CH 380

Finally, the unification of the Blish and Erhrland Islands was completed. I’m happy that I’ve finished a job with this… rather, it’s not. It will be harder after returning to Laudin.

Establishing a governing system on the islands of Blish and Ehrland, conducting family register surveys, conducting land surveys, reforming the tax system, developing, promulgating, and disseminating various laws and regulations are necessary… later on…….

“AAAAaaaa~~~~!”

I scratch my head hard. Bald! I’m going bald! No less work! No, it’s actually snowballing! When will I be able to relax? Are all the kings governing with such serious thoughts looming over their heads? If this is the case, I want to stop being a lord and do adventurer work like games and light novels would!

No, wait? If I wasn’t the lord, I wouldn’t have been able to recreate that, this, and those on Earth. That there are so many Earth-like reproductions around me is because exercised my authority as a feudal lord to have them made. If I was an adventurer and just wandering around, I wouldn’t be so blessed.

Can I be a free-spirited adventurer in exchange for the standard of living in this world? I have a hard time, but I am a lord who can develop this and that as much as she pleases, aren’t I? Hmmm… which one do I pick…?

Well, in the first place, there are no games or light novel adventurers in this world. There are people and mercenaries who make a living by exterminating monsters, but there are no game-like adventurers.

It’s not the time to escape from reality. I have a lot of work to do and a lot more besides that. I collect my thoughts without stopping my hands.

Both the Blish and Ehrland islands are far behind, both economically and technologically. Populated but mostly self-sufficient. More advanced legislation, penetration of the currency-based economy, expansion of factories and farms, and promotion of new industries are required. First and foremost, we need to do some research.

Grasping the population by conducting a family register survey and using it for taxation and social security. We also need to conduct a land survey to confirm the size of the farmland, and then unify the settlements…

Up until now, we were part of the Kingdom of Ploiss’s territory, so it wasn’t possible to create a currency of our own, but in Blish and Ehrland, I’m the king, so I have to mint it myself.

For conscription, for training, for maintaining public order, for border patrol… Ah! Come to think of it, the Blish Strait side is close to the border with the Kingdom of Frasia… Should I install a coastal battery as well…?

No matter how much our fleet is superior to other countries, if it is anchored in the harbor, it will be a large wooden target. Nothing matters if you can’t move. It is necessary to improve the enemy surveillance system and readiness. If it’s a ship, it will take some time before it leaves the port, but if it’s a coastal battery, the soldiers stationed there will be able to fire immediately.

Fortunately, in this country, sovereignty is overwhelmingly strong. The royal domain, in other words, the area under my direct control is vast, and in that respect, it will be quite advantageous compared to other countries. For the construction of artillery, lighthouses, and roads, should we prioritize areas under the direct control of the royal family first?

If it was only Blish Island, it would have been small, but since it was unified including Ehrland Island, if we had this much area to cover, it would have become a big country close to the Kingdom of Ploiss and the Kingdom of Frasia. I don’t know because I don’t have an accurate map, but I think this is pretty big.

In addition to that, I have the Knighthood and Knight’s Nation… so in terms of territory alone, it might be bigger than Ploiss without them. However, economic and technical strengths are still insufficient. It can be said that it depends on the future rule of the Blish Isles.

“Master Flora, if I may have a moment of your time?”

“Go ahead. Kanbee, what’s wrong with Mikalojus?” I said.

As I was finishing up my work, Kanbee and Mikalojus walked in. It seems that these two people were quite pleased with the Former Harold Faction civil servants and bureaucrats who helped them considerably with clerical work at Laudin. It seems that Mikalojus was just like a normal nobleman to them, but Kanbee was so talented that they even pleaded to keep him around forever.

Kanbee has a lot of work to do, and I rely on him as my right arm… well, rather my right hand, so I can’t let him concentrate on just one office job.

“We have decided to talk directly with Master Flora about future negotiations with the Kingdom of Frasia,” Kanbee said.

“Oh, that’s right…”

That’s why I called the two of them over here, but I was too busy to get around to it. My policy is already decided. All that’s left now is to convince the two of them.

“Please negotiate well with the Kingdom of Frasia so that there will be no war for the time being,” I said. “I don’t care if it is a truce or a ceasefire treaty, but if you can do it… well, I suppose… I hope there will be no war for about two-three years.”

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“Why so?” Kanbee said. “I hear that you’ve sunk a lot of enemy ships. If you attack now, won’t the enemy be weak in strength? If you miss this chance, the enemy will regain strength again. Shouldn’t we be expanding our forces to be able to oppose them?”

Well, it’s not that I don’t understand what Kanbee is saying. I don’t know how exhausted the enemy is, but no matter how big a country like the Kingdom of Frasia is, if they lose the number of ships and soldiers they had then, the forces they can move right now will be considerably reduced. But…….

“Don’t underestimate your opponent. It’s true that they’ve lost enough troops to go on an expedition. However, if it comes to defending the mainland, they’ll be desperate,” I said. “If we attack from here, they’ll stand their ground. They will use all the strength they possess to resist with all their might. In that case, an invasion of the Kingdom of Frasia with its vast land area could become a quagmire war for our family.”

“That’s……”

Kanbee seems to have something to say. Perhaps he’s thinking of invading the enemy’s royal capital in a lightning strike, capturing it early, and making a ceasefire. I am also aware that I might be able to beat Frasia that way. But it’s too risky. If you fail, you will be stuck in a quagmire of war.

If that happens, the Kingdom of the Blish Isles, which has just been formed, may collapse internally. Even those in the country who were following us as long as we were winning, there is a possibility that if our House struggles in the war with Frasia, they will make unnecessary moves in this country. There is also the possibility that the public will become disgusted with the war and wish for an early withdrawal.

Once you retreat like that, the authority of House Caan will be lost quickly. Shortly after the unification, this country that was brought together by force is still not in order. It’s good when you’re winning, but it’s dangerous if you lose, or even if you don’t lose, it’s just a stepping stone to it.

“Besides… what are you going to gain by winning?” I asked. “A war requires a clear purpose. Just killing your opponent just because you don’t like them will mean it never ends. What reason do we have for going to war with the Kingdom of Frasia? Where is the endpoint? What are we aiming for, what are we getting, and how are we going to end it?

“Sire…”

I’m sure I’ve said something similar before… well, Kanbee is still young. Besides, it’s a natural policy to expand territory and country in this world. I don’t think there’s any point in increasing unnecessary territories carelessly, but that’s a different idea from the common sense of this world. I have to discuss this kind of gap with my subordinates.

“If I may cut in, Kanbee?” I asked. “It’s true that Frasia is weak now. If we attack here, we might be able to crush it. But what will we do after the Kingdom of Frasia is crushed? Never mind that even if House Caan rules afterward?”

“That would be fine. In that case, the Caan Knighthood and the Blish Isles will be connected through the Frasia.”

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That’s true though…. It’s not a game, so it’s not that simple…

“In this short period, our House has expanded too much. Even with the Knight’s Nation and the Kingdom of the Blish Isles alone, there is too much to handle, and even if it expands any further, it will be impossible to govern,” I said. “It would be a good idea to eventually take over the coast from the Knighthood to the Blish Straits, but now is not the time.”

I also don’t think that the territories in the Kingdom of Ploiss are fine as they are now. There is only an exit in the Hulk Sea, and it would be bad if there was only an exit through the Del Strait, through the lower reaches of the Welzel River, through the Kingdom of Frasia, or through the Kingdom of Frasia and the Kingdom of Hollant from the Reyn River.

But even if they call for war now, our country is not united. There is no chance of winning in the long run. On the other hand, there is no guarantee that they will be killed in a short-term decisive battle.

“Well… no need to worry. The power of the Kingdom of the Blish Isles will increase from now on. If we focus on becoming a wealthy and powerful nation, we will be able to improve more than Frasia can hope to. Above all, as time passes, our House will continue to develop new weapons.”

“Yes!” Kanbee said. “Then, should we compromise with Frasia to some extent and settle with a truce or a ceasefire?

“Indeed….However, it would be impossible for a non-war to continue for decades,” I said. “The ideal form is that if we are ready, we strike from our side. In the short term… a truce, a one-year-long truce… something like that would be ideal.”

The former Plossian territory currently being stolen by Frasia will definitely be recaptured. For that reason, there is a high chance that there will be a war with Frasia in the future. It would be nice if we could negotiate to return it, but it’s probably impossible. At that time, I would like to avoid the form of breaking the no-war pact or the neutrality pact. We need a situation in which we can start a war in compliance with international law without violating anything.

“Then let’s negotiate with that in mind,” I said.

“Umu. Well, leave it to us,” Kanbee said.

The meeting with the two about negotiations is over. I’ve told him pretty thoroughly so it should be fine. Right now, domestic maintenance is the priority rather than fighting poorly with Frasia. While seeing off the two, I worked hard to process the work that was piling up.

The work within the Kingdom of the Blish Isles is still unfinished. But I can’t stay here forever, so I decided to go back. I’ve finished the work that should be done, and after that, I should be able to buy time for a while just by processing the documents that will be sent to me.

The top priority is family register surveys, land surveys, and the promotion of new industries. Of course, the promotion of new industries included the penetration of a currency economy, the construction of highways, and the construction of factory farms. No matter how early you start, it’s never too early to take the time to lay the groundwork. Incidentally, there’s the relocation of the royal capital. It’s not like a relocation, but should it be called a new city construction?

“Then I’ll go back at once,” I said. “I’ll ask you to take care of things while I’m away.”

“Sire. Please leave it to me,” Gotoh said, bowing his head, and the people behind him also bowed.

It is mainly the Former Harold’s Faction who are entrusted with this rule. They’ve been hiding out in the fort where we first met, so we’ve known each other for a long time. Besides, since we’ve worked so hard together, the chances of betraying us are low.

Most of all, without knowing it, they strangely trusted me, or rather believe me, and began to stare at me with very passionate eyes. If it’s probably they see me as a woman… I don’t think those eyes are like that. Even more than that… admiration or faith? I do not know, but…….

I don’t know why they became like this. It seems like I’m misunderstanding something, but at this point, it’s convenient for me, so I won’t go out of my way to correct it. I don’t want to have my country stolen from me while I’m away and get stabbed in the back. If they’re going to take good care of me while I’m away, it’s more convenient for me to stay like this.

After saying my goodbyes to my new vassals, I board the ship and set sail. Regular shipments will continue to pass, and various things will be brought here as well. We just have to secure sea control…

“Finally, everyone can take a bath together!”

“That’s all we do, Mikoto…”

I don’t hate it either, do I? Cute girls dressed up in risqué swimsuits and “tee-hee, haha” time. Men who don’t like it are in the minority. But… no, it’s okay. They’ll enjoy me when we get back. That’s the best.

“I’m always being washed. Next time I come back, I’ll wash you all.”

I imagine that time as I stare at Alexandra’s watermelons. It’s going to be very fun.

“Floto? You’ve got a nasty face, don’t you? And just because they look big doesn’t mean they’re the best! Didn’t you say that my ‘slender body’ is good too?”

Claudia said such a thing while taking a strange pose. I certainly like Claudia’s toned body. Like this… not so muscular but just the right amount of definition… a healthy body like an athlete.

“In that sense, I’m probably the best!” Mikoto cried.

“”””… Yes, that’s right,””” all of us said flatly.

I mean… Mikoto isn’t all that good…

“Hold! What did you all mean by that?!”

It was just as the reaction was, but……, there was no way I could say that, so the girl’s chatter echoed on the boat.