Chapter 54 Step by Step
"Lord Graiman, I advise you to be cautious." Hansel said while looking at the "Agricultural Development Outline" in his hand.
Paul wrote an outline of his agricultural plan and asked Mr. Baron to review it and make comments. He also showed that his goal of doubling food production was not bragging, but unexpectedly Mr. Baron said this. .
“Are there any mistakes?”
“Well, the previous things are great! Large farms, new machinery, improved varieties, and this rotation system, these things are all great, If their effect is as good as you say, then you will definitely leave a big mark in history and be able to solve the food problem that has been a headache since ancient times. This contribution is enough for the Holy See to canonize you. .”
Hansel's eyes were shining. He was a little worried about whether Graiman could realize his bold words before, but now looking at this outline, there is a high probability that he can achieve it.
Paul was very surprised: "If that's the case? Why should we be cautious?"
Mr. Baron turned to the last page again, "You also said in it that you would liberate the serfs. Without these slaves, , who will work in the fields? I know that the new machinery mentioned here can save a lot of labor, but wouldn’t it be better to let them add one to two?”
Reserved and explained patiently: “I gave it to you before. Mentioned it, Hansel!" He addressed the Baron by his first name.
“I don’t plan to just grow food and be done with it. I will also develop industries such as mining and iron-making. How can I do it with so much labor tied up in the fields!”
"I understand that you have great ambitions. In fact... I am worried about another point." Hansel planned to persuade this young and impulsive earl, who is his collaborator after all, so as not to endanger himself if the car overturns.
“As you know, I stayed in Bairding, the territory next door to you, for a period of time some time ago. During this period, I heard a lot about the deeds of the previous lord. Are you interested in hearing about it?”
< br>Bailding? Paul was stunned when he heard the name. He mentioned that the current lord of Baierding, Myron Garnard, was not much older than him. The Garnard family was one of the few families in the northwest who had good relations with the Gleiman family. , Myron is also a friend that Paul played with when he was a child.
Some time ago, when the pirates had not yet been quelled, Controller Ford sent a letter to Bailding asking for help. As a result, Myron wrote back saying that he was helpless because his troops had been extorted by the royal commissioners stationed in the territory.
A few years ago, Myron's father, Old Canard, fell seriously ill. After he recovered, he seemed like a different person. No one recognized him. The two families gradually stopped moving around. Soon after, Old Canard He accidentally fell into the water and drowned, and Paul went with his father to express his condolences.
That was the last time he saw this childhood friend. The still young Myron inherited his father's title, and then lived in seclusion. It is said that he worked hard to learn how to be a good lord with the help of his retainers.
"Then tell me about it!" He was curious why Hansel mentioned this.
"It is said that the old count's personality changed drastically after he recovered from his illness. He was not even close to his own son and did all kinds of strange things."
I know that his personality changed drastically. , but others did not pay much attention to it. Paul asked: "What is this strange law?"
"Old Canard initially only advocated equality for all and claimed that people are born free. This is very important to the church. Because of his appetite, the bishop of the North planned to grant him a certain honorary title, but he turned around and pointed his finger at the church, saying that there was no god in this world, and denounced the priests as demagogues. "
"This... this is too... bold." In fact, Paul also wanted to do this, but he didn't dare to say it yet.
“Before the church had time to react, he did something even more outrageous. He not only deprived the vassal nobles of the territory of various privileges, declared that nobles and commoners had the same status before the law, but also forced them to own slaves. People turned slavery into employment.”
Paul raised his eyebrows, his old uncle Garner was very good at causing trouble. Hansel glanced at Paul and continued: "After that, Old Canard announced that everyone in his territory will have a field that can support himself, and all the land under his rule will be taken back to the lord's mansion, and then distributed according to the number of people. The land allocated to each household, his retainers, vassal nobles and common people was the same."
Paul was speechless, this was so ridiculous. The alien version of Wang Mang. He asked a little apprehensively: "What then?"
Hansel shrugged, "Then he died. It is said that he slipped and fell into the water while fishing on the boat and drowned. Then everything in his territory was the same as before."
In an instant, conspiracy, A series of bad words such as coup d'état, tyricide, etc. flooded into Paul's mind.
Seeing the obvious shock on Paul's face, Mr. Baron smiled: "Lord Graiman, I am not against you emancipating the serfs. Many people, including me, deeply hate the slavery system. "
His smile gradually solidified, and there was a trace of unwillingness on his face: "Except for those unfortunate people who became slaves because of debts and wars, most slaves are because their parents or just one of them is a slave. , so they are born as slaves and will never be able to get rid of this stigma throughout their lives.”
“I appreciate the class-ordered social system, but this approach of directly blocking the path to advancement is extremely unreasonable. ”
Hansel was a little excited for some reason, waved his hands and said: "The capable are promoted and the incompetent are demoted. This is a fair and reasonable society."
He suddenly realized that he was a little out of control, and paused for a moment. He regained his previous unhurried look, "In short, Mr. Graiman, I suggest that your reforms should not be implemented in one step, but should be carried out step by step, giving the people around you time to adapt, and you should also have strong support for yourself. ."
Paul nodded, what happened to the lord next door scared him.
"You are right, Hansel, I accept your suggestion. Also, thank you." After destroying the pirates, he was indeed a little bloated and forgot what kind of world this was.
Mr. Baron's expression remained unchanged: "I am honored to be able to help you. I hope to continue to cooperate with you for a long time. Your Excellency, the Count, must take care of yourself. By the way, I want to return in a few days. South, in order to launch the talent recruitment plan mentioned before, what do you think?”
Finally, there was good news. Paul was overjoyed: "So you are ready? I can't wait."
"There is nothing to prepare. Since you have already started to increase food production, I can't be idle. In fact, I can leave tomorrow, but I heard that your friend Queller Foster will return to the south in a few days. I want to go with him. The Foster family is in the Cape Bay area. He is very influential. It should be helpful for us to make friends with him."
Paul clapped his hands and said, "I think so too. In fact, I have already talked with him and entrusted him to recruit a large number of people for Alda. Craftsmen. And I also plan to launch ocean trade with the Horn Bay Alliance."
Hansel admired this young lord more and more, and he suddenly thought of something: "Since it takes a certain amount of time to free the serfs, I will. I think there is another way to alleviate the problem of labor shortage. The war in the south has produced a large number of refugees, which is a headache for the royal government and the lords everywhere. I wonder if you have the confidence and ability to accept them?"
Paul was overjoyed: "Yes, bring them all to me."
This partner really was chosen right.
(End of this chapter)