158 – Prepare for all-out war (2)

In my words, my father, who had the most say in this, said with a straight face.

“To mobilize 220,000 people… It seems that His Majesty the Emperor has made up his mind and is conducting an expedition. And the majority of these troops will be filled with obscure lords who have shown no loyalty to the Emperor like us… It must have been a lot of sacrifice… And in a war like this, blood will be shed, and the credit will be earned by the lords who are close to His Majesty the Emperor. If that happens, Dongbu will do the trick, and the money will be wiped out by the guys in the center.”

The other barons nodded as if they agreed.

“Already, the Akitel region wasn’t stable… If His Majesty is already like this, won’t it be really hard for us too?”

“If a self-proclaimed empire neither sacred nor inherited Romanian legitimacy runs amok, our borders may be in danger. In particular, the Duchy of Pappenheim is strange.”

“If so, how many soldiers should we send out?”

At least, since the Romanian Empire is currently straining to pay for the construction of the cathedral built by the Papal States, there won’t be any big problems.

Even if they do come, at least it will come after some time has passed since the Elain Empire will face off against Franchi.

Because, if we are attacked, the emperor has no choice but to pour the soldiers and supplies he prepared during the French expedition to the Romanian front to save me, his vassal.

And in about two years, although it is ambiguous to use it as the main force of the attack, reserve forces that can be used enough as a defense force will pour out of the territory… You don’t need to worry too much.

“First of all, we will be dispatched two years after the recruitment and training of soldiers at Akitel ends. 30,000 troops will advance, and 20,000 will be mobilized to defend the territory.”

“If the Architel region is stabilized, it will be able to handle 50,000 standing soldiers, but… Your Excellency Marquis… Isn’t the military service imposed on us about 20,000? But why are you taking 30,000? ”

It is a loss from a piecemeal point of view to carry out the military service beyond that imposed on this expedition, but from a long-term point of view, it is beneficial to mobilize a large number of troops even at a slight loss.

First of all, our Emperor is now suspicious of all nobles, including me.

In a situation like this, if only the number of soldiers assigned to military service were mobilized, the emperor would think this on his own.

‘Ah, that guy doesn’t want to be loyal to me, so he only fulfills the military service he imposed… . I have to write my name on the purge note.’

On top of that, if I gather 30,000 people, the other nobles have no choice but to mobilize more troops accordingly.

Because, this kind of war is also a place to prove one’s loyalty by the number of soldiers who mobilized.

If you’re not from a family like me who doesn’t mind losing a bit in the loyalty competition, you’ll do your best to gain the emperor’s favor.

If that happens, I will be able to inflict more damage to other nobles than I do.

In addition, as the number of soldiers belonging to the Eastern District Army increases, the possibility of success of this expedition increases, so it is a good thing.

However, no matter how much it is in front of the vassals, there is no need to say that it is because the emperor is suspicious of me.

“To prove our loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor, and to mobilize more soldiers than were imposed on other lords to join our military service. After this meeting, we were charged 20,000, and if we report to mobilize 30,000… In order not to lose in the loyalty competition, they might try to fulfill their military service twice, maybe even three times. If you use that force to attack Franchi, your team will have a better chance of winning.”

“It’s because His Excellency the Marquis handled the soldiers so well. Originally, in most wars, it is advantageous to have more troops… ”

Following that, the other barons also spoke in admiring voices.

“In the first place, even other nobles are our competitors. Also, they will keep us in check after this war… You’d even think about taking the energy out of it.”

“And if it’s 20,000, maybe not, but if it’s 30,000… It is a number that can be maintained, managed, and defended after occupying a county the size of Nantes… Even if our forces are defeated, we can expand our territory by planting a flag in one county and enduring the war… ”

“As expected, the Marquis of Creutel is disrespectful… If you just follow this person… The well-being of the family will be guaranteed… ”

I just said that if Baron Crescent had 30,000 people, he would be able to defend himself by eating one county if he just planted a flag and held on…

If only the cannons I’m making now can operate more than 50… You will be able to win a big victory by fighting an army twice as large in attack and five times as large in defense.

Because, with a bit of exaggeration, there are even stories of slaughtering dozens of soldiers advancing in dense formation with a single cannon shot.

If you shove knights into such a broken line, the enemy soldiers will be shattered like bamboo split in half.

Of course, it’s only possible if the number of cannons I want comes out…

“And after all the grain coming in next year’s tax is stored without selling, the food will be used as provisions for the soldiers of the Western District Army when they go out next year. Also, the barons appropriately hire the spearmen, clowns, and minstrels in the estate… Report to me by the month of September next year. After that, I’ll make sure there are no spies in it.”

Everyone seemed to understand the story of not selling grain, but stockpiling it and using it for food for the Western Army, but when I was suddenly told to hire prostitutes, clowns, and minstrels, everyone looked at me with puzzled faces.

Well, I would go crazy if my lord suddenly respected me told me to hire prostitutes, clowns, and minstrels to create entertainment for use in war.

However, it is unclear whether this war will succeed or fail… You should make a profit from this as well.

That way, if you succeed, you’ll hit the jackpot, and if you fail, you’ll be able to give enough rewards to the soldiers and nobles who went to war and made achievements.

I spoke in a calm voice to reassure them first.

“Securing provisions does not, of course, mean that we hand over grain to them for free. Rather, it was to make a huge profit by taking care of the transportation to the battlefield. Also, hiring clowns and minstrels… It is to provide entertainment and alcohol to the friendly lords who participate as allies, so that the soldiers’ salaries are in our hands.”

He nodded his head as if he understood everything.

“In particular, this war is a battle involving over 70,000 soldiers. So, a huge amount of food and supplies will be consumed in this war. In particular, in war, the rarity of the item increases several times. That’s what we use to fill the role of goddamned main traders. And so far, it’s been a fight between our army and the enemy, and I’ve been sacrificing myself and running it at a loss instead of the main reward… Isn’t it now?”

And in actual history, Jubo merchants have made huge profits by selling their products.

Usually, the minimum city price is 5 times the basic price, and there are cases where a bad tempered merchant sold food and goods at 50 times the price using the difficulty and danger of transportation as an excuse.

Even so, the main merchants were able to prosper for a long time with the merit of satisfying the difficulties of supply and the entertainment of soldiers.

Of course, because I didn’t want to overcompensate my soldiers…

I did business at double the price based on the city closest to the battlefield, but there is no need to show such mercy to those who are not soldiers under my command.

Also, since those guys became barons anyway, unlike before, when they go to war, they have to pay for part of the armament themselves…

I need to fill that up, so let me lose a little more.

“I will run all the main compensation merchants for allies, and in the case of the main compensation merchants for allies, I use the top of the Hamburg councilor Margherita to build a justification for providing services at a higher price. And half of the profits from Margherita’s company will be shared equally with you.”

40,000… No, since I increased the number of soldiers, maybe 50% of the income earned by the main compensation merchant operating for a large army of over 60,000…

With a little exaggeration, this should be enough for one to two years of income for a modest county.

With that money, the barons will be able to cover some of the war expenses consumed in this war.

“So, you guys do your best to prepare for this war. Also, as soon as guns are made at the weapon workshop, supply them to the soldiers in each province immediately. Before marching, 30% of all troops must be able to handle guns freely.”