Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Towards the Next War
The peace negotiations concluded, and the King ordered Steve to come hear the results, so Steve had come to the royal castle.
Not the throne room, but a small meeting room — though it was big enough for 30 people — where the members for this meeting gathered.
Led by King William, Chancellor Cunningham, Royal Guard Knights Order Commander Oliver, Margrave Ruben Sis Adams who had just inherited the title, and Aurora and Earl Mackintosh along with Steve were the attendees.
First, Chancellor Cunningham explained the compensation regarding the Kingdom of Pasture this time.
"The Kingdom of Pasture cedes 1/3 of its territory to us. And, like the Kingdom of Forest, it agrees to create a garrison of our army in front of the Royal Capital. The First Prince will study in our country. And, there will be no tariffs on exports from our country. Next, regarding the compensation money, it is agreed to pay 10 million gold coins over 10 years. Separately from this, the ransom will be according to title. The compensation money is for the reconstruction of Margrave Adams' territory, and the ransom is for Earl Mackintosh's merit, so both families have rights to each. Any objections?"
Margrave Adams and Earl Mackintosh said they had no objections.
"Next, regarding prisoners who cannot take ransom, these will be slaves. 5000 to Margrave Adams' family, the rest will be accepted by the state and distributed throughout the country. Regarding the slaves, we will look at the domestic market price and pay the Dragon Wing Medal Holder an equivalent amount."
Steve's share became the slave sale amount. He hadn't expected much originally, so Steve thought it was enough just to receive it. Of course, no objections.
"Now, regarding the newly acquired territory, Earl Mackintosh has merit, so he will be given the right to specify the place he wants to have priority. Also, the Earl's son, other than the eldest, will be given a title and made a lord. It is still at the tentative stage."
When the Chancellor said that, Earl Mackintosh bowed his head. Originally, Christina's brothers who could not inherit the territory and would not become nobles were to be given a title and land.
And, since Margrave Adams' family would spend enormous resources to rebuild their territory, there would be no land increase this time. This greatly changed the northern power balance, and Earl Mackintosh's family became larger than Margrave Adams' family.
By the way, soldiers of Earl Mackintosh's family who performed well in this war, like Wyatt, also had some who became nobles, and the influence of Earl Mackintosh's family relations would grow larger than bloodline.
The talk up to here was about the northern war, and Steve didn't understand why Aurora was here.
As if seeing through Steve's doubt, the Chancellor moved to the next topic.
"Well, up to here is the result of the peace negotiations, but the main topic starts from here. It was confirmed that the Yellow Empire's existence was behind moving the Kingdom of Pasture. When the items brought back by the Dragon Wing Medal Holder were appraised, the armor was undoubtedly that of the Knight of Sword. This has Teleportation magic attached, and it can teleport to specified coordinates. Right now, it is being rewritten to be effectively used in our country, but it cannot be made too public. We cannot afford to provoke the Empire."
"I was called because I know the Empire's purpose too."
Aurora looked at the Chancellor and smiled seductively.
"According to information from spies inside the Empire, they feared our country becoming a regional power by making the Kingdom of Forest cede territory. This time, they tried to weaken the northern territory by lending the Knight of Sword and weakening their power. However, this resulted in our country's territory expanding. I hope the Empire gives up, but they are expected to launch further plots or war. If we defeat a member of the Suit Knights, the enemy's alertness should rise."
When the Chancellor finished explaining, the King looked at Steve.
"The achievement was splendid, but winning too much is also a problem."
"I just went to deliver clothespins to my father-in-law. Fighting was a real coincidence, and killing the Empire's knight was also a coincidence."
"I understand. I won't blame you for the results now, but we will discuss measures to become strong enough to fight the Empire from now on."
The King stated the purpose of calling this group.
If the Kingdom of Cascade fights the Empire now, the result is clearer than looking at fire. So, they wanted to raise national power to a level that can oppose the Empire somehow.
After that, it was explanation from the Chancellor again.
"First, militarization of the western region close to the Empire. Connect from the Royal Capital to the border via Sowell Land with a railway, making it possible to transport soldiers and supplies. There are relatively many plains, but where there are large rivers, use boats for transport. In the future, I want to build bridges and lay rails there."
Steve felt emotional about the practicality of the Steam Locomotive finally. However, Steve created each part with magic. At the Kingdom of Cascade's technical level, the precision of parts was still poor, and it was difficult to assemble and use.
Coal was discovered for the time being, and fuel can be procured independently by mining it. It can run on charcoal or firewood, but coal is better considering efficiency.
"We will need a huge amount of iron."
"Yes. The final goal is to lay a railway network domestically so that materials from the whole country can be collected and transported, but I don't know how many years it will take."
In this world without heavy machinery, laying the railway will all be manual labor. Even if mages are mobilized, the amount of work per day is limited by mana volume. Steve could probably do the work in a quite short period even with that.
"So, what is my job?"
"We request rail creation."
"I'll accept. I thought you would tell me to bridge rivers with magic."
With Steve's one sentence, the King and Chancellor thought of that idea.
"I see, let's request that too."
"I seem to have spoken out of turn."
"No, no, it is not extra. Moving domestic materials and personnel quickly means that if somewhere is attacked, they can be sent immediately from other regions. It takes time to disembark to cross the river."
"If it is for the country, I will gladly accept. However, I do not know the size of ships in the rivers, so please handle the bridge design."
Considering the possibility that ship traffic would become impossible by building a bridge, the design including survey of ship types was left to the country.
When the railway talk ended, the Chancellor made another request to Steve.
"To prepare a communication network using light, we want to order mirrors."
"Yes. If it is the same as the prototype, I can prepare it immediately."
The communication network using light is to install large mirrors on mountains, reflect sunlight there, and transmit to the next mirror. This was actually used in Japan during the Edo period. It is an evolution of signal fires.
By deciding cipher codes like Morse code in advance, a certain amount of conversation became possible. Steve proposed this, and the Royal Research Institute was studying for practical application.
They were studying decryption and encryption to avoid misreading or being discovered by the enemy, and once that was finished, they intended to deploy it nationwide.
Steve said immediately, but the Chancellor said there was no need to rush so much.
"We don't need it immediately. Because, after location selection and foundation creation are finished, we want you to create it on-site. We are troubled if mirrors break during transport."
"Indeed. Then I will wait for contact."
Aurora and Earl Mackintosh who heard that talk understood their roles.
Earl Mackintosh asked the Chancellor to confirm.
"Our role is securing land for the railway and mirrors, correct?"
"Yes. And, from where land is secured, we want to distribute the slaves obtained this time preferentially and have them work."
Here, the reason the slave distribution earlier was not decided immediately became clear. The King and Chancellor intended to invest slaves into large-scale civil engineering projects. Even so, for the surplus, they intended to distribute while watching the domestic situation, but for now, they thought they would use it up in large projects.
Aurora was not satisfied with that explanation alone and asked the Chancellor.
"I know what to do, but nothing is shown in return. Patriotism alone makes the outgoing money too large, and our stamina will be worn down. That will eventually mean no funds to fight. Slaves also cost money for food, clothing, and shelter."
"I understand. Regarding that, we intend to use the national budget. If compensation money from next year can be put into the treasury, it will be enough to recover costs, and the state will hold the railway management rights. If there is no war, we will open it to private parties, collect fares, and build entertainment facilities around railway stations, which the state will also manage."
This was planned based on Steve telling Cyril about the management of Japanese private railways. By developing around stations, increase railway users, and also gain profit from entertainment facilities. Development of Hakone and Nikko, operation of theater troupes, etc.
Aurora also knew this. When the railway was laid in Archibalt Territory, she had asked Steve about possibilities other than transport. However, the initial investment was huge, so she was waiting for the timing. Just as she was pondering when to start, the talk of railway construction as a national project came up, so she decided to ride that wave.
And, Aurora also covered Steve.
"So, what happens about payment to the Dragon Wing Medal Holder? It can't be free, surely."
"That is the problem. Parts like measuring instruments for the Steam Locomotive cannot be priced. Rails and mirrors can calculate approximate prices, but regarding precision parts, honestly, it will be astronomical amounts."
Various meters like pressure gauges and speedometers, and parts of the Steam Locomotive, if precision ones are used, will be those created by Steve's magic. For the Trolley Train, such things would not be necessary, but for the Steam Locomotive, it is not so.
After all, since speeds are different, safety measures are essential.
"I was just told, what should I do."
Steve himself was confused by the sudden talk and struggled to reply. Money is welcome, but there is no immediate trouble with money. He intended to receive payment as consideration for magic, but the amount is not something that can be paid at once, so it will be installments. Against that, Aurora's claim is to set a price, but Steve did not intend to demand that much.
"No greed. You always pluck me."
"I can't think on the spot when suddenly told. Anyway, I just came to deliver clothespins, I didn't think it would grow this big."
"How many days do you think passed? Earl Mackintosh seems to struggle with his son-in-law's education."
Earl Mackintosh whose talk jumped fire smiled bitterly. However, he himself was desperately turning his head to join the railway business, and there was no time to help Steve. He came to this place today thinking it would be at most land increase and money talk, so the large project was a bolt from the blue.
And, Aurora covering Steve was not just out of thinking of Steve.
Steve's huge assets held were deposited in the bank managed by Aurora. In Archibalt Territory, there is no time to use large sums at once, so the bank can turn that into investment.
And, that investment creates a good economic cycle, supporting the boom in the western region. If they deposit further into the bank here, it becomes possible to lay the railway using that. The plan is to prepare cash only for the amount Steve withdraws each time, and operate the railway business without using Margrave Sowell family's money.
"Well, what comes to mind now is, due to the impact of unequal tariffs, the Kingdom of Pasture's economy worsens, so if unemployed increase, let them migrate here. Preferably, educated talent. Even if managing territory, there is a lack of talent."
Steve's prediction was that in the Kingdom of Pasture where non-tariff goods would flood in, existing industries would not be able to function, and at that time, he would have excellent talent returned from the large number of unemployed.
By the way, he also intended to export Safety Shoes and Double Pot Refrigerators. There is a distance issue, but if the railway is completed, transport costs are estimated to become cheap.
The Chancellor agreed to Steve's offer. Unlike the Kingdom of Forest, the Kingdom of Pasture had no role as a buffer material for the Empire, so it was fine to weaken them by pulling out excellent talent. However, the Kingdom of Cascade's national power was not enough to destroy them at once, so they were kept alive to avoid becoming a lawless zone.
"That is fine if unemployed appear. Then it is good."
"Yes, that is fine."
With this, the talk ended, and there was talk to have Earl Mackintosh and Margrave Adams each be granted titles and create a list of lands to give, so they dispersed.
The called nobles left the room, and the remaining King and Chancellor began to speak true feelings.
"We must give the Dragon Head Medal to Archibalt's son this time."
When the King said that, the Chancellor nodded.
"By custom, it is only royalty. But considering his merit, it is natural. If Lord Archibalt had another son, he would have been given Margrave status and land. There was also the hand of marrying royalty to absorb. Earl Mackintosh outsmarted us."
"At that time, the recognition was only that he was stronger than Oliver. I never thought he would fall the Royal Capitals of the Kingdom of Forest and Kingdom of Pasture, and defeat one of the Yellow Empire's Suit Knights. If we force an engagement now, Earl Mackintosh will hate us."
"Considering the situation from now on, if many of the northern increased territories become territories of people under Earl Mackintosh's control, that power will rival the Royal House. And, the West is already Lord Sowell approaching the Royal House with military power and economic power. Also, the relationship with Archibalt Lord's son's fiancée is good, so if we turn all of them into enemies, surely we cannot maintain the current state."
"Indeed. Why not abdicate the throne."
"That is also a hand. For now, it seems there is no ambition, but there is no guarantee it will be the same from now on, so if it becomes peaceful abdication, the current Royal House will be secure."
The Chancellor said that half-seriously.
If Steve had ambition, the King and the Chancellor himself would be excluded in a flash. At that time, life and property would be taken, so abdicating before that to guarantee status is one hand.
"Lord Sowell tamed him well."
"Maternal instinct?"
"Cunningham, does she have maternal instinct? Isn't it only wolf-like ambition? She probably doesn't even think of her own child as a piece."
"That is so. She does not possess maternal instinct at all, but she does not hesitate to act it out to use as a piece."
The King laughed for a while, then let out a big sigh.
"The West and North nobles' power grew, and the East and South left behind will have discontent."
"Talent is already flowing greatly to the West, and those who couldn't follow will aim for the North this time. As a result, the East and South will suffer from talent shortage. Railway laying will also be delayed."
"The gap between regions involved and not involved with that cannot be fixed. Maybe prioritize distributing the Royal Research Institute's results."
"That side will be the compromise. Wow, when I was appointed to this post, I never imagined governing such a wide country would cause worry."
"I also never imagined when I inherited the throne. I thought I wanted to be a famous king who leaves a name in history, but when I realized the territory expanded, various inventions were born, and even the social system changed, I didn't think I would worry so much. Did the monarchs said to be famous kings in the world have the same worries?"
"If future historians view Your Majesty's reign, they will surely evaluate that the Kingdom of Cascade was the most prosperous. They won't understand Your Majesty's worries, and will write 'it was a good era'."
"For a King, a sword always hangs above the throne, and it is unknown when it will fall. It is something you don't know until you actually sit on the throne."
"Great metaphor. It is too clear, I will never think of sitting on the throne."
"I would give it to Cunningham anytime."
The Chancellor did not know how seriously the King was speaking.