Chapter 17 Has to leave in the end
After the spring harvest was over, after the final count, on Viscount Leslie’s territory, adding up the harvest of the new twenty one hectares of land with the seven hectares that had been used before, the total amount of wheat had surpassed a hundred thousand pounds!
According to the conversion of fifteen mus in a hectare, each mu on Viscount Leslie’s land had harvested between two hundred forty and two hundred fifty pounds.
Although it couldn’t compare to the high yield of five hundred or even a thousand pounds on earth, it was very close to the yield on earth before technology had been developed.
Moreover for Viscount Leslie’s land, the production per mu wasn’t important, the important thing was the total amount.
Before this, Viscount Leslie used all the slaves and guards under him each year and at most could open up the seven hectares. At most he would gain no more than twenty thousand pounds each harvest.
But after using the agricultural magic machines to open up another twenty one hectare of land, his spring harvest had broken a hundred thousand pounds, which was four times higher than before!
Although people had prepared themselves for this result, when they heard the real number, they were still very shocked.
There was joy that followed this shock.
Since Viscount Leslie could achieve this large harvest using the agricultural magic machines to change his farmland, it meant that the others could do the same.
Among these people, the happiest person was naturally Seveni.
“Chairman Xu, once my royal father knows of this rich result, he will definitely be very happy.” Seeing the numbers in her hands, Seveni revealed a look of joy that couldn’t be suppressed, “Our Lampuri Kingdom doesn’t lack the land, we just lack manpower so much of the land is desolate. Now that your Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s agricultural magic machines have proven that it can save manpower in opening these lands, it means that the desolate lands in the kingdom can finally be used! Like this, the yield in the kingdom can be increased just like with Viscount Leslie’s territory. Perhaps in less than two years, no one in the kingdom will have to starve anymore!”
Xu Yi looked at Seveni who had lost herself in happiness and thought that if it wasn’t for the fact that he had starved for some time after transmigrating to this world, he wouldn’t be able to understand the joy in Seveni’s heart at all.
Thinking about it, Xu Yi said with a faint smile, “Honoured queen, why does it need two years? As long as we seize the chance during the spring harvest to change the land, then we just need to wait until this year’s fall harvest to see the results. Perhaps no one in the kingdom will need to starve this year.”
Seveni shook her head, “Of course I hope that it can happen as soon as possible, but it needs time to promote the magic machines in the kingdom and can’t be done that quickly. Not to mention…..” Seveni looked at Xu Yi with a slightly aggrieved look, “Can your Frestech Chamber of Commerce finish this by the spring planting season? Don’t forget, my request to produce the magic machines first was rejected by you.”
Xu Yi said with an awkward smile, “I don’t have a way to handle this since I have to consider our company’s development plan.”
“I’m not blaming you, I just have some hope in you. I hope that your company can give priority in finishing this order.” Seveni’s beautiful eyes were filled with sincerity looked right into Xu Yi’s eyes, “Chairman Xu, there are over half the people in the kingdom who can’t eat their fill. Whether we can solve this problem will depend on your Frestech Chamber of Commerce.”
Xu Yi rubbed his nose with a bitter smile, “Your highness queen, this puts a lot of pressure on me if you say it like this. Our Frestech Chamber of Commerce is just a small company, is there a need to give us such a large responsibility?”
Seveni revealed a faint smile, “With more power comes more responsibility. Wasn’t this what chairman Xu said to me before? Since your Frestech Chamber of Commerce has this ability, then you must take on this responsibility. Don’t you think that’s right, chairman Xu?”
Xu Yi could only give a bitter smile, “It’s very right, your highness.”
###
After looking over the data from Viscount Leslie’s territory, Seveni immediately left Banta City.
According to what she said, with the shocking results from Viscount Leslie’s territory, it would definitely make it easier to move the other nobles with territory. It would also make it more convenient for the agricultural department to popularize the agricultural magic machines.
According to the agricultural department’s estimates, even if the Frestech Chamber of Commerce finished the agricultural department’s high order of thirty thousand agricultural magic machines, it wouldn’t be enough to satisfy the Lampuri Kingdom’s need.
In other words, it was likely they would make another large order of agricultural magic machines with the Frestech Chamber of Commerce.
Naturally Xu Yi welcomed this.
Selling agricultural magic machines was a very lucrative business, not to mention that if the agricultural magic machines became popular, it would become what Xu Yi wished for. Large amounts of workforce would be freed from the farms and they could enter the larger magic machine industry.
With Banta City, because they started last year, with most nobles in Banta City buying some agricultural magic machines and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s farmer support plan putting many agricultural magic machines in the hands of normal farmers, in most of the farms outside of Banta City, it was already normal to use agricultural magic machines. 𝑏𝑒𝘥𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
For this year’s spring harvest, it took less than a week for most of the farms outside Banta City to be harvested.
After they were harvested, countless agricultural magic machines rolled over desolate land that couldn’t be used since there weren’t enough manpower and they began opening up more farmland.
According to data from the City Lord’s Manor, the current plan was to open three times more farmland outside Banta City!
If those farmlands could be planted during the spring planting, when it came to the fall harvest, Banta City’s harvest output would shock everyone.
Under the urging of Count Sean and Seveni, the ?Banta Times? did many reports on the changes with Viscount Leslie’s land, which could be considered an advertisement for the plan to open more desolate land.
And in the next ten days, the ?Banta Times? did a series of reports that showed the bustling scene outside Banta City to everyone.
To be able to do this, one had to accredit it to Baron Hannas who had just come back from Anvilmar City.
Although he was much more mature compared to before, once he came into contact with the newspaper, Baron Hannas immediately recovered his excited state of fervor from before.
When he came back to Banta City, he immediately ran to the ?Banta Times? office and worked all day until it was dark.
During the time Baron Hannas left, the ?Banta Times? wasn’t as excited and sharp was when he was here, becoming much more stable. But once he came back, it was like the ?Banta Times? had been injected with steroids as its style changed immediately.
“This is Hannas’ charm.” Viscount Leslie looked at the ?Banta Times? that came out today in his hands and said with a faint smile, “Perhaps it is because with his support, the ?Banta Times? can become this sharp, daring to report on things that had noble involvement. I think that this fellow must be very happy because in Anvilmar City, even with the family behind him, there were many things he didn’t dare touch.”
“Of course, could it be that he dares to report on what colour of underwear the king was wearing today?” Xu Yi teased.
Viscount Leslie laughed, “Xu Yi, you’re wrong there. He actually dared to report on the daily matters of the king in the ?Anvilmar Times? and even dared to report some scandals. But he was instructed to do so by the king, he wouldn’t have dared to do it on his own.”
“The king instructed him to do so?” Xu Yi considered it, “In order to make it seem like he was closer to the people?”
“Not bad, Xu Yi, you can understand this.” Viscount Leslie nodded. He looked at the ?Banta Times? in his hand before throwing it onto the table. He gave a sigh and said while shaking his head, “It’s a pity that even with how happy Hannas is here, he has to return to Anvilmar City in a few days.”
Looking at Viscount Leslie’s slightly knit brows, Xu Yi couldn’t help asking, “You’re going back with him?”
Viscount Leslie looked at Xu Yi and didn’t reply immediately. First he took a slow sip of his tea, like he was considering how to respond to Xu Yi’s question.
Xu Yi didn’t urge him and silently waited in his chair.
After a while, Viscount Leslie put down his cup of tea and tapped his finger on the table. He looked at Xu Yi and gave a slow nod, “That’s right, I’m going back with him.”
“Then you won’t be coming back like you said last time?” Xu Yi asked again, “Why? Aren’t you doing quite well in Banta City?”
Viscount Leslie revealed a faint smile and shook his head, “Perhaps to you and most people, I’m living quite well in Banta City. But to my family, it isn’t good at all. As the eldest son of my family, these years of staying in a small place like Banta City enjoying myself is actually avoiding my responsibilities. The family needs me to become an important person, so they hope that I won’t stay in Banta City anymore. I could resist and avoid this before, but this time…...I can’t keep avoiding them any longer. If nothing happens, I will enter the army after leaving Banta City and head to the northern borders, following my family’s plan for me to accumulate military accomplishments. If nothing else unexpected happens, I shouldn’t have the chance to return to Banta City.”
Xu Yi was silent.
This was Viscount Leslie’s responsibility for being born into a large family like the Stagg Family, he couldn’t question it at all.
But Viscount Leslie was a different kind of noble, being very open minded. He wasn’t proud like the other nobles, it was quite good cooperating with him and being his friend.
Once he left, Xu Yi would feel a bit disappointed in his heart.
“Xu Yi, inviting you here today, the first reason is to tell you as a friend that I’m leaving Banta City and to say goodbye. The other reason is to use my identity as your partner to give you a final request.” Viscount Leslie then said.
Xu Yi forced out a smile, “Please tell me what requests you have. As long as I and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce can accomplish it, we will definitely do it for you.”
Viscount Leslie nodded and said with a serious face, “Xu Yi, let me sell my stock.”
Chapter 18 Viscount Leslie’s advice
“Sell stocks?” Xu Yi was surprised, “Why? Lord Viscount, although you’ll be leaving this place, you can still keep your stocks. I promise that your dividend each year won’t be small! Why would you need to sell your stocks? I feel that……”
“Let me finish.” Viscount Leslie raised his hand and cut Xu Yi off, “Xu Yi, let me ask you a question. When you decided to rent land from me and used that little slave to give me stocks, your goal was to approach me, or rather the family behind me, right?”
“This……” Xu Yi never thought that Viscount Leslie would ask something like this. Although both sides were aware of this, generally no one would expose it this directly.
Seeing Viscount Leslie’s serious expression, Xu Yi thought about it before giving a slow nod after taking a deep breath.
“Yes, Lord Viscount, since you are asking, I’ll honestly answer. Right, my goal was to approach you and the family behind you. Our Frestech Chamber of Commerce was just a small company and if there wasn’t any support behind us, it would be hard for us to exist in Banta City, not to mention expanding. I knew back then that the Lord Viscount came from the Stagg Family, so I decided to use this method to approach you. Whether it was renting your land or giving you stocks in the company, I wanted to create a good relationship with you and finally gain the support of the Stagg Family.”
Viscount Leslie revealed a faint smile, “Then when you went to Anvilmar City and couldn’t see lord father through me, were you disappointed?”
Xu Yi honestly nodded.
“Yes. If I could see Duke Stagg, perhaps our Frestech Chamber of Commerce could catch the Lord Duke’s attention. Having the attention and support of the Stagg Family would greatly help our company’s development.”
“Is that so?” Viscount Leslie revealed a smile like he was having fun, “Then Xu Xi, have you ever considered that obtaining the attention of lord father isn’t a good thing for you? Other than helping and supporting the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, there is an easier and more advantageous choice to lord father, which is to swallow the Frestech Chamber of Commerce.”
Xu Yi’s expression changed slightly. He forced out a smile and said, “Probably not…...The Frestech Chamber of Commerce is only a small and weak company, would it catch the Lord Duke’s eyes?”
“Then why did you think that lord father would support you?” Viscount Leslie’s question made Xu Yi speechless, “Xu Yi, accept reality. If lord father really noticed you and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, it would be most likely that you and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce would be controlled by the Stagg Family and there wouldn’t be another choice for you. Don’t tell me that you didn’t know what me giving you those three hundred slaves meant, right?”
Xu Yi thought about it before he couldn’t help asking back with a frown, “Lord Viscount, why are you discussing this with me? Why would you choose to mention selling your stocks at this time?”
“Why?” Viscount Leslie revealed a smile as a lonely look passed in his eyes, “Because in this world, there are few people I like and you Xu Yi are one of those people. Xu Yi, although we haven’t been in contact much since I’ve known you, I believe that you are a person with ambitious and lofty ideals. Moreover, you do have an ability that others don’t have. I even sometimes feel that you have the ability to change this world. I don’t want to see this hope being crushed or you perishing, so I want to help you and give you some advice.”
Seeing Viscount Leslie’s serious expression, one that he had never seen before, Xu Yi gave a slow nod.
“Please advise me Lord Viscount.”
“First, his majesty doesn’t represent the Lampuri Kingdom, just the royal family. The royal family is the largest noble family in the kingdom.”
“Second, among the noble families, especially larger families, there aren’t any real friends, only trying to take benefits from each other. The royal family has the most resources and most benefits in the kingdom, so they have the most contradictions with the large noble families.”
“Third, I am the Stagg Family’s eldest son and not the Stagg Family. You approaching me does not mean approaching the Stagg Family. Moreover, you have the his majesty’s recognition and support, so just stay loyal to the royal family. Don’t think about being friendly with both his majesty and the Stagg Family.”
“Fourth, his majesty has proved he is a powerful king by ruling for decades, so don’t doubt him.”
“Fifth, you are an idiot in terms of politics, so just honestly manage the Frestech Chamber of Commerce. Don’t casually participate in politics.”
Xu Yi and Viscount Leslie had known each other for this long and had been in contact many times, but this was his first time hearing Viscount Leslie say this much and to say it in such a serious tone.
This advice had clearly come from the bottom of Viscount Leslie’s heart, with each word being sincere and holding real implications, so Xu Yi kept nodding as he listened.
But hearing the final advice, Xu Yi couldn’t help being unconvinced.
Even the queen Seveni had wanted Xu Yi as a politician, so why did Viscount Leslie say that he was an idiot in politics.
“Before you have the identity to dabble in politics, you are just an idiot in politics.” To Xu Yi’s doubt, Viscount Leslie reprimanded him without holding back, “My advice is for you to properly manage the Frestech Chamber of Commerce and once it becomes strong enough to affect many things in the kingdom, then you have the qualification to dabble in politics. And when many people have to seriously consider the words you say, you have the qualification to dabble in politics. Otherwise, you are just seeking your own death.”
Xu Yi thought about it and had to admit that Viscount Leslie’s words were right, so he nodded without refuting him.
But that still didn’t answer the question in his heart.
“But how does this matter relate to you selling stocks?” Xu Yi asked in a confused voice.
“First, because my goal is to become a large noble in the kingdom, I have to raise my position. According to the old rules of the Royal Parliament, I can’t participate in any commercial business.”
“Is there a problem with owning stocks? Then again you can transfer them to someone you trust, like Butler Brunei.” Xu Yi said.
“Have you forgotten my advice from earlier?” Viscount Leslie gave a soft snort, “I am not the Stagg Family, but the Stagg Family can represent me. If I keep the stocks, you will be swallowed in one bite and you and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce will become a dependent. Even if it is Brunei……”
Viscount Leslie didn’t keep talking, but Xu Yi already understood what he meant.
After thinking carefully about the meaning in Viscount Leslie’s words, Xu Yi couldn’t help feeling moved.
“Lord Viscount, why are you thinking this much for me?”
“I’ve said it just now, I feel you have the possibility to change the world. The world is just too boring right now and it’s hard enough for a special person like you to appear, so I hope that you won’t be destroyed. I can only help you with this much right now, I hope that you will not disappoint me.”
Xu Yi revealed a faint smile, “Be assured, if I let down your expectations, wouldn’t it mean that I wasn’t worthy of them?”
Viscount Leslie gave a slow nod, “Good, then I’ll give you some final advice. After I leave, the family will send someone to take care of this land. Although this person hasn’t been set yet, don’t think that he is the same as me.”
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A week after Xu Yi’s talk with Viscount Leslie, Viscount Leslie and Baron Hannas left for Anvilmar City again in a horse carriage.
Baron Hannas was very reluctant about leaving Banta City, rather he was unwilling to leave the ?Banta Times?. The night before he left, he dragged Viscount Leslie and Xu Yi out to drink.
Since he was strictly raised by his family, this was Baron Hannas’ first time wildly drinking. He became drunk after just a few cups and broke out weeping in front of Xu Yi and Viscount Leslie.
For the entire night, the two had to listen to Baron Hannas complain to them about his dream, his passion for the ?Banta Times?, and his sadness about being in Anvilmar City. Finally he fell down drunk and passed out.
As for Viscount Leslie, since that day when he had that discussion with Xu Yi, he didn’t mention it again. Only when he was normally with Xu Yi, he acted like that day didn’t happen at all.
Only Xu Yi knew that in secret, Viscount Leslie had Butler Brunei take out the contract he had signed with Xu Yi last year. He returned the 30% stock of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce back to Xu Yi at a price of three hundred thousand gold coins.
With the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s current value, this price wasn’t high at all.
But compared to Viscount Leslie’s very low investment investment at the time, this was a very large gain.
Of course, Xu Yi and Viscount Leslie didn’t care about this.
If Viscount Leslie cared about making money, with how the Frestech Chamber of Commerce was developing, he would keep the 30% share he had. It would definitely bring him profits of more than three hundred thousand gold coins.
The reason why Xu Yi had transferred 30% to Viscount Leslie was to establish a good relationship with the Stagg Family, finding a large leg to hug.
But Viscount Leslie had explicitly told Xu Yi that relying on the Stagg Family was not a good choice, since the final result would be the Frestech Chamber of Commerce being swallowed by the Stagg Family, not leaving a single bit to Xu Yi.
To the advice of the Staff Family’s eldest son, Xu Yi had no choice but to believe it.
Even the eldest son Viscount Leslie said this and even didn’t hesitate to return the 30% back to Xu Yi at this time. This meant that there was some contradiction between Viscount Leslie and his family Xu Yi didn’t understand for now, which meant that it wasn’t reliable to go to the Stagg Family.
“But…..is the king’s support that easy to use?”
Seeing Viscount Leslie and Baron Hannas’ horse carriage disappearing into the distance, Xu Yi couldn’t help thinking of Seveni’s unimpressive, but very good looking face that always had an elegant and gentle smile.
In Xu Yi’s mind, compared to the king he had only met once, this queen was more trustworthy.