NOVEL WEB
Chapter 263: Dilemma
When Paul received the news of the riot, he was completely bewildered.
A look of astonishment lingered on his face for half a minute.
“What have I done wrong?”
After coming to his senses, he asked himself this question.
“Count, now is not the time to ask such questions. Please, quickly convene the lords to discuss how to suppress the rebellion,” urgently advised Cecil, the head of intelligence, who had come to deliver the news.
“Uh… you’re right. Quick! Get all the heads of the Administration Council and all the military officers of company rank and above who are in Lakeheart Town to the lord’s mansion.”
Cecil left to carry out the orders, while Paul waited anxiously in the hall for everyone’s arrival.
Ever since awakening his memories of a past life, he had considered it his duty to advance this world, inventing various new gadgets, establishing factories, and promoting education—all for the betterment of the people on this land. Indeed, life in Lakeheart Town, where he resided, had been improving.
Why had such a thing not happened in the neighboring territory, but instead fallen upon him, a “progressive and enlightened” lord?
…
“Rebellion! This is a rebellion!”
Hansel, having heard the news, was extremely agitated and the first to exclaim, “Please send troops immediately to suppress the rioters.”
Others, including the chief steward Ford, nodded in agreement, indicating that the first priority was to send troops to suppress the rebellion.
Chief of Staff Schroeder, Commander Claude of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, and Commander Andrew of the 4th Infantry Battalion expressed that the military was ready to follow his orders.
“Gentlemen, please calm down.”
Paul, while urging others to remain calm, was actually panic-stricken himself.
“Right now, all we know is what that person named Baden has told us. Whether it’s truly a riot is still uncertain! Maybe… maybe they just gathered together, and Baden, out of fear, exaggerated the situation.”
Chief Steward Ford shook his head: “Even so, such a large assembly without the lord’s permission and surveillance is already forbidden. Dispersing them is justified, and the leaders must be punished.”
While they were discussing, a second message arrived, delivered by a military pigeon.
“Navy scouts have confirmed that in Faber Village and its surroundings, fires blaze and smoke billows! It seems there has been a large-scale riot, and many wealthy homes have been looted.”
Schroeder read the contents of the note with a frown. The information from the navy corroborated the previous reports.
“At the scene, people shouted… shouted…”
Schroeder said softly, “They shouted slogans like ‘Down with the lord.’”
“Count, we must act swiftly. Theodore, the mayor, requests your permission for the navy to quell the rebellion. For safety, please dispatch two more companies of troops for support.”
“Uh…”
Paul hesitated. According to his deeply ingrained beliefs, a rebellion by the lower classes inherently had a sense of justice, and such indiscriminate suppression seemed too brutal.
Moreover, perhaps due to his divergent thinking, he thought of the Second Emperor of Qin, Yang Guang… and countless rulers overthrown by peasant uprisings. Didn’t they all start with a small spark that eventually became uncontrollable?
Would he be nailed to the pillar of historical shame if he rashly chose to suppress them?
“Why can’t we first send someone to talk to them? To understand why they are rioting. Maybe… maybe they have some compelling reasons.”
Negotiate? Upon hearing this, everyone looked at him with an incredulous expression.
Negotiating with rioters? Is this something a lord should say?
“Hmm!” Hansel coughed lightly and asked, “My lord, what if, for those ‘compelling reasons,’ they make certain demands, such as tax relief? What would you do then?”
Paul thought for a moment and replied, “If their demands are not too excessive, I think I would satisfy them. I have always strived to be a benevolent lord.”
Hansel spoke sternly, “No! You absolutely cannot do this! Once you open this door, there’s no turning back!”
“Why? Isn’t it normal for the subjects to express their wishes and the lord to decide whether to agree or not?” “That’s in normal times. If they hadn’t rioted and simply expressed their wishes through regular channels, that would be fine. Whether you agree or not, the initiative lies with you, and there would be no consequences. But now it’s different. They have started a riot. If you agree to their demands in this context, how will others see you?”
“How will they see me?”
“As a lord who can be threatened and bullied. Regardless of what you think, others will believe that the initiative is with the rioters. Your authority will no longer be solid, and the Count, who appears unassailable on normal days, will seem to yield easily under pressure.”
“This… Isn’t that a bit too severe?”
Seeing Paul still ‘oblivious,’ Chief Steward Ford also began to persuade, “Count, Hansel is right. The populace is a large group, comprising many smaller groups with their own demands, some even conflicting. Their combined desires are endless, while what you can offer is limited. Satisfying one group will cause another to emerge. As a lord, you can only bestow charity upon the people, but you must never let them take anything from you actively! Therefore, please immediately quell this riot, dispel the rioters’ delusions, and deter those who are watching and waiting to act.”
Schroeder nodded in agreement, “In such a situation, even if the other party’s requests are reasonable, you should not agree. So, it’s better not to ask and first suppress the riot. My lord, please do not worry. They are just villagers, and a few fully armed knights can disperse them, let alone our well-trained, gun- and cannon-equipped army.”
Paul opened his mouth slightly, not expecting such ‘reactionary’ words from the two respected elders.
After much thought, Paul finally said, “I order, first, to notify the militia stations in each village and town to organize the militia. Those in charge must keep abreast of the situation in their areas and not be negligent. Second, dispatch two companies of troops overnight to cooperate with the navy and internal guard troops there to isolate the riot area, and then…”
Everyone waited for the lord to say the word “suppress.”
“And then issue a final ultimatum to those involved in the riot, ordering them to immediately cease their previous actions, but no attacks are to be made without my command.”
Hansel and others were about to continue persuading when Paul interjected:
“Gentlemen, give me one night. I will decide how to proceed with this matter.”
…
On the way out of the lord’s mansion, Hansel and Cecil discussed the recent events as they walked.
“Did you notice? Apart from being worried about his reputation for kindness, the Count seems to be afraid of something else.”
“It does seem so. Is he afraid the army won’t be able to defeat those rioters? That’s absurd. As Lord Schroeder said, a few knights could disperse them.”
“Right, Cecil, why didn’t we see our beautiful Head of Education and the advisory Miss? They are also members of the Administration Council. Didn’t you notify them?”
“Such matters as riots are too harsh for women; it’s better not to disturb them.”
“Oh? Is that the only reason?”
“Well, I admit.” Cecil shrugged and said, “I was afraid their character and stance might influence the Count’s judgment.”
“Your concern is justified.”