novelraw Chapter 127 : Chapter 127
Chapter 127 : Chapter 127
Chapter : 127
"Surely you... Did you plot this?!"
"Ay. How could I manipulate it? I just touched the desire inside the Princess's heart."
"Hah..."
As expected, Princess Maceania was bold. Not long after parting with me, she had indeed negotiated with the King.
As a result, she became the new Duchess of Aquitaine, and now the kingdom had given birth to another Great Lord.
Thanks to this, the Elang Kingdom became very noisy.
It was because the King had incorporated the southern region, which had become vacant due to the heretic subjugation, into his directly-managed land and sent officials there.
As if that wasn't enough, he had appointed his own blood relative to the Duchy of Aquitaine, the great territory of the south.
Of course, the nobles were not going to watch this idly.
He was already a King who was stripping away the rights of nobles and attempting centralization. But now the entire south was falling into the King's hands? It would become difficult to struggle for power against the policies the King would put forward in the future.
-We must stop the King's ultra vires acts immediately!
-Duke! What is His Excellency the Duke of Bourgogne doing! Why is he silent? Shouldn't he step forward at a time like this?
-Let us hold the Kingdom High Council. We must show the power of the nobles-!
Gatherings of nobles were taking place unusually in various places throughout the provinces.
They wanted to hold the Kingdom High Council, a consultative body of nobles, to keep King Valois in check. At the same time, they strongly desired the movement of the Duke of Bourgogne.
A high noble holding powerful enough strength to check King Valois.
The nobles wanted the Duke of Bourgogne to become the focal point representing their opinions.
Truly, the kingdom had ended up divided into two factions more violently than ever before.
"The Holy Empire is a mess, but this place is just as chaotic. Ha ha."
"Isn't that how worldly affairs always are? Originally, once one grasps power, one hates to let it go."
"And you didn't light the fire on that? The kingdom might go into a long civil war."
"You overestimate me too much. Magician Agpiel. Things that were bound to happen just happened."
I retorted nonchalantly to Magician Agpiel's words.
What I needed was time, and now everything was set.
When the Royalist faction and the Noble faction were fighting for power in the center and couldn't pay attention to the provinces, this was exactly the time for me to move quickly.
Establish systems, raise an army, pacify the surroundings, and build up power.
These were the things I had to do in preparation for the upcoming era of [The Great Famine].
And these thoughts of mine were actually coming true.
"Faithful Margrave. It is an honor to meet you. I am..."
"Oh, Sacred Guardian of Bellua. I am from the Molton Order..."
"Greetings. Margrave! I received an order from the magistrate in the City of Bayen..."
As the situation in the kingdom became chaotic, the independent cities, religious orders, and small lords of the southern region began sending friendship envoys to me.
* * *
DING!
[You have completed the relay trade market. This massive relay trade market connecting the north and south of the continent will now become another landmark of the continent. Bellua will become a trade hub city of the continent, and numerous free cities will willingly want to participate in your relay trade market.]
[Notification: Relay trade market progress has reached 100.]
[Notification: The relay trade market has been completed. Fame and Prestige increase.]
[Notification: Merchants visit the territory frequently.]
[Notification: Population growth in the territory accelerates.]
[Warning: Hygiene drops due to explosive population growth. Beware of the outbreak of epidemics.]
Finally, it was complete.
The approach of small powers in the southern region to me was ultimately the final master key. Shaking off the anxiety of the past, the relay trade market was finally activated.
"Ah...!"
It was a touching moment. Tears naturally came to my eyes when I recalled the hardships of the past.
From the Holy See to the Kingdom of Aragon, and even to the Duchy of Bourgogne. It was worth running around that tremendous distance diligently.
"Ha ha. I am truly moved. Lord. The previous Lord must be very pleased in heaven as well."
"BAAA-HE-HE-HE! Lord! Congratulations. Finally becoming rich! BAAA. My wallet(?) is becoming thick too! BAAA-HE-HE-HE."
"Congratulations. You worked hard."
"Congratulations. Lord."
Looking at the bustling relay trade market, the vassals flocked together and sent congratulations one by one.
There were some words with strange and impure intentions in the middle, but well... I let it slide. Wasn't today a good day?
"Are the L’Isle-Ponte merchant guild and the people of the Brussels family cooperating well? Chamberlain Hamil."
"Yes, fortunately, there are no major problems. There were disputes due to minor differences in opinion, but they died down quickly after mediation. Ha ha."
"That is fortunate. Still, manage them well just in case. The currency exchange business they do is the very core that we must ultimately monopolize."
The operation of the exchange office that I had emphasized from before.
Earning exchange fees by utilizing the different currencies of the north and south was one of the core businesses of this relay trade market.
Wasn't it truly a goose laying golden eggs, receiving massive commissions while sitting still? I was thinking of setting up a modern concept of banking once more funds gathered soon.
'Heh heh heh.... The banks of this era still haven't moved much beyond simple usury or safe-keeping businesses.'
To entrust large sums of money, one still had to pay a storage fee rather than receiving interest; that was the bank safe-keeping business of the [Pangea Universalise] era.
I intended to jump into this safe-keeping business once the transaction amount of the relay trade market grew moderately and proficiency in currency exchange tasks began to develop.
A storage business that rather paid interest if one stored physical goods like gold and silver in a huge storage warehouse.
'It is certain that people will flock in like crazy.'
In the era of [Pangea Universalise], which was stuck at the level of the late Middle Ages, means of making money were quite limited.
If I gave them money regularly even while they sat still, it was clear that no one would refuse.
Even more so if I, a powerful high noble of the south, guaranteed it.
And what if the reserves and the customers using it gradually became huge?
'I will circulate bills of exchange guaranteed by the bank I made, using parchment or paper.'
It was a kind of credit currency.
If it settled well, it would mean being able to circulate and use much more currency than the amount stored in my bank.
Of course, I shouldn't print too much excessively, but if I adjusted the appropriate amount according to the stored amount, it would be seamless.
Surely, who would dare to doubt me, the Great Lord of the south who received the title of Sacred Guardian of Bellua from the Holy See?
'Heh heh heh.... It is truly a task where milk and honey flow.'
It was a matter that made my mouth water naturally.
"MAA?"
At that, Bishop Marco, the goat beastman who was next to me, tilted his head.
"BAAA. Lord. What thought of a money thunderbolt are you having? Let us know too. BAAA-HE-HE-HE. Money is good!"
"Khem, kuh-khem. What money thunderbolt. It is nothing. Bishop Marco."
"BAAA?"
Oops.
My inner thoughts must have shown on my face. As expected of a goat beastman crazy about money, he was very quick-witted.
Was this the instinct of recognizing one's own kind?
"Ahem! I said it is not that. Hum hum."
I gave a dry cough and waved my hand.
Only then did Bishop Marco, the goat beastman, turn his head away as if he had lost interest. Seeing as he was heading towards the gathered merchants again, it seemed he intended to extract a hefty donation(?) along with a hearty sermon.
"By the way, is that friend not returning to the Emperor?"
"Do you mean Magician Azuela?"
"Yes."
Then, at a sudden thought, I asked Magician Agpiel.
Since she followed us in a daze after meeting in Baron Vigneux's territory, she was currently running around my territory, busy performing medical treatments together with Professor Vesalius.
Perhaps because she felt good having someone she could talk to after a long time, Azuela and Professor Vesalius hit it off surprisingly well.
Well, it was very good for me that the number of magician and professor-level medical personnel increased, but honestly, considering Magician Azuela's position, it wasn't a very good thing, was it?
It was practically as if she was sticking to another high noble and playing around after being dispatched with much effort.
If the Emperor found out, he might not let it slide....
"How could she return? My goodness."
At that, Magician Agpiel retorted with a scolding tone.
"She was too active in the Prince-Bishopric of Cologne. Apparently, her fame as a saintess of healing has spread around there? The Emperor will surely love that. Tsk tsk."
"Yes? Uh-ha-ha-ha."
"My goodness. Do not laugh. You have a certain part of the responsibility too."
I felt somewhat wronged, but what could I do? A certain part was true. Eventually, I scratched my head and ordered Chamberlain Hamil to treat Magician Azuela a bit better.
Well, if I did this much, she would probably manage well on her own.
If it really didn't work out, since she was a capable magician, she might find a patron and escape the Emperor's wrath.
* * *
It was time to turn my eyes from external issues to my internal issues now.
Since all eyes of the kingdom were focused on the conflict between the Royalist faction and the Noble faction, there would be no time to care even if I committed some act internally.
"Call Viscount Avignon. Chamberlain Hamil as well."
Therefore, I immediately ordered a servant to call Viscount Avignon and Chamberlain Hamil to the office.
Now was the time to check how ripe the conspiracy was and deal with it.
And a short while later, the door opened, and Chamberlain Hamil and Viscount Avignon entered.
Immediately, Viscount Avignon bowed his body low and greeted me.
"It has been a long time. Lord."
"Oh, yes. Have you been well?"
"Thanks to the Lord's help, the merchant guild has grown even larger. Thank you."
"Think nothing of it. Just as you help with my work, I should help you too."
I had issued one of the few special merchant guild permits to Viscount Avignon's guild.
Thanks to that, the merchant guild led by Viscount Avignon was freely crossing from the Duchy of Bourgogne in the north to the Kingdom of Aragon in the south without tariffs and tolls.
Relying on that privilege, Viscount Avignon's merchant guild was growing into one of the leading merchant guilds within the kingdom before anyone knew it.
"How is the atmosphere among Juana and the feudal vassals these days? I suppose quite a lot of funds have flowed in that direction."
As much as the King and the Duke of Bourgogne had played their tricks, it was now time for patience to run out.
Nobles educated as rulers in this era were actually extremely rare.
Greed and primal execution taking precedence over patience and restraint was the behavior of most provincial nobles.
Sure enough.
"The atmosphere is unusual. From what I hear, I understand they are gradually contacting mercenary captains in the Holy Empire and the Apennine Peninsula."
"Hmm.... Is that so."
This meant they would gradually execute armed action.
However, since the power of the army I held was still strong, it would be difficult for them to move recklessly.
"You should move even now and punish them all. Lord."
"That will not do. Chamberlain Hamil. That is a half-baked punishment. I want a perfect and overwhelming downfall."
My goal was to ensure that feudal nobles and the like would never run wild within my territory again.
In fact, my direction was in line with the King.
Perfect centralization.
I could not give even an inch of fief to the nobles. I believed it should be governed by unified laws, rule, and political systems.
"Then how...? If we fail to suppress it early and it goes to a civil war, the surrounding lords might not stay still. Especially the cunning Count Bozen, Juana's older brother."
I nodded at Chamberlain Hamil's concern. It was a reasonable worry in its own way.
But so what?
Conversely, if I quickly suppressed the rebellion of the feudal vassals centered on Juana, it would rather create a legitimate justification to attack the arrogant Count Bozen.
"I will handle everything with this opportunity. I intend to make it so that there are no more beings in the southern region who will lift a sword against me."
"Yes? How... do you mean?"
"How else? I must make a sweet trap that they cannot help but rush into."
Saying that, I smirked.
A smile that Magician Agpiel would probably say looked very insidious if he saw it.
"Viscount Avignon. You will provide funds to them from now on and move like one body with them. And Chamberlain Hamil. Mobilize the army."
"Yes?"
"That is...?"
Everyone made puzzled expressions at my words. They must be wondering what I was saying right now.
I intended to give Juana and the feudal vassals an opening.
A gap so fatal that they couldn't help but move.
A kind of very sweet mousetrap.
Would they be able to ignore this? Well.... My thought was probably not.
It was truly the season to harvest the conspiracy that had grown lushly and ripened appetizingly.