In the autumn of 641 in the Femon calendar, there seemed to be no difference to the people living in the southern part of the empire, except that the "On the Origin of Human Inequality" circulated in the hands of the nobles was replaced by the "Monthly Journal". Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

But in the north of the empire, an invisible force that has been accumulated for nearly five years is opening the valve little by little, ready to be released.

This event, which would completely change the Faemon Empire, change the continent of Huls, and even change Middle-earth, officially triggered the fuse that took place at the bottom of Fog City, a local battle that did not involve the humans of Middle-earth at all.

Of course, the official beginning of the incident was a meeting held in the town office of Misty Town in the autumn of this year.

......

"Special Zone?" Lucia pondered the word, a little confused.

Not only her, but also Merkel, Wesley, Laurent, the dean of Santan School of Magic, William, the acting lord of Pamplo School, and Moen, the dean of the Chemical Engineering College of Misty Town, who participated in this meeting, were also confused.

"Yes, the D.C. Donner nodded, "In short, the three northern provinces will become a state within a state, with a system different from the other provinces of the empire, and we will recognize the authority of the empress, but will no longer pay grain taxes to the empire." ”

As Donner's words came out, Merkel, Laurent, and William all showed shocked and inexplicable expressions on their faces, and they even held their breath for a while, looking nervously at Donner and Lucia's expressions.

However, to their further surprise, Empress Lucia just smiled and said lightly, "Okay. ”

Her Majesty's tone was so light that they couldn't help but doubt their ears.

However, Donner's next words surprised them even more.

"Starting this year, the Femon Empire no longer needs to send grain to the Far North...... However, the Magic Shard quota is still the same as before. ”

"Perhaps, I can trade this grain for machinery from Fog City. Lucia smiled happily, not at all curious as to why such a good thing had happened.

Although the three northern provinces will no longer pay grain taxes, the empire will have thirty-four provinces in addition to the three northern provinces (the Femon Empire originally had thirty-one provinces, and after the victory in the Great Patriotic War, six more provinces were ceded from the Thorn Empire). The sum of these 34 provinces is a huge amount.

"I'm afraid this won't work," Donner said with a smile, "In a short period of time, the machinery in Fog City is only enough to supply the three northern provinces. ”

At this time, Merkel finally couldn't help but ask: "Lord Duke, what do you mean...... The empire doesn't need to pay any more food to get the magic crystal directly?"

Laurent and William didn't ask, but they both had the same question.

"You heard you right. Downer replied.

In fact, there is an even more striking message behind this message - in the next year, Foggy City will continue to expand in size, accepting 600,000 dwarf and dwarf immigrants one after another.

These immigrants, together with the existing dwarven gnomes in Fog City, would total 700,000, accounting for nearly one-fiftieth of the total population of the Far North, and the grain that has traditionally been transported from Huls to the North also accounts for about one-fiftieth of Middle-earth.

In the past, two-thirds of the grain on the route from Beiluo City to the Far North Country would be transferred to the knight city-states along the way, but now this grain only needs to move Fog City, and it will no longer be deducted. Therefore, even if the Fermont Empire no longer pays grain, the grain taxes of the Silver Finchflower Federation and the Thorn Empire alone will be enough to feed these 700,000 immigrants.

"Lord Duke, will the dwarves agree to such conditions?" Laurent's voice trembled uncontrollably.

In fact, Laurent trembled with excitement. Five years ago, when he had promised the Duke of Venne to stay in the province of Santan, he had thought of following him into a career, but now the young duke's ambition had far exceeded Laurent's expectations.

"The dwarves have agreed to this condition. Donner replied with a relaxed face.

With his answer, the atmosphere in the spacious conference room of the town office became a little strange. Merkel, Laurent, William and others couldn't help but look at each other, and from each other's expressions, they all saw excitement.

That's right, they all realize that something big is going to happen.

Aside from Donner, Wesley, and Lucia, only Moen had a calm face. In Moen's opinion, whatever a teacher does, is normal.

Downer made sure that there were no more doubts, and continued, "Beginning in the year 642 of the Faimon calendar, the current land reform policy in Maple Leaf County will be extended to the entire three northern provinces. ”

Laurent and William didn't know what reforms were being made in Maple Leaf County, and when they heard Donner say this, they all looked at Merkel, who was in charge of the administration of the three northern provinces.

"All the arable land in Maple Leaf County is divided equally among the local people, and they don't have to pay any taxes other than half of the harvest...... By the way, there is no labor either. Merkel explained to them.

"Lord Duke, you want to give all your land to the commoners?!" Laurent stood up, her eyes full of incredulity.

Although William sat still, the look of surprise on his face was no less than that of Laurent.

But in the conference room, the most excited person was neither Laurent nor William, but Moen.

Moen looked at Donner with tears in his eyes, his emotions almost uncontrollable. He knew that the teacher's move was much more useful than how many orphanages were built.

"What difference does it make if the land is mine or theirs, since they still have to pay the grain tax?" replied Donner with a smile.

Laurent was slightly stunned, he didn't understand, the Duke did this to win people's hearts, but why did he do it in front of Empress Lucia? besides, everyone knew that Empress Lucia would marry the Duke sooner or later. In such a situation, why did he need to entrap these civilians?

He couldn't figure out any of these questions, he only vaguely felt that the Duke's plan seemed to be bigger than he had imagined.

"Laurent, how many students are there in the Academy of Magic right now?" asked Donner.

"Two thousand seven hundred and thirteen. Laurent replied.

"It's all civilian kids, aren't they?" asked Donner again.

"Yes, my lord, since the academy started four years ago, it has been recruiting all the children of civilians. Lauren nodded.

"Okay......" Donner thought for a moment, then put Laurent aside and said to William, "How many people are there in the school city now?"

"There are more than 700 people in total, including more than 500 apprentices. "William obviously doesn't know as much about the school's population as Laurent does about the Academy of Magic.

Donner nodded again and said to Merkel: "How many counties and villages are there in the three provinces now?"

"Nineteen counties, eighty-two counties, three hundred and thirty-one townships, one thousand six hundred and twenty-two villages. Merkel replied freely without any thinking, which shows how much effort he put into the process of dividing administrative regions.

"Three hundred and thirty-one townships...... Donner looked at William, "Can you draw so many literate apprentices from the school city?"

William didn't understand what the Duke meant, but he still nodded and said, "My lord, all the apprentices in the school city can read. ”

"Very well," said Donner, "Merkel, by the end of next year, I hope that each of these three hundred and thirty-one townships will have a primary school, so that children between the ages of six and twelve in the township can learn to read and write with their teachers—as for the teachers, William will come to solve the problem." (To be continued.) )