A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

72 – Try It Once

The chieftains of the Western Great Plains did not have a favorable view of Aylam.

They were relatively conservative and pro-Sultanate, as they could self-sustain with the vast livestock from their pastures, without worrying about Aylam’s food exports under the watchful eyes of Prince Rashed of Dagamba in Dagamba.

Therefore, they viewed the people of the Eastern continent, who were expanding their influence in Karamba while controlling Dagamba, in a negative light.

Of course.

“Hmm… Refrigerators, air conditioners, and carbonated drinks. These are indeed valuable items.”

They favored carbonated drinks, refrigerators, and air conditioners.

“Football is quite fun. I wonder if the Guardians will win today or the Blisters?”

“Recently, the Snow Buzz team of Lord Eland is quite strong.”

They found football quite enjoyable.

“So, did the hero catch the witch?”

“It will be aired next week.”

“Damn it! When is next week coming?”

They found the drama Monster Hunter very entertaining, among other things. It wasn’t a complete rejection of Aylam, amidst this peculiar atmosphere.

One day, Randor sent a message through Prince Rashed that he would personally visit the chieftains of the Western Great Plains.

“Randor is coming to meet us in person?”

“What is this wicked guy up to? What does he want to do by meeting us?”

“We shouldn’t meet him!”

There were opposing opinions. But from the perspective of the chieftains, it was difficult to turn away a visitor recommended by Prince Rashed, who had risen as a new power in Karamba in place of the now weakened Sultans.

“For now, we should meet him. Of course! We don’t have to treat that countryside boy from the Eastern continent, playing with Karamba, too nicely. Reduce the scale of the reception!”

And so, the chieftains of the Western Great Plains prepared to welcome Randor. They planned to downsize the banquet intentionally, as a petty way of welcoming a valued guest in Karamba, known for grand receptions. But ironically, Randor seemed to appreciate this modest banquet even more.

Whenever the Sultan invited me, I felt like my stomach would burst, but eating so little feels good! hahahaha! This mayuju is truly delicious!

Randor showed no signs of feeling bad at all. From that moment on, the chieftains of the Western Great Plains realized that this guy was no ordinary guy. After the banquet ended, the time for the conversation officially began.

Randor continued his remarkable behavior here as well. He had made the hosts uncomfortable from the beginning on the topic the guests brought up.

“The Western Great Plains. It’s a great place. It may not be as fertile as the Crescent Triangle for farming, but it has an immense grassland where all kinds of livestock thrive. Well, not long from now, it seems like only livestock will remain.”

The hands of the chieftains and their subordinate tribal leaders were restless.

“What did you just say?”

“Just as it is. Not long from now, a massive population migration will begin. The Western Great Plains will be emptied out. In other words, it’s going to be a disaster.”

“Don’t the Eastern Continent people have a concept of etiquette? They can’t differentiate between what should be said and what shouldn’t.”

When one of the two chieftains ruling the Western Great Plains stared at him with fiery eyes, the other one took his words in.

“Because of you, we lost the Ongin tribe and Hoin tribe, who we have nurtured for a long time, due to your schemes. You are seeking war! How dare you provoke us like this? Taking away the Suin tribe was also for the sake of war!”

“I just spoke common sense. The Karamba East was a cursed land. Unlike the Western Great Plains, the land was so rugged that grass didn’t grow well. When I tried to cultivate the Golden Plains, I understood.”

Randor was very relaxed. While smoothly brushing off the sharp gazes of the tribal leaders, he leisurely sipped his tea.

Continuously letting out a strangely irritating laugh, he continued, “Thanks to that, we realized it’s easier to pave roads. Prince Rashid will soon lay extensive highways and railways in the Karamba East with our help. The interconnected roads and railways will be the driving force that urbanizes the East. In short, there will be tremendous development.”

A mocking voice was heard.

“Just because of that, you think our Western Great Plains will be deserted? Do you know how long and rich our history and traditions are?”

“It will be deserted. Based on my experience, it will happen 100%. In cities, there will be much better-paying jobs, fun activities, and entertainment overflowing. The middle-aged who have grown old and stiff in mind and spirit may just stay, but the youth will think differently.”

At his words, the chieftains once again twitched.

If Randor was just babbling without any basis, then it would be another story. Recently, they too had been sensing the issues Randor pointed out.

They say there are many interesting things in Dagamba. I want to visit the Ailam of the East. I want to watch soccer in the stadium, and so on.

It seemed that everyone here was reminded of the common sayings of the youth.

“In short, it’s a matter of time. In 30 years? 40 years? The population of the Western Great Plains will dramatically decrease. The youth will leave, labor force will be scarce, and then with only the elderly remaining, society cannot be sustained. So, the elderly will inevitably flock to the cities… well, that’s how it will be.”

“Are you threatening us?”

“Is it a threat? Or just stating facts?”

With a grin, Randor said so. The chieftains and tribal leaders, while trying to be brave, couldn’t help but feel a chill in their hearts. Sensing the darkening expressions of the chieftains and tribal leaders, Randor seized the opportunity to bring out the main purpose of his visit.

“There is a way to prevent that situation. It’s simple. Even if you’re in your hometown, enjoy a standard of living that you could have in the city. If you can earn as much money as you would in the city because of the surplus of jobs, wouldn’t that be perfect?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I will connect Dagamba and all of you. I will directly import various Ailam products sold in Dagamba to the Western Great Plains. You can sell various livestock meats, top-quality leather, and dairy products.”

“Aren’t we already trading?”

“Only some tribes near the end of the Western Great Plains, where the railway passes through, are trading. Most of the tribes in the Western Great Plains are not engaging in trade, right? If most tribes engage in trade, it will create jobs, and people won’t have to go to the city to enjoy the products sold there.”

“Well, are you going to build a large road or railway that passes through the Western Great Plains?”

“The soil here is too soft for road construction unless you want to ride horses. It’s not suitable for paving roads. The same goes for railways. You know that too, don’t you?”

“Yes, yes. It’s not suitable for paving roads or railways. But what if dragons appear?”

“Dragons?”

Randor explained about the dragon business.

He had recently brought thousands of dragons, and Randor brought around 2100 of them, saying he would make these dragons a means of connecting Dagamba and the Western Great Plains.

“The business will go like this. Five dragons from your tribe will visit every week at a set time. At that time, you will sell the goods you have collected, and the dragons will sell various items from Dagamba that you could buy. It will create jobs and allow people to enjoy items sold in the city without actually going there.”

“Then won’t the youth run away?”

“We need to go further. Shouldn’t we create regional industries that would make people stay in the area? The production of dairy products and leather can be replaced by machines in the future. Efficient production will reduce jobs, but we need to develop more diverse regional industries and attractions.”

By this point, the chieftains and tribal leaders were completely engrossed in Randor’s words.

“What’s that?”

“I heard that creatures like this one are born in the western Great Plains.”

Randor pulled out a portrait. The small animal, resembling a rabbit, oddly had a horn on its head.

“A horned rabbit?”

“Yes. I heard that its horn grows rapidly, breaking once a month. And every six months, it sheds its fur.”

“Interesting.”

“Moreover, I heard from the doctors who came to our tribe that both the horn and fur are highly valuable medicinal products.”

“Is that so? Seems like a product that drives doctors crazy.”

“Breed horned rabbits in large quantities and harvest their horns and fur. Are horned rabbits the only ones? I heard that there is an enormous variety of flora and fauna in the western Great Plains. Biological resources hold immense value. Keep developing them. If you find something that seems marketable, whether by mass production or continuous collection, send it to us through the dragons.”

“The price…”

“I will be more than generous.”

The tribal chiefs and clan leaders began to look at each other, murmuring. It seemed like a matter for consideration. And it was a time when decisions needed to be made continuously.

“Football is quite popular these days, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

I heard that the shamans of the western Great Plains are known for their exceptional speed like the wind. Prince Rashid boasted that they were masters of the art of ball control.”

“What are you getting at?”

“Isn’t it about time we had a representative team for each region in Karamba? Create a football team specializing in acceleration magic. Once you establish it, we will frequently challenge my team in your territory.”

“Bringing a football team here?”

“Yes. Look at the blessing field of the western Great Plains. Simply set up goalposts, fences, and stands, and it becomes a football field. If you accept my proposal, I will also send football teams regularly.”

This seemed like quite a tempting offer. Once again, there was murmuring, but this time, it was a more favorable murmuring towards Randor.

And it didn’t end there.

“Furthermore, I will make a region where films produced by MacGuffin are simultaneously released with Damamba.”

“Films… you say?”

“Yes. Nowadays, films are profitable, so new ones are constantly being produced. I will set up a mobile cinema and send it through the dragons. Watch movies, enjoy. Heat or cool with air conditioning and fireplaces. Store food in the refrigerator and enjoy chilled carbonated drinks with it.”

Randor smiled as if implying that this offer was irresistible.

“By doing this, some young people may leave for the cities, but there won’t be a massive population outflow.”

There are jobs and entertainment here, just like in Damamba.

There is no reason to leave.

The tribal chief, after hearing all of Randor’s words, couldn’t help but ask.

“When will you take the humans away? And what is the reason for doing this for us now?”

“Right. What is the purpose of all this?”

Randor shrugged as if the question didn’t bother him much.

“I dislike war. It is the same opinion as Prince Rashid’s. Why fight when both sides can benefit from trading? If I persuade you with money like this, I believe that even if the Sultan decides to go to war later, you will oppose it.”

“Are you asking us to betray the Sultan?”

“Of course not. It’s just about preventing unnecessary sacrifices in meaningless wars. The Sultan doesn’t always make the right choices, right? It’s the same advice I gave to Prince Rashid. If a ruler makes a wrong choice, isn’t it the duty of a loyal subject to advise against it?”

Randor got up from his seat with a content smile.

“Thank you for the banquet. I will assume permission has been granted, and starting next week, I will send dragons. Introducing Dragon Convenience Store! Once you try it, you won’t be able to resist. We will also send famous snacks and various desserts from Aylam.”

“…”

From Noble mtl dot com

“It will be a mutually beneficial deal. I guarantee it.”

The tribal chiefs couldn’t help but be impressed by him.

I will raise the quality of life and make you rich, but there was no one who could confront it.