They were suddenly taken to the wild for a few days of field dining and lodging, they all needed rest and to assure their families of their safety.

Dismounting from his warhorse, Edward suddenly looked at Andes who was following beside him.

"Mr. Andes, I have something to discuss with you, I hope to take up some of your time."

Although he did not know which play Your Majesty was enacting, Andes nodded slightly and said.

"No problem, Your Majesty, it is my honor to serve you."

Edward gestured with his hand, then led him to a nearby garden, dismissed the entourage and said.

"I hear Mr. Colin said your business has now expanded to 2 billion gold coins?"

Hearing this number, Andes' heart trembled instantly; he never expected Mr. Colin to leak this number to Your Majesty.

"Your Majesty, this statement is actually inaccurate..."

"I know, Colin explained it to me, it's something called market value. Although it sounds novel, it's not hard to understand."

Seeing Andes sweating nervously on his forehead, Edward smiled and continued with a gentle tone.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not planning to borrow money from you, nor do I have the idea of taxing market value temporarily. The matter I want to discuss with you today is unrelated to your New Continent business, but another matter."

Andes cautiously said.

"May I ask what it is?"

Looking at the fountain in the garden, Edward said in a casual tone.

"Mr. Colin told me that on their feudal land, the ownership and usage of land can be handled separately; thus, increasing land utilization efficiency. What do you think about this?"

He actually omitted some implications, not mentioning what Mr. Colin told him entirely, especially not mentioning a single word about the blueprint he saw.

Although he had no doubt about Andes' abilities, he was very clear that this person's loyalty needed a question mark, especially when related to stakes involved.

At this moment, as the lord of the duchy, he needed the other party to consider issues from the duchy's standpoint, not as the Family Head of the Andes Family.

Unfortunately, he ultimately underestimated Andes' intelligence; the latter not only instantly understood the benefits behind this proposal for himself but also discerned much of the blueprint Edward did not show him.

In Thunder County, feudal nobles and the emerging bourgeois nobles were in fact a balancing force against each other. Ordinary people living on this land, although exploited by both, were simultaneously protected by both.

And now, they have obtained the opportunity to unite, to join hands and together reap the tenant farmers and citizens in the factories!

This guy is simply a genius!

Andes couldn't help but hold his breath, trying hard to control his pounding heartbeat.

If he had some criticism about Colin's looseness of tongue a moment ago, now he couldn't help but want to give him a kiss, if Miss Erin wouldn't mind.

Controlling his expression, Andes adopted a serious thinking posture, and after a moment said.

"Your Majesty, if I may be blunt, this is a genius idea...and you have actually been doing this all along."

"Oh? How come I didn't know." Edward looked at him, his eyebrows slightly raised.

Andes continued in a deep voice.

"Strictly speaking, the citizens of Thunder City are leasing royal properties, only the gracious and generous you have never exercised the power bestowed by Saint Xi on your land, merely taxing the citizens living here. And the wealth we have gained now is adequate proof of the wisdom of you and your ancestors. I think Mr. Colin might suggest you push this tacit understanding to the lands of lower nobles. In this way, they will not only be more proactive in creating wealth for you but will also be more eager to open up more originally idle land."

Edward smiled.

"It sounds like all benefit without any harm, but I always feel there's no such good thing in this world."

Andes nodded and said.

"There is certainly a cost, some tenant farmers may lose land and be forced to leave their homelands, but sometimes cost doesn't necessarily imply bad things. They could live a better life in Thunder City, where their lord's real power will be weakened, and the Campbell Duchy will accumulate greater wealth by their migration."

This can weaken the power in the hands of lords and strengthen the wealth on royal family's territory.

This is exactly what Mr. Colin said.

If it weren't for Andes' previous nervous demeanor, Edward might even suspect the two had pre-arranged this.

However, he still preferred to believe that Colin did not discuss this matter with Andes, as he perceived separately from both Colin's and Andes' faces.

Whether it's the nobles of the Campbell Duchy or the Empire, they are essentially of one faction.

From this point alone, the Colin family can hardly become true allies with the Andes family.

Because only the Campbell family is worthy of being the former's ally.

After pondering for a while, Edward said.

"The small Barons of Thunder County are my direct vassals, I plan to implement the new policies on this land first. As for other Earl Domains in the duchy, I need to discuss with several other Earls, to seek their cooperation. I hope you can cooperate with Governor Wilson to achieve some results, so that they can see the benefits brought by the change, presumably the resistance I face in promoting new policies will be lessened."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.