Chapter 222 Enclosure Movement

Dear Mr. Colin,

It's been a week since you left. I wonder if you are doing well now?

I wanted to wait longer before writing to you, but I really don't know who else to tell my troubles to except you.

I guess you are still on the ship heading to the continent of Kao. I am not sure whether you can receive my letter. If you miss it, don't worry. Just regard it as my soliloquy.

Remember what I said before about planning an industrial park near the refugee camp? Thanks to you and my brother's strong support, this work is progressing smoothly. In addition, due to the mobilization of imperial troops stationed in the Dusk Province, the prices of textiles, ironware and other products have risen. The various industries mainly in the textile industry in the new industrial zone of Thunder City can be described as thriving.

However, it is precisely because of this that the price of wool on the northeast coast of the Whirlpool Sea has skyrocketed, and many nobles have converted farmland into pastures in pursuit of higher profits... In particular, my brother's policies have also invisibly promoted this trend. Although these changes have brought about an increase in wealth, they have made me increasingly uneasy about the future.

My subordinates told me that in the Thunder County area, a large number of tenant farmers lost the land they depended on for survival. Instead of taking any measures to protect their survival, their lords rudely drove them away from their hometowns where they had lived for generations, forcing them to become refugees.

Many of them used to live a stable life, but now they can only wander around or live in simple camps. I feel very sad that they are the people of the Principality of Campbell and should live in a peaceful era, but they have to endure the displacement of wartime like the people in the Twilight Province.

The only consolation was that the industrial zone outside Leiming City could provide them with some jobs. However, the growth rate of those jobs was far behind the speed at which the landless tenants left their homes.

I sought answers from my brother, but he told me that this was a necessary sacrifice. My brother's staff also warned me not to put too much emotion into this matter, because the reason why the Thunder City Industrial Zone was able to grow so rapidly was because of the influx of landless tenants who far exceeded the growth of jobs. This is the correct cause and effect, and cause and effect cannot be reversed.

I was very angry. If it wasn't for the people of Campbell Principality to live a happier life, why did my father sacrifice himself? But my brother said that those things should be told to outsiders. The prosperity of the Campbell family and the Principality of Campbell is the top priority.

These days, Theresa and I often go to the refugee camp outside Thunder City to relax. We watch the simple camp becoming a new urban area, the people from afar integrating into local life, and the smiles on the faces of the children chasing and playing... That is my only comfort in my busy schedule.

However, recently, my only spiritual sustenance has gradually been replaced by other things.

I often hear people complain that the working conditions in the factories are too harsh. They say that the tenant farmers are swarming into the city like locusts, not only can they endure the meager pay, but they will even work hard without complaint as long as they are given a meal. Even so, there are still a large number of people who cannot find jobs and can only wait for relief in the camps.

I heard the children complain that their fathers came home later and later, their eyes became more and more tired, some of them even started drinking, and often lost their temper at home, beating and scolding them.

In order to support the family, their mother had to start working outside, and they could only play by themselves.

This is not normal in the tradition of the Duchy of Campbell. Unlike the nobles, they have no tutors and can only be educated by their parents. When they reach a certain age, they go to church schools or churches for education, or become apprentices to craftsmen. However, there are not enough churches and schools outside of Thunder City, and there are not so many kind craftsmen. We can only let those children wander on the streets, or go to factories with their parents.

The problem goes far beyond that.

Because of the new industrial zone, the budget of the refugee camp is being consumed rapidly, and the original two meals a day have been reduced to one meal a day. And unlike the beginning, the oatmeal porridge is becoming less and less.

I tried to persuade my brother to provide more funds to help the refugees, but he told me to stop the emergency porridge and invest the remaining money in the factory, claiming that this is the only way to save them, rather than letting them develop the bad habit of getting something for nothing. But I think it is natural for a person to get food from his lord. This is by no means something for nothing. It is the obligation of the royal family.

I asked myself countless times, is this really the kind of change I want? If the prosperity of some people is based on the suffering of the majority, can this prosperity still be called prosperity? The citizens of Thunder City thanked me, but after seeing the farmers who lost their land, I couldn't feel happy. Some nobles were dissatisfied with the uneven distribution of spoils and were complaining to the kingdom, but in fact they had already gained a lot.

Maybe my requirements are too high. I hope they can become rich little by little. Through their hard work, they can make people who originally couldn't eat bread eat bread, and people who originally couldn't eat cake taste the taste of cream, instead of letting those who have already eaten cake take away the only survival resources of the poor and laugh at those weak people for not working hard enough.

Am I asking too much? Or did my brother or I do something wrong from the beginning? Or maybe there is a better way...

I hope your wisdom can give me the answer, and it would be even better if you could tell me what to do next.

Sorry, you're the only one I can rely on.

Thank you for listening to my complaints so much, and your letter is my only remaining comfort.

—With admiration, Irene Campbell.

】

…

[Dear Princess Irene Campbell, I have arrived home safely and received your letter. I am moved by your kindness and gentleness as well as your love for the people of the Principality. I can't wait to return to you and comfort you.

It is the duty of the royal family to support the people. I agree with your point of view very much. This is not only the teaching of Saint Sith to the first kings in the Book of the Holy Word, but also the ancestral precept of the Colin family.

However, I don't think your brother is wrong.

As a king, what he needs to care about is not whether a particular citizen of the Principality of Campbell is happy or not. His duty is to develop the Principality of Campbell into a stronger one, which is also to live up to the sacrifices made by the previous king.

Similarly, you are not wrong, it’s just that you are in different places and the scenery you see is also different.

The Duchy of Campbell is becoming richer, the industrial wave is in full swing, the port is getting busier, people's wallets are getting fatter, and the royal land is becoming more valuable... These are facts that can be seen with the naked eye. And the things you saw in the refugee camp are also true. After all, where in the world does a machine exist that does not need fuel? I sympathize with their situation as much as you do. I don't want to call them the word fuel, but in fact they did burn some things for the Duchy of Campbell, such as life, tradition, dream, youth and even soul.

This process will be painful, but the result will definitely be happiness. I believe that Archduke Edward and the nobles he leads will be satisfied one day, and at that time they will voluntarily share some of their wealth with those poor people.

When those farmers who lost their land grew old and saw that their children no longer had to work like slaves for the nobles like themselves, but lived a decent life like the citizens of Thunder City, embracing the sunshine at eight o'clock in the morning, enjoying a relaxing cup of black tea at noon, and returning home to accompany his family before the sun sets.

At that time, I believe they will be grateful for today's hard work, and they have not burned themselves in vain. Thanks to their efforts, their children will be so happy.

Please understand your brother.

On the other hand, let me tell you something happy. Thanks to your support and that of His Majesty, the Principality of Colin is opening up new territories.

At the same time, we discovered something called fertilizer, which can increase the yield of land. With the help of the Empire's steam engine and advanced reclamation tools, I will do my best to help you deal with the impact of the reduction of arable land on the Principality of Campbell.

—Yours faithfully, Roxel Colin.

】

(Note: Please forward this letter to Her Royal Highness Irene Campbell in one month.)…

The dawn sun shines on the horizon, and the farmland outside Silverpine Town is shrouded in a thin mist.

The moist air was filled with the fragrance of earth, but the tenant farmers, who were familiar with it all, had no time to enjoy this peaceful time.

A week has passed since Baron Gus issued the eviction order, but the relocation has not been going smoothly.

Almost no tenant farmers actively cooperated with the relocation. They deliberately delayed the process and even launched retaliatory actions.

The craftsmen hired by the Baron had just finished building the fence, but they took advantage of the dark and windy night to tear it down.

In addition to these fierce resistances, there were also some relatively mild "protests".

Some people who were hoping for a chance secretly planted their hidden seeds because they couldn't bear to miss the opportunity for spring ploughing.

Those fields were cultivated by their ancestors themselves, perhaps using crude stone tools.

The nobles have their own ancestral teachings, and these peasants also have their own traditions, but they just don’t have surnames or family trees.

They believed that when the fertile land was covered with green wheat seedlings, Master Gus would extend the relocation date for another year just for the sake of money.

However, they did not know that their resistance, whether mild or fierce, had completely angered Master Gus, who thought he was kind.

Especially when other nobles intentionally or unintentionally mocked Baron Gus for being not very capable, the matter rose to the level of aristocratic honor, forcing him to take action for the sake of his face.

"This is quite a big trouble. I didn't expect that clown would go to such great lengths."

On the town's observation tower, Sheriff Adlai held a telescope, looking at the edge of the mist, with a cold smile on his lips.

Behind the mist, two neat rows of soldiers were advancing along the muddy path.

They were wearing light armor, the spears in their hands were shining with the light of the morning sun, and their eyes were as cold as winter.

Although there are a few elite steel-level masters in Baron Gus's manor, they are good at single combat. They are okay for show, but they are still a little lacking in the battlefield.

These guys are obviously not servants in the manor, but mercenaries who are paid to do the job.

"Shield Thrower" Hebal stood trembling beside Adlai, his calves shaking and fear written on his face.

"What happened? Did Master Gus take the wrong medicine? This is his territory."

Adlai grinned and said coldly.

"But now his subjects are disobedient. Isn't it only right to teach them a lesson with a stick?"

Hebal swallowed.

"…What about us? What should we do…"

If he was asked to recruit men from the fields, he would not frown and would definitely beat those lazy guys into submission. But if he was asked to point a gun at his neighbors or drive them out of town, he would never do it, after all, they were his fellow villagers.

Adlai's face was as gloomy as water, and he spoke softly.

"No big deal."

Hebal stared at him with wide eyes, held his breath, then turned his gaze to the troops that were getting closer and closer, and finally loosened his trembling fists.

Those who came were not monsters or bandits, but local lords, so they didn't need to ring the bell.

In fact, this is the right choice.

If they don't choose to turn a blind eye, someone will ask them to close both eyes.

At the same time, the tenant farmers in the town finally noticed the uniform footsteps.

They gathered at the edge of the field, their eyes revealing undisguised fear and anger.

Baron Gus rode on his horse, looking majestically at the tenant farmers in sackcloth clothes, his eyes burning with anger and contempt.

"You ungrateful lazy fellows." He pulled the reins in his hand, paced forward with his horse's hooves, and continued to shout in a loud duck voice, "I gave you enough time to move out of my land, and even gave you the things on the land as compensation, and what did you do? Tear down my fence? Attack my sheep? Put drugs in the grass? Tsk, tsk, is this how you repay my kindness?"

Everyone was silent, just staring at him with eyes wide open, with anger, fear, shame and fear in their pupils. Some people lowered their heads, staring at their toes, wanting to dig into the ground to escape their fate.

Smelling the stench of soil, Guts frowned, his eyes becoming more and more disgusted and disdainful.

His lady always thought he wasn't brave enough and wasn't like a true nobleman, so he decided to prove himself.

He is glorious.

"Do you know what the village next door did? The baron there was a tough guy. He used his magic wand to set fire to every house he saw. He told me that the land burned by the fire would be more fertile and the grass would grow more lush."

Everyone looked at him in fear, and even those who had their heads bowed raised them in horror.

Seeing that they finally showed the expressions they should have, Baron Gus raised a satisfied smile at the corner of his mouth.

It was too difficult for him to fight the Demon King's army alone, but it was still easy for him to deal with these guys.

He raised his chin and spoke in a higher voice.

"Of course, I am merciful, and I certainly won't set your house on fire with my wand...although I have the right and the ability to do so."

He paused, then suddenly changed the subject, with an evil smile on his face.

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"But on the other hand, I have prepared other gifts for you."

As he finished speaking, he clapped his hands.

A magician in a long robe walked out from the mercenary group and took off the cloak on his head.

He was a half-elf with a handsome face, a high nose bridge, and light golden hair.

That’s not all.

He also has an affinity for nature given to him by his half-elf bloodline, as well as natural magic that he learned later in life.

"...Seeds sleeping in the earth, please obey my command. The fertile soil is at your disposal. Please turn this place into an endless grassland."

He chanted a spell, raised the malachite-inlaid wand in his hand slightly, and at the same time opened the bag hanging around his waist.

A breeze blew by, and countless tiny seeds were scattered on the field. They sprouted in an instant, turning into weeds, vines, and thorns, and spread out quickly! "No!!!"

John, who was carrying a hoe, wailed in despair and rushed forward to try to stop them, but was easily pinned to the ground by the soldiers.

At the same time, the surrounding farmers saw in horror that the land where they had lived for generations was easily torn apart by the overgrown vines, and the nutrients in the soil were quickly drained away by the overgrown weeds.

In just a few breaths, the lush grass covered the entire field, swallowing up all the undeveloped wheat seedlings!

A drop of sweat flowed down the half-elf's forehead. He raised his sleeve to wipe it gently, then looked proudly in the direction of Baron Gus.

The latter nodded with a smile and clapped softly.

"good."

Although nature spells are not very effective for farming, as the crops only grow but do not bear fruit, they are perfect for using them to create lawns!

This was an idea that he came up with on a whim. Although the other nobles were ruthless, they were not as smart and flexible as him.

Of course, as his reputation spread, other nobles would soon follow suit.

Just like when he first appeared at the banquet wearing white silk, he was the one who led this fashion trend at that time.

Looking at John who was pinned to the ground, Jimmy walked forward tremblingly and looked at Master Gus in despair.

"...This land is our lifeblood. Without it...where can we go?"

"Get lost!" Gus cursed, staring at the ignorant guy. "This is my land, the land of the Gus family. It has never belonged to you for a minute! My ancestors only allowed you to cultivate this land, and you treat it as your own territory? This is the last warning. I give you... the last three days! And as a punishment for your delay during this period, I will remove your doors and windows... and your beds too!"

Guts finally softened his heart a little and didn't kill him, even though he did intend to do so at the beginning... After all, other nobles did the same, so he wouldn't have too much psychological burden.

Perhaps what the lady said was not wrong. He was indeed not a qualified noble, and the extraordinary power bestowed by his ancestors was completely wasted by him.

But none of this matters anymore.

In the future he would move to the city and no longer have to deal with these mud creatures.

That would be a truly respectable life, in which he could concentrate on his favorite parties and mingle with respectable gentlemen and ladies.

Even if I come back here again, I will definitely take my family for a walk on the lawn instead of smelling the disgusting smell of pig manure.

He waved his hand, signaling the mercenaries to move forward, and asked the half-elf magician to continue casting spells.

He spent a lot of money to invite these people over, and he couldn't let the money go to waste.

The mercenaries began to act.

They had no mercy on the locals. They would punch or kick any tenant farmers who tried to stop them, and then pick up the weapons in their hands and smash everything they could in their homes.

These poor guys don't have anything valuable to loot at home, so they naturally won't spend too much time distinguishing the differences between doors, windows and tables.

They only knew that only by completing the task brilliantly could they get Baron Gus's reward.

Angry roars and miserable pleas for mercy rang out one after another, and the area outside Silver Pine Town was like hell.

Old Adam's legs felt like they were filled with lead. He stared blankly at the dilapidated farmhouse and listened to the wailing and crying of his wife and children, as if he had lost his language.

The lame carpenter Tom chose to fight them and rushed out with a musket.

He probably didn't want to live anymore, and he really didn't want to live anymore, so he actually tried to assassinate the magician with a fire poker.

As a result, the half-elf simply waved his wand lightly and removed his other intact leg.

Fortunately, Baron Gus only paid to teach them a lesson, so the elegant half-elf did not kill anyone.

The residents of the town closed their windows and doors, remained silent and did not even dare to go out to take a look.

The adventurers were also silent and could only stand in a safe place and watch silently.

Their hometown is not here, and this matter has nothing to do with them.

Actually, Master Gus is not bad.

He just smashed some things and didn't kill anyone... Otherwise, he could have done it more efficiently, so there wouldn't be so many screams, which might even be heard by the gods in the dark.

"Shield Thrower" Hebal wiped the sweat from his head and prayed silently that his friends would be safe.

And there was old Abel, the stupid "shoe thrower". The poor guys in the tavern always laughed at them as a pair, one throwing shields and the other throwing shoes. Although he was annoyed by this, he still didn't want anything to really happen to that guy.

That was one of the few fun things he did besides work.

"Saint Sith, please protect him. He is a good man, a little cunning, but he is not guilty of such a crime."

Sheriff Adlai did not say anything, but just watched silently what was happening outside the town, and watched Baron Gus laughing loudly on his horse.

The Demon King is right.

This guy is a born devil.

But at the same time, he was also convinced that Saint Sis might really be unable to see anything.

Perhaps that being is like the emperor of the empire, who can only see the land below the steps.

But the empire was too big.

Even the capital of the Kingdom of Ryan is far away from the Emperor's knees.

Not to mention here...

"If the Demon King invades, Silverpine Town may not even be able to gather 2,000 conscripts." Hebar muttered softly, looking at Sheriff Adlai who was indifferent, and said with difficulty, "Your Majesty, don't you care?"

Adlai's lips curled up in a smile.

After seeing Edward's military might, his loyalty to the Demon King was somewhat shaken.

But now, that bit of uneasiness has disappeared.

"Aren't there still those 'devout' mercenaries? Why are you worrying about that lord?"

After saying this, he held onto the ladder and left the observation tower.

He couldn't bear to see this miserable scene.

He had to go to church and pray for a while.

(End of this chapter)