Chapter 102
Chapter 102
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Dangerous Intuition
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"We heard you summoned us! My lord!"
"We're nothing but grateful that you've called on lowly folk like us!"
The day I sent letters to all the nobles, I called in the stonemasons and carpenters taking part in this development project. There weren't many of them. The ones I'd asked to meet were the equivalents of modern-day company presidents or chairmen.
"So, how's the development coming along?"
At my question, they exchanged glances before saying they were just starting to procure materials. They added that if they could secure laborers, they'd push forward quickly. But I hadn't called them here to chew them out for going slow.
"I didn't summon you all like this to lay blame, so relax."
"Then... why would you call on the likes of us..."
"Do you all draw up blueprints before building houses?"
They nodded. Without a blueprint, you couldn't build a proper house, they said.
"But the houses you plan to build will all look different, won't they?"
"That's true."
"They won't differ greatly in size, but the shapes... Truth be told, when it comes to building houses, our Daglen Carpenters' Guild is the best. If you leave it all to us..."
"What nonsense! My lord! The Daglen lot are infamous for siphoning off materials! When it comes to trustworthiness, our Carpenter Carpenters' Guild is far superior! If you grant us exclusive rights..."
"Enough."
I cut off the carpenters before their argument could heat up. They seemed to suddenly remember whose presence they were in and bowed their heads hastily.
"So, you're the Carpenter Carpenters' Guild?"
"Yes, my lord!"
"If I handed the business rights for the entire territory to you, how soon could you finish before year's end?"
My pointed question shut him up. They couldn't possibly overhaul every village in the territory with just a handful of carpenters. Watching them sweat and tense up, I spoke.
"What I want is unified blueprints. From today, combine your efforts and create a single design. All houses must be built using standardized materials of the same specs."
That's what I wanted. Houses with identical exteriors and interiors made from standardized materials. In this era, individuality didn't matter. As long as they were comfortable to live in, that was enough.
Not long after the order went out, the carpenters proved they weren't just any craftsmen by promptly drafting an excellent unified blueprint. A house made of wood and brick, with two rooms, a small kitchen, and a separate stable.
"Not bad."
At my assessment, they exchanged grins. It must have given them headaches too. The lord himself was reviewing their house design. Slap something together and get rejected? They'd have to redo it over and over.
A picky lord with no clue about designs would have hounded them until something nonsensical came out.
"So... we just build houses to this blueprint?"
I nodded.
"Place bulk orders with the lumber mills and workshops for the materials needed for this house... And have all the bricks fired to the same size."
With residential development picking up speed, I turned my attention elsewhere.
"You're planning to overhaul the tax system?"
"Yes. The current method of collection is too haphazard. It needs improvement."
The territory's taxes were collected only when passing the castle or based on land holdings. I wanted to change that. But raising taxes would inevitably breed resentment among the lower classes toward the rulers.
"We'll introduce inheritance tax, gift tax, income tax, and property tax."
Inheritance, gift, and property taxes hit the wealthy hard. They might even flee elsewhere, but I had a carrot to dangle too.
"Proclaim that those who pay taxes diligently will be granted a baron's title upon review."
Selling titles? Exactly. But "baron" wasn't a full title for nothing. It brought noble honor but no real perks—empty fruit, as they say.
To make barony meaningful with real power, they'd need a role in the territory, which was entirely up to me. In short, the rich with money but no honor or power would snap up the baron carrot and end up leashed like dogs.
"Heh heh..."
I chuckled, imagining the wealthy new barons scrambling for scraps.
****
"How's soldier recruitment going? What about the ordered gear production?"
"We've got about three hundred so far, and we're still recruiting, bro. The weapons and armor we ordered... they're not up to our mercenary band's level, but not far off either."
A month had passed since sending letters to the nobles. I'd written to every noble I'd even met once, so I had to wait patiently. Of course, I skipped the neighboring Wayne viscountcy. I wasn't some saint.
In the meantime, Cutter was handling the soldier recruitment and training I'd ordered. Though territory standing troops differed from mercenaries in operation, the tactics were similar.
And Cutter was the top expert here. When I'd first formed the Landsknecht and made him captain, he was just an ordinary mercenary. But training them had sparked another growth spurt.
"I'll inspect training after this party, so get them ready properly. And leave party security to the mercenaries."
"Got it."
Cutter headed out to wrangle the mercenaries and soldiers. I gazed out the window. The castle was packed with people from elsewhere.
After a month's wait, nobles receiving my invitations began arriving, and now, on party day, even before it started and meant for nobles only, the castle buzzed like a festival.
"This is beer we brewed ourselves! We heard you're hosting a party, my lord, so we hoped you'd use it..."
Some castle folk who admired me brought gifts now and then. Beer kegs, even.
Moo!
"This cow we raised—we brought it as an offering to you, my lord! It's from the whole village, as a token of thanks..."
Or livestock from nearby villages. Standing by the window, watching quietly, they'd spot me and bow hurriedly.
"My lord, most of the lesser nobles have arrived. And Count Cligrove of Cligrove will arrive soon."
"Guess I should go greet him?"
I'd tossed it out as a joke, but Gringem took it dead seriously.
"For the future, wouldn't it be wise to greet him? One merchant I know got an earful from his wife for drinking on her labor day—and he's still catching hell for it."
"Just kidding. Kidding. Can't even joke around."
Laughing, I rose. Everything was going smoothly. Village improvement rumors spread—even the poor from neighboring and farther territories were migrating for proper houses.
They settled barren lands without villages to claim benefits, forming new ones. Seemed cheeky, welfare-chasing, but that's what I wanted.
Plenty of unused land. No profit from empty fields, so if they cleared and village-ified it themselves, I profited. Thinking that, I stepped outside. The garden swarmed with gardeners, servants, and maids bustling about.
Squeeeal!
"Grab that one!"
"Eek! What are you doing?!"
Pigs fleeing for their lives, chased by servants. Maids shrieking as pigs barreled past.
In one corner, a servant sweated over a whole pig on a spit, slathered in pricey spices, roasting over firewood. Nearby, plucked naked chickens skewered and browning en masse by the bonfire.
"With so many invitees, space is tight, so we've split it. The castle hall is for high nobles; the mansion and garden for lesser ones."
"I see."
Passing through the garden, servants, maids, and early-bird lesser nobles already boozing all bowed to me. Soon, one of the event's stars arrived.
"Countess Lenia of Cligrove has arrived!"
Cligrove knights cleared the way as a fully armored elite escort surrounded the carriage entering the castle. My planted cheer squad whooped, tossing flower petals.
"Hooray! Countess Cligrove!"
"Blessings from the countess!"
The cheers parted the carriage curtain; a pale hand waved lightly. She wasn't visible, but she must have been pleased. No one hates a welcome.
Castle folk peeking at the commotion mobbed when silver rained from the carriage.
"Long live the countess!"
Frantic coin-grabbing by the townsfolk. The carriage halted before the mansion. And...
"Oppa!"
Lenia burst from the door and flung herself into my arms.
"Ahem! Mind the eyes on us—step back for now, Countess Cligrove."
At my words, she flushed, embarrassed, and quietly took my hand instead.
Hugging was too much, but as official fiancés, hand-holding drew no flak. Holding hers, I strolled the mansion interior.
"I read the letters you sent while you were here."
She meant the ones I'd written from the territory—every three days or so, reports on territory affairs. Nothing fancy; her long replies always came back.
"I can't fathom what Viscount Wayne is thinking. He knows Cligrove backs you..."
She looked baffled. But Sarisa Count's example showed backers didn't make things impossible.
"War's probably coming soon."
I whispered in her ear, out of others' hearing. My gut screamed it. The Wayne viscountcy trouble wasn't ending as mere happenstance.