My bathroom connects to another world
Chapter 346 - 346 346 If There's No One You Can Only Buy Someone

346: Chapter 346: If There’s No One, You Can Only Buy Someone 346: Chapter 346: If There’s No One, You Can Only Buy Someone “A departure deadline within a month, I wonder what’s this all about?”

Back at home, Zhao Guang handed Ocoro a scroll from the King.

It was given to him by the Court Etiquette Officer when he was leaving.

It was said to be from the King, but why it was given separately afterward was unclear.

After scanning it, Ocoro said, “His Majesty the King might or might not know about this, but the tone here is a common diplomatic phrase used by Court Etiquette Officers.”

So this is possible, to issue some orders using the King’s authority.

It seems that the King’s authority is not as high and mighty as I thought.

At least, some people can bypass the King.

“Then, about having me leave within a month, is there any explanation for this?”

Ocoro shook his head: “There isn’t a specific reason for this order, but generally, the King should be aware of it.

Although he might not wish for you to leave so soon, there are always some who do.”

Zhao Guang also said, “Building a territory is not an easy task, especially one that has no inhabitants yet.”

“Therefore, it must be the doing of the other nobles.

The things you did last time made them lose face.”

Zhao Guang understood somewhat: “So as long as I’m in the Imperial City, they feel extremely embarrassed and want me to leave as soon as possible.”

Ocoro nodded silently: “That’s only part of the reason, the greater reason is probably that you are quite annoying.” Ocoro gave a reason Zhao Guang had not expected.

“Annoying, why?

I don’t recall doing anything to make myself distasteful.”

“It’s not what you did, but your background.

You were born a merchant, and though we know you’re no ordinary individual, most nobles don’t think so.

A merchant by birth, who rose three ranks in one breath to become a Viscount—they naturally feel displeased in their hearts…”

So that’s how it is, disliked because of a different origin.

Even without touching their cake, they would still reject me.

This kind of baseless rejection, Zhao Guang had no solution for, since it stemmed from people’s inherent arrogance.

“Alright, let’s not talk about that anymore.

A month, it shouldn’t take that long.”

Honestly, for Zhao Guang, materials were not that important.

With Earth supporting him from behind and a massive reserve of gold, how could he possibly be short of materials?

So, what he was lacking now were people, because there was unexpectedly no one in the territory.

“I want to know if there are really no people out there.

If so, what about the population?”

“There probably aren’t any.

Even if there are, it should be very few left.

The last group of humans went over more than two hundred years ago, and by now they are likely all dead.

After all, that place is often ravaged by Beastmen and Undead Mages.”

Humans’ overall strength is undoubtedly strong, but the strength of ordinary people is not that considerable.

If a group of ordinary people were in such a place, it would be very difficult for them to survive.

Zhao Guang understood.

Now it seemed there really were no people there.

“However, if there are no people, you can choose to sell a batch yourself.

More than two hundred years ago, that’s what the Lord did.

Even now, many territories still have a great number of slaves.”

Ocoro directly offered a solution: “In many territories now, most of the population consists of slaves.

And slaves have a big advantage—their descendants belong to the Lord generation after generation, which makes management very convenient.”

Being slaves generation after generation might sound ideal, but Zhao Guang knew this was not a good thing.

“So, the development of these territories isn’t very good, right?”

Ocoro was somewhat surprised: “How do you know?

Now that I think about it, the development of these territories isn’t very good indeed.”

How else would I know?

Isn’t it obvious?

“Because there’s no motivation.

No matter what they do, no matter the quality of their work, there’s no benefit for themselves.

People are lazy and without hope, slaves who cannot see any hope will not actively work.”

It’s not hard to imagine the level of productivity, and slave owners who do not have to worry about various issues with their subordinates will not consider the well-being of slaves.

As a result, year in and year out, nothing ever changes—their territories won’t be good of course.

But I didn’t expect that I too would have to follow a similar path.

There’s no choice, after all, I can’t conjure up people from thin air, can I?

Even if I wanted to attract the surrounding population, there has to be enough appeal.

No one would come to my territory if it had no inhabitants.

Moreover, every Lord places various restrictions on the population within their territories.

It’s virtually impossible for the population to naturally flow into my territory.

“Okay, I understand now, next is the issue with the population.”

“Not just the population issue, but also the problems with food and medicine.

Although the North has fertile land, it will take time to grow food.

The plague is also quite common out there.”

The North is backed by the Plague Swamp, which has many germs.

In this era of low productivity, minus the power of magic, facing these natural calamities is very difficult to overcome.

“The food issue isn’t much of a problem.

As for the plague, I think I might have a way.”

The best non-magical antidote against the plague is antibiotics.

These are difficult for the average person to purchase in large quantities, but for someone like me, it doesn’t seem to be a problem.

“Since you don’t have a problem, then I don’t have one either.

I wanted to ask, what about our trade dealings?”

“Send your people to my territory, and we can trade then.

Moreover, I need certain items to be transported over by you, especially various special building materials.

Send some to me.”

What Zhao Guang was referring to were various gemstones, but here they counted as building and carving materials.

“Don’t worry, there’s plenty of that stuff.

It seems your territory has some too.”

The two swiftly concluded the discussion about the territory and commerce.

The detailed issues to follow would be left for subordinates to negotiate slowly.

Those tedious and headache-inducing problems were not necessary for them to resolve themselves.

As for Hawks, this fellow had already recognized his lack of business acumen.

As long as Ocoro was at home, business matters were essentially handed over to Ocoro to handle.

“Right, when you’ve built up the town, let me know, and I will give you a surprise.”

“What surprise?

Can’t you tell me now?”

“If I told you now, how would it be a surprise?

Just wait.” Where in the world did Ocoro learn this phrase?