A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

9 – Golden Prairie

“Princess, won’t you go out and play today?”

Caria was surprised by my words and looked at me. I smiled warmly at her. As a reader of novels, I understood Caria’s situation well. A woman who was never loved by anyone. A woman who had never once created happy and enjoyable memories in her life.

“Go out to play? Where?”

“Of course, to the amusement park! How about it! Won’t you come with me? You’ve been working too hard all this time.”

The present Iron Blood Corps was in a situation where there was nothing to do. Aside from periodically patrolling the foothills of the Racco Mountains, which were close to cliffs, and subduing monsters to prevent them from flocking to the trading routes, there was nothing else for them to do.

Their biggest enemy, Sultan Saladin, monopolized the profits from the trading city of Dagamba in the western continent, and it was said that he was making a fortune from there. He had begun the work of stabilizing the empire with the profits he obtained, leading to an undesired peace between the two continents.

Thanks to that, Caria didn’t have much to do.

Recalling the tearful situation of Caria in the novel, I decided to play with her a lot when I had the chance.

“Yes! Let’s go! I’ve never been to an amusement park.”

“hahahaha! If the one in charge of the military force of the Elond Territory says so, let’s go! Let’s go!”

I took Caria and headed to the amusement park, crossing the city.

The inside of Elond City was bustling with an incredible number of people. They were people who had groaned under the plundering of the nobles in various places and then flocked here in search of jobs.

“My Lord! Lord Rendor!”

“Hail to the Great Lord!!!”

When I passed by, the citizens waved their hands towards me. I waved my hand back at them and walked past. And we arrived at the amusement park. There was a long line, but Caria and I had a free pass.

“Come on! Let’s try this!!”

I suggested riding a snow sled. In the ski resort, which had courses for beginners, intermediate, and advanced skiers based on the slope, numerous people were riding snow sleds. Although they also had skis and snowboards, most people didn’t know how to ride them yet, so snow sleds were the most popular.

“This, this is my first time!!”

The snow sled slid down from the steep slope. The cool wind hit our cheeks, and I shouted. Of course, Caria, who had experienced even more acrobatic flying on a guardian dragon, didn’t scream, but the act of playing with me itself made her look very happy.

“Let’s go to the ice rink this time! hahahaha!!”

We also rode the skates. We ate various snacks sold by the vendors in the amusement park. Most of the vendors were natives of the Rimnacal Plains who were accompanying the Iron Blood Corps.

“Oh! Welcome!!”

They were selling delicious stewed meat, which they knew how to cook despite living in such a cold climate as reindeer or mountain goats. Since not many people approached the Racco Mountains, they were able to catch plenty of mountain goats to supply to the people.

The vendors were very popular, but Caria and I had a free pass again.

Eating delicious food. Riding skates and sleds.

The two of us spent such a enjoyable day.

“This is so much fun! It’s been a long time!!”

I looked at Caria, who was joyfully shouting with a flawless face, and felt proud. In the novel, she was a character who took on the most intense and cruel parts while Rendor deteriorated day by day.

To see her smile so brightly… I felt a sense of accomplishment.

Feeling good, I decided to make a grand gesture.

“It’s on me!!! Hey, vendors!! I’ll pay for everything!! Share grilled meat with everyone here for free!!”

“R-Really?? Unbelievable!!”

“Hail to the Great Lord Rendor!!!!”

The people cheered and flocked near the vendors.

“Father! Father! Look at this!! It’s meat!!”

Amidst that, a family catches my eye. The thin daughter, with excitement, shows her father the grilled meat. Her father trembles at her words and bursts into laughter.

“Well, well! Our daughter. It must be delicious! Hurry up and eat!”

“Here, Father’s portion!!”

“Yes. Thank you. Our daughter.”

There was nothing unusual. Only one thing. His tattered clothes caught my attention. I approached him.

“Hey.”

“L-Lord Landoir!!!!”

“Why….. Why are your clothes like this?”

He was wearing a very worn-out coat. It had so many holes that it was hard to believe it served any protective function against the cold weather in the Elond region. Because of this, he was trembling in the cold.

He lowers his head, seemingly embarrassed.

“I am from the western plains, a peasant from the Felings Duchy. Because of the high taxes, I couldn’t afford to buy a coat…….”

I looked around.

Most of the people here in the Elond region, the land of dreams and hopes, were rejoicing, but most of them had similar appearances to the man in front of me.

They were trembling with cold because of their tattered coats.

I clenched my fist at that sight.

“Take off my coat.”

“What? No, I can’t dare!!!”

“Don’t worry. I will find a new one. And…. I won’t take long to ensure everyone here has a coat. A very warm and luxurious one.”

I said seriously.

“What? Are you talking about a loan?”

“Yes. Establish banks in the port city of Portu and here in the Elond region.”

My words made Carl Hanssen’s mouth hang open. Oh well….. How can he laugh so wickedly like that?

“Are you telling me to do money lending? hehehehe! You really have a good sense for the smell of money!”

“Forget money lending!! Peasants from all over the country, who have no money, are flocking here. They spent all their money to come here without a single penny left! If they want to settle here, they need to have a basic settlement fee, right?!”

“Oh, that’s a good idea!!! Let’s just make them pay back their earnings with a 50% interest!….. Agh!! Why are you doing this?!”

A 50% interest. Is he crazy? I couldn’t bear it and had to squeeze Carl Hanssen’s head and make a terrifying voice.

“You foolish idiot. Never charge such high interest rates. Charge less than 1%. No matter how high, never charge more than 1%. I will regularly inspect. If I find out you are charging more than 1%, you will die that day.”

“What?! Less than 1%?! Isn’t that just giving money away for free?!!!!”

“That’s right. Right now, there are a tremendous number of people who have come in search of employment in the Elond territory and the Portu commercial city. We need to provide money to these people.”

“Why the hell should we give money to those bastards with perfectly good funds?!”

“That’s the only way people will start businesses!! Settle down!! If we want to strip them of everything in a short period of time, we can charge high interest rates, but if we want to profit from them for a long time, we need to settle them down immediately!!”

As I spoke, Karl Hansen’s eyes widened.

“You can see that far ahead, can’t you?”

Yes. Randor is…. a bastard who only looks at short-term profits. I admit it.

“You have that kind of foresight. Anyway!! Do banking. Isn’t that your specialty?”

In the original novel, Karl Hansen was a well-known loan shark in the capital. There was no one better than him at lending and borrowing money. That’s why Randor recognized his talent for handling money.

“Well…I understand. I will provide money at a very low interest rate.”

“That’s right. Do it that way. So that the farmers can settle down. And one more thing. Are there still a lot of farmers flocking from all over?”

At my words, Karl Hansen let out a sigh.

“It’s increasing more and more. They just come blindly. It’s beyond the Elond territory and Portu commercial district’s capacity to accommodate the population. This is serious. If we can’t create new housing in at least three months, there will be slums.”

We can’t let it go like that. We have to think of ways to make use of the manpower that is still available.”

I began to ponder, clutching my head. And not long after, I came up with one solution.

“Hey, Karl.”

“Yes, Lord Randor.”

“Are most of the people coming farmers?”

“They are farmers. Mostly people with strong bodies for farming.”

“Then let’s put them to work. Farming.”

“Farming? But we just said there is no space available to accommodate those people, so why are we talking about having them do farming?”

I chuckled and pointed to the map hanging in the room.

“The Elond territory is already big enough. We don’t have the capacity to create more residential space. So, what should we do?”

I pointed to the vast plain on the opposite side of the Laco Mountains.

The huge territory that Sultan Saladdin kindly bestowed upon me, saying I could do whatever I pleased.

It was a golden meadow.

Of course, 99% of the land was empty.

“Wouldn’t it be a good idea to send the remaining farmers there to cultivate the land?”

“Yes!! Isn’t it a great idea?”

“Oh my! Lord Randor, didn’t you hear? Most of the western continent’s plains are not suitable for farming!! It’s different from the eastern continent!!”

“But the Golden Meadow is different from the Elond territory. It’s near the Laco Mountains, yes, but this place is very mild and warm. Not as cold. It regularly rains and has enough nutrients for grass to grow. Isn’t the climate suitable for growing crops?”

Karl Hanson looked intently at the golden meadow on the map before shrugging his shoulders.

“Well…….that could be possible. But aren’t both you and Randall outsiders when it comes to farming? Shouldn’t we ask the experts?”

“That’s true. And there are countless experts overflowing in the Elond territory, aren’t there?”

“We can ask them, then!”

I immediately selected several experienced farmers with extensive farming experience from the massive number of peasants who had rushed to the Elond territory and sent them to the golden meadow. I told them to investigate the soil quality and the feasibility of cultivating crops on the meadow. They conducted a very detailed survey for nearly a week and returned to me.

“The climate and soil are suitable for cultivating crops.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Unlike the western continent, the climate here near the Raco Mountains is consistently mild. Moreover, according to the western continent’s merchants, such a climate is maintained year-round. It is the optimal weather for farming, my lord. However………there is one problem.”

“What is it?”

The peasants brought me soil and grass from the golden meadow.

“The soil lacks nutrients.”

“Ah!……..”

“There is not enough nutrients for even these robust weeds to grow abundantly here. If we sow seeds, it will result in poor harvests. We need an enormous amount of fertilizer to supply to this vast land.”

Finally, I understood why Saldin Sultan did not hesitate to give me the golden meadow. It was because even though it was called a golden meadow, it was actually a land of little value.

Well……

If I were to watch the sun set on this vast meadow, I could understand why it was called the golden meadow, but that was about it.

There was no value beyond watching the sunset on this ambiguous land.

“The peasants will continue to come. We need to create a new living environment for them. It would be great if we could apply their farming skills as well.”

But I was in a position where I had to make use of the remaining space on the golden meadow somehow.

And according to the peasants, apart from the lack of nutrients, all other conditions were perfect for farming.

“Fertilizer. If only we had fertilizer.”

Murmuring like that, I suddenly opened my eyes wide and raised my head.

“That’s it. That’s it!!!!!!!!!!!!”

If Adran, who was filled with a strong sense of justice and had extraordinary administrative abilities, was recognized as the golden presence, then Celeene, with her exceptional beauty and sharp mind, was the existence that firmly grasped the empire’s technological development and magic tower.

“If we ask Celeene, she might be able to create a technology that can produce fertilizers in large quantities!!!!”

A problem arose, and there appeared a being who could solve it.

I immediately asked Karaya to let me ride the Guardian Dragon and fly to the capital.

The Guardian Dragon was indeed fast.

I was able to fly from the Elond territory to the capital in just half a day, and thanks to that, I had to make a noisy disturbance as soon as I arrived at the capital.

“I’ve come to meet Lady Selene.”

“She is currently in tea time. Could you please wait for a moment?”

Tea time was probably an excuse. Like Adran of Gold, Selene of Grace also despised me to the extreme. After sending Karia to brutally massacre the rebels and attempting to assassinate my uncle, the emperor, and failing to assassinate Lendor, I was executed as a result.

As expected, Selene didn’t even bother to show up to see me even after half a day had passed. It was around the time when Karia’s face twisted with anger beside me.

“I’m sorry, but Lady Selene is not feeling well at the moment. You should come back tomorrow.”

“Are you serious?! You’re calling that an excuse?!”

I could accept Selene’s very polite, yet very firm refusal. Karia was furious, but I calmed her down. I had no intention of giving up. If I withdrew now, there would be no space to accommodate the peasants who were flooding into the Elond region, and as Karl Hanson predicted, slums would be created.

Elond region was a cold place. If slums were created there, people would die left and right from the cold. When the Golden Meadow was turned into farmland, not a single farmer would be willing to bear such a loss.

“I’m sorry, but could you deliver a message to Lady Selene? If she doesn’t agree to this, thousands of peasants will come to the Elond region seeking work and die from the cold. I’m sure Lady Selene will also have a clear responsibility in that case.”

After my words, the maid who came to convey the message politely bowed her head and went back to relay the message. I knew well that Selene truly cared for the people, even if she despised me.

She was the only person in this rotten novel, along with Adran of Gold, who possessed common sense and acted as a righteous character.

No wonder.

Whether it was because of my words about thousands of people dying or not, Selene changed her mind and agreed to meet me in just five minutes. Karia and I were led to her room to meet her.

As soon as the door opened and I entered, I saw a beautiful woman glancing at me arrogantly. Selene of Grace. A being born with beauty and perception.

She dressed in a glamorous dress and was the genius among geniuses who tightly held the imperial alchemists and scientists with the Matop. But she couldn’t stop Lendor and Karia, who were ambitious, with scholarship and knowledge.

In the end, she was put on trial and the many wizards, alchemists, and scientists who followed her were also executed, becoming the subject of public execution in the square. Lendor was evaluated as the most wretched of the cheap bastards who resided in the empire.

“It’s an honor to meet Lady Selene…”

As I tried to greet her, Selene responded in a cold voice.

“Get rid of the formality. I don’t want your greetings.”

Selene with beauty and perception.

She was also a person who firmly held the capital’s social circle with the Matop. As befitting someone who had been rolled in the social circle as much as she could, she brilliantly cast a vile and sarcastic tone that made the listener uncomfortable.

“Sister, if you behave rudely to Lendor once again…”

Karia growled and tried to draw her sword, but I stopped her. I needed Selene’s help right now. We couldn’t fight. If she told us to kneel, we had to kneel.

“Get rid of the formalities. I will do what you dislike. Let’s keep this brief. Will you take a look at this?”

I took out the earth and grass of the Golden Meadow that I had carefully kept in my arms and showed it to Selene. Perhaps she had anticipated that I would present bribes and jewels, because the face of Selene, who had been preparing a cold smile, seemed slightly puzzled when she saw the grass and dirt.

“What is this?”

“It’s the soil and grass of the Golden Meadow beyond the Raco Mountain Trade Route. The soil and weather, humidity that will grow crops were analyzed for the farmers who came to the Elond region, but they said that it lacks nutrients. They said they need a substantial amount of fertilizer.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I need Selene’s help. In the entire country, countless numbers of farmers are coming to the Elond region every day looking for work. It is expected that in three months, the population of Porto Commercial City and Elond region will surpass their capacity. I plan to develop the Golden Meadow into farmland.”

It seemed like it was a completely unexpected statement. It’s only natural that she expected me to present bribes and jewels and expected some trick. However, I was speaking about farming and the people, so she might have been taken aback as well.

However, as someone who had been involved in the social world for a long time, she concealed her confusion as much as possible and maintained a dignified expression.

“So, what is the reason for your visit?”

“With traditional methods, it is impossible to produce enough fertilizer to cultivate this vast golden prairie. We need new technology. Celeine, you have the sharpest wit in the Empire. Under your command, there are numerous scientists, alchemists, and magicians. I came here hoping that you might have a solution.”

Celeine burst into laughter.

“Despicable human. Are you planning to plunder the peasants by cultivating the golden prairie?”

It seemed as though she believed I would definitely do something bad.

“Why should I help you? From the perspective of the peasants, the only change would be that they are plundered by nobles instead of you, even if I have the technology to turn the entire golden prairie into farmland, there is no guarantee that it will benefit all the peasants, only you.”

“The owner of the golden prairie will yield. I will lease it to the peasants, and 90% of the profits obtained from selling the crops grown on the farmland will be returned to the peasants. I will only take 10% as taxes.”

“But where is the guarantee that someone like you, an evil person, will do that?”

“I am already the person who earns the most money in the Empire, even without plundering peasants. Merchants in the capital earn in a day what they would in a year. I have no reason to plunder the peasants.”

“I can’t trust you. Teach me the technology to create new farmland. Ha! Your superficial justification is truly excellent. Just like always. But I can’t be sure that you will use that technology correctly and for the right reasons. There has always been unimaginable malice behind your splendid excuses.”

Celeine glared at me with fiery eyes.

“I’d rather send the peasants who flock to your domain to the capital. Oriever and I will take care of them somehow. I can’t trust you.”

“How dare you… how dare you to Landor!”

Karia couldn’t resist any longer and drew her sword halfway. The knights who escorted Celeine also unsheathed their swords simultaneously, but their expressions were tense.

The Empire’s strongest sword.

Not only in military command, but also in personal combat, Karia, the invincible, was considered to be the strongest. They all knew that even if all the knights here rushed at her, there would be no chance of victory.

I quickly grabbed Karia’s hand and made her sheathe her sword halfway.

Celeine’s distrust runs deep.

And rightfully so.

Because I had watched closely as I skillfully seduced the Emperor and Karia, completely making them mine, and crippled the Empire. Even if I tried to convince her right now, her distrust wouldn’t disappear in an instant.

I looked directly at Celeine.

And she stared back at me without flinching.

With that expression, she knew that even if I ordered Karia, I could tear everyone here to pieces.

She truly was a strong-willed woman.

That’s why most of the readers liked her and felt sorry for her when she was executed by Landor.

I understand her skepticism.

But I desperately needed her help.

And I remembered that I was the one who was thirsty, not the well, as they say.

I looked straight at her, then suddenly kneeled down and banged my head on the floor.

“Randor!!”

Carya urgently approached me, but I did not lift my head, deeply bowed. It was a humble posture that had completely let go of my pride, but I didn’t care at all.

I had to change the bad ending.

What use was there in preserving my pride if it ultimately led to a tragic ending with torn bodies?

“Please help me. I understand that you cannot forgive me easily. I am deeply at fault. I understand. But even if you hate me, please help, even if it is just for the businesses I have created and the people who depend on them for salvation.”

“Randor! Stop this!!!”

Carya tried to lift me up, but I did not raise my head.

“I will bring Adran Prince’s officials to my territory. I will entrust Elond and Porthu Commercial Zone’s administration to them. They will monitor whether they commit tyranny against the people or do business for their benefit. I will only accept the promised amount. 90% of the income from the Golden Prairie will go to the farmers. I will only take 10% as tax.”

I glanced up slightly and looked at Celene. Even the queen of high society, who had experienced many ups and downs, could not hide her surprise at my humble and desperate plea.

What symbolized Randor was his cunningness, ambition, and pride. He was never someone who would sacrifice his pride for the sake of others. He was a villain who sacrificed the lives of others for his own pride and ambition. Seeing him on his knees, begging for simple land cultivation technology was quite shocking even to a princess.

“I want to create a world where the people are well-fed and happy, Your Highness. I can never achieve it with my power alone. I need your help. I want to turn the Golden Prairie into a land where real golden harvest is produced, not just its name. Please help.”

“Randor!!”

Carya was at a loss as she tried to figure out what to do, while Princess Celene remained silent for a while.

Even she needed time to digest this shocking situation.

“Please stand up, Randor.”

And after a long while, Celene finally responded. I stood up from my seat and could see the softened expression on the princess’s face.

She still had a perplexed expression, but she seemed determined to help.

“There was someone, an alchemist and scientist, who developed technology to produce land cultivation materials. I will introduce you to them.”

“Really? Thank you!!”

As I bowed to express my gratitude, Celene spoke firmly.

“I still don’t fully trust you. I will be watching. The moment you begin to corrupt, even a little bit, I will take away the technology I provided without hesitation. You will have to atone and repay for everything you have done.”

“Yes, of course!! Definitely! hahahaha!! Thank you, Your Highness!! Can I meet this scientist?”

The princess looked at me for a moment, then stood up and led me and Carya out of the room.

There, I met the alchemist.

“My name is Leoric. hahahaha. I am not from a noble family, but rather from a simple farmer’s household.”

The man in his thirties, with a sincere appearance, was truly an image of a scientist drawn in a picture.

“Lately, the trend among the alchemists, scientists, and magicians is the manipulation of magic stones. They are more focused on developing it to teleport more extensively at a cheaper price. I, on the other hand, focus on a slightly different aspect and have conducted my research on it. Thanks to that, no one recognizes me, though. hahahahaha.”

Speaking like a true scientist, he murmured various stories without being asked, and took us to his laboratory.

“This is it. The technology I developed. I developed it in my spare time, thinking that it might be helpful, considering that my parents were farmers. Well… no one acknowledges it within the magical tower, but I wonder if this will help you, Randor…”

Embarrassed, he showed us his experimental equipment and the things he produced with it, stumbling through his explanation. After listening to all of Leoric’s explanation, I could tightly grasp his hand.

“You… You’re a genius!!!! Leoric!!! A genius!!!!!! I know what you’ve developed right now!!!! Uuhahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!”

In the midst of my insane laughter and joy, Leoric, along with Princess Selene and Karia, wore stunned expressions.

But it didn’t matter.

Having frequently watched science common sense YouTube channels, I could immediately recognize what Leoric had developed.

A method of synthesizing ammonia under conditions of 200 atmospheres and between 400-500 degrees using iron catalyst.

What Leoric had developed was the chemical process of the Haber-Bosch method.

It was a technology that allowed for the mass production of fertilizers, which sustained humanity.