Chapter 48 – 4. Gynecology and Rare Earths (8)
Lemoang Citadel, the lord’s office.
It was just before noon. Rom and Oriane, who were busily going back and forth in front of the bookshelves that stretched out on one side of the room, exchanged heated conversations. In order to revisit the direction the current Marquis Command should go, and to reconsider what other challenges are facing, we reviewed the data and discussed it.
“There is no power in this world without factions. What matters is whether the faction will benefit the community to which it belongs. The knight faction brought tension to Lemoang’s military power, which could have been loosened. As long as you remain loyal to your wife, you may carry it with you.”
“It’s because they’re too stubborn. They were originally loyalists of the frozen land.”
“I was a loyalist of the Marquis. And there is no longer that grown-up Gerard in this Lemoen. That’s why the vassal faction, led by the vice-count, rebelled. A pack of hounds that have lost their allegiance will naturally turn into wolves.”
Oriane shifted her gaze to the parchment she was holding in her left hand. On the thin, layered paper, the power map that Rome had been envisioning was drawn in detail.
“Now Mathieu Peltier and his clique of knights follow his wife his. Be sure to keep in mind that the reasons for these stubborn ones’ renewed allegiance to you are their pride as northerners and their hostility towards the center.”
“I see what you mean.”
The knight faction’s loyalty is firm. However, at this point, the Marquis Marquis is not yet their master. They are nothing more than the wife of the lord they were loyal to. However, for the time being, the role of the victim who is struggling from the royal family’s check will be fine.
But when today’s transition period is over, and their allegiance is truly directed not to Gerard, but to Oriane Lemoang.
From that moment on, a certain unwritten rule arises between her and her knight faction her.
“There must be a price to pay for the loyalty you receive. As much as they are loyal to me for the same reasons as they said, you must never give in to the center.”
Rom nodded. Oriane was indeed a woman with excellent leadership qualities. She stood out, especially in the field of politics and diplomacy. It would n’t be too strange if she recalled her secrets that she might have kept, but she said.
“Of course, that shouldn’t go beyond the front line. Lemoang is definitely a province of the Kingdom of Gallia. Our goal is always revival, so we have to bring prosperity to this land in cooperation with the central government, even if we sometimes endure the resentment of the Knights.”
“Sir Peltier is a prudent man. He doesn’t think he’s the type to act rashly just because he doesn’t agree with him. At least you won’t cross the line like this time. However, overconfidence is prohibited.”
“Above all, absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is difficult to control one faction.”
So, on a piece of parchment Oriane was holding, it was written that there must be at least three factions to support the frozen land.
“The administrative faction of Saint-Buch is rigid bureaucrats. What matters to them is always my comfort. It would be perfect for a force that would stand at the opposite end of the knight faction’s hard line.”
“But not all Marquis Orders are the same. Saint-Bourse is relatively far south of here, so my influence is minimal compared to other places. The concept of the administrative faction is actually a kind of alliance that was born in that context.”
“These are tricky things for a different reason than the knights who wandered around looking for something to be loyal to. Obviously, it needs to be improved. By changing the name to bureaucracy.”
“Unfortunately, not now, right?”
“Yes, the urgent task right now is what to replace the existing retainers with.”
In Rome’s plan, Dongto separates the three powers under the Marquis Wife. Arrangements are made to keep each other in check so that no faction can become too prominent.
“First of all, the right person to represent the military authority is, of course, a knight. If we entrust the forces of the vice-count and four barons to them and train them again, the soldiers who took part in the rebellion will be reborn as your wife’s reliable soldiers.”
First of all, military power belongs to the knight faction.
“You will need to set some example. I’m not planning on imposing a capital punishment if possible.”
“It’s a good decision. There were no significant casualties in the last rebellion.”
“Rebellion is a crime of high treason, but as long as it is only attempted, it would be more effective for me to show off my leisurely appearance. From that, the Count of Poitiers and the other two barons around us will know that I am alive and well.”
And administrative power to the bureaucracy.
“Next, the various tasks of the estate, of course, belong to the bureaucrats. The secret that Saint-Bour in the south was able to prosper like the castle or the city of Havre is because of their biased work. Even if they collect the same tax, they focus more benefits on the city they are staying in.”
“Originally, there were few personnel to be called administrators in our citadel. He was the one who decided all the issues of Dongto by himself. He wasn’t the type to discuss it with anyone, at least. Moreover, since this is the front line of the border…”
“Besides, the administration faction had a good excuse for physical distancing. Was it the argument that it would be easier to work in a place close to the center? However, if the snowfield trade route is developed and Lemoang Fortress is reborn as a bridgehead rather than the forefront of the border, things will be different.”
Lastly, financial power goes to merchants.
“That word, no way!”
“Yes, I recommend merchants as a new faction to take the role of the vassals. With their feet spread all over the continent, even knights with military authority or bureaucrats with the ability to issue decrees would not dare to act rashly.”
“It seems plausible. Certainly, if it’s a large trading company, it manages the money lines of various nobles…”
“You should always be conscious of the fact that if you touch something wrong, it might turn into a bigger problem.”
The knight faction with military power has the power to put pressure on the bureaucracy.
The bureaucracy with administrative power has the regulatory power to control the merchant faction.
The merchant faction with financial power has the financial power to suppress the knight faction.
Such was the future rom envisioned. It was very exquisitely structured, like a snake swallowing its tail. It was a way in which each other created a nemesis form for each other’s nemesis again, ultimately putting a leash on a tight leash so that none of the three factions could act recklessly.
“Merchant faction, it’s not easy to bring a faction to the fore.”
“It’s worth a try, though. If you succeed in pioneering that trade route, which is the same as the secret wish of this land, Lemoang will be full of people who smell the money. Of course, there are still many mountains to overcome.”
The chivalry faction will be obedient for the time being with the matter of yesterday. Administrative groups need to improve their physical constitution at the right time, but not now. Therefore, the reform of Marshal Baekryeol could enter the next stage.
“I still have some concerns. Our fort is quite large, but it’s only at the level of a small village. However, the fact that a new faction is formed means that new members will also be brought in.”
“I guess so. If you don’t, it will be even more difficult.”
“Can we safely accommodate that many people when they arrive?”
Oriane asked, turning over her parchment. In the document written by her article her, there was a list of homework that must be overcome. Still, she couldn’t find any difficulty in accommodating the area in such a small detail, so she believed that there must be a sharp number in place.
“Any faction needs a base. But if you go too far with that tendency, you can’t fall short.”
Therefore, the base of each faction needs to remain only at a symbolic level.
“The northern part of the kingdom of Gaul is under the rule of the Lemoang family. We can’t make people forget that. You must know that the place where your wife and Miss Lucienne are is the center of the frozen land.”
“What does that mean?”
“In the future, we will expand the fort and increase the size of the village within the wall. Furthermore, we will know that this is the rightful capital of the North, with prosperity that even Havre and Saint-Buch cannot surpass.”
It was obvious, but to do so, the Marquis family needed a level of funding that had never been touched before. Even if everything went smoothly and he hit the jackpot in his first trade, it wouldn’t be enough.
“I know Lord Dior is not one to talk nonsense. Still, I can’t help it that sounds like an unrealistic statement right now.”
“Then let’s turn our eyes to the numbers. How much money do we have in total right now?”
“Well, about 4,500 Gallic gold coins.”
“How much money do you need to open trade routes?”
“As expected, 5,000 by catching less with the same gold coins, 8,000 by catching more.”
It is true that it is an enormous amount of money just by having it already in hand. However, transforming an old fortress into a huge city in such a remote area is not easy even with its ships. Above all, most of the military funds held by the two are borrowed or invested money from large top companies.
“Look. Even though it’s been a few days, aren’t you already collecting an amount close to that and trying to stand at the starting point? Even this was originally unrealistic.”
“Yes, but how much is left is what matters.”
Marquis Marquis’ concern was an understandable reaction. If Rome hadn’t been through his previous life beforehand, he wouldn’t have made this plan. Even so, the worrying part remained intact due to various variables.
“Originally, things in the world don’t always go the way you want.”
But yes. The knight handed over the parchment I was holding and continued. On the new parchment he handed over, there was a list of materials for magic and alchemy called rare earth elements of the continent.
“Still, as a rule of thumb, you can bounce the abacus. You said before that the rare earth deposits in Marquis Baekryeong are enormous, right?”
“Yes, especially the white stone used to make a crystal ball and the blue mana stone needed to enchant a wand, our Lemoangsan is the best.”
“The price of white stones in the Rus Empire, which is relatively close to us, is almost twice as different. Blue power stones vary from time to time, but can be up to five times more expensive in some cases. Then, how much do you think the East will pay?”
“Wow, I’m sure I didn’t even think about that…”
“As your wife said last time, half of continental magic items and alchemy materials are made from metals from Lemoang. The previous year’s trading volume in the Continental Magic Market was equivalent to the three-year budget of the Kingdom of Gaul. If you add the pension market to that, it will be a real money cushion.”
“Ha, but! Just because the reserves are enormous doesn’t mean you can take them out and use them like dishes in a cupboard? Above all, a certain amount of the white stones and blue mana stones you mentioned must be sent to the capital every year… !”
“Then it’s enough to dig more than last year and steal it.”
“No matter how much it is, the investment cost will not be trivial, but it will have to be spent as much as going into trade…”
After hearing Oriane’s words, Rom tilted his head with an incomprehensible expression for a moment. Then, as he had seen when he dealt with Marcel Poincaré of the Lucerne store, he asked again while giggling.
“Why would we invest our money in it?”
“Yeah? Then how are you going to steal something to sell…”
“Oops, it looks like you forgot. Pioneering snowy trade routes is a secret unique to the North. The only thing that the royal family is playing the abacus is the profit of minting using Lemoang silver coins.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“You still don’t know? It is not us who have to invest in the mine, but the high-ranking people at the center. You just have to bet that your wife doesn’t have money. Then, His Majesty the King, who is in a hurry, has to open the national treasury to increase the amount of silver mining himself.”
“… !”
“Those who are blinded by the profit will not show much interest in the increasing amount of rare earth mining. Even if you can see it, it’s fine if you bring it more as a catering act. What’s left is what we can gulp and sell.”
Mrs. Marquis Baek, who opened her eyes wide, looked at her man as if she had been hit in the back of the head.
“What if I get caught later?”
“Tell me that you thought you accepted it as a side profit because there was no instruction. If there is a problem, they say that they will spit up the corresponding amount. Of course, it’s based on continental prices. Then the profit left over from the trade will be many times more than the original amount.”
The article of Mrs. Marquis Marquis, Rom Dior, took a step further and added, whether or not he knew the feelings of the embarrassing lord.
“Then what will you guys do?”
Oriane couldn’t help but keep her mouth shut.
‘Wow, total bullshit… !’
It was thanks to the knight who tried to slash against the royal family.
