The Leader Leads the Way (1)
The Leader Leads the Way (1)
The blacksmith workshop I built by mobilizing those arrested along with Flora was complete.
I visited this place today along with the blacksmiths who will start working here from tomorrow.
Even though I plan to leave all the roles of directly managing the site and producing the items I ordered to these blacksmiths.
To reach an agreement on at least the minimum policies I want to demand, it's still more convenient to talk directly at the site.
'This is why high-ranking folks sometimes visit the field.'
Peter Schmitz, the most veteran blacksmith among those brought in by the head butler, began inspecting the facilities.
As he looked around here and there, he stroked his beard, nodded to himself, and organized his thoughts, muttering, 'I see, so that's it...'
They say that once a blacksmith reaches the realm of a master, they lose sight of their surroundings when they focus... It's just as they say.
"A blacksmith workshop equipped with 15 water-powered hammers, bellows for smelting iron, a furnace, a forge, anvils, and other facilities... To think such a fine workshop was built in a remote barony... Remarkable."
Schmitz immediately gestured for the younger blacksmiths to gather.
The other blacksmiths checked on me, their employer and a noble, but only after that guy got a grasp of the site could we have a proper conversation.
Unless it encroaches on the realm of governance and management, in the realm of production, it's best for me to yield as much as possible—one step, or even several steps—without crossing the Maginot Line.
I've seen politicians, high-ranking officials, and corporate chairmen who ignored or belittled the domains of experts all end up badly, dozens of times in my own political career.
"This is strictly your domain. I intend to set the policies on how you will manage this domain, and then later reach an agreement on the direction we both pursue through dialogue. So stop worrying about me and go on ahead."
"Thank you."
"As much as I respect you, you can repay me by delivering the best results worthy of that respect."
It can be said that human progress began in earnest with the start of the division of labor.
Some focused on hunting, some on farming, and a few peculiar ones focused on making tools for the hunters and farmers.
As a result, experts were born, and for the first time, 'surplus production' emerged, leading people to use leftover goods and free time to create civilization.
This flow continued for thousands of years, and the division of labor became intricately developed, leading to the development of modern society in the 21st century.
The flow of history is like the trial and error experienced by geniuses who lived far ahead of me—so who am I to go against it?
And all those craftsmen over there are people who failed to advance due to internal politics in a cartel group called the guild, leaving them full of resentment... Now that they have a chance to do things their way, they're working very hard.
"Workshop foreman, with these facilities, we'll need to hire more people to keep up, you know?"
"But the Baron-nim must have spent a lot building this massive workshop, so asking for more expenditure..."
"If we can't repay with the best results, we'll all be fired. We need to make this clear."
It's really good to see everyone discussing the future of this workshop and site operations seriously.
When I see this, it seems there's hope that even this territory—filled with residents so cornered that a budding revolutionary beauty like Flora could incite them to risk their lives trying to kill me—can be revived.
No, I must revive the territory by all means.
Based on the Kreuz Barony, I will rise beyond being the leader of the revolutionary forces to the Imperial throne itself.
For a politician, isn't it common sense to aim for the presidency in Korea and the emperor in a fantasy empire?
"Baron-nim."
"Yes, Schmitz. Have you finished your discussions to some extent?"
"Yes, Baron-nim. We've roughly decided on the work system and division of labor among ourselves, and discussed what is needed to operate the workshop efficiently."
"Good work. So, what else is needed?"
"The tools and facilities are sufficient as they are. However, with the current personnel, we won't be able to use this large facility efficiently. We need to recruit more manpower."
"Specifically, how many?"
"The number of skilled craftsmen is enough, but we need about 30 apprentices for odd jobs and heavy labor."
"Thirty apprentices. That works out well. I have some fellows just right for the job under me."
Schmitz's face brightened at the news that manpower could be replenished immediately.
"Bring them in."
I commanded, and the workshop door opened, and about 30 men with handcuffs entered.
Schmitz's expression hardened when he saw them.
"We blacksmiths usually accept anyone who wants to become an apprentice... but we cannot accept felons who have committed serious crimes, even if it's an order from you, Baron-nim. This is a matter of pride and dignity as a craftsman."
"They are traitors who were caught plotting to kill me, the Baron."
"Baron-nim, why on earth would you arrange apprenticeship positions for such people?"
"These fellows did threaten my life, but not out of self-interest... They were only trying to protect themselves and their families from a tyrant who exploited them and their families. If it weren't for that, all of them would have been hanging from the gallows right now."
Before I possessed him, the former Baron Kreuz was, by Korean standards, a madman who taxed someone earning 500,000 won a month to support a family of four or five at 60-80%.
Under someone like that, they would eventually die anyway, so they resisted before dying of starvation.
I don't view this kind of struggle entirely negatively.
The development of human history has also been driven by struggles against unbearable injustices, and our role as politicians is to change a world that is far beyond common sense for the better.
In the process, we also pursue our own self-interest as compensation for our work.
"So Baron-nim intends to reform them."
"They were also victims of my excessive pursuit of self-interest. They are quite different in nature from you here, Schmitz, but weren't you also constantly ignored in the guild by people who were good only at politics? These people have been trampled on all their lives too."
The Fallen Noblewoman is Good at Revolution is a novel about the empire falling into ruin through revolution.
Of course, the Imperial Craftsmen's Guild is rotten to some extent as well.
When the upper stream is polluted, the lower stream cannot remain clean.
"Even if you refuse to take them as apprentices, I plan to release them anyway. But they have nowhere to go."
In any era, the most active and leading participants in revolution are the poor who have nowhere to go.
Those who most fervently heeded Flora's voice were the day laborers and irregular part-timers at the very bottom of rural society.
Schmitz sighed after hearing my words.
"Since what you say is true, Baron-nim, and since you, the owner of this workshop, have personally requested it... I will accept them as apprentices for now."
"Thank you."
"But if I see anyone with a bad seed, I'll kick them out immediately."
"That's only natural. Good. Then start making as many breastplates, helmets, and maces as possible right away. I don't need top-quality ones—make decent items that even low-ranking soldiers can wear."
"That's possible, but why on earth..."
"The Kreuz Barony isn't famous yet, is it? Even if we make top-quality armor in an unknown workshop, no one will buy it."
When we buy home appliances, even if the price difference is as much as 50%, we usually buy from a brand-name store.
Because it's hard to trust products from places without a brand.
Given that it's directly related to human life and is ridiculously expensive—top-quality armor costing as much as a Gangnam apartment or a luxury sword worth a Bubatti—who would buy from us?
"I'll develop the sales channels, so don't worry too much."
The Northern Grand Duke must be busy dealing with the barbarians right now, so if I propose supplying weapons and armor made specifically for soldiers at even a little cheaper price... he will definitely buy them.
To do that, I need to go to the capital first.
Not to indulge in luxury, but to establish a trade deal with the Northern Grand Duke's representative stationed in the capital.
"A politician has to run around to revive the local economy too. That's how you get re-elected."
As soon as I arrived in the capital, I requested an audience with Count Knospe, the representative of the Northern Grand Duke.
Count Knospe naturally rejected my proposal.
I didn't think a poor rural baron of no consequence could meet His Excellency the Count, the right-hand man of the Northern Grand Duke, so easily.
So, I had no choice but to try something crazy.
"I'll have to show them the goods directly."
I armed myself with the weapons and armor we intended to sell from our territory and went to Count Knospe's mansion.
Because if I only had a chance to exchange even a single word with him—or even with his servant—I was confident I could persuade them to buy our goods.
"Politics is ultimately about guts."