Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 178: Abolition of Hereditary Succession
“This is the agency contract I drafted yesterday. If there are no problems, please sign and put your fingerprint on it.”
Owen immediately took out an agency contract and handed it over, and ordered the servant to bring up the necessary tools.
After taking the contract, Kuros examined it carefully.
The contract clearly stated that Owen was still the owner of Dongsheng Fortress, and it was managed by Kuros.
During the agency period, Dongsheng Fortress needs to pay 30% of the monthly taxes to the Bianshu town, as well as various necessary materials, such as iron ingots.
“Huh?”
Upon seeing this supply, Kuros looked confused and asked.
“Owen, isn’t your Bianshu Town rich in iron ore? Do you still need to request iron ingots from Dongsheng Fortress?”
“Well–“
Owen sighed and helplessly explained.
“It’s totally insufficient. The monthly iron ingots stipulated in the contract are barely enough. I’m also planning to import more from the western region where ore production is high.”
Although steam engines had been used in the mining area to increase ore production, they still could not meet the growing demand. Especially after the steam engine factory and military factory began production, the rate of iron consumption increased rapidly.
Today’s Bianshu Town seems like a giant iron-eating beast that can swallow as many iron ingots as possible.
“So exaggerated?”
After being surprised, Kuros leaned in closer and whispered.
“Did you use all of them to make the strange weapons in the hands of the guards at the door?”
As he entered the castle, he noticed the weapons in the soldiers’ hands.
To be honest, he couldn’t imagine how Duke Eddie’s army lost to that group of soldiers armed with short sticks.
“Not entirely, but it does consume a significant portion of the iron ore.”
In addition to muskets and steam engines, Owen also asked blacksmiths to forge a batch of relatively advanced agricultural iron tools, which he rented to farmers to cultivate more land.
“Oh, I see.”
Without asking any more questions, Kuros continued to check the contract in his hand.
After confirming that there were no problems, the two parties signed an agency contract, and Dongsheng Fortress came under the management of the Youm family.
After putting away the contract and list, Kuros asked another question before leaving.
“Owen, when Duke Eddie assembled his army, the nobles from Bianshu Town who sought refuge there responded enthusiastically. I heard you confiscated all their territories. So, will you suddenly seize the territories of the nobles from Dongsheng Fortress as well?”
“It’s their own fault. They actually abandoned the lord and ran away without his permission.”
Owen said with disgust.
After a pause, he continued.
“As for the territory, you can rest assured. I will not take action against the nobles of Dongsheng Fortress for the time being.”
“At present……”
Owen made his words very clear, and of course Kuros understood the meaning behind them.
“That means you’ll eventually take the land from the nobles, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Bianshu Town is bordered by a vast desert to the north, surrounded by mountains and forests. The habitable area is small, so governance is not difficult. However, Dongsheng Fortress and the vast land surrounding it are inhabited. How would you manage such a large area?”
Kuros questioned.
“The common practice is to grant excess land to nobles and let them govern it. It is the presence of nobles from all over the country that has sustained the Kingdom of Dawn for hundreds of years.”
If Owen had not met Winston, he would definitely agree with Kuros’s idea.
Now, Owen is not optimistic about the feudal aristocracy system that has been in operation for hundreds of years.
“I really can’t manage it, but I can hand the land over to someone who can manage it.”
“What’s the difference between that and granting territories to nobles?”
Kuros asked with a frown.
“There’s a huge difference.”
Owen took a sip of tea and said.
“Let me explain…”
Land was usually divided among brothers with close ties, and at the beginning the relationship between the territories was indeed like that of brothers.
However, due to the existence of the hereditary system, as time goes by, the descendants of the nobles in the two places may not be able to maintain this relationship.
In fact, the Kingdom of Dawnlight had experienced civil wars of varying sizes hundreds of years ago, and there were several times when the kingdom almost split apart.
The confiscation of land was almost equivalent to taking away the privileges of the nobility, and its most important significance was the abolition of the hereditary land system.
The later generations of nobles may not be able to manage the inherited territories well, and the development of different territories is unbalanced due to various factors. The nobles generally only focus on their own territories. After all, that is their own little piece of cake, and they hardly care about other territories.
All these have led to the fact that many land resources are not fully utilized, which is a huge waste.
Therefore, Owen wanted to implement centralization, integrate all the land, send capable people to govern, fully mobilize resources from all over the country and put them into operation, make the cake bigger, and allow more people to benefit from it.
“…So, when I take over the territories, I’m actually targeting those useless nobles who have no ability but occupy large tracts of land. I will definitely reuse the capable nobles, and they will be able to gain more benefits from the bigger pie than before.”
After listening to what Owen said, Kuros fell into deep thought.
After a long while, he looked up at Owen and said.
“Do you want to abolish the hereditary system of aristocracy that has been in place in the kingdom for hundreds of years and implement a new system?”
“Yes.”
Owen nodded.
“This is a very difficult task.”
Kuros continued his analysis with a serious expression.
“While the big cake you’re talking about sounds great, it can’t be expanded immediately. The nobles may not believe you. Many nobles are content with the small cake they have now, and your approach will definitely provoke fierce resistance from them.”
“So, I won’t take action against them for now. Instead, I will continue to accumulate strength and recruit like-minded partners.”
Owen’s face was calm as he spoke slowly.
“Once I have the strength to defeat them, I will act without hesitation and wipe out all opposing forces.”
“Is this okay? You’ve told your thoughts to a noble like me.”
Kuros said coldly.
“Don’t forget, I’m also a noble.”
Owen said nonchalantly.
“Besides, after listening to what I said, you didn’t immediately raise any objections. Doesn’t this just prove that you’re interested in the new system I’m talking about?”
“Hahaha.”
Hearing this, Kuros smiled and then said.
“It’s exactly as you said, Owen. I’m very interested in the big cake you mentioned. You might as well count me in.”
“Then prove your ability to me and manage Dongsheng Fortress well.”
“I’ll let you see my ability.”
Kuros said confidently.
Owen felt very relieved that his friend chose to stand on his side.
Of course, if Kuros was like other short-sighted nobles, Owen might not become friends with him.
After the conversation, Kuros went back to gather the people and livestock to redeem his father, and sent people to notify the families of other captured nobles to let them raise the required “ransom” on their own.