Chapter 10: The Royal Commissioner

Chapter 10: The Royal Commissioner

TL: Etude

A debate was underway.

Lord Count, I still think this is inappropriate, said Captain Holman, a former family knight who now led his own company for rotational training.

Dont try to persuade me anymore, Holman. After all, weve been doing this for a while now, how can we just abandon it halfway?

But I must say, teaching the soldiers to read and write is truly unnecessary. They only need to understand orders.

No, I want to create an army unlike any other. The first difference is that the soldiers are knowledgeable, they are thinkers.

Well, lets not discuss whether they are qualified for education. Have you considered that once they learn, they may no longer be content being soldiers under your command?

I will make being a soldier a prestigious profession. Of course, Im not talking about the kind of soldier that exists in noble circles, but a profession truly belonging to the common people. If even then they choose to leave my leadership, it only means I am not worthy.

What? Thats absurd. Ah, forgive me, Lord Count, I was impolite. But, you are their lord, what does this have to do with being worthy or not? Ruling them is both a right and a duty, as natural as the sun rising and setting.

Enough, Holman. I have made up my mind. Weve been doing this for so long, do you want me to retract my orders now? That would be like slapping my own face.

Seeing Holman about to continue the argument, Paul raised a hand and said, Let it be. I need to return to the town immediately to meet with the emissary from the capital. Ill probably be there for a few days. I hope when I return, the soldiers of the second battalion can not only meet physical standards but also read and write their own names.

After a stint as an enlightenment teacher, Paul had learned not to set his expectations too high. He turned and left the tent.

Holman turned to Claude beside him, Is the Count really teaching the soldiers to read and write? He still found it unbelievable.

Claude shrugged and smiled bitterly, When I first heard his plan, I thought I was dreaming. Our young Count always does things beyond the norm!

Paul arrived at the blacksmiths tent, Hows the progress with the muskets?

Blacksmith Herman, busy tinkering with something alongside his colleagues, immediately stood up to greet him, Lord Count, we are trying to improve the flintlock mechanism. Since were not mechanists, its quite challenging.

He honestly added, This trigger Im working on the guns made with it are likely to have a high misfire rate.

Paul nodded. On Earth, when the flintlock musket was first invented, due to subpar steel and bullet manufacturing technologies, it often failed to produce sparks or produced insufficient sparks to ignite the gunpowder, leading to high misfire rates. This was understandable.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

It seems technological development cannot be achieved overnight.

He picked up a completed matchlock musket and examined it closely. The structure was very rudimentary, lacking sights and aiming aids, consisting only of a barrel, stock, powder pan, and trigger. It was indeed a real musket, similar in many ways to the flintlock, but the matchlocks firing mechanism was much simpler.

The mechanism consisted of a serpentine rod and trigger. The rod held the lit match cord, and when the trigger was pulled, a lever moved the serpentine, bringing the burning cord into contact with the powder in the pan at the end of the barrel. The flame then passed through the touch hole into the barrel. This mechanism was much easier to produce.

The barrel was made by the blacksmiths using the rolling method, slowly hammering iron sheets wrapped around a core rod, using grooves on the anvil for alignment, gradually forming the shape of a barrel. Without the ability to produce quality drill bits, this was the best method available.

Lets do this: halt the improvement on flintlocks and focus all efforts on producing matchlocks. How long would it take to make one from scratch?

Count, this is the envoy from the capital, Baron Hansel Abbott.

Baron Abbott, this is our new Lord of Alda, Count Paul Grayman.

Steward Ford introduced them.

Hansel, slightly bowing, thought the new Lord looked even younger than he had imagined.

Esteemed Count Grayman, I am here by royal decree to convey His Majestys wishes. Firstly, congratulations, you are now officially recognized by the kingdom as the Lord of Alda. Additionally, I am to represent the royal court and reside in your territory. You must have heard about the current situation; many royal representatives have been stationed in various regions to strengthen the bonds and unity amongst loyal subjects like you.

Paul eyed Hansel carefully, noting his average height, slender frame, elegantly dressed, with meticulously groomed grey-white hair, clean-shaven face, and sharp, somewhat arrogant eyes.

I am deeply grateful for His Majestys trust, and I will not disappoint him, Paul responded gratefully.

Since everyone had been waiting for the Lord, they hadnt had lunch. So, they sat down in the dining hall to eat and talk.

However, a dispute soon arose.

But sir, forgive my impertinence, Ive taken the liberty of surveying your lands. In my observation, the pirate threat is not as severe as imagined. I believe the priority should be to form a loyalist troop to join the Princesss army in quelling the rebellion. Although she has exempted you from sending troops, defending the royal family is, after all, a subjects fundamental duty.

What are you talking about, envoy? Our old Count sacrificed himself in the fight against the pirates, is that not serious enough? We cannot agree with you! Bryce objected loudly.

If the old Count hadnt provoked the pirates, nothing would have happened, Hansel retorted, slightly annoyed at having to dine with a mere commoner soldier, which was already against proper etiquette.

What about the safety of our town and people?

Hansel dismissively said, Even with ten times their courage, pirates wouldnt dare attack Lakeheart Town, where the Lord resides. That would invoke the collective wrath of the surrounding nobility. As for the lives of the lower-class people in the border areas, why bother so much?

Bryce turned red, wanting to argue but restrained himself. Despite his position, he still felt the vast gap in their social status, both in Hansels eyes and in his own heart.

Paul internally lamented the stark lesson in class hierarchy. Trying to mediate, he said, Our last campaign against the pirates resulted in significant losses. Weve recruited new soldiers to replenish our forces. They are still in training and not yet ready for battle. Lets discuss this after their training is complete.

Hansel, who had hoped to convince them to be cannon fodder, was visibly displeased. Sir, allow me to remind you of a vassals primary duty to his lord. Pirates are a mere itch through your boot, but Jars rebellion is a dire threat to the kingdom.

He persisted, showing his noble demeanor and stern tone to the young Lord.

Paul, feeling underestimated and challenged, retorted, Let me remind you, I am the Lord here! And I have a deep vendetta against the pirates. He slammed the table, his expression turning grave, as if challenging Hansel in a staring contest.

Yes, Count, Hansel finally conceded after a long pause, lowering his head slightly and then silently continued eating.

The banquet proceeded in an awkward atmosphere

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