Chapter 320 - Episode 312: Preparations for Nation-Building ①
Mid-October, Year 219 of the Royal Calendar. Having finished compiling the concrete plans for the establishment of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, Noein began explanations and meetings with various parties.
The first person he spoke with was his wife, Clara, who served as the principal of the school directly managed by the lord.
"The Grand Ducal Noeina High School... what a lovely ring to it."
"I'm glad you like it. As the name suggests, I want to expand the current school's educational system a bit more and bring it closer to the level of the high schools in the Kingdom of Rhodeberg."
In the royal capital of Lichthagen and the central cities of each region in the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, there are royal educational institutions called high schools. While some noble children, like Clara, are raised through home education, heirs in particular are often thrown into these high schools to discipline themselves away from their parents. Frederick had also attended a high school in the Marquisate of Bechtolsheim.
Furthermore, high schools open their doors to commoner families, such as retainer families and merchant houses, in exchange for a certain amount of donations. Christy had utilized this system to study at a high school in the Marquisate of Gardwin.
"However, when one speaks of the Kingdom's high schools, they are places to learn a wide range of knowledge, such as advanced arithmetic, history, agriculture, engineering, literature, and art. Whether we can provide that same level of education on our own..."
"We don't have to put together a perfect educational plan right away. Most children will likely graduate after learning basic reading, writing, and arithmetic, and touching upon the basics of various disciplines. However, I want to avoid a situation where children who wish to learn more cannot pursue advanced studies without going abroad. That is why I want to start preparing now."
Noein answered Clara, who had shown an anxious expression.
As the country becomes wealthy, more children will be liberated from labor. For such children, he wanted them to receive more advanced education over a longer period of time.
If they did not possess the power to provide higher education to their own citizens, the Grand Duchy of Arqvist would become a very fragile state. Noein believed that preparations for creating a systematic educational environment should proceed early on.
"First, you, who received a high education as a noble, I, whose knowledge is abundant only in books, and Christy, who has the experience of actually attending a high school, will take the lead in refining the educational plan to be more advanced than it is now. We will also ask for assistance from experts in each field. Eventually, we could send someone to a high school in the Kingdom to bring back the educational content."
Most likely, Eleos and others would be sent to study abroad at the high school in Lichthagen, partly to show them the wider world. At that time, he would have the children of the retainers accompany him, having several of them summarize the format and content of the lessons and report back to him. Noein had such a plan in mind.
"That way... let's see. By the time our grandchildren's generation receives an education, we will have completed an educational institution that we can confidently call a high school. Let's proceed with the plan with that mindset. After all, it's not something that can be done overnight. As a first step, I want to refine the educational system a bit more by the time the nation is founded."
"...I understand. Then, I shall begin by drafting a more advanced plan based on the current educational plan."
"Yes, please. It's not something to rush, so let's do it without overextending yourself."
Noein smiled and nodded to Clara, who looked relieved.
"Oh, and within a few years, I'll increase the budget for Clara's historical research. I'll provide funds for collecting historical materials, and if there are students who seem promising, you may use personnel costs to hire them as assistants. Let's also develop the high school's aspect as a research institution."
"Is that alright? To go that far for me."
"This kind of investment is also necessary for the long-term prosperity of the country. I intend to prepare research budgets for other areas as well, such as Edgar's agriculture, Damian's engineering, and Yuri's military science. It will be after trade becomes full-scale and tax revenues increase, but look forward to it."
"Y-yes! Thank you very much, dear."
Perhaps because her blood as a lover of learning was stirring, Clara nodded, her voice bouncing with a rare innocence.
.....
One day toward the end of October. Noein had invited Philip of the Skinner Company to the mansion and was meeting with him in the reception room.
"Sorry for the delay in calling you. I actually wanted to create a place for us to discuss this much sooner."
"Not at all. I understand that Your Excellency is a very busy man, so please do not let it concern you."
"It helps that you say so."
Noein returned a faint smile to Philip, who answered gently. Because he had been away from the territory often this year, by the time he finished clearing the accumulated duties as lord, the meeting with his purveyor merchant had ended up being at this time.
"I assume you've heard the basic gist of the matter beforehand?"
"Yes. I have heard that in arranging the trade system with the Kingdom of Rhodeberg and the Kingdom of Lancel, the Skinner Company will also be required to expand its scale... Among the current employees of the Skinner Company, there are only about five people, including the youth, who can handle business negotiations. To support the trade that is about to begin, I wish to increase this to double, or if possible, triple."
"Ten to fifteen people... certainly, that should be sufficient for the time being. The scale of trade will likely be small at first compared to the southwestern border."
Trade with the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, and trade with the Kingdom of Lancel. In addition to that, the supervision of caravans that occasionally head toward the Kingdom of Rhodeberg. Those three were the primary tasks required of the Skinner Company moving forward.
Until now, the main battlefield for trade with the Kingdom of Lancel had been the southwestern border region. At first, trade via the northern Bezel Great Forest Road would likely be limited to companies in the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg and the northeastern part of the Kingdom of Lancel. There wouldn't be a surge of merchants arriving every day for a while.
Even so, considering the scale of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, it would be a sufficiently large business, and if there were a dozen or so people capable of working as merchants in the purveyor company, it would suffice for now.
"There are currently three apprentices, so I believe they will grow into assets in the future, but as for the rest, I hope we can hire new people."
"In that case, I'll tell Clara and have her gather bright children from among the school's students and graduates... It seems Dmitri and Victor, as well as other small and medium-sized companies, are also wanting educated personnel. It might be better to create a curriculum for specializing in business and throw the applicants in there together."
"That is an excellent plan. Please, allow me to assist as an educator as well."
The future Grand Duchy of Arqvist would need more merchants. Philip offered his cooperation in response to Noein's sudden idea based on that fact.
"That would be a help. I'll let the Skinner Company know after consulting with Clara regarding the specifics. As early as this month."
Philip was now a veteran merchant. If he could help as an educator, the cultivation of the next generation of merchants would be completed quickly. Noein thought that the shortage of merchants would be improved in the not-too-distant future.
After that, the discussion continued to summarize future policies regarding closer cooperation between the Arqvist family and the Skinner Company, and various preparations for the start of full-scale trade.
Once the general discussion was finished, Noein asked one last thing.
"...Now, changing the subject. Once I have an independent country as the Grand Duke of Arqvist, the Skinner Company, as our purveyor company, will bear an even greater responsibility. The environment surrounding you will also change. How about it, how is your confidence?"
"Indeed, to be given such a grand stage for activity, I believe it is the height of bliss to be a purveyor company. The development of the Arqvist territory... no, the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, is synonymous with the development of this company. Your Excellency's joy is our joy."
To Noein's testing tone, Philip answered with a perfect merchant's smile. There might have been some nervousness inside, but he didn't let it be felt in the slightest. It was a perfect score response.
"That is exactly what befits a purveyor merchant of the Arqvist family. Let's continue to have a good relationship, walking the path of mutual prosperity."
"Yes. I humbly request your continued favor for a long time to come."
.....
As November arrived and the air gradually approached winter, the Arqvist territory was in the midst of a construction rush.
At the start of the year, immigrants from the royal lands would be sent in batches of two hundred. Since all of them were from the poor laboring class, the houses being built were simple, but the sheer number was significant.
To prepare for the acceptance of immigrants, in addition to the personnel of Dmitri's construction company, a large number of residents wishing to earn extra income during the agricultural off-season were mobilized as laborers, and new houses were being built at a terrifying pace on vacant lots within the capital city of Noeina.
In the midst of this, Noein had called Dmitri to the mansion's reception room for a meeting.
"Sorry for calling you while you're busy."
"Not at all. As for the practical side of house construction, I don't even need to supervise the site myself anymore; my younger brothers can handle it. There ain't no problem."
When Noein spoke apologetically, Dmitri laughed generously and shook his head.
"I'm glad to hear that. I've inspected the site a few times myself, and it seems construction is progressing even faster than I first heard."
"That's right. The bad harvests and the war are over, and the world's settled down. Seems there were a lot of farmers with too much time on their hands. Even I didn't think that many laborers would gather."
"Hahaha. Well, as long as it's going smoothly, that's the main thing... At this rate, I thought we might be able to start on the next development around the start of the year. That's why I called you."
"The next development... the urbanization of Aspida Fortress?"
"Yes, that's the matter."
If the movement of people with the Kingdom of Lancel became active, the importance of maintaining the Bezel Great Forest Road and guarding the border would increase. Soldiers tasked with managing that side, such as Radley, Rick, and Jeremy, would be tied to Aspida Fortress more than ever before.
If that were the case, it would be more efficient to build a small town around the eastern side of the fortress, build houses for them, and have them live there with their families. By having farmers and merchants who support the lives of the soldiers and their families live there as well, and conducting trade with the merchants of the Kingdom of Lancel there, they could turn it into a fortress city.
Distributing the domestic population would reduce various risks. By moving people, some houses and land could be freed up within the capital city of Noeina. If most Lancel merchants were stopped at the fortress city, peace would be maintained in terms of public order and national sentiment. There were many merits.
"By the time the nation is founded next year, I want to at least have the residential area for the national army soldiers and the functions as a trade hub in place. If the plan can be moved forward, I want to do so."
"Understood. Since it looks like it'll be a big job, I'll supervise the Aspida Fortress side directly."
"Thank you, you're a great help. You'll also be handling the construction for the expansion of the pioneer villages, so I'm putting you through a lot of hardship."
To prevent the domestic population from concentrating too much in the capital city of Noeina, Noein intended to expand the scale of the four existing pioneer villages and increase the number of immigrants living there. This also served the purpose of not relying solely on farmland around the capital city of Noeina for food production bases, but dispersing them throughout the country.
In carrying out such projects, the power of carpenters like Dmitri was indispensable. Proceeding with development in the capital, Aspida Fortress, and the pioneer villages simultaneously would be the largest job they had ever undertaken.
"Hahahaha! If anything, I'm the one who wants to thank you. A beastman carpenter from the frontier, now entrusted with such a huge job as the personal craftsman of Your Excellency, who is raising a new country. There ain't no luckier story than this. My life'll surely be passed down to future carpenters."
"Ahaha, you're right. You'll surely become a legendary carpenter... This is also an honor you seized for yourself, having decided to migrate to this land when it was still nothing more than a small village."
"I'm proud of myself for offering to migrate back then. From that day until now, always. That won't change in the future either."
To the grinning Dmitri, Noein returned a smile.