When Shade saw his neighbor in the busy courtyard, Mr. Smith was talking to a man who looked obviously from the south. Because there were guests walking around everywhere, the two of them standing at the long table and talking seemed ordinary.
Out of courtesy, Shade did not disturb them, but Mr. Smith unexpectedly called Shade over and introduced him after Shade came over:
"This is Baron Hans Fuller, who came with Princess Margaret from the United Kingdom of Carsenrick. He works in the United Kingdom's financial department. Baron Fuller, this is Knight Hamilton of Regede, my neighbor."
"Good evening, Baron."
Shad spoke in Draerion, shaking hands with the tall, thin old gentleman with deep sunken eyes.
"Good evening, Knight. Since I arrived in Tobesk, it seems that everyone is talking about your story."
He probably thought of Shade as a "socialite" among the Tobysk nobles.
Mr. Smith held up his glass and said to Shade:
"Just now I was discussing with this southern gentleman the financial problems of the two countries in recent years. Since the end of the total war, the economies of the two countries have been developing rapidly in recent decades. The prosperous economy can be seen from the annual tax revenue alone. But we have our own views on the future economic situation of the two countries. Mr. Hamilton, what do you think about this?"
Both old gentlemen held their glasses, Mr. Smith was asking questions, and Baron Fuller was looking at Shad curiously.
Xia De knew that they wanted to hear other opinions from different perspectives, so he thought about it and expressed his own opinion:
“In fact, economic development is not only due to peace, but also due to technological innovation.”
"Steam engine?"
Mr. Smith asked, nodding;
“Yes, technology advances the economy.”
"To be more precise, technology is the primary productive force."
Xia De said it with absolute certainty. He believed in this conclusion more than anyone else in this era:
"The emergence of the steam engine promoted the development of assembly lines and large factories, thus transforming the more primitive handicraft workshops into those large steam factories emitting black smoke in the distance."
Shade pointed to the horizon, and the three of them turned their heads. Baron Fuller nodded and asked in Draerion:
"There are quite a few people who agree with your view in our country. However, some people believe that the emergence of large steam factories will make the manufacturing of goods and machinery increasingly dependent on machines rather than workers, making the lower-class citizens and the poor who perform simpler labor unemployed, which will in turn have an adverse impact on national stability and economic development."
This question was quite profound, and Baron Fuller asked it because he saw that Shad had some insights into the topic.
I thought that the handsome knight in front of me would immediately admire the beauty of steam machinery and denounce the mob, or support the poor who lost their jobs because of the emergence of machinery. Unexpectedly, Shade hesitated for a moment before saying:
"We need to be dialectical. I mean, we need to consider this issue from many aspects."
"Can you tell me more about this?"
Mr. Smith asked with great interest. Although he and Shad were neighbors and met him several times a week, he had no idea that Shad had such insights on economic issues.
Shade hesitated for a moment, and seeing that the two old gentlemen holding wine glasses were looking at him, he put Mia, who was in his arms, on his shoulders and also raised a glass of wine. The three of them were in the lively place at the entrance of the mansion. In the surrounding tents, the bards were chanting ancient poems about the Great North Ice Cap. People gathered on one side of the gate, smiling and watching the two gentlemen with their eyes covered with black cloth, tasting the different colored drinks on the table one by one.
No one paid attention to them, and the stranger was thinking. He had seen a lot since coming to this world, but he had never discussed such topics with others. Even Leicia didn't know what Shade knew.
He lowered his voice a little:
"On the one hand, the development of steam machinery and even our revolutionary steam age is in the right direction. Using large-scale machinery to improve production efficiency is an important part of the kingdom's economic development. For example, a day's work of an ordinary cashmere shearing worker may not be as fast and high-quality as half an hour of automated steam machinery. This is the advantage of machinery. If we want to improve the overall level of social productivity, we must vigorously develop steam machinery."
"Yes, that's quite true."
Baron Fuller agreed repeatedly.
"But on the other hand, the productivity liberated from these simple basic labors is also a valuable asset."
"Yes, population is the cornerstone of the kingdom."
Mr. Smith, Shad's neighbor, also nodded slightly, and looked at him curiously with his face wearing small round-framed glasses:
"Knight, it seems that I have underestimated you in the past."
Shad continued:
"No, no, population is not the cornerstone. A well-qualified population is the cornerstone of development."
Mr. Fuller narrowed his eyes and Mr. Smith inhaled slightly.
"If we force the lower-class workers to leave those simple manual jobs, we must let them engage in higher-end and more effective labor in order to stabilize society and develop the economy. This requires the kingdom to make changes, increase investment in basic education, work with the church to increase efforts to develop night schools, improve the welfare system, and improve the labor and workers' laws."
He knew it was unrealistic to say this now, but he still expressed his thoughts:
"A well-qualified population is the cornerstone of the kingdom. The labor force liberated from the bottom should not be seen as an unstable burden, but as an untapped gold mine. Yes, population is a gold mine, especially in our time."
Mr. Smith did not praise Shade this time, but Mr. Fuller nodded repeatedly.
Xia De paused for a moment, thinking of many things:
"In our era, we are in a state of primitive accumulation. I am not saying that the nobles and merchants of the old era did not have wealth, but what they have now is far from enough to open the door to the new world. But we are very lucky. Not only do we have the internal economic circulation system of the Old World, but we also have the vast and fertile land and unimaginable mineral reserves of the New World."
Not everyone in every world has this kind of luck.
"In my opinion, if Delarion and Carsonrick can still maintain peace in the next ten or twenty years, the economic level of the two countries will depend entirely on the investment in basic and higher education, as well as the development of the New World. Of course, based on my limited knowledge, the former is more important."
Xia De said, and then added the last sentence:
"After all, knowledge is power."
"educate... ... "
The old former chief financial secretary of the kingdom repeated, not knowing what he was thinking of. Baron Fuller gently used his empty right hand to pat the back of his left hand holding the wine glass, his eyes filled with unstoppable curiosity about Shade:
"That's wonderful, knight. I don't think many young people of your age would think of this. In fact, even among the nobles older than you, there are many who think that the people of the lower kingdoms are just bugs. Replacing them with machines doesn't need to consider the consequences. They can just lie down and make money."
After saying that, he snorted:
"How can we manage the economy with those insects?"
This old man from the south did not have any problem with the aristocratic group itself. He was probably thinking of his political enemies in the country, or the idiots he had seen in the parliament.
"Sir Fuller, since you are attending the banquet, please don't discuss this topic anymore."
As the three were talking, a beautiful female voice with a smile came from the door of the mansion. Before the three turned around, they heard the people around them begin to greet "Your Highness".
Turning around, I saw Princess Margaret of Anjou and Princess Leia Cavendish walking together.
Princess Margaret, with her light blond hair, wore a long dress that faded into blue; while Resia wore a red dress that matched her hair color. After the afternoon wedding, she changed out of her plain bridesmaid dress. Both princesses wore small silver crowns that symbolized their status, and long-sleeved lace gloves on their arms. They were followed by their respective maids, and they became the focus of the neighborhood as soon as they appeared.
"Good evening, your highness."
The three people at the table put down their glasses at the same time and greeted the two princesses. Leicia smiled and told the guests around them not to pay too much attention to them, and then introduced Mr. Smith's identity to Princess Margaret.
Princess Margaret chuckled and asked:
"Baron Fuller, what were you talking about just now? Sir Smith of Delarion, does he have any different economic views from you?"
"No, not Sir Smith, but this Knight Hamilton."
Baron Fuller patted Shade's shoulder, a way of showing affection. He said to the red-haired princess:
"Your Highness, Leicia, your country's young nobles are really knowledgeable. Mr. Hamilton discussed with us the impact of replacing workers with machines on the kingdom's economic development. His point of view is very innovative. Technology is the primary driving force for development. Only by liberating the lower-level labor force can we make better use of the population."
He repeated Shade's point, and the red-haired princess smiled, pleased that someone had praised Shade:
"Ray Jedd's Hamilton always has an unexpected perspective."
Of course, on the surface, he is still quite reserved.
"Does Mr. Hamilton also understand economics?"
Princess Margaret was a little surprised. After all, from what she knew, Shad only got his current status because he hooked up with the Duchess and saved the Queen.
"No, no, I just speak my mind. I can't compare with these two gentlemen."
Xia De said immediately, but Xia De’s neighbor praised:
"Knight, although modesty is a virtue, how can you speak nonsense in front of the princess? Your point just now is very good. Being shallow is not a problem at all. You are standing at a higher level."
Leicia glanced at Shade. She didn't expect him to receive such high praise. After all, she also knew the character of the former first secretary of the Kingdom's Ministry of Finance.
Princess Margaret then smiled and said:
"Knight, come to think of it, I am very interested in your views. During my visit to Tobesk, I will attend many parties and salons, and we can discuss these issues together when we have the chance."
She said to Shade, and of course Shade agreed. The princesses then invited Shade to go with them, and Shade also gave a positive response. He just looked at the two princesses in front of him, and then looked at the former financial officials of the two countries, and then thought about the topic just discussed.
As a foreigner, I really feel that I have the ability to change the course of civilization in this world.
Suddenly I heard a sigh, but when I turned around to look for the source of the sigh in the dim lights, I couldn't find it.
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