Chapter 235
Chapter 235
"That... realistically speaking, further increasing our military forces in the Esperanza territory is impossible, Your Majesty."
"The same goes for MacLaine territory, Logan."
The Sword Duke frowned slightly at Patrick's tone but chose not to intervene further.
The immediate issue at hand was the current limit of their military strength.
Excluding militia forces, MacLaine territory alone maintained a standing army of 25,000, while Esperanza territory had 15,000 regular troops without militia.
Even excluding specialized units like mages and knights, the military numbers of both territories were already excessive relative to their population—meaning productivity.
Dwain, who had been listening to the Sword Duke and Patrick, cautiously added his input.
"If we expand the military forces of both territories beyond their current state, the financial burden will increase exponentially. Once we cross a certain threshold, the territories will eventually..."
"Go bankrupt?"
"Yes."
"Even with 'that' in our territory?"
Dwain glanced warily at the Sword Duke, who remained unmoved, then nodded slowly.
"...Even so, it would still be an inefficient waste. There must be limits to even that."
"Then should we strengthen the military of other territories?"
"...That might end up giving the nobles too much power."
"Exactly. That's the problem."
Logan sighed at Knight Commander Dygrom's words.
"Then perhaps we should initiate territorial wars to absorb neighboring territories... My apologies."
Henderson, who had mustered the courage to speak, bowed his head under the disapproving gazes around him.
A heavy silence settled over the grand hall before Ellen's voice broke through.
"...What about the royal demesne?"
"Hmm?"
"At the time of the previous king's death, the military forces of the royal demesne were essentially divided between the First and Second Prince factions. All that remains in the palace now are some remnants of the royal guards captured in the last battle. The royal demesne likely has the capacity to raise more troops."
Logan's eyes gleamed at her words.
"True... But if MacLaine and Esperanza make up 30% of the kingdom's military strength, the royal demesne would need to raise at least 20% to match my vision. Is that feasible? And in such a short time."
The eyes of all his aides widened at his words.
"You're talking about that much?"
"Our current influence is already overwhelmingly strong...!"
"Overwhelming influence isn't enough. We need military power so overwhelming that the other nobles won't even dare to resist. Enough to crush any dissent before it begins."
A chilling aura spread through the hall at Logan's declaration.
"If we can control more than half of the kingdom's total military strength, then everything in the kingdom will move according to my will."
Despite the concerned expressions of his aides, Logan remained resolute.
'Since I've chosen to become king, I must maximize efficiency in this position.'
Logan knew his own mind wasn't capable of devising groundbreaking policies to strengthen the kingdom, but fortunately, he already had a blueprint.
The Empire had set the precedent.
'If I can secure just 20% more military power, it's definitely possible.'
So he had no intention of backing down.
"Preferably within a year."
"Hmm..."
Groans erupted from all around.
Logan knew it was an unreasonable demand.
But it had to be done.
'Assuming the war breaks out at the same time, we have barely three years and a few months left. There's no room for taking it slow.'
As Logan scanned the room with a hardened expression, Heinkel cautiously stepped forward.
"Then the issue ultimately comes down to funds. We'd need enough money at once to cover salaries, equipment, training grounds, and accommodations. Raising 20% of the kingdom's total military would mean recruiting and training roughly 40,000 to 50,000 elite soldiers within a year. Can the royal treasury handle that?"
Dwain shook his head grimly in response to Heinkel's words.
But there was also someone who actively supported Logan's stance.
"What if MacLaine and Esperanza contribute financially?"
It was the Sword Duke.
Yet even his suggestion failed to ease Dwain's expression.
"That would severely damage the operations of both territories. We can't weaken our existing forces just to raise new troops."
"Hmm..."
"What about selling royal treasures...?"
"There aren't many treasures that would sell easily. And even if we did, the proceeds wouldn't solve the problem."
As the second suggestion was dismissed, Henderson shrank back into a corner.
As the mood darkened, Logan had no choice but to propose the simplest solution.
"In the end, we'll have to squeeze the nobles."
"Pardon?"
"I'll double the taxes paid to the royal family. The harvest season is coming soon anyway."
The room froze at his words.
Then—
"The backlash will be enormous, Your Majesty!"
"Even the nobles who supported us will turn against you!"
"This is too reckless!"
"Even if we control 30% of the kingdom's military, the remaining 70% will oppose you!"
"A rebellion could break out!"
A chorus of alarmed voices erupted at once.
Given how predictable the reaction was, Logan didn't get angry—instead, he smiled and continued.
"We'll attach conditions. We need to settle this quickly anyway."
His bewildered aides only nodded after hearing Logan's explanation, though their expressions remained uneasy.
### The Grand Hall Meeting Before the Harvest
The grand hall of the royal palace was unusually crowded for the first council meeting of the new dynasty. Lords and their representatives from across the kingdom filled the seats.
Normally, minor nobles from the provinces often skipped such meetings due to their low status and remote locations, but this time, nearly all had attended at the king's personal invitation.
Of course, some also expected special policies to be announced at the dawn of a new dynasty.
"Will it be similar to before?"
"Surely it'll be different this time."
"There must be a reason we were all summoned."
As the nobles murmured among themselves—
"All rise for His Majesty the King!"
The grand doors swung open, and Logan entered.
The nobles' eyes widened in unison at the sight of him.
Instead of the silk robes and ornate cloak typically associated with kings, a young knight clad in gleaming silver armor stood before them, a sword at his side.
The only regal touches were a luxurious crimson cloak and the crown upon his head.
To the nobles, his appearance emphasized the martial nature of a king who had seized the throne by bloodshed—an intimidating sight.
Under their uneasy gazes, Logan strode forward without ceremony and cut straight to the point, dispensing with formalities.
"You've all traveled far. I won't waste time—let's announce the first major policy of the new dynasty."
The nobles stiffened at the abrupt start.
"To stabilize the kingdom after the civil war, the royal family will increase taxes on the nobility from 30% to 60%!"
All eyes locked onto the throne.
In the first grand council meeting of the MacLaine Kingdom, Logan had dropped a bombshell that would go down in history.
For a moment, the hall fell silent—but only for a moment.
"Th-This is absurd!"
"Doubling it at once?!"
"No noble in the land would accept this!"
The backlash was immediate.
Even their fear of the bloodstained king who had seized the throne faded in the face of collective outrage.
The nobles, who had previously acted as though they would follow any decree, now flipped their stance in unison.
Individually, they were weak factions incapable of resistance. Many were even part of the so-called "MacLaine faction," which had supported Logan.
But now, unified under the banner of "the nobility as a whole," they swiftly changed their tune.
"How dare they..."
A low mutter, audible only to Logan. The Sword Duke's brow twitched nearby.
Logan's own expression darkened slightly as he watched.
'I need to dominate the kingdom to the point where such people don't even dare to show themselves.'
Only then could his plans truly begin.
Gritting his teeth internally, Logan took note of the loudest dissenters.
Among them, one stood out the most.
"If Your Majesty disregards long-standing customs and laws to double taxes by royal decree, the kingdom won't stabilize—it will descend into chaos."
A stern-faced middle-aged man with brown hair.
"Count Juan speaks the truth!"
"The kingdom will fall into turmoil!"
"Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"
Many nobles rallied behind him.
'Juan... Ah, Count Jacques Juan.'
He had declared his support late in the civil war but had made a strong impression by providing troops and resources.
He had even sent fawning letters filled with flattery.
Yet now, his demeanor was firm—far from the groveling tone of those letters.
'An opportunist sensitive to his own interests...'
But seeing how the nobles moved under his leadership, he clearly had some political skill.
Logan observed him carefully before speaking softly, silencing the commotion.
"For this year only. Just one year. Next year, taxes will return to normal, and for the following three years, I plan to reduce them to 20%. How does that sound? In the long run, it shouldn't be a major loss for you."
The clamor gradually died down.
"One year? Just one year...?"
"20% after two years?"
"That's not so bad..."
It wasn't that the nobles were foolish enough to equate a future tax reduction with an immediate doubling.
But the king, who had established a new dynasty through bloodshed, had just shown a willingness to compromise—and openly opposing him now would carry too much political risk.
As the nobles exchanged glances—
Jacques Juan stepped forward and bowed.
"I deeply sympathize with Your Majesty's desire to stabilize the kingdom and will comply with this... proposal."
Proposal?
"The king's word is worth a thousand pieces of gold, so I trust this promise will be honored."
Hah...
A faint smirk tugged at Logan's lips.
But having gotten what he wanted, he couldn't afford to pick a fight now.
"Good. But is Count Jacques Juan the only one who agrees?"
As Logan nodded in acceptance of the count's words—
"We shall obey!"
"We follow Your Majesty's will!"
"Your grace knows no bounds!"
A chorus of enthusiastic replies erupted, effectively approving the tax reform.
And so, the first grand council meeting of the new dynasty concluded peacefully.
On the way back—
"That Jacques Juan... I'll have a private word with him. How dare he already form a faction—"
"No, Master. Let him be."
"Huh?"
"It's easier to deal with them when they're gathered in one place."
Recalling Jacques Juan's stern face, Logan smiled thinly—a dangerous glint in his eyes.