Merak

"Lord Merak, this type of order will most likely disrupt the trade plan which is likely to be implemented over the country. You don't have to remind me that but the more pressing issue will be the royal reaction. Taxing people in nation is like challenging the royal authority. Why would Lord Drawzhi even try that ?"

"Lord Drawzhi is not the best suited person for governance but this kind of behaviour will alienate a lot of business houses from the eastlands. Taxing the establishments is like taxing people from other provinces, though I don't understand.."

The old man got more frustated as time went on and even stopped his secretary from speaking.

He turned around after some time and saw that the old woman was still calmly reading the letter. Any other provinces staff reading the direct letter of the liege of chief commander was a crime and even frowned upon but it was quite different in the eastern embassy.

The eastern provinces of the nation was connected to the empire by Baltik pass and then surrounded on three sides by ocean, the Evergreen forests and the sandbeasts country each. The Evergreen forests was a no-man's land and the sandbeasts were always at war with the east. So, Baltik pass was the only route of trade and commerce to the province. It connected the eastern provinces to the central region directly but the problem was the mountainous reigon of the Baltik and its passes. Even only the Mazzar labyrinth constructed by famous engineer and minister Mazzar nearly three decades back was a better source of entry of people without risk apart from the mountainous roads, but they were confusing.

The continuous isolation has not changed people or things much in the East though as unlike other parts of the nation, people favored farming more so food was neither scarce nor costly either. But, industry and commerce was limited and apart from a handful of cities the whole east was quite possibly the most rural place in the empire, covered with small forests and villages with only mining and few small business being present.

Despite this condition the lord commander of Eastern provinces has levied a seventy percent tax on the newly proposed bill in the senate. The senate was the advisory committee made of ministers from across the country which passes a bill for approval to parliament created by nobles for the purpose of governing the nation. The passed bill will then be implemented by the king and four lord commanders all over the nation.

This was the reason that the ambassador of the Eastern provinces was fuming. The passing of bills will provide the opportunity for the people from different provinces to open their business in any province bypassing the old law which require a generation or thirty years of living in any province mandatory to start a business. This bill will bring extra taxes for the nobles and so it was not like they were against it. In fact, the increased taxation will increase the revenue collected by Lord Drawzhi too but this sudden change will alter a lot of ideas. As seventy percent tax was not the only tax required to pay but the business man will also have to pay the other previous taxes required which will either disperse the profit margins or even make the business loss making entity.

The other reason he was angry was that he has assured a lot of business lobbies that his side will have no issues and a lot of business houses has paid him to ensure that but the sudden letter was a command with strict wordings. This will not only make him look like a fool in the capital and lose his credibility but also a lot of profits will flow out of his hands. Using his position, a lot of businessmen has assured him of moving their business to his domain which was currently administered by his elder son. The new edict will not allow that and the money will have to returned which could dent his plans to ensure his house's status as a major house in the East.

As for questioning the royal status, that was a foolish errand. Merak himself knew that anyone can say so in his anger but that charge or thought has no leverage. The Lord commander's rule be it east, west or any other domain was absolute, no one will question such a decision as long he will make that announcement before the royal edict was passed. In that case, the lord commander will have his will known and so the royals will not edict a command despite its benefit when there is a clear rejection from eastern command. Even if such an edict is ordered and lord commander refuses implementing it then nothing will come out of it.

And here is where ambassador's role was important, as he keeps his liege Lord commander updated for the bills being passed in the senate. Merak has done that for seven years but Lord Drawzhi was famously lax in managing his territory, so usually he handled only the monthly meetings, the rest of the work was handled by the Eastern nobles alliance. He participated regularly only in the meeting discussing war with the sand beasts.

"What do you think about delaying the approval date of this command?"

The old woman was the ambassador of the west and mouthpiece of the rich and influential western provinces. It was expected that her promotion to house of nobles will be done soon for her amazing performance in building alliances for her province.

"Not possible. I have already approved and the rider has set off..."

"We can always delay the rider and its not as if Lord Drawzhi will ask questions if you say you received the letter after the senate passes the vote. After the senate passes the bill it will be no longer your responsibility. We know the eastern nobles can't alone overturn the vote in parliament even if they obey Lord commander Drawzhi"

Merak thought that this plan was feasible but seeing him hesitate, the old woman spoke again.

"It's not as if you still fear him so Lord Merak. This is capital and you are safe. Moreover, it is said that Lord Drawzhi has mellowed with age. He is still not the same as he was earlier when he was young and brash. His days as the Mad Lancer has passed."

The though of mad lancer evoked some fears but this also firmed his opinion. Regardless of the past fierceness of Lord Drawzhi it was true that the regular battle with sandbeasts has taken its toll on once fierce character and mellowed him down.

"Alright then, let's proceed as you say."