Lazaz immediately contacted a dozen of the most influential tribal leaders to go together to Mitidja and consult with Rahman, the provincial trade official on this matter—after handling the Imperial Guard and Navy forces, Rahman, who had contributed a lot, was awarded the position of trade official, making him the fourth-ranking real power official in Algiers.
In the lounge on the second floor of the Mitidja City Hall, Lazaz said discontentedly, "Sir, people are leaving the tribe every day. Right now, it's the men, but soon their families will follow."
Another tribal leader chimed in, "Our tribe only has over 800 able-bodied young men left. Are we supposed to have women and the elderly participate in spring planting next year?"
"I originally wanted to buy several hundred hectares of land, but now our tribe doesn't even have enough people to farm the existing land..."
Rahman raised his hand to interrupt them, "So, what do you propose to do?"
