NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17
Chapter 17. Three-Year Development Plan for the Domain (1)
Speculations were rampant amidst the sunken atmosphere. Nobody understood Jeron’s plan. In fact, they didn’t even know why it had to be that way. Jeron was seething inside, but it was an unavoidable issue.
If the Guardian Dragon hadn’t granted him the power to open the gates of dimensions, Jeron would have been content living in the present as well. After all, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape poverty.
In such a case, he would have thought it best to maintain the status quo and manage not to make things worse. The nobles, and all the high-ranking officials in society, despised change.
While no one understood Jeron’s intentions, surprisingly, the only female knight in the domain, Dame Leila, was staring intently at the A4 domain and was deep in thought.
A female knight who had dreamt of becoming a knight since her childhood and was still striving to become the greatest knight. She was a distinctive knight who utilized her small stature and strong yet flexible muscles for quick swordsmanship.
However, having a pretty face had been a complex for her since childhood, making her develop a very cold personality to prevent men from approaching her.
Her harsh words were quite common. As if to prove this, there was a space left empty to the left and right of Dame Leila.
“Do you understand what this means, Dame Leila?”
All eyes turned to Leila, but ironically, no one dared to meet her eye. This included Sir Garcia, who was known as the greatest flirt in the domain.
She swept back her red hair and said in a clear voice, “It’s a wonderful plan. Some may despise commerce, but there’s no faster way to build wealth than the movement of logistics.”
“Did you learn this fact from your father?”
“Yes, my family has been involved in commerce for generations.”
It was because she came from a commercial family that she recognized the true value of Jeron’s plan. Dame Leila was born with a kind of mutant gene in her family.
She had been fascinated by the sword from the moment she first saw one and had been training intensely ever since. Yet, she did not look down on commerce.
She had received merchant lessons from her father and had accompanied him on trading trips in her childhood, intending to inherit the family business.
Although her will towards the sword was unbreakable, her discernment was excellently developed. Apart from her, Finance Officer Sir Kain was about the only one who understood Jeron’s plan.
“It’s an excellent goal and detailed setup. However, to do this, we need…”
“A trade license.”
“Correct. Our domain relies on the Count’s family for trade licenses. Even if we produce good products, the high taxes mean we could suffer great losses from this plan.”
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
Jeron clapped his hands. He was moved to tears by such excellent discernment. In this rigid society, to have two people who understood the true value of the domain development plan was incredible. Jeron looked at the rest of his vassals, but they just blinked.
As if asking, “What nonsense is this?”
“What do you think, Sir Jenald?”
“We knights need not question the orders of our lord. If you but command it, we will carry it out.” “And the rest of the knights?”
“Could you at least explain it to us?”
Sir Jenald, the FM knight, did not harbor doubts about the plan itself. He simply meant that he would follow orders. Sir Garcia, with his eyes swollen, requested an explanation.In truth, the same went for the other vassals.
Jeron had aimed to transplant South Korea’s “Five-Year Economic Development Plan”, which spearheaded its modernization, to suit the conditions of his domain.
However, such a system was so radically progressive that the people of this era could barely comprehend it. Jeron lifted the A4 paper bearing the domain’s development plan.
Three-Year Plan for Domain Development.
1. Achieve self-sufficiency by fostering agriculture.
2. Achieve 300,000 gold through the promotion of industry and commerce.
3. Housing repairs for each household.
5. Promotion of technology and expansion of foundational industries.
6. Waterway and waste management plan.
7. Cultivate 1,000 troops and enhance their elite status.
The content alone made it evident that these were highly challenging projects.
“While the nobles of the kingdom tend to look down on commerce, it’s only by attracting outside capital that the domain can develop. It may seem impossible to attract investments under the current conditions, but if we can develop and export local specialties, then achieving 300,000 gold is entirely feasible.”
“300,000 gold! Isn’t that the domain’s annual budget?”
“Operating a guild can make it possible. It’s feasible because I’ve managed to secure trade rights after negotiating with Duke Langton.”
“…!”
Murmurs of astonishment spread like waves throughout the room. Trade rights?
These were not something to be granted lightly, handed down through generations. Without a legitimate reason and justification, obtaining trade rights was virtually impossible.
It wasn’t for no reason that various regional lords set up significant checkpoints and imposed hefty taxes.
Considering there were only five noble families in the kingdom with trade rights, adding another would indeed cause an enormous ripple effect.
For the Farrow household, secluded in their mountainous backwater domain, to obtain these was nearly unthinkable. Yet Jeron, the lord, wasn’t one to speak idly.
Treasurer Sir Kain shot up from his seat, excited.
“Did you say trade rights? Please tell me I heard that wrong.”
“That’s how the negotiation went.”
“The cost must have been enormous.”
“It’s not final, but Duke Langton has agreed to offer substantial support.”
“To think such a miracle is even possible…”
Not just the treasurer, but even the knights, often synonymous with brute force, were taken aback. They too understood the value of trade rights.
However, what truly surprised the knights wasn’t just the trade rights but the close relationship established with Duke Langton. Commander Sir James asked in a cautious tone,
“Does this mean Duke Langton will act as our patron?”
“It wasn’t explicitly stated, but a contract of mutual assistance was established. To other nobles, it might appear as though I’m now part of Duke Langton’s faction.”
“Remarkable!”
The knights knew the value of such connections. In fact, they placed more importance on these connections than on the trade rights themselves. Listening quietly so far, Dame Leila spoke up brightly,
“Money needs to circulate for prosperity to follow. If we can successfully develop the domain’s specialties and manage the guild, we can draw in external funds and gradually expand our scale. Ultimately, this will lead to the prosperity of the domain itself.”
Her words showcased a flexibility of thought that was anything but rigid.Jeron was able to see Dame Leila again. Considering that Sir Kain, the treasurer, had always been handling money, it was one thing, but Dame Leila also possessed formidable insight.
Having such talents by one’s side was indeed a good thing.
Sir Kain spoke about the advantages of the domain development plan.
“Our domain, having been an earldom long ago, possesses a territory that is incomparably vast against other baronies. In truth, it’s even better than some viscountcies. Although the domain itself is poor, having a large population means we can secure a significant amount of cheap labor.”
Then, Dame Leila continued.
“Using that labor force, we can certainly undertake various projects. The issue is whether the products can hold enough value. If that’s resolved, we could be sitting on a gold mine.”
Clap, clap, clap!
Jeron applauded the Kain-Leila pair.
Although Jeron, as a modern person, found much to be desired, having such perspective in this undeveloped society was miraculous.
The domain was poor, but the Farrow Domain itself had many talents.
However, Sir Kain expressed some confusion during the review of Jeron’s plan.
“All these contents are good. Repairing each household and solidifying roads will indeed serve as an axis for swiftly circulating the domain’s resources. But, why would you systematically deal with the feces of the lower classes?”
“Why really focus on dung.”
“Tsk, tsk.”
Jeron clicked his tongue.
After reincarnating, one of Jeron’s greatest discomforts was the littering of feces in the streets.
“The reason for setting up toilets to collect human waste is because it can serve as a fertilizer.”
“Fertilizer…?”
‘How do I explain this?’
The concept of fertilizer was non-existent in this undeveloped society.
If there was a tech tree for the development of a domain, the advancement of agriculture was undoubtedly there, a frequent subject in many novels.
It was cliché but could not be overlooked.
“Where crops have been planted once, the land’s vitality weakens, requiring a year of fallow. However, if we make and spread fertilizer there, there’s no need for fallow.”
“What is the principle behind it?”
Though they were not interested in farming, the content was intriguing enough to pique their curiosity.
After all, successful agriculture meant better tax revenue for the domain.
“We obtain food from the land. Some of it is used to power our bodies, and the rest is expelled. If we return that to the land, it replenishes its vitality.”
“Ah!”
“It seems the Lord has understood the ways of nature!”
‘Making up such nonsense is hard work.’
Jeron had persuaded them with utter nonsense.
But it worked well.
No one doubted Jeron’s words.
After resolving the biggest obstacle in the domain development plan, everything proceeded smoothly.
Jeron ordered the establishment of the domain’s development office, appointing Sir Kain as its director and Dame Leila as the deputy director.
Although Jeron would manage the development office himself, the need for supportive personnel was critical.
The appointment of Sir Kain and Dame Leila, both of whom possessed significant insight, was quite rational.
Jeron encouraged all his vassals to come together.
“We will deliver the following slogan throughout the domain.”
“A slogan?”
“We shout it on three. Let’s live well!”
“It’s a good slogan!”
“One, two, three!”
“Let’s live well!”
TL’s Corner:
I’m getting release that witch vibe from this novel.