Blessed by Abundance, Scourge of Terra

Huang Cao would never do something as shameless as withholding wages. As I said, there's really no need to dwell on this small amount of money.

However, he still offered his suggestion: Theresia would cover the majority of the wages for these dispatched personnel, with the dispatched individuals receiving a smaller portion.

The ratio would be about four to six. Huang Cao believed this was already a very generous ratio, considering these Sarkaz were coming with a mission.

Someone always has to make a sacrifice... but Theresia expressed her opposition to this distribution.

"The nation is important, but these employees are equally important. I cannot build Kazdel's development on the suffering of the Sarkaz."

"Kazdel only needs 20% of the dispatched employees' wages."

"That amount probably won't be enough for your country to accumulate the first batch of development funds in a short period."

Huang Cao said, carefully considering his words, but he couldn't help but look up to her a bit more.

This pink-haired one truly liked to talk about ideals, preferring to solve many problems in the most idealistic way.

The character depicted in the story is the Philosopher King, and she doesn't use various deceptive tactics to trick others into joining.

Setting aside some of the frustrating behaviors from the original plot, she is indeed a kind woman who considers everyone's needs.

After all, when she has something to do, she genuinely acts, and when she is good to you, she is genuinely good to you, not hypocritical.

Except for times when she's a bit too focused on women...

Theresia held the phone and spoke cautiously, "I'd like to ask the Speaker, what are the wage and living conditions for Sarkaz in Victoria?"

Huang Cao said on the phone, "Don't worry about food. As for living conditions... it can at most shelter from the wind and rain. I can provide blankets and bedding here."

"Regarding wages, my plan is to calculate them by work hours. Eight hours a day. Each day I will assign them tasks. There will be no basic salary, only more work, more pay."

"Of course, since she is a good friend of Miss Lamian, I am naturally willing to offer some significant discounts. The trial period is one month. The work during this period will be about 60% of the formal salary. After a month, we can discuss whether to continue the cooperation after seeing the actual salary received."

"As long as they adhere to production safety regulations and do not leave their workstations arbitrarily, I won't say anything."

Although Huang Cao wouldn't withhold wages, with the productivity and technological level of this era, it was still a bit too difficult for him to provide complete housing for every worker.

In this era, a small shed that could shelter from the wind and rain was already considered good, so what more could they demand?

Even when Eden's castle hadn't been built yet, Huang Cao and Warfarin slept hanging from trees.

Theresia nodded in agreement. To attract this investment, she had put her reputation on the line.

As for wages, there would be no minimum guarantee, only more work, more pay.

She had to trust the Sarkaz's racial talent, which could improve work efficiency and results, and also bring more income to Theresia.

At this moment, she didn't seem like a Demon King at all, but rather like a destitute girl.

This transaction couldn't be considered Huang Cao helping; at most, it was mutually beneficial.

But this did not mean Theresia had abandoned her future ideals. It was just that for the sake of these ideals, she had made some realistic compromises, likely just compromises.

There was progress, but not much. There was change, but not a significant change.

Setting aside the land of Kazdel.

Huang Cao still somewhat hoped that Kazdel could achieve an outcome other than the "Underground" scenario. Of course, the premise was that it wouldn't disturb him.

The future civil war between this pair of siblings would at most only slightly reduce the difficulty of his conquest of Kazdel.

If by then he already possessed absolute power, a direct push through was not impossible.

No one could predict the future. Once Kazdel was unified, Huang Cao could naturally provide a better life for the Sarkaz.

Because by then, the resources he possessed would be far greater than Theresia's.

81

Chapter 81: The protagonist is about to draw a super general card.

When the call ended, Huang Cao looked at the letters piled on his desk, figuring he could resolve them in three days.

After dealing with these miscellaneous matters, he could head to the border of Victoria and attempt to fully open the passage between Eden and Victoria.

However, there was a joint petition from the councilors on his desk.

This was not an impeachment, but a plea for the Speaker's protection.

Due to the outstanding performance of the hundred soldiers blessed by Abundance whom he had brought in the "rebellion suppression" battle in Victoria.

The councilors, to ensure their safety, had all submitted applications to bring back one soldier each.

After all, their combat power was too fierce. In a melee, one Abundance Warrior could completely disable a Steam Knight.

They couldn't be killed, and once they latched on, they would be entangled in vines.

There were no Steam Knights in this world without any gaps. Once the vines penetrated, prying open that turtle shell would only be a matter of time.

Remember the prerequisite is that the distance is not far. If they were kited from a very long distance, it would be difficult to handle.

It wasn't that they would be kited to death, but rather that after being blown to pieces by a long-range shot from that far away.

Even if the recovery time was short, it would still require some process. During this time, people who could run fast enough could gain some distance.

Later, they could deplete the enemy's cannonballs and other long-range weapons, but the time spent would not be short, unless they themselves also possessed long-range weapons.

To be honest, for the Steam Knight, although the physical fitness of the pilot inside was superior, it was still inferior compared to super-strong races like Sarkaz and Wyvern.

A trained Wyvern warrior might be able to hold out for a few dozen seconds against one of his Abundance Warriors when they go all out.

Mechanical types were completely countered by his own Abundance.

This made Abundance Warriors perfect for security, so Huang Cao readily agreed to the councilors' requests.

It wasn't that Huang Cao didn't want to grant more blessings; it was just that his own exploration of Abundance was still in its early stages. If he accidentally gave too much, it would be very easy for someone to spontaneously combust on the spot.

Huang Cao could control his own power, but that didn't mean those he blessed could.

Who knew when someone might suddenly go berserk and demand to bring the whole world down with them? Huang Cao couldn't do anything about such oddballs.

He couldn't exactly strip them of their thoughts and create a hive mind, could he?

But manipulating minds was a very complex matter, and Huang Cao had no intention of doing so. Otherwise, he'd have to split off a part of his brain to handle everything, which would be utterly unbearable.

"Next, we need to deal with the immigration issue."

Huang Cao used the great hand of the state to bring all the Talarians in Victoria under his territory.

Victoria's policy for dealing with the remnants of the previous dynasty was terrible anyway, so it was better for him to handle it.

Come to my territory and plant potatoes!

"For the next three months, starting today, any Talarian who enters the Speaker's territory will receive a ten-year tax exemption."

"Not only that, but all Talarians will also receive job opportunities without needing to pay any deposit."

"The average hourly wage is as follows…"

"In this regard, the Speaker's office solemnly guarantees all Talarians: there will absolutely be no discriminatory incidents."

Of course, there would be no discriminatory incidents because, within his domain, everyone except the Talarians were Sarkaz.

The treatment and experiences of these two races on this land could only be described as equally dire; neither could mock the other, and both could tell dark jokes about each other.

Huang Cao also maintained a fair balance. The average wages for both groups were similar, based on their work content and intensity.

No matter how down on their luck the Talarians were, most of them had received a proper education before their country fell. In the original story, they even held operas.

Culturally, they weren't exactly at the level of being born into it, and they hadn't completely fallen into destitution yet.

While they suffered unfair treatment and discrimination, at least the Talarians could survive in this country and wouldn't easily starve to death on the streets.

The Dukes' attitudes towards these remnants of the previous dynasty were also exceptionally ambiguous; they neither wanted to cut them down completely nor let them live too comfortably.

To put it metaphorically, it was like looking at a bag of rather precious garbage.

Coincidentally, Huang Cao took this bag of "garbage" away in one fell swoop.

Thanks to the exceptional efficiency of his councilors, this decree spread like lightning throughout Victoria in less than seven days.

Almost all Talarians heard the call and, bringing their families, headed for Victoria's borders.

This wasn't because Huang Cao had already gained their trust. Rather, in a Victoria where discrimination against Talarians was becoming increasingly severe, they had nowhere else to go.

No matter where they went, they couldn't escape misfortune, especially since the Speaker's stories had already spread throughout Victoria, fanned by his councilors.

Stories of him bravely fighting the old nobles with schemes and tactics were even compiled into novels by those with ulterior motives.

Although the stories within were quite absurd in Huang Cao's opinion…

Thus, under this almost fanatical propaganda, the Talarians also fantasized about a hero to save them.

Moreover, Huang Cao, as the Speaker, was a foreigner, not a native noble of Victoria, and he had also dealt with the old nobles who had attacked him the most.

This undoubtedly strengthened Huang Cao's towering image in the hearts of the Talarians.

In short, the policy was implemented very smoothly. Within just two days, tens of thousands of Talarians had arrived in his territory.

Huang Cao had already prepared food and, with the help of his councilors, arranged for them to be sent to various locations for reclamation.

Did you really think the territory was already managed?

Without anyone to work, the territory would at best be a wasteland. Fields and land were entirely different things.

However, with such a large population, he needed to appoint a leader to manage them.

Thus, a month later, facing over a hundred thousand Talarians, Huang Cao began preparing to select someone to help him manage them.

This didn't take much time.

Because one morning, while patrolling the territory, he picked out a white-haired Feline who was still sketching and drawing while cultivating the land.

"What is your name?"

Huang Cao asked curiously.

"Reporting, sir, I do not have a name."

"And your surname?"

"My surname is Wellesley. I just arrived here half a month ago. May I ask, respected sir, what you require?"

"Do you have a son named Arthur?"

"I am very sorry, my son is not named Arthur."

"I just wanted to understand you all better. Work hard, and you'll be paid."

Huang Cao shook his head and walked away, thinking it was probably just someone with the same surname.

The white-haired Feline scratched his head, but silently committed the name Arthur to memory, a name he would bestow upon his grandson many years later.

And in the future, his grandson would have a particularly resounding title: the Iron Duke.

But it wouldn't be the Iron Duke of Victoria, but an Iron Duke belonging solely to Huang Cao.

82

Chapter 82: Abundance, also known as Abundance is Omnipotent.

"There seem to be very few Immortals in the plot. I've only met a few acquaintances after staying in Kazdel for so long."

This is a bit boring. As expected, it's more fun with acquaintances.

He had seen many of the operators' ancestors.

But ultimately, it was lacking something.

Alas, it's a bit difficult to endure. The joy of the Immortals is so simple and unpretentious.

According to the calculation method of the Era of Passing (Xīshì Jì), there are at least another 120 years until the future main story begins.

Perhaps he could personally change some predetermined facts, forcefully using the great hand of Abundance to reverse certain events that were bound to happen.

But wouldn't that be too petty?

After much thought, Huang Cao decided it would be more interesting to continue playing the "war criminal cultivation" game.

"So, it's time to run a train with Abundance's characteristics."

There were trains on this land, but their total mileage was very small, not even comparable to a small country in his previous life.

In the future, when Siergrag built its railway, the total mileage of that small country would still be more than that of Kazdel.