They would have local people, sort of higher class and local elites bid for the right to collect local taxes, and so the Romans would take the highestbid.
他们安排当地人，算是上层阶级和本地精英，竞拍当地收税权，这样罗马总是能获得最高竞价。
2
The boss pondered for a long time and decided to wait for the highestbid.
老板思考半天， 决定待价而沽。
《新英汉大辞典》
3
Sometimes the auctioneer sets a minimum amount by which the next bid must exceed the current highestbid.