Interlude 11
The One Who Pursues Profit
Translator : PolterGlast
Today, as always, a merchant caravan fully loaded with
supplies formed a procession and passed through my territory, Botakley.
This is because the main highway leading from the central
part of the Empire to the upstart nation called the Westlights Demon
Territory Dukedom passes through my territory. Since the prisoner return
signing ceremony, merchant caravans from all over the Empire have been
incessantly passing through, fully loaded with supplies.
『With this amount of supplies, what
on earth is happening in the northern frontier region?』
Thinking so, I stood dumbfounded for a while, gazing at the
sight. But at that time, I had forgotten something crucial.
「Lord Viscount, is it fine to let
them pass as they please?」
「Todentz, what are you saying? It's just Imperial merchants passing
through the Empire, we cannot find any fault with them. Although it is
exceedingly frustrating...」
「No, with this many merchant caravans
passing through the territory, I don't think we should just sit back and
overlook it...」
「What do you mean?」
「We were previously made to swallow
boiling water by those blasted merchants. Don't you think this is a perfect
opportunity to return the favor?」
「!!!」
That's right. He is right. What was I spacing out for? In
the past, I enjoyed the favor of His Highness Glorious, and in the
invasion operation under the pretext of a military exercise towards the border,
I was granted the honor of serving in the army to bear a part of it.
Honestly, at that time, I was ecstatic, dreaming of victory
in the upcoming battle and a bright future for myself. And then... that
abominable incident occurred.
※
It was a day when we were only one day away from the former Margrave
Goth's territory. When we entered camp
that day, the state of the soldiers was somewhat strange.
「What is the meaning of this? The
soldiers are taking out the food they personally carry, sneaking out under the
cover of night, and coming back making a huge racket, aren't they?」
「Sir, it seems merchants from
somewhere are buying food at high prices, and they are selling one after
another at double to triple the price. Not wanting to miss out, the soldiers
are now all...」
「What! Triple, you say!」
「Yes, it seems the neighboring
country to the northeast has been struck by a famine due to a large-scale poor
harvest, and the merchants are all buying it up. It seems they can sell it for
a higher price the sooner they bring it to the neighboring country, so they
have advanced all the way here and are buying it up.」
I made a prompt decision here.
To be honest, although I belonged to the First Prince's
faction, I had never been called upon by His Highness until now. Of course,
that is natural. A mere Viscount like me wouldn't possibly be called upon by
His Highness in the center.
But this time, I was called upon directly. Overjoyed by
that, I had actually overexerted myself considerably to scrape together the
soldiers to serve in the army and the supplies on hand I was instructed to
bring.
The loss from overexerting myself could also be recouped by
selling off the excess food at a high price here. Fortunately, I had succeeded
in preparing a massive amount of food at my own expense this time, so I had a
considerable surplus.
「Alright! Leave two weeks' worth of
food, and sell off everything else! Since we are selling in bulk, take
advantage of the merchants' weaknesses and do not sell for less than triple.
And then return straight to our territory and replenish the sold supplies at
the normal price! If we do that, we will get more than enough change back for
the expedition expenses this time!」
However, I too made a miscalculation. Because the purchase
price was so high, my subordinates, blinded by greed, left a few days' worth of
food and sold off everything else. Because they too underestimated the
situation, thinking they could replenish it immediately within the Empire,
and to put the profit from the sale into their own pockets...
The result was clearer than looking at a fire. Not only my
army, but the entirety of His Highness Glorious's army fell into a
critical food shortage...
The hunger of making one day's worth of food last for three
days; if it were only that, it would still be fine. Many, including myself,
were reprimanded to our faces by His Highness as disappointments, useless, and
incompetents.
『Those who cannot procure new food
are not permitted to return to camp.』 Told that at the end, we too ended up wandering the northern
Empire in search of food.
However, the roads we had passed through so far had already
been cornered by merchants, and we couldn't get our hands on any at all.
「We're running a business too, you
see. We'll gladly accept if it's buying food, but we cannot sell.」
Saying so, the merchants in various places coldly declared,
flipping their palms, and our wish to buy back the food we had once sold was
not granted.
「I'll pay as much money as you want,
even a little is fine, so let me buy it back!」
「That's troubling... we've already
sent the food we bought to the neighboring country... but, if
it's the newly stocked items, if you could pay more than the
purchase price...」
「I don't care! Since it has come to
this, I will spare no expense!」
After saying that, I came to regret my own statement. The
prices the merchants presented far exceeded my imagination.
「Wh-! What did you say? What is this
price!」
「Boss, it's before the harvest right
now. It's the time of year when grain is scarcest. Moreover, throughout the
entire northern Empire leading from here to the Imperial Capital,
merchants are competing to buy food in various places.」
「But even so, if you procure it from
all over the Empire, you'd have the leeway to procure at least some
food, wouldn't you.」
「Yes, if you could give us a leeway
of one month, we could prepare it considerably cheaper...」
There's no way we can wait that long. Our army is lacking
even tomorrow's food. If we had a month, even we could procure it from various
places in the Empire.
『To take advantage of our weakness...』
「It has value because it's right now.
That's why we are also buying it at a high price. The lowest we can yield is
the purchase cost plus the transportation cost up to here, and a cost that
allows our business to be viable, otherwise it's quite, quite...」
「Guh...」
At this point, I realized I had been set up by them. But...
no matter how many gold coins I have, it won't fill my stomach, and if I went
all the way near the Imperial Capital to buy, the army would either
collapse from food shortage or fall into banditry.
Moreover, the northern frontier is under the influence of
the Third Prince. If we arbitrarily force purchases or requisition, it would
become a truly massive problem.
「I say this out of concern, but
please never force procurement. Viscount Kampfer's forces are patrolling
this entire area, and it seems they are cutting down in one stroke those who
tarnish the honor of His Highness Glorious or those who scavenge food
from civilian houses, treating them as deserters.」
「...」
I had no words left to reply. As a result, we who received
the duty of procuring food competed with each other to buy ridiculously
expensive food from them. Spending a vast sum of money...
As a result, the profit obtained from selling the food before had long vanished.
Despite making that much effort, I incurred the displeasure
of His Highness Glorious, being told my execution of military duties was
inadequate, and was removed from the army directly led by His Highness from the
next deployment onward. What that meant was that my hope of going to the front
lines and achieving military exploits was crushed.
Therefore, even in the next deployment, I merely watched His
Highness Glorious's army, which achieved spectacular war results from
the first battle and invaded the Demon Territory in high spirits, in
vain from the Southern Gate Fortress. Ordered to stand by in the rear, I
had no bright future or hope of walking alongside His Highness who would be
victorious from here on.
But that brought me unexpected good fortune and misfortune
simultaneously.
The good fortune was that we were not accompanying His
Highness's army, which suffered a historic massive defeat despite being in a
state where victory was promised. Because of that, the army I led and I were
able to return to the Empire from the Southern Gate Fortress with
our lives intact. Of course, as miserable defeated remnants... though.
The misfortune visited us a while later. One day after the
post-war negotiations were held, we received an outrageous notification from
the central First Prince's faction. What the person acting as a messenger
presented was 『the
apportioned sum for expenses accompanying the return of His Highness Glorious's
person.』
「W-We cannot possibly pay such an
amount!」
I unintentionally raised my voice at the messenger. But he,
unfazed, merely declared coldly.
「To save His Highness Glorious,
each house is scraping their bodies to scrape together the expenses. Without a
single exception. Do you understand the meaning of this? There are even houses
that sold family heirlooms or borrowed money from merchants using the harvest
of their territory as collateral.」
If I refused saying 『I cannot wave a sleeve I do not have』 (I cannot pay what I do not have),
my house would meet its end as nobles... That's probably what it meant.
I ended up having to procure gold coins even by selling off
the wealth of the Viscounty and using the resources within the territory as
collateral. And as for myself, as a noble further in decline even within a
declining faction, it was thought I would never see the light of day again.
What remained for me was... Only indignation toward the
humiliation received from the merchants, hatred toward the neighboring country,
debts to the merchants, and hatred toward the Third Prince's sycophant (Sieghart).
※
But this time's movement; this is precisely the perfect
opportunity to return the favor and turn the Viscounty's finances around!
Thinking so, I hastily issued a decree within the territory.
My territory has no particularly prominent industries and is
a rustic land in the countryside, but there are two things to be proud of.
The first is the vast forest spreading within the territory.
In particular, there are many large trees prized as building materials, and in
the past, it brought us great fortune as the blessings of the mountains. Yes,
in the past...
The second is the main highway traversing the territory.
Especially to pass through from the Imperial Capital to the northern
frontier, the forest zone within the territory stands in the way as a massive
wall.
There, the highway carved out by my ancestors exists, and we
have maintained that highway for generations. Naturally, there are towns on the
highway serving as resting places and supply bases, and we received benefits
from the merchants coming and going on the highway.
『From now on, an entry tax to various
places within the territory where merchants stop by will be imposed according
to the volume of cargo. Regarding timber in particular, a tax will be imposed
and collected per single log.』
With this, I should be able to recover a little of the lost
funds. I decided to impose a strict tax, especially regarding timber.
Originally, by riding the special demand for the founding of
the abominable neighboring country and selling off a massive amount of forest
resources, I should have been able to obtain enormous wealth.
But... The forest of my territory is no longer mine.
Impoverished of funds due to the apportioning of His Highness Glorious's
ransom, instead of borrowing from merchants, I had transferred the logging
rights of the forest, which could be called a treasure, to them for a limited
time until the repayment of the debt was completed.
If only that hadn't happened... I wept in frustration.
But the one who laughs last is me! I thought so, but... A
few days later, a movement I had not intended occurred.
「The merchants are not stopping by
the towns and villages in the territory at all? What on earth does this mean!」
「Well... apparently the entry taxes
for this city and other places in the territory are too high...」
「They just have to add such a thing
to the selling price to the other party, isn't that so! Why don't they do that?」
That's right, that should be all it takes. As fellow people
of the same Empire, isn't it just a matter of both profiting mutually?
「Besides, where are the merchant
caravans resting and resupplying during their journey?」
「About that... within the territory, all merchants are camping out to
evade the taxes... Initially it brought in a large income, but it seems they
quickly took countermeasures...」
「Those blasted bastards. They must be
desperate to make even a little profit. If so, we too will take new measures!
Establish barrier checkpoints at the highway exits within the territory, and
impose taxes on trade goods heading to the Dukedom! Tell them passing
through is not permitted.」
To begin with, if the merchants entering and leaving my
territory decrease, it defeats the whole purpose. I would end up strangling my
own neck. Therefore, at the barrier checkpoints, I changed it to newly collect
taxes specifically targeting trade merchants. Limited to business with that
country.
In the first place, didn't that sycophant also say it? 『The war washing blood with blood
against the Kyle
Kingdom is a ceasefire for now, but we
consider the war of grinding each other down in the place of commerce to begin
from here on. From here on, we will continue the fight with the objective of
securing victory in the war of economy. So as not to let the Kingdom,
giddy with victory, get carried away...』
As a just cause, it is somewhat reluctant, but by
participating in this economic war, I can just make the merchants cooperate
openly.
But that scheme also didn't go well. Even the guys who
reluctantly paid the trade tax at first, from a certain day onward, started
saying that all cargo was not for trade purposes but domestic demand goods
transported to the southern frontier of the Empire.
「Saying whatever they please. There
hasn't been a single time until now that they frequently passed through my
territory on such transactions! I am utterly appalled by their double-dealing!」
「But they all have established bases
in the Count Astray territory, Count Kampfer territory, and
Viscount Duroul territory, and are unloading their cargo in the form of
selling it there. It seems they are transshipping there, but they have even
prepared certificates concluded with the buyers, and we cannot lay a hand on
this.」
「Those blasted bastards. And those
three houses are the Third Prince's sycophants and cannot be trusted. They are
probably partnering with the merchants and doing something unscrupulous.」
Yes, it was at this time I realized. That behind the
merchants who lent me funds, their shadows also flickered...
Because the one gathering a massive amount of timber from
the logging site was a trading company with a ridiculous name: Kampurna
Trading Company.
「Now that it's come to this, it can't
be helped! Regarding construction materials such as timber and stone,
regardless of whether they are domestic demand goods or trade goods, impose
heavy taxes according to the volume of the cargo. Todentz, take direct
command at the barrier checkpoint. Don't let the foxes within our own ranks
outsmart you!」
「Sir! I shall squeeze them dry
without fail.」
「If you successfully squeeze them, I
will give you a portion of the collected amount according to your results. Work
hard.」
With this, Todentz will also change the color of his
eyes and collect from them. Fufufu, they have nowhere to run anymore. This time
it's our turn to laugh! Thinking so, I saw him off.
But, however... Once again, the situation proceeded in a
direction betraying my expectations.
「What is the meaning of this! The
report from the surveillance of the logging site and the actually collected
taxes are clearly different! Todentz! Don't tell me you...」
I was infuriated by the betrayal of my trusted subordinate.
Because even at a low estimate, around 70% of the timber taxes remained
uncollected.
「Ah, no... We strictly interrogate
and collect from all cargo passing through the barrier checkpoint. That cannot
be possible.」
「Apparently there was no one to
strictly interrogate the whereabouts of the taxes strictly interrogated and
collected. Someone! Bind Todentz. Put him in jail, as I will strictly
interrogate him later!」
「Such... what have I done?」
「Pocketing nearly 70% of the
collected taxes, what are you saying now!」
At that, Todentz's complexion changed. He hurriedly
prostrated himself and began to explain.
「Following Your Excellency the
Viscount's orders, what I pocketed is only a tiny fraction! Such an outrageous
thing as 70% is...」
「Then are you saying that between the
logging site and exiting the territory border, as much as 70% of the timber
vanished? Make a more decent excuse!」
Taking this opportunity, I decided to change my way of
thinking.
Between Todentz this time, and the subordinates I
ordered to sell food long ago, those guys were only obsessed with lining their
own pockets. They don't understand what a great cause is at all, unlike me.
『I will not trust subordinates
anymore! I myself will negotiate with the greedy and insolent merchants. So
that they are not the only ones profiting.』
I swore so in my heart. It's unbearable to have my legs
pulled as it has been until now.
Wait... business isn't something only for merchants, is it?
That country is seeking a massive amount of food and
supplies. To the extent that greedy guys change the color of their eyes and
work hard at business.
『If so, we too should disguise
ourselves as merchants and return the favor for when we struggled with
procurement in the past!』
Thinking so, laughter welled up inside me. A business so
lucrative that those guys become that desperate is rolling right in front of
me.
And this is also an important role that contributes to the Empire.
Having made
up my mind, I began buying up large amounts of food and other supplies. Goods were scarce everywhere and the prices were somewhat
high, but there would be no problem if I sold them off at double the price.
And the merchant caravan led by me, Viscount Kamin,
set off straight for the Westlights Demon Territory Dukedom. With a new
purpose and hope in my heart, my heart dancing...
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