Chapter 145 - Episode 142: Year-End ①
"As I thought, public order and the economy have become unstable due to the previous war... From what I've heard from the leaders of other factions, everyone is being affected, though to varying degrees. I could have predicted this the moment it was decided that a great war would occur."
Late December. At the customary faction banquet where the major nobles of the kingdom's northwest gathered, the one speaking with a sigh was the faction leader, Marquis Siegfried Bechtolsheim.
Surrounding him were the faction's number three, Earl Anton Shuvalov, the faction's number four, Viscount Arnold Koenitz, and Noein, who had been swept into the conversation of the high nobles after sticking close to Arnold.
"Is that so... Being at the far edge of the kingdom's northwest, I don't feel it much myself."
"Hahaha, Lord Koenitz's territory was blessed by its location this time. Baronet Arqvist, you feel the same, yes?"
"Yes, well... To be honest, I am spending my days as I always do. I haven't felt the post-war chaos firsthand," Noein answered when Marquis Bechtolsheim directed the conversation toward him. In reality, far from a daily life that remained unchanged, the population had increased—centered around the former conscripted soldiers—which increased the workforce, and because mineral resources were selling at high prices, the region was even achieving further development.
However, since there were apparently noble territories in the southern part of the northwest that were being hit directly by the negative effects of the previous war, he hesitated to speak of it boastfully.
"But in reality, the situation is still serious. The great war itself has ended, but sporadic conflicts have not yet vanished... It will take time to resolve the food shortages, so the surge in food prices likely won't subside for a while."
"The granaries of the southwest have taken a heavy hit over the last few years," Earl Shuvalov nodded while lamenting.
The south, which is warmer compared to the kingdom's north, is where large-scale agriculture flourishes. There are several vast granary regions in the southwest, which serve as the key points for the kingdom's food supply.
However, as a result of manpower being diverted to the long-lasting war, the agricultural productivity of the southwest had declined. That influence first spread to the southwest itself, and then rippled out to the adjacent northwest, southeast, and even the central part of the kingdom. Even the furthest northeast could not remain unscathed, as food was becoming scarce across the entire country.
Although the war had ended and skirmishes at the borders were subsiding, there was a time lag before such improvements led to the recovery of agricultural productivity. The effects would likely continue for a bit longer.
"In that regard, the northwest is better off because potatoes spread quickly. Following the matter of the Crossbow, we must thank Lord Arqvist."
It had only been two years since Noein spread potatoes within the northwest faction, but as expected of a nation-saving crop that grows even in wasteland and multiplies well, it was already exerting an effect that could be felt regarding the improvement of the food situation.
"I am humbled. For my part, I am glad that the northwest is peaceful."
If the northwest were to become devastated, it would certainly have a negative impact on the Arqvist territory located at its edge. It was a case where spreading the potatoes in advance to prevent that had paid off.
"...However, because of that, isn't Your Excellency Shuvalov suffering quite a bit?"
Arnold asked.
The Shuvalov earldom was located where the northwest and central regions met, serving as a key trade point for the central region—which held a full thirty percent of the kingdom's population—and the southeast beyond it.
Therefore, Earl Shuvalov was currently struggling to counter nobles from other factions seeking to obtain food from the northwest, attempting to suppress the excessive outflow of food.
"Indeed... Well, such economic maneuvering is my family's role within the faction, so it is only natural that I strive at it. Even so, it is a bit grueling. Especially the number of merchants who attempt to resort to potato smuggling."
Earl Shuvalov was exhausting every means to put a stop to the food outflow, from adjusting tariffs and influencing large trading companies through government-appointed merchants to direct negotiations with the economic powerhouses of the kingdom's central region.
However, because exports to other regions were forbidden, potatoes could be sold for huge sums if smuggled; thus, there was no end to the peddlers who avoided the highways with checkpoints and attempted to cross dangerous forests and mountains.
"I have been using some rather aggressive methods, but I wonder how much it will improve. I am truly sorry for being an old man lacking in strength."
Earl Shuvalov spoke with a modest face, but there were rumors that he had mercenaries dress as bandits and release them onto smuggling routes to brutally slaughter peddlers attempting to cross the territorial border. He likely aimed to spread the story that "if you resort to smuggling, you will be miserably killed by bandits."
Having heard those rumors from Arnold, Noein had inwardly admired Earl Shuvalov's craftiness. Even while wearing the face of a kindly grandfather, he was truly a veteran old noble of a hundred battles.
"There is no way that Earl Shuvalov lacks strength. Regarding economics and distribution, there is no noble in the northwest with more knowledge and experience than you."
Though his position as leader was higher, Marquis Bechtolsheim spoke with respect for Earl Shuvalov's age, achievements, and the role he fulfilled.
"...The other day, I contacted Marquis Galdwin of the southwest. Although conflicts continue, the harassment from the Kingdom of Lancel has become visibly small-scale, and since the royal army currently has two legions permanently stationed there, he says the noticeable chaos should subside soon. Until the situation improves, I ask that you continue to strive through the end of next year."
"Ho ho ho. Then I shall whip my old bones and do my best."
To Marquis Bechtolsheim, who was asking for the grueling task of extending these razor-edge maneuvers for another year, Earl Shuvalov nodded rather cheerfully. The fact that he could laugh at this further proved he was not merely a gentle old man.
"...However, the conflicts at the faction boundaries could not be completely resolved even through discussions with Marquis Galdwin."
Marquis Bechtolsheim spat out the words regretfully.
Currently, a problem had arisen where some nobles of the southwest faction—who were most strongly affected by the soaring food prices—were encroaching upon the more affluent territories of the northwest to seize food.
These ranged from simple acts, such as hunting beasts or monsters without permission in the territories of northwest nobles or infiltrating farming villages to steal livestock and field crops, to bold acts, such as openly attacking villages. While all were sporadic and temporary, they had taken on an appearance that could be called a minor conflict.
Since the targets were forests and villages in delicate positions that had been disputed or left ambiguous regarding territorial borders since long ago, there was a possibility that this could develop into a full-scale territorial dispute and leave behind deep-seated resentment, making the quality of the problem even worse.
"Border disputes are basically problems between the parties involved. Even as the leader, it is not something that can be easily fixed. It cannot be helped."
As Arnold's words suggested, since these were troubles that should be resolved between the involved noble houses, there was a limit to what even the leader could do. If the leader stepped in casually in such situations, it could potentially lead straight to a full-scale clash between factions.
Therefore, Marquis Bechtolsheim was half-cooperating with the leader of the southwest faction, Marquis Galdwin, to mutually seek tension reduction so that the border disputes would not cross a line and result in deaths. Once one became the top of a faction, it was not a matter of simply aiming to solve everything by force. It was a delicate, subtle, and troublesome problem.
"...Though it is unavoidable that Lord Marcel is not here, it is a bit lonely," Earl Shuvalov muttered softly.
Since the troubles at the faction boundaries involved armed clashes, Earl Marcel—the head of the foremost martial house in the northwest—had joined these skirmishes after being asked for assistance by multiple noble houses.
It seemed the Marcel family had established kinship ties with the nobles of the southernmost part of the northwest for such times, and they were intervening at the razor's edge under the public pretext of "assisting relatives in a pinch."
Even now, he was likely stationed near the border with the southwest, preparing for territorial encroachments by southwest nobles. Attending the banquet in his stead was his eldest son, who had also attended Noein's wedding last year.
Incidentally, Baron Oggoren, whose territory was located toward the south within the northwest and was thus caught up in this chaos, was also absent from the banquet. For Noein, this was personally lonely.