Chapter 45 — The First Step of the Plan
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 3
Gao Yang had no way to explain to others the plan in his heart and all those far-reaching considerations of his. Even to the most trustworthy people, like Rebecca and Hedy, he could not make clear exactly how his mind worked. So all he could do was break those grand plans of his down, split them into stages and details one by one, and then slowly pile them up again.
What had been done today could be called the most basic part of it all—indeed, even for the building of this territory, it was only a foundation.
And as for Rebecca and Hedy, Gao Yang had let them see an incredible side of the common folk and the serfs.
Never had they seen commoners and serfs work with such passion, nor finish work they could never have done well in the past both quickly and well.
They believed it was Gao Yang's promise that "there will be meat tonight" that spurred these people on—and that was indeed the truth.
It was still far too early to speak of any upsurge of so-called people's confidence and the glory of labor; using a meal of meat to stir up the work ethic of the labor force was the simplest and most effective method.
Back in the tent at the center of the camp, Gao Yang had paper and pen brought to him and began jotting things down, while instructing Sir Byron, who had followed him in: "Send two men to take out the meat and boil it—prepare ten portions. And anyone who takes part in the labor gets all the vegetable soup and black bread they can eat. We still have plenty of grain. In these early days of building the territory, no one is to fall ill from cold or hunger."
"Ten portions of meat, truly?" Byron asked, somewhat surprised.
Gao Yang answered as though it were only natural: "Of course. I must keep my promise. Is there a problem?"
"I thought you meant only to stew a pot of meat soup," Byron explained. "Just a few pieces of meat the size of walnuts, some vegetables, a great pot of soup—and those people would be thanking the heavens."
"Do as I say," Gao Yang waved a hand. "A promise I have made does not permit the slightest discount. Oh, and have the cooks set up the great cauldron in the most conspicuous place in camp. I want every person to see the meat stewing. At the same time, have soldiers keep order nearby—no one is to snatch or grab."
Sir Byron bowed, his expression faintly peculiar, and left to carry out the order.
Gao Yang, meanwhile, noticed a gaze coming from beside him. He turned his head and found Amber staring at him without blinking.
"What are you looking at?" He shifted his neck uneasily. "Is there something on my face?"
"I was checking whether you got possessed by something in the treasury that addles the mind—but you don't look like it," Amber said with a completely serious face. "I've never heard of a noble who would voluntarily cut down his own wealth..."
Gao Yang found it a little amusing. "You think those measures of mine are cutting down my own wealth?"
"What else?" Amber spread her hands. "Turning serfs into free men means that from now on, the grain they grow only needs a portion handed over to you. And you have to pay wages to free men—that's pulling money straight out of your own pocket... Can nobles even do such a thing?"
"If I told you to whitewash walls for me, and gave no pay, only orders, how much could you get done in a day?"
Amber thought it over. "I'd steal a few coins from your pocket, hire some lad from the servants' quarters to do it for me, and spend the rest on drink!"
Gao Yang: "...I must have eaten myself full and have nothing better to do, arguing reason with you, shame of all creation!"
Amber: "How am I the shame of all creation?!"
Just then Hedy stepped into the tent, cutting off Amber's outburst. The lady's face still wore an expression of disbelief: "Ancestor, it is simply unbelievable. They have never worked so hard—especially the serfs. They finish the work without so much as an overseer..."