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Even though the Central Region had just established trade relations with the Western Region, the Central Region's merchants significantly influenced the Western Region.
Because the commercial interests involved were too great.
The Central Region could sell many items to the Western Region at half price or even lower, and the Western Region's rulers could either get involved in these industries themselves or employ agents to tax them. In either case, the Western Region's rulers profited handsomely, their income increased tenfold, and the convenience and comfort of their lives rose by the same degree.
This feeling was indeed great.
