Struggle in the Steam Age

Considering that the current location is in the wild, once it gets dark, there may be various reasons for security problems. So after eating a simple lunch, everyone immediately returned to the urban area under the escort of Lawrence's guards.

Although the previous carriages were severely damaged due to defensive operations, so that there were only two intact carriages left, but fortunately, most of them survived because the horses had been placed in the rear before. . So it doesn't hinder everyone's actions.

Of course, Lawrence feels that there is another important reason why everyone can evacuate so smoothly now, that is, a large amount of supplies brought by the carriage at that time were also damaged during the war, so naturally the required transportation capacity is also much less.

Anyway, everyone returned to the city very smoothly in the end. At the beginning, Lawrence was really worried about what would happen if these rich people couldn't ride a horse.

But it wasn't until he finished the journey that he realized that riding a horse was a compulsory course for anyone with a little money in this era, so there were basically no people who couldn't ride a horse.

After entering the city, the sky had already darkened. So everyone left each other's contact addresses and left. However, to Lawrence's surprise, the Viscount Surrey lived next door to his residence.

"Why do you live here?" Lawrence asked a little puzzled as he rode back to the residence slowly.

Because the hierarchy in this world is very strict, there are basically some rules about who lives where.

To give the simplest example, the area where Lawrence and the others live is targeting people with status but not a lot of money. If Lawrence himself bought a house for himself, it would definitely not be appropriate to put it there.

It's just that his house is considered an industry under the island of New Sauer Island and does not belong to him, so it's not too much to live here temporarily.

But it is obviously inappropriate for a rich nobleman like the Earl of Surrey to live in this place, because in his capacity, he should now live in some more upscale area.

If living here, it is easy to give people the feeling that something is wrong with the family now, financially or otherwise.

"This house was left to me by my father, and it is also my only real estate in this area." It may be because the two parties have gone through an important battle together just now, so the Viscount Surrey is also willing to say something related to privacy with Lawrence matter.

"You know, my territory used to be on the cold northern archipelago. Before those minerals were discovered, my territory was just a poor territory that barely made a living by rye and fishing."

"It's just that because of good luck and the blessing of the gods, we discovered a large piece of high-quality coal mines five years ago." Speaking of this, the Viscount Surrey suddenly became excited. "

Then all of a sudden things got better and we had money to buy things we never could have imagined before. "

"It's just that Sword Bay is different, because this place is too old as a high-end resort area."

Speaking of this, Sarri only felt a helpless look on his face. "It is really difficult to buy a property that meets the status in this place. It is basically impossible for upstarts like us to get what they want in a short time."

Perhaps because Lawrence's identity resonated with him, Viscount Surrey subconsciously mentioned these things.

After all, Lawrence's current federation can be considered a little famous, and his development history has fallen into the eyes of most federation people, so he is naturally regarded as a lucky person who has obtained his current status by virtue of his own skills and luck.

And this is what the Viscount Surrey feels very envious of, because he and Lawrence are actually upstarts in the aristocratic circle.

But because Lawrence had an important scholar status before he became a nobleman, Lawrence was obviously higher than the Viscount Surrey by more than one level in terms of social status.

Although Lawrence was rejected by some veteran nobles in the aristocratic circle for a series of reasons, this rejection was only recessive.

For example, in normal noble marriages, those noble women often have a higher status in the family than the man. But if Lawrence really wants to marry a nobleman, he can only choose the daughter of a baron or even a hereditary knight.

But on the other hand, Lawrence didn't suffer much discrimination when he usually attended parties. Because he was a field noble anyway, and he was also a scholar before becoming a noble.

Therefore, during the daily gatherings, those nobles still have a certain respect for Lawrence himself.

Most importantly, as a pioneer noble. It can be said that Lawrence started from scratch on New Shaw Island and made such a career in such a short period of time. It can be said that what he did was very in line with the principle of aristocracy.

Therefore, even though the group of old nobles despised Lawrence from their blood, they still taught their children in private that they should follow him as an example.

The Viscount Surrey's situation in this regard is obviously worse than that of Lawrence, because the nobles who can be dispatched to the cold and barren northern archipelago are themselves marginalized in the noble circle.

Therefore, immediately after the discovery of this large coal mine, there were a lot of rumors that almost completely drowned him.

"The situation should be much better after you develop the territory." Lawrence patted Viscount Surrey on the shoulder lightly and said.

"At least according to my experience, that group of nobles are still profit supremacists in the final analysis. So as long as you show your own value, the situation will naturally become better than before."

"But I'm very rich now." Viscount Surrey asked a little puzzled, "But those people didn't give me the corresponding respect. It even feels like they despise me more than before."

"Please, we are aristocrats. Money is not that important to us." Lawrence shook his head helplessly. He didn't expect that this hereditary aristocrat who looked older than himself would not know as well as himself in this regard. .

However, this situation is within their expectations, after all, not all nobles have received that kind of traditional noble education.

For example, aristocrats like Lawrence who became monks did not receive this kind of education, and the Viscount Surrey, who was regarded as a fringe in the aristocratic circle in front of him, was also the same.

"The real core of nobility is strength and power." Lawrence said in a low voice, "That is to say, blood alone is not enough to become a respected nobleman."

"In addition to blood, they either need to have a relatively high level of extraordinary strength, or they need to have sufficient leadership ability. Of course, for a nobleman, it is naturally best if they can have both of these things at the same time."

"With all due respect, you are not doing very well in these two aspects now." Although it is a big taboo to speak lightly, since the other party has already asked about this aspect, Lawrence naturally cannot avoid talking about it.

"Because your wealth mainly comes from luck, and all the changes in your territory are only related to coal mines."

"I have noticed these things before, but I can't find many solutions to the problem." After talking about this problem, Sarri showed a helpless expression on his face.

"Because my territory is such a barren place, there are really not many resources there except coal mines."

"Actually, that's what other people thought about my territory before I went to New Shaw Island." Lawrence immediately comforted him when he saw that His Excellency the Viscount was a little excited.

"So I think your territory should not be as barren as you said, but you didn't find those hidden wealth and resources before."