CHAPTER 582: THE AFTERMATH OF THE REBELLION 3

TL: Rui88

Stanford set foot on the soil of Port Fran via the gangplank.

Ah, he had returned home safely once more. He turned to look at the ship, where a group of people was also excitedly gripping the ship’s rail, looking out at the city of Port Fran.

He waved to the ship. “Brothers, we’re home!”

“Whoa!” “Hooray!” A burst of cheers erupted from the ship.

With the support of the lord, Count Paul Grayman, Stanford led his old subordinates and newly supplemented crew members, carrying ample food and fresh water, and set sail north once again. This time, the fleet’s size had doubled from the last, with a full six three-masted sailing ships.

In addition to the necessary supplies, they also carried a large quantity of goods for trading with the native tribes along the way. Whether they could make a profit was secondary; the main purpose was to cultivate friendships with the locals.

They visited the Stag Tribe in the far north again and were pleasantly surprised to find that the members of the first exploration team, who had been left there to recuperate on the last visit, were still alive and well.

When they arrived at the Stag Tribe, winter had not yet ended, and Stanford’s fleet carried a large amount of supplies for the winter. The natives of the Stag Tribe welcomed them with joy. Coal briquettes, stoves, cotton clothes, and canned goods were very popular with the locals.

After a survey of the surrounding area, Stanford began the return voyage with the members of the first exploration team who had been away from home for a long time. Of course, a group of team members still remained behind to study and research the local natives’ language and customs.

The exploration team returned to Port Fran fully loaded with precious medicinal herbs and animal pelts. After arranging for people to guard the ships, Stanford announced a holiday. Most of the men rushed home, especially those from the first exploration team who had not returned last time. A small number went into the city to indulge in debauchery.

Stanford, however, set off for Lakeheart Town to report on this journey. He had some important matters to discuss with Count Grayman in person.

“Hey, isn’t this our Captain Stanford?”

Stanford, riding on horseback, met an old friend of his on the road, Gellit. He was a merchant who spent his years at sea. When Stanford was still a merchant ship captain, they had cooperated many times.

“Gellit, I really didn’t expect to meet you here.”

“This must be the guidance of the Lord of Light. Weren’t you on another expedition to the north? Have you returned?”

“Yes, I just got back. And you?”

“Going to Lakeheart Town to discuss a business deal. Quick, tell me about your adventures!”

The two traveled together, chatting happily along the way. When Gellit, as a merchant, heard Stanford say that the barbaric lands north of the Rocky Mountains held countless precious resources and that the exploration team had returned this time fully loaded with medicinal herbs and pelts, his eyes lit up.

“Stanford, my good man, notify me next time you set off. I must get a big ship and follow you to make a fortune.”

“Haha, if our lord allows it. Oh, by the way… Gellit, I need to ask you something.”

“Have there been any pirates active recently?”

Gellit was very confused. He scratched his head and said, “No, why do you ask? Pirates have been gone for several years.”

Stanford said with confusion, “I just encountered a group of prisoners being escorted. It was really a large group, the line stretched for a long distance. If it wasn’t a large-scale gang-related crime, how could such a scene occur?” ꭆ𝘼𐌽ȯꞖĚs

“Oh, you’re talking about that!” Gellit rubbed his nose, having guessed most of it. “They’re probably the rebels from those villages in the north. It looks like the new labor camp is ready, so they’re being moved there.”

“Reb… reb… rebels?” Stanford was stunned by Gellit’s words.

Gellit glanced at him. “What? Don’t you know yet?”

“I didn’t stay long in Port Fran after I disembarked.”

“Then let me tell you. Not long ago, a rebellion against Count Grayman broke out in Alda. Several villages in the north, led by Babor, used the pretext of inviting the lord to a hunt to lure Lord Grayman to their territory, and then they almost… In short, the situation was extremely dangerous. Even Lakeheart Town had a corresponding rebellion. Fortunately, the rebellion was finally suppressed.”

Stanford asked worriedly, “Is Lord Grayman alright?”

Gellit waved his hand and replied, “Our lord must be blessed by the gods; he is completely fine. Of course, although he was fine at the time, it’s certain that he was furious afterward. I tell you…” He looked around to make sure no one was there, then continued in a low voice, “Although the Count has a reputation for being merciful, he shows no mercy to traitors. Oh my, that scene. The villages involved in the rebellion, especially Babor Village, were practically arrested village by village.”

“Not only that, but because those who participated in this rebellion were all country squires and landlords, in short, those great families that have been entrenched in the countryside for generations, Lord Grayman has come to hate even those landlords who did not participate in the rebellion. The Count stripped them all of their status and power as tax collectors and also legislated to prohibit them from imposing private punishments…you know this kind of thing was common in the countryside before.”

“And he also sent people to check the debts in the countryside one by one, and if they felt any were unreasonable, they were burned in a fire. I remember I was a guest at a friend’s house in the countryside at that time. My friend also had a lot of land and usually lent out some money. It just so happened that people from the town came to check the accounts. Uh… some of the loans from his family had relatively high interest, and they were burned in a fire. My friend’s wife cried and made a scene in front of the lord’s men, rolling all over the courtyard and even trying to throw herself into the fire. But what was the use? In the end, my friend dragged his wife out of the fire, gave her two slaps, and took her into the house.”

“This… isn’t the lord afraid of inciting another rebellion?”

“A rebellion? My heavens, who would dare!” Gellit’s mouth fell open. “You have no idea. During that time, all demobilized soldiers were recalled to the army. Alda, Baylding, and Emden were all on high alert. Who would provoke an enraged lion that regarded everyone with suspicion at a time like this?”

After understanding the general course of events, Stanford shook his head. “I didn’t expect the repercussions to be so widespread.”

“Hehe, actually, I’m quite happy to see this situation, as are my friends who own factories… ahhh, I’m not talking about the rebellion itself, but about the lord’s measures afterward.”

“How so?”

“Because under the lord’s strict orders, those landlords can no longer restrain the country folk. Many people from the countryside have started to come to the city to work.”