Translator: Cinder Translations
...
While the officers and soldiers of the Alden army were fighting valiantly on the front lines...
Oh, to make such a cold and aloof female scholar, act in this manner—it is truly... truly satisfying.
Raising his head slightly, he met a pair of lively, bright eyes. She was waving her small pink fists, gently massaging his legs from either side.
Betty D'Arshi, a descendant of a noble family from the Gabella Empire, blushed and turned her head shyly when she met his gaze, playfully scolding, "Really, I've never done anything like this before..."
He chuckled and reached out to gently stroke her beautiful golden hair.
Ah! What a decadent and depraved life!
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"Earl… Earl… Earl!"
The world suddenly swayed, and the scene before him began to blur.
What's going on? Paul shook his head.
When he regained his senses, the autumnal eyes he had been dreaming of had turned into a pair of thick, expressive eyebrows.
"Bernard! Why are you here?" Paul almost jumped out of his chair, looking at the man before him. "Where's Lady Ladia? Where's Betty?"
The chief secretary, looking apologetic, said, "Lord Grayman, I'm sorry to disturb your nap. Both ladies are here. Shall we continue the meeting?"
"Uh… of course, of course."
Paul remembered he had scheduled a meeting with department heads to discuss recent work progress and had fallen asleep midway.
Thinking back, it was all Hansel's fault. This man had a way of reporting work in such a lengthy, convoluted, and rhetorical manner that one word could become a sentence, and a sentence could stretch into a paragraph. Paul had to use every brain cell to understand what he was actually saying.
Hansel had just finished his seemingly century-long report. Paul glanced around the room; Ladia and Betty were seated not far away.
The sorceress had an expressionless face, engrossed in her notebook.
The female supervisor, however, looked at Paul with disgust: "Honestly, such an adult drooling in his sleep, and what's with calling out our names when you wake up?"
She subtly pointed to her lips.
Paul took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth and cleared his throat.
"Sorry, I've been a bit tired lately… What's next on the agenda?"
Old Ford, the chief of the administrative bureau, spoke up: "Lord Grayman, I need to discuss the financial situation with you."
Paul held his head in his hands, lamenting, "Don't tell me we're running out of money."
"Unfortunately, that's the case. The expenses for May have reached over 8,000 silver coins. Even with your private treasury, we are running low on funds."
Since the salt miner revolt, expenses for expanding the public security and internal guard forces had significantly increased.
Since the formal engagement with the Kent family, military expenses had become the major burden on Alden's finances. After the landing in Fish Tail Town, to meet the demands of two fronts, Paul had drafted nearly 2,000 militiamen from various recruitment stations to the battlefield and approved Schroeder's plan to recruit auxiliary troops locally.
In war, you couldn't go empty-handed. Corresponding weapons and equipment were needed. Soldiers had to eat and drink, and a little pre-battle alcohol for buffs was essential. Paul strictly forbade his troops from solving supply issues through looting—unless he had no other choice.
As of now, Alden's military force numbered nearly 6,000. If not for his financial acumen, Paul would undoubtedly be the most financially strained lord in the Grayman family's history.
Such a "large" army spent money like flowing water in the eyes of old lords like Ford and Philip.
"I don't understand. Our territory has expanded so much. The entire northern Emden, and soon we'll occupy the Carter family's lands. Can't the tax revenue from these areas offset some of the costs?"
"Lord Earl, I've already factored in the tax revenue from these occupied areas…"
Naturally, the administrative officials had no intention of leaving the taxes from these occupied territories to their former rulers.
"Lord Earl, I have a suggestion…"
"Hansel? Speak up."
"Actually, if you stop paying the soldiers any 'allowances,' you could save a substantial amount of money. Just like other lords, military service is supposed to be a duty of the subjects."
Hansel's suggestion was met with some agreement, but Paul immediately shook his head: "No way! Absolutely not! Material incentives are a crucial means of maintaining morale. Our recent victories have shown that paying allowances is the right choice. Look at our army compared to others!"
"If it's about material incentives, there are other common methods…"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Before Hansel could finish, Paul already knew what he was going to suggest. He couldn't tolerate seeing his hard-trained army degenerate into a band of thieves.
Seeing that the Earl refused all proposals, Hansel played his last card: "Lord Earl, if I remember correctly, the Port of Frand is preparing to establish a securities exchange, right?"
Paul nodded: "Yes, that's a plan we set a while ago, as you know."
Hansel continued: "In that case, why not issue war bonds through the exchange? It would not only raise funds for the military but also promote the exchange's business—killing two birds with one stone."
"Hmm… Starting to raise funds for oneself just as it's established, doesn't that seem a bit improper?"
"What's improper about it? It's quite common for rulers to borrow money for wars. As far as I know, the Grayman family has never defaulted on a loan. And with our army's success, there's no shortage of buyers for the bonds. Moreover…"
Hansel lowered his voice and said: "It could also serve as a way to test the local wealthy. Those who buy the bonds will definitely not want you to fail."
Paul's eyes lit up with realization: "You're right, Hansel." Then he hesitated: "But what if the war drags on and we can't pay back?"
Hansel replied: "Given the current situation, it's only a matter of time before we run out of funds. It's better to raise a large sum quickly, manufacture more rifles and cannons, and capture Sente City as soon as possible. I've heard that the Fraule family's accumulated wealth is the largest among the northwest lords. If you take over the Duke of the Northwest's treasury before anyone else, you won't have to worry about repaying the debt."
"But… what if… unfortunately, the treasury isn't as rich as rumored? Wealthy people are more troublesome than impoverished salt miners if they cause trouble."
Hansel smiled slightly: "What's there to fear? Haven't you also produced more rifles and cannons?"
(End of the Chapter)
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