Chapter 144: Move Aside, I’m Going to Develop Agriculture!

Ushi City

August 16th.

With the implementation of the policy exempting one year’s taxes by the Castle Lord’s Mansion, Velis’s reputation among the common people reached another peak.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Borden and Nidnia in recent days, giving speeches and persuading everywhere, slogans praising Velis could be seen in almost every street and alley.

They were either nailed to the roadside with wooden signs or written on the walls with ink.

Not only that, every day there were people responsible for making announcements, continuing to promote loudly in the streets and alleys.

The main content was about Velis’s various measures benefiting the people and words of praise for her.

Over time, even children could recite them.

“This is a bit excessive.”

Velis hugged her chest in discomfort, still not used to being worshipped like this.

She was now wearing commoner’s clothes, walking on the street with Anne, Victoria, and Ofilia.

“Is Her Highness embarrassed?”

Anne teased with a smile.

“Ahem, how could that be!?”

Velis, of course, would never admit it.

But being worshipped as a saint of light like this brought an invisible pressure, more or less.

“Praise Her Highness! Peace to Lord!”

A female passerby ran into them head-on, and greeted them with this phrase.

Velis was stunned.

She twitched her lips and asked in confusion, “Do you know me?”

“Ah?”

The passerby was also confused.

“Um… who are you?”

At this moment, Anne quickly pulled Velis away.

As they walked, she turned back and smiled at the passerby, “Ahaha, she’s new to Ushi City, so she’s a bit confused. Please forgive her, forgive her!”

The passerby was relieved, “If so, then I wish you happiness here.”

When they were far away, Ofilia couldn’t help but ask, “That just now…”

“It’s a popular greeting that’s been trending among the people in the past two days…”

Anne laughed.

“Her Highness, your popularity among them is really high now!”

“I almost thought I was exposed…”

Velis let out a breath of relief.

“But to think it could develop like this in just about a week was unexpected to me.”

Anne picked up the conversation, her eyes squinting into beautiful crescents.

“Because it’s all the reward for your hard work, Your Highness… You treated them with mercy and kindness, so of course you earned their respect.”

Velis could only shake her head helplessly.

“Reputation alone isn’t enough. You need to produce more practical results.”

“Otherwise, all this is just a castle in the air, an illusion that vanishes in a blink, shattering at the slightest touch.”

Fame and popularity were the foundation of her governance.

But it was only a short-term phenomenon.

Once the initial enthusiasm cooled down, the real problems to face would remain:

Whether under Velis’s rule people could eat their fill, stay warm, have some spare money, and enjoy a rich spiritual life.

At the very least, not letting idle people turn to crime.

All these issues would come one after another.

To maintain long-lasting and deep-rooted popularity, efforts needed went far beyond mere propaganda and empty promises.

Velis had to present real results in governance in the days ahead.

Because the people would only truly follow a lord who could lead them to a better life.

However, in the current time when chaos was frequent in Ushi City and stability was just being restored, comforting the people and stabilizing society was extremely necessary and urgent.

For now, it seemed everything was moving in a good direction.

Although there were still a few troublemakers, overall Velis was quite satisfied.

“I believe Her Highness will definitely do well!”

Anne happily leaned closer, her fragrance reaching Velis’s nose.

That stunning beauty made Velis’s breathing a little hurried.

“Anne will always help Her Highness too. That’s our promise!”

Speaking of which, Velis suddenly remembered.

“Weren’t you supposed to seek out Imperial Sister to learn swordsmanship and get closer to her? Why do you keep following me around now?”

Velis asked.

“It’s nothing urgent right now. You can go find her.”

Upon hearing this, Anne pouted, showing dissatisfaction.

“I planned to study with Dahuangnuo Dianxia after she returned to the academy. Anyway, won’t Her Highness also be going to the academy as a Teacher then?”

As she spoke, Anne’s face filled with longing.

“Um, can I be your student at that time?”

Velis was momentarily at a loss with this request.

Anne becoming her student?

Why did that feel strange?

Then what about her Teacher, Bri Donald? What kind of relationship would they have?

“Ahem, if you want to, that’s fine too.”

She suddenly had the urge to see what Teacher’s expression would be at that time.

So she didn’t refuse.

But Velis thought, with Anne’s intelligence, was there really a need to become her student?

Anne giggled, while Ofilia behind them pouted with a hint of jealousy.

As for Guard Knight Victoria, she remained silent as usual, only occasionally glancing at the hem of Velis’s skirt.

That absolute territory there unconsciously reminded her of the night Velis bullied her.

As they walked, Velis inspected the condition of each street.

She asked about the prices of goods sold at every shop and stall, and compared the comments from commoners who came to buy things about their lives.

Although everyone harbored hopes for the future and trusted the current Lord, their lives were indeed improving.

But…

“Because of the previous lockdown and war, prices are indeed much higher than usual.”

Velis looked troubled, while Anne at her side kept comforting her.

“It’s okay, Your Highness. It’s only just started, so take it slowly.”

“As long as trade in Ushi City and the surrounding areas is restored, prices will stabilize quickly.”

“Mm.”

Velis nodded.

“These things will indeed settle down soon, but on the other hand…”

She had discovered a problem.

“In the households we visited earlier, most had one or two idle laborers. Excluding children and the elderly, women were also important sources of labor.”

“But now they face the dilemma of having no jobs to do. The biggest employer in Ushi City is the Mines…”

“But young people around 20 and women aren’t suited for work in the Mines.”

After hearing Velis’s concerns, Anne laughed.

“Didn’t the Emperor allow Her Highness to expand the army? Why not just recruit from among these people?”

“I would like to…”

Velis gave a wry smile.

“But after distributing food at fair prices, what remains is barely enough to sustain the current army and Castle Lord’s Mansion.”

“And the money left in hand must go to buying food, to avoid shortages later.”

“For every 10,000 more soldiers, daily food consumption increases by about 30,000 jin.”

Velis spread her hands.

“In short, there’s no money. Can’t afford it.”

It was indeed a headache.

If the City Lord’s Treasury were still full, purchasing food externally would be the fastest solution.

But now… Velis was truly short on funds.

“So what should we do? If we don’t find work for these people, idleness may lead to more crime.”

Anne said worriedly.

“Besides, His Majesty ordered you to pacify the Barbarian Tribes of the Kenar Steppe within five years. Without enough troops, you might not be able to fulfill the imperial order!”

“That’s why…”

Velis sighed toward the sky.

“We need to start developing our own agriculture in Ushi City now.”

“We can’t rely solely on the Mines.”

At that moment, the three turned at the second intersection of Buna Street and arrived at the Sacred Forest Grand Plaza south of the Castle Lord’s Mansion.

At this moment, the plaza was packed with people.

“Is there a propaganda speech being held here?”

Ofilia asked curiously.

“Of course not…”

Velis smiled.

“Come on, let’s go take a look.”

They waited below the stage for a while, and soon, a young girl wearing a jade fox mask and beautiful clothes stepped onto the platform.

“Be…Becky!?”

Anne exclaimed.