Chapter 384 Productivity
"Time flies!"
Paul was lying on the chair in the office as if he were lying down, expressing his own emotion.
The courtyard outside the window is already golden. When the wind blows, the leaves on the trees fall one after another. Another autumn has arrived.
A slightly sad atmosphere infected the earl.
It has been the third year since the soul traveled to this world similar to the Middle Ages on Earth, or awakened the consciousness of the previous life.
What have you done in the past two years or so?
Eliminated slavery? No, there are still a large number of serfs in the territory who are struggling to survive under the exploitation of the landlords.
Overthrown the feudal nobles? No, and he himself was a member of the feudal aristocracy.
Improved civilian status? No, the common people in the territory are still too scared to fart when they see the nobles.
Undermining the authority of religion? No, in addition to paying taxes to their own lord, the people also had to pay tithes to the church.
Although some factories were opened and a number of new manufacturing industries were born in the territory, it only solved the financial dilemma. It really had a major impact on society and no substantive changes seemed to have been successful.
Whenever I want to implement my grand plan, either this group of people will object or that group of people will object. Really, I am obviously for the future of human society, and the history that happened on another planet has proven that my opinion is right. Why can't those people make a small sacrifice?
That’s all the big steps mentioned above. Why are there people who oppose even a mere customs union?
Running into walls everywhere, you really live up to your reputation as a time traveler! The original ambitions were being worn away bit by bit by reality, and if this continued, he would probably become an ordinary nobleman just waiting to die.
Paul recalled the little political knowledge he still had left in his mind. In the final analysis, it was the backwardness of social productivity, and the lower base determined the superstructure.
"Lord Grayman, what were you talking about just now?"
Paul's emotion aroused everyone's curiosity.
The heads of various important departments of the Government Council gathered in the lord's office, and they all came to participate in the regular weekly meetings of the lord's mansion. But instead of being held in the hall as usual, Paul called him to his office.
According to Bernard, the chief secretary of the lord's palace, after Count Greiman came to the office in the morning, he never left his chair except to go to the toilet. The lord seemed to be in a low mood recently.
Paul raised his eyelids: "Huh? I'm saying that time is like a shuttle on a loom, rushing by without stopping for a moment."
Everyone was surprised that the earl was only 16 years old.
"Why do you express such emotion?"
Hansel asked everyone's questions.
Paul looked like a young man: "I just saw the autumn leaves falling, and I couldn't help but have this idea. If a person's life is just wasting time, in the end it will fall in a hurry like the leaves on this tree."
"Then how does Lord Grayman think his life should be spent so that it is not wasted?"
Hansel's question pricked Paul's heart, and he had the idea of pretending to be fake.
"Uh-huh!" He cleared his throat loudly and looked serious.
"The most precious thing for a person is life, and life belongs to a person only once. The life I expect should be spent like this: when I look back on the past, I will not regret for wasting my years, nor will I feel ashamed for doing nothing; In this way, when you are called by the Lord, you can say without guilt: 'My whole life and all my energy have been dedicated to the most magnificent cause in the world - to..."
Paul was suddenly stuck. What should he fight for? Are you talking about fighting for the liberation of mankind in front of them?
At this time, people in the office had already whetted their appetites by his passionate words. They all looked at Paul with expectant eyes, hoping to hear what the lord wanted to fight for his whole life.
Paul moved his stiff tongue and said, "Strive to fill the bellies of your subjects!"
Damn, compared to the original version, it has lost a lot of quality.
"Bah bang bang!"
Old Ford, the director of the Government Affairs Council, took the lead in applauding, and then everyone in the room followed suit.
Old Ford nodded and said, "Lord Grayman, this is the ideal that a great lord should have."
Only people living in this era know how distant a goal it is to "fill the bellies of the people", and they know it better than Paul, who came from the twenty-first century on Earth.
Hansel poured some cold water on it. He shook his head and said, "But unfortunately, no one who can do it has ever appeared, even the legendary heroes and wise kings in history."
Although Hansel came from a large family in the royal capital and had no worries about food and drink since he was a child, he has been serving as a low-level tax collector for the royal family since he became an adult, so he is considered to be aware of the sufferings of the people.
Guy Burns looked at Paul with admiration: "But as long as we work hard in this direction, even a small step forward will save many people."
"Haha, let's work hard together."
The encouragement from everyone gave Paul a lot of confidence, because the depression caused by the unsatisfactory reform disappeared and was replaced by a kind of pride.
There is no mistake in every song, one post, one content, one 6 one, one book, one book, take a look!
"Everyone, I think the reason why so many people don't have enough to eat is ultimately due to the lack of productivity in human society, so we must vigorously develop productivity."
"productive forces?"
Everyone heard a new term from the lord, but it was not difficult to understand.
“You mean the ability of the fields to produce crops?”
Because we were discussing the issue of filling our stomachs just now, everyone couldn't help but think of farming.
"Well, this is just one aspect of it. To put it more generally, it should be 'the ability to transform nature formed by the combination of people with labor ability and the means of production' or 'human beings' ability to create new wealth.' This is not just It’s about farming. For example, mining, textiles, pottery, etc. can be collectively called manufacturing or industry. In addition to developing agriculture, these manufacturing industries are also the direction I plan to develop vigorously.”
Old Ford said: "But these industries do not produce food. Even if they are developed, the food will still be the same. How can we solve the stomach problem? So Lord Graiman, I suggest that you encourage the people under your rule to cultivate more farmland. This will It’s the best policy.”
Paul raised his eyebrows: "Oh, Mr. Steward, not to mention that no matter how hard we work to open up land, the land that can be cultivated is still limited. According to the current area of cultivated land, in a normal year without natural disasters, you dare to say that the land that can be cultivated is limited. Is there really not enough food to eat?”
"this……"
"If I issue an order to forcibly collect all the food in Arda, Bailding, and Emden, and then distribute it equally to everyone, regardless of rich or poor, including me. Everyone thinks that they will starve to death this year. People?"
Everyone was shocked, how could the count have such a crazy idea.
"Haha, just kidding, don't be nervous."
Old Ford breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat on his head and said: "It shouldn't be possible for people to starve to death. The main reason why they don't have enough food is..."
"It's mainly caused by the uneven distribution of food." Paul took over his words. "The rats in the granaries of the big landowners are getting fat and strong, but the poor can only starve to death."
He sighed sadly: "How shameful!"
Everyone was speechless for a while. Who is the biggest landowner in Arda? Is the Earl scolding himself?