A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 208

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

There were Grandpa Elvis, Alice, Smith, Takeo, and Frederick in the parlor.

Alice’s letter will be sent the next morning.

Everyone was relaxing while eating sandwiches for dinner.

…Alice was playing with Mia… she was taking good care of Mia. 

Mia sometimes shouted out “Fuah..Stop it..”.

Grandpa Elvis, Takeo, and Smith were looking at the scene happily.

“By the way, Takeo-sama.

Do you remember the matter of regional development?”

Frederick asked Takeo while serving tea to everyone.

“Are you talking about eggs and cooking festivals in each village?”

“Yes.

 The project itself was done by a young civil officer.

It is a great opportunity to increase your amount of experience.

Now that the data for each town and village has come up, I would like you to have a look and give your opinion. “

“Got it.”

Takeo received materials from Frederick.

…There was quite a lot… Takeo thought “That’s weird?” 

For the time being, he started looking at the materials … 

≪Material Excerpt≫

The territory of Elvis has the following organizations.

・ The town where Elvis House was located has a population of about 50,000.

Under that, there were towns along the road to King’s Landing, Dwarf Kingdom, Demon Kingdom, and the territory of Godwin, with a population of 2000 each.

There were 5 villages under the town, 20 villages in total, and a population of 300 people each.

The total population of Elvis territory was around 64,000.

・Thinking about agricultural products, with the city where Elvis House was located as the center

The northern dwarf kingdom was full of rye, livestock and fruits, and vegetables.

The King’s Landing and the Demon Kingdom on the east, was wheat and vegetables 

Godwin territory in the south was only wheat.

For the cultivation of wheat and rye, they were sowed in fall and harvested in the summer.

. .

. 

Takeo thought about it while looking at the materials.

“Basically… Wheat and vegetables are the main agricultural products?”

“Yes.

For vegetables, various types are grown, but the ones listed there are the main agricultural products.

The yield is … well, it’s breaking even.

As per what Alan said yesterday,  

The wheat bread itself is low cost and made in large quantities due to the country policies.”

“What is the food self-sufficiency rate in the territory?”

“Self-sufficiency rate?”

Frederick asked.

“How many people can live on the production of wheat and rye in the territory?”

“… Up to 85%.”

“… By the way … Earl Temple’s place is certainly rich, isn’t it?

What is the self-sufficiency rate of Earl Temple’s territory? “

“I think it’s around 180%”

“What about the incentive to expand the cultivation area?”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“We’re doing it, but … it’s not getting up.”

“What about the tax system?”

“Half of the harvest is collected as tax.

Since it is set lower than other territories, there are no complaints from farmers.

Regarding tax, it is a rule that you should not tell others, so please keep it confidential. “

“Surely we don’t want competition between the farmers domestically.”

Takeo smiled bitterly.

“From Takeo-sama’s place, how do you tax the farmers? “

“… From what I know, the country basically bought all the grains produced as staple food.”

“Huh?”

Grandpa Elvis and Frederick were surprised.

“If it’s like that, the farmer would have a hard time making a living, right?”

“Oh, it’s not being collected, it’s being bought.

 Tax is calculated from the monetary income and the tax is paid in cash. “

“… How does that work?”

“The government has the advantage of being able to collect a flat tax from all farmers and merchants.

 It’s tax equalization. It’s called equal share of burdens.

Also, since a large amount of purchased grain can be put on the market, we have the right to negotiate the price and can engage in discussions with unions and other regions.

It seems that the purchase price is decided with the farmers every year and all the grains are bought.

For farmers’ side, since it’s in-kind tax payments, because they have to sell the grains left in their place, they have the advantage of not spending time and effort on it. 

However, since the price is variable, there is a disadvantage that the amount of income changes every year. “

“Hmm … There is that kind of way to get tax.”

“Yes, it is”

Grandpa Elvis and Frederick nodded.

“This is a thinking from further future, it’s not something that should be done only in one Earl’s territory. 

It has to be done all over the country at the same time.

If done badly, it would probably cause an uprising by the farmers, so it should be done carefully. “

“That’s right.”

“Now, back to the topic, you are buying from the Temple territory for compensation of the toll tax to fill in the remaining 15-20% of the food self-sufficiency rate?”

“Yes.

Therefore, the Elvis territory doesn’t gain profit. “

While listening to Frederick’s explanation, Grandpa Elvis seemed disappointed.

“I see … There’s rye which is the main agricultural product in the north?”

“Wheat growth is bad in the north.

 Therefore, we are producing rye that is resistant to the cold … “

“Rye bread has a unique taste and texture.”

“Yes, because of that it’s not popular and the distribution price is low.

Currently, it is cultivated for feed.

For the time being, the quality is maintained so that it can be used as emergency bread when wheat harvest is low … “

“Takeo, are there any good processed rye products?”

“… I see, the two of you want to know a delicious way to eat rye.

So, if all goes well, can we expand the cultivation area? “

“Yes. The northern part is the easiest to expand the agricultural land.

Other villages seem to have reached the limit in terms of worker population. “

“I see.

 For bread, you can try adding walnuts and raisins to change the taste.

 Why not try making it into French toast? “

“It’s difficult even for Takeo, huh.” 

“There is not much rye bread from where I’m from.  

I too have only eaten it a few times.

 If it’s bread, it’s usually wheat. “

“Is that so..”

Grandpa Elvis was disappointed.

“For now, I’ll tell the chef, and we can try eating rye bread as French toast.”

Takeo and Frederick smiled at the words of Grandpa Elvis.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]