Chapter 157

As soon as the military meeting hosted by His Imperial Majesty concluded, I moved as quickly as possible to the Castle of Agencour.

During the journey, I ordered the barons of each region to send letters to my father, preparing for a meeting as soon as I arrived at the Castle of Agencour.

Certainly, from the perspective of those who received the letter, they must have felt confused about having to hold a meeting so soon after the laborious trip to the imperial capital…

However, since His Imperial Majesty had given all the nobles the same equal treatment, it was unavoidable because the faster we prepared, the less disadvantage we would face.

The day after arriving at the Castle of Agencour, I immediately gathered nobles above the rank of baron and started the meeting.

“Before we discuss strategies for the war, I would like to talk about a fortunate event that has occurred in our territory. Ron von Croilet, please step forward.”

Although he had a father like mine, Ron, being a legitimized son without a title, walked over from a corner of the meeting room when I called him.

He seemed to be trying hard to maintain a nonchalant expression, his eyes shifting back and forth in a blank state.

“As the legitimized son of my father, I graduated from the Law Department of the University of Romania last year and worked as an inspector in the Helzman region… I will, in accordance with my contributions to the family and His Majesty’s command, marry the daughter of Her Highness the Regent Iliana of Brussels this time next year. In return, if we win this war, I will be granted a suitable rank.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency…”

“You may step back now.”

As my words concluded, an additional chair was placed at the end of the meeting table.

Seeing that, Ron seemed to recognize that it was his spot and went to sit there.

Then, amidst the sounds of applause and cheers, voices erupted.

“Long live the Croilet Marquess!! Long live Your Excellency!!”

“A few years ago… our family was just a rural baron family… now look how grand we are…”

“If only my deceased father could see this scene, he would have been so pleased…”

“Now, I need not worry about the troublesome son left in the family. His wife is the daughter of the Regent, so that Siel lad will surely take care of him.”

In most marquis families, it is rare for a side branch of a duke family to come and marry a family that can only rise to the position of third in rank, not even being the first.

This is because the side branch of a duke family usually ends up marrying the direct offspring of a count family…

If Ron, who could only rise to the rank of third, were to be treated with the same status as a count, it would imply that my own status as the head of this family surpasses that of the duke family.

Therefore, the vassals has no choice but to keenly feel that the rank of their own family has risen so high…

So I jestingly mixed in a sigh and said, “What should I do if you shout long live the marquis family before I’ve even announced I have become a marquis? That aside, let’s start the military meeting and receive reports on the situation from each region. Baron Laurent, please begin.”

“Yes, understood. First, the population of the Nante region is about 2.3 million, Helzman region about 2 million, and the Architel region about 1.6 million. Also, the amount of food coming in as tax is sufficient for approximately 6 million people to eat for a year… one-third of this is sold to other regions.”

This phenomenon arose because what was originally a practice of fallow farming, using only half of the land, drastically increased due to the four-crop rotation method, leading to an increase in food production.

Also, by giving all the turnips, which have low preference among people, to pigs, cattle, and horses as feed, we can rear livestock even in winter…

We could even utilize the thriving cattle to cultivate the wasteland of the village, those areas with only grass growing, by mobilizing surplus labor.

In this era, selling food in small quantities incurs losses, but wholesale selling in large amounts yields significant profits.

Because even if our region has a good harvest, somewhere else might be experiencing a famine, leading to a surge in demand for food.

However, it is also difficult to reach the famine-stricken areas through retail.

“I originally thought two-thirds were sold…”

“That’s right. However, due to your prohibition on selling to Romania… and the tremendous amount of food supplied for the liberation of serfs in the Architel region…”

“I have no intentions of blaming you. By the way, it seems the populations of the Architel and Nante regions have increased sharply… What happened?”

At this, Baron Laurent hesitated slightly before answering.

“Refugees are flooding in from the territories of the Architel Duke and Maxburg Duke. It seems that area is quite hellish… I’ve heard that in order to get just one meal, not only serfs but even low-ranking knights are selling their daughters to merchants.”

Extreme food shortages often lead to such situations where both in Asia and Europe, daughters are sold to merchants.

Seeing that this phenomenon is occurring to such an extent, if someone meets a dramatic end or someone exploiting this situation appears, a great war will surely break out.

Because such people would absolutely not miss this opportunity, and the masses are weak against the antics of demagogues.

However, to prevent that Maxburg from rebounding and disturbing us again… While not igniting a fire, one should at least lay down some kindling to ensure it burns easily if a fire does start.

“Take in all the refugees from Architel and make sure they settle as quickly as possible. Anyway, there is still plenty of land in the Architel region that can be cultivated with cattle and horses.”

“Yes, understood. Then, what should we do about the Maxburg Duke’s territory?”

I looked back and forth between Baron Laurent and the other barons.

“Baron Crescent, Baron Beerman. Your territories are near Blueport, is that correct?”

“Yes, that is correct…”

“Ensure that no refugees come over from the Maxburg side in the future. Instead, when they return, serve them a warm bowl of porridge. And at the gathering place where they eat the porridge, insert propagators to spread the rumor that ‘This is all the fault of the Duke of Maxburg.'”

“Yes, understood.”

If we do this, at first, the serfs who went as refugees will curse both me and Maxburg…

But eventually, they will have to look at me with longing while I give them at least a bowl of porridge.

The phrase ‘It’s all Maxburg’s fault’ will likely become engraved in their heads by the time that happens.

“And how is the Academy doing? Is everything going well as I instructed?”

At this, a man in black cassock, symbolizing a scholar, stood up and said.

“I will report: Chancellor Hernando von Draunes.”

“Speak.”

“First, let me talk about the replenishment of administrative personnel. Among the students graduating from the Theology Department, 30%, and from the Law and Business Departments, 40% will become administrative officers, totaling 650 people, with an expectation of further increases. Additionally, 500 students who completed two years in the Military Academy are set to start as lieutenants next year.”

With 650 administrative officers and 500 lieutenants… if we scoop all the village heads and legitimized sons from the Architel Duke’s territory as well, we should be able to fill the gaps in both administration and military.

Moreover, in our current territory, it is necessary to create a trend that one must graduate from the Academy in order to rise in status.

Because only then can we replace the lower officer ranks with those possessing clear expertise, rather than leaving them filled with ambiguous officers who received unverified training from noble families.

“Do not send the lieutenants and administrative officers who graduated from the Academy down to the provinces, but assign them roles in large institutions like provincial offices or as staff in military units to evaluate their capabilities.”

“I shall obey your orders. And near the Academy, as per Your Excellency the Marquis’s arrangements, people have gradually begun to arrive. Accordingly, places like brothels, etc…”

The chancellor did not overstep his bounds, but in the future, possessing the power to cultivate the next generation might lead to unpredictable actions…

It would be wise to step in and regulate things this time.

“Maintaining public order is the army’s role, while administration falls under the duties of the Academy’s officials. You need not worry. Any overreach will be repaid with death.”

At that, the chancellor bowed his head and said in a trembling voice.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“And how is the research on the cannons being produced by the Academy’s engineering department progressing?”

“Please wait a moment.”

After a while, the chancellor took out the documents he had brought and began reading slowly.

“We have created over 100 iron cannons, but all of them have either burst in the middle or faced issues with properly transmitting firepower, resulting in misfires. To resolve this, the professors of the engineering department have stated that they will grant diplomas to students pursuing master’s or doctorate courses if they show even a small improvement… but…”

At first glance, it seems that creating a good iron pipe similar to a firearm would suffice for cannons…

However, the difficulty in making a cannon that weighs several hundred times more compared to a firearm that is light enough to be held is entirely different.

Thus, it is clear that it could not possibly be completed within just a few months…

“Of course, it won’t be easy. Keep at it. I would like to receive a report that you have succeeded within a year. The budget will be taken from my personal wealth, so double it.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After discussing the problems of each territory, the Academy, and administrative concerns for an hour…

“You may already know this, but His Majesty has declared war against Franche. The mobilized forces will total 220,000, and we will belong to the Eastern Army. Let us discuss this.”