My bathroom connects to another world
Chapter 350 - 350 350 Giving Them Hope

350: Chapter 350: Giving Them Hope 350: Chapter 350: Giving Them Hope “In just ten days, he managed to prepare so much, how did he do it?”

Zhao Guang set out, and the procession was magnificent, a sheer number of people that resembled a deployable army.

There were over two thousand people, and even more pigs— at least twenty thousand.

In this period, the number of Five-stiped pigs in the Imperial City had greatly diminished due to Zhao Guang’s purchases.

Even the market price for the Five-striped pigs had slightly increased.

It was unclear whether this was because Zhao Guang purchased an excessive number of Five-striped pigs, or due to the pork cooking methods that spread from the Sibar Family.

Indeed, after Zhao Guang introduced many new pork recipes, they quickly spread within the Sibar Family.

Or rather, they first circulated within the army, and later the Sibar Family brought them to other places.

In any case, a massive change in culinary practices was beginning to show signs of emergence within the Chirali Empire.

“He’s rich, after all, and with the support of the Sibar Family, of course, he could achieve it.”

“It’s so exaggerated, if I had such a team, I could also easily develop new territories.”

“You’re dreaming, what makes you think you can compare to them.”

The onlookers were abuzz, gesticulating and commenting on the procession.

What should have been a proud sight was somewhat marred by the presence of certain individuals.

Yes, it was Ocoro’s doing again, something akin to a lion dance troupe.

But this was no ordinary lion dance troupe; rather, it was a group of men, bare-skinned and painted with various Magic Beasts.

And their dance moves were, frankly, a bit of an eyesore, difficult for anyone to watch without cringing.

Zhao Guang didn’t even glance in that direction, clearly disassociating himself from these fellows.

As for the name that Ocoro was loudly calling, Zhao Guang claimed he didn’t know them at all.

“Master, the troops are all assembled, we can proceed,” said Xi Fei softly, who was the highest-ranked among the slaves at home.

Yet, in the eyes of outsiders, it was different.

Xi Fei, worried about causing trouble for Zhao Guang, wrapped herself tightly once again.

As for Jeana, she was already in the carriage.

This time Zhao Guang had brought another vehicle, but this time it was a pickup truck.

The reason was simple—because the back of a pickup could hold some things.

Zhao Guang nodded, “Go to the truck first, I need to say a few words to these people.

Looking at the disorderly and lethargic state of the procession, setting off like this wouldn’t do.

Even those disguised as mercenaries had a vigor that made it obvious something was amiss.

Therefore, things had to change.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am Zhao Guang, the Lord of the Northern Territory, and you are the slaves I have purchased.”

Upon hearing this, everyone lowered their heads, the light in their eyes dimming even further.

“But, I did not buy you to keep you as slaves for generations.

What I need are Subjects.”

The crowd was puzzled, uncertain of what Zhao Guang was getting at.

“I hereby declare, if you work diligently for five years, just five years, you will be able to shed the status of Slave and become common citizens of the territory.

I swear on my honor as the Three-Wheeled Car Duke.”

Zhao Guang said the title with a hint of embarrassment, but there was no helping it, they believed in that title.

Swearing on a noble’s name, on one’s family name, these oaths were inviolable.

Though no contract was signed, the consequences of breaking such an oath were not much different than violating a contract.

A family with no credibility could scarcely survive in noble circles.

“Moreover, no matter who you are, if you do well and earn merits, I will record them.

With merits, your time to become a full Subject will be greatly reduced.

The specific details are up to you.”

Having said all this, Zhao Guang returned to the truck, and by now the atmosphere among the people in the procession had completely shifted.

The surrounding onlookers watched the scene, not understanding what Zhao Guang was doing, nor grasping what had happened.

Some nobles sneered disdainfully.

“Wasting time and energy—if they really do gain their freedom, you’ll regret it later.” With differing perspectives, these nobles saw Zhao Guang’s actions as sheer prodigality.

“It’s his money to spend, after all.

A lord has the right to pardon, and this one’s just using it more broadly than most.”

“Just watch; who knows how it’ll turn out?

Maybe they’ll do even better than us someday, haha…”

At that moment, Qiao Miya approached Zhao Guang and whispered, “Master, do you really want to do this?

If you do, it’s going to be a great loss in the future.”

Zhao Guang smiled: “Loss?

Do you only see the loss and not the gain?”

Qiao Miya looked puzzled; he couldn’t see any gain—where was it?

“Do you know what’s most important to them?

Hope!

They had no hope before, and thus whatever they did was half-hearted, their productivity abysmal.

But I have given them hope, and that changes everything.”

Struggling for one’s own interests, for one’s future, was entirely different from laboring for a master.

Hope not only gave them motivation; it also would completely invigorate the territory.

Constrained by his limited understanding, Qiao Miya still couldn’t fully comprehend.

He had no idea what productivity meant.

But on closer observation, these people did seem somewhat different.

Their previously lazy and even despairing aura had begun to change, becoming somewhat more energetic.

“Therefore, your people will record their merits—make sure they do it well and diligently.

Tell them, if they do well, they also earn merits, and I will also grant them citizenship when the time comes.”

Qiao Miya nodded, understanding, but this was limited to those people alone.

As for Qiao Miya and his ilk, Zhao Guang would only offer them higher compensation for a certain period, rather than freedom.

After all, if people at that level caused problems, the risks would be too great.

Furthermore, it’s unlikely that Qiao Miya and the others would even consider regaining their freedom since that meant a loss of absolute trust.

Should they become free, their conditions might not be as favorable as they were now.

If anyone indeed harbored special aspirations, Zhao Guang wouldn’t mind setting them free.

But once freed, they would not have access to the core privileges of the territory, at least for some time.

Some control was needed, and it wasn’t plausible to release them all at once.

Zhao Guang intended to develop well in this world, not to institute a republic.

Seeing the shifting mood of the procession, Zhao Guang gave the command to depart.

The slaves boarded the three-wheeled vehicles, and without realizing it, they were all much more careful than at the beginning.