1617 Summer(June - August)

London

Finally, the population of England alone reached 10 million, with the entire British Isles becoming 16 million.

"And the Dutch have reached 3 million, Imperator!"

"So, that makes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Netherlands - my earlier domain -'s population almost 20 million, almost the same as that of France."

"Yes, Imperator."

And how did I figure it out? It was all thanks to compulsory military service and the national insurance system! Of course, since it's the Middle age, not 21C, some populations may have been left uncounted. So, that makes the real population of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Netherlands over 20 million.

However, that means Great Britain and the Netherlands can't survive with itself because it's agricultural production is not as plenty as that of France.

Well, it stands to reason. Without 20-21C's entertainment like TV, Internet, Mobile phone, Video games, movies, most people's play is drinking and sex. So, the birth rate is high but the death rate has been drastically reduced thanks to preventing perpetual fever with all those efforts I've done after I've lost my first wife Maria and improving the sanitation.

How's that possible? First, the current technological advancement - at least in farming - is very little, which means that per capita agricultural production is stagnant.

So, without any additional farmlands to cultivate, the countryside faces an oversupply of labor, with many workers immigrating to cities. In a normal situation, just like Malthus said, when people gather in cities, both the commerce and manufacturing advances while sanitation gets worse. In short, it becomes an ideal condition for a plague to spread, like Black Death, Spanish Flu, SARS, COVID-19. So, in the pre-modern era, the population is stagnant, because if an increase in population occurs, war or pandemic reduces the population.

F*** off! I'm not Xi Jinping or Donald Trump, who succumb to COVID-19.

After I've lost my first wife Maria and a stillborn child thanks to a perpetual fever, I've done everything I could to improve sanitation and advance medical science - like setting up several medical schools funded by the royal, mandating washing hands with pure water or wine to midwives and doctors, adopting national pension and medical insurance, etc.

Also, I've fixed the market price of crops with the resale price maintenance by the royal, while self-ruling parliaments focused on maintaining waterworks and sewerage system.

In short, with plenty of nutrients and clean environment, and the improvement of medical science, the chances of the epidemic have drastically reduced. Also, since the mainland has never suffered an invasion, the population is continually increasing.

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For now, it's just Great Britain, Netherlands, and Iberia - Iberia has reached 21 million now - but, if these advancements spread to entire Europe, it'll be a disaster.

In the worst case scenario, West Europe might face social and political upheaval, because the increase of agricultural production can't keep up with the population increase.

'Oh, if my major in my 1st life was engineering, I would have invented several items and started an industrial revolution!'

But, since I'm not a reincarnation of Nikola Tesla or John von Neumann, all I can do for now is speeding up the colonization of North America, sending some of the abundant population there, and importing food crops from there.

However, to prevent Europe from being dragged by North America, Europe has to produce some of its food crops as well.

So, that means technological advancement which leads to an increase in agricultural production is a must. Right now, I've introduced the division of labor and manufacturing complex, but it's just a drop in the bucket compared to the machine-driven industrial revolution.

So, I summoned my son - the Prince of Wales - Richard.

"I want you to pass the bill that establishes an Intellectual Property Office which protects the inventor's right with a just law when his copyright has been infringed."

"Okay, I've got that you want me to have more experience as a ruler, father."

"But, I must beg your pardon. What do you mean by copyright and what exactly is intellectual property?"

"Copyright is a right derived from intellectual property, such as knowledge, information, technology, and all sorts of intangible values that can give its' inventor profit."

Although I could do it myself, I had him do it so that he can have more experience before I die. Since I can't change my successor now, all I can do for him is giving him more chances to quarrel with Congress.

'Stare'

'Sigh'

"As you wish, father."

Although he looked at me with disgusting looks, he didn't refuse my order. It was obvious because he was an innocent scholar and loved his people.

So, after a month, quarreling every day with the Senate and the House of Representatives of 1st Congress in London, Richard passed the Bill of establishing an Intellectual Property Office and the Copyright Law. The reason it took so long was that he also introduced the Bill of Teaching Nature Science and History Education at vocational schools, an after measure of 1613 Spring Education Reform bill - which became a fuse that I kicked out corrupt aristocrats and bourgeoisie from the 1st Congress.

"And the Yeoman and Gentries went berserk and tried to stop it till now, father."

"Well, haven't they threw in the towel, my son?"

"Yes, but I'm so sorry that they are also selfish pigs, just like their predecessors."

Yes, since most senators and representatives were mostly newcomers who were elected in 1613 after that tax audit and bribery scandal, with the predecessors locked up in their homes, they had neither an authority nor power to stop it.

'Sigh'

'He would have been a fine scholar, I'm so sorry that he's a politician - no, the next emperor of the New West Roman Empire.'

1617 Fall(September-November)

Madrid

"I wish to establish an Intellectual Property Office and enact the Copyright Law, what say?"

"As you wish, Imperator!"

"Long live Eduardo I, the Ruler of West Europe!"

"Also, I wish to conduct a universal education to all people in Iberia which will be made of elementary, middle, and high school. What do you think?"

"Of course, Imperator!"

"Long live Imperator Eduardo Ivlivs Caesar Avgvstvs!"

It was not a negotiation, but a one-sided notice. Unlike British Isles - which was the countryside in the European continent - where the title of the 'Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire(Germany) and the 1st emperor of the New West Roman Empire.' just received a so-so response, Iberia saw it as a reincarnation of a sage.

'Of course. Not even my grandfather Charles V, my father Felipe II wasn't a master of entire West Europe, but just a leader of a hegemony.'

But still, the 2nd Congress in Madrid was just like a puppet or a parrot, saying only 'Yes.' to all of my suggestions. It looked as if emperor worship roman cult has revived.

If it was the 1st Parliament in London?

'No, you mustn't, Imperator!'

'It'll be a waste of tax, Imperator!'

"Ha! One is too obedient that I can't find the reason why I made it, and the other has no respect for the crown! There's no middle ground!"

And that's what I lamented in my room.

Meanwhile, the East India Company delivered me the news that the Later Jin Dynasty - would-have-been-Qing Dynasty in original history - perished.

The allied forces of Ming and Joseon - the Korean Dynasty at that time - which armed with weapons from the West crushed them, and the Khan - king - of Later Jin was captured as a prisoner of war, lynched and stoned to death at Bejing.

And Manchu region again returned to chaos, with several Jurchen/Manchu tribe chieftains fighting with one another.

"So, 'The Last Emperor' won't be Puyi, huh?"

"I...I beg your pardon, Imperator?"

"Forget it. Just keep an eye on the Far East."

"Y, yes. Of course, Imperator."