APTnovel Chapter 758 - 76: Population Boom and the Judicial Court of Flash Spear City
Chapter 758 - 76: Population Boom and the Judicial Court of Flash Spear City
Basically, the followers of the Sun Goddess in the south can’t possibly be unaware of Su Li’s deeds. As long as they go for militia training every week, attend church prayers, and offer sacrifices, they are bound to hear about some of Su Li’s exploits. Among them, there are even many who are fanatical admirers of Su Li, repeatedly spreading Su Li’s deeds to the surrounding crowds, and it is thanks to these people that many knights from other churches have heard of Su Li.
Among these people are also those with a pilgrim mindset who, upon hearing about the Radiant Competition Festival, immediately rush to Hesse Territory.
Basically, once these people arrive in Hesse Territory, they don’t leave. Hilude only mentioned the problem of the large number of knights arriving, because she is currently the highest official in charge of security, and what she sees are the troubles that come with it.
However, if the Provincial Affairs Council is to report this work, it is completely different! The territory now receives applications from several free people every day, including knights influenced by the Sun Goddess who have decided to settle in Hesse Territory.
This has resulted in a new estate or village springing up every cycle, even every day, in Hesse Territory.
Especially among the knights, who are very wealthy; the cost of purchasing land from Su Li alone amounts to hundreds of gold coins.
Don’t think that hundreds of gold coins are few; in fact, these hundreds of gold coins are crucial. Once they are invested, it means they are rooted in Hesse Territory. They can leverage a continued investment of over 3000 golden crowns, purchasing slaves in the territory, building estates, establishing businesses, buying furniture, and constructing monasteries, among other things.
Basically, the cost of setting up a home and business is enough to turn all their wealth into assets of the entire Hesse Territory, greatly increasing the prosperity and wealth scale of the territory’s wealth pool.
Be aware that Hesse Town has many craftsmen, indicating a strong industry. Craftsmanship is also industry, and the speed at which it creates wealth is astounding. As the saying goes, without industry, there is no wealth, and without commerce, there is no vitality. Previously, the industrial products manufactured by these craftsmen had to be transported over mountains to be sold in other territories, but now everything is saved. Just the blood pine wood furniture sold from the furniture workshops and carpenter workshops amounts to over 200 golden crowns. This is just a glimpse of the many industrial sectors of the territory; others like wool weavers, blacksmiths, potters, tailors, etc., all have considerable income.
Even the territory’s real estate trade has seen immense prosperity, with Su Li earning at least over 6000 golden crowns from real estate income.
There’s no way around it, real estate is excessively profitable; a three-story villa in the rich district of Wallflower District costs at least over 300 golden crowns, and most of the common types have reached over 500 golden crowns.
In this real estate market, there’s no need to sell many; selling just 8 to 10 can provide enough military funds for nearly a month.
So, don’t say some merchants or lords lack ambition; those wielding the power of investment and development do not engage in constructing water management, farming operations, or improving transportation or trade and industry development. The reality is that the real estate industry is too profitable and brings in money too quickly.
For some officials seeking to form their political achievements quickly, or merchants aiming for swift profit, investing in heavy assets with over a decade’s development, layout, and continuous management yet gaining a profit margin of less than 6%, falling below bank interest rates, and possibly losing all during a three- to four-year economic cycle fluctuation, industrial development seems far less appealing than real estate, which is undoubtedly the perfect industry.
It makes money quickly, has a high rate of return, is easy to get started with and poses no technical difficulty; any way you look at it, it’s the perfect industry.
The only problem is that this industry’s development ceiling is visibly low and cannot continue unchecked expansion. Once a large amount of capital and personnel flood in, the false prosperity induced by speculation will undoubtedly collapse.
Therefore, Su Li has always barely paid attention to this aspect; the territory has many Half-Elf construction teams that really enjoy these kinds of projects. The territory’s real estate projects are basically managed by them. Su Li only focuses on heavily taxing them, implementing the Nineteen Taxes to the fullest, only granting an Eleven Tax rebate during good harvest months. As long as the territory’s finances are tight, the rebate is completely canceled.
Naturally, this result makes Half-Elves the scapegoats in the territory, appearing as if everyone targets and detests these Half-Elf merchants involved in real estate projects.
However, Su Li is uninterested, whereas President Roger is very interested in the territory’s real estate projects. After gazing in awe at the Heaven’s Lance for a long time, he whispered, "Brother Su Li, once you’ve built Flash Spear City, the priests and sacrifices will go mad. There will undoubtedly be countless priests coming from all over the world to this city to settle here. This place will become a Holy City for the entire Border Prince’s Territory, even the entire Empire, the entire Old Continent! It will become a holy land of faith, attracting countless devout believers to visit and worship. A Holy City, do you know? Why are the Flame Sun Knight Order so wealthy, even the richest knights of the entire Empire? It’s because they have monopolized the escort route for believers to the Sun Goddess Church Holy Land, Bright City. It is said that in Bright City, there is a shrine and a Holy Artifact left behind by the Sun Goddess."
"And it is evident that in the Empire, the Sun Goddess’s shrine and sacred artifacts do not have the same appeal and influence as those of the Divine King. If you have the broader sky and stature, constructing this city into a more open cultural and faith city, rather than seeing it as the sole holy land of the Sun Goddess Church, but instead a tri-church holy land of the Sun Goddess, the Goddess of Justice, and Shalya, or even further as a summit of faith for all churches, a City of Churches, managed by the Bishop’s Council, it would attract followers and knights from all churches to gather. Accommodating the visit of 500,000 believers every year would be no question, and if the territory becomes stronger in the future, creating a passageway from Hesse Territory to Marle Castle, further connecting the entire Empire, even hosting 2 million believers annually would be effortless."