Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 486 Public Security and Food Famine

"This is indeed a major problem that needs to be solved urgently..."

Harvey sat in his office in the castle, put down the work report Reiner handed him, cleared his throat, frowned, and said, "I've been devoting all my energy to dealing with alien enemies recently, and I've relaxed my internal control over Spark City."

On the one hand, it was naturally because of the high anxiety caused by the arrival of the Demon Lizardmen from the north. On the other hand, it was also out of trust in this old subordinate who could coordinate the overall situation for him and manage all the internal affairs of the territory in an orderly manner.

Only when facing Harvey did Reiner reveal his human emotions. He grumbled quietly, "Sir, I'm so busy my soul core is about to smoke, and Mr. Yurio has to give me some problems at this moment... He actually wants to introduce alchemical artifacts to the police department to assist ordinary police officers in maintaining law and order in the city."

"Oh?" Harvey raised his eyebrows in surprise. "He has some unexpected ideas. What do you think?"

"In the entirety of Spark City, aside from myself, Asdalen, and Mr. Arturo, the remaining alchemical creations weren't created by transferring human souls. Essentially... they're more like mechanical beasts implanted with fixed commands. They're perfectly adequate for supporting soldiers in overseas operations, but if used for internal security... I'm afraid it's a bit excessive."

Harvey couldn't help but chuckle. As the first person to be transformed into an alchemical life, Reiner still retained the most basic humanity and emotions after such a long time. He never regarded alchemical creations of the same origin and type as him as his own people... Instead, he seemed a little wary of them.

This was a good thing, and it made Harvey feel that the first alchemical life he created was perfect in every aspect.

"Are you worried that the alchemical creations lack humanity and will enforce the law too harshly and bloodily, causing disgust and fear among the people in the city?"

Reiner nodded honestly. "After all, they're mostly made from the souls of various beasts, and only received instructions from the three of us and you when they left the factory. They're not as smooth and flexible as living humans."

Harvey nodded in agreement, pulled out a piece of paper and quickly wrote down a note. Reiner took it and looked at it carefully, saying in confusion, "Police... Criminal Police? Sir, what does this mean?"

Harvey coughed awkwardly after coining two new words in just half a minute. He patiently explained, "Daily disputes and disputes between ordinary citizens, as well as minor offenses...are handled by human police officers. Serious crimes like personal injury, serial murder, and violent robbery are handled by alchemical creations working in conjunction with the police."

He paused, then said seriously, "The Police Department and the Ministry of Justice are just as important territorial administrative departments as the military. While their responsibilities are limited to internal affairs, they also need to be clearly divided... We also need to prepare for both appeasement and deterrence when dealing with the public.

Reiner suddenly realized something and blurted out, "I understand! My Lord, this is what you meant by the carrot and stick approach to governing a territory!"

Harvey burst into laughter and couldn't help but praise him, "Reiner, when you were a human, you were already middle-aged... I didn't expect that after becoming an alchemical lifeform, you've become younger and younger. Your ability to learn by analogy is as good as mine!"

"Uh... you know I just have a good memory, and this gift of remembering everything you hear was given to me by you when you created me."

……

Having solved the shortage of public security officers, Reiner immediately pulled another document from his briefcase and handed it to Harvey before Harvey could even catch his breath. After a quick glance, Harvey realized the problem at hand was far more serious than the public security situation in Spark City.

"How could this happen? Is it because of the recent overabundance of recruits from the Southern Territory?"

"According to our original expectations, the influx of foreign population in just a month and a half shouldn't exceed 3,000. However, the actual number is far greater than that, Your Excellency... The large-scale civil unrest caused by the nobles of Saint Valen and the lords of neighboring countries has actually harmed too many people at the bottom of society who were already struggling on the brink of poverty and hunger."

These poor people who completely depended on farming for their livelihood, after experiencing the ravages of war and persecution by the nobles, originally had no choice but to struggle through the harvestless autumn, and finally freeze to death or starve to death in their hometown or on the way to escape in the cold winter.

But the city hall that is now aggressively recruiting people within the principality has given them the only hope of survival... When they can't even fill their stomachs, no one will mind leaving their homes and going to the wilderness. The desire to survive will only force them to board the passenger ship to the north without hesitation.

"Originally, our food reserves could easily last until winter. Once the Dongtuo base completes the autumn harvest, the territory's granaries will naturally be full again... But right now, the number of refugees in the southern border has more than tripled."

Reiner paused, seemingly hesitant, but half a minute later he spoke decisively, "My suggestion is to stop accepting refugees and first ensure the food supply for the local residents of Spark City..."

Before he could finish his words, Harvey interrupted him with a frown, "No! We must not stop recruiting refugees!"

"Although the war within the Principality has ceased, people from the southeast continue to flock to the northern border. Besides trusting us to provide them with food and shelter, these people also place their hopes on Spark City being the desolate paradise they imagine they can live and work in peace and contentment... We've made the promise. If we stop accepting and abandon the remaining people, the image and reputation we've built among the people will be instantly destroyed. If we ever face a shortage of labor and soldiers again, recruiting them will be difficult!"

Moreover, the long-term development plan in Harvey's mind already needs to rely on a large number of agricultural population who have lost their land. The undeveloped land in the wasteland is vast. Even if the urban population is expanded to 100,000, it will only occupy a small corner of it. As long as the bottleneck of food shortage caused by the population explosion is overcome, Harvey is confident that he can ignite the spark of urban industrialization in a short time.

"Notify all the major chambers of commerce in the southern region immediately!" Harvey made the decision. "I know they've been closely monitoring the situation in the central countries, led by Saint Valen. These merchants with keen senses must have stockpiled large quantities of grain, waiting to sell them at a higher price!"

Reiner asked in surprise, "Sir, you...are planning to import food at a high price?"

After receiving Harvey's affirmative response, the city manager, somewhat painfully, pulled out the ledger from his waist. After nervously flipping through a few pages, he muttered, "Then I'm afraid your naval plans, railway plans, military factory expansion... and new weapons research and development projects will all have to be shelved indefinitely due to funding shortages."

While Harvey was dazed with his mouth open, Reiner added another "finishing move".

"Also, the exploration team you ordered, led by Lord Duncan, has already contacted three refugee settlements deep in the wilderness. Headed by the Snow Mountain settlement, they number over 5,000 people in total. If all goes well, their entire tribe will migrate to Spark City before winter arrives... After generations of hardship, they've finally found a place to settle down and thrive."

(End of this chapter)