Berg Steel (3)
As he descended to the reception room below, Oto, who had been waiting standing, greeted him politely.
"You've arrived, Your Grace."
"It's been nearly two months. What brings you to Berg? This hardly seems worth the merchant lord coming in person."
"Haha, isn't this the first official trade run since we signed the contract with Your Grace? Naturally, the merchant lord himself had to show his face."
Oto joked lightly.
"Let's sit and talk first."
"Thank you, Your Grace."
After sitting across from each other with a single table between them, he stared steadily at Oto. The meticulously groomed mustache and that inscrutable salesman's smile hiding his true intentions. There was definitely something more to this.
"You've gone to the trouble of coming all this way yourself, so I should offer a fitting reward. Speak your mind if there's something you want."
"Heh heh. As if my personal involvement is some grand gesture deserving of Your Grace's favor. I simply hope Your Grace appreciates my passion and sincerity. Yes, that's more than enough."
What the hell? The world ran on give and take. A merchant lord dealing with nobles doesn't trek all the way here without expecting something in return? Nonsense.
He shot Oto a silent look that said, If you want something, say it.
Oto immediately raised both hands.
"I truly want nothing, Your Grace. It's just a show of goodwill."
"Goodwill?"
"Yes. Ever since Your Grace departed for the north, mana stone prices have been climbing. The mage towers seem to have ramped up their demand. They're snapping up every piece on the market and still complaining that northern mana stones aren't enough."
"Then you can buy them up this time. Isn't that good? You have exclusive purchasing rights. You can control the market supply too—profitable all around."
"Which is exactly why I must stay in Your Grace's good graces. If I just pocket all the profits like some freeloader after this windfall, that wouldn't do. Heh heh. I'd rather renew this contract for as long as possible."
Aha, so he's here to share the spoils because he hit it big. Gotta respect the hustle. Mana stones were looking lucrative this time, so he was coming clean early and offering a cut. Keep the contract going long-term and build a solid business partnership. That's why Oto showed up personally.
For someone who started with food supplies, it was surprisingly sensible and ethical—not at all like a typical merchant.
Perhaps catching on to his gaze, Oto stroked his mustache and said,
"Truth be told, I had some business here anyway. I needed to see the road construction with my own eyes as per Your Grace's orders. And honestly, when else do I get a chance to score points like this?"
"So your goal was flattery? At least you're honest about it."
"I've already lost a ton of points, so I have to recover somehow. Developing mines means Geltner is basically staking our future on the north. Heh heh."
As Oto said, Geltner and Berg were now economically intertwined. Geltner funded the roads, Geltner funded the mines. It might sound like Geltner was getting suckered, but that's how initial investments worked. Steady profits from mana stone price differences would recoup it eventually.
He spent none of his own money, got infrastructure and mines developed—win. Geltner secured a prime future revenue stream—win.
"So, have you brought everyone you need to assemble?"
"Yes. First, the sculptor Your Grace requested. For His Majesty's bronze full-body statue, right?"
"His Majesty added 500 ducats and insisted on a full statue instead of a bust. Can't defy the emperor's command."
"Since it's His Majesty's statue, I'll ensure the sculptor puts extra care into it. What about the prospectors?"
"Assign them local guides familiar with the terrain. It's been a long trip, so I'll provide guest quarters—rest up first. We'll handle the details tomorrow."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Grace."
Oto rose with a pleased smile. Then, as if it just occurred to him, he added,
"Oh, by the way. The grain we brought this time—we'll sell it to you at about thirty percent below the usual price."
"Selling grain cheap?"
"We got it that much cheaper ourselves. Specifically, only the shipment for Berg. They said Your Grace would understand."
"Ah."
Philip Iliad's letter came to mind. As a gesture entrusting his daughter to him, the duke had quietly arranged for cheaper northern grain imports.
Judging by Oto's words, even he didn't know the full story—the duke had indeed handled it discreetly. Sending a thank-you letter outright might draw eyes, so he'd express gratitude next time they met.
He'd nearly forgotten about it, but this was good news. Savings on food purchases could go elsewhere. Not expanding soldiers or knights here—that'd be wasteful. Beef up equipment supplies or allocate more to the General Staff...
"I understand the meaning. I know the source too. We'll discuss details tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Grace. See you then."
After Oto left, he remained seated, deep in thought.
Money had appeared. Well, technically savings, but still.
How could he use it to strengthen the army?
The simplest way: increase headcount. Not with riffraff, but quality troops—numbers alone made you stronger.
But the standing army was already nearly 5,000. Expanding further? That wasn't cheap.
5,000 might sound small, but by Western standards, it was a massive force. The East threw around tens of thousands like scouts and invaded with 1.13 million unsupported lunatics—ignore that madhouse.
And he could sustain 5,000 because it was him. Other lords? Impossible. Hungary dismantled the Black Army after using it effectively against the Ottomans due to costs.
Plus, the north's perpetual wartime footing justified it. Otherwise, he'd face cries of "Are you Yi Seong-gye reincarnated?"
Anyway, expanding manpower was tough, so alternatives were needed.
"Maybe... hear out others' ideas?"
The thought struck him—he bolted up.
His destination: the knights' barracks.
Not all knights were drilling sweating recruits—that was for ordinary knights without enough seniority.
He hastily gathered senior knights like the captain and key commanders who were handling other duties.
"If you had ample budget, what would you prioritize to improve the army? Speak freely if you have ideas."
"Ample funds, you say?"
They blinked at the sudden question.
After some thought, an elderly general spoke up.
"Equipment, surely. Our current gear is excellent, but we could refine it further."
"Arrows are consumables—why not stockpile them massively so soldiers can shoot without worry?"
Predictable answers for such a abrupt query. Even in a fantasy army, soldiers were soldiers. Anyone who'd served in the proud K-army knew: hoarding supplies like squirrels for winter was ingrained in quartermaster DNA.
Of course they'd clamor for more provisions like baby birds begging for food: Money? Supplies!
He wanted something more innovative.
Could this lineup of decades-long veterans pool their collective wisdom for a breakthrough idea? Without gunpowder or cannons, probably not.
As he pondered, someone quietly raised a hand.
"Operations staff officer Karl. May I speak, Your Grace?"
"If you have an idea, go ahead."
"I'd use the funds to mass-order wagons."
"Wagons?"
"Yes, wagons."
A first-generation General Staff graduate, rushed through training amid trial-and-error, but one he'd remembered for good reviews.
"Why wagons specifically?"
"Mass wagons ease logistics first. They carry more cargo, useful even in peacetime."
"And beyond that?"
"Since Your Grace emphasizes offense over defense, wagons would help greatly when we cross the wall and switch to attack."
"Explain."
"Our troops excel at defense. No need to venture beyond the wall for battles, so we've only fought sieges. Offense means losing the wall's advantage."
"So, mass wagons for supply transport, convertible to barricades in emergencies? Maximizing our siege expertise?"
"Exactly."
Karl nodded.
Aha, battle wagons. He'd forgotten about the Hussite Wars.
Impressed inwardly, he eyed Karl. Fitting name too—instilled trust, screamed "war winner."
"You know the drawbacks too, then."
"Vulnerable to ranged attacks, but meaningless against monsters. The issue is forming wagon forts only on suitable terrain."
True enough. Jan Žižka's wagon forts crushed knights with peasant levies. But cannons obsoleted them quickly—shell the wagons nonstop.
Irrelevant against charging trolls or orcs, though.
"Your name is Karl?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Excellent idea. Use for transport in peace, form defensive circles beyond the wall in battle. Adopted."
"An honor, Your Grace."
Operations staff officer Karl. Employee of the month, confirmed.