Chapter 358 — Entertainment and Gawain's Dilemma

Entertainment in this age was exceedingly monotonous and scarce.

Even before his transmigration, Gawain had seen descriptions of the scarcity of entertainment in ancient times in all sorts of novels, films, and television dramas. It was, one might say, a cliché. But after transmigrating, he could not help but sigh that this saying was truly no mere figure of speech.

In this world, entertainment was not only scarce but also severely constrained by social class. For the upper nobility, the greatest amusements in their leisure were likely opera, music, hunting, and banquets. Though in Gawain's eyes these were still rather dull, they did at least constitute a rich and varied life. The lower classes, however, plainly could not afford such extravagant living, and so the lower one's station, the fewer amusements one could come into contact with.

Drinking and brawling in taverns, gambling in a few crude ways (which in the end usually devolved into brawls anyway), listening to the rap of street bards (though here people called it legendary poetry)—these were almost the only means of relaxation available to common folk after their labors. Beyond these, about all they could do was make babies at home. And even so, their leisure time remained pitifully scant.

Owing to low productivity, and more importantly to the oppression of lords and nobles, the vast majority of commoners had virtually no so-called "leisure time." They had to devote eighty or ninety percent of their energy to labor just to scrape by with food and warmth. Most people had no surplus energy or strength left once their bellies were filled, and this was precisely the state of affairs most noble lords delighted in: the lowly toiling with heads down, harboring no "presumptuous thoughts" beyond that, no one stirring up trouble, no one idle—and naturally, all were content.

But in Cecil Territory, things had changed.

The people had filled their bellies—and not only filled their bellies; they had surplus money and rest time as well.

This situation, so entirely a matter of course in Gawain's previous life, was unprecedented in this world, and it caught the administrators off guard.

"After a period of construction, the territory's various infrastructures are now complete, survival is no longer a problem, and the production pressure on the factories has begun to ease. So we have entered the next stage," Gawain said unhurriedly as he tidied the chess pieces on the table, speaking to Hetty. "Before this, everyone in the territory had to give their all just to survive. No one had leisure time, so order was good. But now we no longer need that. The people are beginning to get reasonable rest, and the food supply has become ample. So the well-fed, well-rested subjects naturally need something to do to burn off energy. By the usual 'laws,' they can only run off to taverns to drink, then brawl with people in the streets and alleys; or those with more spare coin seek out fleshly commerce, or gather for gambling... Public order deteriorates worse and worse in the process, and yet it's not their fault.

"We cannot have people working around the clock without pause. The pressure that accumulates that way only makes public order worse. So we must give the people some entertainment."

Gawain put the chess box away and looked up into Hetty's eyes.

"Chess is a good thing. It kills time, exercises the mind, can decide victory and defeat, and is enjoyable in the process. But expecting to solve the public order problem with a single chess set is unrealistic. We must do more.

"We should regard 'making the people feel content and happy' as a responsibility. This contentment is not limited to the simple matter of filling their bellies and keeping them warm; it should also let them enjoy the spiritual life that is their due.

"Besides chess, I've also revised the rules of King's Cards. The original King's Cards rules were too complex—an amusement only the more learned could grasp—and unsuitable for spreading to all the people. So I simplified them, so that common folk can master them too. I've named it 'Lord's Cards.' In addition, I've thought of several games that can be played indoors; none are complicated, and all are fun. Also, the existing dice games used for gambling—we can remove or restrict their gambling elements and then promote and publicize them.

"I plan to open chess and card parlors in the territory. They can be combined with taverns, but serving only low-alcohol drinks and beverages like sourgrass water. Their main function is to let people relax and enjoy themselves. Moreover, these chess and card sets are cheap to produce. We can open it to merchants and craftsmen, let them make and sell them. This can add some income to the territory and also enrich the subjects' life at home.

"Beyond that, for those who don't care for indoor amusements, I've conceived several outdoor sports. They can both release excess energy and make our people stronger and more agile—not polo and hunting; those are things only nobles can afford. I'll explain the specifics to you once preparations are in order."

Listening to Gawain lay out his ideas one by one, Hetty found herself increasingly approving of these plans, and at the same time she became deeply aware of the oversights in her own previous administration of the territory. At last, when Gawain finally paused, she could not help asking, "Ancestor, could it be... you thought of all these things long ago?"

"Indeed, I thought of them long ago. It's just that in the early days of building the territory, everyone had trouble even putting food on the table; there was naturally no need to consider such things then," Gawain said with a smile and a nod. "Don't underestimate these things. When it comes to maintaining order in the territory and enhancing the people's sense of happiness, they do far more than the machines in the factories."

Seeing Hetty nodding again and again, Gawain let out a soft breath and continued, "Providing cheap and easily satisfied entertainment is only one part of raising the people's sense of happiness and maintaining order. Beyond that, building up the public order corps remains very important. Do not neglect this point."

"Yes, I understand."

After Gawain had arranged matters properly, Hetty left the parlor, and Gawain sat alone on the parlor sofa, thinking quietly.

The territory's population would only grow from here on, and as magical industrialization continued to develop, the territory's material goods could only become more and more abundant. What followed was that commoners would no longer have to worry about basic livelihood, and enriching the people's entertainment was a matter of course—after all, entertainment is one of man's basic needs once food and warmth are satisfied. If you cannot provide what they want, they will naturally find their own ways to satisfy themselves: drinking, brawling, gang fights, gambling—all perfectly normal.

But what Gawain meant to do was not merely to promote a few forms of entertainment, to give the subjects somewhere to play once they were fed and warm.

The population was growing, the city was expanding, and the number of people in the territory who could read and write was increasing by the day. Something long brewing was due to be set in motion.

He rose and returned to his study.

A large mechanical blueprint was spread across his desk.

He had begun drawing this blueprint several days ago. Since most of the structure was not too complex, he had by now completed seven or eight tenths of it—only the most critical part remained unclear.