Just as Nick had predicted, since the first tasting was provided, many of the prisoners had been obsessed with these delicious snacks, asking which empire was a specialty and why they had never seen them before.

"This is a gadget from the princess's hometown in her previous life." The well-informed Red soon learned first-hand information, "The thing called 'spicy strips' is actually cooked food made of wheat flour and marinated in a spicy flavoring agent. ”

Bald Blue has already redeemed several packets of "spicy strips", and is basking in the sun at the moment, tasting the deliciousness, "I didn't expect it to be wheat, I thought wheat could only be made into bread." ”

Red snatched a pack of spicy strips and nibbled on it, "You're arrogant, you exchanged five packs in one go, you don't want to buy something else?" ”

Bald Blue grinned, "Life here is hard enough, how can you do it without some good food." Besides, this thing is so cheap that you can get five coupons for moving bricks for a day, two packs of one coupon for spicy strips, and one pack for buying four packs...... I feel the strength to move bricks now. ”

Several of the sun-basking prisoners around them listened and laughed together.

Not far away, several "diehard" prisoners looked at them contemptuously and said coldly: "Look at these people, they surrendered to the untouchables of the Red Pavilion in order to order bird food." ”

"It's sad, it's sad." Another prisoner chimed in, "They have forgotten who they are and are engaged in menial manual labor like commoners." What a shame. ”

Red looked at the prisoners coldly, "Eat a few spicy strips to surrender?" I think you're greedy. ”

Bald Blue sneered, "What you can get in exchange for your hands, you don't want it's your business." I want it, can you handle it? ”

The statements of the two men immediately won the support of many "laborists".

In response, the "die-hard" inmates quickly rallied, and the dispute quickly escalated in the prison. The prisoners of the two factions insisted on each other and attacked each other.

The laborist prisoners believed that the exchange of labor for daily necessities and snacks was the reward they deserved, a testament to their efforts to change their lives. The die-hard prisoners, on the other hand, believed that the laborist prisoners had lost their honor and dignity and surrendered to the prison for the sake of their small favors.

"You are willing to degenerate!" The die-hard prisoner continued to shout, "Although we are prisoners, we also have the dignity and pride of being nobles. We can't bow to the prison side! ”

The laborist prisoners did not show weakness either, and they said-for-tat: "You incompetent aristocrats do not know how to live at all, and do not even understand the basic laws of exchanging labor for payment!" ”

The dispute continues, and neither side will back down. As the conflict escalated, Bard hurriedly led people to disperse the two sides, but it was visible to the naked eye that the atmosphere in the prison was getting more and more tense.

"Gotta report to General Nick as soon as possible." Bard knew that dispersing them only alleviated the current situation, not resolved their contradictions.

……

"General, I must ask you for something." Bud hurried to Nick's office, his voice full of concern, "The prisoners, they're starting to be polarized and bickering. We have to do something to smooth their differences. ”

When General Nick heard this, he chuckled softly, just poured a cup of tea and motioned for Bard to sit down.

"Bud, you don't need to worry too much." Nick took a sip from his glass, "Actually, that's exactly what I want to see." ”

Bard was stunned, he didn't expect General Nick to say that.

"I don't understand what you mean, General." Bud looked confused, "I thought we should try to reconcile their contradictions. ”

General Nick shook his head, his eyes full of wisdom.

"Reconciling contradictions is one way, but intensifying contradictions is also another." Nick whispered, "These prisoners, they are all old officers of the Sand Empire. Within this group, it can be broadly divided into two categories. One is the declining aristocracy, and the other is the common people of the nobility. ”

Bard looked puzzled, he didn't know the background of the prisoners. But Nick had been working hard in the military in the wild sands in his early years, and he knew these things well.

It's like when he followed Generalissimo Glenn, he started as an ordinary swordsman.

Glenn's family background is illustrious, although he is also a declining nobleman, but he is also one of the few children of the nobles who can fight well, and was quite trusted by the Emperor of the Wild Sand in the early years. Later, when the demons invaded, he fought many battles with the demons, and under limited conditions, he stubbornly delayed the pace of the demons' attack.

And many of these prisoners were the ones who participated in the Demon War with Glenn, and they still had a dream of being a nobleman in their hearts, and they were never willing to let go.

The other kind of people, like Nick, started out as a commoner. However, in the chaotic Sand Empire, there were not enough nobles to serve as officers, so many people, like Glenn, promoted their own squires, grooms, and other subordinates. And the most glorious of them all is Nick.

After Glenn was squeezed out, he once succeeded Glenn as the "Generalissimo of Soldiers and Horses", which can be regarded as the brightest brilliance of all the common people.

Therefore, there are also many people who have the dream of "becoming an aristocracy" after being promoted, and they spend most of their lives pursuing the identity of a "noble", but in the end they are told to give up such a pursuit. This is obviously also their insurmountable inner demon.

How to make these two groups of people really understand their identities is also a question that Nick has been thinking about lately. It can be said that when he first tried to get more prisoners to participate in the workforce, Nick had already begun to plan.

"General Nick, what do you mean......" Bard asked, not fully grasping Nick's intentions.

"The declining aristocracy, who once had power and wealth, but now has lost everything." "And the common people, who come from humble backgrounds, have had access to power and wealth. ”

Bard's eyes grew clearer, and he began to understand Nick's thoughts: "You mean that one side is 'lost' and the other side is 'wanted'?" These seem to be the two most difficult mentalities to solve. ”

"Your understanding is very precise." Nick smiled and said, "So I'm going to take the risk, not to settle their differences, but to encourage their quarrels......"

He thought for a moment and retracted some of his remarks, "...... Rather, to encourage them to debate. Let their minds constantly collide and see each other's appearances clearly. ”

Bud groaned for a moment, "But do this...... It's dangerous, maybe it will cause a riot? ”

"You're quite right." Nick sighed helplessly, "But what I want is not for each of them to be locked up here for the rest of their lives. I hope that they will find their true identities sooner and be released from here sooner and return to the free world outside. ”

Bard looked at Nick in surprise, he didn't expect Nick to have such a plan.

"We can't just lock them up here and leave them to fend for themselves." Nick's voice was full of power, "We want them to know that they still have their value and that they can contribute to this society." ”

Bard listened quietly, and a new possibility began to emerge in his mind: "So the 'labor vouchers' and 'shops' you designed are actually a microcosm of the current Red Pavilion society?" ”

Nick smiled and nodded, "Yes, although this is a prison, what I want to build is not a big cage for people. ”

He pointed to the plan on the other table, "I'm going to make this a miniature society, where they're regulated, but they can also feel a whole society." Here, they will gradually adapt to the social system of the Red Pavilion. ”

Bard's eyes lit up, "Let each inmate have his own job, and they can earn labor vouchers through their work, and then use labor vouchers to buy what they need?" ”

"This is just the first step." Nick explains, "The princess and the unsmiling master designed a very sophisticated social system, and labor and consumption are only part of it. It also includes a more refined and professional social division of labor, more comprehensive social services, and so on. ”

Bard took a deep breath, "If this vision can be realized, this prison will become a self-driving system. ”

"Looks like you're also reading that book written by Master Don't Laugh?" Nick said with interest, "Do you have any thoughts on that masterpiece on social governance?" ”

Bud shook his head, "That thing is so hard to understand, I only thought of three things. ”

"Three things?" Nick asked, "Tell me about it?" ”

Bard stretched out his finger: "First, let the prisoners master a basic craft; second, to strengthen their education; Third, try to get them to self-manage. ”

"Self-management." Nick pondered the meaning of these words, "Bud, I'm afraid you've opened a new door for me. This plan will change the prison and the fate of the inmates. ”

Bud smiled reluctantly, "Really...... I'm just talking nonsense. ”

"No, no, no, what a genius idea." "It might be more effective if we let them make their own rules and oversee their own enforcement," Nick admitted. ”

"But I'm not sure if they're willing to do it......" Bud was a little worried.

Nick waved his hand, "If they can be willing to work, they will." ”

Bard frowned, and a question that had been bothering him for a long time came to his mind: "But what if those stubborn declining nobles are still unwilling to change themselves and participate in labor?" ”

Nick gave Bud a deep look, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes. He smiled lightly and said, "Bud, we can't expect everyone to change overnight. But, I have my way. ”

"You mean ......?" Bud bent slightly, his eyes full of doubt.

Nick nodded, his gaze far away, as if through the tall walls, to see far away.

"We will open up opportunities for 'family visits.'" Nick whispered, "The families of these prisoners, their relatives, friends, and even other people they know can come and visit them. ”