Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 1099: Chapter 609: It’s Great to Learn Foreign Languages

Ovando.

Raised grain prices by the Nobility and grain merchants, artificial famine, coupled with the chaos from the riots.

Although the main firepower was attracted to the rich areas at the time, and the unrest in the civilian areas was quickly suppressed by Vick.

However, that situation still caused strong unease among ordinary people; sometimes losing confidence is more severe than losing anything else.

When the city cannot provide them with a sense of security, those remaining will leave here to seek a way out, just like those forced by natural disasters and war to leave their homes and become refugees.

Once a wave of mass exodus occurs, Ovando City will fall into decline just like Hamlet did with destruction.

Because only sufficient population can form a city, otherwise without industrial advantage, it is not better than a farmer with two acres of land.

Thus, after Walter took control, he forcibly restricted ordinary people from leaving; the streets were patrolled by troops everywhere, and a complete curfew was implemented at night.

On the other side, porridge was distributed, relief grain was provided, promises to lower grain prices were made, along with restoration of material supply and bringing jobs, barely stabilizing public sentiment.

Walter had a good reputation locally, was considered half-local, and had management experience, quickly sorting out the situation.

Simultaneously, he promoted some capable but sidelined individuals to take charge, starting to build his governance team, keeping power firmly in his own hands.

Of course, there were some who were nostalgic for the past due to the reforms damaging their interests.

But Walter, this old fox, unlike Tiffany, directly sent them to meet the Old Nobility, which was very considerate.

Walter’s core strength was the Guard he trained himself, along with the enforcers left by Vick before he left; as long as this was in hand, Ovando wouldn’t fall into chaos.

But avoiding chaos was just a minimal requirement; he needed to quickly restore Ovando’s production and life, as only then could lasting stability be achieved.

By then, he would present a satisfactory report to the Lord.

This was extremely difficult under the circumstances of almost complete destruction of industry, personnel, resources, and channels; Walter sometimes wondered how long his hair could hold on.

This was even with pre-planned actions, with a big sum of money left by the Lord, otherwise, this mess would be even more troublesome.

The only solace was that the Lord left him with a quite "clean" Ovando.

One can only say Lance’s action was truly decisive, removing anyone who could pose a threat based on predetermined lists, all disappeared from Ovando City.

Otherwise, Walter would waste time negotiating with various parties and constantly guard against some ambitious individuals overturning the table.

Now it’s about doing it big without restrictions.

Walter probably didn’t anticipate that as a businessman he could actually sit in this position.

There’s no denying that power is the best aphrodisiac, even though Walter was exhausted, he showed ample energy.

And now, through tough governance, Ovando’s industry began to recover, at least it showed this sign.

The core pillar industry, with the docks’ Gang cleared out, fishermen and sailors started becoming active.

Meanwhile, addressing Ovando’s public infrastructure renovation plans, removing traces of destruction post-riot, taking the opportunity to replan Ovando City’s irrational layout, and so on.

Simply put, it’s work-for-relief, generating demand.

This civil engineering doesn’t count as particularly good jobs, but it provided many people temporary work and income.

Especially for the young and able-bodied labor force, stabilizing them meant stabilizing a household.

All this was supported by dispersing wealth liberally; if the Nobility took over Ovando City, they certainly wouldn’t care, since the invested money wouldn’t yield returns.

But the money Walter dispersed wasn’t his own, and this plan was jointly devised with the Lord; he merely executed it.

Meanwhile, Ovando received good news — autumn harvest had begun.

The autumn harvest, in the entire agricultural society, almost nothing compares to this more important event.

Because the grain yield will determine if they can survive the harsh winter, the key to their ability to continue living.

Although they were city dwellers, without their own land, the yield equally related to grain prices.

They had already endured it once; going through it again would be unbearable for anyone.

However, Hamlet’s land was fertile, and unlike the Empire’s central region, there were no natural disasters, so the harvest this year, though not abundant, was considered normal.

The surrounding farms had been cleansed, replaced by Walter’s trusted aides, hence currently, the surrounding area’s grain was indeed monopolized.

Watching the carts of grain transported into the city, people’s unease was slightly appeased.

And grain prices started to be posted, when prices returned to pre-rise levels, many even cried.

Though prices fell back, their pockets had long been emptied; where was the money?

In response, Walter used work hours to offset the price, not paying money but giving grain, and Walter’s rule thus truly stabilized.

Moreover, everyone had a daily quota, stating it was to prevent some unscrupulous merchants from hoarding, driving up grain prices again.

Simultaneously promising sufficient grain supply, prioritized for locals, and that restrictions will be lifted once full stability is achieved.

You can say they’ll disagree with purchase limits, even if they have no money to buy.