Chapter 54: Step by Step
Chapter 54 – Progressing in a Step-by-Step Order
“Lord Greiman, I advise you to be cautious.” Hansel said as he looked at the Agricultural Development Outline in his hand.
Paul had written his plans regarding agriculture into an outline, asking Mr. Baron to look over it and give his opinion, and at the same time show that his goal of doubling the food production was by no means bragging, but unexpectedly Mr. Baron came up with such a sentence.
“Any mistakes?”
“Well, everything in front of me is great! The large farms, the new machinery, the cultivation of good seeds, and this crop rotation system, all of these things are great, if they really work as well as you say, then you will definitely leave a heavy mark in history, being able to solve the food problem that has been a headache for people since ancient times, this credit is enough for the Holy See to canonize you.”
Hansel’s eyes glowed, he was a little apprehensive about whether Gleiman could realize his grandiose words, but now looking at this outline, nine times out of ten, it will work.
Paul wondered, “If that’s the case? Why the caution?”
Mr. Baron once again turned the last page, “You also say here that you want to free the serfs, without these slaves, who will work the land? I know the new machinery mentioned here can save a lot of labor, but wouldn’t it be better to let them add one to two?”
Reservation patiently explained, “I mentioned it to you before, Hansel!” He addressed Mr. Baron by his first name directly.
“I don’t intend to just grow food and be done with it, I’ll develop mining and iron making industries, how can I do that with so many laborers tied to the ground!”
“I understand that you are ambitious. Actually …… I am worried about another point.” Hansel intends to properly persuade this young impulsive earl, after all, he is his own collaborator, lest he overturns the car and also involves himself.
“As you know, some time ago I spent some time in your next-door territory of Baildin, and during that time I heard quite a lot about the deeds of the previous lord, are you interested in hearing about it?”
Bairdine? Paul froze when he heard this name, speaking of Baildin’s current lord Myron Garnard’s age was not much older than him, the Garnard family was one of the few families in the Northwest region that had a good friendship with the Greiman family, and Myron was considered to be a friend that Paul had played with when he was a child.
Some time ago, when the pirates had not yet been pacified, Chief Ford also sent a letter of request for help to Baildin, but the result was that Mellon replied that he could not help, because his troops were all blackmailed by the royal commissioners who were stationed in the territory.
A few years ago, the father of the old Garnard, Mellon’s father was very sick, after the illness is like a new person, do not recognize anyone, the two families gradually no contact, not long after the old Garnard accidentally fell into the water and drowned, Paul also accompanied his father to go to the condolences.
That was the last time he saw this childhood companion, still young Myron inherited his father’s title, and after that, he stayed away, I heard that it was in the vassal’s assistance to learn how to be a good lord.
“So tell me about it!” He was curious as to why Hansel had mentioned it.
“It is said that that old earl’s personality changed drastically after he recovered from his illness, and that he wasn’t even very close to his own son anymore, and did all sorts of strange things.”
The big change of character was known, but the rest hadn’t been paid much attention to, Paul asked, “How strange?”
“Old Garnard at first just advocated equality for all, claiming that people are born free, this line was very much to the church’s liking, and the Bishop of the North was planning to grant him a certain honorary title, but then he turned around and turned the tables on the church, saying that there are no deities at all in the world, and denouncing the clergy as demagogic godly men.”
“This …… this is too …… bold.” In fact, Paul also wanted to do this, but he just didn’t dare to say it now.
“Before the church side had time to react, he did something even more outrageous, not only depriving the vassal nobles in the territory of all kinds of privileges, proclaiming that nobles and commoners have the same status before the law, but also forcing those who own slaves to change their servitude into employment.”
Paul raised his eyebrows, this old Uncle Garnard of his was good at getting into trouble. Hansel glanced at Paul and continued, “And then after that, Old Garnard announced that everyone in his territory would have a field that could support them, and collected all the land under his rule into the lord’s house, and then distributed it to each family according to the number of heads, and the fields that his vassals, vassal nobles, and commoners were given were all the same.”
Paul couldn’t say anything, this is the otherworldly version of Wang Mang ah. He asked with a bit of trepidation, “And then what?”
Hansel shrugged, “Then he died, rumored to have lost his footing while fishing on a boat and drowned. And then his territory was business as usual.”
In an instant, conspiracy, coup, regicide, and a host of other bad words flooded Paul’s brain.
Seeing the obvious stunned look on Paul’s face, Mr. Baron smiled, “Lord Gleeman, I’m not against your emancipation of the serfs, for slavery, many people, including me, abhor it.”
His smile gradually froze and a trace of resignation appeared on his face, “Except for those unfortunate people who were reduced to slavery due to debts and wars, most of the slaves were born as slaves because their parents or just one of them was a slave, so they were born as slaves and can’t get rid of the stigma for the rest of their lives.”
“I applaud the class-ordered social system, but this direct blocking of the path of upward mobility is extremely unreasonable.”
Hansel got a little agitated for some reason and waved his hand and said, “A fair and reasonable society is one where those who have the ability rise to the top and those who don’t have the ability fall to the bottom.”
Suddenly realizing that he had lost his temper a bit, he gave a slight lurch and resumed his previous nonchalant demeanor, “In short, Lord Gleeman, I suggest that your reforms should not try to reach the top in a single step, they should be gradual, give the people around you time to adapt, and have a strong backing of their own.”
Paul nodded, the matter of the lords next door had taken him by surprise.
“You’re right Hansel, I’ll take your advice. Also, thank you.” He did get a little puffed up after eliminating the pirates, forgetting what kind of world this was.
Mr. Baron’s expression remained unchanged, “I’m honored to be of help to you. I hope to work with you for a long time, and Lord Earl must take care of himself. By the way, I would like to return to the south in a few more days in order to start the talent recruitment program I mentioned before, I wonder what you think?”
Finally waiting for a good news, Paul rejoiced, “So you are ready? I can’t wait.”
“There’s nothing to prepare, since you’ve already started working on the matter of boosting grain production, I can’t be idle either. In fact, I can depart tomorrow, but I heard that your friend Quiller Foster is also returning to the south in a few days, I would like to travel with him, the Foster family is very influential in the area of Horned Bay, making friends should be very helpful to us.”
Paul clapped his hands, “That’s what I thought as well, in fact, I’ve already talked to him a long time ago and commissioned him to recruit a large number of artisans for Arda. And I also plan to start oceanic trade with the Horned Bay Alliance.”
Hansel was becoming more and more appreciative of this young lord, and he suddenly thought of a point, “Since releasing the serfs will take some time, I think we can alleviate the labor shortage in another way. The south has produced a large number of refugees due to the war, the kingdom government and lords everywhere are having a headache, I wonder if you have the confidence and ability to accept them, my lord?”
Paul was overjoyed, “Yes yes, get them all to me.”
This partner had really chosen the right one.
(End of chapter)