If I am going to enjoy wealth and honor, I will enjoy the most wonderful and ultimate wealth and honor in the world.’
The people of Rafald must also live well.
As a healer, he should practice policies for patients.
Enjoying wealth and honor among the happiness of those around you.
That was the most wonderful and splendid movie of wealth and honor.
To that end, Raymond was determined.
“We will make this place the mecca of the medical industry and pour all the money in the world into it.”
That’s how the medical industry first began to emerge.
After the meeting, Lao asked.
“Brother, what will be your first product in the medical industry?”
Others’ attention was focused on that question.
The medical industry that Raymond presented is one that sells products related to patient treatment as commodities.
So, first of all, deciding what kind of product to make was a very important question.
‘We need to create and sell products that will create a huge impact in the market.’
Raymond thought to himself.
‘That is, we had to develop a killing product.’
Antibiotics, painkillers, etc. come to mind, but these drugs are difficult to sell as products due to the problem of side effects.
‘It would be nice to sell hair loss treatments, erectile dysfunction treatments, etc. at high prices, but the market is still too small.’
Of course, there were not few patients.
However, these types of medicines were strictly speaking luxury items. Since they were not related to life, only the wealthy or noble with the means would seek them out.
‘More than anything, many nobles are still skeptical of medicine. It would be better to commercialize hair loss treatment and erectile dysfunction treatment after the reputation of medicine has increased and the medical market has grown sufficiently.’
The first product needed to be something different.
‘We need a product that a lot of people need.’
There was one thing he considered.
It was truly an essential commodity needed by everyone on the entire continent.
Raymond told everyone.
“We will develop a vaccine.”
“… vaccine …What did you say?”
“We will develop a drug to prevent smallpox, the grim reaper disease.”
“…!”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
Smallpox!
It was one of the worst epidemics on Earth, along with the Black Death.
Here in Laipentaina, the notoriety was the same.
It has been prevalent periodically throughout the continent, producing numerous victims.
‘I will talk to His Excellency the Prime Minister and have him carry out smallpox vaccination as a national project.’
Of course, vaccinations can’t make much profit. The profit is probably a few pennas per person.
But the target was all the people of the Kingdom of Houston. Later, the target would be the people of the entire continent.
It was truly a huge market.
‘And the vaccination market isn’t finished with smallpox. There are other essential vaccinations needed too, such as polio and others.’
Another huge advantage was that vaccination could help expand the medical industry market.
Because those who get vaccinated and see the effects will become believers in medicine from then on.
In addition, since mass production of vaccines would require a lot of manpower, there was also an effect of job creation.
The vaccine business could become a new staple for the poor people of Rafald.
‘Now I’m going to make a ton of money!’
That was the moment when he clenched his fist.
The disciples looked at Raymond in astonishment and admiration.
‘Trying to save the lives of 150 million people on the continent.’
‘As expected of our Master.’
Raymond coughed in vain at this look.
‘…The primary goal is money, though.’
Of course, the disciples’ admiration was quite justified.
Whatever the intention, if this project is successful, it could actually save a tremendous number of lives.
‘I’ll make money and eradicate smallpox!’
After that, he thought about making full-fledged progress.
‘It’s not hard to get the cowpox virus. There’s a case of infection nearby.’
Causes of death.
It is a bovine smallpox virus.
Collecting the virus from this cow and inoculating it is the method of preventing smallpox, or creating smallpox vaccination.
‘The problem is selling the vaccine. We have to prove that it works.’
Vaccination is a completely new concept in this world.
No matter how high his reputation in the Houston kingdom, it was likely that people would not readily accept him.
So, it had to be proven effective in an area where smallpox was actually endemic.
“Disciple, can you tell me in which areas of the continent smallpox is prevalent?”