Gastens didn't end up disemboweling Pip Matthias. When the two company commanders, Zinker and Haba Nye, led the men to press Pip to the ground, pulled out his clothes, and took out his scimitar to disembowel him, when the Moon city official, who had all his front teeth shattered by his men, finally collapsed. He pleaded, rolled and wept on his knees, promising never to confront Gastens again, and his father, Theo Matthias, also knelt on the ground, promising never to oppose Gastens again, and to support Gastens in any of his policies. After this, they finally got the promise of "Okay, let him go" that Gastens squeezed out of his teeth. When Gastens found all the contracts and was about to leave, neither Pip Matthias nor his father, Theo Matthias, the big landowner, felt that they had no more thoughts and intentions to oppose Gastens, and Scandi Eridri, the prefect of the city of Moon, disappeared from the plains of Elena and never appeared in front of Gastens again.

"Head, now the landlords of this plain have been settled, and now there are more than 5,000 serfs who have signed up in our factory, hoping to work for the factory, and then get free status, and the rest have also obtained the permission of their respective landlords. But we don't have so many people in our factory, and these serfs can't read, they don't know how to steam engines, and they don't know how to make weapons, so what do we let them do? ”

After getting rid of Theo Matthias, and thus intimidating the landlord class throughout the Elena Plains, at the regular meeting of the production group every evening, Tomás Gurakos, the head of the factory and the chairman of the union of the former Slot Power Equipment Co., Ltd.'s Strywood maintenance plant, raised new questions at the meeting.

"yes, why don't you let these people become soldiers?" , Zink suggested, hoping that their production team would be larger.

"We don't fight now, why do we need so many soldiers? There is also a lot of logistical pressure, and I think these people should be trained and put into the factory. ”

Although Ivan is also an old subordinate of the original 19 death squad, he has been staying with Gurakos during his recuperation, and he is relatively objective when he speaks at this time.

"I have an idea about this, we now only rely on the conscription order to temporarily have the right to use these serfs, but they are still serfs strictly speaking. According to the current regulations, these serfs can only get rid of their serf status after rushing to the battlefield as death squads and fighting three times in life and death. Have you ever thought about this question? ”

Gastens is well aware of his current form. The production regiment, which was based on the authority of the sixth prince, Eliot Gibson, was itself part of the feudal system, and it was impossible to rely on this system to promote communism. Only by cultivating and strengthening ourselves as much as possible within this system can we overthrow it and then establish a communist society. In order to advance this process, the problem now is how to help the serfs obtain a free status.

“…… This one...... You can't let them go to the front to fight, can you? ”

Ivan hesitated. Being a serf, being a death squad, rushing to the front, and then getting the status of a free citizen in the middle of a lifetime is obviously not the best way out for serfs. Most of the soldiers present were serfs, and naturally they did not want their new brothers to follow this path.

"So what if the status quo is maintained, we will get their serf contract back anyway, how about it?" , Eddie Warren is the new company commander of the production regiment and also has his own ideas.

"This can't be done, the serfs are not stupid, whether we have temporarily mastered their slave contract, or given them their real identity, no one will not understand this kind of thing, and no one will not mind."

Zink objected, and others discussed the issue, but to no avail. Gastens waited for a while and gave his own answer.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our regiment is called the production regiment, and the main task of the production regiment is to ensure production. There is a lot of pressure to supply Elliot rifles to the front, and although we don't have to fight, we have a lot of responsibilities on our shoulders, and we need more helpers. Therefore, I want to organize three production charges, and those who can successfully complete the production charge will give them the status of free people, which can be regarded as a contribution to the war, how about it? ”

"Hey! That's a good idea! ”

"What a head! How did I not think of that? ”

"Production charge is also charge, this is really a good idea!"

"But, will this division recognize it? What if they don't recognize it? ”

Gastens's idea, some praised, others worried. Gastens smiled softly and answered everyone's questions.

"This is originally a trick, we can't let these serf brothers go to war, and we can't directly give them the status of free people, so we can only use this method, that is, to find a name and hide people's eyes. Moreover, by the way, you can also let these strong laborers repair everyone's house. Now that the six princes support us, the division will agree to do so. But if there were no six princes, we might really have to send the serfs to the battlefield. ”

"Why must we serfs be so miserable, is it really so difficult to get the status of a free man?"

"That's because of this production relationship, the feudal class controls the means of production, you are a productive force, you have no land, no money, no knives and no guns, what do you want?"

"That's right, so if you want to completely liberate the serf brothers, you must change this relationship of production!"

"Yes, there is also the working class, which also needs new relations of production to protect its rights and interests!"

As we chatted, the meeting entered free discussion mode again. During this time, the theories instilled by Gastens, either explicitly or implicitly, had taken root in everyone's hearts. Because they are all their own people, everyone speaks a little casually and does not deliberately pay attention to the content. Gastens listened to everyone's understanding of class theory, and wondered when he would be able to introduce communism more deeply.

Outside the window of the conference room, the full moon is sinking in the west, and the snow is dancing lightly.

——————————

Two more days later, at the end of December, Gastens was invited to attend the month-end reception of Yarrow Ross, the governor of the province of Enspan, and he arrived in Van Ensten with Ivan and Haba Nye, as well as two companies of guards. Yarrow Ross met with him alone before the reception.

"Recently something happened in Ronninger, the citizens and workers rioted, and a lot of people died. The whole country is very serious about instability, and I appreciate the counterattack you did against Rhett Eredri before, and you did a good job and didn't cross the line. But it is still necessary to pay attention to one point, now His Majesty the Emperor is very worried about the recurrence of something similar to Ronninger, and reactionary factors are being strictly investigated everywhere. ”

"Well, I see," Gastens nodded, the serfs had been unusually active lately, and the first great charge of building and production he had organized was advancing faster than anyone had expected, thanks to which he had more time to write. He has recently written an analysis of the latest situation in Ankenrein, and has referred to the inevitability of a civil revolt or a working-class revolt in the present relations of production. It's just that he didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

"Excuse me, my lord, how serious is the matter with Ronninger?"

"A lot of people died", Yarrow Rose lowered his voice, at his level, he could hear a lot of news, "I don't know the specifics, you should keep a low profile lately." I heard that there have been serfs running to you recently, and if you want to be free, you can take it easy, if the influence is too great, not only me, but His Royal Highness the prince will not be able to protect you. ”

"Well, I see, do you have any other orders?"

"Red Eredri will also come today, I will introduce you to each other, you can talk to him well, don't offend people to death, you know?"

"yes, got it."

Although Gastens thinks that Yarrow Ross and Red Eredri's relationship should be worse than it seems, he doesn't mind making peace with Eredri on the surface since Captain Ross has orders.

The reception began shortly after the two met, and the venue was at the suburban estate of Chief Ross, named Xiyue, and the name was very good. The estate is also nearly 400 years old, starting as a glorious aristocratic resort house, and after several twists and turns, it passed into the hands of Yarrow Ross.

Drinking parties are normal, as with all drinking parties. Vast halls, balls, expensive food, well-mannered waiters. Gastens remembers that he never seemed to have attended a drinking party in his life. But he didn't act jerky, he skillfully moved between different cold tables, picking up delicate and expensive food from time to time to satisfy his curiosity. The major uniform on his body was not conspicuous in this cocktail party, and his perennial work and battlefield experience also made his face full of vicissitudes, and at first glance he was not a pampered nobleman since childhood. The only reason why everyone greeted him with a smile was because he was Prince Eliot's man.

“…… This is the roe of trout arowana from Yangcuo Nagqu Lake, and the market price is 2,400 kroner for one tael. ”

A voice interjected as Gastens tasted something that looked like a gooey, black piece of excrement. Gastens took a sip of the roe from his mouth, and the tiny orbs burst under the pressure of his mouth, mixing with some kind of sauce that made his entire mouth a little sour.

Gastens took a sip of champagne, diluting the smell of the roe, before looking at the visitor. An old man with white hair, dressed in a full aristocratic gown and wearing two royal medals on his chest, stood in front of him with a smile, and Yarrow Ros, the governor of Enspan Province, accompanied the old man and introduced with a smile.

"Gastens, this is the most powerful nobleman in our province of Enspan, Count Rhett Eriedry. Earl, this is the confidant of the Six Princes whom I told you, Major Gastens. ”

Gastens glanced at the old man in front of him, a smile on his face. He stepped forward in small steps, bent down to shake hands, and made the etiquette to the extreme. The old man smiled back and invited Gastens to sit down at the small table around the dance floor.

"I wonder how old Major Gastens is? I heard that the major is young and promising, and has helped Prince Eliot do a lot of great things, if you are lucky, I wonder if you can tell the old man about it? ”

"Lord Earl, I am seventeen years old this year, and I did not do His Royal Highness the Prince, but His Royal Highness the Prince took me to victory and let me come back from the front line alive. It is also my honor to be able to do something for His Royal Highness now. ”

"Seventeen-year-old major, ......," said Elidri slowly, but neither Yarrow Rose nor Gastens had any intention of urging him.

“…… I think back then, when I became a major, I was already twenty-nine years old, and you were really talented, admired, admired. What the country needs is young and promising talents like you! You are the hope for the future of Anken Reyne! ”

"Thank you, Earl, for the compliment."

Gastens chuckled, picked up his glass and gestured to the Count, taking a sip. Yarrow Ross interjected while the two were drinking.

"Gastens, the Eridri family has been in the province of Enspan for more than three hundred years, and the Earl's help is indispensable if your factory wants to produce normally. You wouldn't have been able to get that piece of land if the Count hadn't consented to it, you know? But thank the Earl! ”

Gastens nodded, raising his glass in salute.

"Since I came to the province of Enspan, I have always wanted to meet the Earl, but unfortunately I don't have that honor and opportunity, but I can meet you today and thank you in person, thank you for allowing us to start production in the Elena Plains, it is my greatest honor!"

"Don't dare, for the sake of the country, for the sake of Anken Rein, these are all small things", the old man replied with a smile, "It is a good thing that the young man is young and aggressive, but he still has to pay attention to some ways and means of doing things, and if he can, he still has to have a good relationship with those people in the Elena Plains, they have all followed our family for more than a hundred years, and they are all very good people." If you get along well, it can help you a lot. ”

"Well, I see, I'll pay attention to the method."

"That's good, do a good job, I'm optimistic about you!"

"Thank you, Earl!"

This was the end of the conversation, and the old man apologized and left. Gastens sat in his place for a moment, then stood up, looking at the men and women on the dance floor, pondering the conversation that had just begun, but scratching his head. The old man seemed to be largely unhostile, and his attitude and tone were gentle when he mentioned the previous conflict in the Plains of Elena. This made Gastens a little uncomfortable, and he couldn't figure out what the old man meant. However, from his own point of view, it is not advisable to make too many enemies now, since the count himself has no clear hostility, he himself cannot rush to slap people in the face. For Gastens, the most important thing now is development.

——————————

Back at the factory, Gastens got a new piece of bad news. The other owner of the plant, The Paper, reduced the supply of several core components of the steam backpack, affecting the company's production capacity. Their delivery leaders said that because of the recent ramp-up of weapons production across the country, they could only supply a very limited supply of spare parts to the Elena factory, which was not on the wartime economic protection list, and could not provide more.

"Head, what should I do?"

Gurakos stood in front of Ivan, waiting for his instructions.

"I'll leave this to me, I'm on my way to Roseville."

When Gastens heard the news, he immediately thought of Daisy and his father, and it was obviously much easier to solve the problems of The Paper, starting with William Richardson than from his own side.

"And when are you going to go?"

Gurakos saw that Gastens was sure, and his expression suddenly relaxed. He asked about the time, hoping to make arrangements before the trip.

"Tomorrow."

Gastens turned his head to look out the window, and at some point, the gloomy sky in the depths of winter turned out to be clear, and the bright moon hung like a huge disk by the window.

It's been a long time since I've been back to that city.