This young master truly has the ambition of a hero.

In this way, the mining area only needs about 8,000 people to operate at full capacity, freeing up more than 10,000 surplus people.

Upon hearing that the mining area was going to lay off a large number of workers, some miners present were happy while others were worried.

Those forced to perform corvée labor were eager to leave this hellish place as soon as possible, knowing that going down into the mine was a dangerous job where one could easily lose their life.

But some people looked worried, because if they didn't become miners, they didn't know where else to go.

Dick knew, of course, that dismissing more than 10,000 people at once, if not properly arranged, could easily cause major social problems, so he had prepared for this long ago.

Those who own land or have other businesses can go back to their old trades.

This group of people made up about two-thirds of the laid-off miners, the ones forcibly conscripted by David. After receiving their back wages, they couldn't wait to go home and reunite with their families.

But there were still some poor people who had nowhere to go, and Dick made arrangements for them as well. Those who were too physically fit to do heavy manual labor received training to become craftsmen, and those who were strong enough to want to farm went to clear land the following spring. Dick promised to provide them with farm tools and seeds, and exempt them from taxes for two years.

If all else fails, there are still newly formed sanitation teams to go to.

On his first day in Lagug, Dick discovered that there were no sanitation workers. Luckily, he arrived at the end of September, when the local temperature was low enough to inhibit the growth of bacteria to some extent; otherwise, the streets of the castle and the surrounding towns would have smelled so bad that he couldn't breathe.

This was something Dick, the time traveler, could not tolerate, so the sanitation team had to be established.

Seeing that the governor had arranged everyone's destinations clearly, and without knowing who started it, the tens of thousands of people present began to cheer in unison, "The governor is wise!" This pleased Dick greatly.

However, when Dick and Belfast returned to the carriage, which was protected by a soundproof barrier, they immediately put on a sullen face and couldn't help but sigh to the heavens.

"Money! It's all gone! And there's so much to do, it's such a hassle!"

To hire a dwarven technical team and to pay the miners the wages they had been owed, Dick had already spent almost all the gold coins he had obtained from the raids. He probably didn't even have 500 gold coins left in his account, and the work to come was predictably piling up.

Even though Dick knew that the money was worth spending and that as an ambitious governor he shouldn't slack off, it didn't stop him from letting out a couple of loud cries to vent his frustration.

At this moment, Dick's gaze fell on Belfast sitting opposite him. Belfast immediately understood and opened her arms to her master. Without hesitation, Dick pounced over and rubbed his little face against Belfast's high, large breasts.

Belfast, who was being teased, simply looked at her little master in her arms with doting eyes, gently stroking his smooth black hair. To make her master more comfortable, she even took the initiative to unbutton the top two buttons of her shirt, revealing her round, white breasts and a deep, milky cleavage, so that the young master could press against her soft, jade-like flesh without any hindrance.

As Dick's personal maid, Belfast knew that her young master might look young and cute, but he was a very mature man inside. Even the most mature and reliable man has his moments of exhaustion. Belfast was happy to be his haven during these times, allowing him to relax and indulge in some sweet talk against her open and generous bosom.

"I'm sorry, Belfast, you witnessed something embarrassing about me."

"I don't think what you did just now was shameful! Your decision has helped many people."

"But I did this for a reason."

"We should judge by actions, not intentions. You're exhausted and need a good rest. These past few days in the territory, you've been handling a lot of official business and dealing with enemies. Don't think you're just giving orders. You're the core of this team. As a commander who plans and strategizes, you always give the right instructions at the right time. Isn't that what a great leader should be like?"

"Thank you, Belfast, I feel much better."

“Praise can be a motivating force, and you certainly deserve it. Speaking of which, it’s still a while before we return to the castle, Master…would you like to relax a little longer?”

As Belfast spoke, a slightly upturned smile appeared on her lips. With a "click," she reached out and unhooked her front-fastening bra. Her large breasts, now freed from restraint, appeared even larger, yet they defiantly defied gravity.

Dick reached out and touched it; the smoothness that seeped between his fingers brought him pleasure and took away his fatigue and worries.

This is the charm of large breasts; abundant milk production brings a powerful healing effect!

When the carriage returned to the castle, Dick alighted in high spirits, his spirits restored. Belfast, who had been standing half a step behind him, remained as elegant and poised as ever, except for her slightly flushed cheeks, which made the white-haired maid appear even more alluring than usual.

When no one was paying attention, Belfast whispered in Dick's ear.

"Young Master, shall we continue tonight?"

"Ah."

Dick nodded, and suddenly felt an extraordinary sense of hope for the future.

Back in the castle study, with no enemies to monitor for the time being, the ninja and spy teams were all free. The girls sat together and chatted about things in their respective worlds.

Upon Dick's return, the group immediately stood up and bowed. The spy group was used to calling Dick "Young Master," while the ninja group would use the more respectful "Master."

Dick doesn't have strict requirements for how people address him, nor does he intend to standardize it. As long as it's not too strange, he won't mind.

Just then, Joel rushed in from outside with a letter and reported to Dick.

“Mr. Dick, a messenger just came to see you. He said it was from Mr. Hugh Ulen. I checked the letter without opening it and found no danger.”

"It's a letter from Hughie. He's my classmate at magic school. He should have successfully entered the National Magic Academy. This kid is different from me. He's the eldest son of Marquis Ulen, but he doesn't want to inherit the title and wants to give it to his younger brother. If he doesn't work hard to make a name for himself at the Magic Academy, he'll have to go back to his title and be a millionaire."

Joking aside, and envious as they may be, Dick harbored no jealousy towards Hughie whatsoever, because the two were indeed very compatible and close friends.

Hughie is a magic fanatic who dreams of one day establishing his own school of magic and becoming a renowned figure in the magical world. However, his family situation is unbearable, weighing heavily on him.

His father, the old Marquis, did not oppose his son's dream. After all, Hughie was talented and could break through to the Saint rank or even become a demigod in the future. This would not only increase his lifespan but also bring glory to his ancestors and protect the family's foundation.

The point of contention between father and son was that the old marquess felt that letting Hughie inherit the title would not prevent him from continuing to study magic, but rather that he should also settle down and start a family.

The Marquis and his wife had chosen four stunningly beautiful fiancées for their son, and they had also prepared a reinforced platoon of maids for the household, all of whom were willing to stay in bed with him, just in time for his return to have children.

When Hughie heard about his family's preparations, he refused to go back, saying he was afraid that if he went inside, he wouldn't even be able to get out of there.

Upon receiving the letter from his friend, Dick thought to himself that he had just been thinking of asking him for help, so he opened the envelope and took out a thick booklet.

Dick burst out laughing when he saw the cover.

"This kid, is he trusting me too much? Why did he send me his own academic paper on magic?!"

The author says:

Author's Note: I recommend my friend Hyogo Kita Bancho's new book, "My Exclusive Bond Game". I won't spoil the plot, but I'll just talk about the system. The basic gameplay involves choosing a female character that the protagonist knows and has a certain relationship with from the system's recommended list, completing trials together, deepening the bond (affection) and gaining the "attribute stats" that the character possesses.

So, in order to carry on his deceased father's legacy and revitalize his declining family, the protagonist chose the most capable person—his young and beautiful stepmother who had just married into the family and had become a widow.

So I'm actually quite puzzled as to why his book couldn't be titled "The Stepmother I Pushed"?

Chapter 017: The Governor's Daily Life and Winter Preparations

In the early morning, golden sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, dappling Dick's bed. Half-asleep, Dick habitually snuggled against the soft "cushion" in his arms, only to have a strand of silver hair accidentally get into his nostril. The ticklish sensation made him instinctively open his eyes, and Belfast's serene sleeping face with a slight smile immediately came into view.

This was a rare sight for Dick, because Belfast had her own principles and convictions as a maid: she must never get up later than her master.

So every morning, when Dick woke up, he would see Belfast and Rita, dressed neatly, standing quietly at the head of his bed, bowing gently to greet him, and then helping him wash and get dressed.

Thinking of the indescribably wonderful experience of last night, Dick stirred slightly, unintentionally waking Belfast. The maid opened her violet eyes, still sleepy and hazy, and instinctively cupped Dick's head in her arms, offering him a good morning kiss.

The interaction between lips and teeth was not as intense as last night, but it was not a mere taste either.

Having conveyed her love and sentiments through the tip of her tongue, Belfast then pressed her forehead against Dick's and greeted him with a languid voice, "Good morning."

"Good morning, my master. I got up later than you; it's my fault today."

"I don't think it's a dereliction of duty at all. Being able to see Belfast's sleeping face as soon as I open my eyes makes me feel good all day. I should be thanking you for injecting energy into me, Belfast."

"Master is getting better and better at coaxing people, but speaking of injecting vitality, you injected me quite a bit last night!"

It has to be said that upon hearing such a secret whispered between lovers, Dick, who had initially only shown a slight reaction, suddenly stood up.

Just then, a soft knock on the door interrupted Dick's actions, and Rita pushed in a trolley. On it was a basin of hot water at just the right temperature, toiletries, and a change of clothes for Dick and Belfast.

Seeing that the two people on the bed were clearly awake, yet still embracing each other affectionately, Rita pretended to be jealous and said...

"Oh dear, we didn't know our master had morning exercises to do. We've disturbed you two."

Dick had never been able to see which of her many faces was the real one, despite her mysterious and unpredictable personality—sometimes sharp-tongued like a little devil, sometimes gentle and caring towards him like water—he could vaguely glimpse her true nature in their daily interactions. He knew that she was, in essence, an absolutely good woman!

However, her relationship with Belfast is somewhat delicate.

As "classmates" in the maid group, the two were summoned to this world by Dick. In their original worlds, they were both almost universally recognized as perfect maids. Therefore, after meeting in another world, the two strong maids inevitably developed a competitive spirit.

At first, it was just a competition of professional skills, but the competition gradually went astray, jumping from the youth group to the adult group, which made Dick experience for the first time what it means to "when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits"!

Of course! Despite their rivalry, these two still respect each other.

Since the governor's room was located at the highest point of the castle, there was no need to worry about being spied on. Rita simply drew back the curtains, letting the bright sunlight stream into the bedroom.

Belfast got up and stretched, displaying her beautiful figure to Dick without any concealment. The golden sunlight shone on Belfast's fair skin and translucent silver hair, as if enveloping her in a holy light, like an angel descended to earth.

However, upon closer inspection, it's not hard to spot the faint red, strawberry-like marks on the angel's fair skin near her neck, collarbone, and chest.

And similar marks were actually not much less on Dick than on Belfast.

Under Rita's care, Dick obediently allowed her to wipe his body with a hot towel and then change him into clean clothes. Before the two maids arrived, Dick had done all these things himself. In his previous life before his soul transmigrated, he wasn't a young master from a wealthy family, so he wasn't used to being served at first.

But ever since these two all-powerful maids arrived, Dick has gradually freed his hands (in a healthy sense), something that Rita and Belfast insisted on doing.

Leaving the bedroom, Dick went straight to the study, where a healthy and nutritious breakfast was already prepared, but so was his work.

The territory of Laguge has 50,000 people. It's not enough to just drive away a bad governor and wipe out a gang of tyrants to solve all the problems. The local situation has only stopped deteriorating further, and it's still a long way from a real improvement.

Their top priority right now is to prepare for winter!

Unlike the bustling and technologically advanced capital city, snow there is a wonderful and romantic weather for the aristocracy who have no worries about food and drink. Young masters and ladies will wear fashionable and warm winter clothes and take the initiative to go out to enjoy the snow. Young men and women will playfully throw a few harmless snowballs at each other.

In Laguge, the winter scenery is not so beautiful. Basically, from the end of November, it enters the so-called "blizzard season".

It was snowing so heavily that it was almost unbearable. The highest record in the area was one winter when more than three meters of snow fell in one night. Some villages in low-lying areas were buried alive, with no survivors.

Along with the cold winter comes a peculiar disease that strikes fear into the hearts of the locals—cold-related illness.

This is a special "magical disease" caused by the excessive activity of ice-type magical elements, which invade the human body of ordinary people. It causes the patient's body temperature to drop rapidly, and this coldness emanates from the inside out, so warming the body by a fire and covering it with a blanket is useless. Relatives and friends can only watch helplessly as the patient freezes to death.

Every year, hundreds to thousands of people die from cold-induced illness in Lagug, and the patients are mainly ordinary people with no magical talent whatsoever. Because mages can guide their own magical power, they do not get this disease, and warriors who cultivate soul power have high health and resistance, and are not afraid of elemental invasion.

Dick had previously struggled with the problem of coldness, but to his surprise, his good friend Hughie from his school days offered him a helping hand.

The thick stack of magical research papers he sent yesterday was about the prevention and treatment of cold-related illnesses. He himself happens to be an ice mage and is very interested in all kinds of magical diseases.

Knowing that Dick had become the governor of Lagog, a region notorious for its high incidence of cold-related illnesses, Hughie sent over his research materials and papers. He wanted to help his friends and also hoped that Dick would collect more clinical data while treating the locals to improve the practical aspects of his papers.

The paper analyzes the causes of cold-related illnesses and several prevention and treatment options, but because there are no patients with cold-related illnesses in Beijing for him to practice on, it is impossible to conduct practical applications.

In addition to his thesis, Hughie also contacted his family, asking the old Marquis to provide Lagug with some supplies they would need for the winter out of "humanitarianism."

The term "humanitarianism" is a foreign word brought by time travelers. Some nobles scoff at it because in their proud and unyielding eyes, not all creatures that look like humans are human. However, some people are moved by this word, which has become somewhat distorted on Earth, and begin to pay attention to the suffering of the lower classes.

This is why the empire covets Earth's technology while simultaneously fearing the spread of certain Earthly ideologies—"terrible ideologies" capable of destroying the very foundation of the aristocratic system.

Dick thanked his good friend for his generous help, and said that this was a win-win cooperation.

After calculating the days, Dick had about a month and a half to prepare. It wasn't a long time, but it wasn't short either. The main problem was the poor local transportation conditions, which made it very slow to transport supplies. He also had to be wary of bandits and outlaws along the way who wanted to grab enough food for the winter before the heavy snow blocked the mountains.

On the one hand, Dick strengthened food reserves, wishing he could use every last copper coin in the castle treasury to buy food. But he did not intend to distribute this food to the local people for free in the form of "relief grain." Instead, he planned to carry out work relief in the month and a half before the snowfall.

Giving alms freely may earn gratitude, but it is difficult to earn true respect. Dick wants the people of Lagug to understand that he is a leader capable of leading them to prosperity, not a naive and foolish young master with too much money.

Do you really think that all ordinary people are kind, honest, and grateful?

The next morning, a notice from the Governor's Office spread throughout the town and surrounding villages. The Governor was recruiting workers to repair the official road from the castle to the valley pass. The project was to be completed within one month. The workers would be provided with food, lodging, and wages, but instead of money, they would be paid in grain!

The news sent a frenzy through the farmers who were already in the off-season and were calculating whether their reserves would be enough for the winter. If it weren't for the notice restricting the age of recruits and requiring them to be physically fit, many families would have rushed to the construction site to work.

Dick's original plan was to recruit 5,000 people to repair the road in front of the castle, with each worker receiving 30 catties of coarse grain. As long as no family was truly so poor that they couldn't afford to eat, the extra 30 catties of grain would be enough to feed a family of three or four for half a month.

In addition, government-run grain stores opened at Dick's request, mainly selling various staple grains and salt not produced locally. Prices were set by Dick with reference to the average market price, and rules were established through the merchant alliance he spearheaded to prohibit hoarding and price gouging as in previous years.

Dick made it perfectly clear to your faces: it's not like I'm asking you to sell at a loss; you should just make the money you're supposed to make. If someone inflates grain prices and it sparks public outrage, don't expect me to send troops to suppress those impoverished people who are barely surviving, like David did. I'll just find the person who inflated the prices, give them an IOU, and "borrow" their head for a while.

Just a few days ago, Dick laid off a large number of miners from the mining area and gave them a year's wages as compensation. So the people of Gulag currently have some spare money, and the local economy has indeed shown some visible improvement in recent days.

But in Dick's view, this was purely a facade created by transferring the same money from one hand to the other.

Revitalizing the local economy remains a long and arduous task.

"Sigh! This is much harder than playing simulation management games."

"Mr. Dick, what did you just say?"

"It's nothing, just talking to myself."

Turning her head to look at the somewhat bewildered Joel, the female assassin had been working as a secretary recently. Although she seemed a bit naive and her work ability wasn't outstanding compared to the others, it was still decent and not bad.

Much better than some reckless spy!

At this moment, only Dick and Joel were in the study; everyone else had been sent out to do errands.

Because of her negotiation skills, Tia currently serves as the "Secretary-General" of the Merchant Alliance, acting as Dick's representative and coordinating various tasks. Local businessmen initially took her for granted, assuming she was just the governor's mistress due to her youth and beauty. However, after several encounters, they were all impressed by her abilities. She could mediate and resolve conflicts, and she could always spot any underhanded tactics being made by others.

Kasumi, as a bodyguard in the ninja group, is responsible for protecting Tia, whose combat strength is not strong. She will not show herself unless there is danger.

Ayane and Momiji were sent by Dick to investigate the local banditry, mainly to re-map the area and mark the lairs of bandits and threatening monsters.