Chapter 49 Conversation Among Nobles

Sitting in the pavilion in the garden, Lorraine Hill listened to them talk about the current situation of the empire without saying a word. Although they were not talking about any secrets or major events, she felt that these people were not the common mediocre nobles.

The people invited by Earl Howard this time are indeed extraordinary. These extraordinary accessories that seem to have the ability to conceal aura still give many outsiders the impression that they are still at Sequence 5, which is not too out of the ordinary. But such a method is of little use to Lorraine Hill.

Lorraine Hill blinked his eyelashes slightly, sensing that the strength of the people around him were all above Sequence 6, and judging from their age, they were only around 20. Such strength was among the top even in the East.

Regardless of the complicated intrigues involved, the purpose of Lorraine Hill's trip was not to engage in a power struggle. She just wanted to know more about the possible future choices of these elite nobles.

"The empire is very unstable right now. Sometimes business is not easy to do, and there is no peace along the way."

"Little Lacey, do you have the same worries? Haha, how about I lend you a cavalry team from our family, and you only need to provide some of your usual salary?" Du Xiu, the lazy aristocratic young man, at this time He took the initiative to speak and seemed to like Lorraine Hill a little bit.

"Uh... I don't need this anymore, thank you Mr. Duxiu." Lorraine Hill replied softly.

"Why, are you afraid that you can't afford it? Haha, in this case, how about I can waive Xiao Lacey's commission for another half a year. Don't underestimate the cavalry of our family, they are all experts at Sequence 4 or above. "

Although Du Xiu looked very casual and lazy, not like a powerful person, he was able to summon an elite team of more than a hundred people casually, which showed that his family background and strength were extraordinary. Sequence 4 extraordinary beings are not found everywhere. Nowadays, they are the elite among the elite. In some small towns, it can even be said that Sequence 4 is the strongest existence.

"I understand, but I still want to solve these problems on my own. After all, I can't rely on others for this kind of thing. If I get used to it now, I will suffer in the future." Lorraine Hill shook his head again.

"Little Lacey really doesn't look like a businessman. The businessmen I know are all eager to borrow more money, expand their scale, and buy more goods to make more money." Rothera sighed at this time. At first, when she heard that her father had invited a business lady over, she was inevitably a little unhappy and disdainful. Originally, today was a party she had arranged with her friends, but a strange foreigner suddenly came in. After talking and getting along for a while, she felt a lot more affection and affection for this girl who looked slightly younger than herself.

He came out to manage the Chamber of Commerce at a young age and traveled around, so he must have suffered a lot. A beautiful face is indeed a kind of wealth, but if there is no corresponding status in the empire, it will be a kind of trouble. No wonder she wanted to attend a gathering of nobles. She probably wanted to use this opportunity to expand her reputation and meet more people to increase her own safety.

Thinking of this, the depression in Rothela's heart dissipated instantly, and she also helped Lorraine Hill get to know these companions intentionally or unintentionally.

"Miss Lacey is very strong. Girls like you are rare nowadays." Luther leaned against a pillar and turned around to comment. Among them, he was the most indifferent.

"Okay, how about we help Lacey find some instructors to train the guards, which can be of some help." Rothera suggested at this time.

"It's easy. I know many retired officers who are worried about having nothing to do. After all, the war is over." Luther agreed casually.

"Why did Luther take the initiative now? Does he also like little Lacey?" Du Xiu said jokingly at this time.

"Oh, did I act too lightly just now and didn't let you settle down?" Luther glanced at Du Xiu and quarreled a few more words. Although they seem to be at odds, the two seem to have a good relationship.

Afterwards, Lorraine Hill slowly chatted with a few people about the reasons for the poor public security, and several people also talked about their own thoughts.

"In the final analysis, the war was lost." Du Xiu took a strawberry on the table, threw it into his mouth, and said casually while chewing.

"If we defeat the Seven Kingdoms of Xue Hua and expand the land massively, all problems will be easily solved."

"Unlike now, the food supply is always stagnant."

"Actually, the food production is enough. When I was studying at the Royal Academy, scholars said that the empire did not actually have a lot of food. After all, with the help of the forest elves." Rothera lifted her hair and recalled.

"But there is also a lot of loss, and what is produced may not be eaten by people." Fa Xiner was standing aside, rarely speaking. This mysterious girl with black hair and black skirt is the least talkative among them.

"Just like logistical supplies in war, when 100 kilograms of grain is transported from the production area to the frontline soldiers, I'm afraid only 10 kilograms are left, and 90% of it is lost on the road." She said helplessly with a slight sigh.

"Is it so scary?" Du Xiu was surprised. He never cared about this.

"That's right." Luther nodded at this time.

"My grandfather has told me this since I was a child, and logistics has always been the most important thing in wars."

"The reason why the empire suffered a disastrous defeat in the later period was not only because it encountered extraordinary alchemical weapons on land, but also because the supply line on the water was cut off by the Southern Islands."

"You must know that water transportation by ship is much more convenient and faster than road transportation. The loss on land is at least 70%, and the loss on sea may only be 20-30%." This noble young man with a background as a general said his own opinion.

"Food is easily damaged by insects, fire, dirt, mold, soaking, etc. You have never been on the battlefield, so you don't know how difficult it is to supply the front line." Luther shook his head.

"Not to mention

People have embezzled and embezzled from it. "He added again.

"Currently, many nobles and businessmen in the country are stocking up on grain. Some would rather not sell it, but would rather pile some in the cellar to feel at ease."

"But if this is the case, it will be very difficult for the civilians below." Lorraine Hill sighed softly.

"Little Lacey is really kind, but there is nothing we can do about it." Rothela held the girl's hand.

"It is impossible for everyone to live as comfortable a life as the nobles. It has been like this for thousands of years." She comforted Lorraine Hill.

"Huh, that's it. Living with too much sympathy will make life very tiring. People die every day in the world. How can you care enough to come over and live your life well." Du Xiu also spoke.

"Miss Lacey will gradually get used to it in the future. This is just the normal state of the world." Luther also said.

Seeing the indifference of everyone present, Lorraine Hill slowly felt that he was out of tune with the people of this era.

Maybe they are just normal behavior. As far as the history of this era is concerned, famine is a common thing, and people at the bottom of the class starving to death is also a rare and common thing, not worth paying attention to. The nobles lived in stable castles and did not have to worry about these, and they were also accustomed to buying large amounts of land and people with food during times of famine, thus expanding their wealth.

"If it's Lacey, what do you want to do?" Fa Xiner said at this time. The black-haired and black-eyed figure sat there quietly, quiet and mysterious.

"If it were me, I still hope everyone can live a good life."

"But, Lacey. People's hearts will never be satisfied. Their desires will continue to spread, and you will never be able to feed them enough." Faxin'er shook her head lightly, and the hairband beside her ears swayed accordingly.

"In the early days of the empire, land was plentiful and food was plentiful. It was indeed a wonderful era."

"But time will always pass by slowly, and more and more people will gradually fill every place. One day, the empire will be stretched to its limits, and then famine and disaster will occur."

"Famine and disaster are very annoying and unpleasant, but their existence reduces the population and allows others to survive." The black-haired girl explained from another perspective.

"Fa Xin'er is still so sensible and intelligent, she is worthy of being a wise raven." Rothela said in admiration.

"I'm just telling ordinary and realistic things. It's not considered smart." Fa Xin'er shook her head and answered modestly.

"However, there are other ways to solve the problem. It is too crude to let famine and disaster reduce the population." The girl shook her head. She had many thoughts in her mind, but it was not easy to explain at the moment.

"It's so ideal, little Lacey." Rothela picked up an apple, wiped it clean with a towel, and put it in Lorraine Hill's hand.

"The hand is only so big, and we can only hold an apple."

"So, don't think so much, just eat the apple in your hand with peace of mind. As for other people and things, don't worry about it."

After that, several people ended the topic and slowly started talking about other things, some of which were the latest trends, some of which aristocratic alchemy workshop had created some interesting gadgets, and some of which was who had a good relationship with so and so. class topics.

Slowly, the sky also darkened. After having dinner with a few people in the mansion, Lorraine Hill also waved goodbye, got on the carriage and left the Earl's mansion.

In the night, the exquisite elf-style carriage gradually disappeared at the intersection, and the sound of the wheels turning slowly disappeared.

Earl Howard and his daughter turned around and walked towards the brightly lit museum building.

"How's it going, Miss Lacey?" he asked his daughter.

"She's a very good child. She looks like a young lady who doesn't know much about the world but reads a lot. She doesn't look like a businessman's daughter at all." Rothera commented on Lorraine Hill.

"Why do you say that?" Howard looked ahead and shook his head slightly.

"She knows a lot and is very smart, but sometimes she is too idealistic."

"Do you think she has a close understanding of the life of the lower class?" Howard asked again.

"Well... I think, maybe I have understood it. The situation she occasionally mentioned seems to be quite real."

"Since you said she is very smart and has truly understood the real situation, why do you still think she is so ideal?" Howard asked again.

"Because she is a girl with such a personality. She is quite lovable and cute." There was a smile on Rothela's lips.

"Perhaps this is what she wants you to think." The Earl turned around.

"Her life experience is not simple. The chamber of commerce was established temporarily, and there is no trace of it before. There has never been a Lagdis Chamber of Commerce in the empire. If she claims to have inherited her father's inheritance, where did the wealth come from. "

"All the members of the caravan were recruited in recent months, and I don't know where the goods came from. Everything is like a fog."

"Is that so? Doesn't that mean that she has been lying to me." Rothela clenched the silk scarf in her hand, a little unbelievable.

"But it's not completely false." Howard shook his head.

"Thankfully, the pendant in her hand was indeed given by Princess Etesi. I just received news from the Emerald Forest recently that the princess who went to the east has finally returned."

"Based on the date and itinerary, she should have returned with Princess Atesi, so the identity of the businessman makes sense."

"Huh, that's actually understandable. Girls have to protect themselves outside." After hearing this, Rothela relaxed again.

He took a breath and defended Lorraine Hill nonchalantly.

"Oh, you, it's still too easy to believe in a person's appearance." Howard patted his daughter, and the two figures slowly walked into the building and disappeared.

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On the way back, Lorraine Hill leaned against the car window and thought.

The few people I met in the past few days must be the elite nobles in the empire who are about to assume real power. They are indeed different from those who had fun at the banquet.

Generally speaking, these people cannot be said to be bad, they are even better and outstanding. But it was precisely because of their excellence that Lorran Hill gradually felt disappointed.

Because even these nobles with rich knowledge and insights do not care about the famine and disasters of the lower class people in the empire, let alone those indulgent and sensual nobles.

The power of habit is really powerful. It is so powerful that people can face these cruel scenes without any care.

Lorraine Hill, who grew up in a modern and stable era, naturally retained many values ​​​​and world views from her previous life. In her opinion, seeing famine without treating it and letting people starve to death is a cruel and uncomfortable thing.

But in the eyes of today's people, these are just commonplace things, and there is nothing to be sad about. To the nobles, they were just distant strangers. They had never even seen them, so naturally they would not feel sad about them.

As for the rebellion, it is just a small fight. This is a world with extraordinary power. Those poor people who have no knowledge and strength are destined to be difficult to defeat the nobles.

However, times have finally changed.

After Lorraine Hill sorted out the thoughts in his mind, he slowly sat upright in the carriage and looked out the window at the rows of orange lights passing by.

An empire that relies on individual strength and the rule of a small number of elites will eventually face the huge impact of the wave of industrialization. Even the most intelligent and knowledgeable people in the empire are still unaware of this slowly coming gray rhinoceros. .

Relying on self-reform within the empire seems to be unworkable. Their cognition and values ​​do not agree with the concept of equality. And even if it imitates the industrial model of Crancia, it is probably just organizing the poor to perform superficial labor and learning a rough shape.

True industrialization requires universal education, cultivating a large number of workers with good cooperation and self-awareness, a good and just social order to ensure the smooth flow of resources and commercial activities, and high enough food production to liberate people from the fields and enter the industry. factory.

But none of these empires could do it.

First, they want to maintain the stability of the nobility, but are unwilling to popularize knowledge and extraordinary power to many civilians.

Second, they will conservatively seize the products and resources of their respective fiefdoms and set up barriers at all levels. In this way, trade will become a weapon for them to blackmail and manipulate merchants, hindering the expansion and development of industry in disguise. Merchants naturally do not dare to take risks to avoid Materials may be out of stock at any time. Because they could not sue the nobles, nor could they restrain the nobles. It would be too difficult for such a society to accumulate and develop industry.

Third, there is no urgent motivation to increase food production. Instead, they hope to profit from scarcity. As a result, a large number of civilians are still trapped in the fields and land, without opportunities for prosperity, and no leisure to learn and grow.

After staying in the imperial capital of Titiania for a period of time, Lorraine Hill finally slowly sketched out the thoughts and opinions of the upper-class nobles of the empire.

Is this the power of the times? Even the smartest people in the empire are limited by their past and vision, making it difficult to see the future.

Maybe I shouldn't have had hope in this from the beginning. I still have to follow the example in history and carry out thorough overthrow and reform.

But if this is the case, it will trigger turmoil and war, and many people will disappear in the flames of war.

The girl in the carriage looked out the window blankly, thoughts surging in her mind, and the luck in her heart was slowly extinguished.

It's time to get out of here.