Chapter 28 - The Struggle of Count Nord, Ludovico
Told by the Crown Prince to consult with the other ministers and decide on a response, Count Nord, Ludovico Foscar, began negotiations with the ministers on the spot.
First, the organizations necessary for war had to be restructured.
"His Highness's words were that preparations for war are of the essence. A war cannot be carried out by a single ministry alone.
The preparation and transport of provisions fall under the Ministry of Agriculture; if they are to be transported by ship, the Ministry of Commerce; coordination with the various territories is for the Ministry of Internal Affairs; and of course, mobilization and organization belong to the Ministry of War.
The budget required for these is the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance—is that not so?"
It was knowledge acquired on the fly, but it served to confirm the current situation.
Thinking this, Ludovico asked the ministers as if to make sure.
The ministers lined up looked at each other and nodded.
"Then, I propose that each ministry provide scribes and administrative officers to be gathered in one place.
—No, of course, I do not mean for a long period. This is merely a temporary measure, a temporary arrangement until the war ends.
After all, in the preparations for war, coordination and adjustment between ministries likely account for a significant portion of the time and effort.
If that is the case, gathering them in one place stands to reason as it would lighten the burden, even if only slightly."
At Ludovico's words asking for their thoughts, the ministers looked at each other again. Expressions of "well, that makes sense" appeared here and there.
"Supposing we gather them, where would the location be?"
The Minister of Internal Affairs pointed out that there was no such space in the Government Administration.
"We shall ask His Highness to lend us a space within the palace."
"Whether His Highness will permit it or not—"
"If it is within the palace, reports to His Highness can be made quickly.
If necessary, I would not mind using the room scheduled to be entrusted to me as the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal's office."
"What about the personnel? Even without this, scribes have been resigning.
If we pull them from somewhere, public service will stagnate at the source."
"Indeed, that is the point."
At the Minister of Ceremonies' point, Ludovico let out a sigh and slumped his shoulders.
"There is simply no helping that part.
The war must be fought. People are needed. If so, we must gather as many people as are required.
Though I am sure all of you are more well-versed in this than I."
"You say that, Count Nord, but..."
The Minister of War let out a low groan.
"First, unless it is decided how many troops will be moved, nothing can be determined."
Ah, I see, Ludovico nodded.
"Then let us decide that first."
"No, no, how the troops are moved is for His Highness to decide—"
"It is exactly as you say. However, His Highness said to deliberate and bring back the results. Let us first decide on a troop count as a provisional plan and report that such-and-such preparations are necessary for this many troops."
Ludovico argued, gesturing with hands that were fleshy even to the backs of his hands and fingers, like those of a baby.
The ministers looked at each other and nodded, thinking that made sense.
"The number of troops that can be moved from the Marquess's territory is around 3,000, and the number that can be mobilized from the Royal demesne is roughly 7,000.
Minister of War, there is no mistake here, is there?"
The Minister of War nodded silently.
"If we include the troops from the earldoms and viscountcies located in the eastern half of the kingdom, it would be another 7,000 or so.
Well, we cannot mobilize everyone, and the more troops we mobilize, the greater the expense. Minister of War, in order to surely defeat the Marquess's army, what number would be appropriate?"
Hmm, the Minister of War nodded, crossing his arms and tilting his head.
"If we have 9,000, three times the enemy's strength, it should be certain."
"Then, let us split that into 6,000 and 3,000. 6,000 from the Royal Guard and demesne forces, and 3,000 from the eastern nobles' forces. To conduct the war, for how long must we maintain these 9,000?"
"...Well, I should say about two months."
"Then, it is 9,000 for two months.
Arranging and transporting enough provisions to sustain them.
Assigning the 3,000 to various territories and communicating that. Arranging ships if necessary.
The organization to unite these into a single army.
For now, these are the essential steps. Let everyone calculate the personnel necessary to execute this, and we shall temporarily gather that number of scribes and administrative officers."
The ministers, nodding to each other, began to cite numbers one after another.
However, the numbers piled up—three from here, two from there—were clearly insufficient even to Ludovico, who was practically an amateur in military affairs.
"...Are all of you satisfied with this?"
Ludovico asked, struggling to suppress his internal indignation within his round, fat belly.
"What do you mean, 'satisfied'?"
The Minister of Internal Affairs asked.
"I shall compile the numbers you have stated and convey them to His Highness.
His Highness, of course, trusts you all, so he will likely say 'very well' to that.
From here on, it is preparation for war. Time is limited, and there is an opponent involved. Should satisfactory results not be achieved, it is natural that I should receive a reprimand, but—"
The complexions of the ministers changed. They realized Ludovico was saying he would make them take responsibility as well.
"Now then, I shall ask once more, everyone,"
Ludovico looked around at the faces of the ministers lined up.
"Are you satisfied with this?"
A moment later, the scale of the temporary organization swelled to more than double.
Regarding the insufficient numbers, it was decided (after much dispute) that people would be sent even from ministries not directly related.
Ludovico reported this to the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince nodded and accepted the report.
The scribes of the Ministry of Ceremonies worked in a frenzy to prepare the commissions, and the personnel appointments were issued that evening.
From the following day, in a section of the palace, a large number of scribes—some of whom had been temporarily promoted from administrative officers—and administrative officers were gathered, and preparations for the war began.
*
"No matter how I calculate it, it is simply not enough."
A thin scribe with dark circles under his eyes reported.
"Is it no good?"
Ludovico responded, stroking his equally fleshy chin with thick, fleshy fingers.
Since then, Ludovico had been entrusted with overseeing the war preparations to subjugate Marquess Mares.
Ludovico had suggested the Minister of War for the task, but the Crown Prince had stubbornly refused to listen.
There was also the circumstance that Ludovico was the only one of minister-rank who was essentially without a specific portfolio.
"It is no good," the scribe repeated with a somber expression.
"The amount of provisions siphoned off was too great.
Even if we were to buy more, it seems the price of food has already risen east of Ezrin. If we were to requisition provisions for the army on top of that, people might die in the urban areas."
"What if we transport it by ship from the west? I heard the wheat harvest around Brosner was quite good. My own neighborhood as well, for that matter."
The scribe shook his head with a sad expression.
"If we could take a month or two, then certainly. However, as for where and how many ships we need right now... even to follow the leads of the merchant houses in the royal capital, there is no one capable of acting as a liaison."
Ludovico recalled that the Minister of Commerce had also mentioned that the scribe in charge of managing merchant ships had resigned.
"...Is it no good?"
"It is no good."
Ludovico and the scribe let out a large sigh in unison.
If it was no good, it was no good.
However, he could not simply tell the Crown Prince that it was no good and leave it at that.
"What if we reduced the number of troops to be moved?" Ludovico asked.
"If it were half—no, a third, we could manage somehow."
If it were only that many, they could move without great difficulty.
The original plan was 9,000. The number that could actually be moved without hindrance was a mere 3,000.
Even if they added the Royal Guard, which had its own stockpiles.
There were fewer than 200 knights who could move immediately. Even including cavalry who did not hold knightly status, it would be 500 at most.
Even Ludovico, an amateur in military affairs, was forced to understand now—the strategy itself needed to be revised.
With another sigh, Ludovico waved his fleshy arm and called for his subordinate—the subordinate temporarily assigned to him.
One of the administrative officers approached at a quick pace.
"Someone, go to the Government Administration and call for the Minister of War. Tell him to bring a general from the Marshal's Office with him."