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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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Bio Village was completely different from how I remembered it.
The dilapidated houses were repaired, and the villagers’ faces had a healthy glow.
Chloe, looking out the carriage window, murmured,
“It’s changed so much.”
Her voice was filled with a sense of melancholy.
I gently stroked her hair.
After a while, the coachman announced,
“We’ve arrived at the village head’s house.”
“Alright.”
As I got out of the carriage, Chloe tried to follow.
As my personal maid, she should be by my side at all times, but…
She probably doesn’t want to see the faces of those who tried to sell her into slavery when times were tough.
Trauma doesn’t fade easily, even in times of happiness.
“You don’t need to follow me around the village.”
“But…”
“That’s an order. Go to my room and study. You need to learn the alphabet this week.”
I should give her a small reward when she learns the alphabet.
Studying is for her own benefit, but rewards motivate people.
I sent the carriage to my residence and disembarked.
The village head greeted me with a look of respect and gratitude.
“Welcome, my Lord!”
“How are things in the village?”
“Thanks to your generosity, things have improved dramatically.”
When someone in authority asks, “How’s life?”, you’re supposed to say it’s great, even if it’s hell.
Otherwise, you might become a target.
There’s no one above the village head in this village, so he’s safe from repercussions, but…
If I’m displeased, bad things might happen to him.
But judging by his expression, gestures, and gaze, his words weren’t a lie, they were filled with genuine gratitude.
“Don’t be so vague. Give me specifics.”
“We used to struggle to eat even two meals a day. But now, even if it’s not fancy food, we can eat three full meals a day.”
Something people in 21st-century Korea often forget…
…is that increased meal frequency and quantity are indicators of economic improvement in pre-modern times.
Because serfs and ordinary citizens in this era spend 80% of their income on food.
“The relief supplies I provided aren’t enough for such abundance.”
“Our duty is to cultivate kelp from early morning till afternoon. So, in our free time, we hunt or gather herbs to sell.”
If people have hope for a better life, they can endure working over 12 hours a day, like my parents’ generation.
Seeing the serfs working so hard is a bit unsettling.
“All the additional kelp you harvest must be sold to me. You know what happens if you sell it to other merchants, right?”
“We’ve imprisoned Hans and his family for trying to sell 100 grams of kelp to a merchant from another village.”
“Execute Hans. But spare his family.”
I need to make an example of him to maintain order.
Hans will be executed as a warning, and his family will be ostracized in the village.
‘It’s unfortunate, but necessary.’
Maintaining this discipline is crucial to prolonging the period I can sell kelp as a valuable medicine.
“Life has improved, and thanks to the hospital you built, the women are having many children. All the women of childbearing age in our village are pregnant. In ten months, we’ll have over 140 newborns.”
Even considering the shorter lifespans and early pregnancies in this era, this is a bit much…
But I can’t stop them, as they have hope for a better future for their children.
“In a few years, this might become a small town.”
The village head beamed.
If the village becomes a town, he’ll naturally become the mayor.
And while mayors aren’t granted land, they’re often considered nobles.
If a town’s population exceeds 10,000, the mayor’s family is elevated to noble status.
“Are you happy? But you shouldn’t be so excited just yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“Thanks to your hard work, I’ve made a fortune, so I should share it with you. We’ll hold a festival today. Gather all the adults in the village.”
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“I’ve gathered you all here today for a very important announcement.”
I pointed at the kelp smuggler tied up beside me.
“But first, we need to deal with this scum who betrayed my kindness. Prepare for the execution.”
A mercenary sprinkled water on his axe.
Hans begged for his life.
“My Lord, please! Please! I have a wife and children! Spare my life!”
If he had committed this crime out of desperation due to hunger, I might have forgiven him.
But he betrayed me after I showed him kindness.
“Execute him.”
With that, the mercenary’s axe swiftly severed Hans’s head.
“Dispose of the body.”
The mercenaries immediately removed the body.
Having shown the stick, it’s time for the carrot.
“Thanks to your hard work in harvesting kelp, I’ve made a substantial profit.”
The serfs looked at me blankly.
In the 21st century, such words from a CEO or a high-ranking official would imply bonuses or extra vacation days…
But in the Toscana Empire, it’s common practice not to reward serfs for their achievements.
They probably think the lord takes all the profit.
“And as a lord, I’m obligated to reward my subordinates for their contributions. I’ll grant two gold coins to each household in the village.”
Two gold coins is enough for a commoner in the city to live on for four years.
And its value is even greater in a rural village like Bio, with its lower cost of living.
Are they in shock?
They just blinked, speechless.
The village head, representing the villagers, asked,
“My Lord, you already exempted us from taxes this year, accepting kelp instead, and you’ve provided food aid…”
It’s natural to be confused by such an unprecedented act.
“Even serfs deserve to be rewarded for their hard work. You can refuse if you don’t want it.”
“No, no! We’re just overjoyed!”
The other serfs cheered.
“This is a reward for your hard work, so spend it freely.”
Even whales dance when praised, and people perform at their best when properly compensated.
So, even for my own selfish gain, I shouldn’t skimp on investments.
Like those foolish CEOs of small businesses who cut wages illegally while driving Ferraris, it’s not sustainable.
“Now, let’s discuss my plans for the future.”
Everyone listened intently.
“I intend to develop this village into a port city. I’ll build a harbor and bring in shipwrights. And I’ll establish a market here.”
Bio Village has favorable conditions for a harbor.
It’s relatively close to Firenze, the capital of the Toscana Empire, and the coastline is gentle, making harbor construction relatively easy.
And the mountains have plenty of large trees, suitable for shipbuilding.
“Goods from various nations, including our Toscana Empire, the Kingdom of Lyon, and the Hanover Empire, will flow into Bio Village. Merchants will flock here, and they’ll bring prosperity.”
The serfs seemed as excited as I was.
But they probably don’t fully understand what I’m saying.
Even our understanding that cities and jobs emerge where people gather is thanks to modern education.
How could they know without such knowledge?
But it doesn’t matter.
The important thing is that I’m explaining the village’s future and sharing my vision with them.
“When the shipyard is built and Bio Village becomes a port city in a few years…”
I paused.
“…I will emancipate you and your children from serfdom, granting you freedom. So, dedicate yourselves to the development of this village.”
Serfdom is an inefficient system.
It might seem beneficial due to the high tax revenue, but serfs, knowing their earnings will be taxed, tend to work less diligently.
It creates a vicious cycle where serfs become poorer due to lack of work, and the lord receives less tax revenue.
The abolition of slavery in the United States was based on similar reasoning.
“We’ll hold a special festival tomorrow. Food and drinks are on me, so enjoy yourselves.”
And I immediately departed for the Kingdom of Lyon to secure overseas trade routes for our trading company.
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[Your Text Here]
Freedom!
For the Wolf!