novelraw Chapter 122 : Chapter 122
Chapter 122 : Chapter 122
Chapter : 122
‘Hehe, I haven't been outsmarted like this in a while.’
The Duke of Bourgogne let out a hollow laugh. The moment he received the report on the reality of the knights the Margrave of Bellua brought.
The thought that he had been played crossed his mind.
‘To think they were short-term hired knights.’
Naturally, he thought they had signed vassal contracts.
To think that wasn't the case.
Then it was a loss for him to go out and greet them personally. And it seemed the Duke of Bourgogne wasn't the only one thinking this way.
“Father. Are you going to leave that bastard alone?”
The Duke’s eldest son huffed and puffed in anger.
“You fool! How dare you call me father in a public space.”
“I-I apologize.”
It is pathetic that his son still cannot distinguish between public and private matters.
However, the Duke of Bourgogne somewhat understood his son's anger.
The Margrave of Bellua had packaged his relationship with him very slyly.
He went around meeting influential people in the Bourgogne region, building friendships, and opening up various return gifts and transactions.
On top of that, I heard the Brussels family recently started trading directly with the Margrave of Bellua? He was being used here and there without gaining anything.
‘They said he set a failing territory right, and indeed, he is very cunning.’
He felt that the Margrave of Bellua was a formidable opponent.
“Right, then what do you think? What should we do with that Margrave of Bellua?”
“Of course, we should just banish him. Such a fellow. Count Bozen might be better instead.”
At his son's words, the Duke of Bourgogne clicked his tongue.
Foolish, truly foolish.
To support Count Bozen.
In the first place, Count Bozen was an even bigger opportunist than the Margrave of Bellua.
“Support Count Bozen? So what remains for us? Will Count Bozen really lift a sword for us? That opportunist bastard?”
Rather, he would make a secret agreement with the King and stab them in the back; he wasn't the type to help.
“That is why you are not acknowledged by me.”
“…….”
“Why? Are you dissatisfied?”
His son's expression crumpled.
Age 25.
Not a young age by any means, but he is still so full of vigor that he cannot distinguish front from back.
“Even if it is short-term, the Margrave of Bellua hired that many knights. What does this mean?”
“Ah…!”
Only then did he seem to realize something. To have to teach him one by one like this. It was a pity.
“It means he can raise an army like that again anytime. Especially looking at the surrounding trends, his martial prowess as an individual knight is tremendous. There are overflowing knights in the kingdom who will chase that fame.”
“T-that is correct.”
“Then what should we do?”
Still, the fortunate thing was.
“Just as he used us, we must constantly use him.”
If taught, he would proceed step by step.
“Then the method?”
“More direct support. Enough to show externally that the Margrave of Bellua is under our influence….”
“And?”
Can the son go further? The Duke of Bourgogne tested his son one more time.
Fortunately, the son answered well immediately. Just as he had learned from him.
“We must support the feudal vassals of the Bellua Margraviate and secretly support the greedy Count Bozen. Especially if we support the ousted stepmother Juana, we can catch two rabbits at once. If we do that, the Margrave of Bellua will always remain in a state of chaos.”
“Yes. Correct.”
Divide and rule.
That was the method of the Duke who grew the Duchy of Bourgogne into the greatest grand territory on the continent in 50 years. During the dispute between the Anjou Kingdom and the Elang Kingdom, and during the dispute over the imperial throne of the Osterreich family of the Holy Empire. Through this method, the Duchy of Bourgogne grew.
So, the Margrave of Bellua.
The price for using him would be returned very heavily.
The Duke of Bourgogne thought so. And not long after, the Margrave of Bellua would fall just like the numerous lords he had devoured so far.
Unless there was a variable.
* * *
“Then please take care of things. Margrave of Bellua.”
“Please take care of things as well.”
Baron Rodwin bowed and left the negotiation room. A smile was plastered on his lips.
That’s how big the scraps the Brussels family gained from this talk were.
Tax benefits and recognition of dominant rights in the Northeast region. Moreover, without much hardship, it was a matter of just placing a spoon on a feast table set by someone else.
Surely, with today's achievement, Baron Rodwin's position within the Brussels family would have risen.
Not that I suffered a loss either. Rather, it could be said I gained more. In the first place, I didn't intend to make money through taxes.
‘Operating currency exchanges.’
The northern and southern parts of the continent used different currencies. There was also a difference in the gold and silver content of each currency.
Therefore, exchange was essential for mutual transactions, and I intended to operate those currency exchanges directly.
Meaning market taxes were not my goal from the start. Therefore, this negotiation was a very happy one where the interests of both me and the Brussels family aligned.
Of course, for this plan of mine to succeed, the participation of more merchant families was needed.
But fortunately.
After that, everything went smoothly.
Every merchant guild and merchant family I met promised active participation, and I gave various tax benefits in return. At first, I worried if I was running too wild in the Duke of Bourgogne's territory.
But surprise?
Rather, the Duke of Bourgogne's family stepped up to help me.
And it was the second son doing so.
‘Why is the Duke of Bourgogne acting like this?’
There is no giving without goodwill.
Especially if it is the Duke of Bourgogne I know. I thought if he knew I deceived him, even if not direct rebuke, he would place obstacles….
“Isn't it because he evaluates you highly? Since the Duke of Bourgogne is setting up a confrontation with the King, he needs a great noble to support him.”
“Even considering that, doesn't it feel excessive? Magician Agpiel.”
“There certainly is such a feeling…. Still, there is no need to reject goodwill that approaches.”
True words, but it was still uncomfortable.
But even tilting my head and thinking hard, nothing particular came to mind.
‘Well, in cases like this, I should just eat up eagerly for now.’
Whatever tricks they pull, isn't the [Great Famine] coming soon anyway?
It was clear that the grand strategies they built would all come to naught in the face of a global catastrophe.
I just need to watch the ritual and eat the rice cake.
While I was thinking that.
“Did you have a good meeting? Margrave of Bellua.”
Gertmann, the second son of the Duke of Bourgogne who had been helping me, approached and asked.
“Oh, Lord Gertmann. Thanks to you, it proceeded very smoothly. The families you recommended were very excellent.”
“Hahaha. My father told me to give all-around support. I just followed. I am truly glad it went well.”
The second son of the Duke of Bourgogne, Gertmann, laughed heartily at my words.
Maybe in his early 20s?
Gertmann, who had a quite handsome and likable face, had a very slender body unlike the nobles of this era.
‘The second son pushed out of the power struggle… right? Probably?’
No, to be precise, it was closer to resignation than being pushed out. His father, the Duke of Bourgogne, had concentrated all power on the first son, Charles, who was getting married this time.
In fact, he was completely excluded.
Thanks to that, the second son Gertmann was working as an administrator doing chores like this.
‘Still, I recall his stats as an administrator were quite decent.’
Regardless of combat ability, I remembered he was quite good at management. Because I used him usefully when playing Bourgogne in [Pangea Universalise].
However, watching him from the side like this, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
This friend….
Is he truly satisfied with that?
In [Pangea Universalise], he appeared as a hireable advisor from the start, so I only used him as an advisor.
But this is reality.
Then, I thought he might be able to live a life not as an advisor, but as a successor with succession rights to the Duchy of Bourgogne.
“Is there something on my face? Your Excellency?”
“Ah, no. I am just so grateful to receive such big help in a strange land.”
“Ahaha. Big help. I just introduced you. Isn't it because the mutual benefits matched that it proceeded well? Since the content Your Excellency proposes is so good, everyone has no choice but to accept it readily.”
“Hmm, good words. Mutual benefits match….”
Right. If the benefits match between me and the second son of the Duke of Bourgogne, there would be no reason I couldn't support this friend.
“If I receive help, I am the type of person who must repay it to feel satisfied.”
“This is just what father instructed….”
“But you are the one who did it, aren't you? Just as you helped me, I will help you when you need help. Of course, it is only once, so think carefully before asking for help.”
“This is unexpectedly gaining a strong ally. Haha. Thank you very much even just for the words.”
Seeing him shrug his shoulders while laughing, Gertmann seemed to still view my words as ceremonial rhetoric.
Well, if he takes it that way, it can't be helped.
“Then please rest comfortably. Since there is some time until the wedding, it would be good to look around the famous spots of the three Low Countries.”
“Thank you. Then return safely.”
Saying so, I headed to the assigned annex palace.
Then Magician Agpiel, who had been listening quietly from the side, poked my side.
“What was that meaningful remark?”
“Pardon?”
“What pardon. You insidious person! Somehow it seemed like you were blowing unnecessary wind into a friend who was staying still?”
“Hehehe.”
As expected, Magician Agpiel was quick-witted. As expected of a Great Sage. I shrugged my shoulders.
“It is a preparation for contingencies. In case of emergency, shouldn't I have at least one person in the Duchy of Bourgogne to coordinate with?”
“Isn't it just stirring up trouble unnecessarily? Be careful, as you might ruin the good atmosphere. Besides, that good-natured friend might get false hope and suffer great harm.”
As Magician Agpiel warned with a stern expression, I scratched my head.
Magician Agpiel seemed to not know yet.
What kind of existence the Duke of Bourgogne is.
Even if he pretends to help like this in front, the Duke of Bourgogne was someone ready to stab in the back anytime.
Well, there was logic in his words, so I nodded.
“Understood. I won't do anything unnecessary. Well…. There must be many ways to keep the Duke of Bourgogne in check, so I can just find another way.”
“Right. If you rely too much on machinations, eventually harm returns to yourself. For now, if the opponent approaches with goodwill, it is right to accept it with goodwill.”
As I accepted his words, Magician Agpiel nodded his head as if satisfied.
Usually, advice is bitter, and opposing opinions are annoying.
But to accept it like this.
For Magician Agpiel, it was very satisfying.
Of course, I.
‘Hmm, still, I should get closer. Originally, the succession structure is more fun the more you shake it, right?’
I was thinking very mischievously, though.