Chapter 2049: Travel Plans

"And also—"

Niya smoothed the stray hair by her ear and once again spoke a name that made Xia Duo feel quite pressured, "Can I go see Taiweimansa? The books say it is a city built on trees. Although I have seen some Magic Images of Taiweimansa, I have never been able to see it with my own eyes."

"Good heavens, you're planning to tour every country in the Northland!"

However, Xia Duo did not refuse. If Keman could be visited, why couldn't Yierlan? His trip on the Floating City was already intended to be a bit of a show of force; it didn't matter where he went, as long as Niya was happy.

Moreover, Xia Duo also thought of one point: as he rose rapidly, Niya had also lost many experiences that a normal Arcanist should have, such as traveling to various countries.

"Then why don't we set a small goal first: to tour every country in the Northland!"

"Mm."

Niya nodded heavily, an excited gleam in her eyes, and then continued to add, "If possible, I also want to see what it looks like north of the World Spine Mountains!"

"That's possible. Not just the north, we can go see the other directions as well."

This was actually one of Xia Duo's goals too—to see the edge of the Plane and understand the general situation within the Plane.

If his gaze had been limited to this small area of the Northland before the birth of the Floating City, then after the birth of the Floating City, his vision would extend to the entire Main Plane, and even to the vast exotic realms beyond.

The journey is the sea of stars; this will no longer be a slogan, but a feasible and inevitable plan for expansion!

……

Of course, a more specific travel plan could not be discussed in just a few words. Xia Duo let Niya think about it more, while he himself went to Linshui Village and met the worried-looking Laidun in the Government Hall.

"Laidun, my Administrator, what is happening in the Territory that has you so worried?"

"Ah! Lord!"

Laidun clearly did not expect Xia Duo to suddenly appear in his office. He hurriedly stood up to tidy his appearance and bow. Xia Duo did not care for these mundane formalities, but since Laidun cared, he had to accept them before letting Laidun sit down to talk.

"My Lord, the temperature has been getting lower recently, but there is still a large shortage of cold-weather clothing in the Territory. In addition, the food reserves are also somewhat insufficient."

After speaking, Laidun glanced at Xia Duo somewhat nervously. Although the fault for the current situation did not lie with him, as the Territory Administrator, it was indeed difficult for him to shirk responsibility given his duties.

After hearing this answer, Xia Duo could not help but fall into deep thought. However, he was not considering the difficulties the Territory was currently facing, but rather thinking that Netheril, and even the entire Northland, seemed to lack things like cotton.

Apart from Magic, ordinary people could only rely on clothing made of animal fur to keep warm in winter, or stuff grass down or feathers inside linen clothing.

But neither of these had much to do with the "drifters." Most of the one hundred thousand new residents in Xia Duo's Territory had no private property, and some might not even be guaranteed basic clothing.

As for the food problem, that was an old issue.

As long as Xia Duo did not give up on bringing in new residents, there would never be an upper limit to the Territory's demand for food. Fortunately, there was the Arcane Garden technology, otherwise, it would be hard to imagine how difficult things would be!

"How much longer can the Territory's current food reserves last?" Xia Duo asked.

"It can barely last until next year. If we count the aid from the Mage Tower and the No. 1 Spire during this period, it can barely last until the spring sowing. But currently, most of the Territory's food is supplied by the Mage Tower; the food provided by the summer harvest accounts for only a very small portion."

Hearing that the Territory's food could last until the spring sowing, Xia Duo suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. If it could last until the spring sowing, it could essentially be sustained indefinitely; it was just hard on the two Mage Towers.

The Planting Area of the Floating City must continue. This would not only alleviate the pressure on the Mage Tower but also support the future introduction of more population to the Territory.

As for cold-weather clothing, it might be a huge problem for Laidun, but for Xia Duo, it was nothing more than spending some money. However, this also reflected the weakness of the Territory's related industries.

Or rather, the Territory had no such industries at all.

Of the four major areas of livelihood—food, clothing, housing, and transportation—the Territory currently only barely satisfied "housing" and "transportation." "Clothing" and "food" being unassured was truly not a joke.

The complete resolution of the food problem was already on the agenda. As for "clothing," Xia Duo thought for a moment and gave an Indication to Laidun: "Have the Logistics Department draft a plan. The initial goal is to ensure that all residents can add two new sets of clothes every year."

"Does the Lord want to build a clothing workshop similar to the Canteen?"

"Something like that, but not just a clothing workshop. Clothing production requires linen, so at least one textile workshop is needed. Textile production requires raw materials, so a flax plantation is also needed. In addition, winter clothing needs to be warm, so a specialized down raw material workshop is also needed—that is, a special poultry farm. The feathers produced can be used to make winter clothes, and the meat can be supplied to the Territory Canteen."

After listening, Laidun pondered for a moment. He did not express opposition, but he did raise his own question, "If we arrange everything for the residents like this, is it too indulgent?"

"This question—"

Xia Duo looked at Laidun. Seeing that the confusion in the other's eyes was genuine, he could not help but feel a little disappointed. After following him for so long, did he still not understand his attitude toward livelihood issues?

The concept of livelihood can be as small as the food and clothing expenses of a single household, or as large as the fact that everything in a civilization unfolds from it.

As someone who had seen the "standard answer" before transmigrating, how could Xia Duo not keep this issue at the forefront?

In the past, on many public or private occasions, he had clearly expressed his attitude toward livelihood issues. Although it had not reached the level of "serving the people wholeheartedly," compared to the attitude of lords across Netheril toward their residents at present, it could be called a world of difference.

Xia Duo had originally thought that Laidun, having been with him the longest, should understand him the best. He did not expect that it would still be difficult to escape the shackles of the current era.

It seems now that Laidun might be a good administrator for maintaining the status quo, but he could not become a close partner who truly worries about what Xia Duo worries about and thinks about what Xia Duo thinks about.

However, Xia Duo was not prepared to give up on Laidun. He planned to invite Laidun to join the Progress Society after the Territory branch was established, letting Laidun first receive the Baptism of the ideas regarding the establishment of a magical civilization within the Progress Society.

Then, he would let him gradually understand the relationship between the "masses of the people" and "civilization development" through practice. In the end, what Xia Duo would get would be a brand-new Laidun who could understand his thoughts and adapt to the new era.

Letting more people understand and accept his ideas was also a process of self-realization. Xia Duo did not feel annoyed; on the contrary, he enjoyed it.

……

After finishing the long-term planning regarding winter cold protection, Xia Duo began to solve the immediate problem of clothing shortages—"I will contact Aiwa to purchase them from Seventon. You just need to arrange for people to wait to receive them in the near future."

"Yes, my Lord."