Andre's expression slightly froze for a moment upon hearing this.

He certainly knew what Luo Yan was referring to, but it wasn't appropriate for him to comment further.

Every year, the Royal Mint would quietly mix some other metals in with the Gold Coins; "watering down" had long become standard practice. Perhaps this was unacceptable in the eyes of the Colin family, but in his view, it was not worth a fuss, nor even worth mentioning.

After all, what backed the Imperial Gold Coins was not gold, but the invincible fleet of the Empire and the unshakeable Imperial power.

Of course, Andre also understood that this model was unsustainable. After all, the quality of the gold ultimately had a threshold; you can't have Gold Coins with no gold at all. The Council of Elders had been troubled about this matter more than once.

Ultimately, the Empire's colonial system is far behind the current era.

Long ago, when the colonies and vassal states were not well developed, the Imperial sages designed the post-war order of the Second Epoch. The Holy City could support the entire population of the Empire solely with the coining rights of Gold Coins, even liberating them from the land and allowing them to become dignified citizens.

However, without significant changes in productivity and living standards, liberating the serfs would not make the role of serf disappear into thin air; it merely moved from the Empire to the vassal states and colonies.

As time passed, the colonies failed to make significant progress due to continuous wars with Hell, but the Imperial vassal states developed one after another because they were far behind the front lines.

Those Nobles were not just planting grapes; they began distilling wine and gradually producing better quality than the Nobles of the Empire's homeland.

Not just wine, but other manufactured goods, from furniture to textiles, and the Empire's most crucial technology — the steam engine of ocean freight ships.

These goods produced by the vassal states were continuously shipped to the Empire's homeland, even resulting in "reverse dumping" and simultaneously importing raw materials and finished goods, plundering the Empire's gold.

The Empire's export of Gold Coins had long been insufficient to cover expenses. Facing the continuous imports from vassal states and colonies, the Empire could only play tricks with the gold content of the Gold Coins.

However, Andre still believed this was at most a superficial itch, far from a deep pain. At least for now, the Empire's fleet was still formidable, and no vassal state dared to question their Gold Coins.

Moreover, the Empire had some methods to balance trade revenues — like convincing the Nobles of vassal states to study Magic in the Imperial Academic State, using Priests to control vassal state lands, the adventurer guild, and so on.

Though these are merely "small measures" that can't change the big picture, they can still keep the current good days going.

Seeing Andre's expression, Luo Yan knew he was an understanding person, so he happily said the words long prepared for the perceptive.

"To completely solve this problem, outdated rules must be reformed. If the trade rules aren't changed, then the production rules must be... We must reverse the trade surplus that vassal states have enjoyed for the past five hundred years and let the flowing gold return to the Holy City."

Andre's curiosity was fully piqued, frowning slightly as he pursued the topic, "Oh? Does Your Highness have a clever plan?"

Luo Yan smiled slightly, laying out his plan openly.

"White Dew District is a testing ground. I plan to use the cheap syrup produced on the Gana Continent to achieve 'mass production' of white sugar and rum on the lands surrounding the Holy City. This is advanced experience I've learned from the Gutaf Kingdom, where the Lizardman Nobles discovered that as long as logistics can keep up, the more densely you build industrial workshops, the higher the efficiency... This applies to both production efficiency and raw material utilization, ultimately infinitely lowering the cost of finished goods."

"They call it, industrialization."

"Industrialization..." Andre muttered the word, a hint of realization in his eyes, though many parts still left him in a fog, he roughly understood what Prince Colin intended to do.

"Exactly!"

Luo Yan did not stop, continuing to enthusiastically outline the unfolding blueprint — or perhaps the nearly completed grand plan.

"...Those rum and sugar products produced by industrial mass production will be dumped at extremely low prices along the entire coast of the Vortex Sea through the ports controlled by the Castelion family! In an instant, we can drive the vassal state's products out of the Empire citizens' kitchens!"

"Not just rum and sugar products, the experimental field in the White Dew District is just a start! Once this path is viable, we can quickly propagate this model to various industries!"

"We don't even need to personally promote it; as long as the Empire's citizens see this path is viable, they will naturally participate in the wave of 'industrialization'!"

"In this way, the Empire's manufacturing industry will once again achieve prosperity, and the Holy City's market will once again be filled with goods made by the Empire! And the gold that vassal states have snatched from us over the past five hundred years will continuously flow back to the Holy City!"

Pausing for a moment, he softened his tone, returned to his gentlemanly demeanor, and said with a smile.

"As for why choose white sugar and rum, primarily because it's closely tied to the lives of the Empire's citizens and the interests of the Gana Continent."

Andre listened earnestly until the last moment he almost forgot to breathe, slowly taking a breath just before he suffocated.

Despite the family's foundation supporting his spine, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and thrill deep within.

Though the Castelion family was already wealthy, who would mind having too much cake in their hands?

Moreover —

This is also for the Imperial prosperity, the future prosperity of the Castelion family's descendants!

However, as a Duke, he was not like those captains and sailors who can't move when they see a bit of gold, nor like General Hamoldon who spent the Emperor's money without concern.

He did not immediately express his position, simply leaning back in the chair with a smile, speaking meaningfully.

"Your Highness, the blueprint you've shown me is indeed tempting, especially for the Castelion family... even more so than the Holy Temple Knight Order. I am honored you chose us."

Pausing again, he continued.

"But allow me to speak frankly, there are too many elements based on assumptions... words alone are not sufficient, you must show me, and make me believe it can be realized."

Obtaining a piece of Baron Territory from the outskirts of the Holy City is not easy, even for Prince Colin who owns a continental overseas.

Furthermore, this is ultimately a cooperation between the Castelion family and the Colin family, different from the "public project" of the Holy Temple Knight Order.

As the Family Head of the Castelion family, he must first see whether this Prince's methods are worth his further investment.

Luo Yan smiled slightly, his expression calm and composed, as if everything was under control.

"Then please watch closely."

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