Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World-Chapter 584: Colonization
Chapter 584: Colonization
TL: Rui88
Just as the small meeting in the lord’s office was about to adjourn, a guard came to that Captain Stanford of the Northern Exploration Team had arrived.
“He’s back?” A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Paul’s face. Of the three overseas exploration teams, there was no news from the one heading west, and only a few letters had been received from the one heading east. Only the Northern Exploration Team had returned twice.
“Let him in quickly,” Paul instructed the guard, and then asked everyone, “Won’t you join me in receiving this distinguished adventurer?”
Old Ford, Hansel, Cecil, and the others all nodded. “It would be our honor, Lord Grayman!”
A moment later, Stanford pushed the door open and entered. As soon as he came in, he saw the numerous officials sitting there and immediately became reserved. He said, “My apologies, my lords. Are you discussing important matters? I can come back later.”
Paul quickly stopped him. “Oh, no. The most important thing for us here is to welcome our heroic adventurer. Please, have a seat, Captain Stanford.” He pointed to an empty chair near him.
Stanford’s face turned red, and then he laughed heartily. “It’s an honor to meet you, my lords.” He walked over to the chair and sat down.
He lowered his voice and said, “Lord Grayman, on my way to Lakeheart Town, I heard that you encountered… a very dangerous situation. I hope you were not harmed.”
“Thank you for your concern, Stanford,” Paul said with a relaxed expression, showing no anger on his face. “It was just a bunch of petty thieves. My body is fine now, not a single injury. By the way, how are the members of the first team who were left with the natives?”
“Thank you for your concern as well. They are fine, and they all returned with the ship this time.”
Among the officials present, there were some whom Stanford did not know. Paul introduced them to Stanford one by one. Everyone unanimously requested that Captain Stanford recount his experiences during the adventure.
Stanford recalled his journey and described it to them. Everyone was mainly interested in what happened on land. The magnificent primeval forests, the endless white ice fields, and the unheard-of strange flora and fauna all captivated Paul and the others. Last time, Stanford and his men had mainly explored the sea and the coast. This time, they set out from the Stag Tribe and pushed deep into the ice fields, obtaining a great deal of local information.
This time, they also learned the names the local natives used for the land under their feet. Starting from the western end of the Rocky Mountains and heading north, one would pass through the Tranquil Steppes, the Lucky Forest, and the Blackwater Basin in order. To the east of these three areas was the Great Plains, and to the north of these three areas was the endless Great Ice Field.
After his account came to an end, the group was still savoring the colorful adventures of the exploration team.
Hansel remarked with emotion, “This world is far vaster than we imagined. I wonder what commendable stories the other two exploration teams will encounter.”
Paul said, “Stanford, I have carefully considered your proposal from last time to set up a trading post there, and I think it is excellent.” He looked around and asked the others, “What do you all think?”
“We all think a trading post is a good idea,” said Old Ford, the head of the Administration Council, representing the group’s opinion.
The Administration Council attached great importance to the development of commerce. Since that was the case, the precious timber, medicinal herbs, and animal pelts from north of the Rocky Mountains sounded like goods that could generate huge profits. There was no reason to ignore them. ṙ𝒶𝐍ô𝔟ÈS̩
Paul smiled at Old Ford and said, “In that case, let the Administration Council make the arrangements. Send a few teams of merchants…official ones, or volunteers from the private sector…to go north with Stanford’s fleet next time.”
The head of the Administration Council nodded and accepted the order.
“Lord Grayman, there is something I need to to you first,” Stanford said. “Several of the local tribes hope to learn grain cultivation techniques from us.”
“I have seen their fields. Their agriculture is still quite primitive, almost at the slash-and-burn stage. They are very interested in the grains we brought…wheat, rice, and so on…so they made this request.”
This was truly unexpected. After hearing this, Paul fell into deep thought. Was the local agriculture so backward?
A few seconds later, he looked up and asked, “What do you all think?”
Hansel’s eyes darted, and he said, “There’s naturally no problem with teaching them, but we shouldn’t teach them for free. We should ask for some remuneration, for example… land.”
Stanford strongly agreed with Hansel’s suggestion. “This is an excellent trade. The land there, especially in the Blackwater Basin…don’t be fooled by its location in the far north…has the most fertile soil I have ever seen in my life. Unlike our soil here, the soil there is all black, as if blessed by the Heavenly Father. The plants that grow on it are exceptionally large, and the fruits are very plump. When I was investigating personally, I felt like I could squeeze oil from a handful of dirt I randomly grabbed from the ground.”
Was it that magical? The people in the room were all surprised and looked at each other.
Paul’s mind became active. When Stanford returned last time, he had mentioned that those native tribes did not value land as strongly as the human kingdoms south of the Rocky Mountains. Their regard for land would not surpass their regard for more urgently needed items. A few hundred pounds of iron ingots, a few large bags of salt, a few boxes of cloth, and a few exquisite pieces of porcelain could make them acknowledge you as the master of a large piece of land.
If Heaven offers a gift and you do not take it, you will be blamed for it instead! This sentence suddenly popped into Paul’s mind.
This… this should be considered overseas colonization, right? Ah, was he finally going to embark on this path?
Setting aside those precious natural resources, if what Stanford said was true, then establishing large-scale, mechanized, super-large farms on that fertile land would make the food supply in the Northwest Bay even more abundant.
Wait a minute, a flash of inspiration struck Paul’s mind.
Overseas colonization required people! And a lot of them. He imagined that during the colonization period in Earth’s history, many of the colonists were criminals and the like. If he adopted this practice, wouldn’t that solve a current problem?
He shot up from his seat and looked at everyone with a solemn gaze. “I have decided! We will expand the territory of the Grayman family to the vast lands beyond the Rocky Mountains by sea! We will spread human civilization and the glory of Ordo to the untamed wilderness.”
“Lord Grayman is wise!”
“Your ancestors would be proud of you!”
“The kingdom has not had a lord with such a pioneering spirit as you for a long time.”
Old Ford led the officials in offering praise to Paul.
The people sitting here, with the exception of Ladi Sertia, were all men. And what man could resist the temptation of the merit of expanding one’s territory?
Chapter 584: Colonization
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