I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 414: Burden of the Empire (9)

In the square of Florence, the capital of the Toscani Empire, a man stood before a red pot designed by Fabio, appealing to the citizens of Florence.

“His Majesty the Great Emperor desires to liberate those who suffer from hunger and war in the Holy Empire. We need your help! Please, help us just a little!”

Upon hearing the request for help, people passing by began to gather in small groups.

In another country, unless someone were forcibly collecting money, it would only be the rich from the upper or middle classes who would donate money in such a setting. But in the Toscani Empire, thanks to the newspaper Fabio had created, patriotism had already deeply rooted itself in the hearts of all the people.

From nobles to lowly laborers, a variety of people lined up.

“Is it really true that the money will be used for the Toscani Empire?”

“Don’t you see the Toscani Empire’s double-headed eagle on the pot?”

“The Emperor is truly unique. He doesn’t force us to pay taxes, but asks us to voluntarily donate money.”

“Even though it’s for the Empire, raising taxes would make life harder for the people. So His Majesty thought of this method, where he would only ask for donations that the people can afford.”

“Indeed, His Majesty always thinks about the people, even when he’s awake or asleep.”

Although the Emperor didn’t think about the people every moment of every day, he did focus on them most of the time.

At first, Fabio had suggested that the Emperor should show concern for the people in order to establish a strong monarchy, so the Emperor spent a day living in the house of a peasant.

Later, following advice to lower taxes, the Emperor reduced taxes and published newspapers to inform everyone how much he was working for the commoners of the Toscani Empire.

The more he helped them, the more he saw his royal authority grow in proportion, and the fact that the entire Empire was praising him made him intoxicated with pride.

Before long, the Emperor’s life became one devoted to the people, and helping them was both his hobby and purpose.

And sometimes, he would visit shabby inns or taverns in Florence where citizens frequented, order fried potatoes, buy drinks for those around him, and ask them what they thought about the Emperor.

Hearing drunk people praise the Emperor with slurred speech became his joy in life.

As the donations continued, a figure appeared who caught the attention of the crowd.

A man limping on crutches.

In Florence, where people didn’t look kindly on the disabled, it was normal for people to cast envious glances at him. However, no one here despised him.

It wasn’t «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» because they treated the disabled well out of kindness...

“Did you get hurt in the battlefield?”

“Yes, my lord. A bullet grazed a very unfortunate spot, and now I limp.”

The limping soldier, following Fabio’s instructions, took out a considerable amount of money (by commoner standards) and dropped it into the red-painted pot.

“Even if you receive a veteran’s pension, wouldn’t that be barely enough to support yourself and your family? How is it that you’re donating so much money?”

“His Majesty must have struggled with many difficulties before saying he needed money. But there must be a reason why he said it. I should contribute what I can.”

People, regardless of their social status, were deeply moved by his words.

Here was a man who had devoted himself to the country but had become impoverished due to his injuries, still contributing all he could for the Empire.

This was true chivalry.

“I’ll make sure to pass your story on to His Majesty. You might even make it into the newspaper.”

This soldier was actually sent by Fabio, and he was scheduled to appear in the newspaper.

However, the people of the Toscani Empire, living in an era without the concept of scripted propaganda, were deeply moved by what they saw.

There were many people in the Toscani Empire who truly loved their nation. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Patriotism started to spread, and the people began to believe that their Empire was truly great.

Moved deeply, more and more people started donating money.

As the donations continued, Fabio’s carefully prepared highlight finally arrived.

A cute girl, looking about 10 years old, wearing tattered clothes.

“I want to help His Majesty too!”

The sight of such a young girl coming to donate caught the attention of not only those in line but also the citizens passing through the square.

She clearly looked like a girl from the slums or an orphanage.

To think such a poor girl was donating!

To the people of the Toscani Empire, who lacked entertainment, this moment was both heartwarming and filled with a sense of humanity.

The artists Fabio had stationed and street performers quickly set up and began to paint the scene.

“His Majesty would surely be pleased, but... I don’t think we can accept this little lady’s money.”

“Why?”

“She must have worked hard to gather that money. If she donates it all at once, it might cause her trouble. His Majesty wouldn’t want that.”

The poor little girl wanted to donate everything she had for the Empire, but the person receiving the donation kindly refused, saying it couldn’t be accepted.

Some patriotic people even wiped away tears at the sight.

But the child, having learned how to appeal to emotions from Fabio, didn’t stop there.

“But Sister Director said... that the reason we don’t go hungry, don’t have to suffer in the cold, and don’t have to worry about bad things happening is all thanks to His Majesty.”

The little girl bowed her head and, with a voice slightly trembling with tears, continued.

“I’ve never seen my mom or dad. But if they were alive, I believe they would say the same thing. That it’s because His Majesty loves and cares for us that we can live like this.”

If this were any other country, a little girl saying such things would have seemed suspicious.

It would be hard to believe that an orphan, struggling to survive in an orphanage, could speak with such patriotism.

However, in the Toscani Empire, where a poll would result in a 99.9% approval rating for the Emperor, no one felt any sense of incongruity from her words.

Everyone thought similarly, though the degree of sentiment may have varied.

“I know that the money I brought isn’t much for His Majesty. Even though I’m not well off, I don’t want to be an ungrateful scoundrel.”

“You’re making me ashamed of myself.”

The government official collecting the donations had no idea about Fabio’s little play.

Thus, he genuinely felt ashamed.

Here was a poor orphan girl, gathering all her meager earnings and asking for them to be used for the country. He, on the other hand, was donating only a single gold coin.

It wasn’t a small amount of money for someone of his low status...

But seeing his purse filled with copper coins and iron coins (which were worth less than gold) made him feel utterly ashamed.

“His Majesty will surely be pleased with your heart...”

And at that moment, everyone who had been in line vanished from their places.

It wasn’t that they were reluctant to donate; they had rushed home to find more money to contribute.

This news wasn’t welcomed by the nobles.

Baron Florin, known as a genius investor and the "Beast’s Heart," was watching the real estate market today, considering when he should sell in order to make the best investment.

However, his happy plans were all shattered by the news of the donations.

“Damn it. A wounded soldier and an orphan girl both donated with all their hearts?”

There was a story in the Bible about a widow who donated a single coin after three days of hunger.

That story was now coming to life in the Toscani Empire.

Now that such a story was printed in the newspaper, all the nobles and wealthy merchants in the country felt like they had a hook in their noses.

“I guess I’ll have to donate 40,000 gold coins to keep up my face.”

It wasn’t that losing 40,000 gold coins would cause him to die.

But if he had that money, he could aim for something much bigger in the future (such as war bonds).

“... Rothschild the Baron must have lost hundreds of thousands of gold coins by now, huh?”

Thinking of someone losing more than him brought him some comfort.

Just as he was pondering over his unexpected massive expenses and lighting a cigarette to clear his mind, a brilliant idea came to him.

“Why not mortgage all of the Florin estate to buy war bonds, and then sell off the real estate later to rebuild the estate? Then I could even become a Count!”

Seeing the Emperor drain money from the nobles gave him a strong sense of confidence.

And behind that Emperor was the Baron Rothschild, a man who was unofficially worshipped among merchants as a living saint.

His investor’s instinct was buzzing...

“Let’s mortgage the entire estate right now! Our Florin family is betting our entire future on this war! Damn it, I’ll even enlist myself!”

At those words, the butler standing next to him stopped him.

“Are you feeling unwell, my lord?”

Florin, adopting the pose that would remind anyone of a clown in Fabio’s eyes, grinned and shouted.

“If things go wrong, we’ll just fall. No big deal!”