Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 603 Undercurrent
Ever since the State Department acquired the official means of disseminating information through the publication of newspapers, all important events occurring within the United Kingdom would spread throughout the country at an extremely fast speed, attracting the close attention of the people and the aristocracy everywhere.

Unlike the past when messages could only be delivered through caravans and carrier pigeons, the Kingdom's Propaganda Department, which owns a separate magic network communication line, has allocated a large amount of funds to open special newspaper offices in administrative cities at all levels, completing everything from sending and receiving messages to printing newspapers. In addition to fixed-point sales, local city halls will also send people to read and explain in the most conspicuous locations in the square, so that even illiterate civilians can have the opportunity to understand important decisions related to the development of the kingdom.

The hottest news topic recently is that after His Majesty the Emperor ascended the throne, he enacted legislation to abolish metal currency throughout the kingdom and replace it with paper money and gold coins.

Once the newspaper that published this decree was published, it swept through cities across the country within just a few days. No matter where you went in the streets and alleys, you could hear countless people discussing it enthusiastically... The attention even exceeded that of the alien monster specimens that were publicly displayed in the city hall not long ago.

Jinhui City was no exception. Even in the daytime, a tavern called "Warhammer" in the outer city was still bustling with people. A large number of middle and lower class people living in the local area gathered here. Various rumors about the "currency abolition order" emerged one after another, and almost everyone dared to claim that they had top-secret first-hand information after drinking.

The tavern owner sat bored behind the bar, flipping a silver coin in his hand. He didn't seem to care much about the booming business, but from time to time he glanced at a group of people sitting in the corner of the hall.

"I've been forced to exchange my hard-earned gold and silver for a pile of colorful waste paper..." A businessman, his face flushed from drinking at the bar, slammed his glass down on the counter and cursed in a rage. "This kind of exploitation of the people's wealth is something even the most greedy nobles in the capital wouldn't dare to do!"

A waiter who hurried past him with a tray suddenly raised his eyebrows and looked at the drunk businessman with a gloomy expression.

Upon hearing this, the merchant's companion quickly raised his hand to cover the man's mouth and shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about? You are openly insulting the Emperor. You are asking for your life!"

The man immediately realized his slip of the tongue, his face turned pale, and he sobered up out of fright.

This statement was echoed by many people in the tavern. "I heard that this terrible idea was proposed by the wizards and wizards around His Majesty. There were also upright noble officials who spoke out in opposition, but they were secretly suppressed and even fabricated charges to frame and imprison them."

"What? There's such a shocking inside story?" More people exclaimed in surprise. "Where did you get this information from? Is it true?"

"Huh, huh! Why don't you guarantee the authenticity? I have relatives in Jackdaw Town. Isn't it easy for me to get firsthand information from the capital?"

"But...but His Majesty the Emperor is still very young, and it is rumored that he has always acted wisely and decisively. How could he be so easily manipulated by a group of wizards?"

"Perhaps it's because I'm too young... Besides, isn't Your Majesty a witch... Um... Um..."

Once again, someone in the tavern was immediately covered in the mouth by his companions because of his shocking remarks.

At this moment, the person who had been sitting silently at the table in the corner of the hall suddenly stood up and walked to the bar. He raised his hand to pick up the silver coin that the boss had casually thrown on the table, held it between his fingertips and raised it high.

"Everyone, don't you think this decree abolishing gold and silver currency is simply too absurd?" He paused, his voice rising. "Think about it! First, they confiscated the nobles' farmland, then abolished the inheritance of titles, and now they're forcing the currency to be converted to waste paper. Each of these orders is so illogical. If they were in other southern kingdoms... they would be foolish policies that would easily spark civil unrest!"

"Yes... most of you don't even own titles or land, so you certainly didn't feel the pain at first. But now you're being asked to hand over all your hard-earned coins to the national treasury in exchange for a pile of paper that can barely buy a few bags of wheat. The knife is hanging over your heads. Are we really going to starve to death on the streets?" Someone in the crowd suddenly interrupted cautiously, "But... didn't His Majesty abolish land rent and taxes? The City Hall gave us land for free, and the market transaction tax was reduced by 50%..."

All other exorbitant taxes and levies were abolished, and even the most dreaded corvée and conscription were abolished. This was a truly merciful move.

The man at the bar scoffed. "Can you guarantee these laws will last forever? Of those people being shipped off to the North, not a single one has ever returned... They went to that barren, desolate land, and God knows what kind of treatment they received!"

His accomplice stood up at the right moment and echoed him, "Besides, who has actually seen the Majesty you keep talking about? He might just be a puppet secretly controlled by a group of wizards to achieve their goal of controlling the entire kingdom!"

The tavern erupted in an uproar. "How could His Majesty be lying? The coronation ceremony was published in the newspaper and distributed nationwide."

The man snorted coldly, "Those iron ships that ply the waterways all day have driven countless guilds and ship owners who rely on water transport to the brink of bankruptcy. The fields are filled with the horrific alchemical creations crafted by wizards. Just one of those machines is enough to crush all of us here. And the mines... those mine owners laid off most of their workers just because they got the alchemical machinery sent from the North. The livelihoods of all ordinary people have been taken away by the wizards' evil creations. When it's your turn to starve, let's see who can still smile!"

After saying this, he turned to look at the owner at the bar, who had a calm expression on his face. "Mr. Austin, if one day a wizard's alchemical creation could brew its own golden ale, would your tavern still be able to operate?"

The boss took out a small notebook from his pocket and quickly wrote something on it with a quill. He said lightly, "Why can't the business continue? I don't make wine myself."

Then he turned around and handed the torn piece of paper through the window leading to the kitchen... as if he was handing a menu ordered by a customer.

A hand took the note from the serving port and found that although the handwriting on it was a little crooked, it was clearly written:

[Defaming the Emperor's decree on abolishing currency, openly hostile to the caster, attempting to incite public sentiment, and showing signs of intent to rebel.]

Tsk… Although from what I heard throughout, it seemed like the drunken ramblings of a down-and-out nobleman stripped of his title and power, or a bankrupt businessman whose business had been taken over by the municipal chamber of commerce and state-owned factories, with long-simmering resentment in his heart…

But there are also some people with ulterior motives who fan the flames and arbitrarily incite and misinterpret the government's laws and policies.

Being dissatisfied and making wild remarks is a clear sign of rebellion.

Jarl Austin, the tavern owner codenamed "Anvil", sat back in his chair. Moments later, he saw the door of the tavern being kicked open. A team of ferocious mechanical police rushed in, easily knocked the guests who were just talking angrily to the ground, and shackled them with shiny metal shackles and escorted them out.

The job of arresting suspected criminals has nothing to do with these "secret police".

(End of this chapter)