Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World-Chapter 672: Development Plan
Chapter 672: Development Plan
TL: Rui88
Mariana shook her head and said:
“Are you mad? There are so many people in this world. How could you possibly record the life stories of every single one of them!”
Paul refuted her, “Please don’t exaggerate my words. It’s just about creating files for the people under my rule.”
Mariana said, “You don’t even know how many people are in your own territory!”
Paul chuckled, “You are mistaken. As of last December, Alda had a total population of five hundred thirty-six thousand, eight hundred seventy-three, of which the male population was…”
He proceeded to explain Alda’s population situation according to various dimensions, and Mariana’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You… did you really take stock of every single person in the territory…”
The population figure, accurate down to the single digit, truly astonished Mariana.
“Yes, every one of them has been accounted for and is on record.”
Paul replied in a very proud tone.
Registering the population was an important task of the previously established Investigation and Statistics Committee, though this work had now been transferred to the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the Administration Council.
He dared to guarantee that no other lord in the world could achieve such a detailed understanding of the subjects under their rule as he had.
At this moment, Mariana did not understand why Paul had gone to such great lengths. Did her son have an almost pathological desire for control?
She let out a sigh.
“No one has ever done this before. I imagine there will be many flaws.”
Paul said with a resolute look, “No system is perfect at the beginning. Someone has to take that first step.”
At this point, Chief Justice Thomas, who had been silent, spoke up, “My lord, creating a dossier for every single person is a massive undertaking. It will surely increase administrative costs significantly.”
“What?” Paul looked at him. “Isn’t that perfect? Our schools have educated so many literate people, and we’ve recruited so many officials through examinations. We have to find something for them to do.”
“And I believe that compared to the relatives of traitors, those who are educated but cannot find jobs commensurate with their knowledge are a greater danger.”
Thomas could not find a reason to refute Paul and could only say:
“I will redraft the execution list according to your wishes. I hope your choice is the correct one, my lord.”
“Paul!” Mariana’s tone was a little high. “Did you know? I came to you originally to say goodbye.”
“Oh? Have you finally abandoned me again?” Paul used a joking tone.
But Mariana frowned, “But now I’ve changed my mind. I need to stay by your side for a while longer to observe whether you are a qualified lord!”
“It is for your safety, and for the Grayman family! Your father is gone, and I believe I have an obligation to be your guardian!”
“When necessary, I will use some special means to correct you. I swear I will do what I say!”
Her tone carried a hint of severity, just like a mother disciplining her son, something she had never done even when Paul had denied her and the Arcane Society’s cause.
Paul shook his head, looking somewhat troubled, his gaze wandering between Mariana’s and Thomas’s faces.
“You both seem to worry that I’m an indiscriminate do-gooder. Really, I don’t understand why you see me this way. Alright, I get it. It’s my fault for not explaining it clearly.”
“Someone!”
Paul called for his chief secretary and instructed him to hang a map on the wall.
“This is?”
Both Mariana and Thomas showed expressions of surprise when they saw the map.
Paul introduced it to them, “This is the vast area to the north of the great mountains in the north.”
“I’ll just talk about this coastal area. From south to north, they are the Tranquil Steppes, the Lucky Forest, and the Blackwater Basin.”
Paul pointed at the map with his finger, reading out the name of each place.
“The area of this land could be as large as a third of the Kingdom of Ordo, but it is an unfamiliar region, a virgin treasure land.”
Thomas said, “You mean?”
“Yes!” Paul slapped the map and said loudly, “I will follow the ancient tradition of the kingdom’s border lords and expand the Grayman family’s territory into this vast region, to develop it, to manage it, and to make it as prosperous as the Northwest Bay.”
“That is indeed inspiring!” the Chief Justice commented.
“Of course, this requires a great deal of manpower. And we in the Northwest Bay, especially in Alda, do not have a large population to begin with. Therefore, executing those who did not directly participate in the rebellion in such large numbers is a serious waste!”
“I understand your meaning!” Thomas nodded. “You intend to exile those who were supposed to be executed to that place as laborers.”
“My dear Thomas, you are correct!” Paul revealed a cruel smile, making himself look somewhat sinister.
“Exiling people who live in a civilized society to these barbaric lands is undoubtedly a rather cruel punishment. Although it is a bit lighter than the death penalty, the value they create can make up for the difference.”
The expression on Paul’s face as he said this made him look like a vicious lord who would exploit his prisoners to death, but the experienced Mariana could see through her son’s deliberately displayed cruelty and couldn’t help but sigh in her heart.
“This vast land has great potential! I’ve heard that there is extensive black soil there, so rich you can squeeze oil from a handful of it. It must be very suitable for growing crops.”
“I plan to first turn this place into an agricultural base, a major grain-producing area developed entirely on a large-farm model!”
As he spoke, the cruelty on Paul’s face faded, replaced by an enthusiastic expression.
“I am sure that if fully developed, the grain produced here would be more than enough to feed the entire Kingdom of Ordo.”
He enthusiastically shared his plans with the two of them.
“Further east from this region is the orc plains. If those arrogant barbarians really dare to invade Ordo, then this region will become a bridgehead for entering the plains!”
“We are in the Northwest Bay. We don’t need to laboriously go around through the Nerodan Corridor. Our army can be transported here by ship, use the grain produced here as supplies, and launch an expedition into the orc’s Great Plains.”
…
Paul’s words greatly surprised Mariana.
Her son was already planning a counterattack?
But the orc invasion hadn’t even begun yet!
However, just as she had this thought, Bernard entered the room again, looking flustered.
Paul looked at him, “You seem to be in a hurry?”
“Yes, Lord Grayman, something major has happened!”
Bernard presented a piece of paper to Paul.
“Watcher’s Fortress has fallen. The orc army has entered the northeastern region of the kingdom.”
“And Her Highness Catherine’s army is retreating to the west!”
.
!
Chapter 672: Development Plan
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