Episode 97: Transport and concerns
I just returned from the Heartout country.
I handed over some dried fruit as a souvenir to Honneth, who was house-sitting, and told him about the situation so that he could help me with my future work.
“It looked like he was going to make a lot of money, but he ended up bartering things, which is very Senpai-like.”
“How do you say it looks like me? But in the end, I think this exchange was a success.”
“Why is that?”
"First of all, in exchange for the lump sum money to make the bronze equipment, I received a large amount of charcoal and firewood. Now I can work as a blacksmith even in winter this year."
"I see. By bartering, does that mean I don't have to worry about fuel for the rest of my life?"
“It will be in exchange for weapons, so it will take about ten years.”
The fact that they no longer need to worry about fuel, which is consumed heavily in blacksmithing work, will have a major impact on the prosperity of the Roccia region.
There are few countries where blacksmithing can be practiced on a large scale, so weapons and tools are in short supply in this world. If the Roccia region taps into that vacant demand, they will be much closer to paying off their debt to the empire.
If we think of it as an upfront investment for that purpose, it won't be much of a burden to compensate the Hartout country for the manufacturing costs of the weapons from the account of the lord of the Rocha region.
"That's why we need to start manufacturing bronze weapons and armor. I'll let the research department's bronze team take the lead."
“They are the ones who are the most skilled at handling bronze in the Roccia region.”
I immediately issued an order and had the research department's bronze team use their agents to begin manufacturing bronze weapons and armor throughout the Rocha region.
An order from the lord during the winter season.
Normally, I would have had to decline the request due to the lack of usable fuel, but I promised to provide a large amount of fuel if I accepted the request. In addition, there is a proviso that each person is free to use any fuel left over after the ordered items have been manufactured.
It seems that the blacksmiths read this and started manufacturing with great enthusiasm.
The fact that you can use the leftover fuel freely means that you can make new works of art or use it for your home's fireplace. It seems that blacksmiths scrambled to get the orders because they could kill their winter time and also get such a big bonus.
The blacksmith's enthusiasm was also reflected in the speed of production.
All the ordered weapons and armor were delivered in just 20 days, half of the closing period.
When I inspected the products using percentage extraction, I found that they were all first-class products.
The official I assigned to receive the orders laughed bitterly at this phenomenon.
"They made a lot at once to save fuel, but they also paid attention to the quality because if they had a problem and were ordered to start over, they wouldn't have any leftover fuel."
"And you delivered it quickly so you wouldn't be accused of diversion of fuel."
What is frightening is how quickly people work when their interests and motivation match.
"Now that we have these items, let's send them to the Heartaut country right away. We have a transportation plan, right?"
“When I saw that the blacksmiths from the central capital brought the order in ten days, I thought they would be able to get it together quickly, so I made it in a hurry.I have talked to General Durva’s subordinates about the escort.”
"Since we're transporting a large amount of weapons, we can't afford for them to be stolen by powerful clans or bandits."
I received the transportation plan while evaluating that it was a reasonable selection, and went to see General Durva myself anyway.
"--So, please give me an escort mission."
When I said this while holding out the plan, General Durva looked troubled as he had his adjutant take the document.
"That's sudden. However, is it okay for me to face you?"
"Why is that?"
“The story that the Heartaut country ordered a large amount of weapons and armor from the Roccia region is already known to all folklores.”
Well, it's only natural since the blacksmiths who made the weapons and armor weren't silenced.
This decision was made based on the idea that if the Ferocony country found out that the Heartaut country had a large amount of high-quality weapons, they would think twice about going to war.
Although General Durva appreciated my idea, he seemed to have other concerns.
"There are two strategies that the country of Felocony can take here. One is to attack the country of Hartaut before the weapons and armor arrive. The other is to attack the transport convoy from the Rocha region and make them lose the weapons and armor."
"The first one is difficult. There was talk that the country of Ferocony is gathering mercenaries. It's even written in the military manual that mercenaries can't move as quickly as the regular army."
"That's right. Mercenaries are people who earn money by lending their arms for a period of time. They move slowly and try to earn as much employment as possible."
"The second concern is also difficult. The country of Ferokony and the Rocha region are on opposite sides of the country of Hartaut. In order to attack the transport convoy, we have to pass through the country of Hartaut."
I thought I was making a valid point, but General Durva shook his head.
"Let's not forget that there is an imperial territory next to us."
“Are you saying that the troops of Ferocony country will take a detour through imperial territory and appear on the border between Heartaut country and Rocha region? Isn’t that really true?”
The Empire is a dangerous, but intelligent opponent.
The country of Hartout and Ferokony have similar vegetation. In other words, just as the country of Hartaut offered us a loan because it had few attractive exports, it is clear that the country of Felocony is also a country with few exports that can earn them a lot of money.
For such an unattractive country, it is hard to believe that the Empire would take actions that would make the Roccia region, which is becoming important in the Empire by exporting white sand and handicrafts, a bad impression.
However, General Durva had a different opinion based on his many years of experience dealing with the Empire as a general of the Roccia country.
“Formally sending troops from the Ferocony country, even if it is a small number, would be a disservice to the victim country.However, if the troops insist that they are bandits, the Empire will be forced to act as a villain in its own territory. Unless you do something, you'll miss it.The Empire is a large country with a large territory, so they pretend that it's difficult to know which country each bandit has gone to.''
It was a cruel and cunning argument typical of the Empire.
However, I remembered that the original story was the reason why General Durva was reluctant to serve as an escort.
"I understand that a small raiding force is coming from Ferokony country. But if that's the case, wouldn't it be more of a problem if we don't get General Durva to escort us?"
“If I were to escort them, the export would go smoothly.”
"Then there's no problem, right?"
"No, there is one concern. It is customary that when there is an attack at the border, the export goods escort must go to a safe town to pick up the other country."
In the meantime, I can understand the reason for the example. This was probably to be on guard against the next attacker and to transport them to a safe location while keeping as many escorts as possible.
And I also understand what General Durva sees as a problem.
"Even though it's a regional army, it's a question of whether it's okay for a general to enter a city in another country."
"Yes. Depending on how you look at it, I think the Heartaut country and the Rocha region will collude and fight against the Felocony country."
“That being said, it can be used as a check on Ferocony country, right?”
"That's outrageous. If the other countries collude with each other, Ferocony will also be able to call for reinforcements. From the point of view of neighboring countries, the Empire is also considered as a potential partner."
Wow, here comes the Empire.
I see. Is it possible that the Empire could choose to overlook the Ferocony country's raiding force because it could expect profits from such maneuvers?
"It would be very troublesome for the Empire to come out. And if it's reinforcements in front of it, we can't expect the Knights to come in to help."
If you consider that a battle between two countries and one country would be unfair, it would be the right thing to do from the perspective of maintaining the balance of the war.
However, I thought about it a while ago, but it's a little hard to imagine that the Empire would come on a business trip to visit a land that has little appeal.
Then, after considering various concerns and expectations, I made a decision.
“As expected, I will leave the escort of the transport convoy to General Durva and his subordinates.”
“Even if there is a possibility that we might end up at war with the Empire?”
"There's a higher chance that it won't happen. However, if the Empire really appears, I'll declare defeat at that moment."
“Are you going to admit defeat without even fighting?”
"I know it's a bad way to say this, but if the Empire comes on a business trip, there's no way we can win. In that case, wouldn't it be better to declare defeat before the battle, since no soldiers would die, and the damage would be less? Besides, if we fought and lost... It won't turn out that way, so we can leave open the possibility that the Empire will consider us.''
"...Prince Milimos has a unique way of thinking."
“Is it really that strange to consider a good way to lose against an opponent you can’t beat?”
I don't really understand the idea of dying with the country gone, or fighting to the death to the last man out of spite.
Because I remember dying once, I truly believe that there are rivers that float as long as humans are alive.
"In any case, since the weapons and armor you've made, it's only natural that you want them to fall into the hands of the people who want them. That's why I'm entrusting General Durva and his subordinates with guarding them."
"If that's what you're saying, then I can understand it. Prince Milimos. If that's what you're thinking, please tell me first."
"Yes, General Durva was probably the one who brought up this complicated topic."
“Well, I didn’t expect the conversation to get this twisted.”
After we both agreed that it was common for conversations to go sideways, we decided to return to our respective tasks for the day.
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