When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 669 - 627: Road and Bridge Bonds and Voluntary Road Construction

The so-called road and bridge bonds are the bonds set up by Lady Catherine during this financial conference.

In the Thousand River Valley, where the land usage rights have been stripped by Horn, the nobility are in urgent need of a new, stable source of income to maintain their dignity.

So they turned their eyes on the current bonds, after all, the money spent on bonds is still collected from their own territories, isn't it?

Buying bonds is equivalent to buying land for them, they are still nobles, different from those mud-legged folk.

This is how many nobles comfort themselves, while Hylviss also turned his attention to bonds.

What he is more interested in is this newly issued road and bridge bond, with a full 6% interest rate.

Although this interest rate is not as high as industrial bonds, the problem with industrial and commercial enterprises is that they are unstable, and Hylviss wants an income as steady as a rock over the years.

How many century-old stores have survived the test of time? How much remains after the waves sweep away the sand?

A fire disaster could lead to utter loss, buying industrial bonds is something only those reckless gamblers do.

While road and bridge bonds are guaranteed by tariffs, no matter how well or poorly your workshop is doing, trade will always be necessary.

But what Hylviss fears is that the Road and Bridge Bureau also has to manage infrastructure construction, even in rural areas.

Those in the know understand the complexity involved here!

The Hylviss family once tried to build an irrigation channel, thinking they were being kind enough to their subjects, providing food and shelter, and even a weekly subsidy of 3 Dinars.

Yet, they couldn't prevent their subjects from laziness and escaping, turning the construction of that single irrigation channel into a project that took ten years.

According to the information he received, the Road and Bridge Bureau seems to want to cooperate with various levels of the Hundred Households District to allow farmers to build it themselves.

Even with overseers, it took ten years to build, what happens without overseers?

Building roads and bridges might be acceptable since it speeds up the flow of goods, as the Truth Report has explained.

But if the money is handed over to farmers without supervision, it's a bottomless pit.

Nonetheless, Hylviss is reluctant to give up on these road and bridge bonds, hence seeking information from Herman.

Though a County Governor, he still isn't as well-informed as Herman, who frequently stays at the central hub.

This time, Herman finally raised his head and said, "I was wondering why you have been coming to chat with me every day recently, turns out it's for this?"

Hylviss sheepishly scratched his head and smiled.

"Feel free to buy, it's a silent profit." Herman flipped to the second page and shook the newspaper, "All the money will be used for building large agricultural facilities, including small canals, rural roads, etc., to facilitate the transport and sale of agricultural products.

As for the water facilities in those village Hundred Households Districts, at best, they'll be given some tools and materials to build on their own."

"Build on their own?" Hylviss repeated, "You mean they bring their own food, don't need wages, and can build roads and irrigation channels on their own?"

Herman flicked the Truth Report in his hand, "On the second page, there's an article about the effects of perpetual rental rights, in the second paragraph."

Hylviss quickly put down the teacup and picked up the Truth Report to start reading.

Beneath the article titled "Across Thousands of Miles, His Majesty Saint Sun Killed Prince Kongdai's War Horse with a Pebble," Hylviss quickly found the comment, but he still couldn't understand it after reading it and had to look helplessly at Herman for guidance.

Herman could only stop reading again and said with resignation, "With perpetual rental rights, the more they grow, the more they reap; with the Hundred Households District, they have more free time for sidelines.

If there is an irrigation channel, then the field yield is higher, if a road is built, more merchants will come for processing materials.

Perhaps they don't have money to hire people, but under rent and tax cuts, they have some grain saved themselves.

They might not be willing to spend money, but their willingness to spend time and effort building water conservancy and roads is not only present but is astonishingly great."

Hylviss finally realized, taking advantage of Herman's talkative mood, he pressed on: "And one last thing, with roads built and no tolls allowed, aren't the roads built in vain?"

"Of course not." Herman succinctly explained, "Road construction costs are deducted from tariffs, the better the roads, the more merchants, the more tariffs, recouping is certain."

"…Now I am relieved." The heart Sylvester had kept tense for a month finally relaxed, he prepared 200 gold pounds, ready to exhaust all resources and go all-in on road and bridge bonds.

It was only at this moment that he could unfold the newspaper and read leisurely.

Horn's movable type printing technology is still not mature enough, although much improved from the initial stage, the print quality is still inferior compared to those exquisite letterpress prints.

Enthusiastically finishing the Holy Seat City Church jokes in the poetry and jokes section, laughing to his heart's content, Hylviss put down the newspaper.

"How is it?" At this point, Herman finished reading, he personally picked up the pewter pot to pour Hylviss a cup of red tea, "Do you think a person can voluntarily become a slave?"

"Ah?"

"You shouldn't only look at announcements and poetry; at least glance over theological science and the commentary sections." Seeing Hylviss's muddled look, Herman said helplessly, "You have major responsibilities now, you cannot afford to not learn more."

"The county affairs keep me very busy, I don't have time to read." Just a glimpse of those densely packed small characters gave Hylviss a headache.

Herman snorted disdainfully, "Did I ask you to pursue a doctorate in theology? However busy you are, could it be busier than me?"

Coughing to hide his embarrassment, sipping on red tea to refresh himself, Hylviss started to carefully read the article Herman prompted him to look at.

The title read "On the Mason District Rebellion—Does the Holy Father Permit People to Voluntarily Become Slaves?" and the author's name was none other than "Two-Wheeled Monster."

"Who would use such a name?"

"It's a pen name, probably an old theologian forced into a wheelchair, using such a name to lightly mock themselves."

Upon hearing it was written by an old theologian, Hylviss recalled his church school days studying scriptures with the Archbishop, feeling drowsy before even opening it.

"Don't sleep, how could you want to sleep after drinking red tea, this article is written simply, even you can understand it."

Hylviss had to open his eyes wide and carefully read the article.

Indeed, Herman was right, although belonging to the theological section, the article was written entirely in colloquial language, mostly short sentences, lacking complex structures and classical references, clear and easy to grasp.

The article begins with a first-person account of the Mason Region rebellion, a group of farmers misunderstood His Majesty Saint Sun's intent, refusing to sign the perpetual rental rights granting them freedom.

Following this lead, the article explains to the "dear readers" why the Holy Father grants freedom, because He created man in His own image.

When God created humanity, He endowed them with reason and free will, enabling them to discern right from wrong and recognize God through reason.

Therefore, humans, as the crown of all creatures, should be distinguished from ordinary animals, freedom being the blessing and representation of God's image.

After discussing the theological and practical meanings of why one should possess freedom, the "Two-Wheeled Monster" posed a small question to all readers:

If so, does the Holy Father allow people to voluntarily become slaves? Or rather, can one freely relinquish freedom?

At the end of the article, the author invites whoever reads the newspaper to send in letters, should they have any insightful or thought-provoking opinions.

If it's beneficial or enlightening, it might be published in this Truth Report.

Once published in the newspaper, one could earn a full 1 gold pound reward!