When he received the news of the riots, Paul was confused.
The shocked expression stayed on his face for half a minute.
"What did I do wrong?"
After reacting, he asked himself this question.
"Earl, now is not the time to ask this kind of question. Please quickly summon all the adults to discuss how to suppress it."
Intelligence Director Cecil, who came to report the news, urged anxiously.
"Uh... you're right. Quick! Help me call all the supervisors of Government Affairs Council and all the officers above the company level staying behind at Lakeheart Town to the Lord's Manor."
Cecil responded and left, while Paul came to the hall in despair and waited for everyone to arrive.
Since awakening the memory of his previous life, he has always taken it as his mission to promote the progress of this world, inventing various novel gadgets, setting up factories, and promoting education. Isn't this all for the sake of a better life for the people on this land? Judging from the Lakeheart Town where I am located, the lives of residents are indeed getting better and better.
Why didn't this kind of thing happen in the neighboring territory, but it happened to him, the "enlightened and progressive" lord?
"Rebellion! This is rebellion!"
Hansel was very excited after hearing the news. He was the first to jump out and shout, "Please send troops immediately to suppress Rioters."
Others, including Chief Steward Ford, also nodded, saying that the first priority was to send troops to suppress it.
Chief of Staff Schroeder, infantry Second Battalion Commander Claude, Fourth Infantry Battalion Commander Andrew means that the army is at his disposal at any time.
"Gentlemen, please calm down."
Paul said he was telling others to calm down, but actually he was panicking in his heart.
"All the news we know now came from the person named Baden. It's not sure whether there was a real riot! Maybe... well, maybe they just gathered, and then the person named Baden got scared and deliberately exaggerated."
Chief Steward Ford shook his head. "Even so, large-scale gatherings of people without the permission and supervision of the lord are illegal. It is natural to disperse them, and the leader must be punished."
While they were discussing, a second piece of news arrived, carried by an army carrier pigeon.
"Investigators sent by the Navy confirmed that residents of Faber Village and its surrounding areas lit up fires and smoke billowed into the sky! There were indeed signs of large-scale riots, and many wealthy people's homes were robbed."
Schroeder frowned and read out the contents of the note. The information sent by the navy confirmed what he said before.
"Someone at the scene shouted... shouted..."
Schroeder whispered, "The slogan [Down with the Lord] was shouted."
"Lord Earl, without further ado, please make a decision as soon as possible. Mayor Theodore requests that you allow the navy to go to counter the rebellion. For the sake of safety, please send two more companies to support."
"Uh..."
At this time, Paul hesitated. According to his deep-rooted thoughts, the uprisings of the people at the bottom have natural justice. It is too rough to suppress them indiscriminately.
Moreover, maybe because of his divergent thinking, he thought of Qin Er Shi, Yang Guang... and thought of countless rulers who were killed by peasant uprisings. Not all of them were just sparks at the beginning, but then they became more and more out of control.
If I rashly choose to suppress it, will I be nailed to the pillar of shame in history? "I said, can't we send someone to talk to them first? To understand why they are rioting, maybe... maybe they have some compelling reasons."
Talk? As soon as he said this, everyone looked at him with an expression of disbelief.
Negotiate with Rioters? Is this what a lord should say?
"Ahem!" Hansel coughed lightly and asked, "Lord, if they make some kind of request out of those [unavoidable reasons], such as tax relief, what should you do?"
Paul thought for a while and replied, "If the demands are not too excessive, I think I will satisfy them. I have been working hard to be a benevolent lord."
Hansel said seriously, "No! You must not do this! Once this hole is opened, it will be doomed!"
"Why? Isn't it normal for the people to put forward their wishes and the lord to weigh them and decide whether to agree or not?"
"That was in normal times. If they did not riot, but just expressed their wishes to you through ordinary channels, that was fine. Whether you agreed or not, the initiative was in your hands and there would be no consequences. But it is different now. They have launched a riot. In this context, if you agree to their demands, what will others think of you?"
"What do you think of me?"
"As a lord, you can be blackmailed and bullied. No matter what you think in your heart, others will think that the initiative lies with Rioters. Then your authority will no longer be strong. The Earl, who usually seems awe-inspiring and inviolable, turns out to be obedient if he makes a fuss."
"This... isn't that serious?"
Seeing that Paul was still "obsessed", Chief Steward Ford also began to persuade, "Your Majesty Earl, Hansel is right. The people are a large group, and there are many small groups within them. Each of these small groups has their own demands, and some are even conflicting with each other. Their combined desires are endless. After all, what you can give them is limited. If you satisfy one group, another group will emerge. As a lord, you can only give charity to the people, and you must not let the people take anything away from you! So, please calm down this riot immediately, dispel the delusions in the hearts of Rioters, and then deter those who are watching and ready to take action."
Schroeder nodded in agreement and said, "In this case, even if the other party's request is reasonable, you should not agree, so don't ask at all and quell the riot first. Sir, please don't worry, they are just some villagers. A few well-armed knights can disperse them, not to mention our strictly trained army equipped with muskets and cannons."
Paul opened his mouth slightly. He did not expect that two senior people who were usually highly respected would say such "reactionary" words.
Paul After thinking about it, he finally said, "I order, first, notify all villages and towns Military Service Station to organize Militia, and the person in charge will promptly grasp the situation in the area under their jurisdiction and not slack off. Second, dispatch two companies of troops to rush there overnight to cooperate with the navy and Internal Guard Unit over there to isolate the riot area, and then..."
Everyone was waiting for the lord to say the word "suppression".
"Then give an ultimatum to the people who participated in the riots, asking them to immediately stop their previous actions, but they are not allowed to attack without my order."
Hansel and others were about to continue to persuade, Paul rushed to say, "Everyone, give me one night. I will decide how to continue to deal with this matter."
On the way away from the Lord's Manor, Hansel and Cecil discussed what had just happened while walking.
"Have you noticed that the count seems to be afraid of something besides worrying about his reputation for kindness being damaged?"
"That seems to be true. Are you afraid that the army can't defeat those Rioterss? This is too ridiculous. Lord Schroeder also said that a few knights can disperse them."
"By the way, Cecil, why didn't you see our beautiful education director and consultant? They are also members of Government Affairs Council. Didn't you inform them?"
"Things like riots are too cruel to women. It's better not to disturb them."
"Oh? Is that all?"
"Okay, I admit it." Cecil shrugged and said, "I'm afraid that the characters and opinions of the two ladies will interfere with the Earl's judgment."
"Your concerns are justified."