Chapter 63: The Early-Year Plan

Bruno naturally noticed the strange expressions on everyone's faces.

But...

Just wait to be proven wrong!

Potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes were all high-yield crops. With the addition of fertilizers, four thousand gold coins was actually an underestimate!

Bruno looked at Old Ford and said, "Let's go over the population census results briefly here."

Old Ford nodded and began, "Currently, the total population of the Idar Territory is about 11,300 people, more than half of whom are serfs. According to the census records, the total number of commoners in Idar is only 4,563, far fewer than the number of serfs."

"At present, to quickly open up the road connecting Mann Fortress and Idar City, and to complete the construction of the Citadel of Namur, Idar has mobilized more than 2,000 serfs and commoners, accounting for one-fifth of the total population of the territory."

"That many?" Lopida was shocked.

"In addition to the workers directly involved in construction, we have also recruited a large number of people for transporting grain, supplies, and building materials," White Barrel explained.

"This highlights the most pressing issue facing Idar right now—our population is far too small!" Bruno concluded. "Therefore, this year, we must do everything possible to increase Idar's population."

"We can buy serfs! Slave traders are everywhere in the western part of the empire!" suggested Arnel Brad from the western empire.

"A single serf costs at least six or seven gold coins. If we rely on purchasing serfs to meet Idar's manpower needs, even if we throw in the entire annual revenue of the territory, it wouldn't be enough! Are you going to pay for it?" Bruno said with a dark expression.

"Actually, my lord, the number of workers Idar needs may not be as high as it seems. Once the Citadel of Namur is completed, won't those serfs be freed up?" Old Ford suggested.

"That's exactly what I was about to say. From this year forward, Idar will set aside a budget every year for at least one large-scale construction project!" Bruno said with a sly smile.

"Every year?"

Everyone present widened their eyes in shock.

Not again!

First the Hanging Garden, then the Citadel of Namur, and now their Earl was saying they needed to budget for such a project every year...

Was this a joke?

"My lord…"

Old Ford was nearly in tears.

"Alright, alright, I just said to set aside the budget, not that we will necessarily build something every year. Why are you panicking..." Bruno reassured them.

After all, Bruno himself didn't know what grand construction tasks the Wonder-Building System would assign him next. It was safer to reserve the manpower and budget in advance.

Besides, once the Citadel of Namur was completed, wasn't the Alhambra Palace waiting next in line?

"So, we need to think long-term. Don't just assume increasing manpower means buying more serfs. For example, we can try attracting commoners to settle in Idar." Bruno suggested.

"But, my lord, as you know, the eastern part of the empire is almost synonymous with poverty. Even if we want commoners to settle in Idar, why would they travel so far?"

"Poverty? Desolation? Who do you think put those labels there?"

"W-What?"

"For nobles, the western empire mild and rainy is naturally wealthier, as most of the empire's major cities are concentrated in the central and western regions. But do you think that matters to commoners?"

Bruno continued, "Sam Layton, you personally escorted those criminals to Bethlehem. How do commoners in the interior live compared to those in Idar?"

"Roughly the same, some even worse than those in Idar..."

"Of course! Even I know that the western empire has an extreme problem with nobles forcibly turning commoners into serfs. How could the commoners possibly live well?" Bruno chuckled.

"But in Idar? Here, a quart of salt costs only two silver shillings, while in the central and western regions, the price can reach three or even four silver shillings. Here, commoners and serfs earned wages from building the Hanging Garden—enough to support their families. Some could even afford to buy sea fish for a meal!"

"Serfs gather in the central and western regions simply because those areas are the heart of the Norman Empire and were developed much earlier than the eastern regions. As for the commoners there..."

"They probably don't even know which direction is east, west, north, or south. Some might never have even left the noble territory they were born in!"

"If that's the case, then let's bring them out! Let them know that the eastern empire is actually a better place to make a living. What do you think about this: every commoner who comes to Idar will be granted enough land to support their family?"

As a border noble, Idar had far more land than the nobles crammed into the central and western regions. There was still plenty of uncultivated land available.

"But that land belongs to you, my lord!" Old Ford quickly objected. "Are you really going to give it away for free?"

"That land isn't being farmed anyway, so why not use it to attract migrants? Besides, it's just a promotional tactic. Idar's land belongs to me, after all. In the end, they'll just be using it for free. Once they've traveled across half the Norman Empire to settle in Idar, do you think they'll go through the hardship of returning?"

"Brilliant, my lord! But… according to your plan, how do we actually 'bring' those commoners here?"

"Send the spies originally monitoring Soren's territory to spread out across the empire. Give them money and have them go to taverns and slums. Find those wandering bards who loiter around all day. In short, make sure the lowest-class commoners hear that life is better in the eastern empire than in the west."

"But will they believe it?" Old Ford questioned.

"Most people won't risk it based on just a few words. But for those who have reached the end of the road, facing a choice between seeking hope in the eastern part of the empire or selling themselves into noble servitude for generations, the decision should be quite easy, don't you think?"

"My lord is truly a man of great wisdom!" At that moment, Shabi, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke up, grinning as he flattered Bruno.