Chapter 113

The OECD is shocked, and various underdeveloped countries line up to learn. Although it’s been almost 50 years since the Saemaul Movement began, it is still being carried out in Congo, showing effective results.

Even in modern Korea, although there may be differences in perspective, almost everyone acknowledges that the movement has been successful.

Considering the current situation in our fief, it is becoming increasingly clear that Croilet is in need of the Saemaul Movement.

Because, until now, we have prevented the emergence of poverty by establishing numerous factories in the city and absorbing the second and third sons of serfs, as well as women…

However, if this trend continues for just one year, or even two, the labor force available for factories will reach its limit.

Then, undoubtedly, due to overwhelming supply, the conditions for low-level workers will worsen, leading to the arrival of communism, coming forth to greet us, and I would bet my fingers on that.

At the same time, the urban population ratio in our fief, even counting the soldiers stationed in the city, is only about 2-3%. If the population living in the city exceeds 5% in an age without steam engines…

This becomes a problem that cannot be resolved unless one is a god. We need to launch the Saemaul Movement to develop the second and third sons in rural areas and create a foundation for them to settle down and marry.

And I affixed my seal at the end of the proposal, finalizing the plan and issuing an order.

“Immediately summon all nobles above the rank of sub-noble across the fief. We are running out of time!”

To be precise, it’s not that we truly have no time, but starting good things quickly is always right.

**

Two weeks after sending out the urgent summons, I left my office with Ela seeing me off.

And I felt as if I were an entrepreneur going to announce a masterpiece that would define my life as I made my way to the conference room.

With every step I took, the countless benefits to be gained from perfectly executing this plan revolved in my mind.

As I continued walking while enjoying this moment, I soon arrived at the door to the conference room.

The door opened, but the other nobles seemed too busy discussing the urgent gathering I had called for, giving no indication that they noticed my arrival.

“Your Excellency, indeed, it must have been a hastily arranged wedding, and this time it’s the Architel duchy…”

“What are you talking about? Baron Beerman, you’ll go bankrupt if you keep this up!”

“You’re saying the most ridiculous things in the world. Surely, Your Excellency won’t go bankrupt? Even now, if you wanted, you could have money to gild this mansion.”

“No, the guild masters of Nante have taken a hit lately. I think they want to discuss their regulations. Siel, being someone who cares for even the common serfs, is probably considering that.”

“Indeed, after hearing news about the guild masters getting hit, we too followed the labor standards law… and within a day, ten people were beheaded.”

“Truly, the insight of Your Excellency is commendable…”

Leaving them to their conversation, I took my seat. The guard standing nearby then struck the floor with his halberd and announced.

“His Excellency SIEL von Croilet, the white reaper of Croilet, who is both merciful and honorable, yet shows no mercy to his enemies, has arrived. Please show your respects.”

At that, my father slightly lowered his head, while the other nobles knelt on one knee and bowed.

“Get up and take your seats.”

Everyone stood and immediately took their places.

“Thank you for coming, and today I have a special good news to share with you.”

As I rarely address the nobles with titles of respect, the sudden use of “gentlemen” surprised them, and they looked at me with puzzled expressions.

“My concubine Ela gave birth to a child a few months ago. To celebrate this with you, I will grant bestowments in accordance with rank to all nobles above the captain level after this meeting.”

Usually, when I give bestowments, there are cheers, but it seems everyone was worried since this pertains to a concubine giving birth before my official wife.

Yet, I couldn’t blame them. When a concubine gets pregnant before the official wife, it often leads to internal strife within the kingdom or fief…

However, my father was the first to clap and approached me, saying,

“You too will soon become a father! And I will become a grandfather! Well, have you decided on the child’s name? If it’s a boy, Troy, if a girl… Helen would be nice.”

Following him, Balt stood up, clapping, and spoke.

“This is a joyous occasion, Excellency. And I too am about to marry soon; I would like you to introduce me to a good person…”

Even though the culture of the nobles in this time isn’t as strictly hierarchical and authoritative as Joseon, a mere vassal like Balt speaking in such a manner at a meeting opened by his lord could pose a problem.

However, Balt is not without sense… he must surely be doing this to mitigate the situation of a concubine giving birth before the official wife.

So I replied to the two with a smile.

“I will name the child, Father. And Balt, I have a political marriage set up with a girl who will have just graduated from the Academy a month after I marry. She comes from a lower noble family, but I think she will suit you well.”

Hearing this, both Balt and my father smiled and sat down.

And soon, the other nobles, seeing my proximity to Balt and my father’s role as the family steward, seemingly assumed there was already a plan in place and began to applaud and congratulate.

“Congratulations!”

“Long live Croilet! Long live Lady Ela!!”

Thanks to my father and Balt, this issue was swiftly put to rest, so I would have to send suitable gifts to those two later on.

“Of course, I did not summon you merely to inform you of Ela’s pregnancy. There is another reason; everyone, please take a look at the plan labeled ‘Saemaul Movement.’”

I quickly turned to the large board displaying the announcement poster.

“First, the Saemaul Movement aims to maximize the capabilities of the serfs and achieve the greatest effects. In doing so, all participating serfs will also receive their share of benefits.”

“What kind of benefits are we talking about?”

“Starting from the point when this movement begins, all surplus food they have will be purchased by me at 1.2 times the price paid by grain merchants. And I will sell meat and cheese at prices slightly lower than what they buy them for. Additionally, I will provide bricks necessary for improving houses, wells, mills, and ovens, as well as good farming tools, at a cheaper price.”

As I said this, expressions of displeasure began to form on the faces of the seated nobles.

Perhaps they thought I would bear the losses incurred from buying food, just like I have done when acquiring taxes in grain till now…

However, tools and wells, houses, and mills are things that the lord who owns the land should normally be responsible for expanding. This would place an enormous burden on them.

To ease their concern, I continued, “Upon consulting with the officials under Baron Laurent, I found that the cost of introducing the aforementioned facilities and tools amounts to around 300,000 gold coins. However, this plan would also infringe on your rights to self-governance. Therefore, the initial installation costs and so forth will be covered by the reparations received from Duke Maxburg and my personal assets. So there’s no need to worry.”

“In that case, we have no objections. If the serfs live well in good conditions and have many children, our income will also increase. Thank you for your consideration, Your Excellency.”

Even if their rights are slightly infringed, since I made prior notice and sought their understanding, and I promised to support the tools necessary to increase yields… they readily agreed.

After all, since they collect agricultural yields as taxes, the more food they have, the more income increases for them…

If I were to say I would copy their money without doing anything, surely they would open their doors for understanding.

“Let us continue with the discussion. From now on, I will support numerous resources to improve their living environment and increase their income, in exchange for orders to develop land suitable for farming and road construction.”

At that comment, my father stood up to inquire.

“You’re not planning to entrust such tasks to lower nobles, are you?”

I had considered that, but employing lower nobles who understand not even a speck about serfs would only yield adverse effects.

Even if they have no ill intent, they would inevitably behave like rookie officers who know nothing about the work.

Moreover, if such figures were sent to the countryside, there would be no overseer or assistant to accompany them… it would likely turn into a quasi-reform that doesn’t get done at all.

“Of course not. I will push this plan forward through inspectors, bailiffs, and village heads. For example, if I command the construction of a road from Windheim to Croilet Castle, the inspector will estimate the costs and personnel required, and then conduct a midterm inspection. The bailiff will gather personnel from each village under the inspector’s direction, and the village heads will lead them, correct? This structure will carry out the work.”

“Then they will surely work diligently.”

Then, I turned to the next page and continued my explanations.

“While the work proceeds, I will analyze each party’s performance to provide corresponding rewards, promotions, and, at times, punishments. Punishments will not include executions unless extreme negligence or embezzlement takes place; a judge will determine the course of action after clearly analyzing cause and effect. Furthermore, if significant results are obtained… even a village head will have the opportunity to become a bailiff, and bailiffs will have the chance to become inspectors. Inspectors…”

I did not say anything further, but since there are only barons above inspectors… it implied I would elevate them to that rank.

“Additionally, I will analyze the performance of each village, comparing them to others. If they perform excellently, they will be rated as first-class; average performers will be second-class; and those rated below standard will be third-class. The amount of resources, money, and tax rates allocated will differ based on class. First-class results may receive up to a 10% tax reduction, second-class will remain unchanged, and third-class households will have all village residents mobilized for a week of unpaid work on road construction or land reclamation in winter.”

On top of that, I detailed various minor instructions to them.

When constructing roads, they should dig the ground to a depth of about two lengths of a thumb, then fill it with pebbles or small stones; when mobilizing rural residents for reclamation tasks, it’s best to do so in late autumn after harvesting or in early winter when the ground isn’t frozen, etc…

Hearing this, the nobles wore blank expressions, seemingly questioning why they needed to hear all this.

However, as it pertains to their interests, whether ignorant or informed, they started vigorously taking notes.

After this near-issuance of directives regarding the Saemaul Movement, I turned my attention to another plan in my hand.

The title of this plan was…

[A Beginner’s Guide to Establishing Absolute Monarchy in the Style of Croilet]

What a beautiful title.