Chapter 124 Special Economic Zone

Halfway through the banquet, Xu Yi, under the leadership of a palace servant, received a private reception from His Majesty the King again in a secret room.

Compared with the first meeting, when His Majesty the King saw Xu Yi, the smile on his face became brighter and more sincere.

As he praised Xu Yi at the banquet before, the reason why Lampari Kingdom got such a bumper harvest in this year's autumn harvest is the farmland magic machinery of Xinfei Chamber of Commerce, and the biggest contributor is of course It was Xu Yi, who invented the farmland magic machine.

For the Kingdom of Lampari, or for any country on the Sainz Continent, solving the problem of food and clothing for the people is the primary issue.

In the past, the Kingdom of Lampari faced many difficulties in this regard, but now, with the help of the farmland magic machinery, it only took a year to solve this problem almost perfectly.

Even according to the assessment of the Agriculture Department, if the farmland magic machinery continues to be vigorously promoted, and finally the farmland magic machinery can be used on every piece of land in the kingdom, the Lampari Kingdom might not only be able to meet its own domestic food needs. , and even have surplus grain sold to other countries!

Knowing this great news, how could His Majesty not show a sincere and bright smile to Xu Yi?

"Does the Agriculture Department think that grain can be exported abroad?" Xu Yi was a little surprised. "Your Majesty, please forgive my offense, I think this decision is a bit ill-considered, right?"

"Oh? What do you think you need to consider?" His Majesty the King looked at Xu Yi with interest.

"First of all, the reason why our kingdom has been able to get a bumper harvest this year is that in addition to the help of the farmland magic machinery, which has increased the amount of farmland that can be cultivated, there is also a very important reason that there have been no natural disasters throughout this year, and no farmland has appeared. Cut production. But this is an issue that has to be taken into account, and if I remember correctly, the turmoil a dozen years ago was caused by the famine…”

Xu Yi did not go on.

The famine in the Lampari Kingdom more than ten years ago has now almost become a taboo for everyone in the kingdom, and is reluctant to mention it easily.

His Majesty the King in front of him even inherited the throne during the famine. This famine must have been more impressive than anyone else.

His Majesty the King didn't seem to care much, nodded and said: "Well, this is indeed an issue that needs attention. But of course, the Agriculture Department will take this factor into consideration. Do you think there are other things that need to be considered? "

"Besides... the Agriculture Department believes that the grain output under this year's bumper harvest can not only meet the needs of all people in the kingdom, but there is even a surplus that can be exported abroad, but I think this is probably based on the previous demand for grain in the kingdom. On the basis of. In fact, as I observed in Bangta City and several surrounding cities, people in many families. Especially those ordinary peasant families, most people are actually in a state of not having enough to eat all the time. I Think... the Department of Agriculture may be underestimating the food needs of these people."

"You mean that because I have been hungry all the time, once I find that there is more food to eat than before, I will let go of my stomach and eat hard. Maybe my appetite will become several times as much as before?" His Majesty asked.

"That's what I mean."

Seeing Xu Yi nod, His Majesty the King laughed out loud.

"Haha. Your idea is understandable. During the famine, even I was hungry for a few days. Later, when there was enough food to eat, I really let go of my stomach and ate for a long time. I've gained a few kilograms. Look..." His Majesty patted his round belly and said with a self-deprecating expression, "This is how I gained weight more than ten years ago, and I haven't lost any weight since then."

Xu Yi couldn't help but smile, thinking that His Majesty the King is very funny.

His Majesty the King tapped the armrest of the chair. Nodding his head, he praised: "Yes, I originally called you to praise you individually, and I planned to ask you if you need any more rewards, but I didn't expect to chat with you casually, but I found out that you have a lot of love for the entire kingdom. The administrative planning is also very insightful. Not bad... According to Earl Summer's report, you are still in charge of the overall renovation project of Bonta City, right?"

Xu Yi was startled, and nodded quickly and replied, "Yes. Lord Earl has mainly entrusted this task to me. However, the overall renovation project has just started, and no results have been seen yet."

"It is already a very huge achievement to be able to make Earl of Summer have the idea of ​​​​renovating the city of Bonta as a whole." His Majesty the King smiled. "Xu Yi, I have to say, Bangta City has changed a lot since the new Flying Chamber of Commerce came into being. At least, it has become much richer than before, isn't it? Otherwise, so what? Thinking of doing a whole remodel.”

Xu Yi couldn't help but smile: "The Count has been crying poor in front of me. To tell you the truth. Now the City Lord's Mansion still owes our Chamber of Commerce hundreds of thousands of gold coins."

"Let him continue to owe him." His Majesty the King waved his hand with a look of indifference. "Actually, even me, I really want to owe your Chamber of Commerce hundreds of thousands or even millions of gold coins."

Xu Yi was immediately taken aback: "Your Majesty, our Chamber of Commerce is not yet rich enough..."

His Majesty the King smiled slightly: "Don't be nervous. This is of course a joke. I just found out that Bangta City has undergone such a welcome change now, and I can't help but think if the whole Kingdom of Lampari can become like Bangta City. It would be nice to be prosperous."

Seeing a trace of emotion on His Majesty's face, Xu Yi suddenly moved in his heart.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid it's unrealistic in a short period of time to turn the kingdom into Bangta City, but can you consider giving priority to selecting an area in the kingdom to make them prosperous?"

"Choose an area to become prosperous first?" His Majesty the King frowned. "What does this mean? What should I do?"

"Simply put, it's the establishment of a special economic zone..."

###

After leaving the palace, Xu Yi got into the carriage that was returning to the other courtyard. As soon as the carriage started, he suddenly couldn't hold back a puff and laughed alone.

No way, he wanted to laugh as long as he thought about the situation he had just talked about with His Majesty the King.

Talking about SEZs in front of the king of a country that is still half-slave and half-feudal is kind of funny.

However, His Majesty the King listened very seriously to Xu Yi's description.

Regarding Xu Yi's proposal to establish a special economic zone around Bangta City, His Majesty the King thought about it for a while and initially expressed his approval.

He even took the initiative to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of establishing special economic zones with Xu Yi.

The advantage is of course that it can concentrate manpower, material resources and policy advantages, making Bangta City and several surrounding cities develop rapidly together.

Now this area actually does not have the policy help of this special economic zone. Because of the leadership of the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce, it has become much more prosperous than before, and it can basically be regarded as a spontaneous special economic zone.

If there is a tilt of the kingdom's policy, it will only develop faster.

The downside is that such a decision will cause dissatisfaction in other parts of the kingdom, especially those where the lands of the great nobles are located.

Why should the establishment of the special economic zone be selected in Bangta City and several surrounding cities, and not in other places?

Does Bangta City have any special advantages compared to other places?

Xu also wanted to say that because Bangta City has a new flying chamber of commerce, this is the biggest advantage. But in fact, of course you can't say that, and even if you say it, no one will be convinced.

Therefore, his final proposal to His Majesty the King was actually more cautious. He only proposed the concept of a special economic zone, but did not intend for His Majesty the King to really make it clear to everyone that a special economic zone should be established around Bangta City.

To put it bluntly, Xu Yi just wanted His Majesty the King to take special care of the area around Bangta City. To give some policy inclinations in some aspects, so as to facilitate the development of Bangta City and several surrounding cities.

His Majesty the King agreed with this proposal and expressed that he would consider it carefully.

Therefore, the meeting between Xu Yi and His Majesty the King achieved a very satisfactory result.

It's just that when he was leaving, His Majesty the King suddenly patted him on the shoulder, but said something that made him very vigilant.

His Majesty the King said at the time: "Very good, I am more relieved that Sevigny has such a good helper as you."

This sentence is really intriguing.

Until the carriage stopped at the gate of the courtyard. Xu Yi still couldn't figure out the real intention of His Majesty the King saying this to him.

Looking at Steele who came out, he could only give up thinking temporarily, take this sentence into his heart, and greet him with a smile on his face.

"Aleri is awake." Steele said.

"Oh? Then let's go take a look."

Xu Yi and Steele walked quickly to Alleri's room.

As soon as he walked to the door, he heard a weak voice from inside the room.

"Be... Bella, don't... let people see... it's not good to see."

Then Bella's very recognizable slightly shrill voice sounded.

"Hmph, what's wrong? I'm taking care of a patient. Come on. Open your mouth, don't be twitchy like a girl. Ah..."

Hearing the sound of bowls and spoons colliding in the room, Xu Yi stopped, pointed to the room, and cast an inquiring look at Steele.

Steele pursed his lips into a smirk with a hint of **, stretched out his index finger to his mouth and made a silent gesture, and then quietly approached the door with Xu Yi. The probe looked in.

The situation in the room was just as Xu Yi thought. Alailie's back was padded with a pillow and quilt, and he was lying on the bed, while Bella was sitting on the edge of the bed. In his hand, he was holding a bowl of something so dark that he didn't know whether it was soup or medicine.

Seeing that Alleri's face was flushed and ready to open his mouth to swallow the spoon, Xu Yi suddenly coughed lightly, stepped into the door, made a surprised expression, and said loudly, "Bella, didn't you say that you fell in love with me yesterday? Is it? Did you change your mind just a day later?"

Bella's hands trembled in shock, and she nearly threw the spoon out.

Seeing that Steele and Xu Yi also walked in from the door together, the two were immediately embarrassed.