Don't Mess with That Dragon-Chapter 709 - 097 Story (First Update, Subscription Requested)

The Dragon's Nest army was able to achieve the destruction of the Three Great Dukedoms in a short time, due, of course, to their strength, but also greatly to their use of propaganda warfare.

It was precisely because of the prior propaganda war that the Blue Dragon Kingdom, which handled the refugee waves well, had a favorable reputation among the common people of the Three Kingdoms, turning around the previously evil image of Beastmen,

so during the process of occupying cities and villages after the destruction of the armies, the vast majority of common people did not fiercely resist, slowing down the advance of the Dragon's Nest army.

Having enjoyed the benefits of propaganda warfare, the Blue Dragon Kingdom naturally would not abandon this aspect of propaganda.

Through the spread by minstrels,

it became an advanced version of the new propaganda warfare.

Through the descriptions by the minstrels, it could be imagined that some of the impoverished people in neighboring countries would migrate to the Blue Dragon Kingdom to seek a living.

Moreover, once war breaks out in the future, a kingdom praised for its reputation will face the least resistance.

And this new style of warfare,

even if the surrounding countries become aware of it, the entrenched thinking of their upper-class noble rulers might still fail to grasp its true meaning.

This highlights the inherent limitations of medieval feudal states led by noble leaders.

For the noble class, who wield power and strength and whose status is extremely stable, public sentiment has never been a reliance for whether their noble titles can continue.

You could even say that the continuation of noble families has nothing to do with the public sentiment of the people under their rule.

Against this backdrop,

why should they concern themselves with the thoughts of a group of lowly peasants struggling in the mud? 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It is precisely this arrogant attitude of the nobles that provides the Blue Dragon Kingdom's propaganda department with the best environment for propaganda warfare.

The minstrel in that remote town in the Tanzania Duchy,

was just one of the personnel hired by the Blue Dragon Kingdom's spies,

Outside of this, there were more lower-level minstrels hired by spies hidden within enemy countries, spreading tales of the good life in the Blue Dragon Kingdom and extolling various aspects of life there in the vast cities and villages.

No need for many embellishing words, just simple descriptions,

for the vast peasants struggling on the line of survival, it was already an infinitely beautiful life.

"Friends, I once traveled to that southern kingdom, and it's definitely a place where you'd not want to leave once you get there. The cheap clothes you wear, the low-priced salt you eat, are all produced there, and then there are those various precious and marvelous goods..."

"It's a world filled with gold, incredibly prosperous. Even a farmer who only knows how to farm can make a living there, filling his belly every day."

Inside the tavern,

the slightly drunk minstrel was following the well-memorized script, speaking in a manner full of allure.

As if not going to the Blue Dragon Kingdom to enjoy a good life made one a fool, even a criminal.

Many in the crowd appeared tempted,

but once back, the number who would actually act on their temptation might be very few, given the long journey, the unfamiliarity of that place, and the sentiment against leaving one's homeland, something not unique to the country Austin lived in during his previous life.

"Sir, do you think we'll be able to live such a good life if that kingdom attacks over here?"

Someone in the crowd asked.

"Well, who knows, but I've heard that they've been doing some reforms in the occupied Three Kingdoms territories. Once those reforms are complete, there'll be no more lords over us, the state will directly administer us. We won't have to give more than eighty percent of our harvest to the lords as tax yearly, I've heard over there, farmers only need to pay ten percent to the state annually, all other taxes like poll tax, wood tax, and the like are totally exempted."

Wow!!!

This statement caused an uproar in the entire tavern.

Even the mercenaries and adventurers resting in the tavern were dumbfounded.

Because,

this was indeed too shocking.

One should know that regardless of which country, in which region, even in years of disaster with greatly reduced production, where the King ordered the noble lords to sympathize with the populace, the land tax required was still at least over fifty percent.

This isn't really an exaggeration,

Over thousands of years of nurturing and restoration, the arable lands throughout Central Earth World have essentially been fully developed, and it's safe to say that in the entirety of Central Earth, no lord would reduce the land tax below fifty percent.

Generally, after a year of hard work, lower-class farmers being able to keep around two to three-tenths of the harvest in the fields would be enough to loudly praise the benevolence of the lords.

"If it's really like that, then I should put down this knife, licking blood, living for today without knowing if there's a tomorrow, and go over there to farm!"

Within the tavern, amidst the hubbub, a lower-level mercenary couldn't help but say.

In this remote town, the mercenaries and adventurers gathered in the tavern were mostly lower-level individuals, often from poor backgrounds, whose families under harsh pressure had no choice but to send them to become mercenary apprentices with a very high turnover.

If lucky, and if they met a rather kind Mercenary Captain who didn't drag them to the battlefield to be eaten by beasts or monsters during escort missions, relying on a rudimentary Breathing Technique, they could grow up to have the strength to fight three or four men.

However, this bit of strength could just barely handle some Slime-like monsters.

In mercenary teams, they belonged to the widespread rank of miscellaneous, lower-level soldiers.

For these numerous lower soldiers, going out for missions was never a romantic affair; when passing through the wild, a careless encounter with any type of monster, a thief's ambush, or even a change in weather could take their lives.

In the minstrels' tales in the past, where some noble's illegitimate son gathered and formed a thousand-strong mercenary corps, on a major assignment, when confronted by a large Ogre tribe attack, the Mercenary Captain, being the Protagonist, remained calm, directed the mercenaries in a counterattack, not only pushing back the Ogre's attack but also eradicating a menace in the area.

Later, upon reaching their destination, they found that the target they were escorting was a Princess, who was charmed by the protagonist's elegance and wisdom, eventually marrying him. The King, impressed by the protagonist's success against the massive Ogre tribe, bestowed upon him a noble title, and so, the protagonist and the Princess began a happily ever after life.

It was a very tempting and desirable story, also one of the most widely told tales by the minstrels.

However,

those dreaming of mercenary romance, have they ever wondered about the nameless hundreds of cannon-fodder mercenaries who died facing the Ogre attack in the story?