Chapter 13

Half a year had passed since he woke up after falling into the sea.

The white shirt and shorts Xia Zuoyi wore had begun to be replaced by slightly thicker long-sleeved shirts and trousers.

The temperature gradually dropped, and the sea wind became merciless, chilly as knives stabbing straight into people's faces as it whooshed back and forth with a mournful howl.

Xia Zuoyi had previously sat by the window to read or handle official affairs while admiring the coastal scenery.

Now, he had moved beside the fireplace in the study. Soft, comfortable sofas were arranged around it, with a low, heavy square table in the middle. Once he curled up there, he hardly wanted to move.

More than a month had passed since the first drill ended.

Winter was approaching.

Everything in Visas was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

The soldiers continued their training. Problems involving the newly relocated commoners and slaves settling in or finding work had all been satisfactorily resolved. The Thorn Merchant Guild was operating well, and profits from salt sales continued to increase.

At first, the refined salt could only be sold within Visas.

Later, Komoy Fort finally lifted its ban on commoners and slaves leaving the city.

Visas's refined salt began circulating outward. Cheap and high-quality, it gradually replaced the coarse salt sold by the Nagabi Merchant Guild.

Soon afterward, its sales channels reached Gadayat's royal capital and even extended as far as the Gaina Kingdom.

Compared with expensive coarse salt crystals, the newly released refined salt was not only cheap but as beautiful as fine white sand. No one needed to see both choices laid out before them to know which one to choose.

Thus, in merely a few short months, demand for refined salt rapidly increased and continued expanding, while its sales territory grew ever wider.

Within the areas where refined salt was sold, the Nagabi Merchant Guild's coarse salt had almost been squeezed out of the market, left with only a tiny foothold.

Likewise, this near-monopolistic business brought Xia Zuoyi profits that could be described as piles upon mountains of gold coins.

At that moment.

Xia Zuoyi felt that having money meant peace of mind.

But for convenience, he had directly used the crest representing the Desinia Family as the Thorn Merchant Guild's trademark. As a result, commoners and slaves gradually became accustomed to calling refined salt Rose Salt.

Xia Zuoyi: =.=

The castle had been built on a cliff by the sea, so it was already damp.

Now that winter was nearly upon them, the surroundings felt even colder and gloomier. Firewood had therefore been lit in the room's fireplace early on, making the study pleasantly warm.

Gibran truly had a talent for mathematics.

He studied under Old Nick and was now gradually coming into contact with, and becoming familiar with, the castle's financial management.

Gibran was reporting the previous month's financial income and expenditures to Xia Zuoyi.

"Overall, our income far exceeds our expenditures."

"A large portion of the expenses came from applications submitted by the soldiers' training camp: purchasing weapons, buying food, replacing clothing and bedding... Recently, Commander Ferdinand and Commander Walker submitted another request to provide the soldiers with stoves and coal. Otherwise, winter will be difficult to endure."

Xia Zuoyi nodded. "Approved."

In winter, people used stoves or fireplaces for warmth, burning coal or firewood.

Naturally, nobles did not need to worry about surviving the long, cold winter.

But coal was expensive, beyond the means of commoners and slaves. Some people did not even have stoves in their homes. Although firewood could be gathered from Par Mountain, going into the mountains to chop wood in winter was undoubtedly a difficult choice.

Sometimes, they might even encounter danger.

Besides, it was not unusual for people to freeze to death in winter.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "Judith, how many people die in Visas during the coldest days?"

Judith replied, "If heavy snow covers Visas... many people will die."

Toby spoke softly from the side, "Mother died in winter too..."

Gibran silently rubbed his younger brother's little head.

If he had not been fortunate enough to meet the earl, he and Toby did not know how they would have survived this winter.

Xia Zuoyi said, "Allocate another sum from the finances to build an aid station specifically to help poor people survive the winter. Whether commoners or slaves, as long as they are within Visas's territory, they may apply for assistance at the aid station."

"The main recipients of assistance will be elderly people without the ability to support themselves, orphans, injured people, and those with disabilities or impairments..."

Toby's eyes shone brightly as he listened.

Judith said, "But if we do this, there will inevitably be lazy people who use tricks to pretend they need aid."

Gibran could not help saying, "Yes, my lord. Elderly people and orphans have no ability to protect their money. There is no shortage of thugs and hooligans in the city. They will do anything for money. They might rob them, or secretly control the elderly and orphans..."

He had lived in the most remote area of Visas since childhood and knew deeply that the wickedness of people's hearts could not be measured.

Toby frowned. "Then what should we do?"

Xia Zuoyi said, "In that case, bring all elderly people and orphans living alone into the aid station."

"They should know best what kind of people need assistance and what kind do not. Order the knights to verify every case. If anyone is found deliberately defrauding the aid station, reclaim the money for minor offenses and expel them from Visas for serious ones."

He said, "Some bad things cannot be eliminated or avoided. We cannot accurately filter them all out. All we can do is help those who need help as much as possible."

He could only do his best.

As he said these things, the young earl was curled up on a soft sofa, wrapped tightly in blankets by Judith the butler, who worried he might be cold. Only his round, fair little face was exposed. His caramel-colored eyes were earnest and solemn, while his rosy little mouth kept moving, making him look adorably concerned for the people of the city.

"My lord, you're so kind!" Toby cheered.

The tips of Xia Zuoyi's ears reddened, though his expression remained calm. "Stop flattering me."

Toby chuckled foolishly. "I'm not. My lord really is wonderful."

Gibran covered his hot, pounding chest. "My lord, your heart is as pure and beautiful as Divine Flower Belanka."

Judith also said softly, "You are Desinia's glory."

Xia Zuoyi finally could not help burying his flushed face in the blanket. He muttered, "Stop saying that. I don't have money to give you."

Your praise is deadly.

After Komoy Fort lifted its ban on leaving the city, the commoners and slaves who had previously hesitated, watched from the sidelines, or even believed Visas's notices about recruitment and tax reductions were false began to regret it bitterly.

As the days passed, the contrast became increasingly obvious.

Every day, every moment, news flowed into Komoy Fort—how wonderful life in Visas was, how very well the commoners and slaves there lived.

Six days of work and one day of rest, yet the copper coins they earned were no fewer than before. Sometimes, they could even eat meat.

Not to mention those who became soldiers. They did not need to worry about food or lodging at all, and they could even receive monthly allowances to support their families. Recently, stoves and thick blankets had also been issued to them uniformly.

Their mouths, hearts, and stomachs all felt as sour as if they had eaten lemons.

Today, another piece of news arrived.

Count Desinia had ordered an aid station built in Visas. It was said to specifically provide relief to people unable to survive the bitter winter.

Moreover, people who had been to Visas said that the aid station had already taken in all elderly people living alone and children without parents, allowing them to safely survive the entire winter.

Once the news was confirmed as true, the vast Komoy Fort was like cold water slowly boiling in a pan of oil.

People's hearts stirred as if an undercurrent were brewing. The more suppressed things appeared on the surface, the more earth-shaking the eruption would be when it came.

No one knew how many people regretted their decision until their intestines turned green.

Just how harsh was winter in Gadayat?

When heavy snow covered the land, commoners and slaves would not even dare close their eyes, afraid that the snowy night would take their souls away if they were careless for even a moment.

If the earlier news concerned their livelihoods, then today's news concerned their lives.

They desperately wanted to go to Visas.

But although the order banning people from leaving the city had been lifted, the knights guarding the gates still strictly inspected commoners who wished to move to Visas.

As for slaves, they were tightly watched by their estate owners. Without Visas's knights coming to purchase people, even their freedom to enter and leave the estates was restricted.

Some unwilling commoners had people inquire whether Visas would recruit soldiers again and when recruitment would begin.

The answer they received was that Visas would recruit soldiers every summer.

It was impossible this year; they could wait until next year. Although they could not enlist, Visas welcomed migrants at any time.

After news of the aid station spread, Komoy Fort's elderly people and orphans left without the slightest reluctance.

They were not valued, and even the inspections of them were careless.

Because of this, Komoy Fort's commoners also began thinking of every possible way to leave.

They would rather abandon large, heavy belongings they still needed just to evade the knights' inspections. Commoners with large families left separately, while those with smaller families did not dare let down their guard. They had never been so cautious.

People had a herd mentality. Seeing how commoners and slaves all longed to go, some small estate owners also began considering moving to Visas.

But they did not dare voice it openly, afraid of offending Count Bevis Elliot. Besides, all their property was in Komoy Fort, so they could not possibly move away as they pleased.

Half a month later.

Bevis Elliot suddenly discovered that Komoy Fort had become much more desolate.

He sensed that something was wrong and sent knights into the city to investigate.

Only then did he discover that many houses in the city were empty. The commoners who had lived in them had vanished without a trace. Although furniture and other things had been left behind, some important possessions were gone, and several places were the same.

If Bevis Elliot still could not figure out what was going on.

Then he was an idiot.

No, he was not much better than one now.

Xia Zuoyi Desinia had practically pried away nearly half the commoners in his city!

Yet despite all his precautions, he had not stopped even a single person. Only when people were nearly all gone did he discover that his territory had gradually become cold and bleak, with an indescribable desolation hanging over the streets.

Bevis Elliot was nearly driven mad with rage.

He shouted furiously in the castle to vent his anger, smashing quite a few things with loud crashes.

The butler did not dare step forward to stop him. Only after he calmed down slightly did the butler slowly say, "My lord, perhaps we could lower taxes as well and imitate Desinia's methods..."

Bevis Elliot raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and gritted out, "How are we supposed to imitate him?!"

"That little brat Desinia has enormous profits from salt sales supporting him. What do we have?! If we lower taxes, where will the castle's income come from?!"

"Do you think I'm an idiot?!"

"N-No, my lord..." The butler lowered his head in terror.

Bevis Elliot angrily kicked the chair again.

He regretted not sending more knights back then to completely kill that hateful little brat. Now Xia Zuoyi was making trouble for him, lodged in his heart like a sharp fishbone.

A vicious gleam flashed through Bevis Elliot's eyes as he ordered the butler, "Prepare writing paper."

He wanted to send a letter to Duke Bass Riches.

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