I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 310: Agricultural Revolution (2)

"Ten years, and they say even the landscape changes, but our territory has developed to the point where almost none of its old form remains."

Abito, which was completely transformed into an industrial city centered around light industry, is one thing. But now, Tyrenia, the capital of the Rothschild barony, has grown into a proper city.

Houses made from lime-coated bricks are everywhere, and the streets are full of people.

Though some people wear slightly worn clothes, no one is walking around in rags or tattered clothing.

There are street stalls, shops, and restaurants lining the streets, which is truly heartwarming.

When I first received this land, the town barely had 500 residents.

"Sebastian, what's the current population of Tyrenia?"

"Excluding the people housed in the poorhouse created by Your Lordship, I believe it’s 15,638."

"It’s amazing how the population has exploded in less than three years."

The population of Florence, the capital of the Toscana Empire, is around one million, and other major cities have populations exceeding 100,000.

Compared to these giant cities, 15,000 might seem insignificant, but...

In the medieval period, a village with only a thousand people was still considered a city.

In fact, considering that 80% of the free cities registered in the Holy Roman Empire had fewer than 1,000 inhabitants...

"Having a population of 15,000 in just three years is really impressive."

"You’re not including women and children, are you?"

"No, that's correct. Including them, the population would be about 40,000. It’s incredible how much the city has developed in just a few years. Of course, it «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» still doesn't match Abito."

"How’s Abito?"

Sebastian subtly puffed up his chest and confidently spoke.

"The population has already exceeded 32,000. The rapid expansion of the city has caused us to implement the plan Your Lordship mentioned earlier about extending the city limits and dispersing the population. According to Leonardo, the population has already been divided into five districts."

"If you just cram people into a city without a plan, it’ll end up like Pisa. Leonardo’s doing well; you’re lucky to have such a capable son."

"It’s all thanks to Your Lordship."

In the old days, people didn’t understand the concept of sanitation.

As a result, major cities with populations in the hundreds of thousands, such as Paris, London, Edo, and Hanyang, were annually plagued by cholera and other waterborne diseases.

At least in Hanyang, the summer rains washed away the filth from Cheonggyecheon and the streets, so it was less severe.

But cities without sewage systems were like living with a ticking biochemical time bomb.

‘We should start worrying about sewage treatment first, right?’

"Thanks to Your Lordship, the value of the land you gave me in Abito has also risen significantly. Just thinking about where to invest it is exciting."

10% of the land in Abito is registered in Sebastian’s name.

Apart from the tax collection and judicial authority, he has full control over it.

Naturally, the land price has probably risen by about 20 times compared to when I first gave it to him.

If he reinvests, he’ll make even more money.

‘Money makes more money.’

"Just hold onto it for now. Don’t invest in anything risky."

"Do you have something else in mind?"

"I plan to build weapon and armor factories in both Abito and Tyrenia. The land prices will rise even more."

"I’ll take that into account."

In modern society, mayors and deputy mayors buy up land through city development plans to profit from market fluctuations, and it’s a crime that deserves punishment.

However, in the Toscana Empire, where such laws don’t exist, it’s a touching moment where the lord takes care of his subordinates.

"If we increase food production, the population will gradually move into the city... You understand what I mean?"

Today, the United States and Russia are known as food powers, but...

During the Industrial Revolution, England was the world’s largest exporter of food.

It wasn’t just because of its colonies like India, but because the introduction of crop rotation methods led to a surplus, allowing food exports to countries like France and Germany.

‘Without crop rotation, the country would have collapsed due to famine during the Industrial Revolution.’

If food production increases in the Toscana Empire, urbanization will naturally accelerate.

"Just follow my lead."

"I’m grateful for the benefits you’ve given me, but how about offering an investment opportunity in the stocks you personally manage to the retainers of the Rothschild family and our merchants? They would likely invest gladly, and it would also help secure their future."

Thinking about it, our family and merchants give retirement bonuses after working for a certain period, but...

Instead of giving them regular retirement bonuses, it might be better to have them invest in my stocks, and when they retire, give them both their principal and investment profits.

This way, I’ll have more available funds for investment, and employees will receive more when they retire.

I was born in a country where private pensions are invested in stocks, so I hadn’t thought of this idea before...

"When we return, let’s set up a department dedicated to managing this."

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

"That’s a wise idea. And now, it seems the time has come, so let’s head to the government office."

At the government office, the village chiefs of our barony were waiting.

"Thank you for coming such a long way. Is there anything uncomfortable for you? I’ll try my best to accommodate."

In the military, when a division commander visits a battalion or company, there’s never any talk of ‘discomfort.’

If such a thing happens, it would have a negative effect on the promotion of the battalion or company commander, and that would usually lead to some "disciplinary love" (scolding).

The village chiefs here also have government officials and bureaucrats above them...

So even if they had real problems, they wouldn’t be able to speak out.

‘If they do, they’ll have to deal with the consequences later.’

Maybe that’s why none of the village chiefs spoke a word of complaint.

Since I was here, I’d order Sebastian to have the retainers investigate the village’s issues closely.

"Thanks to Your Lordship’s careful attention, we live peacefully without any issues."

"That’s a relief."

Originally, that question was just a polite opener.

It wasn’t meant to elicit any meaningful answer.

In fact, if something like "there’s actually something wrong" came up here...

It would mean that the chief would have to risk his life to report it, so no news is good news.

"I’ve come here today because I want to teach you a new farming method."

As soon as those words were spoken, the expressions of the village chiefs twisted.

Our family soldiers, seeing this, couldn’t hold back their anger and shouted.

"What’s wrong with you! Is this how you disrespect His Lordship?"

That reaction was correct, but the village chiefs’ response was also justified.

For me, I could easily try out a farming method like Norfolk or crop rotation without a care. If it works, great; if not, then no harm done.

But for the village chiefs, who have invested their lives in farming, changing farming methods...

Would sound just like asking them to invest all their wealth in some bad stock.

If someone—say, a father—told me to invest all my wealth in some questionable stock, I’d refuse too.

‘If anyone tries to make that suggestion, they deserve to be cursed.’

"Enough."

Since the soldiers had unwittingly played the role of the bad guys, it was my turn to play the role of the kind person.

Using every trick in the book is the motto of the Rothschild family.

"To peasants, farming is everything. If the harvest fails, they could starve to death, and if the harvest is good, they can live well for the year. But what happens if they choose the wrong farming method and the crops fail?"

"Everyone in the household will starve."

"That’s why they react so aggressively. I understand it all."

The Westerners who could participate in the Crusades had the economic foundation provided by farming methods.

The method of crop rotation, dividing land into spring, summer, and fall fields, is the reason for that.

This method increases the harvest by about 60% compared to fallow farming, so everyone probably wanted to adopt it, but...

It took 300 years for this practice to spread throughout Europe.

The reason? Well, it’s because the consequences of failure would have been disastrous.

"Do I look like someone who would tell you to try a new farming method without any plan? I’ve thought it through before speaking."

Telling someone to invest all their wealth without a plan would be very bad.

Anyone who does that probably deserves to be turned down, even by Satan.

"I’ll tell you this: if you fail with the farming method I’ve suggested, I’ll waive all taxes. Moreover, I’ll compensate you for all your losses."