Chapter 374 - 372: The Push

Chapter 374: Chapter 372: The Push

After receiving Trenton, Duane had Julian and Ralph show him around the Territory.

He made no effort to conceal the changes on Black Forest Island. The transformations were simply too vast, and with so many subjects, it was impossible to expect everyone to keep a secret.

Besides, his wedding to Natalia was at the end of the year, which meant many distinguished guests would be coming to offer their congratulations.

With so many people coming, there was nothing he could hide.

So it was better to be completely open and let the King’s confidant see everything. That way, he could report the state of Black Forest Island back to His Majesty the King.

Trenton observed everything very carefully.

In truth, while his official reason for the trip was to deliver an invitation and ease tensions on behalf of His Majesty, he was also under the King’s orders to assess the current state of development on Black Forest Island.

Upon returning to Pruck City, brimming with observations, he went straight to Cyan Snake Fortress and reported everything he had seen.

"Your Majesty, although I didn’t visit the Southen Plain or the Silver Jade Territory on Black Forest Island, based on Broken Wave City and its surroundings, Count Duane’s Territory has already developed impressively!"

Fields, grain, the Hot Spring Mountain Tea Garden, mulberry fields, iron ore, oak resources... Black Forest Island now boasts numerous coexisting industries. It’s nothing like a typical Baron’s Territory, which is always lacking something.

Eric sighed. "Perhaps sending him to Black Forest Island wasn’t a good idea after all. Or maybe I should have sent someone else to properly develop that land."

Trenton remained silent. If blame were to be assigned, he would bear some of the responsibility.

After all, he was the one who had reported to the King that it was a perilous, barren land with no value for development.

He quickly changed the subject. "In truth, beyond the resources and the innovative architecture, what I found most striking was the condition of the subjects on Black Forest Island."

Eric asked quizzically, "What do you mean? Is Duane exploiting them so harshly that their lives are unbearable?"

It was normal for a Lord to oppress his subjects. However, if the oppression was so severe that it led to widespread injury or death, he, as King, could voice his opinion or even intervene in serious cases.

"No, Your Majesty!"

Trenton shook his head. "The subjects on Black Forest Island gave me a sense of positivity and optimism. I asked them in the fields about their opinion of Duane. I found that they hold him in extremely high regard—to the point where they feel they couldn’t survive without him as their Lord."

This piqued Eric’s interest. "Do you know why that is?"

Trenton nodded. "After taking control of Black Forest Island, Duane not only lowered the personal head tax but also abolished it for children thirteen and under. He shortened the mandatory labor service days and even gave a pound of dry grain to those who participated."

"Furthermore, Duane has drastically lowered taxes and encouraged his subjects to cultivate new land. He provides generous subsidies for pregnant women and newborns, encourages serfs to marry, and allows them to earn their status as Free People through labor, which grants them a lower tax rate."

"I’ve also heard that Duane has established schools within his Territory."

He paused, as this was the part he found most incredible. "Your Majesty, these schools are open to everyone! Even the children of serfs, provided they’re willing and can pay a small fee, can learn to read, do arithmetic, and even practice Basic combat forms!"

At first, Eric listened with mere curiosity. But as Trenton continued, his expression grew increasingly solemn, until finally, his brows were deeply furrowed in a grave frown.

As the King, one of the supreme rulers of the continent, he knew exactly what Duane’s intentions were.

He had considered similar ideas when he first ascended the throne. However, such policies ran completely contrary to the current system of the Nobility. Implementing them would risk putting him at odds with all the other nobles.

In the end, he had never made any significant changes to how subjects were treated.

He never imagined Duane would actually do what he himself had not dared.

’How could someone who never received a proper education in governance come up with all this?’

At the same time, he was even more shocked that the man actually had the audacity to implement it.

’Of course.’

He suddenly understood. Black Forest Island was isolated overseas, and he had handed all authority on the island to Duane.

’Under those circumstances, wasn’t he free to do whatever he pleased?’

"Duane... his ambitions are vast!"

King Eric could feel the young man’s ambition.

"I feel the same!"

Trenton added, "Your Majesty, there is one more thing I must report."

"There’s more?"

Eric was taken aback. ’Just how many new developments are there on Black Forest Island?’

"Black Forest Island has a resource called ’Spiritual Soil.’ It can boost a farmer’s grain yield to 800 pounds per acre, a harvest nearly identical to what you’d get from Fertile Soil!"

"What?" Eric thought he was hearing things. "Black Forest Island has a Secret Realm?"

"The very same hazardous Secret Realm. But according to the subjects, their Lord is omnipotent. They say he can conquer even a hazardous Secret Realm!"

Trenton said, "Duane is now selling the Spiritual Soil to his subjects for forty Copper Coins per pound. Nearly all the farmland on Black Forest Island is being fertilized with it, and as a result, Duane has obtained a massive amount of grain!"

Eric fell silent.

’In the future, that island is bound to have a huge population,’ Eric thought. ’And Duane is not only personally powerful and ambitious, but he also has the backing of Count Kais from the Silent Shore.’

’Duane’s threat to the Royal Family is quickly approaching the level of Marquis Sean!’

’No, that’s not right. Duane might even be a greater threat than Sean!’

’At least the Marquis still abides by the current system of the Nobility. He still exploits his people, never educates commoners, and doesn’t allow serfs to become Free People.’

Ever since ascending the throne, Eric had worried about betrayal from the nobles beneath him. This constant fear over the years had cultivated his increasingly suspicious nature.

Consequently, whenever he saw a noble growing stronger, he would immediately consider them a potential threat to his rule and begin to entertain thoughts of suppressing them.

But Duane had developed so quickly that by the time Eric noticed, he was already difficult to deal with.

Besides, his current strategic deployments didn’t allow him to make a move against Duane first.

’The operation against Sean must be accelerated!’ he thought.

Only after dealing with the major problem of Marquis Sean could he concentrate on the southern alliance.

If he went to war on two fronts simultaneously, he would be stretched too thin to manage either.

Therefore, despite his concerns about Duane, his only option for now was to try and win him over.

"Dave," the King called out.

A young man stepped forward from the lower part of the room. He was the new Clerk, Lloyd’s replacement.

"Go and inform Leon and Curtis to come to Cyan Snake Fortress. I have matters to discuss with them."

Leon and Curtis. One was the Minister of the Kingdom’s General Affairs, the other the Minister of Finance of the Kingdom. Both were the King’s trusted confidants.

Eric was summoning them mainly to discuss Duane’s policies.

If nothing else, Duane’s act of selling Spiritual Soil to his subjects at a low price alone meant that Eric, as King, would have to adjust the policy regarding the use of the Kingdom’s fertile soil resources.

This was a key factor in winning the hearts of the people. If he didn’t prepare a counter-plan, a large portion of the population would eventually flock to Black Forest Island and Duane’s Territory.

Although these were mostly common people, a large population base would bring enormous benefits.

As for Duane’s other policies, like the education of commoners, Eric was also considering if they could be adapted.

Of course, all of this would require detailed planning and arrangement. Even if he decided to move forward, he would need to choose the opportune moment.

He was not like Duane, who only had the land of Black Forest Island and started with just ten or twenty thousand people. Eric, on the other hand, had to deal with an entire Kingdom and its multitude of Nobility.