Chapter 260 260-The Personal Blacksmith

Chapter 260 Chapter260-The Personal Blacksmith

Fiefs could be good or bad, and their management could make them strong or weak.

For instance, a baron facing a lord with formidable military capabilities might be able to muster an army of over a thousand conscripted soldiers.

However, the same baron, when confronting a lord with lesser military strength, might only manage to maintain an army of five to six hundred.

In such times, the more lands one possessed, the greater the confidence one had through the storms and challenges.

Howard had complete trust in Anna, Margaret, and Resarite.

Their loyalty to him was beyond question.

However, Knight Kaido was a different case, not one of the vassals who had risen with Howard from the beginning.

Howard found it impossible to extend to him the same level of trust as he did with the others.

Currently, Howard had four gold coins at his disposal.

This amount, while not insignificant, required careful budgeting.

He couldn't afford to allocate all of his resources to Castle Fernsouth, disregarding the other two villages under his control.

Knight Blima, the former Baron Fernsouth, had only possessed Castle Fernsouth, without any additional lands.

His eventual downfall was a poignant reminder to Howard: he must avoid repeating Blima's mistakes.

After much deliberation, Howard decided not to fulfill his promises immediately.

He shared his thoughts with Vettel and Alonso, who showed no signs of internal conflict and readily agreed.

Their understanding and agreement brought Howard great relief.

The castle required a Military Minister to oversee and train the soldiers daily.

Undoubtedly, Resarite was the best fit for this role.

Although he had recently accepted a fief from Howard and was currently residing in Rui Village, the noble customs of their world did not require a noble to be constantly present in their land.

Consequently, Howard inquired if Resarite was interested in taking up the position of his Military Minister.

Resarite agreed without hesitation.

Now, every day, the soldiers of Castle Fernsouth underwent rigorous training under Resarite.

Their loud, synchronized, and powerfully spirited shouts of discipline filled Howard with a sense of satisfaction.

The number of soldiers that could be conscripted from a castle was an unpredictable figure.

Blima had only been able to muster 300 soldiers from Castle Fernsouth, but Howard aimed for a higher count.

Under Howard's directive, Castle Fernsouth, following orders from Resarite, began to bolster its troops.

With Howard's military strength combined with Resarite's capabilities, they were now able to conscript approximately 1,000 soldiers from the castle.

Howard was overjoyed with this development.

Ten days later, Vettel commenced his work.

"He's very kind, handsome, and treats me well," she replied.

In the afternoon, Howard and his party left Windhaven Village.

He entrusted Kaido with the well-being of his sister, to which Kaido readily agreed.

On their way back, Howard, galloping on his horse, noticed a band of robbers assaulting an elderly man by the roadside.

He led his men to apprehend the robbers, and the old man expressed his gratitude towards Howard.

As they approached Castle Fernsouth, the gatekeepers on the walls recognized Howard and commanded their subordinates to open the gates.

Howard and his entourage returned to Castle Fernsouth, passing by the busy blacksmiths and leatherworkers, the sounds of their labor ringing through the air.

Howard turned to a woman beside him and asked, "Is there a way to get these castle blacksmiths to make weapons and armor for my conscripted soldiers for free?"

The woman, Nora, was a commoner.

In the absence of Anna and Margaret, who were not frequently by Howard's side these days, Nora had adeptly stepped in to fill their roles.

She now served as Howard's personal secretary, handling various matters for him.

Her presence and efficiency in managing Howard's affairs were a testament to her capability and adaptability in the complex world of nobility and governance.

Upon hearing Howard's query, Nora considered the problem manageable and replied, "My lord, typically you would have to pay them, but if you prefer not to, that's also feasible. They owe taxes for operating their shops here.

"You could waive their taxes in exchange for them crafting weapons and armor for you. If you're still concerned, you might hire them as your personal blacksmiths, paying them a monthly wage to fulfill your armament needs. In the long run, this approach could prove most beneficial."

Howard added, "Firstly, Nora, as the lord, I could easily compel them to work for me, but I prefer not to resort to that unless absolutely necessary.

"Secondly, waiving taxes simply converts what would be their monthly tax into weapons and armor. It's essentially akin to paying them for their goods."

"Thirdly, I want to hire some blacksmiths specifically for my needs, those who can handle large orders and maintain high quality.

"They don't necessarily have to be the ones currently operating in the castle, but skill and dedication are crucial. Nora, I entrust you with handling this matter."

Five days later, Nora assembled a group of blacksmiths.

They agreed to a monthly salary in exchange for crafting weapons and armor for Howard.

The reason these smiths were willing to work for what seemed like a less profitable short-term rate was their belief in Howard's reputation and status.

Crafting weapons and armor for Howard might not be immediately lucrative, but his fame was considerable.

A person's fame, like a tree's shadow, extends far.

Becoming Howard's personal blacksmiths allowed them to leverage his renown to enhance their own.

With increased recognition, they could attract higher-priced commissions, benefiting their own income in the long run.

Thus, Nora gathered twenty blacksmiths who took up residence in the lower levels of the castle, dedicating themselves to producing arms and armor for Howard.

Of course, Howard himself did not need so many weapons.

His intention was to equip his soldiers, a necessity for any lord.

Howard tasked the twenty blacksmiths with crafting an iron sword each, setting a deadline of three days.

After the allotted time, all twenty blacksmiths completed their tasks, and Howard inspected each sword.

The craftsmanship was ordinary, but Howard had no lofty expectations for these standard-issue weapons.

His primary concerns for the soldiers' equipment were durability, sturdiness, and overall cost-effectiveness.