Chapter 74 - Night Raid

It had been a month since Arthur and his father first discussed their proposal to transition the shared agricultural lands—used in common by rural farmers—into private estates, mechanized for modern farming. The aim was clear: to draw the surplus rural population into the cities and meet the ever-growing labor demand of the burgeoning industrial sector. At first, the idea was bold, even controversial. But with King Cedric's influence over Parliament and the vested interests of many powerful political figures—many of whom were shareholders or outright owners of factories, foundries, and mining operations—the topic soon caught momentum.