Chapter 266 Dilemma
When he received the news of the riots, Paul was confused.
The shocked expression stayed on his face for half a minute.
“What did I do wrong?”
After reacting, he asked himself this question.
"Earl, now is not the time to ask this kind of question. Please quickly convene your gentlemen to discuss how to suppress it."
Cecil, the intelligence chief who came to report the news, anxiously advised.
"Uh... you are right. Quick! Help me call all the managers of the Government Affairs Council and all the officers above the company level who are staying in Huxin Town to the Lord's Mansion."
Stop Searle left in response, while Paul came to the hall in despair and waited for everyone to arrive.
Since awakening the memory of his previous life, he has always taken it as his mission to promote the progress of this world, inventing various novel gadgets, setting up factories, and promoting education, not only to make the people on this land live a better life. OK? Judging from the Huxin Town where I am located, the lives of the residents are indeed getting better and better.
Why didn't this kind of thing happen in the neighboring territory? Instead, it happened to him, the "enlightened and progressive" lord.
......
"Rebellion! This is rebellion!"
Hansel was very excited when he heard the news. He was the first to jump out and shout: "Please send troops immediately Suppress the mob."
Others, including Director Ford, also nodded, saying that the first priority was to send troops to suppress it.
Chief of Staff Schroeder, Commander Claude of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, and Commander Andrew of the 4th Infantry Battalion said that the army is at his disposal at any time.
"Gentlemen, please calm down."
Paul said he was telling others to calm down, but in fact he was panicking.
"All the news we know now came from the man named Baden. It's not necessarily a real riot! Maybe... uh, maybe they just gathered, and then The man named Baden was frightened and deliberately exaggerated."
Director Ford shook his head: "Even so, large-scale gatherings are prohibited without the permission and supervision of the lord, so disperse them. It is natural and the leader must be punished.”
While they were discussing, a second piece of news arrived, carried by an army carrier pigeon.
“The investigators sent by the Navy confirmed that the residents of Fabei Village and its surrounding areas lit up fires and smoke billowed into the sky! There were indeed signs of large-scale riots, and many wealthy people’s homes were robbed. "
Schroeder frowned and read out the contents of the note. The information sent by the Navy confirmed his previous statement.
"Someone at the scene shouted... shouted..."
Schroeder said softly: "The slogan "Down with the Lord" was shouted."
"Lord Earl, without further ado, please make a decision as soon as possible. Mayor Theodore asks you to allow the navy to go to counter the rebellion. To be on the safe side, please send two more companies to support."
< br>"Uh..."
At this time, Paul hesitated. According to his deep-rooted thoughts, the uprisings of the people at the bottom have natural justice. It is too rough to suppress them indiscriminately.
Moreover, maybe because of his divergent thinking, he thought of Qin II, Yang Guang... and thought of countless rulers who were killed by peasant uprisings. Not all were sparks at the beginning, Then it became increasingly out of control.
Will I be nailed to the pillar of shame in history if I rashly choose to suppress it?
"I said, can't we send someone to talk to them first? To understand why they rioted, maybe... maybe they have some compelling reasons." Talk? As soon as he said this, everyone looked at him with an expression of disbelief.
Negotiate with the mob? Is this what a lord should say?
“Ahem!” Hansel coughed lightly and asked, “Lord, if they make some kind of request out of those [unavoidable reasons], such as tax relief, what should you do? "
Paul thought for a while and replied: "If the demands are not too excessive, I think I will satisfy them. I have been working hard to be a benevolent lord."
Hansel said solemnly: "No! You must not do this! Once you open this hole, it will be doomed!"
"Why? The people put forward their wishes, and the lord weighed them and decided to agree to it. Isn’t it normal?”
“That’s in normal times. If they don’t riot and just express their wishes to you through ordinary channels, that’s fine. Whether you agree or not, the initiative is still there. There will be no consequences in your hands. But it is different now. They have launched a riot. In this context, if you agree to their demands, what will others think of you? "
" What do you think of me? "
"As a lord, you can be blackmailed and bullied. No matter what you think in your heart, others will think that the initiative lies with the mob. It will no longer be stable. The Earl, who seems to be inviolable on weekdays, turns out to be obedient when he makes a fuss."
"This...isn't that serious?"
Seeing that Paul was still "obsessed", Manager Ford also began to persuade: "Your Excellency, Hansel is right. The people are a large group, and among themselves There are many small groups, each of which has its own demands, some of which are even conflicting. Their desires are endless, but what you can give them is limited after all. If one group exists, another group will appear. As a lord, you can only give charity to the people, but you must not let the people take anything away from you. So, please calm down this riot immediately and put the mob in their hearts! to intimidate those who are watching and ready to act."
Schroeder nodded and said, "In this case, even if the other party's request is reasonable, you should not agree, so just simply. Don't ask, put down the riot first. Sir, please don't worry, they are just some villagers, a few well-armed knights can disperse them, not to mention our rigorously trained army equipped with muskets and cannons."
Paul opened his mouth slightly. He did not expect that two elders who were usually highly respected in Reed would say such "reactionary" words.
After thinking about it, Paul finally said: "I order, first, notify the military service stations in each village and town to organize the militia, and the person in charge should grasp the situation in the area under their jurisdiction in a timely manner and not slack off. Second, dispatch two companies. The troops rushed over overnight to cooperate with the navy and internal security forces over there to isolate the riot area, and then..."
Everyone was waiting for the lord to say the word "suppression".
"Then give an ultimatum to the people participating in the riot, asking them to immediately stop their previous behavior, but they are not allowed to attack without my order."
Hansel and others were about to continue to persuade, Paul rushed to say:
“Everyone, give me one night. I will decide how to proceed with this matter.”
……
On the way out of the Lord's Mansion, Hansel and Cecil discussed what had just happened.
"Have you noticed that besides worrying about his reputation for kindness being damaged, the count seems to be afraid of something."
"That seems to be true. He is afraid that the army will not be able to defeat the mob. This is too ridiculous. Master Schroeder also said that a few knights can disperse them."
"By the way, Cecil, why didn't you see our beautiful education director and Mr. Ms. Consultant, they are also members of the Government Affairs Council, didn’t you inform them?”
“Riots are too cruel to women, so don’t disturb them.”
"Oh? Is that just that?"
"Okay, I admit it." Cecil shrugged and said, "I'm afraid that the characters and opinions of the two ladies will interfere with the Earl's judgment."
"Your worries are justified."
(End of this chapter)