162 – Ready for all-out war (6)

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Margherita has already said with her own mouth that she will become her vassal, so from now on you must follow my will in any situation.

But they are different from the other vassals working under my command. Their power base is not the wealth or territory that I bestowed upon them.

So no one can tell when he will break away from my command if the numbers are wrong or if circumstances change.

So, in order to pamper them safely…

At this opportunity, like the other vassals, I need to make her into a body that cannot live apart from my command.

And just as it happens, I have a delicious chunk of meat to throw at the greedy Margherita family and the city of Hamburg.

“If someone from another family had come from Hamburg and asked to be spared because he would suddenly become my vassal, I wouldn’t have believed him either. However, when other families hesitated, you came first and swore allegiance. So, of course, give it a chance.”

“Your Excellency Marquis… Thank you so much for saving me.”

At that, I replied with a smile.

“I haven’t yet decided what to do, and I haven’t declared that you guys can survive. I’m just giving you a chance to repay the loyalty the Margherita family showed you in the past.”

“Your Excellency, Marquis, our family will never betray the favor and trust you have bestowed on us. So, isn’t it the same as saving us already?”

Well, the job I entrust to them this time is something that can succeed unconditionally as long as you don’t make a big mistake.

Because what they had to do was to use the power of the upper ranks under their command to sell the food of the Marquis of Creutel to the lords of the Elaine Empire.

Even now, all the lords of the Elaine Empire are preparing for war, so the demand for food has soared, and the supply is not keeping up at all.

In such a situation, there is no need to worry about whether or not there will be demand in the area to be sold, or to secure a sales channel like other transactions.

If you just pick up something and take it, the lords and other merchants who are anxious to secure food will buy it for you.

There’s no way they’ll ruin the deal unless they’re openly messing around, or suddenly dope and burn a cart full of grain.

“Let me believe you who showed good results in the last herring and wine trade. Then I will give you an order.”

“Please tell me.”

“Sever all trade with Romania, except for luxury items such as sugar and various musical instruments, and high-quality ingredients, and transport all food left over in our territory to the Eline Empire for sale. can you do it?”

Upon hearing this, Margherita immediately put on a puzzled expression and asked back.

“Your Excellency knows better than me, but… Food is always in unstable demand. So sometimes there are cases of selling wheat or barley to make a profit of 2 or 3 times, but if you miss the timing, you will get half the price of the purchase. Wouldn’t it happen that you have to sell it for less than half the price?”

“There are a lot of cases like that. In fact, when I was ruling Windheim, I heard rumors that there was a bad harvest in Baron Pyle, so I brought wheat.

At that time, I had barely started making and selling sugar from sugar beets, so I didn’t have the time to spare like I do now.

So, in order not to lose money, I had no choice but to go to the estate of Baron Gentry under the Duke of Brussels and sell it.

I can fully understand the psychology of the guy who opposes the grain business because of that experience.

Of course, it’s annoying to raise objections stiffly in a situation where you have to bow down unconditionally…

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Just like giving a dog a bone to tame it, if you give a huge profit through this food trade, it will grow on its own.

“However, this time there is nothing to lose. Because His Majesty the Emperor of the Elain Empire has declared war to occupy the French Empire.”

“I know that.”

“This is a military secret, but I will inform you, my vassal, in particular. Give me an ear.”

At that, Margherita made a puzzled expression and put her ear to me.

“At least 120,000 troops are mobilized for this war of conquest, and the goal of the war is to occupy half of the northern and central parts of France. And this is classified information that I obtained… ”

“… .”

“We were ordered to mobilize 20,000 people for this war, but I decided to mobilize 30,000. I, the most free from the emperor, took notice of the emperor and declared that I would take more than half of the troops ordered. So, what about the lords who have just received the territory and have to look after the emperor? Wouldn’t it take at least 1.5x to 2x? then… Even if you catch a small number, close to 200,000 soldiers will be mobilized.”

In this era when all goods transportation, marching, and work are done by human hands, soldiers must eat at least 2 to 2.5 times that of ordinary people.

Would some military experts say that medieval mercenaries consumed more than 4,000 calories on the battlefield?

Therefore, the food they consume is equivalent to at least 400,000 to 500,000 people.

In addition, it is tradition to have about 1.5 times the expected consumption of food consumed in expeditions in case of looting or loss…

“And the longer the war, the more the serfs become empty… So, the food produced in the territory will naturally decrease. So, isn’t the goal of those who couldn’t become military purveyors on the battlefield selling grain to warring territories? Even if you don’t earn several times as much money as those who pay for the military, at least 30% to 50% of it leaves a profit.”

“… . Considering that, I don’t think we will suffer any losses, as you said. No, this transaction will definitely succeed. Certainly, you will be able to make huge profits. Then, can we, the Margherita Company, act as the upper house of His Excellency the Marquis of Creutel?”

In normal times, they would have demanded dividends on their profits in return for giving up markets and supplies.

However, what if all the food used for this expedition seems to be supplied from my territory?

The Emperor and other nobles are likely to check, tease, and intimidate me into selling my surplus food at a bargain price even before the expedition begins.

No, if the emperor uses his dignity and gives at least a ‘ducal title’ in exchange for food for this expedition, the food will be supplied almost free of charge.

Also, in order to let them know that they have no intention of becoming independent, they will have to bring and donate various supplies to the Central Army.

So it is much better to say that he sold the surplus food to the Margherita family in Hamburg to recruit and equip soldiers.

Then you can get the Hamburg and Margherita families who have tasted the meat, and you can secure some income from the grain price difference.

In addition, if the emperor did it because he was preparing for war according to the imperial order, it is difficult to directly or indirectly interfere with this because of the ‘inviolable right’ of bilateral contractual relations.

“After this war is over, you will convince the five major families of Hamburg to become my vassals. Until then, Hamburg should remain a perfectly free city. That way, His Majesty the Emperor can’t interfere with the grain trade.”

“I will obey your orders. Then, how much do you plan to sell us for the grain?”

“We sell 350 kilos of flour for 5 silver coins, and 350 kilos of barley for 3 silver coins. After shipping, I’ll sell it at a reasonable price so you won’t lose money. You can keep all the remaining profits.”

At first glance, it may seem like a very cheap price, but the price I suggested is twice the price of selling it wholesale to other territories.

And if you add the transportation cost and the profits they will make, the price will jump at least three times, and that price will be 50% higher than living in the city.

So even if I know I can’t help it, I’m greedy that I want to keep doing this deal myself, not Margherita.

But now is not the normal time, but the time when the emperor can openly check…

“I will obey your orders. Then, from now on, the Margherita family will become Your Excellency’s vassals. Please ensure our prosperity.”

“Seeing what you’re doing this time, I’ll think about whether or not I’ll give you my position as a warlord of the Eastern Command.”

Of course, it is only superficially led by the upper class under Margherita, and the actual leading force is me, Kreutel.

In exchange for a name and a few employees, if you participate in this expedition as a war merchant, you can share even the beans.

And what if that Congolese unit is equivalent to the income of at least one baron, and also a chance to get exclusive deals with other noble families?

You can earn a level of money that is incomparable to this grain brokerage sale.

Hearing that, Margherita said, determined to take advantage of the opportunity I had provided.

“No matter what the means, I will complete the task entrusted to you this time.”

Then I patted Margherita on the shoulder and told her all night about the things he must do.

**

The next day, I sent a secret letter to the Duke of Orléans, commander-in-chief of the Eastern Expeditionary Force.

[I am well aware of my situation. So, I just want to earn your Majesty’s trust by standing at the vanguard of this expedition, and I don’t want a silver prize. Please, the wise and faithful duke, please understand the meaning and allow me to stand in the vanguard. If you do so, I will do my best to repay you. -Compensation for Marquis Ciel von Kreuttel-]