Chapter 388

But once potatoes and corn were adopted as staple foods, the population could increase dramatically.

Just like when Lin Yan had crossed over, population surged in the seventeenth century precisely because of potatoes and corn.

Moreover, within the Border of the Spirit Kingdom, less than one-third of the land had actually been cultivated.

The remaining two-thirds had not been cultivated at all.

Why?

Because those lands were relatively barren, overgrown with trees and weeds, making cultivation extremely difficult.

The nobles had no interest in them.

You know, rice is very particular about the land it grows in.

Land suitable for rice cultivation also had to be near water sources, rivers.

But potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes did not care about the land.

Even the most barren soil could yield higher output than rice.

So after receiving divine revelation, Princess quickly issued several new decrees.

The first decree: henceforth, all uncultivated land within the Border of the Spirit Kingdom belonged to the Lord of Flame.

This was not land owned by the state—it was land owned by the deity!

The second decree: all commoners had the right to cultivate up to ten mu of land, and upon cultivation, would hold permanent usage rights.

All nobles, according to their rank, could newly cultivate one hundred mu, one thousand mu, or ten thousand mu of land!

This was the Cultivation Decree!

Those who had previously answered Princess's call to join the army could additionally cultivate ten more mu of land.

The third decree: the Trade Decree.

Whether commoner or noble, all had the right to sell Divine Beans to other nations, with no business tax levied on exports!

This amounted to duty-free exports!

Once these three decrees were issued, the entire Border of the Spirit Kingdom—commoners and nobles alike—erupted in excitement.

The first decree was mild, merely declaring land belonged to the deity.

But the second decree—the Cultivation Decree—sent every commoner in the Border of the Spirit Kingdom into a frenzy, rushing to cultivate land!

Though the land belonged to the deity, cultivation granted permanent usage rights.

Though they held no ownership, what did that matter? Would the deity quarrel with them over a few mu of land?

Thus, these commoners saw hope, and each grew deeply grateful to the Lord of Flame.

This decree not only spurred massive economic growth in the Border of the Spirit Kingdom—it directly multiplied the commoners' devotion to the Lord of Flame many times over, surpassing even their former devotion to the previous deity by countlessfold!

The previous deity had never granted them so much land, nor Divine Beans!

This decree was, without doubt, a devastating weapon.

It instantly stabilized the hearts of every commoner in the Border of the Spirit Kingdom and secured their complete loyalty to the Lord of Flame!

Compared to this, nobles gained less from this decree—but they had the third decree!

And the third decree: the Trade Decree!

Whether commoner or noble, all could transport Divine Beans to foreign lands for sale, and most crucially—tax-free!!!

In the Border of the Spirit Kingdom, selling goods incurred taxes—taxes that were not low, amounting to roughly fifteen percent.

Do not underestimate this fifteen percent; sometimes, a single business deal yielded exactly fifteen percent profit.

But now, selling to foreign nations was tax-free!

Commoners generally lacked the means to export goods abroad.

Thus, this trade was destined for the nobles.

Of course, a few commoners might possess such capability, but their numbers were small—and they could still profit!

So the nobles eagerly formed caravans, determined to export Divine Beans!

Yet to ensure rice supply and dietary diversity, Princess still ordered that a certain proportion of land remain dedicated to rice cultivation, and nearly all land owned by the royal family was planted entirely with rice!

With the issuance of these three decrees, the entire Border of the Spirit Kingdom instantly transformed into a completely new and vibrant landscape.

These three decrees were truly divine edicts; countless enlightened minds marveled at the profound wisdom of whoever had conceived them.