Rickard was immersed in work of organising census documents. It took him months.
First all the documents were sorted by the village or town's name. Then each of them tallied to count number of men, woman, and children in each of them. Then number of various professionals were tallied and marked if there were insufficient or abundant number in each.
When all these were finshed he went to treasurer's office to cross check with their tithe data. There were some discrepancies from some places.
"Treasurer Lovell, there have been some discrepancies between info of the treasurer's office and census data. Do you want to take action?" Rickard was angry as expected.
"Young lord, I will discuss it with Lady Laina." Urian Lovell absolved himself of all responsibilities.
When more time passed more discrepancies were discovered and Urian Lovell transferred all responsibility to Rickard's mother.
---
One day, at dinner, Rickard asked his mother directly " Mom, has treasurer Lovell told you about irregularities between census and treasurer's office information?"
He got only answer that "Don't bring outside matter to dining table. Just eat until you are full." His mother's stern face not allowing any further questions.
---
Collating and tallying of census data is all but completed Rickard found out a problem. The clans that were living in highlands haven't sent any census data. This wasn't treason and house Flint could do little other than send repeated request for sending census.
This put Rickard in dilemma. He couldn't complete census without highland clans data neither could he force them. Even if he asked mother's help she would reject him. Heck, if the roles were reversed he wouldn't pressure highland clans either. Violence or more precisely ability do violence was the supreme authority from which all other authorities are derived.
He would note which clans, villages, and cities defied his order, if any. One day in the future, when he became strong, he wanted to take appropriate action against them.
Thus census exercise not only laid bear difficulty of undertaking a vast governance reform but also showed Rickard true strength of the House Flint of Flint's Finger.
°°°
All the census data was collated and tallied amd prepared for presentation before Lady Laina and her court four months after the harvest festival. Rickard sent an official letter to the Flint court about the matter.
On the day of the full moon in the 8th month of 288AC Rickard was set to submit the census report. Following it result of his petition would be decided. All in all this day could become an monumental day for Rickard.
Lady Laina entered the hall. All retainers stood up and greeted her including her son. Lady Laina seem to be in joyous mood and motioned everyone to sit down. Next various House Flint retainers reported to Lady Laina on the matters of the castle and the fief. In the end it was Rickard's turn to present the census.
"Lady Flint, and Retainers of House Flint. I, Rickard Flint, present this document that shows the number of subjects depends on us. Total of 150,000 civilians live in our fief. 7,800 people live in the town just outside of this castle. Vast majority of our people live in villages that are small and sparsely populated. Most villages boast less than 400 villagers. Most of our subjects are aged below 60 for the reasons all of you know. We have some large villages along the coast whom can host upto 2500 prople. These number about 2. we have 700 villages in total. For every 100 men there are 105 women. Throughout the fief we have general lack of blacksmiths. We would need 500 new blacksmiths to fill the hole. On the other hand we have plenty of carpenters and threadmakers. Sadly, this cannot said to be full report. There are still highland clans that haven't submitted anything even after 18 months. Thus I decided to conclude the census without completing it. If we estimate using the data we have these highland clans should have somewhere between eighty to hundred thousand people. I would propose based on incomplete census data that your ladyship mayhaps entertain the idea of constructing a winter city in the southern end of cape kraken. For it wiil be affected by winter lesser than this castle and closer to more people. "
" My lady, May I ask a question to our future lord? "Urian Lovell looked at Rickard "We do not have means to construct a city. Have you not petitioned us requesting hundreds of gold every year to be given to you? Where would the gold required to build the city would come from? Your census also cost lots of pretty pennies, I'll have you know. Is there anything else your census can suggest? "
Rickard not expecting this much hostility floundered momentarily. " There are 50 villages where their population doesn't cross 100 people in each. They have also submitted census documents without any delay. This indicates the utmost loyalty towards our house from these people. These people can also be used in construction of the new city. By giving them compensation in both food and houses in the new city they would work for us happily. While other smallfolk may want money now the summer has begun, these people won't ask for it.
This is only immediate benefit. The long term benefits are yet to be realised."
The implications in Rickard's words were clear. The census provided the details of who respected the authority of House Flint of Flint's Finger and who did not.
Walter Fitton interjected "My lady, pardon me. I would like to speak my mind." Laina Flint nodded not seeing any reason to stop him.
" My lady, what young lord said is true. While I can't say what its future uses will be. I can guarantee one thing. Knowing who your enemies are beforehand make it easier to face them. "
The support of the Master-at-arms put end to the confrontational questions and Rickard was able to complete his report unimpeded henceforth.
°°°
Now is the time for the most important matter of the day atleast for Rickard. He would find out whether the house would support his business or find other ways.
Lady Laina took a deep breath and her eyes swept on everyone present in the hall.
"My son has asked me to let him start a business and be backed by the house. While he is technically the lord of Flint's of Flint's Finger, There still is the matter that I am Regent and this matter concerns the House. This means you, the retainers, have a say. What is your opinions? "
If this was lands of the south there might be no opposition to the future lord. Because doing thusly might mean stifling their own future prospects by their own hands. But this was not south. Not the halls of the lords where self interest reigned supreme and only wore skin of honour's long dead corpse. Without any surprises Hugh Wenman, a prominent retainer and a knight, stood up and spoke thusly.
"My lady, Young lord is just a child. The world of business is always filled with coward greedy backstabbers. So it is unwise to let young lord go into such a treacherous world. Also every lord in the north holds honor in highest regard and merchants exact opposite of that. I would implore My lady to not let Young lord be a merchant. "
Just as he finished his speech there were some other retainers who were agreeing with him. Just as before Walter Fitton, Master-at-arms of the Flint's, came to bat on behalf of Rickard.
" What honor would be use to us? We are neither a famous house nor a wealthy one. Our territory is on par with the other major houses in the north yet we are not one. Why? Because we can't field army as great as them. Army feeds on money. If the young lord can make money, we as his knights can and should obtain any amount of honor. I'm in charge of the barracks, I know the situation better than any of you do. I have faith in Young lord. "
Colton Holt stood up after that " Anyone who is worried that our lord would just be a merchant lord can rest assured for I have taken him as my squire and he has promised me that he wpuld become a knight. As such you shouldn't think that young lord will bring shame upon the house or any of you. "
As the discussion progressed Urian Lovell, Wulfgar Helm also supported Rickard resulting in opposition to quieten further.
With the majority of key retainers in favor of approving Rickard's business venture Lady Laina silenced the hall
" I have heard enough. It is decided that we will agree to Rickard's proposal in part. He will be given 1000 acre of land near the castle and appropriate amount of money as decided by me. Both Urian Lovell and Gilbar Carnhide will check on him and report it to me periodically.
Today is the yearly Moonlight dinner party hosted by the Flint's. I will see you all then. "
Thus dismissed everyone.