Under the malicious hype of a group of ill-intentioned businessmen, the price of salt in Nai An Province skyrocketed in a short period of time, rising to twenty-four times.
Fortunately, although salt is a necessity, the demand for it in families is not large. If it is expensive, just eat less.
Although the Naian people are complaining about this, they have not been forced to the point where they can no longer survive, and it is not worth challenging the authority of the government for a little salt. There is really a lack of salt, and the worst is to learn what is inside the mountain next time
Those idiots just pick their noses and don't throw them around.
Therefore, the group of civilians who acted like fools, took five copper coins from the merchants, and then were set on fire by the civilians who rushed forward and bumped into the muzzle of Young Master Leo's gun. Of course, it was not easy.
Young Master Leo, what kind of person is he?
Although the little gangster was young, he was the son of Archduke Julius the Bloody Butcher, the future emperor of the empire, and he grew up under the iron-fisted governor of Catherine.
The number one princeling in the world, the top second generation ancestor, and after being carefully educated by Lorraine for a period of time, that bad guy with sores on his head and pus on the soles of his feet, whether it is experience points or Yin skills, he is going to
Jump up.
In order to improve his 'skill proficiency', he now beats dogs and chases chickens every day, causing trouble for nothing, not to mention these guys who dare to jump out and find trouble for him.
Faced with the riot, young Duke Leo felt humiliated and immediately ordered the Royal Guards to suppress it.
After receiving the order, a group of soldiers picked up sticks and sticks and beat them severely. They were also charged with disturbing public order and locked up in a small dark room for several days.
But then again, "the wisdom of the working people is infinite~!".
The common people discovered that they could not outsmart the Governor of Lorraine by playing hooligans, and they could not afford to offend the merchants. If they could not afford salt now, they could cook it themselves, since they were not far from the sea anyway.
Many families simply carried pots and went to the beach to boil salt themselves. Smoke and dust billowed on the beach for a while, but the efficiency of boiling salt was really not high. It was just a temporary helpless move that would not last long. Everyone still had to support their families.
So much time spent squatting on the beach every day to light a fire.
As governor, Lorraine has not made any administrative intervention in the soaring prices of salt and spices. He even stopped mentioning the matter at the recent government meeting, as if it was over.
The people of Nai'an are also well aware of Princess Catherine's strength. Those local nobles who speculate on salt prices are just trying not to blame the public, and those who are pushed to the forefront are small people. If Catherine gets angry,
Just push them to the front to take the blame, and I have already thought of an excuse - 'temporary workers'.
However, except for appearing twice at slave freeing meetings, Catherine and Adele never left the villa. When they did, they went straight to the pedestrian street and went shopping like crazy.
Seeing Lorraine's indifferent appearance, everyone below had their own speculations. Some thought Lorraine was helpless, so they just ignored it. Some thought Lorraine wanted to buy salt from other places to put a stop to the crisis.
Push through.
Lorraine and Catherine did not take action against these salt merchants. During the gathering, the local nobles were optimistic that Lorraine had learned a lesson this time and was just holding on for the sake of face. It would not be long before he would voluntarily surrender.
Until then, Naian will still be everyone’s Naian.
There was a bold and short-sighted guy who was deceived by others and wanted to be the first to eat crabs. He had the courage to commit the crime against the wind and turned the workers back into slaves. He led the thugs to kill the workers in the salt field.
Locked up again.
When everyone else saw this obvious temptation, they all held their breath and opened their eyes wide, wanting to see if the young governor would pretend not to see it and compromise with everyone.
But what surprised them was that the imperial Naian provincial government led by Lorraine showed unprecedented efficiency. This is not surprising. When people raid other people's homes and rob money and things, they always
Run very fast.
Lorraine's officials showed up at the saltworks in less than an hour and arrested the foolish and bold salt merchant from top to bottom.
Lorraine was extremely annoyed with this guy who dared to commit crimes, was so disrespectful to himself, and blatantly challenged the authority of the empire. He signaled to the legal officer to sentence him to the crime of "catching good people into slavery and indulging in lawlessness." This short-sighted guy just
Waiting to be beheaded.
As soon as this incident came out, Nai'an Province was immediately shocked.
The people of Nai'an all knew that the Governor of Lorraine was determined to solve the slave problem, and the local dignitaries also knew that Lorraine seemed to have no intention of compromising with them. They immediately showed no weakness, and the price of salt increased overnight.
It has doubled again.
Even officials who had been waiting and watching came forward to support Lorraine. In the eyes of these officials, these people were no longer dealing with Lorraine, but challenging the authority of the Nai'an government~!
Facing the increasingly severe situation, more and more officials requested Lorraine to order administrative intervention at regular government affairs meetings.
Lord Lorraine knows that although many of these officials are really asking for orders for the people, even with his most conservative estimate, the vast majority of those officials are not good birds and have long been greedy for this.
The huge interests inside still want to take the opportunity to reshuffle the cards, kick others out, and let guys like their brother-in-law control these resources.
Of course, if the benefits are too great, it is not unnecessarily negotiable for them to take off their clothes and go into battle shirtless themselves.
The more excited those people are, rolling up their arms and sleeves, and shouting loudly: "Sir, please give me the order~!"
.
But since everyone was so generous to themselves, Lorraine was embarrassed to expose their intentions in person, because he himself had no good intentions.
Therefore, in the end, Lorraine could only use the excuse that there was no such provision in imperial law and politely rejected all the rationalization suggestions from officials.
During this period, Lorraine continued to do his job as governor as usual. He used the salt crisis as a cover to quietly pass two decrees in Naian.
One is the "Land Development Incentive Ordinance" promulgated in order to stimulate the economic development of Nai'an, which stipulates that the government will give bonuses of varying amounts per mu of land to those who reclaim barren hills and wasteland.
This decree did not have a big impact on the humans of Naian. They had basically occupied the plains of Naian. They did not lack land, but they lacked manpower.
Originally, due to Naian's limited financial resources, this kind of decree was impossible to implement. However, Lorraine has an annual allocation of one million gold coins from the emperor. As long as a few hundred thousand gold coins are spent, Naian Province can increase by more than 100,000 acres every year.
farmland or fruit trees.
The half-elves, dwarves and half-orcs near Naian welcomed this decree very much. They plowed the fields and planted fruit trees, planted them and harvested them, all of which were their own. Not to mention this, there was also this heartless governor.
Give yourself money. Where can you find such a good thing?
Therefore, everyone was extremely enthusiastic, and within a short period of time, a craze broke out.
The other law is the somewhat confusing Patent Rights Protection Act.
Recently, officials have been focused on the conflict between Lorraine and local dignitaries, and have not paid much attention to this patent protection law. When Lorraine proposed it at the meeting, the officials had only one idea: the governor was too young.
It's understandable that people like to enjoy success and mess around with weird things.
Moreover, with the "Patent Rights Act", there will be one more project to collect money in the future, which is not bad.
After the patent law was passed, the accompanying management agency was quickly established. This small department with only a dozen people was inconspicuous at all, and it was only located in the corner of the office building of the Governor's Palace.
The staff in the patent office did not know much about their new positions, so they started doing their homework with the patent law promulgated by Lorraine.
Lorraine attached great importance to this institution, far more than her enthusiasm for rewarding land development. Lorraine left the matter to the agricultural officer and his assistant.
On the day the Patent Office was established, not only did the Governor of Lorraine personally unveil the patent, but the eldest princess Catherine and Miss Adele, as well as Leo, Vera, Melina, and even the two elves who had just arrived at the Lorraine family, were all the same.
attended the celebration.
Seeing the governor's family gathered here, the first director of patents was very frightened. At the same time, he became more and more strange. Could it be that he had taken an advantage? This grandma doesn't love him, his uncle doesn't love him, so why call him so and so?
Could it be said that the Patent Office, which has not even come here, is a powerful government office that is rich in money and wealth?
Witnessed by Lorraine's family, Alva ordered his employees to create files and save information, then signed the document with Patent Case No. 1 and solemnly stamped it with the seal of the Naian Patent Office.
Lorraine took the document, looked it up and down with satisfaction, signed his name as the governor, and stamped it.
Leo had been watching eagerly for a long time. As soon as Lorraine moved the seal away, Leo stretched out his hand to grab it, put it in front of his face, and kept looking up and down.
He laughed while watching it and said: "With this thing, our Feiying Company will monopolize the salt industry and dominate the world just around the corner."
Catherine snatched the patent certificate from Leo's hand and said: "This certificate is worth several years, I have to find a frame to frame it."
A few months later, Catherine ordered that the eastern provinces under the jurisdiction of Archduke Julian began to implement patent protection laws. In the following two years, after demonstrating the great role of patent laws in promoting technological progress, especially in
After the nobles of Ruman knew that collecting money through patent licensing was more profitable than hard-working hoarding, the Patent Protection Law was passed and implemented in the Chamber of Heraldry.
In this era, the only ones who have spare money and time to engage in these crooked things are the aristocrats. Others who have ideas but no funds will go to aristocrats for investment, just like venture capital.
money.
Moreover, in a more sinister way, the nobles can directly snatch the patents from others and make a fortune themselves.
This No. 1 patent certificate will become the testimony of Leo's brilliance and prowess in the future, and it will hang majestically in Leo's office.
When those court painters painted portraits of their emperor, they were told to include this patent certificate.
At this historic moment, the Governor of Lorraine was praised by Catherine and Adele, Vera clapped her little hands red, and Leo was looking forward to the beautiful life of a salt merchant.
In the afternoon, Works Officer Sexton was called into the office by Lorraine.
Leo was already impatient with waiting. He kicked his calves on the chair, touching this and moving that. He kept complaining to Lorraine: "Why haven't you come yet? I ordered the shipyard to be temporarily suspended."
Plan, those employees are idle now, how much money will I lose if it is delayed for one day?"
Lorraine just pretended not to hear Leo's murmurs. He had been murmuring in Lorraine and Catherine's ears since noon until now.
When Works Officer Sexton walked into the office, Leo cheered loudly and shouted: "You are finally here."
Sexton was startled by Leo, and Lorraine hurriedly called him over. He was unsure of what to do, and looking at Leo's look, he became even more worried.
After Sexton sat down, Lorraine smiled and said, "Sir Sexton, Leo and I need to talk to you about some work matters."
"Yes, sir, please..."
Leo couldn't wait to shout: "You are the public works officer, so you can take charge of the land grant."
"Yes, Your Highness, the land in Naian is managed by me and the agricultural officer." Sexton said respectfully.
Leo chuckled and said, "That's right, I want to ask you to approve the land."
Sexton said: "Your Highness, please give me your instructions."
Leo took the map near Neidel from Lorraine's table, pushed it in front of Sexton, pointed to a beach, drew a big circle on the map with his finger, and said: "This is the beach, I want it all.
Already."
Sexton looked around and saw that the place Leo pointed to was under the estuary. It was not far from Naider City. It was only a few hours' boat ride away. However, it was a completely deserted beach with no surrounding areas.
There are no fishing villages.
Sexton was very surprised at the moment and said: "Ah? Such a big area? This is a deserted beach. Your Highness, what do you want here? There are many good places near Naidel. Wherever you want, we will circle it
It is his land.”
Sexton thought it was Lorraine or Catherine who wanted to build some property in Nidal and enclose the land to become a landowner.
Leo looked at him with disdain and said, "If it was a small one, I would still need you as a construction officer. I'm going to take it to build a factory, and you'll know when the time comes."
Sexton said: "Yes, Your Highness, I will handle it right away."
Leo waved his little hand, then bulged his belly, showing the demeanor of a general, and said with a smile: "No rush, no rush. I heard that we have a "Land Development Incentive Ordinance" in Nai'an?"
Sexton smiled bitterly and thought to himself: Aren't you pretending to be confused because you understand?
Sexton said: "Yes, Your Highness, our Naian has incentives for developing wasteland."
Leo slapped the table and shouted loudly: "That's what I mean~! You see, not only does it cost me nothing to enclose this land, but there should be big rewards, right?"
Sexton thought to himself: It can't be that simple. There are no loopholes in this regulation. Otherwise, if they all came to enclose the land to cheat some money and run away, Governor Lorraine wouldn't kill me? But...
He then thought about it: But the empire belongs to other people, how dare I not execute it? If you understand something that concerns the royal family, you have to execute it. If you don’t understand, you have to pretend to understand it, and then execute it. Forget it, just execute it as a humane thing.
Bar.
Sexton said: "I know what to do, Your Highness."
Leo said with satisfaction: "Okay, okay, you still know how to handle things. Go and do your work. I will see the approval today."
Lorraine shrugged helplessly, meaning that she just listened to Leo.
Sexton quickly sent the approval document for the land acquisition to Leo's hand. A circle in Leo's hand covered nearly 5,000 acres of beach land. Along with the approval document, there was also a bonus of 10,000 gold coins. Leo took it back.
When showing off, it was neatly confiscated by Catherine.
Catherine poked Leo's chest and abdomen and cursed: "You are so happy with the money you poached yourself from."
Under the arrangement of Lorraine and Leo, the Flying Eagle Company held a meeting overnight, and Leo waved the approval document to deploy the work. Since the Flying Eagle Company received the order to prepare to open the salt farm, the managers below have already started to prepare and recruit personnel.
, purchasing transportation vehicles, preparing to build warehouses, office buildings and worker housing, etc., have already been implemented in an orderly manner.
Flying Eagle Company quickly got into work. Now Governor Lorraine was in urgent need of salt, so the managers of Flying Eagle Company temporarily built some sheds for living. It was summer anyway, so it didn't matter.
Then he led his men to devote all their efforts to the work of building salt fields.
Because of Leo's personal experience, Catherine always used Leo as a free labor force and kicked him aside without even saying thanks. Leo knew very well that if you want a horse to run, you have to feed it.
Salaries for saltworks workers are not low, and there are generous performance bonuses.
The price of salt in Nai'an remains at a high level. The upper-class people who drove up the salt price are laughing at the gold coins flowing into their pockets, while mocking the little governor who doesn't know the heights of the world. So what if he has the support of the eldest princess?
A strong dragon cannot overwhelm a local snake. You don’t have any cronies here. We are just using this legal method to play with you. What can you do to us?
Of course, Leo's opening of the salt farm could not be hidden from the Nai'an people. As early as when Leo asked for thousands of acres of beach from the public works officer, these people had already thought that Lorraine wanted to make his own salt.
This group of people also laughed at Lorraine in private. It seems that our governor has run out of tricks. He has gone into battle himself. We will take away as much salt as he produces. In the end, it is us.
To make money, just treat him as working for us.
Lorraine doesn't care about them now, because Catherine has made up her mind to give these black-hearted businessmen a look. If Catherine gets angry, the consequences will be serious. Just ask the priests in the Eastern Province.