124 – War Preparation (3)

After my wedding, which lasted for a week, was over, the nobles, citizens, and serfs of the estate all went back to their daily lives.

However, Count Vladimir and the delegation stayed at our estate for another 7 days under the pretext of discussing post-marriage policy.

When I feigned illness, it was as if we had all the necessary discussions… Having to stay here…

There must be a simbo that can openly dig up information about our territory.

Anyway, it’s over now, so I went back to my normal routine and started working in the office.

“Baroness Lauren, how much did the wedding cost?”

“A budget of 150,000 gold coins was consumed, and 40% of the grain stockpiled received as taxes was used.”

“It’s 150,000 gold coins, so how much do you think it would have cost if it had been prepared like this in other territories?”

Chris, who was standing next to Lauren, answered my question.

“I would have consumed 20, no, close to 300,000 gold coins.”

“The reason for the difference in cost between us and them must be sugar and the key ingredients used in various luxurious dishes.”

“Yes, over 100 tons of sugar alone were consumed in this wedding, and even the cornerstone used to make luxurious desserts such as jelly and ice cream… An unimaginable amount was consumed.”

300,000 gold coins, a huge amount of money equivalent to a year’s budget for our territory.

However, by the standards of people in this world, where the value of marriage is overwhelmingly higher than in modern times…

“For a count to get married, he has to spend a year’s budget on his estate. That much should be enough, it’s noble consumption.”

I’m going to say something like this, so even if I spent 300,000 gold coins, there is a very high possibility that Duke Architel will accept it without question.

Because, there is a culture that thinks that level is enough courtesy for the family that gives the bride and courtesy to the other party in the alliance.

However, the biggest part of the cost of this wedding was… It was a gift she had to pay in exchange for marrying a member of the royal family.

“Yes, then how much money went into the gift money and return gifts sent to His Majesty the King of the North?”

“The budget used for sweets and various luxuries presented as gifts to His Excellency Count Vladimir, His Majesty the King and nobles was 2,000 gold coins… is.”

“Then, how long did it take to make the armor and weapons I gave you to prepare for a full-scale war after I ate Akitel?”

“We sent about 20,000 pieces of armor and weapons made of iron made in the steel mill to the entire fleet of Major Braim, and 250,000 gold coins went in.”

I haven’t even received the 100,000 gold coins I was supposed to receive as a lump sum from the Maxburg guy.

No matter how much wine sales and cattle farming were prosperous Architel Duchy, it was a preparatory work, but the expenses were too painful.

Of course, I don’t have that much money, so it’s not like I’m in debt to the merchants…

I have to spend 80% of my savings so far to be able to prepare for this war…

I’ve been struggling for years to make that much money…

As long as they do this, Duke Architel and the nobles under him should be convinced of the rumors that the soon-to-be wealthy Kreutel ran out of money while working too hard to raise the family’s status.

To do that, I’ll have to put off going to borrow money from the merchants like the other nobles for the first time in a while.

“Baroness Loren, I will take Chris and Balt to Hamburg tomorrow. In the meantime, I’ll take care of the Nantes area.”

“Yes, I understand. But why are you leaving now… Don’t you still have a lot to deal with?”

“Then let’s go now. I have so many things to do, but I can’t even pay the reparations for the war with Maxburg, so I have to pretend I’m going to borrow money because I can’t cover the expenses of the war and the expenses of my marriage.”

Lauren listened to me and nodded with a displeased look.

It must have felt bad to go out pretending to borrow money from a merchant when his lord was not really in a dire situation.

If Lauren is offended by taking good care of Nantes on my behalf, I must ease her mood to repay his loyalty.

“Lauren, your son’s name was Smith, right? I know you were commissioned as a second lieutenant a year ago.”

“Yes, it is. But why… ”

“It was given to me by Balt, and I heard that his promotion to lieutenant was confirmed after this personnel announcement in recognition of his ability and achievements. Two years is a fast promotion compared to other second lieutenants from baronial families. Congratulations.”

Upon hearing this, Baron Lauren began to laugh very brightly.

I’m sure he’s thinking of bragging about his son at a banquet with other barons after his promotion is announced.

“Then I’ll be on my way. You should spread the word that I went to borrow money.”

Having said that, I left the office.

Now that you’ve spread rumors that you’re going to borrow money, you’ll have to play more fun and try to get Duke Architel to tell you this.

“Is it okay for people to wage war like this? We have to be fair and square!”

**

The day after I entrusted Lauren with the job, I immediately headed for Hamburg with a minimal escort.

Ten years ago, I had bruises on my back and hips from riding cheap carriages, but now I can move comfortably thanks to luxurious carriages.

As I was about to close my eyes and go to sleep, I heard Balt’s voice.

“Your Excellency, look. You can see the walls of Hamburg.”

Hearing that, I opened my eyes and looked out the window.

As Balt said, outside the window, I could see countless houses and people with a magnificent castle wall several meters high.

People seemed to be living decently, hardly anyone was seen wearing rags, and even the serfs had greasy faces.

Also, as if I saw a luxurious carriage like the one I rode in quite often, most people gave it a glance as if they were looking at it for a while and then passed by as if they were not interested.

It is not common to see a carriage like this in Maxburg or the Duchy of Brussels, so even the serfs and citizens look at it curiously.

After all, it is an intermediate city connecting Romania, Elaine, and France, so is it relatively common to see carriages like this?

“Your Excellency Count.”

After Balt said that, he moved to a seat across from me and continued talking.

“I came with Ella-sama before. I remember what His Excellency said on the way back then.”

“Why are you suddenly sounding like an old old man? Baltic Baron.”

“Just call me Balt. Anyway, His Excellency said this. Someday, I will make Windheim, no, Baron Creutel live as well as here.”

Sure, after selling a ton of sugar, I said that, but… You must have remembered that.

“It was. At that time, Balt, you laughed and said, ‘If you’re a young master, you can do it.’ did you say It gave me quite a bit of confidence.”

I said so, but at that time I had the conviction and confidence that I would be able to do that much no matter what I did.

However, when Balt supported me, I gained a little more courage…

Balt heard me and shook his head and said.

“Actually, at that time, I honestly thought it was the boy’s vague dream. So, in my heart, I thought that selling sugar, raising the harvest, and feeding their mouths three meals a day of porridge was the maximum the boy could do.”

Certainly, that alone was huge.

Because at that time, it was difficult for the serfs to eat two bowls of porridge a day, so just increasing it to three bowls a day…

In absolute terms, this was only possible by raising the income of the serfs by 50%.

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Maybe that’s why, even after hearing Balt’s words, he didn’t feel sad at all.

“Bald, you are not a prophet living anywhere, so how do you guess that? And that’s what most lords say when they take office, but in many cases they don’t achieve anything. No wonder you don’t believe a 15-year-old kid when he says something like that.”

“However, Your Excellency allowed the serfs to eat not three meals of porridge, but bread, pickled herring, and sometimes meat. Not only that, but he also subdued the heinous Earl of Schwein, and now he has become strong enough to fight against the Elector Count alone.”

Tears welled up in Balt’s eyes as he said that, but I pretended not to be indifferent and spoke to change the subject to another story.

“It’s because you helped me. Why are you like this today? Are you asking me to pay for the wedding when I get back?”

“Ever since I was little, he would say things like that whenever I set the mood. No, it’s just a new feeling. And it’s expected. What His Excellency will do in Hamburg this time, and what the results will be.”

I tapped Chris on the shoulder, called her, and whispered to Balt and Chris.

“From now on, we take this Hamburg without shedding a drop of blood. This is where the success or failure of the war against Akitel will depend, so be prepared.”