Chapter 216: Farewell

【Luo Ke Sai Kelin has been confirmed to have returned safely to Baron Ge Si's territory; the rumors of his distress are false!】

【Grand Duke Edward Campbell reviewed the Lei Ming City garrison troops yesterday and conducted a training exercise in the southern Silver Pine Forest. Relevant persons claim they have not heard news of a new round of military operations!】

【——"Lei Ming City Daily"】

On the newspaper printed with magic stickers, Edward was reviewing the soldiers' drills, while Kelin left a silhouette not far away.

The two appearing in the same frame on the newspaper completely shattered all rumors about Mr. Kelin being captured by the Demon King.

Influenced by the clarification of the rumors, the stock price of Kelin Mining Company hit a new high, once stabilizing near 30 gold coins, and there wasn't a single person in the entire market who was losing money.

If one had to say who lost, it was probably the mysterious seller who frantically dumped 100,000 shares when each share was less than 15 gold coins.

I don't know if he regretted it.

And at the same time, the "Lei Ming City Daily" also became famous in this incident!

Due to its miraculous news source channels and almost exaggerated accuracy, half of the citizens in the Queen's District held it in their hands.

And it wasn't just ordinary citizens; even the "uncrowned king" of Lei Ming City, Yang Andi Si, did not escape the custom.

The manor's study.

Andi Si, wearing a monocle, finished reading the newspaper in his hand and cast his gaze toward the butler standing to the side.

"Who runs this newspaper?"

The butler nodded slightly and said respectfully.

"It is said to be the coachman who drives for Mr. Kelin."

Pang Ke?

That ordinary person without a surname, a farmer living in the suburbs, whose background information couldn't even fill a single sheet of paper.

Recalling their one-time meeting at the auction banquet, Andi Si fell into deep thought.

After a long time, a flash of shrewdness passed through his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

"So that's how it is."

Controlling news is equivalent to controlling the future, and while ordinary people were still chasing news, that gentleman had already laid out the channels for news ahead of everyone else.

A thing that everyone believes, even if it is a lie, will become a fact.

Of course, with that gentleman's stature, he didn't need to overdraw his credibility with lies at all.

Sometimes, selectively retaining a part of the truth can achieve the same goal.

"It seems we also have to enter the media industry." Andi Si put down the newspaper in his hand and ordered the butler to the side.

The butler nodded slightly and perfected the idea for his master.

"I noticed that the 'Lei Ming City Daily' has hired our bank's retired employees to serve as editors for the newspaper. We can actually imitate them and let employees who have reached retirement age transfer directly to the newspaper we control."

Andi Si nodded with a smile and said.

"Let's do that."

In the storm recently stirred up in Lei Ming City, the Andi Si family seemed to have made no moves, but in fact, he had been observing in secret and making his own plans behind the scenes.

For example, when Kelin first instructed his servants to acquire the tea shop, he had been paying attention, but he didn't understand it at first, so he chose to remain still.

And later, when the stocks were listed, he immediately understood that this guy was engaging in an "exchange," paving the way for stock trading and the issuance of more stocks.

Currently, Andi Si Bank is preparing related businesses, and soon he will learn this set of models. Even if he can't compete with the word-of-mouth effect of "Red Leaves," he can still get a share of the pie.

Now, accurately positioning customer groups through newspapers and guiding public opinion is also something he learned from that Mr. Kelin.

And it is precisely because of this that he is not worried at all that Kelin will move too fast and shake off his footsteps.

Money can never be earned enough.

Someone is feeling the stones in the river for him; he is too happy to be in time, so how could he block it?

Just as Andi Si was planning the family's next layout in Lei Ming City, his servant walked in from outside.

"Master, His Majesty has returned from the Silver Pine Forest area and will arrive outside the city in about three hours. Do you think... should we go out to welcome him?"

Taking off the monocle on the bridge of his nose, Andi Si stood up and straightened his collar.

"That is of course. We cannot neglect the master of this country. Prepare the carriage for me."

The servant nodded respectfully.

"Yes."

Outside Lei Ming City, banners were like a forest, and lances were like rain.

The gleaming armor was like the snow in the Silver Pine Forest, a vast expanse of white, dividing the horizon from the sky.

Golden sunlight was scattered on the wide main road, and both sides of the street were already crowded with people.

Citizens stood or sat, climbed walls, or climbed to the attic, just to catch a glimpse of the majestic military power of the Campbell Principality and the mighty and domineering figure of the Grand Duke of Campbell.

Everyone's face was filled with reverence and envy, and they did not hide their praise in their mouths.

"His Majesty Edward is indeed the mainstay of the Campbell family!"

"Look at their equipment! Just that armor alone is enough to make people unable to open their eyes!"

"God bless the Campbell Principality! God bless our Grand Duke!"

Children selling flowers carried baskets, walking through the crowd, peddling flowers and petals that could be thrown into the air.

Looking at the citizens who loved him, Edward had a satisfied smile on his face, and then entered the city under the welcome of a group of ministers, and took his entourage to the Andi Si family manor.

As for the other soldiers, after their glorious triumphant return, they returned to their respective stations.

Having been suddenly pulled to the wild to sleep in the open for a few days, they all needed rest and to report safety to their families.

Turning over and dismounting from his warhorse, Edward suddenly looked at Andi Si who was following to the side.

"Mr. Andi Si, I have something to discuss with you. I hope to take up a moment of your time."

Although he didn't know what play His Majesty was singing, Andi Si nodded slightly and said.

"No problem, Your Majesty. It is my honor to serve you."

Edward waved his hand, then took him to the garden to the side, and after dismissing the left and right, said.

"I heard from Mr. Kelin that your business has now expanded to 2 billion gold coins?"

At the moment of hearing this number, Andi Si's heart trembled; he didn't expect Mr. Kelin to have leaked this number to His Majesty.

"Your Majesty, this statement is actually inaccurate..."

"I know, Kelin explained to me that it is a thing called market value. Although it sounds a bit novel, it is not difficult to understand."

Looking at Andi Si, who was sweating on his forehead from nervousness, Edward smiled and continued in a gentle tone.

"Don't be nervous. I don't intend to borrow money from you, nor do I have the idea of taxing market value for the time being. The matter I want to discuss with you today has nothing to do with your business in the New World, but another matter."

Andi Si said cautiously.

"May I ask what it is?"

Looking at the fountain in the garden, Edward continued in a casual voice.

"Mr. Kelin told me that on their fief, land ownership and land use rights can be handled separately, which can improve land utilization efficiency. I wonder what you think?"

He actually omitted some implications and did not fully say what Mr. Kelin had told him, and he didn't mention a word about the blueprint he had seen.

Although he did not doubt Andi Si's ability, he knew very well that this person's loyalty had to be questioned, especially when it involved interests.

At this moment, as the master of the Principality, he needed the other party to consider the problem from the standpoint of the Principality, not from the standpoint of the head of the Andi Si family.

Unfortunately, he ultimately underestimated Andi Si's intelligence; the latter not only understood the benefits to himself behind this proposal in an instant, but even saw most of the blueprint that Edward had not shown him.

In Lei Ming County, feudal nobles and emerging bourgeois nobles are actually a force that checks and balances each other. Ordinary people living on this land, although exploited by both, are also protected by both.

And now, they have gained the opportunity to unite and can join hands to harvest the tenant farmers in the fields and the citizens in the factories!

This guy is simply a genius!

Andi Si couldn't help but hold his breath, trying hard to restrain his thumping heartbeat.

If he had complaints about Kelin's lack of discretion a second ago, now he couldn't help but want to hug him and kiss him... if Miss Ailin didn't mind.

Controlling the expression on his face, Andi Si made a look of serious thought, and after a moment said.

"Your Majesty, forgive me for being blunt, this is a genius idea... and actually, you have always been doing this."

"Oh? How come I don't know." Edward looked at him, his eyebrows raised slightly.

Andi Si continued in a deep voice.

"The citizens of Lei Ming City strictly speaking rent the royal family's real estate, but you, generous and kind, have never exercised the power granted to you by Saint Xisi on your own land, but only collected taxes from the citizens living here. And the wealth we have achieved today is enough to prove the wisdom of you and your ancestors. I think Mr. Kelin should be suggesting that you push this tacit understanding to the territory of the lower nobles. In this way, they will not only create wealth for you more actively, but also open up more originally idle land for you more actively."

Edward smiled.

"It sounds like there are only benefits and no harm, but I always feel that there is no such good thing in this world."

Andi Si nodded and said.

"Of course there is a price for this. Some tenant farmers may lose their land and be forced to leave the villages where they live, but sometimes the price does not mean a bad thing. They, who could only spend their lives in mediocrity, will live a better life in Lei Ming City, the real power in the hands of their lords will be weakened, and the Campbell Principality will accumulate greater wealth because of their migration."

It can weaken the power in the hands of the lords and strengthen the wealth in the royal territory. This is exactly the same as what Mr. Kelin said.

If it weren't for Andi Si's previous trembling appearance, Edward would even suspect that the two had colluded beforehand.

However, he was still more inclined to believe that Kelin had not discussed this matter with Andi Si, just as he read from the faces of Kelin and Andi Si respectively.

Whether it is the nobles of the Campbell Principality or the nobles of the Empire, they are actually in the same camp.

From this point alone, the Kelin family is unlikely to become a true ally with the Andi Si family.

Because only the Campbell family is worthy of being the ally of the former.

Edward pondered for a moment and said.

"The barons of Lei Ming County are all my direct vassals. I intend to implement the new policy on this land first. As for the other earldoms of the Principality, I need to discuss with several other earls and strive for their cooperation. I hope you can cooperate with Governor Wilson to achieve some results, so that they can see the benefits brought by the changes. Presumably, the resistance to my pushing the new policy will be smaller."

"The Andi Si family is willing to serve you!" Hiding the ecstasy in his heart, Andi Si bowed respectfully and said with a trembling voice, "I can swear to Saint Xisi that Lei Ming City will become the most shining diamond on the northeast coast of the Whirlpool Sea under your rule!"

Looking at Andi Si, who was bowing respectfully, Edward nodded with a smile.

(Content not to be skipped!)

"I look forward to this gift."

In mid-February, the spring breeze blew over the land of Lei Ming County, and the new green appeared under the melting snow that turned into spring water. The streams in the fields surged again, a scene of prosperity and vitality.

It was not only the farmers of Lei Ming County who were happy, but also the nobles and citizens who lived on this land.

For them, this spring was particularly different from previous years, as two major events worthy of being recorded in history happened one after another.

The first event was that the Grand Duke of the Campbell Principality rarely appeared at the City Council and announced a new policy in front of everyone, clarifying land ownership and land use rights.

The former is protected by the Holy Light, while the latter is protected by the laws of the Principality, and is also sacred and inviolable.

This is undoubtedly a benevolent policy.

Especially for those citizens who have rented royal land for generations, their property and safety were originally built on a long-standing tacit understanding, and now this tacit understanding has finally become written law.

As for the nobles of Lei Ming County, they had long been corrupted by money, and most of them were like Baron Ge Si, wishing they could move into the city to enjoy a more luxurious and decent life, but they had to stay in the countryside because of traditional feudal obligations and the inability to cash in on land.

Although church people had complaints about this regulation, thinking that the word "sacred" should not be used in places other than Saint Xisi, how could the wise Grand Duke Edward let a group of priests become stumbling blocks to his reform? He immediately used the clauses about royal authority in the "Holy Word Book" to block their mouths.

The heaven-sent royal power is sacred, and the documents stamped with the royal fire lacquer are naturally sacred and indisputable.

As for the nobles of other earldoms, their opinions were divided into two groups.

The Earl of North Creek Valley thought this was contrary to tradition and was even more dissatisfied with this young Grand Duke, while the Earl of South Creek Valley was indifferent and even showed a hint of interest.

Another meaning of land ownership being transferable is that he can instruct the merchants under his command to acquire their land from other small nobles.

He is not those citizens who are easy to bully, who only dare to cry over a few pieces of paper after being robbed. He has his own army, and even he himself has extraordinary power. No small noble dares to play tricks on him.

He does not need the royal family to preside over justice for him; he has the ability to establish order himself.

As for the tenant farmers of Lei Ming County, most of them didn't care.

Originally, news was hard to reach them, and the voices they made were rarely heard by others.

However, at least the farmers around Lei Ming City welcomed Grand Duke Edward's new policy.

Some of them rented royal land, some rented land from nobles and priests, or some land with unclear ownership.

Although this kind of renting is also renting, the rent is a muddled account. After working for a year, no matter whether it is a good harvest or a bad harvest, they can't save a few copper coins. The grain is all taken away by the nobles' lackeys, leaving them only the part that is just enough to eat.

If they want to save money, they basically have to rely on the "waste land" between the fields, where they open up some vegetable gardens or plant some fruit trees. These scraps are generally not looked down upon by anyone. As long as they don't do too much, the nobles' lackeys are generally too lazy to spend effort to calculate.

After all, by the time they calculate it clearly, those vegetables might have rotted, so it's better to turn a blind eye.

As for now, good days seem to be coming.

Anyone can buy the land use rights from the nobles by spending a sum of money.

From now on, the grain planted is their own, and they can even negotiate with merchants themselves, and they can sell it for as much as they want.

Edward's new policy received applause from the entire City Council and welcome from the citizens of the whole city without any accidents.

As for the other event worthy of being recorded in history, it is related to the dear Mr. Kelin of the citizens of Lei Ming City.

After completing the fundraising of 80 million gold coins, this distinguished gentleman finally started his first big move—placing an order worth 10 million gold coins to the Lei Ming City Shipyard to purchase steamships for forming an ocean-going trade fleet!

As soon as this news appeared in the "Lei Ming City Daily," it immediately caused a sensation in the whole city!

That is 10 million gold coins!

Converted into copper coins, that is 100 billion! The tax revenue of the entire Lei Ming City for several years does not reach this number!

Although the residents of Lei Ming City have become a bit numb to the debauchery of the upper class during this period, it is undeniable that the vast majority of people still use copper coins, and the nobles also use Austrian silver daily. Only when making large payments or transactions between banks will they use Austrian Empire gold coins.

The energy contained in these 10 million gold coins has surpassed all unfathomable magic, and is not even inferior to the miracles descended by the gods themselves.

After all, no magic can create 2,000 rich people and hundreds of thousands of jobs overnight, but Mr. Kelin's order can.

From lumber mills to steel mills, and then from steel mills to mechanical power plants and the shipbuilding design companies in the port area, everyone shared the dividends brought by this feast.

Of course, the biggest winner on the surface is naturally the respected Grand Duke Edward.

He pushed the new policy and achieved great success, and for a time he was unrivaled among civilians and nobles, finally covering up the light of his sister.

On the other hand, the order from Kelin Mining Company fully enriched the royal treasury.

The Lei Ming City Shipyard is very similar to the Imperial Royal Shipyard; both belong to the royal industry, but are operated by management personnel dispatched by the royal family.

What a good person!

Every time he thinks of Mr. Kelin helping him a lot, Edward's heart is full of joy.

This distinguished gentleman not only helped him gather huge wealth, but every penny was used in the place he expected, and there was not a trace of selfishness in his clear eyes.

Even the Andi Si family couldn't make him so satisfied!

And the most critical point is that he is a true noble, not only possessing a noble title, but every gesture is so elegant, perfect and impeccable!

He has no doubt that if he were a woman, he would definitely fall madly in love with him!

Of course, this is just an exaggerated metaphor and does not mean that he is unfaithful to his wife.

However, happy times are always short. Just as the spring rain was falling and all things were waking up, Luo Ke Sai Kelin, who walked out of the wind and snow, suddenly proposed to say goodbye.

Morning Embrace Hotel, an elegantly decorated restaurant box, with royal guards guarding the door.

The chef who pushed the dining car into the box trembled with both hands with excitement, just because from now on he is a man who has cooked for His Majesty, and a halo that no one can reach will be added to his head.

Even if this distinguished Majesty turned a blind eye to the delicious food he cooked with his life's learning, his eyes were full of eagerness for the gentleman sitting opposite the table.

This distinguished Majesty even dismissed the servants, took the initiative to pour red wine for this gentleman, and then raised his glass enthusiastically.

"Mr. Kelin, please let me toast you. You are simply the gospel sent to me by Saint Xisi!"

Anyway, there is no one else around.

He doesn't have to worry about the majesty of the royal family, and uses private enthusiasm to win over this distinguished guest as much as possible.

Luo Yan smiled and clinked glasses with him, readily accepted His Majesty's praise, and returned this honor to him.

"You are overstating it. I just put forward some small suggestions, and you are the decision-maker of all this."

A bright smile appeared on Edward's face, but then the smile turned into reluctance.

"This feast has just begun. Are you really not staying here for a while longer?"

The reason why he came to this hotel this time is actually to see Mr. Kelin off.

According to the latter, he is going to the Holy City to visit friends there on behalf of his father, and then will take a boat to the territory of the New World to continue the unfinished cause that Saint Xisi entrusted to the Kelin family.

Due to the dimensional turbulence, the teleportation array cannot directly send oversized goods to the Kao Continent, and is only suitable for exchanging relatively small and light letters and things of certain value such as diamonds and gold, so he has to take a boat and cannot fly directly over.

These situations also exist on some overseas colonial islands of the Empire, and it is not a rare thing, so there is nothing to doubt.

Tasting a sip of fine wine, Luo Yan put down the wine glass in his hand and sighed softly.

"Your Majesty, the days we spend together in the future are still long, so why do you care about this moment? I will be back at the latest next year, and maybe it won't take that long."

The dry firewood in Lei Ming City has met the raging fire, and as for turning into a raging fire, it will take some time.

He has finished what he has to do, and the next step is to wait and see.

After a pause, looking at the reluctant Majesty, Luo Yan continued in a gentle tone.

"Moreover, I didn't abandon this place. I have already instructed my servants to let them continue my business here. Whether I am here to guard them or not actually makes no difference. And if I don't go back, some things are hard to unfold."

Hearing this, Edward finally gave up his retention, but said regretfully.

"Okay... I admit, I can't bear to see you leave. And I think it's not just me, my dear sister is also like this, presumably you can see it."

Family affection finally prevailed, at least at this moment, partly so.

"I am the same."

Luo Yan nodded slightly, just as Edward expected, and then said the sentence he most longed to hear.

"... Whether it is for your sake or for Princess Ailin's sake, I will come back as soon as possible."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 217 =====