novelraw Chapter 143 : Chapter 143
Chapter 143 : Chapter 143
Chapter : 143
Peasant revolts broke out across each region, and because of the severe drought, the harvest had been cut to a quarter of a normal year, but at least that was not the case in my domain.
“Fortunately, we barely managed an average harvest. It is thanks to the irrigation facilities and canal expansions from last time, and thanks to Magician Agpiel’s efforts.”
“That is fortunate. Then does that mean we do not need to worry about food?”
“Yes. It seems we will have more than enough even after filling the stockpile target you set, my lord.”
At Chamberlain Hamil’s report, I let out a sigh of relief.
The harvest was better than I expected.
If things stayed like this, it seemed I would not have to worry much about food-related problems during the four years of the [The Great Famine] event.
He had called it a mystery that accelerated plant growth, and Magician Agpiel’s magic really was at a great level.
Thanks to the now-plentiful output, I gained another confidence.
The confidence that it was okay to move on to the next step.
“Should we stop buying the food we have been purchasing all this time now, my lord? The stockpiles are starting to reach capacity.”
“No. This time, build more warehouses near the Arhen Mountains so they will stay cool. For now, we have to keep buying and gathering as much food as possible, as much as we can.”
“Understood.”
After giving that order, I slowly swept my gaze over the vassals in the office.
In a way, I was about to drop a bombshell.
So, in a calm tone, I slowly recited what I had decided.
“I will confiscate all the fiefs of the feudal vassals who joined this rebellion. I will strip all rights previously granted, and I will also revoke every customs union benefit that had been granted to their families.”
“Ah…!”
At those words, the vassals all let out a collective lament.
When a rebellion was put down, it was a kind of custom to praise merit and grant fiefs. They had not said it, but inwardly, they had all been expecting something.
“Then will you be directly managing those fiefs now?”
Only Chamberlain Hamil, who had known my intent from the start, showed no particular reaction.
“That is right. I will make them directly-managed land and send officials to handle them. From now on, I plan to introduce the advanced administrative system I am implementing now to those regions as well.”
“Hm…. If so, instead of the former feudal vassals handling it themselves, you would need to hire officials directly to handle it, would you not? You will need a great many officials. Will you be all right?”
To expand administrative capacity like in my domain required an enormous administrative workforce. There was an administrative school Treasurer Palmer had established in Mangtong City, but even that was not enough.
In this era, there were fewer people than one might think who could read and calculate numbers.
“Also, if you recruit that many administrative officials, what are you planning to do about the hierarchy system, my lord? In the past, the feudal vassals who received peerages handled it directly, but….”
At the same time, Chamberlain Hamil raised a question about the organizational system.
When the feudal vassals ruled, they appointed lesser nobles beneath them, and beneath those, they appointed scribes and ordinary tax collectors, naturally building an organizational hierarchy based on status.
But if we wiped all of that out and recruited officials, then from now on, a proper system would be important.
A strange system the world of [Pangea Universalise] had never experienced, having not yet gone through centralization.
Only the Holy See, which inherited the legacy of the ancient empire, or the Eastern Empire across the sea, had such an officialdom system.
‘Oh….’
Listening to Chamberlain Hamil, I admired him inwardly.
As expected of an adviser who had entered the realm of extraordinary, he was catching even these detailed issues.
And fortunately, these were points I had already thought through to some extent.
“I will fill the supply of administrative officials by receiving recommendations from the families within my domain who hold titles. Each family shall classify and recommend their candidates on a nine-rank scale. After examination, if they prove to have ability befitting that rank, they will be hired as officials.”
A sort of recommendation system.
“And from now on, I will divide official ranks into nine grades. If one holds an office of a certain grade or higher, I will grant a title and pay a separate pension accordingly. This pension will be guaranteed until the recipient’s death.”
It did not escape pre-modern elements, but it was still a form of rank structuring. A system referencing the [Nine-rank system] presented by Chen Qun of Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of China.
If it worked like this, it would become a fairly attractive option for noble forces who pursued honor and titles.
Sure enough.
“Oh…. That does not seem bad, my lord.”
“Yes. We cannot know the detailed contents yet, but it seems like an excellent system.”
The vassals all brightened, interested.
If someone they recommended was appointed highly, their family’s honor rose, and if their family members climbed to high office and received titles, that supported the house, so it could not be bad.
They might not receive fiefs, but with a pension they would receive for life, it was not much different from a fief anyway.
“Good. Is this sufficient? Chamberlain Hamil? We will summon the officials and adjust the details, but the rough framework is like this. What do you think? Is it acceptable to do?”
With a satisfied expression, I looked at Chamberlain Hamil. Chamberlain Hamil bowed his head and spoke calmly.
“Do as you will, my lord.”
-Tiriring!
[Once again, you are reforming your domain’s system. This unprecedented centralization will bring discomfort to nearby lords, but some ambitious men will take deep interest in your reforms. Also, scholars in seclusion who lamented their status will come to your domain.]
[Notification: For a time, talented people will come to your domain.]
[Notification: The emergence of various thinkers increases the likelihood of unrest in the domain.]
The effect of this reform plan, adjusted by summoning Chamberlain Hamil, Treasurer Palmer, and frontline officials, was incredible.
-My family recommends this person!
-This fellow studied at the university in Romulus. If you hire him, he will be very helpful.
I did not know where the influential families within my domain had scraped them up from, but they began recommending an enormous number of talents.
“Waaaaah! My lord! You might as well just kill me. Sob, sob! Just send me back to Mangtong City!”
Of course, Treasurer Palmer screamed daily as he wrestled with paperwork and interviewed candidates, but there was nothing I needed to care about.
Was it not said that iron became stronger the more it was hammered? People, too, would adapt and become comfortable if they were worked continuously.
Probably.
“You really are….”
“Yes? What is it, Magician Agpiel?”
“What do you mean, what is it. You are pretending not to know when you know everything. These days, every time I pass through the inner castle, I am frightened. It is because a ghost’s scream is coming from somewhere.”
“C, cough. Isn’t he doing it because he wants to?”
“Do you truly think so? People die like that. Die. Tsk tsk.”
At Magician Agpiel’s scolding, I cleared my throat and subtly turned my head. Palmer’s complexion did seem to be getting paler lately, so I thought I should give him a vacation.
Of course, after this work was done.
“Cough. I will take care of him, so please help me with this matter, Magician Agpiel.”
“Tsk. Changing the subject…. Fine, what is it.”
“Have you not seen the four-course crop rotation I am doing in my domain this time?”
“Hm…. That? I saw it. It was very impressive. To keep producing without letting the land rest. And it needs less water than usual and lets you raise more livestock. It is truly innovative.”
As he spoke, Magician Agpiel seemed slightly excited.
Even if he had helped with his magical mystery, this harvest was remarkable. It was the level of an average harvest in other domains. When he first heard it was still more than usual, he had nearly fainted in shock.
Then how much had we been producing before the drought began?
“So, about that…. Could you help me?”
“With what?”
“I want to expand and spread this farming method. At the very least, to the newly acquired County of Bozen and all the domains that formed a customs union with me. If Magician Agpiel steps forward, since you are a great sage, would they not accept it more easily?”
Farming was quite conservative. No matter how much a noble, a superior, told them to change, it did not change easily. It was difficult to abandon the customs they had learned for decades, for generations, from their elders.
So, if Magician Agpiel, the renowned forest great sage, stepped forward and explained the greatness of this farming method, along with magical mystery, it was likely they would accept it without much resistance.
Of course, Magician Agpiel was.
“Hm….”
He seemed a bit cautious.
“It is possible, but will there not be backlash? The priests probably will not like it.”
“I can step in and settle that much.”
“Then what about the nobles? You can suppress the feudal vassals of the County of Bozen by force, but will it not be difficult for the lords who joined the customs union? You would be infringing on their rights. No matter how good it is, they will rather take offense.”
Magician Agpiel carefully pointed it out. I wanted to push it through, but hearing him say that made me hesitate.
It certainly seemed difficult to expand it to other domains. I could do it if I forced it, but if I did, I might drive away the friendly forces I had gathered.
There was no need to draw even more sensitive attention here.
“Understood. Then we will only do it within the territories of the feudal vassals of the County of Bozen. You will help, right?”
“Heh heh. Well. I will see how you do.”
“Come on. Magician Agpiel. Why are you like this. Please help me. These days, I am dying from how hard it is.”
“Isn’t it all karma you brought upon yourself? I never told you to rampage like that.”
Grinning.
Magician Agpiel’s expression as he teased me was full of laughter.
“Well, still, since this is something that considers ordinary residents, I will gladly help. Be grateful. It is not often a great sage like me personally steps in like this.”
“Oh dear. I do not know where to put myself. It is truly an honor for generations, Magician Agpiel.”
“Oh? That was rather insolent, was it not? It is making me not want to help.”
“Isn’t that your imagination? Hahaha.”
I said it with playful banter. Even if he talked like that, Magician Agpiel would clearly help.
He was more soft-hearted than expected.
And as I was bickering with Magician Agpiel like that.
“My lord. An envoy has arrived. He said he wishes to see you in secret.”
A servant knocked and asked cautiously.
“Who is it?”
“Baron Pierre. It is an envoy from Baron Pierre of the House of Viscount Bardi.”
It was a guest sent by my old friend, from whom I had heard nothing since our last meeting.