To reach the Supreme Palace in the east of the city from the port, the shortest way is to pass through the huge open-air shopping mall in the center of the east city through the tree-lined avenue. If you come to Silver Moon City as a traveler, then there are unique taverns in the city.

, it is almost one of the must-go check-in places.

For example, the wielding glorious blade, the dancing goat and the helmet and hammer, some of which even last for generations.

But as the boss of Hoge Mining and the controller behind Zelandia, Levi focused his observation on the shops along the way.

He discovered that in Silver Moon City, the bulk trade exported to the outside world almost covers books, paper, wooden furniture, herbs, ink, glassware, fur, wood, precious minerals and other industries.

On the contrary, there are very few shops selling wholesale food, armor, weapons, footwear, textiles and clothing in the city.

Seeing this, coupled with the insinuating remarks he made to Knight Gerald along the way, Levi had a rough idea in his mind.

If you develop papermaking technology on a large scale without conducting research, or if you want to make money by burning glass, you will probably lose all your money.

And since there is no shortage of wild beasts in the North, unprocessed rat skins and minerals should not be very competitive, unless Levi plans to wholesale them on a large scale at low prices, but that is not necessary.

When there are choices and conditions, why should we rely on selling raw materials to boost GDP? After nearly two decades of development, Zeelandia has also passed the stage of primitive accumulation.

After Li Wei's preliminary inspection, there was still some market for the originally planned rat-skin clothing industry and high-end arms manufacturing industry.

Because even in Silver Moon City, these two industries are still in the form of handicraft workshops and family-style blacksmith shops.

According to his estimate, although the Silver Moon Federation also produces these equipment, there are many wars in the North, and the production of Mithril Hall alone can barely keep up with the updates of the Silver Moon Federation's armaments.

Even if the armaments are updated and eliminated, the Silver Moon Federation does not dare to sell them in the North. There are so many hostile forces, isn't that not capitalizing on the enemy?

As for food, Levi has no plans to sell it on a large scale for the time being.

In a world like Corell, where productivity is still stuck in the Blue Star medieval era, food is always a scarce material that is in short supply.

In the history of this world, Netheril originally had the opportunity to rely on arcane research to improve the productivity of the entire society and promote changes in social form.

It is a pity that this prosperous and promising civilization is just like a flash in the pan in the long river of time.

If there are no technological breakthroughs and changes for a long time, development will naturally be slow.

Silver Moon City has a development history of five to six hundred years.

But this pearl of the North has a population of less than 40,000 permanent residents, probably around 37,000.

It is almost the same as London in the twelfth century of Blue Star.

Even so, Jero still had unconcealable pride on his face when he said this set of numbers.

Of course, the vast majority of residents live in villages and towns scattered outside the city, but according to Li Wei's estimate, the total number of urban residents in the nine city-states of the entire Silver Moon Federation may not exceed 300,000, and the total population within the territory will not exceed 300,000.

four million.

This directly blocked half of the plan to attract people to settle in Zeelandia through preferential policies after entering the surface to build the city.

It doesn't mean that the baby will be stillborn, but if Li Wei goes too far and directly causes the surrounding population to decline sharply, even if the Silver Moon Dragon Mother is inconvenient to control due to her face, Alustriel is afraid that she will come to trouble him.

‘Can we only stimulate the natural and slow growth of the population by promulgating fertility encouragement policies?’

Just as he was thinking about the development direction of Zelandia after landing on the surface, there was a dispute in the open square ahead.

Levi's ears moved, and he heard men's scoldings and children's helpless cries coming from the distance. It seemed that today's share of the relief grain had been used up, and a small part had not been received, which resulted in

dispute.

"Little bastard, let me go. If you don't let me go, I'm going to do it!"

"Brother, please give us some. I'm so hungry. It took my mother and I three days to get to Silver Moon City. My mother is sick again. If we don't get food, my mother will die." Another girl

The sound sounded.

"It's none of my business if your mother dies! How long has it been? If you want food, don't you know how to sell it? Get out!"

Then there was a heavy thud to the ground and the child's even more helpless and desperate cry.

Knight Commander Gerald's face instantly became extremely ugly, and he bowed to Levi:

"Sir Levis, I'm sorry to let you see such an ugly scene in our Silver Moon City. Please take a moment. As a Silver Moon Knight, I have the obligation to protect the suffering people and punish the domineering people."

How could Levi let go of this opportunity to increase the favorability of the people in the North? He said with a righteous look: "Knight Jero, don't worry, there are definitely shadows in the sun, and stars are rare in the dark night. It is precisely because there is kindness in the world.

Only justice needs to be defended and publicized under the shadow of weakness and ugliness. Let us go together."

But what neither of them expected was that at this moment, another voice full of heroism and justice sounded: "Stop! I recognize you. You work at Jimmy's Cereal Store. Please return this job to the city."

We don’t have much food to begin with, and if you do this, the food distributed to the refugees will not be enough.”

The store clerk who was being dragged away seemed annoyed: "But there is no rule that we citizens in the city cannot receive food! If you don't get out of the way, I'm going to call someone."

"Hmph, a bunch of stubborn bugs who only want to exploit loopholes in government orders. Open your eyes and see what this is?"

The half-elf was wondering whether the other party was literate when he saw Levi and the others, so he directly said to Jero beside him:

"Hey, Knight Commander Jero! This is the latest decree issued by Lady Alustriel of the Supreme Palace. Can you please read it to the people?"

"I am happy to serve you, Ms. Tagda." Jero seemed to be an old acquaintance with the other party. He seriously took the decree and read it out.

The newly promulgated decree is not long. Apart from the official interpretation of the format, there are two key points:

"In view of the fact that the northern farms have been plundered by orcs and there is a shortage of food, all merchants are now prohibited from hiring citizens to receive relief food and then sell it to refugees at high prices."

"Silver Moon City has temporarily entered a wartime state, prohibiting all merchants from hoarding and raising food prices."

Li Wei smiled and shook his head when he heard this.

Originally, both Knight Commander Jero and Ms. Tagda seemed to believe that as long as this ban was issued, the current conflicts and difficulties would be overcome.

After all, Silvermoon City has never issued such a ban.

The problem is that at that time, Silvermoon City was still an independent city-state, and most of the merchants in the city were residents of the main city, so they naturally supported Alustriel's decree unconditionally.

But now, the Silver Moon Federation has been established, and the business network has been greatly expanded. Today's Silver Moon City is bustling with people, and various forces are mixed together.

Not only are there branch points of the merchant group from Kaishui City, but there are also merchant groups from Luskan in the north, and Baldur's Gate and Amn in the south.

Now that Silver Moon City is short of food, it is the time for them to make money. How can they listen to Silver Moon City's unilateral orders again?

In short, the Supreme Lady Alustriel is kind-hearted, but she does not seem to understand the laws of the market economy very well.

So the next development of the situation was beyond their expectations.

Originally, the store clerk showed signs of surrendering when the decree was read out, but a businessman suddenly walked out of the crowd and saluted Knight Commander Jero:

"I'm sorry, but we only represent the business group of Kashuei City and express our opinion that it is difficult to comply with Alustriel's decree this time.

"We transport goods from distant coastal ports to your Silver Moon City just to make profits. In order to make room for the refugees, you ordered our business group to demolish the open-air shops, and we agreed. After all, human life is more important.

.

"But now we just want to sell the goods on hand to earn back the cost. If His Majesty Alustriel deprives us merchants of their remaining rights, then who else will be willing to bank with you in the future?

Are you doing business with the Moon Federation?”

Following the deafening question from the Kishui City businessman, the entire open square fell silent for an instant.

Ms. Tagda and Knight Commander Jero obviously did not expect to receive such an answer, and their expressions looked a little unsightly for a while.

Li Wei almost wanted to applaud the Jishui City businessman.

Perfect repulsion for advancement.

He believed that if the situation developed, Silverymoon City would not be without backup, and perhaps the food supported by other city-states in the Silverymoon Federation would be floating on the Riven River.

After paying a small price, we can finally reach a compromise with the business groups of all parties.

But in that case, what would Li Wei have to do with him?

So before other businessmen could follow suit and build momentum, Li Wei really started to applaud.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Then he loudly said:

"Well said! If Silver Moon City's decrees are allowed to arbitrarily interfere with the entire Northland market, then Northland's commerce will gradually be drained of life!

"Business! Need freedom!"

Livy's theory of commercial freedom was instantly echoed by businessmen.

Everyone's eyes also fell on Levi, the half-elf who suddenly appeared.

Among them, the expression of Knight Commander Jero is the most exciting.

Why did you show up!

And where do you stand?

As a foreign guest, shouldn’t it be taboo to wantonly interfere with the political orders of other country’s city-states?

Is it really okay to just follow these unscrupulous businessmen and make trouble?

At the same time, Ms. Tagda's eyes also fell on Li Wei. She was slightly stunned at first, and then her eyes became a little playful.

So he simply kept silent.
Chapter completed!