Translator: Cinder Translations
...
"Earl, here are the expenditures and tax revenues for this quarter." Ford, who managed the estate's affairs, handed over a scroll of parchment with both hands.
Paul quickly unrolled it and glanced through it casually, asking, "Any issues?" Financial reports like this didn't typically pique his interest.
"Well... there are indeed some 'issues'. The situation is not optimistic." Ford's brow furrowed slightly, and he exchanged a glance with Philip, the Butler sitting opposite him.
Philip, responsible for managing the Lord's treasury, spoke up, "My lord, if this continues, our financial situation will become unsustainable."
"Is it because of the pirate activities affecting tax revenues?"
"Yes, since the late Earl's passing, apart from the pirates landing, there have been some lawless individuals taking advantage of the chaos. Bandits and river pirates have caused some villages' transportation to be cut off. Several of our tax collectors have been insulted and expelled."
"Especially in Frand Port. Although they are extorted by pirates every year, it's still our largest tax revenue source. Now the Shark Gang is squatting there and refuses to budge," Ford sighed in frustration.
"And this is causing us to run into deficits?"
Philip explained further, "Recent expansions in military recruitment and training have also cost a considerable amount of resources. Previously, soldiers were only provided with basic necessities and sent home after battles. Now, we also have to pay them salaries, procure uniforms..."
"And there's the purchase of materials for making new weapons, recruiting craftsmen... At the last meeting, we also decided to start building ships..."
Paul grew increasingly concerned as he carefully reviewed the scroll once again.
Clearly, some measures needed to be taken.
...
Following the last military council meeting, Alden Town had intended to "lie low" for a month to complete the full training of two infantry battalions before launching a campaign to wipe out the pirates within its borders. Unexpectedly, Intelligence Chief Cecil made a breakthrough right after taking office, discovering crucial information: the Shark Gang had absorbed the remnants of Quik's escapees and planned to retaliate against Paul by sending 500 men to show him who was in charge. Killing an Earl had inflated this pirate leader's ego.
With high morale after recent victories, there was no need for the Shark's men to come all the way to Alden Town. Utilizing Cecil's intelligence, the veteran knight Schroder led the army along with daring fishermen, intercepting the pirates midway.
Schroder used a small force to lure the pirates ashore, drawing them away from their ships. Then, with the main force, he swiftly cut off their retreat between the pirates and the riverbank.
After a fierce battle, leveraging discipline and the significant advantage of firearms, combined with soldiers who had already transformed after a victorious battle, Alden Town's army won decisively once again.
The pirates suffered over 400 casualties, including dead, wounded, and captured. The Shark Gang finally acquiesced and began employing guerrilla tactics, hiding in Frand Port and refusing to come out.
The Alden Town army pursued them all the way to Frand Port, only to find the city walls heightened and various defensive structures increased since their last visit. They didn't dare to attack recklessly but stationed nearby to monitor the pirates and prevent further raids.
"Is it like this already? They haven't retreated to the sea?" Paul was very surprised. It seemed that these pirates really intended to occupy Frand Harbor for the long term.
Forget it, they will be meat on the chopping board sooner or later.
He issued orders to the officers, using the two newly formed infantry companies as the main force, with the internal security forces as support, to eliminate the road bandits and water thieves in various places. They trained and fought simultaneously. The new recruits might find it challenging to deal with pirates, but they were more than capable of handling these newly formed gangs of ruffians.
With the progress of the anti-crime campaign, Alden Town gradually regained control over the entire Earl's territory except for Frand Harbor. However, many villages and towns were plundered by pirates and bandits. Faced with tearful representatives, the Earl could not bear to extract more taxes from these poor people and ordered a waiver of taxes for some villages for two quarters.
As transportation gradually resumed across the region, tax revenues increased somewhat, temporarily easing the current financial crisis and giving the town's leadership a momentary sigh of relief.
However, this was only a temporary relief. To truly solve the financial crisis, they needed to immediately launch some projects that could generate quick income.
...
That afternoon, Paul summoned Ford and others.
"Everyone, what do you think of this thing I've made?"
Each person was handed a "paper."
Ford held a stiff piece of something and asked in confusion, "Is this 'paper'?"
"Cough... this is just a prototype, but once this thing is perfected, it will be very promising."
This "paper" was made by Paul based on his understanding of papermaking. He processed a pile of bark, wood, and bamboo, steamed and boiled them in a pot, mashed them into pulp with a stone mortar after boiling, spread the slurry out to dry under the sun, and finally obtained a... well... crispy cardboard.
"What use is this?"
"To replace the sheepskin paper currently used."
In this world, the material used for writing is basically sheepskin paper, with an extremely complex production process. The entire skin needs to be treated with lime, then dehaired and degreased, stretched and scraped multiple times, polished with pumice stone, and finally dried. Moreover, the yield is not high. Although a piece of sheepskin looks large, the sheepskin paper obtained after processing is less than 1 square meter. This has led to the high price of sheepskin paper, which is why there are so many illiterates everywhere. Even commoners cannot afford something to write with.
"But, this thing..." Ford General Manager exerted a little force, and the paper in his hand shattered instantly, leaving him speechless.
"Cough..." Seeing that everyone seemed somewhat disdainful of his great invention, the Earl cleared his throat and said earnestly, "As long as we give it time, I am confident that we can make it softer and thinner. Any great invention faces doubts at its birth, but no amount of skepticism can stop the wheels of history."
"Look at sheepskin paper now, how expensive it is. Even some minor nobles dare not buy much, let alone commoners. Take the church as an example. I asked Pastor Anderson, even without considering various failures and accidents, they need to slaughter more than 300 sheep to transcribe a Bible. My goodness, a book requires more than 300 sheep to be exchanged, along with a series of replication processes."
"And this 'paper' you hold, its raw materials are just bark, bamboo, and other inconspicuous things. As long as the process is mature, we can produce a large quantity in a few days. If we can make it softer, thinner, and less brittle, it will definitely be revolutionary and change the world."
After a passionate speech, everyone couldn't help but be excited.
"If it can really be improved as the Earl said, it would indeed be a money-making tool." Ford, who was troubled by financial problems, was the first to think of this.
"Exactly!" Paul clapped vigorously. "Although the initial products may not be as durable as sheepskin paper, the raw materials are abundant, and production is simple. By then, we will emphasize the 'low price' feature, and it will surely find a market."
"And, it has another wonderful use besides writing." A mysterious smile appeared on the Earl's face.
"Oh? May I ask, my Lord..."
"Free your buttocks."
(End of this chapter)