After a day of investigation, the three girls took the bus back to Crossbell, and then they met Fang Zheng again in the office.

"I have read your report."

Fang Zheng put down the report in his hand and nodded to the three girls in front of him.

"Well, now tell us your own opinions. Who goes first?"

"I have a question."

As soon as Fang Zheng finished speaking, Aileiyin raised her hand without hesitation. Fang Zheng looked at her with interest and nodded.

"Okay, you go first."

"Mr. Fang Zheng, I would like to ask, why did Crossbell declare that all land belongs to the state? According to my investigation, many residents of Mainz are very worried about this. They are afraid that this will mean that the land will no longer belong to them, and they may face the threat of being driven away at any time... I think this is the main reason for this conflict. Because from the conversations with the residents of the town, it can be seen that they originally had doubts about Crossbell's policy, and your plan to forcibly expropriate the mines has increased their anxiety..."

“Good question.”

Hearing Aileyin's question, Fang Zheng once again looked at the girl in front of him with long golden hair, a pretty face, and a serious and solemn look.

“Have you read the relevant policy explanation?”

"Yes... The new policy of Crossbell shows that the ownership of land in Crossbell belongs to the state, and individuals only have the right to use the land and the ownership of houses... But I can't understand, aren't houses built on land? If you do this, it will only make people more uneasy..."

"Haha, that's true."

Fang Zheng nodded.

"I don't deny that your concerns are justified, because in this case, I do have the power and means to forcibly evict them from this land. For example, if I want to plan a piece of land for public use, but they refuse to give in, I will use coercive means at this time."

"this……"

Hearing Fang Zheng's answer, Aileiyin was stunned. She originally thought that Fang Zheng would explain a few words, maybe her idea was wrong, but she didn't expect Fang Zheng to admit it directly? However, before Aileiyin could react, Fang Zheng asked again.

"So, which do you think is better, land owned by the state or land owned by individuals?"

"Of course it belongs to me!"

This time, Elaine answered without hesitation.

"In this way, anyone can own their own land and property, they have a home protected by law, and they don't have to worry about it... Isn't this wonderful?"

"Well, it is indeed beautiful."

Fang Zheng nodded.

"If I were just a businessman, I would agree with this."

"……?"

"Ms. Elaine, I remember... you are from Calvard, right? If I remember correctly, the law in Calvard is that land is owned by individuals?"

"Yes."

"Then let me ask you, have you seen any homeless people on Calvard Street?"

“…”

This time, Aileiyin was speechless. She was stunned for a long time before she stammered.

"Well... there are indeed vagrants, but every country has similar ones... and most of them are due to business failures or something like that, I think..."

“Hehehe.”

Fang Zheng laughed as he listened to Elaine's explanation. Then he reached out and knocked on the window.

"Ms. Elaine, do you know what the biggest difference is between me and these people below?"

"...? Sorry, Mr. Fang Zheng, this... I'm not very clear."

"It's simple. I'm richer than them."

“…”

Perhaps Fang Zheng's words were too straightforward, Aileyin, Alfen and Miaojie all showed subtle expressions at this moment.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm telling the truth. And that means that as long as I have money, I can buy whatever land I want. If it's in Calvard, I can easily buy a block or half a city."

"But...most people wouldn't sell their homes just for some money."

"Of course, but I have money. I can harass them in various ways. For example, I can first buy the land of other people who are willing to sell their houses, and then cut off the roads of those stubborn people and turn their homes into isolated islands. At that time, do you think they will sell it or not? Or I can lend them money at high interest rates, and then if they can't pay back the money, won't the land belong to me?"

"This...this is too much!"

Hearing this, Elaine clenched her fists tightly.

"It's not right to do this!"

"From a moral perspective, but from a legal perspective, since the land already belongs to me, I can do whatever I want with it. I can even build a wall on it to enclose other people who don't want to move. At that time, it will not be their choice whether to move or not."

As he spoke, Fang Zheng spread out his hands and looked at Elaine with a smile.

"You see, this is the power of capital, the power of money. Miss Elaine, the rich and the ordinary people are not the same kind of people. When you said that anyone can own their own property and land and live on it peacefully, I think you may not have considered this."

"this……"

This time, Aileiyin was speechless, but she soon came to her senses.

"But how is this different from nationalizing the land?"

"Of course there is. It's very simple. The greed of capitalists lies in their need to gain more power. As the ruler of a country, I don't need to increase capital through this means. On the contrary, I need to coordinate internally. Although in theory, I can indeed drive those people away, forcibly demolish their houses and occupy the land. But what about those people themselves? Rich people don't need to consider these issues. They just need to occupy the land and drive people away. But the country can't do that. As you said, if they lose their homes, they will become a destabilizing factor in society, and may even cause criminal incidents or terrorist activities. As the ruler of the country, I will certainly not allow such things to happen in the country."

“Woo… woo…”

Facing Fang Zheng's answer, Aileiyin frowned and wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say.

"And in this way, as a ruler, I can also exercise my rights and give fairness to those people. If the kind of thing I described before happens in Crossbell, I can completely judge that their actions are invalid and illegal. Because in Crossbell, they only have the right to use the land, not the ownership. And when purchasing land, they must explain how the land is used. For example, fields used for farming cannot be used to dig pits or build walls... Otherwise, it is against the law. This means that they can't do whatever they want."

"That's what I said, but..."

"Think about it carefully."

Looking at Elaine who still looked distressed, Fang Zheng chuckled. He had been to Calvard in the beginning, so he naturally knew the situation there. To put it bluntly, Calvard was very similar to the United States, both advocating individual rights and freedoms, which was why Calvard's business was prosperous, but also extremely corrupt - basically, countless outsiders who went to Calvard to do business were cheated.

For example, Ling’s father is one of them.

Aileyin had been growing up in this kind of environment, and her way of thinking must be capitalist. When she suddenly heard such a statement, her three views were completely shattered and overturned. It was natural that she could not accept it for a while.

So Aileiyin frowned and stepped aside, and the second person to come over was Miaojie.

"Mr. Fang Zheng, I have talked with the families of the miners in the town of Mainz. They are very happy that their husbands and fathers no longer need to risk their lives in the mines, but they are also worried about their future livelihoods. Many miners said that the new machines are too complicated and it is difficult for them to learn and master them..."

“You have also seen the solution I provided.”

"Yes, miners who are willing to continue working can apply for new positions and study. If they cannot adapt, they can retire early, and you will give them a pension and severance pay..."

"Yes, that's it."

Fang Zheng nodded.

"As you said, although the new mining machines are more convenient, they are not something that ordinary miners can easily master. If they really feel that they cannot master them, they can find another way to make a living. In addition to giving them a sum of money, I will also give them various policy benefits, such as introducing them to do other jobs, and if they open a store, they will get tax discounts."

Hearing Fang Zheng's answer, Miao Jie blinked her azure eyes, and then looked at Fang Zheng with a strange curiosity.

"But what if they accidentally spend all the money?"

Facing Miao Jie's tentative question, Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes.

"That's their own choice, Miss Miaojie. I can guarantee that this money is enough for them to live a relatively comfortable life for a long time. During this time, whether they continue to look for new jobs or spend money on wine and women is their own business. If they work hard and have a new start, then it's good. But if they spend money on wine and women and squander without any plan... that's their freedom."

Having said this, Fang Zheng slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

"I gave them a choice, and they made it, and they have to bear the consequences."

"I understand. Thank you Mr. Fang Zheng for your answer."

Hearing Fang Zheng's answer, Miao Jie smiled slightly, then bowed respectfully and stood aside. It was only at this time that Alfen came over.

"So, Alfin, what do you think?"

Looking at the princess in front of him, Fang Zheng asked with great interest. The princess hesitated for a long time before speaking with some uneasiness.

"Excuse me, Mr. Founder, but I think the reason for this protest is probably because... they are afraid."

"oh?"

Hearing Princess Elfen's answer, Fang Zheng raised his eyebrows.

"Go on."

"Yes."

Alfin nodded and took another deep breath.

"I think... they are simply afraid that they will be replaced. After all, they have been miners for generations, and some even have three generations of their grandparents working in the mines. They once thought that the world would remain the same as they knew it. Miners will always be miners, and they can dig ore with the inherited knowledge and tools in their hands, but... suddenly, everything changed."

Having said that, Alfin clenched his hands.

"I don't know how to put it...it's like...they are no longer the only choice..."

“That’s right.”

Fang Zheng snapped his fingers. It should be said that she is worthy of being the princess of the empire. She looks at things from a different perspective because of her different position.

"This is the essence of this protest. Although what you two said is also one of the reasons, Alfin has grasped the essence."

"is that so?"

"this……"

Hearing this, Aileyin and Miaojie also frowned and started thinking.

"This is where their biggest anxiety and fear lies. In the past, they didn't have to worry about this problem at all, because going down the mine to dig is the duty of miners, and it is something only miners can do. It is true that miners' work is dangerous and the income is not very high, but this is 'a job that only they can do' - it is this sense of pride that supports them from generation to generation to persist."

As he spoke, Fang Zheng picked up the teacup.

"However, as I told you before, productivity will develop. When a new production relationship replaces the old one, for a certain period of time, because it is suitable for the development requirements of productivity, it will promote the development of productivity and liberate the productivity bound by the old production relationship. But with the further development of productivity, the production relationship will change from being suitable to being unsuitable, and even gradually become a shackle on the development of productivity. At this time, contradictions will intensify and eventually lead to revolution."

Having said that, Fang Zheng took a sip of tea and continued speaking.

"It's the same as the Empire... Alfin, if you were the owner of that mine, and you found that other mines have begun to use machines that can operate 24 hours a day, without the need to prepare food or worry about casualties, and can mine in large quantities, while you are still using three shifts of manual excavation, do you think your ore will be competitive in the market?"

“…”

Alfin shook his head silently.

"That's right. So in order to catch up, you have to upgrade your mines and use brand new machines. But... this doesn't matter to the miners. They don't care about the long-term profits of the mines and market competition. They only know that because of a machine, they have lost their jobs and can never go back to their familiar lives. They are replaceable - just like the nobles."

"Is it... really necessary to do this? Is there no other way?"

“This is the contradiction between the economic base and the superstructure.”

Facing Alfen's question, Fang Zheng shrugged.

"The superstructure is built to adapt to a certain economic base and serves the economic base, just as the aristocracy is built on the control and manipulation of the vast majority of the lower classes. However, when the lower classes gradually gain power and knowledge, along with the development of productivity, the economic base will begin to change. The production relations, that is, the relationship between classes, can no longer adapt to the development of productivity. In this way, there will be a sharp confrontation between the superstructure and the development and change of productivity that requires changes in the economic base. Ultimately, the original superstructure will be fundamentally changed through social revolution. Then, a new superstructure will be rebuilt on the new basis."

Having said this, Fang Zheng spread out his hands.

"This is the nature of this protest, and the nature of the Imperial Civil War. Do you understand, Alfin?"