“The common folk are nothing more than livestock.”
No matter how much they are exploited and deceived, they rarely realize they are being taken advantage of.
They care only about their immediate interests and daily survival.
With a few sweet words, they can be easily lured and used.
Even if they are tricked or discarded, there’s no need to worry about consequences.
For the noble blue-blooded elite, the common people are nothing more than a resource that exists everywhere.
This was an openly accepted belief among the nobles of Hispania.
Not just them, but most nobles across the entire continent.
Why?
If someone were to ask, the answer was simple:”Because that’s just how the world works.”
They had been taught this way their entire lives.
Their grandfathers and fathers before them had all lived the same way.
For hundreds of years, generation after generation, society had operated under a rigid caste system.
Thus, contempt for the lower classes and a casual disregard for their lives were simply considered common sense.
Therefore,Even when floods devastated the land and swept away countless peasants,the nobles’ efforts to provide relief did not stem from kindness or moral virtue.
“If those wretches die, who will work in my city?”
“If the number of serfs dwindles, next year’s tax revenue will shrink. We must keep them alive—barely.”
“No matter how pathetic something is, replacing it is always a hassle.”
Their decisions were based entirely on utility and value.
Of course, not all nobles were like this.
There might have been a few fools who acted based on some personal sense of morality or justice.
But for the overwhelming majority, this was the logic that guided their actions.
This was still a world governed by a strict caste system.
To those at the top, those below were merely inferior creatures in human form.
“Social class is a more important distinction than race or ethnicity.”
The common folk were useful tools, nothing more.
No matter how talented or capable they were, at best, they could be treated as valuable assets—never as equals.
They were not individuals with equal rights or dignity.
A Convenient Justification.
“Wait, are you saying there’s a way to deal with the flood victims without wasting money on them?”
“Yes. I’m currently gathering supporters who share this view.”
And so.
When Malthusian theory gave the nobles a rational excuse to ignore their moral obligations,the aristocracy of Hispania eagerly embraced it.
*****
<“[When population growth surpasses agricultural production, famine and war inevitably follow.
Initially, competition over limited resources will drive up the cost of essential goods,increasing poverty and inequality.
As asset prices continue to rise, social unrest will emerge,ultimately leading to mass war, uprisings, coups, and famine—extreme events that act as forced corrections.]”>
<“[Though societal collapse is a drastic outcome,it is merely one possible consequence of unchecked population growth and forced reductions.
Such disasters naturally regulate population levels to a more sustainable balance.
And if they do not occur on their own,then those in power must ensure they do.
If they fail, yet another catastrophe will soon follow.]”>
The writer Ishmael had used his book on population theory to deliver a stark message:”It is natural for people to die in disasters.”
Not something to be prevented at all costs,but rather a necessary evil to maintain national stability.
<“[A continuously uncontrolled population will lead to repeated disasters and unavoidable social crises.
To prevent such inevitable calamities, one must instead prevent their root causes.]”>
<“[Those capable of working and contributing to society should be given jobs to support themselves.
Those who cannot support themselves and lack family to care for themshould receive minimal assistance.
Reducing excessive expenditures will lead to long-term stabilityand preserve social order.]”>
For the future of the nation and humanity,some portion of the population needed to die.
As long as the disaster was not catastrophic enough to destroy the entire country,allowing a moderate number of people to perish was not a bad option.
In fact, such losses could prevent food shortages and overcrowding from spiraling out of control.
Forced resource redistribution would improve the lives of those who survived.
A Perfect Justification for the Nobility.
“This book is truly revolutionary! Such a fresh perspective!”
“Indeed! To define the process of disaster so clearly—remarkable!”
The nobles readily accepted the ideas presented in the book.
Along with them, they also absorbed its hatred for the weak and contempt for the poor—without omission.
After all, the book’s message was perfectly aligned with their interests.
“So, if we follow the book’s logic, the imperial government’s relief efforts are meaningless?”
“Frankly speaking, aren’t they?What’s the point of pouring vast sums into the destitute?”
“Money that could build a fleet of warships is being wasted just to save a few thousand beggars.Wouldn’t it be better spent on something actually useful?”
“Something useful? Like what?”
“Why, investing in things that produce tangible returns, of course.Factories, the military… or even our own estates.”
No one openly declared,”Let’s abandon the commoners because they’re worthless.”
Even in politics, there were certain lines that could not be crossed.
No matter how insignificant or expendable the lower classes were,it would be political suicide to blatantly defy the words of the Goddess and the sacred scriptures.
No politician would be foolish enough to set themselves up for such an attack.
However.
Simply citing the book’s arguments was more than enough to lend credibility to their stance.
The writer had—whether intentionally or not—provided them with all the necessary justifications.
Numerous examples,strategies,and policy recommendations were neatly laid out for them to exploit.
“We must unite our voices. Who will join me in this cause?”
“I will! Count me in!”
“Our House as well!”
It didn’t take long for the nobles to reach a consensus.
Once they had come to an agreement,they rushed to the Emperorand pleaded with him in unison:”Your Majesty, we implore you—please reconsider the relief efforts!”
“Why waste such vast sums on a meaningless cause?!”
“…Then what do you expect me to do?”
“Invest the budget rationally, Your Majesty. Spend it on infrastructure, not the people.”
The Emperor, persuaded by their proposal, soon changed his policies.
The accumulated funds were redirected to rebuilding the nation’s damaged infrastructure and restoring productivity, while the flood victims were given only the bare minimum of aid.
Meanwhile, the nobles handpicked the strongest and most physically fit among the impoverished and offered them new employment.
As mercenaries.
“Mercenaries…?”
“Yes. Or to put it another way, you could call it a state-sponsored manpower export program.”
The government would recruit, train, and organize them into mercenary units.
Then, they would sell these troops to foreign nations in dire need of soldiers—namely Kram and Navarre.
The mercenaries’ earnings would have a portion deducted as fees before being sent to their families.
And since war was raging, there would be no shortage of demand.
If this plan worked as expected, the livelihoods of tens of thousands could be sustained using foreign money.
At the same time, it would reduce the number of impoverished people, lowering the risk of riots and rising crime rates.
“What about families with no men to send?”
“That’s not our problem, is it?”
If a household had no able-bodied men to conscript,then they simply wouldn’t receive any benefits.
It wasn’t their concern how those families survived—whether they begged or worked as day laborers was up to them.
“For an idea conceived on the spot, this is quite the clever plan.”
“Indeed. Almost no costs, yet enormous potential benefits.”
The nobles praised themselves, convinced that they had devised a brilliant, cost-effective policy.
Completely oblivious to what Ishmael might think upon hearing about it.
*****
“Well, that’s… impressive.”
I was genuinely astonished.
Honestly, I hadn’t expected this.
Once given the slightest opportunity,those in power had no trouble treating their own people’s humanity like an optional feature—something they could attach or discard at will.
I never imagined they’d turn natural disaster victims into soldiers just to eliminate the risk of internal unrest.
Had I underestimated humanity’s capacity for cruelty?
“With this, they’ll avoid criticism from their allies while earning foreign currency.
At the same time, they’ll profit off the war without fully committing.
And if things go south, they can easily withdraw without consequences.”
Recently, Kram and Navarre had been pressuring Hispania for military support.
Sending mercenaries instead of national troops would ease that pressure.
Meanwhile, their recovered factories and industries could produce and sell weapons,offsetting the tax losses caused by the floods.
From a purely practical standpoint,it was an effective plan.
Minimizing domestic damage,securing a post-war advantage,while ensuring an escape route in case of defeat.
“I don’t like this.”
It pissed me off.
Where did they get the nerve to reap all the benefits while avoiding the risks?
If they were going to sink,they should sink together—not sneak their way out alone.
But as things stood, I had no immediate way to ruin their plans.
I needed something that would drag them even deeper into the war,
leaving them no way out.
And then.
“Ah!”
I suddenly realized.
There was something that would do the trick.
“Lady Kalia, it seems we’ll need to publish another book.”
“I suppose I should buy more manuscript paper. What’s the title this time?”
She asked with genuine curiosity, now completely accustomed to my antics.
I grinned and answered: “The Wealth of Nations.”
A masterpiece that would reshape the very foundation of the empire’s economy and bind it irreversibly to the machinery of war.