Chapter : 140

“It is inefficient.”

When I asked for advice on building fortresses for defense, the answer was negative.

Sir Biden, Captain Konrad, and even the elf knights all thought the same.

“It will be difficult to see much effect if you scatter them like that.”

“That is correct. Human Lord. Didn’t the old empire to the east already demonstrate that? Fortresses with few troops find it hard to show meaningful defense. For a fortress to show power befitting a fortress, it needs at least a thousand men. Sniff.”

“You mean it would be more efficient to stay together rather than dispersing pointlessly.”

I nodded at my vassals’ words.

Furthermore, except for the eastern part of the territory, it was all vast plains. If I clumsily dispersed troops and stationed them in fortresses, there was a high possibility they would be defeated one by one by the pushing enemy attack.

“How about training cavalry on a large scale even now? Reducing the number of infantry a little and organizing about 1,000 heavy cavalry like Count Bozen seems sufficient.”

“That is right! Human Lord. Nothing can match the mobility of cavalry.”

“Your Excellency. Rather than increasing the infantry to be stationed, it would be better to call more of our noble elves. Those insignificant humans’ terrible…. Ah, apologies. Since Your Excellency is different from those humans. Haha.”

“…….”

There was a somewhat strange(?) opinion at the end, but it was still understandable.

There were reasons and logic to it all. Why else would they have organized cavalry-focused units under the feudal system in the [Pangea Universalise] era?

Everyone must have racked their brains and concluded it was efficient.

“Hmm….”

However, that didn’t mean I could reduce infantry and increase cavalry drastically.

The flow of the battlefield was developing in a direction where the role of infantry was expanding. Especially since small lords were being absorbed and huge territories were being born, this was even more so.

War was no longer the exclusive property of a few elite groups but was moving towards a battle of scale.

And considering the situation after the [Great Famine], large-scale training of infantry was essential.

Then, the answer was ultimately decided.

What Captain Konrad said just a moment ago.

Mobility.

That was what was important.

It couldn’t be as fast as cavalry, but wouldn’t it be okay if I maximized the mobility of the infantry?

At least in defensive warfare.

As far as I knew, the Roman army marched over 40 kilometers a day.

Through well-made roads.

‘If done well, it might be possible?’

Anyway, I had to connect roads between major cities to vitalize the relay market.

Since I was making them this time, it didn’t seem bad to make them large and sturdy for military use.

‘Besides, for manpower, I can just set up poorhouses in Count Bozen’s territory and accommodate the poor.’

In this era, starving poor people were everywhere, so if I gave them food and money, I could easily find people to work.

Thinking a little differently provided a very clear answer.

“How about we work together for once?”

Thanks to that, I was able to ask my vassals with a much brighter expression.

Of course, they….

“……?”

Looked as if I was about to cause trouble again, though.

* * *

Fortunately, the vassals who heard my opinion about building roads to increase mobility only expressed concern that the enemy might also use those roads, but had no particular complaints.

No, rather, they liked it.

After all, 3,000 infantry and 200 knights.

It meant recruiting a large force exceeding 3,000.

Although there was the inconvenience of having to pave roads in their respective assigned areas in their spare time, it was something that increased their authority.

There was no military commander who would refuse this.

So, I immediately divided the troops into three.

I divided the infantry into 2,000, 2,000, and 3,000 respectively and deployed them to each key point, and decided to prepare the 700 knights as a reserve force in the main castle.

It was a defense plan where if a large-scale enemy attack occurred, the cavalry force would support first, followed sequentially by the infantry.

Now, all that remained was for them to complete the roads on time.

“Are there any difficulties with the construction?”

“Fortunately, there aren’t many large rocks in the ground, so it’s easy. We are also receiving gravel to pave the roads through the quarries in Count Bozen’s territory.”

“Oh…!”

I was inwardly worried, but that’s a relief.

Unlike Korea, where hard granite abounds just by digging a little, it seems there’s nothing like that here.

They say the pickaxe goes in deep every time they strike.

Of course, this also meant the ground was a bit weak, but that was a problem that could be solved to some extent by putting in stones and compacting it anyway.

Moreover, this wasn’t all.

“Merchants want to participate in the road construction?”

Merchants, who knew the convenience of roads well, had voluntarily participated.

“Yes. Lord. Since it is a road they also use, they said they would share a certain portion of the cost.”

“Hoho….”

Indeed, one should live kindly. Isn’t that why such fortune rolls in like vines?

‘Hmm, it’s smooth. Very smooth.’

Thanks to that, I was satisfied that things were rolling along more smoothly than I thought.

With abundant overflowing manpower, and merchants even supporting funds, the construction of the road network was bound to be smooth sailing.

‘With this, the road problem seems to be roughly progressing….’

Looking at how things were going, it seemed it would be completed on its own without needing separate attention. Of course, I would have to inspect it once in a while.

‘Fortunately, other things are also working out well.’

It was true.

Through Treasurer Palmer’s day-and-night special work, the customs union treaty was somewhat established in the southern region, and the issue of subjugating the Arhen Mountains could be resolved through Captain Konrad, who had connections with the Canton Confederation.

Although it was used as bait to hook the feudal vassals’ rebellion and Count Bozen, the subjugation of the Arhen Mountains was done together with the Canton Confederation.

Saying they couldn’t do it now?

It was like throwing the face of the Canton Confederation, which had gone to the trouble of organizing an army, into a cesspool. Doing such a thing when one more ally was needed would truly be a catastrophe.

If not for Captain Konrad’s mediation, it would have been quite a difficult situation.

‘Besides, I could solve it with more generous conditions than I thought.’

They said I only needed to provide material support related to supplies for the rest, with half the number of soldiers originally agreed to be mobilized.

A proposal at a level that was not burdensome for me.

There was no reason to refuse.

“Send an envoy to the Canton Confederation. That we will gladly fulfill the promise in accordance with our friendship.”

At the same time, I immediately executed funds, organized an army, and proceeded with the subjugation of the Arhen Mountains again.

With this, all that remained was waiting for Chamberlain Hamil, who was dispatched as a special envoy to the Holy See, and contacting the Duke of Bourgogne to break the pressure of the King of Elang.

Since the Duke of Bourgogne had a suspicious nature, I thought Chamberlain Hamil would bring the Holy See’s reply first.

But then….

“Lord. Lord Gertman, the second son of the Duke of Bourgogne, has arrived.”

Somehow, the heavy-bottomed one moved first.

* * *

‘Unexpected.’

To think the Duke of Bourgogne would send a plenipotentiary first. I never imagined he would send his second son, Lord Gertman, outside.

“Nice to meet you. Your Excellency.”

“Nice to meet you too. Lord Gertman. Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you, I have been well.”

Lord Gertman, seen after a long time, was unchanged. Still slender unlike a noble, he looked like an administrative official to anyone.

But there was something different.

His eyes.

‘Unlike before, there is strength in his eyes.’

When I first met him, he was somewhat passive and visibly gloomy, but now he looked quite smart and confident.

“So, what brings you here? Is the Duke of Bourgogne trying to deliver good news to me?”

Then Lord Gertman shook his head.

“Father, no, the Duke of Bourgogne wishes for a proper explanation regarding this matter.”

“Explanation? What explanation?”

“Isn’t it virtually an act of usurping a count’s title? Your Excellency. The Duke expresses deep concern about this, and said that as the head of the noble faction, he will not overlook it if there is no proper explanation.”

Oh my. He came out strongly from the very beginning, more than I expected. But I knew well that was a bluff.

I knew through Baron Pierre that negotiations with the King were not going well.

Making threats like that now was a scheme to extract as much as possible from me.

“Hmm, is that so?”

Therefore, I smiled faintly and continued speaking.

“Does the Lord happen to know? While investigating the rebellion of my feudal vassals, suspicious letters came out. Letters stamped with the seal of the Duke of Bourgogne.”

“…….”

Then Lord Gertman’s face twitched for a moment.

But only for a moment.

Lord Gertman continued speaking calmly.

“Some bold bastards must have stolen the family seal. If you inform us, we will deal with it immediately.”

“Hmm…. They said the northern accent was evident even in the intonation of those who supported the funds?”

“The north is wide and there are many people. There is no reason it must be someone from the Ducal family.”

In a way, it was a very shameless statement, but Lord Gertman spoke without change. Indeed, he was like a child of the Duke of Bourgogne’s family, the best schemers on the continent.

Even though he must know all the facts, to show no change like that.

“Well, that is true.”

Eventually, I nodded and took a step back. After all, what I intended to do was not to get an admission that it was the Duke of Bourgogne’s doing through this.

‘No. Actually, even if admitted, it’s useless.’

What good would it do to attack with this right now? Rather, he might get angry, join hands with the King, and strike me.

“I think it is very sad to see people who should often join hands being used by others for trivial reasons.”

Therefore, there was another reason why I brought this up.

“Look even now. The King did all the dirty work, but the ones fighting right now are actually me and His Excellency the Duke of Bourgogne. Two nobles, aren’t we?”

“……?”

“Wouldn’t someone of the King’s level be bold enough to forge your family’s seal?”

Upon saying this, Lord Gertman seemed to understand what I was trying to say.

“Come to think of it, the King’s directly-managed lands are also originally in the north.”

“That is correct. And there are even letters sent to my feudal vassals and evidence of contact with officials under the King. If necessary, I intend to step forward and testify myself.”

It was the [Pangea Universalise] era where if you had power, you could enforce both evidence and the result of a trial.

But the victim, me, and the powerful authority, the Duke of Bourgogne, uniting with one mind and purpose?

No matter if it was the King, he could not easily escape this problem.

So the proposal I made was actually simple.

Let’s break the board, join hands with me, and attack the King.

Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to bite the most substantial competitor, the King, rather than crushing me, another force that was just starting to grow?

And with me becoming a hunting dog that listens well personally.

“However, isn’t this ultimately only good for Your Excellency the Margrave?”

“Only good for me?”

“That is correct. What benefit would my father gain?”

“What else could it be? The strongest ally to help achieve the long-cherished wish of the Ducal family. Gaining that.”

The long-cherished wish of the Ducal family.

To form an independent kingdom.

Knowing the Duke of Bourgogne’s fervent desire, Lord Gertman could never refuse this proposal.

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