"Abolishing the guild system is like telling Gildo to burn his own table, or rather, his entire fortune."
Any sane person would naturally feel resistance to such a suggestion.
“What? What did you just say?”
“You heard me correctly. I want you to advise His Majesty the Emperor to abolish the guild system.”
Gildo immediately rejected my words, not responding.
I felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing that I had planted a seed of doubt and even brought up personal emotions, all for the sake of this moment.
Though he hadn’t yet given me a definitive answer, the fact that his internal conflict had begun to show on the outside meant that, in effect, the persuasion had already been completed.
‘Just a little push is all it takes to make them waver.’
Now, let me try to guess why he’s so unsettled.
Before I could begin my reasoning, however, Gildo himself answered a question I hadn’t even asked.
“If I were to advise His Majesty to abolish the guild system, all the guild masters across the country would come after me and try to kill me.”
Economics and power are as precious as life itself.
No, losing these two things is directly tied to the biological death of both the individual and their family.
In fact, in human history, it has been less than 100 years since politicians who lost their power were spared the sword.
So it’s impossible to imagine how many people would be out to rip Gildo’s heart out if he were to take such a devilish action.
What’s crucial is that the guild masters themselves will have to start infighting, effectively causing the system of guilds to collapse on its own.
‘No matter what, I have to persuade him.’
I chuckled softly and shrugged my shoulders, arrogantly speaking as if I knew everything.
“Of course, that’s how it would be.”
Imagine a rich man who’s lived off beef and expensive food his whole life. Suddenly, through someone’s manipulation, he falls into ruin overnight.
Now, think about what this man would think every time he ate a meal.
Would he be happy about the food, or would he think, ‘In the past, I could eat beef and caviar to my heart’s content. But now, because of a scoundrel like this, I’m forced to eat this miserable food for the rest of my life,’ and gnash his teeth in anger?
‘Most people would probably want revenge for the rest of their lives.’
“Who in the world would forgive someone who tried to break their own interests? I would go after that person and kill them in the cruelest way possible.”
I’ve taken my revenge to the fullest on those who wronged me as far as the conditions allowed.
The baron who hindered the establishment of my business met an ‘unexplained suicide’ and ruined his daughter’s marriage, leaving him buried in mud.
The ones who tried to accuse me of heresy were burned at the stake, and their family is now on the brink of ruin, breathing only faintly.
“I know that, so I won’t ask such a difficult favor from you for nothing. A thief would do such a thing, but is it something a person should do?”
All villains are very thorough when it comes to the welfare of their employees.
Just like me, who shows warmth (to my family and vassals), even the most cold-hearted people—those who would make any psychopath recoil—are careful when it comes to their employees.
Take Cao Cao from the Three Kingdoms for example: when he tried to take advantage of someone else’s widow, he lost both his son and his prized officer.
That man mourned his officer’s death more than his own son’s, and he used that to gain the loyalty of his subordinates.
‘If I want to succeed like Cao Cao, I must treat my subordinates well.’
“The position of guild master is, of course, something you will need to risk your life for. Naturally, you’ll need compensation that matches that risk.”
I think someone once said that if you can buy loyalty with money, don’t hesitate to do so.
Even if you’re stingy with your money, they say that in the end, that money will save you in times of crisis.
Let’s face it: this man is not even my subordinate yet. But if he’s willing to risk his life to carry out my orders, then he has essentially become one, right?
If a mission is completed, it’s only right to give a reward.
“I’ll provide you and your family, your relatives, with status, make you vassals of the Rothschild family, and grant you knighthood. You’ll also receive 1,000 gold coins and an annual salary of 150 gold coins. I’ll even grant you a mansion in the Rothschild estate. And, of course, I plan to assign some very important tasks to you. Oh, and I intend to involve your children in our family’s work too.”
He’s a highly skilled craftsman, having reached the top position of the blacksmith guild.
So, when I build a large factory complex with my limited skills, he will be the one to meticulously draw up the plans and figure out how it should be managed.
‘I’ll grind him down so finely that even King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty would be envious.’
If he were a fool, he would’ve been enticed by those words right away.
His status would be instantly elevated to hereditary nobility, with a higher salary than when he was a guild master.
And I’d make his sons proper noblemen too.
This is practically a devil’s temptation.
But instead of leaping at it, Gildo looked taken aback.
“Are you saying you will make me and my children all noble?”
“Indeed. The tasks I have given you are worth that much.”
Now, let’s say I tried to have the guild system abolished through another noble.
It would take tens of thousands, or even millions, of gold coins to make it happen.
Because, if the guild masters all unite their power, they could essentially freeze the entire empire’s economy with their absolute control.
To pay the compensation necessary for such risks and damages would mean pouring that much money into the project, and imagining how much political debt I would incur is unfathomable.
‘If I can stop them with just that, then it’s a win.’
Once the guilds are dismantled, I can stimulate the economy through stocks and use the capital I control to create large industrial complexes.
I’d create a virtuous cycle where money breeds more money, and thus accumulate even greater wealth.
Just like an investment guru who, instead of saving all the money they earn for tax avoidance or asset growth, invests it in their own company.
‘Money breeds more money, it’s a basic tenet of capitalism.’
“I will provide generously to my vassals, and as long as they don’t betray me, I will never abandon them.”
If the worst-case scenario happens, I may shed tears for my family’s survival, but I will abandon them if necessary.
But no matter what, I will protect them and ensure they live prosperous lives for the rest of their days.
I must treat them with sincerity, and in return, my vassals will protect me and be willing to give their lives for me if needed.
To practice the wisdom of the great empire, the baron must do things like this.
If not, the guild masters, driven by personal interests, will sell me out.
And someone among my subordinates will definitely betray me.
‘Just imagine if anyone found out about what I’ve been doing behind the scenes. Ugh.’
It would be manageable, but at the cost of losing an arm in the process.
As the scope of my actions in the great empire grows larger, the risk of it being discovered increases.
I chuckled and lightly patted the guild master on the shoulder.
“Oh, but I’m a kind man only to my family and vassals. I don’t enjoy killing people for no reason, or pushing them into a corner.”
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I’m not some insane mad lord who bathes in the blood of virgins or enjoys killing innocent people and ruining their lives.
For my family and our clan’s peace, I have no hesitation in borrowing the wisdom of dominant nations or even countries known for their ruthless tactics.
Anyone who threatens or could threaten my family will be eliminated without hesitation.
‘No matter who they are.’
“I make sure those who could harm my family, or who have harmed them, pay the highest price. If someone steals a single silver coin from my pocket, I will make them pay with gold.”
It’s a metaphor, but he won’t fail to understand this.
Gildo turned pale as he heard my words.
Well, I didn’t say I would do anything, but still...
“Relax, I didn’t say I’d do anything bad to you.”
“But...”
“Listen to the end, and it’s never too late to fall into fear.”
I traced my finger along my neck.
“You’ll only be going to Deus by tomorrow morning.”
If the information about me inciting the guild master gets out, guild masters across the country will try to kill me.
So, to avoid the risk of the secret leaking and me getting killed...
‘Kill them all.’
“Would you like to drink your punishment or become a noble?”
“I’ll become a vassal of the Baron.”
“You made a wise decision.”
Now that he’s my vassal, I will treat him well.
Just his request to advise the Emperor to dissolve the guild system will bring me immense benefit.
‘A guild-free free market economy is my stage alone.’
I know exactly how to move and what future trends will come.
What’s there to fear?
“Make the request for the guild dissolution in three months. Be ready to leave before then.”
With both carrot and stick in place, he will move as I expect.