The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1517 435: I Will Be Watching_3

Receiving affirmation from Lord God, a look of joy graced Carian's lips, though soon she resumed a serious and solemn expression—

as if she were a true Holy Daughter.

"First is the spring plowing. Too much land in Sparrow Wood Territory has been left uncultivated, and I plan to dispatch part of the Salvation Army's soldiers to the Wheat Field Village area to help the returning residents reclaim and till the land. For one, most of our soldiers come from farming backgrounds and know how to farm; for another, many of their villages have been destroyed. I wish to take this opportunity to help some of them settle in the Wheat Field Village... I believe that with a home, they can truly find a sense of belonging."

Luo Yan nodded.

"That's a good idea, but you must pay close attention to the distribution of the land."

Although he hadn't farmed before, he was generally aware that the value of different lands varies—some land can grow anything, while others can only support the most basic crops, and issues like distance to water sources and difficulty in cultivation are also factors.

If all fertile lands fall into the hands of the Salvation Army soldiers, it might not be an issue in the short term, but eventually, new problems will arise.

"I've thought of that," Carian said with a proud smile, speaking as if enumerating her treasures, "We've decided to implement different tax rates on different lands and evaluate the land's production annually, making this information public by village, including the fields owned by soldiers. While absolute fairness is not realistic, we will strive to ensure relative fairness in principle and try to satisfy the majority."

Luo Yan nodded again.

For a country still in a feudal era, just the promise of striving to satisfy the majority was not easy.

After all, they were not the Campbell people sitting atop steam engines, where the wealth of a single Thunder City could surpass the entire duchy's agricultural output.

Even with God's assistance, these people who had just transitioned from peasants to free citizens had a long way to explore in darkness.

Seeing the slightly nodding Lord God, Carian felt encouraged, and her voice became more natural, no longer so tense as before.

"Secondly, concerning the lands along the Rushing River. It is the most fertile land in the Sparrow Wood Territory, with existing irrigation channels and waterwheels, but it was left desolate due to Count Thelon's neglect. According to Count Thelon's steward, he had suggested repairing the irrigation facilities and roads to the count, but the count, worried about turmoil within the domain, refused to spend the money, preferring to move the tax income to buy properties in Twilight City."

"General Brennan and I discussed it, and we thought it might be best to simply take ownership of these irrigation facilities and mills belonging to the lord by the Salvation Army, then organize manpower to repair these facilities, providing services to those in need in exchange for a reasonable fee."

"That might not be a good idea."

Carian was startled, instinctively asking.

"Why?"

Luo Yan responded without hesitation.

"Because previously, the farmers of Twilight Province used these facilities for free, and if you suddenly charge them now, they'll only think you're worse than Count Thelon."

Carian, unable to understand, wanted to try to argue with her mentor.

"But those irrigation facilities haven't been used in a long time, and while lands used to belong to the lord, now the lands are their own, they should be able to understand..."

"That's another story," Luo Yan interrupted her illusion unceremoniously, concisely saying, "You can't expect everyone to be rational and think logically. Even citizens of the Holy City don't have that awareness yet, and the most crucial point is they don't have money, nor do you."

Grain doesn't just become money when it's grown, and a group of newly freed peasants might only have a few copper coins in their pockets.

Taking those few copper coins is meaningless; it will only make them leave the channels unused, stubbornly carrying buckets to the riverbank.

Carian, after all, was a diligent and eager "student," quickly realizing the problem and said after a moment of silence.

"Then what do you think we should do?"

Looking at the diligent and eager Carian, Luo Yan smiled and nodded, then opened his mouth to speak.

"I won't make decisions for you directly. But if it were me, I'd let them use it for free and then find the funds elsewhere. This way, they can't fault you, might even feel they've gained something, ensuring the facility's sustainability."

This is the art of governance.

He knew just saying that, Carian wouldn't understand, so he patiently continued.

"I've heard Twilight Province's timber is renowned on the Aus Continent, but due to war and famine, the timber export business shifted to the Northern Realm of the Rhode Kingdom. You know what it's like there—cold climate, inconvenient transport, while your Rushing River can lead directly to the southern Campbell Duchy, entering the northeast outlet of the Vortex Sea."

"If it were me, I'd consider improving the existing irrigation facilities to use part of the power for timber processing. If you can utilize Twilight Province's forest resources, complementing with the unique advantage of the Rushing River for export, I believe the extra income not only covers the losses from irrigation facilities but could also subsidize other domains."

"Of course, presently at war, exporting to the Campbell Duchy is unrealistic, but the dwarfs of the Ten Thousand Ridges Mountain Range could still be considered. Their tools may not be as refined as those of the Campbell people, but they are just as durable and affordable, especially the steam engines."