After Gawain's speech, the camp's peasants and serfs, though still unable to fully grasp his intentions, showed a subtle shift in demeanor. Gawain could see that in an era long accustomed to rigid social hierarchies, it would be challenging for these people to understand the concept of "building a home for oneself." He knew this transformation would be slow and incremental. However, if even a fraction of them began to think differently, this initial mobilization would be a success.
As Gawain stepped down from the stone platform, Heidi and Rebecca quickly gathered around him. Rebecca looked up at her ancestor, puzzled. "Ancestor, do you truly believe these serfs and laborers can shoulder the responsibility of building a new territory? Most of them lack any experience."
Gawain smiled. "Responsibility is something that can be cultivated, Rebecca. In any society, the most important factor isn't people's inherent talents but the opportunities they're given to take on responsibility." He paused, glancing at the makeshift camp before them. "Perhaps today's words may be confusing, but as they see the camp taking shape, their mindsets will begin to shift."
Heidi, concerned, added, "Ancestor, I understand your intentions, but these people have been oppressed and controlled all their lives. They've never owned land or property, let alone had the freedom to make decisions about their future. Isn't this change too drastic for them?"
"Perhaps it is. But everything must start somewhere." Gawain replied firmly, "Their lives have been confined to small plots of land, working tirelessly for decades, sometimes generations, without ever being allowed to truly own anything. I hope to change that. And although it will take time, if we're moving in the right direction, we'll reach our goal."
He and Heidi then discussed concrete steps to help the workers adjust to the new management approach. They decided to begin by selecting a group of willing serfs and skilled laborers to become "freemen" of the territory. These freemen would retain the fruits of their labor, gradually accumulate personal wealth, and hold limited autonomy within the realm.
"Giving serfs the opportunity for freedom?" Heidi asked, a hint of unease in her voice. Though compassionate by nature, the idea of dismantling the serfdom system was still bold.
"Yes, we need freemen as the foundation for our new social structure," Gawain explained. "Allowing these people to become freemen not only increases their work motivation but also sets an example for others, showing them that hard work and responsibility lead to a better life."
Rebecca, contemplating, asked, "What rights would these freemen have? Could they own land or a house?"
Gawain nodded. "Initially, they may cultivate a small plot of land within the territory and will have use rights for their own homes. More importantly, they will enjoy the freedom to move and choose their own work, no longer bound to the land."
Gawain took his place once more on the raised platform, gazing down at the assembly of subdued, apprehensive faces. He took a deep breath, understanding that their state was not one of ignorance, but rather a result of social conditions that deprived them of access to knowledge.
"Cecil's subjects," he began, "most of you know who I am. You also know that, as the head of this territory, I hold the authority to establish laws in Cecil. These laws will protect you, but they are also rules you must follow.
"Today, we are beginning to settle a new land, and that requires new rules. Therefore, I am enacting three new decrees:
"First, because the former territory has been destroyed and all former wealth wiped out, I declare that all debts to the lord of Cecil are hereby abolished. Whether a freeman or a serf, as of today, you owe no debt to your lord."
There was a slight stir in the crowd, though not overly significant. Although most of the serfs and peasants owed some debt to the lord, they had assumed, given Rebecca's kindness, that these debts might be forgiven after the loss of their homeland.
"Second," Gawain continued, "all serfs in this territory will have the opportunity to become freemen. The lord will assign various tasks, such as building houses, constructing roads, digging mines, and joining the militia. Each task will have a corresponding score. By completing these tasks, you will accumulate contributions, and once you reach the required threshold, a serf may be granted freeman status. Those who are already freemen will receive payment for completing these jobs. In the coming days, I will publish the exact standards for earning wages and contributions. But I assure you that any diligent and reliable serf could achieve freedom in two to three years, while a dedicated freeman could gain ownership of a house within five to six years."
This time, the crowd erupted into hushed yet unmistakable excitement.
For a serf to become a freeman was, in this age, a revolutionary concept. Although the kingdom's laws had never strictly prohibited serfs from becoming freemen, and some territories lacked explicit rules against it, the reality was that few lords would voluntarily release their serfs. To most of the aristocracy, serfs were cheap labor to be exploited without remorse. The idea of granting them freedom was rarely, if ever, considered.
Rebecca's earlier decree that allowed serfs to earn their freedom through military service had already caused a stir. Now Gawain's proposal went even further.
The notion of working for wages or even owning a house was nearly inconceivable to the crowd, many of whom were already freemen yet found the promises hard to believe.
*Getting paid by the lord for labor? Who could believe it?*
Gawain didn't give them time to dwell further. He announced his third point: "Today's tasks of setting up tents, building fences, and digging drainage channels are the first assignments under the new laws. Each person has a designated area to complete, and only those who finish their work to my standards will be credited. Additionally, as a reward for diligence, the first ten to finish will be given meat tonight."
With this, Gawain jumped down from the stone and returned to Heidi and Rebecca, ignoring the murmurs behind him.
The gathered serfs and peasants were briefly stunned before they suddenly surged back toward the tents and fences, intent on securing and reinforcing every knot and peg, driving posts deeper into the ground. For them, Gawain's descriptions of "contribution scores" and "standards" still sounded abstract. Yet there was one promise they understood perfectly: *meat for dinner.*
The clarity of an immediate reward could stir motivation like nothing else. Watching the bustling scene, Heidi seemed somewhat stunned until Gawain stood before her. "Ancestor… was all that true?"
Gawain gave her a knowing look. "Which part?"
"The part about serfs earning freedom through labor," she said, frowning. "Of course, I don't disagree with it, as Rebecca has already issued similar decrees for soldiers. But you also mentioned building homes and roads, and that within two or three years, they could become freemen… is that really feasible?"
"Certainly," Gawain replied. "What concerns you?"
"If it becomes so easy to gain freedom, soon all serfs will become freemen," Heidi replied, perplexed. "Their children would also be freemen. Does that mean Cecil will have no serfs?"
Gawain looked at her with a calm smile. "What's wrong with that?"
Caught between her ingrained social beliefs and the logic in his words, Heidi hesitated. She couldn't quite shake her traditional view that some form of serfdom was necessary, yet she also saw no harm in his vision.
Rebecca spoke up thoughtfully, "Actually, I believe the institution of serfdom may no longer be essential. It might be better if it were gone."
Gawain regarded her with interest. "Go on."
"Serfs provide labor, which is their purpose. But if allowing them to become freemen brings us even more labor, why cling to the label of 'serf'?" she said, scratching her head. "Father always said that if serfs were freed, they'd stop working without the threat of a whip. But I've noticed that if two serfs work together for the same reward—a simple piece of bread—they often produce three or four times the work of one. The reward, no matter how small, motivates them."
Gawain nodded approvingly. "That's insightful."
It was a simple concept, but one that few nobles ever observed. The nobility, uninterested in understanding their subjects' work habits, relied on force and intimidation, satisfied with managing labor with whips and armed overseers.
Rebecca's conclusions stemmed from close observation and limited understanding of the workforce. She didn't see the bigger economic picture that Gawain did, yet her instinct was correct: productivity wasn't inherently tied to oppression but to incentive.
Gawain knew, however, that the presence or absence of slavery went beyond the dynamics of rewards and punishments. It hinged on economic efficiency and the need for a stable and prosperous social order. Over time, he realized that serfdom no longer aligned with this world's growing productivity demands. Crowds of underemployed, unmotivated serfs trapped in tedious tasks kept productivity low and society stagnant.
Meanwhile, the upper echelons lived in a magical world of near-modern comforts, far removed from the rustic lives of their serfs. The disparity was grotesque, and Gawain saw the necessity of bridging it, gradually, to build a resilient society.
Through this, he felt a measure of pride. It was only the beginning, but it
marked the start of real progress.
In a small planning meeting, Gawain, Heidi, and Rebecca reviewed recent developments. Heidi reflected, "Ancestor, I initially thought your ideas were too radical. But now, seeing the impact on the camp, I'm beginning to believe this reform may indeed be necessary."
Rebecca, filled with newfound confidence, added, "Exactly. Though they struggled to understand at first, those workers who became freemen have already changed. I believe these reforms will make Cecil a better place."
Gawain gave a slight nod, his voice steady. "This is just the beginning. True freedom and dignity can only be earned through effort. One day, I hope each person in Cecil will proudly stand tall, not as someone's 'property' but as a citizen of our land."
After the meeting, Gawain stood at the edge of the camp, overlooking the vast land. He knew the path forward would be arduous, but this land would embody his hopes and ideals. Changing deeply ingrained beliefs was a struggle, yet he was determined to lead Cecil down an unprecedented path.
"This is our future," he murmured to himself.
Behind him, Heidi and Rebecca watched the ancient "ancestor" with newfound respect and trust.
On Earth, such changes had already unfolded, but here, the presence of magic had delayed progress. One hundred peasants with pitchforks would still be no match for a single low-ranking mage or knight, regardless of their courage or numbers.
Yet Gawain knew he couldn't wait for this world to naturally evolve past such an imbalance. He needed to spark the change now and lay the groundwork for broader development. He had a strong sense that the magic tides were returning—and if even the great Gondorian Empire couldn't withstand it, could the medieval states of this era fare any better?
And beyond the magic tides, Gawain's thoughts often wandered skyward, to those mysterious "eyes" he felt watching from above. This world's people, bound by the pull of gravity, barely dared to look up at the stars, let alone understand the secrets that lay within them.