Chapter 17 - Chapter Seventeen: Path to Strong Soldiers
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Chapter Seventeen: Path to Strong Soldiers
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Today is the day of the meeting where the vassals gather together.
Until now, meetings were never held unless there was an emergency, but deciding that wouldn't do, Rodney had them held every other month. This first meeting is taking place today.
"Everyone, thank you for gathering. I hereby commence the First Forvas House Policy Meeting."
As Rodney declared the meeting open, Kiris placed documents before each person.
"This policy meeting consists of five vassals, Kiris who handles administrative affairs, and Sudobein, the head of the Galim Syrup workshop."
Including Rodney, eight people are gathered here.
"Then, I, Kiris, shall serve as the facilitator. Please look at the first page of the materials in your hands."
The first agenda item was the financial situation of the Forvas House.
"The debts to the Hacklehoff Trading Company and Baron Menisas have been cleared. Therefore, the only debt remaining is the 600 large gold coins we borrowed from His Excellency Count Banyusas."
Hearing that amount, a sigh escaped from the vassals.
Since the Forvas House's annual tax revenue is about 120 large gold coins, it's no wonder they sigh, as it equals five years' worth of tax revenue.
"Rodney-sama, is there any prospect of repayment?"
Rodmel, the chief vassal, asked with a stern face.
"There's no problem. Kiris will now explain that. First, listen."
"Yes, sir."
Urged by Rodney, Kiris read aloud last year's tax revenue.
The Forvas House's tax revenue consists of 50 tons of shishikamu (barley) and 70 tons of zarai (rye). Normally these are sold to merchants for cash, but this time neither has been sold.
"The reason we did not sell the shishikamu and zarai is for storage. This house has absolutely no reserves for emergencies."
In the Forvas House's warehouses, the shishikamu and zarai harvested last autumn remain stored. The amount has decreased a little from what is used for the household's table, but what the family eats is only a trivial amount.
The zarai is ground into flour and made into tekko (bread) using yeast liquid. Recently, since the village houses also said they wanted to eat delicious bread, we share a little of the yeast liquid with them.
For the shishikamu, he thought of a way to cook it without grinding it into flour. Making flour and trying to make tekko doesn't taste good. So, using memories from a previous life, he cooks shishikamu like rice, and grates down a mountain yam, similar to natural yam, to eat with it. Just the shishikamu alone is dry, but when the mountain yam is poured over it, it becomes moist. It's only salted, but Rodney thinks it is quite delicious. Also, mountain yam is nutritious, so he enjoys eating it.
"Also, starting this year, we will begin a new enterprise, and that enterprise will consume the shishikamu."
Hearing about a new industry, the vassals became restless. Kiris cleared his throat to suppress the noise, and also reported on the poll tax and commercial transaction tax.
"Cash income is 33 large gold coins and 7 small gold coins obtained from the poll tax and commercial transaction tax."
The vassals sighed again at the smallness of that amount.
"Next, I will report on the profits from the Galim Syrup workshop."
Sales of Galim Syrup are classified as income for the Forvas House, not taxes.
"Currently, monthly production is 1200 rodems. In wholesale amounts, 96 large gold coins are being produced. Also, next month two new furnaces will be added, so further production increases can be expected."
This time, voices of joy rose.
"Currently, we hold 50 large gold coins in cash, so we will not be short of funds."
If they sell Galim Syrup, one month's income becomes almost one year's tax revenue. Hearing that, the vassals nodded and showed expressions of relief.
"Now, regarding the new enterprise I mentioned earlier, the Lord-sama will explain it."
The vassals straightened their backs.
"We will make alcohol."
When Rodney announced in few words, Hortus raised his hand. Rodney permitted him to speak, and Hortus asked what kind of alcohol they would make.
"An alcohol called beer."
"Hmm, it's an alcohol I've never heard of; is it a foreign liquor?"
"That's right. Since the raw material is shishikamu, the big advantage is that we don't need to procure it."
"I see, you will use the shishikamu obtained from tax revenue. Hmm."
Rodney said he would train craftsmen to make beer. He mentioned that they might fail at first, but since sales of Galim Syrup are going well, he explained there was no problem and reassured the vassals.
"But why that bee—, beer, was it?"
"There are two reasons. The first, as I said earlier, is that we can obtain the raw material through tax revenue. The second is that there is no similar alcohol in the country. If there is no similar alcohol, we can differentiate it and set a high unit price."
The vassals were convinced by Rodney's explanation. Since they don't have the basic knowledge to think about such things, they won't deny him if he provides convincing reasons. Also, because there is the successful precedent of Galim Syrup, it was difficult to deny.
"So, can we call back Domeas from Hortus's household? I want him to work as the head of the brewery."
"Domeas, you say... I'll check on it."
"I'm counting on you."
Domeas is Hortus's second son, and he is currently working as a craftsman of Mariede (a wine-like drink) in a small town called Kerupe in the Zabalujeen Territory.
He had been working as an apprentice craftsman at a brewery in Kerupe for seven years, and last year he graduated from apprenticeship, becoming a full-fledged craftsman. Rodney intends to call that Domeas back and have him make beer.
Beer-making and Mariede-making do not follow exactly the same processes, but Rodney thought the intuition of liquor making could be applied.
"That concludes the matters of tax revenue, profits, and the new enterprise. Next are matters related to the labyrinth and the treatment of domain soldiers. Please look at page two of the materials."
Urged by Kiris, they looked through the materials.
1) We want to increase the mining volume of true ore from the Abandoned House Labyrinth.
2) We want to explore the 7th layer and beyond as well.
3) Based on the above two points, we want to improve the treatment of domain soldiers along with improving their quality.
"From the red true ore vein discovered the other day on the 4th layer, we are mining red true ore. Currently, there are 300 rodems of true ore in the warehouse. There should be other such veins. I want to discover them."
"You mean to obtain funds by acquiring true steel?"
"Not that. I intend to enhance the armament of the domain soldiers. Rodmel."
"Surely you don't mean to give true steel weapons and armor to the domain soldiers?"
"Not only the domain soldiers, but also you vassals. However, there is no blacksmith yet who can forge true ore into true steel weapons and armor, so it will be some time in the future."
Rodney was thinking of strengthening the armament of the Forvas House. There is a reason peculiar to the Dedel Territory for this.
Dedel Territory is the northernmost territory, a land with long and harsh winters. Until Rodney made and sold Galim Syrup, there was nothing that could be called an industry, and it was one of the poorest lands in the country. Because of that, the population is small. With the small population, it is difficult to gather even a few soldiers. The replacement of domain soldiers who died in the campaign with his father last year is not going well.
If they cannot be replaced, they must not be made to die. As much as possible, they should not be injured. Thinking that way, Rodney thought it better to prevent them from dying, centering on armor to protect the domain soldiers, and for the main elite forces, he wanted to give them the best possible equipment.
"As you vassals know, even when we try to recruit only 20 domain soldiers, not even half of that gather. Considering that, domain soldiers are very precious. Therefore, I thought it would be good to make the armor that protects the domain soldiers as good as possible, and not cause casualties. To that end, we will cultivate new industries to obtain abundant funds, mine a lot of true ore within the labyrinth, and make weapons and armor."
Hearing Rodney's words, the vassals realized the hardships of Lord Rodney-sama. They had thought they just had to lead the domain soldiers to collect Life Light Stones and defeat bandits, so they felt a sense of empathy.
"The reason I want to explore deeper layers beyond the 7th is that we can obtain better origin power there. By the way, from now on, I intend to have the domain soldiers actively obtain origin power as well."
"However, if we let the domain soldiers obtain origin power, it will hinder the collection of Life Light Stones for tribute."
Roxwell, who has a scar on his left cheek, asked with a stern face.
"We will do this gradually. For now, I intend to have everyone learn the origin power obtained from Selvanui on the 1st to 3rd layers. I think that will put a burden on the elite forces. Also, to motivate the domain soldiers, I intend to improve their treatment."
First, Rodney said he would raise wages.
・Domain soldiers with less than 1 year of service: 1 small gold coin per month (same as current).
・Domain soldiers with 1 to less than 5 years: 1 small gold coin and 2 large silver coins per month.
・Domain soldiers with 5 to less than 15 years: 1 small gold coin and 5 large silver coins per month.
・Domain soldiers with 15 years or more: 2 small gold coins per month.
・As a skill bonus, if they become able to explore the 4th layer, add 5 large silver coins per month.
・As a skill bonus, if they become able to explore the 5th layer, add 7 large silver coins per month.
・As a skill bonus, if they become able to explore the 6th layer, add 1 small gold coin per month.
・Domain soldiers who explore the 4th layer and beyond will be lent true steel armor.
"That will increase costs considerably, but is that acceptable?"
"Endever's concern is natural. However, with the profits from Galim Syrup, this much is within acceptable range. However, regarding the skill bonuses, I intend to set quotas."
"Hmm, this is a far better treatment than the current one. The soldiers will be motivated."
"As for the weapons and armor, we cannot improve them immediately. But the wages will apply from the next payment. As for the quotas for the 4th layer and beyond, compile the next month's results, and if they clear them, please tell everyone that they will be given the skill bonuses."
" " " " "Yes." " " " "
With these policies, the domain soldiers of Dedel Territory will proceed on the path to becoming strong soldiers. Because they can receive wages that even the domain soldiers of great noble houses cannot obtain, their loyalty to the Forvas House will increase, and they will be grateful to Rodney-sama for giving them quality weapons and armor.
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