King
Chapter 144 - 144 106 Have Subordinates Roll Up_3

144: Chapter 106, Have Subordinates Roll Up_3 144: Chapter 106, Have Subordinates Roll Up_3 “For the sake of management, we must quickly identify the races suitable for farming, and find ways to handle the rest!”

Said Knight Holman, an aura of lethal intensity around him.

As a knight who has come from the battlefield, he lacks no decisiveness.

The conflict between humans and orcs has long since become irreconcilable.

Having a large number of orc slaves in one’s territory is an inherently risky thing.

Even if the lord is not afraid of these creatures causing trouble, the serfs below cannot handle such turmoil.

If there were to be an uprising, the already financially struggling Maple Domain would only worsen.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Holman.

The surplus slaves will not be wasted.

Just because we can’t use them doesn’t mean our neighbors can’t either.

Orc slaves are indeed mostly terrifyingly stupid, even the simplest things can be messed up by them.

However, when it comes to mindless heavy labor, they are quite capable.

This course of action may seem like aiding the enemy, but if we don’t do it, someone else will.

The Maple Domain has been in a long-term deficit, as have the territories of other nobles.

In the counties of Layton and Wharton, almost all domains are financially strained, except for the wealthy Mountain Domain.

The native nobles are better off, the autumn harvest has been completed.

If they can endure these few months of scarcity, the balance can be maintained thereafter.

If they can cut down expenses, give up unnecessary social expenditures, and lower their daily living standards, then within a year or two, they could turn their deficits into surpluses.

However, we are different.

The army is the foundation of our foothold in the south, but is also a huge burden on us.

Without the subsidies from the Kingdom’s military, without smuggling business to do, without subjects to plunder, just relying on output from the territory alone, the pressure to maintain so many soldiers is indeed too great.

Yet, until we are officially accepted by the native nobles, we can’t afford to reduce the size of this army.

If we cannot develop the territory quickly, my savings alone will not last long.

Even knowing that selling slaves to the Mountain Baron is akin to taking a honey-coated poison, I have no choice but to swallow it.

Otherwise, the financial collapse would strike before the territory could fully resume production, and then it would be all over.”

Baron Katelai couldn’t help but sigh,

“Without having managed a household, one cannot understand the difficulties of a lord.

Before the war, the Maple Domain was rich and overflowing; but the war ruined everything.”

Indeed, the cost of maintaining an army is profoundly different for a mature domain and a semi-destroyed one.

A mature domain can be self-sufficient in terms of grain, cloth, meat, and oil…

Even when weapons and equipment are damaged, they can be repaired on-site.

The main cost for a lord to maintain an army involves buying salt, upgrading and replacing weapons and equipment, and warhorses.

Serf soldiers do not need to be paid military salaries.

Even the elites composed of cultivators, during normal times, the lord only needs to provide some subsidies.

The lord may choose to provide coins, or disburse grain, cloth, and meat products according to his mood, the soldiers wouldn’t be picky.

They farm during the busy agricultural season and train during the slack season.

As long as there is no war, military expenses can usually be maintained at a low level.

Southern aristocrats prefer to train cultivators as guards, mainly due to their environmental conditions.

Generally, peace prevails, and any conflicts that arise mostly involve regional armed brawls.

A guard team made of cultivators has a clear advantage in daily brawls.

Moreover, small aristocrats don’t have the resources to emulate the northern aristocrats in forming armies.

A common soldier not forged through the battlefield can never become an elite.

Battles such as the suppression of the Skeleton Society’s rebellion only occur once every few decades in the Southeastern Province, whether one encounters it depends wholly on luck.

Most of the time, cult uprisings are quickly suppressed by the lord leading his guard team.

Cases that could cause a significant disturbance are rare.

Despite frequent duels among the nobles, they are absolutely not supposed to kill each other.

Their conflicts could at best be considered armed confrontations, far from actual warfare.

After meeting daily military needs, most southern aristocrats prefer to spend their money on everyday life, cultivating younger generations and maintaining their social connections.

If there are surplus funds, they keep some for emergencies.

Due to different investments in cultivation resources, even though they seldom face the battlefield, the martial strength of the southern aristocrats’ offspring generally doesn’t lag behind those of the northern nobility.

After all, practical combat skills can also be made up by increasing their cultivation levels.

Maple Domain’s production has not yet recovered, and it’s in an awkward transition from the northern aristocrats to the southern aristocrats.

Naturally, Baron Katelai’s days are tough.

In order to keep the finances of the domain from bankruptcy and to tide over this awkward period, he has no choice but to temporarily set aside his resentment in his heart.

“Katelai, it’s best if you can think this way.

In the world of nobility, there are no eternal foes, only eternal interests.

I don’t know if you noticed that the military power of the native nobles of the Southeastern Province in Layton and Wharton Counties is constantly increasing.

In contrast, we, the northern nobility, are constantly weakened.

Take Maple Domain as an example, of the three hundred private soldiers who came south with us, only two hundred seventy-eight remain, due to previous battles and non-combat casualties caused by climate adjustment.

The headcount has been reduced by about one-fifteenth.

The other areas don’t have specific data, but I guess their situation can’t be much better.

Some troublemakers might suffer losses that exceed a tenth.

We can suppress the native nobles temporarily, but as time goes on, the power of both sides will eventually come closer.

If we can’t manage our relationships with our neighbors properly, our future will be very difficult, and we may even be excluded.”

Listening to Knight Holman’s reminder, Baron Katelai’s expression grew even more solemn.

Although he also noticed something was wrong, he did not expect the problem to be so severe.

The contests among the nobles compete for the far-off future.

A temporary loss or win doesn’t mean much.

Only those who can endure till the end are the true winners.

If it’s not possible to utterly destroy the opponent, it’s best not to form a deadly feud.

Resolvable grudges should be resolved as much as possible.

Sometimes, turning an enemy into a friend is also a strategic victory.

Originally, he thought selling slaves to his neighbors was just a way to make money and cover the financial deficit.

Now, it seems that this is not only about doing business, but also about breaking the ice in relationships.

No matter how other northern nobles choose, there is no choice for Maple Domain.

Having such powerful neighbors with no hope of defeating them, antagonism will only lead to losses for themselves.

Even if there are real resentments, they can be held in the heart for the time being.

They can be dealt with gradually when there is an opportunity in the future.

If there is no opportunity, they can keep it in their hearts forever.

After all, he, Katelai, is not bereft of scheming and strategy.

“Uncle Holman, thank you for the reminder, I know what to do next.

Hudson was able to sell production materials of iron goods to us for his benefit, so why can’t I sell slaves to these southern nobles for mine?

This business must not only be done but profit plentifully from it.

Send someone to inquire which clans have slaves brought down.

If they have too many, find a way to buy at a lower rank and take over.

Hudson is the best example.

To earn more, you have to monopolize business.

Winter’s here now, and in the short term, it is impossible to head deep into the Orc Empire to catch slaves.

Even after recovery in spring, the slaves won’t arrive until next summer.

This means that for the next half a year, these slaves are the only orc slaves.

I hope that the number of slaves each family brings this time won’t be too many, otherwise, we won’t be able to afford it all, and this will be a tough business deal!”

…