Chapter : 20

I thought everything was going smoothly.

But of course, problems always arise at times like these.

Not long after that incident, the guild members in the city began to resist in an organized manner.

“My Lord, the city's weaponsmith guild has announced that they will no longer be supplying goods. Do you happen to know what this is all about?”

“Meeeh~ I can't get any candles for mass! The price of candles in the capital city of Bellua is skyrocketing. Merrr!”

“The city of Markel has notified us that they will postpone tax payments until the subjugation of the bandits near the city is complete, my Lord.”

The vassals cried out as if screaming at the sudden turn of events.

Some of the high-quality goods produced in the city were not easily replaceable.

This was especially true for things like the armor used by knights and the high-quality candles used for mass.

'These guys are being quite clever.'

If they had done this with food or daily necessities, the situation would have been very different. That would have angered the poor and small merchants of the city.

But the items mentioned now were different.

They were all high-quality goods.

Things that were sold only to nobles.

It was an attack that would reduce their profits, but it would at least quell the backlash from the city's citizens, their base of support.

'And it's a pretty big blow to me.'

If this situation continued, in the eyes of the nobles, I would become an incompetent lord who couldn't even control a bunch of merchants.

Honestly, I was expecting a one-dimensional response, so this was unexpected.

The city council was certainly different, even if they were medieval people.

“For now, I will take measures to supply the goods you gentlemen need through other external merchant guilds.”

“External merchant guilds, you say?”

“Meeeh-! They're already expensive, and they'll get even more expensive! Merrr!”

“Hmm…. Then the price will skyrocket….”

Usually, such goods were supplied through traders under exclusive contracts with the nobles.

Therefore, if they suddenly had to trade through external merchant guilds, the price would often double.

“Enough, enough!”

As the meeting hall grew noisy, I tapped the table with my hand.

“I will take full responsibility for that. So for now, procure them through external merchants. Treasurer Palmer, investigate the nobles who have been affected by this and compensate them for any amount exceeding the average price.”

“Understood, my Lord.”

Once I said I would cover the costs, even the noisy vassals eventually backed down without complaint. I watched them and let out a sigh.

'I need to make a move quickly.'

This was not a fundamental solution. It was just a stopgap measure.

If this went on, I didn't know what kind of decisions the councils of each city would make.

'The worst-case scenario would be colluding with external lords.'

Of course, they wouldn't be able to do that carelessly. It was no different from treason. If that happened, it would be difficult to get the support of the city's citizens, and the justification for the issue would shift to me.

'So that will only happen when they are cornered. Not yet.'

But raising an army without a second thought was not a good idea either.

The main point of contention now was that I had infringed upon the profits of the city guild members through the poorhouse factory.

If I raised an army without any discussion, all the members of the city would turn their backs on me.

Therefore, what I could do was, in a way, already decided.

“Treasurer Palmer. What is the current market situation at Fort Proven?”

“Hmm, it's quite prosperous. Its fame is gradually spreading to other regions, and long-distance traders are starting to come in.”

“That's a relief. It means we have a foundation to expand the scale.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

The method I had in mind was simple.

To make the city itself wither and die.

There are many reasons why a city prospers, but ultimately, it's because that area is one of the main trade routes.

Therefore, I planned to artificially change that trade route.

'Of course, it won't be as easy as it sounds.'

If I suddenly told them to abandon the existing trade route, which merchant guild would follow?

Humans are naturally drawn to what is familiar. But the story would be different if I gave them a benefit that was enough to make them abandon that familiarity.

“I mean to expand the free market at Fort Proven. Tell the surrounding merchant guilds.

From now on, external merchant guilds that participate in the free market will be exempt from various tolls.

The only tax they will have to pay is the transaction tax within the market.”

The tedious taxes that had to be paid every time one went in and out of the domain.

There was a tax for crossing a bridge, a tax for passing through the domain, and a tax for entering the city gates. But I planned to abolish them all.

“Th, then the tax revenue will decrease…. Will that be alright?”

“Instead, the tax we get from the market will increase, so it's fine.”

History has proven that a free market ultimately brings in more revenue than excessive taxes.

Therefore, despite Treasurer Palmer's concerns, I was not worried.

It was also a method I had used when playing as the Bellua Margrave in [Pangea Universalise].

But I wanted to go one step further.

It was because the city council's actions were so outrageous.

'I deliberately didn't establish factories for key interests like weapons workshops or textiles, considering their complaints. How dare they?'

Currently, the goods being produced at the poorhouse factory were mainly simple daily necessities for the common peasants.

Cheap items like farm tools and woodcrafts.

They were far from the high-priced goods that were the main source of profit for the city guilds.

And yet, they were resisting me in such an organized manner because of their greed?

'I have to teach them a lesson.'

On this point, I have to fight fire with fire and give them a good scolding.

Since it has come to this, even if I placate the common citizens of the city, I needed to crush the power of the upper class by making them fall economically.

Thinking so, I immediately called for Captain Konrad.

“You called-! Human Lord.”

“Yes, Captain Konrad. About your Dwarf friends. Do you happen to know any Dwarves who are skilled in weaponsmithing or machine making?”

“Hmm…. Are you asking for a relocation again? Human Lord. There are many friends with outstanding skills, but as I said last time, our concept of residence is different from humans. It is not easy to persuade them who have put down roots and are living their lives.”

“Ah. That's not what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to hire them.”

At that, Captain Konrad scratched his head with an embarrassed expression.

“I misunderstood. I apologize, Human Lord.”

“Don't mention it. It was understandable, so don't worry about it.”

“But why do you need Dwarf artisans? Human Lord.

Dwarf artisans have high pride and don't usually come out for trivial jobs. They're eccentric friends.”

As expected of a race of artisans, their pride is incredibly high.

But on the other hand, I also understood.

In [Pangea Universalise], the Dwarf race was one of the few races that preserved the legacy of the glorious ancient empire.

In particular, they possessed a level of technology that surpassed that of ordinary medieval people.

“I know. That's why I'm asking for a favor. I'm trying to make a slightly complicated and sophisticated machine this time.”

As I said that, I showed a document to Captain Konrad.

A mechanical device based on water power.

It wasn't a detailed blueprint, but it roughly contained the principles and structure that went into it. It was the 'item' I had been preparing to lure the Dwarf artisans.

“Oh? What is this? A very sophisticated mechanical device.”

“You know the factory that operates at the poorhouse, right? This is a mechanical device that will go in there. A kind of automation device.”

“Hoh. I'm just a swordsman, so I don't know exactly what you're talking about... but this seems like something the village's hammer-wielders would really like, don't you think? Human Lord.”

It was a positive reaction.

I asked Captain Konrad with a sense of anticipation.

“Is that so? Is this enough to pique their interest?

For your information, I have several conceptual diagrams of mechanical devices like this that haven't been made yet. What do you think? Is it possible?”

At that, Captain Konrad thumped his chest with his fist and laughed.

“Of course, it is. Don't you worry, Human Lord. They'll flock to something like this. I'll contact the village at once!”

* * *

What I wanted to make through the Dwarf artisans was a kind of automated machine that used water power.

I was trying to change the factory system, which had been done by hand until now, to a mechanized, automated process.

Although it would be inferior to modern factories that run on steam or electricity, even this would show an overwhelming production capacity compared to the medieval city guilds that produce through a cottage industry and apprentice system.

And if I went a step further and introduced the Ford automobile's conveyor belt system?

'It's a little early, but it's the beginning of a kind of industrialization.'

Once I started to let them taste modern production engineering that was far ahead of its time, the city's artisans wouldn't be able to keep up.

Of course, I had no intention of making enemies of all of them.

'It would be troublesome to make everyone an enemy.'

If that happened, all the citizens of the city would surely unite and oppose me.

There was a risk that they would join hands with external forces, especially the king or the Grand Duke of Bourgogne.

That's why I had to thoroughly divide them.

'Although the city's administration is decided by the council, they can't ignore the opinions of the guild members below them.'

No matter how powerful the guild masters who run the large workshops and the merchant guilds were, the absolute majority was made up of ordinary citizens and small merchants.

If they questioned the council's policy decisions, the council would naturally lose its power.

'I have to win back their support first.'

After finishing my thoughts, I immediately called for Chamberlain Hamil.

“From now on, the poorhouse factories will be required to hire artisans as supervisors. Any artisan who is qualified will be hired, and I will be responsible for their livelihood. So post a notice in the domain to recruit artisans.”

The reason why the city's citizens were currently supporting the council was just one.

It was because the goods produced at the poorhouse factories were threatening the livelihoods of small-scale artisans.

Therefore, if I solved this problem, the city's citizens would turn their backs on the council.

Sure enough.

As soon as my notice to hire them with a fairly large salary went out, the small-scale artisans who had been resisting changed their minds and began to knock on the doors of my factory.

I couldn't accept everyone, but a good number of artisans became workers who received a salary from my factory.

Then, they began to publicly criticize the council in the city to protect the factory that had now become their livelihood.

The council's position, which had been trying to unite the city's public opinion to resist me, became awkward. They tried to calm the internal public opinion of the city by any means, but it was not easy.

It was because I was secretly supporting the protests of the artisans who had become workers.

[Insidious Stratagem!]

[Prestige increases by 3.]

[You receive a Stratagem correction.]

[Meticulous Planner Trait activates!]

[Your stratagem will be activated more powerfully, and the city will fall into chaos.]

Now, the city council's resistance was facing a new phase.