Chapter 126

The apprentice listened to my words and blushed before speaking.

“That’s nonsense! No matter how much influence Your Excellency has over us in Hamburg, it will only be acknowledged as long as Your Excellency respects our coexistence. However, if you concentrate such an important commodity like sugar to just one family…”

Their precarious coexistence would be shattered, and a powerful family would emerge to dominate the city through the sugar intermediary trade.

If that happens, the current system, in which the superior five families coexist with the rest of the citizens, cannot be maintained any longer.

Furthermore, they have been able to protect the city’s autonomy and their own interests precisely because this system exists…

“Yes, you might be right. The already signed sugar trade could face disruptions. If one family monopolizes sugar at the current price, those belonging to other families will have to buy it at a higher price.”

The apprentice seemed taken aback by the completely opposite direction of my words and was rendered speechless.

“However, there’s no need to worry. Recently, we have been able to produce more sugar… I will sell much more sugar at a lower price to the family that has exclusive supply. Then those who do not have the exclusive supply will be able to buy it at the same price as now.”

“No… that…”

“Right now, the amount of sugar I export to Hamburg every year reaches thousands of tons, doesn’t it? I’ll double that. Sugar will become more common, and prices will drop, but… selling more is still a profitable deal, isn’t it?”

The apprentice’s face turned red, and he angrily spoke.

“We are enraged by Your Excellency’s suggestion for us to betray the oath of the five great families of Hamburg! The will of the republic! It is truly vile to attempt to establish a ruler in this land where the monarch does not reign!”

“No, the republic is different. It’s a peace where one leader and all beneath them come together as one.”

“That’s absurd…”

“I have no intention of intervening in the apprentice election or your ten-member committee election. I swear by the gods.”

As I finished speaking, the apprentice gestured towards the councilors, and they all stood up in unison to chastise me.

“Hamburg trades with anyone who pays a fair price, even if he is a devil. However, anyone who breaks the republic is only our enemy, regardless of whether they pay a fair price.”

“Hamburg is a beautiful castle of gold supported by five pillars. It cannot be maintained with just one! That is a path to ruin.”

“Considering that until now, you have never once failed to pay a fair price, we will continue all past trades. However, from now on, you will have to pay more fees.”

And at the same time, even though I hadn’t told them to leave, they all attempted to exit in unison.

Towards them, I began to mix bravado and false information with truth.

“As our count’s territory expands, we plan to establish free cities like Hamburg in Nante, Blueport, and Helzman. There we will not charge any tariffs and intend to sell far better goods than those sold here.”

Upon hearing that, their feet came to a halt.

“Then trade with Elaline and the northern regions will soon come to an end. Meanwhile, we have been close friends for a long time, haven’t we? So let me offer you one last piece of advice.”

It was more a statement meant to completely shatter the trust between them than actual advice.

At the same time, it would be an opportunity for the one who kneels first before me.

“Soon, pickled herring trade will be stabilized. In other words, what was previously sold only a bit in Croilet and to the north will now be sold to serfs across all of Europea. If that happens… you could earn tens of thousands of gold coins annually just from intermediaries’ fees. So, if you have any thoughts, don’t hesitate to jump on it. You’ve worked hard to come, so I’ll give you wine and gifts on your way out.”

**

After the apprentice and the councilors had left, Chris approached me and asked.

“Your Excellency, is it really alright to let them go like that? Especially the collapse of the wine trade is too painful.”

“There’s no need for your worries.”

Chris spoke with a voice tinged with dissatisfaction.

“And even putting the wine trade aside, they are still beings who can cause considerable harm. Soon, the apprentices will gather at their house to plan how to keep an eye on you, Your Excellency.”

“That’s likely true. Because they know very well that if they don’t resist or keep me in check before an absolute power like mine, they will be bound by the chains of a slave.”

“If that’s the case, then why send them away? Wouldn’t it be better to kill one first and subdue them in fear?”

A proponent of absolute monarchism once stated that to effectively govern the populace, between being loved and feared, one should be feared.

Because a beloved ruler can be disregarded by the people if they do not like him, while a ruler who instills extreme fear will face soldiers ready to fight even at the cost of their lives.

Thus, the reason for fighting was articulated as follows.

“If you don’t fight, your neck will be on the line, and your family will be brutally killed in unimaginable ways at the hands of the ruler.”

However, what Chris said did not apply to this situation.

“Inspector Chris, those people are essentially one family, differing only slightly by name. In fact, among the committee members who just entered, the guy with the long beard is the apprentice’s cousin, and the bald guy is the apprentice’s brother-in-law. They are tightly knit.”

“Marriage… If they’ve formed marriage alliances even among those who live in the same city, they might as well be one body…”

“Exactly, and they have a corner to escape from fear. So threats using fear won’t work. That’s a tactic used against those with no way to escape such threats.”

Upon hearing that, Chris seemed enlightened, her eyes widening, then she nodded and spoke.

“I’ve learned a lot, Your Excellency. So what job should I take on next?”

“I’ll leave it to the squad under Short Lieutenant. They’ll spread the rumors shortly. Our work is done.”

“Understood. But then, what method do you plan to use to subdue them?”

“There’s a phrase among the words I know: ‘Divide and Conquer’. It’s a foreign proverb… it means to conquer by dividing. From now on, I plan to make them suspect each other and split into five factions.”

Chris seemed eager to hear my next words, her voice slightly exhilarated and different than usual.

“What do you plan to do next?”

“Once they are divided into five pieces, it will be simple to deal with. Because they will be that much weaker.”

“But…”

I began to meet Chris’s gaze.

“They will realize it as well. With the possibility of trust between them collapsing, they’ve already lost all motivation to oppose me.”

In actual history, while most histories were painful, there have been several instances where rulers governed by dividing, preventing them from uniting.

This method, though quite ruthless, surprisingly served as the most effective governance strategy, allowing victors and vanquished to spill the least blood.

At my words, Chris seemed to understand, nodded, and seated herself, speaking in a serious tone.

“According to the report from the merchant of the Medica family who visited us earlier… the Architel Duke is persuading Emperor Franche and other dukes and marquis families. They may not send reinforcements, but they will provide resources and money as collateral for war reparations.”

As our territory grows wealthier, the Architel Duke isn’t missing this opportunity; he’s likely preparing war plans assuming he will step into our allied territory.

Moreover, in order to weaken their forces in the war, I intend to ruin their largest revenue source, the wine export.

However, it’s hard to believe that reports have come in stating that…

They’ve already planned to receive resources and money from other lords even before the plan has started…

“They must have already prepared an immense quantity of weapons, armor, and supplies. This war won’t be easy.”

**

For several days then, I, Balt, and Chris spent time in our lodgings.

During that time, we gathered as much information as possible and reviewed strategies to target Architel.

Just as we were intensely checking our plans, a messenger came in from outside.

“The head of the Margerita family, who occupies a corner of the five families of Hamburg, wishes to meet with Count Your Excellency.”

It seems the seeds of doubt I’ve sown have taken root properly. Very good…

“Let her in. Chris, go wait in the room now. Balt, keep an eye on the attendants.”

The two immediately exited upon receiving my orders.

Then, I smirked and whispered to myself.

“May it come to pass as you wish, as you desire…”