Chapter 92
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Industrial Revolution (16)
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As you know, everything I've developed is related to mass production.
More precisely, it's about elevating the Empire's technological capabilities to the next level.
Anyway, while working on the tractor blueprints, I did some separate research.
And it turns out factories not owned or contracted by me are springing up like mushrooms.
Factories that used my manual lathes, milling machines, and the like as initial investments.
In other words, automation is taking hold.
Put differently, it means the influx of people into the cities is even more likely.
Originally, to run a factory, you needed artisan-level skills or had to invest time training people.
"But now, anyone who knows how to use them can operate them."
In short, the barriers to entry have lowered.
So naturally, not just farmers but commoners are flocking to the factories.
The problem is, when people crowd into cities, gaps naturally open up elsewhere.
And the biggest gap will be in agriculture.
"If one person can do the work of a hundred, there'd be no issue."
I wonder if it could really reach that level, but even half would be a huge gain.
Anyway, the tractor blueprints are pretty much complete.
"I hope this one doesn't drag on too long."
I gazed down at the finished blueprints, gathered them up, and headed to the workshop.
I'll have to run various experiments again this time, but it should be easier now.
I've already built automobiles and trucks—what we call horseless carriages.
A tractor is just an extension of that.
I have to be able to make it.
"Of course, there are completely different components, like the wheels."
Still, the tractor itself should be straightforward.
No way it'll take months again, right?
I began methodically fabricating parts and testing them in the workshop.
As Edn had predicted, people were indeed gathering in the cities.
Once-quiet cities were buzzing as factories sprang up.
These were the first cities besides Rerangbur to have mana networks installed.
"Heh heh, how convenient. Even streetlights handled by magic."
"Indeed. And no need to route it through a power plant, so costs will drop."
"Hmm, that's a bit premature. But the time savings are undeniable."
Two nobles gathered at a salon in a bar clinked glasses and chatted amiably.
They spoke while gazing at the softly glowing streetlights.
"Speaking of which, there are so many more people around these days."
"You're telling me. The commoners are going wild trying to get into those factories."
Wages at the new factories were substantial.
At least thirty percent more than what Edn paid, which already beat farming income.
Considering hardly any farmers owned their own land, the structure made crowding inevitable.
On top of that, Edn's push for weekends was gradually being adopted.
Still limited for now, but it wouldn't take long.
The two nobles sipped their drinks, thinking of the factories.
"But jobs are limited, aren't they? What about that?"
"Who knows. That's for the factory owners to worry about."
His friend chuckled while tilting his glass.
He shook his head pityingly at his friend.
"Sigh, what do you know?"
"I know one thing. Thanks to the factories, investors like us are getting fat."
"Ah, true enough."
He agreed with a chuckle.
As the two nobles laughed and talked, the street outside was the opposite.
No major problems, but the atmosphere wasn't pleasant.
Crowds inevitably led to clashes.
Just then, one man bumped shoulders with another passing by.
"What the—?"
"Ah, sorry."
He bowed his head in apology and tried to move on.
But the man whose shoulder he'd hit had no intention of letting it go.
"You bump into someone and think a sorry fixes it?"
"Pardon?"
"Money! Hand over some money!"
"Hey, come on!"
Surprisingly, both men shared the same goal.
They'd come to the city chasing the hopeful dream of factory work but failed.
Already on edge, they'd rubbed each other the wrong way.
It escalated into a fight, with bystanders trying to break it up.
"Hey! Not here!"
"Guards! Someone call the guards!"
The brawlers in the middle of the street were soon hauled off by arriving guards.
Meanwhile, a crowd gathered in front of a factory.
A desperate-looking man pushed through and shouted.
"Please! I'm begging you! My child's really sick—hire me!"
"Hey! Who's not desperate here?!"
Another shoved him aside and raised his voice.
But the factory doors stayed shut.
Instead, the hired security began driving them off.
"Scram! Don't loiter here!"
"That's too much!"
"You're the ones being too much!"
Only after beating them half to a pulp with clubs did they disperse the crowd.
As they left, they kept yelling it was unfair, but the guards ignored them.
The guards sighed and tucked their clubs into their belts.
"Sigh. They're getting more extreme lately."
"Tell me about it. No matter how you look at it, there are no openings anymore."
The factories were already at full capacity.
Factory owners had hired recklessly to maximize efficiency.
Of course, that led to crowds like this and people getting carted off injured.
Yet people kept coming.
As if some rare treasure lay within.
"Sigh. We just do our jobs."
"Right. Hey, where to after shift? There's a good booze joint up ahead—sound good?"
"Perfect. Let's get hammered after."
The guards headed back to their post in high spirits.
Watching them were the people they'd just dispersed.
"Damn it, they look down on us!"
"Whoa, calm down. We can't do anything right now."
They grabbed the shoulder of a man about to charge out.
He eyed the guards intently.
"We might not get jobs. But we can protest."
"We just did."
"Not that. We take down the guards."
His companions gasped in admiration.
He shrugged with a smile.
"That was just to build a pretext. The real fun starts now."
"Alright, let's plan it out."
And so, in a dim alley corner, the group plotted chaos.
The factories erupted into riots disguised as protests, and the streets overflowed with people.
In this chaos, a man visited the imperial palace—a noble without factories.
"Damn that Edn Rerangbur!"
He strode down the corridor, venting his rage at Edn.
Straightening his attire for the audience, he added,
"Hoo, I'll put a stop to your villainy."
Entering the audience chamber, he bowed politely to the Emperor.
The moment the Emperor acknowledged him, he slammed his forehead to the floor and shouted,
"Your Majesty! Please execute Edn Rerangbur!"
"...What is this all of a sudden?"
He claimed Edn Rerangbur was killing the cities and demanded his death.
Naturally, the Emperor refused.
He raised his voice even louder.
"Your Majesty! Please reconsider! Edn Rerangbur—that man is destroying us!"
"Sigh. Speak slowly."
The Emperor waved for the kneeling noble to calm down.
He lifted his head and cried out,
"His machines are ruining the cities! People are fleeing to other cities in droves!"
"That's—"
The Emperor tried to respond, but the noble cut in.
"Moreover! Artisans who lived by handicrafts can't sell anymore. The factories stole their place!"
The Emperor fell silent in disbelief.
But he soon recalled which faction this noble belonged to.
"Hmm. Not just your thought, I presume?"
"Of course. I'm just the representative."
Confidence shone on his face, but the Emperor saw him for the discardable pawn he was.
Success would be good; failure meant cutting off the tail.
Of course, it wasn't that important to the Emperor.
After a moment's thought, he nodded slowly.
"Very well. I'll see to it."
"Really?"
"Yes. But remember: if you bring a foolish plan, I'll reject it."
The noble bowed joyfully.
He promised something satisfactory and withdrew.
Once he was gone, the Emperor sighed and leaned back.
"Yes, using fools now and then isn't bad."
He hadn't shown it in front of Edn, but the Emperor was wary of him.
Edn's actions posed a sufficient threat.
He even sensed the Duke circling in subtly.
"No, can't have that. Even if it's him, threaten my throne and see what happens."
The Emperor had eliminated many rivals before.
Unlike how he favored Edn outwardly, he needed to press him down occasionally.
This would be the second time, though.
"Sigh, if not for the Duke."
The Emperor intuited the Duke wasn't fully on his side.
But he couldn't touch the Duke, so he'd tame Edn instead.
The Emperor hoped this time he'd finally quiet Edn down a bit.