Building a Canal (Taking Leave on the 25th)

Alex sighed and continued, "Fortunately, the rebellions aren't very large. They're centered on individual villages, and the largest group has no more than two thousand people. To be honest, I'm starting to regret not taking your advice."

Alex was referring to Victor's suggestion after the Civil War: move the people of Iron Birch Territory in the Northlands to the Central Three Counties, and move the counties' original inhabitants north in exchange. That would make it easier to integrate the population sooner.

Alex had been tempted, but in the end, he had rejected the proposal.

Before his death in battle, Count Colt had said that the people of the Northlands were the backbone of the Iron Birch Family. Those tough frontier folk sustained the family's vast military strength. Even if they defeated the Silver Maple Family, they still needed to govern their lands in the Northlands well.

Victor did not think Count Colt was wrong. The people of Iron Birch Territory, who frequently clashed with the Barbarians, were excellent recruits and deeply loyal to the Iron Birch Family. If they were moved to the peaceful three counties of Vera Province, their tough frontier spirit would inevitably fade.

But the Central Three Counties were the heart of the Silver Maple Family's lands. The family had ruled them for nearly two hundred years, and the people's loyalty could not be changed quickly. Their population had long since passed two million, though inaccurate records for these Ducal House lands made an exact count impossible. Victor estimated it might be around 2.3 million.

With a population that large, integrating the counties would probably take a long time without some migration and changes to their administrative boundaries.

Now that Alex had brought it up again, though, Victor suspected his position had changed.

Sure enough, Alex said,