Chapter 175
(Kyle
Calendar Year 509: Age 16)
The
Territory Redevelopment Plan
Translator : PolterGlast
After the meeting with
my father, there was still no time to rest.
There was a mountain
of things that needed to be decided regarding the domain. To determine our
policy on these matters, Miseri, who had come for this purpose, the Commander,
Raymond, and I began our discussion.
"I believe there
are at least seven issues that we must consider urgently.
What to do with all
the refugees we've taken in at Teigoon?
What will be the
treatment and handling of the former Istoria Imperial Kingdom soldiers?
What about the rewards
for the self-defense force and the review of their future duties?
What about the rewards
for the citizens who cooperated during the plague?
How do we strengthen
our economic base and secure revenue?
How do we prepare for
the Joint Grand Tournament?
What is to be done
with the northern part of the former Hiyorimi domain, the future Demon
Territory Count's domain?
There are so many
things that need to be done, I don't know where to start..."
Miseri rattled off the
list in a single breath and then let out a heavy sigh.
"Miseri, isn't
this the best possible situation for someone in charge of domestic affairs,
with so many interesting things to tackle? You are blessed with the opportunity
to show your skills, and you should be nothing but happy. You should be
grateful; there should be no time for sighing."
The steward (Raymond)
chided her, though his eyes were smiling gently. Come to think of it, this man
is also a demon for work. In a different field from the Commander, but they are
the twin pillars of demons.
"I'm sorry, I
always cause you trouble. We will decide on as many policies as we can in this
meeting, so let's tackle them starting with what we can, in order of priority.
Raymond, if you have any points of concern, additions, or opinions, please
don't hesitate to share them."
Yes, this was why I
had asked my father and borrowed the Count's household steward for this
meeting.
"First, the
highest priority should be dealing with the refugees. There are limits, both
physically and realistically, to continuing to care for them as we are.
Physically, they need housing. Realistically, immediate financial support and
job placement are, I believe, urgent tasks."
"Raymond's point
is well-taken. To begin with, there's a limit to the population that can settle
in the vicinity of Teigoon. For the time being, we can use temporary housing,
laborers' longhouses, and the former camps, but in the long term, the issue of
water resources will arise.
As per the plan we've
been considering, we will likely need to create multiple new settlements and
pioneer villages on the Fran side. The water itself is abundant over there
since there's a waterway."
"What about the
concern of the water being poisoned, like this time?"
"Miseri, there's
no end to it if we worry about every possible act of sabotage. Just like at the
New Checkpoint, we will rely on wells for drinking water. If we mobilize all
the Water Mages to find underground water veins and build the pioneer villages
there, shouldn't that suffice?"
"I agree with the
steward. And Miseri, I'm not thinking of everyone becoming pioneer farmers. As
the population increases, I believe we also need to build up our industries
properly.
Right now, we need
manpower for the craftsmen at Master Karl's place, in clothing and textile
manufacturing, soap production, processed wheat products, and with the increase
in soldiers, people to take care of meals and other things. We will survey for
such job openings and provide placement.
Let's encourage them
to become self-sufficient that way. The craftwork can be in the town of
Teigoon, but how about creating an industrial park specializing in mass
production within the pioneer villages?"
"Understood. I
will immediately begin interviewing for job openings based on that plan and
have Claire-san assign personnel from the reception center to handle the
placements. The refugees are mainly women and children. I will take measures to
ensure they can find work."
"Yes, I think
we'll also need to increase the number of staff at the reception centers and in
the administration. Please put out job postings for those as well. And for the
pioneer villages, don't forget schools where they can leave their children with
peace of mind."
The steward, who had
been watching the exchange between Miseri and me with a smile, raised the next
issue.
"Next are the
prisoners from the Istoria Imperial Kingdom... numerically speaking, they are
immense. And we must also consider how to treat them. They have, after all,
achieved military merit."
"Yes, according
to what I heard from Margrave Hamish, an offer of ransom and an envoy for the
return of the prisoners has come from the Istoria Imperial Kingdom. I plan to
inform them of this and let them each choose whether to remain or return. It's
a shame to lose them as a military force, but..."
In reality, the
soldiers who had accompanied us on the return from the eastern border war,
saying they would follow the Divine Messengers, would probably not return. They
revered Marianne and Ranatoria to that extent.
After all, a messenger
of God had used her divine miracle on them, healing them with Holy Magic. Such
an honor was apparently so great as to be unthinkable in the Istoria Imperial
Kingdom, and Raphael had reported that they were fired up, saying things like:
『Teigoon is the holy land of the Divine Messengers.』
『We have received a mission as the guardians of the
holy land.』
Though the future of
the 500 we had left in the care of Margrave Hamish at that time is unknown.
Incidentally, Aura,
the Wind Mage of the Istoria Imperial Kingdom, is officially recorded as having
died despite the care she received. That is how it has been reported to both
the kingdom and the Imperial Kingdom. She is scheduled to be moved to Teigoon
eventually.
"Excuse me for
interjecting. From a purely military standpoint, their presence is extremely
significant. If we line the walls on the demon territory side with longbowmen
and have them deliver incessant volleys, our defensive power will be
dramatically enhanced. If they coordinate with the Wind Mages, their range will
also be greatly extended, so the power of their suppressive fire would be
immeasurable. As one in charge of the defense, I do not wish to let them
go."
The Commander's point
was identical to what I was thinking. And from the perspective of a labor force
as well, their contribution was also expected to be very significant.
"However, if we
are to accept a maximum of 1,000 soldiers, the salaries alone will be
enormous."
The steward said this
with a laugh. Indeed, if we were to formally employ them, at least 20,000 to
30,000 gold coins would disappear for certain every year.
"Yes, it seems
that many of them are farmer-soldiers who are armed even in peacetime and
conduct regular training. Therefore, just like the immigrants from the Empire,
I am thinking of having them serve as militia farmers in the new settlements on
the demon territory side. This way, once they are stable, I think we can manage
with about half the annual salary. Well, it's still an enormous amount,
though..."
"Miseri, to
support that, you have a worthwhile challenge in domestic affairs. Do your
best."
The steward said this,
exhorting Miseri.
"Yes, I will do
my best. It seems my master's mercilessness hasn't changed."
It seemed Miseri had
regained enough composure to respond to the steward with a smile. It's kind of
like me when the Commander is by my side on the battlefield... I thought, and
chuckled a little.
"Next, for the
self-defense force and the medical personnel who worked tirelessly during the
plague response, the administration is considering a reward equivalent to that
of the soldiers who went to war. What are your thoughts?"
"Yes, I think
that's fine. We received a reward from His Majesty this time, and all of them
fought without regard for the danger to their own lives.
I think we should
provide 20 gold coins to the self-defense force and medical personnel, 10 gold
coins to the people who supported them, and 5 gold coins to all remaining
citizens with tax obligations. Also, I want you to give 5 gold coins to any
children not subject to tax who helped with the plague response or the defense.
And for the soldiers of the Imperial Kingdom who wish to remain in Teigoon, we
will give them 10 gold coins as a stipend.
Please be sure to
state that this is a gift of grace from His Majesty."
"May I also add
something on that point? This time, His Majesty has also granted the Frontier
Knights Fifth Corps 10,000 gold coins, but let's add this to the source of
funds for distribution to the soldiers. And the 1,000 from the distribution for
the eastern border as well."
"Thank you,
Commander. I'll adjust things so that those who participated in the eastern
expedition receive a little extra."
"This is quite a
generous handout. With this, the number of people wishing to become citizens of
Lord Takuhir's domain will increase all at once. As the steward, I'll have to
work hard to make sure citizens don't abandon the Count Solis domain."
"Well, it's not
like we can afford this all the time, and I think what we've received from His
Majesty needs to be distributed to some extent...
Also, regarding the
compensation for the self-defense force, it has been 5 gold coins a year until
now, but they've been active in many ways, such as training and night watches
in peacetime, and patrol security during tournaments, so I would like to keep
the regular number at 500 and increase the annual compensation to 10 gold
coins."
"Lord Takuhir,
raising it uniformly might be a bit excessive. I believe a better strategy
would be to issue a notice that the maximum will be 10 coins, based on the
number and results of the roles and missions they complete, and to use the
surplus budget to form a self-defense force reserve unit, for those who only
participate in regular training, and use it for their compensation."
I see. To incorporate
into the chain of command manpower that can be secured in an emergency, who
only participate in things like shooting practice and disaster drills. I
decided to adopt the steward's idea.
"Then I will
adopt Raymond's plan as is.
The strengthening of the
industrial base has been largely decided in the course of the refugee response,
so let's first carry that out. Also, for sugar and honey, I think it's fine to
gradually expand production and open up new sales channels. It seems high-end
sweets using sugar are quite popular in the Royal Capital.
Incidentally, we have
received a large number of orders for crossbows from the various noble houses
of the eastern border from this war. I'm thinking of placing these orders not
just with Teigoon, but also with Workshop Master Geld in Est.
Raymond, could you
handle this arrangement? Miseri, I want you to use this as an opportunity to
recruit craftsmen from among the refugees."
"Of course! Thank
you for passing this on to us."
"Understood. I
will discuss the details with Master Karl as soon as I return."
"Next, regarding
the response in the former Hiyorimi domain... for the time being, I'm thinking
of postponing development, although we will provide sufficient protection. I
believe securing public order and safety from monsters and the like is the
priority. Incidentally, do we have details on the paths leading to the demon
territory, the routes through which monsters invade?"
"Then allow me.
There are two major invasion routes. The largest would be the route on the east
side of Mount Teigoon. That's not a pass, and there's a high probability of
them flowing in from the plains. The other is through the gaps between the
mountains, the parts that have become valleys. There are a few others, but if
we have Earth Mages, it should be possible to physically seal them."
Really, the steward
knows everything. The extent of this man's knowledge... just how incredible is
it?
"While we're at
it, I'm thinking of sealing all the exits from the demon territory in the
former Hiyorimi domain. If we solidify them with earth walls, monsters, enemy
cavalry, and supply trains won't be able to pass. On the east side of Mount
Teigoon, we will extend the defensive wall, install the only gate there, and
construct something robust. I think we should go with this plan."
"That would be
appropriate. With our current military strength, we cannot defend that far. The
largest exit is only about 500 m wide. I think an Earth Mage could seal it up
quickly."
The Commander was of
the same opinion.
"What about the
gold mines?"
The gold mines in the
former Hiyorimi domain that the steward pointed out had, in the past, been a
major pillar supporting the domain.
In the Kyle Kingdom,
even a lord is not permitted to own a gold mine. All discovered gold mines
become the King's direct mines, and all mining and operation become a national
enterprise. However, there is a system where those who have a gold mine in
their domain receive an annual dividend from the kingdom according to the
output of gold.
The gold mines in the
former Hiyorimi domain were apparently quite promising, and they had been
receiving an annual dividend of 5,000 to 8,000 gold coins. To have that income
without doing anything. It was a very big deal.
"We will restore
the gold mines that have been abandoned in recent years due to monster
appearances. We will secure the safety of the surrounding area, report to the
kingdom to that effect, and urge the resumption of mining. We would like to
build a town in a corner of that area, not only to provide convenience for
those involved, but also to serve as a base for revenue."
"As expected.
Securing revenue from activities related to the gold mines, besides just the
dividends. It's a shame you said what I was about to point out first."
Though he said it was
a shame, the steward looked pleased.
"Now, last but
not least, regarding the preparations for the Grand Tournament to be held in
the spring, I believe the biggest challenge will be accommodating the
accompanying soldiers and spectators, and establishing a reception system.
First, assuming the
refugee response is progressing, we will open the two former camp facilities as
temporary lodgings. Since that won't be enough, I'm thinking of introducing
something new to the pioneer villages."
"What would that
be?"
"It's called 'Minpaku' (homestay), a means by which
the citizens of the pioneer villages can utilize their homes as temporary inns.
Not all the rooms in their respective houses are occupied.
They can use spare
rooms, or multiple households can cooperate to empty one house. This way,
spectators can stay at a relatively low cost, and the citizens of the pioneer
villages can also earn income. I think it would also be good to provide meals
for a fee. I expect the restaurants will also be saturated.
If we create a solid
system and regulations in advance and set up a support system for them, I think
we can increase the number of lodgings by several hundred."
"Oh, Minpaku, you say. That's interesting.
There are issues like theft, so perhaps the people who can use Minpaku will be mainly the citizens of
the Estol domain who have a registration tag. For the other overflowing
spectators, we can build a large, simple lodging house, and even sleeping in a
large common room would be fine.
There is also a large
bathhouse on the New Checkpoint side. If we pair its use with the lodging,
there will probably be a fair number of people who use it.
After that, if we
operate a paid carriage service regularly connecting the post town and the New
Checkpoint, I think people can stay in remote areas with peace of mind."
"Raymond! I'm
taking that idea.
And Miseri, when
things have settled down, I'm appointing you as the new steward of the Demon
Territory Count's domain. I am hereby granting you the authority to procure and
use the necessary funds, as well as the authority for new appointments to the
administration and necessary official posts. I want you to exercise your skills
as you see fit while I am away."
"Yes, sir! I will
do my utmost."
"Lord Takuhir,
thank you. Miseri, you must never forget this benevolence or become arrogant.
You must repay it with results."
Contrary to his harsh
words, Raymond looked extremely pleased and watched his disciple with a gentle
gaze.
And so, the general
outline of the policy for the pending issues was solidified, and Miseri and the
others were to return to Teigoon with the decided policies in hand.
<Proposal for
Distribution of Rewards>
|
|
Reward Amount |
Estimated Total Payment |
|
Frontier Knights Fifth Corps |
|
|
|
Eastern
Expedition Force |
22 gold coins each |
Total 4,400 gold coins |
|
Southern
Rebellion Suppression Force |
20 gold coins each |
Total 6,000 gold coins |
|
|
|
|
|
Garrison
Soldiers |
20 gold coins each |
Total 4,000 gold coins |
|
Mercenary
Company (Unaffiliated) |
20 gold coins each |
Total 2,000 gold coins |
|
|
|
|
|
Teigoon Citizens |
|
|
|
Medical
Staff |
20 gold coins each |
Total 2,000 gold coins |
|
Self-Defense
Force |
20 gold coins each |
Total 10,000 gold coins |
|
Medical
Supporters |
10 gold coins each |
Total 2,000 gold coins |
|
Other
Taxpayers (Est.) |
5 gold coins each |
Total 5,000 gold coins |
|
|
|
|
|
Others |
|
|
|
Refugee
Support Fund (Est.) |
10 gold coins each |
Total 10,000 gold coins |
|
Imperial
Kingdom Prisoners (Support Fund) |
10 gold coins each |
Total 10,000 gold coins |
|
Imperial
Militia Farmers |
10 gold coins each |
Total 1,000 gold coins |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
56,400 gold coins |
|
< Income >
Conferment of Honors
As Demon Territory
Count: 360,000 gold coins
Other (Frontier
Knights, etc.): 11,000 gold coins
Other Spoils of War
(Est.): 4,000 gold coins equivalent
Total: 375,000 gold
coins
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