Roland had long been aware of the current situation of "political cold and economic heat" between the Far East and the Yashan Empire. The Kolas border guards on the east bank of the Turbid River strictly controlled the import of goods from the empire to the Far East, but did not impose too many restrictions on reverse smuggling. Through these one-way trades, the Far Eastern government could obtain a hidden tariff and turn a blind eye to smuggling.

Roland glanced at the smugglers in the hall wearing expensive fur coats, fingers full of bright gold rings, and a pride from head to toe, and couldn't help but ask: "It is said that General Karl is a clean official and a strict ruler of the army, can he allow these rampant smugglers to operate under his nose?" ”

Anthony snorted contemptuously and said lightly: "The imperial magnates are extremely corrupt from top to bottom, what's the use of old Carl being honest alone?" Take these smugglers as an example, spending money to buy the leading figures of the Holy City court, it is easy to get a license certificate, and smuggle luxury goods under the banner of transporting military supplies, why should General Karl stop them? If that old man is ignorant and tears his face to strictly inspect smuggling activities, he will be removed from his post and investigated within three days, and he will be replaced by a cold yamen to eat ashes, or he will be forced to take off his military uniform and go home for retirement! Cutting off people's wealth is like killing their parents, old Carl is old-fashioned, but he is not stupid, of course he will not do such stupid things that offend people. ”

After listening to Anthony's words, Roland gained a deeper understanding of the imperial elite. It is no wonder that such a large and rich country has fallen to the point of financial bankruptcy, with so many moths holding the power of the state, doing some things that abuse power for personal gain and harm the public and enrich themselves, no matter how thick the foundation of the Yashan Emperor is, it is no wonder that Frank is eager to implement reforms. However, countless historical lessons can testify that reforms that do not involve anti-corruption are always a dead letter, but it is not known whether Frank has the courage to wage war against the corrupt bureaucracy.

From the smugglers in the waiting hall, Roland naturally remembered one thing, and looked at Anthony with strange eyes.

"If I'm not mistaken, at least half of the goods imported into the interior of the empire from the Far East are transported and traded through the channels of the Fogel family, Anthony, did you pay customs duties to the imperial government when you cleared customs?"

"Paying taxes? Are you kidding me? Young Master Anthony Fogel, the leading smuggling oligarch of the "Far East-Assanian Empire's Underground Trade Route", looked surprised when he was questioned by Roland, "What do you mean by that imperial government department responsible for collecting customs duties?" ”

"Imperial Customs & Revenue, of course...... or an institution with a similar function. Roland had a vague premonition that he had made a mistake that he had taken for granted, and that he was about to be mercilessly ridiculed by Anthony for it.

Sure enough, Anthony looked up to the sky and laughed three times, responding in a tone of justifiable arrogance.

"I'm sorry, since more than a hundred years ago, the imperial tax agency has been contracted by our Fogel family, and even if I am very ambitious to do business without asking for family funding, why should I pay taxes to my own institution? Isn't this a fart with your pants off! ”

Roland was speechless, and had to admit that the situation in the empire was completely different from the Far East with which he was familiar, so much so that he greatly underestimated the enormous influence of the "tax packager" group of financial capital on the imperial power class. In a country where all government tax departments can be contracted by businessmen, it is not surprising that the demand for "privatization of the central bank" by the capital group is only a small step in terms of grace on the basis of securing existing rights.

Palatina knocked on the door of the stationmaster's office, showed her ID, and instantly knocked the arrogant bureaucrat back into his original form with his chest and belly and nostrils facing the sky, and turned him into a pug wagging his tail around Her Royal Highness. Not only were three passes to the Holy City presented at once, but they were also thoughtfully arranged in the first-class carriage.

Palatina finds Roland and Anthony, and the three board the magic train. After waiting for a while, the locomotive sounded its whistle and accelerated slowly but surely.

After Roland's experience, he found that the power of the magic locomotive of the Yashan Empire was significantly inferior to that of the new locomotive used in the Far East, and the speed of the train was only two-thirds of the latter.

Although the speed of the car is not satisfactory, the service level of the first-class compartment is more thoughtful and meticulous than that of its Far Eastern counterparts. Roland enjoyed a sumptuous dinner in the car, wondering where to get fresh asparagus and oysters in the on-board restaurant during the snowy season.

After nightfall, the carriage turns off the roof headlights, and the passengers of each bunk can choose to keep a reading lamp, and they can touch the button at any time to temporarily extinguish the cold light that blesses the "inextinguishable flame".

The conductors of the first-class carriages were dressed in neat uniforms, with spotless white gloves, and their waists were straight and gentlemanly, looking like butlers of princes and nobles. Palatina laughed at the scumbag of the Far East's train service and hired a group of village girls as conductors, although she was young and beautiful, after all, she lacked a bit of upper-class demeanor.

Roland showed no weakness, retorting that she was tainted with the conservative, hypocritical, and pretentious habits of the imperial aristocracy.

"In good conscience, passengers are bored enough on a long journey, and compared to a group of pretending old butlers, a lively and beautiful young girl in a cute maid uniform is more eye-catching and can comfort the fatigue of the passengers."

Deeply enraged by his bourgeois vulgar and obscene aesthetic concept, Palatina grabbed a pillow and struck Roland, as if to correct his misconceptions in such a crude way.

Roland hurriedly raised the pillow to parry, and found that Palatina's focus on the attack was unstable, and suddenly stretched out his foot and tripped up, and pulled the blanket to wrap her.

Palatina was wrapped in a blanket and pressed down on the sleeper by Roland, struggling desperately in a hurry and anger, kicking her legs indiscriminately, causing the passengers in the car to be curious and snooping, whispering what was going on? Is it a flirting between a young couple or a crime scene involving the abduction of a woman?

Anthony's bunk was opposite Roland and Palatina, and Master Fogel was very concerned about the quality of sleep, wearing a full set of high-end pajamas and a nightcap that looked like strawberry ice cream.

"What's the fuss in the middle of the night? Anyway, I don't care about eating a few more bowls of dog food, if you two really have nowhere to vent your energy, it's better to strip naked and sleep together, and hurry up to finish things so that everyone can rest in peace! ”

The next door immediately fell silent.

Roland put down Palatina's pillow, crept back to his bunk, and lay down. It was not early, but he didn't feel sleepy.