409 – Northern Prince (not Prince) – 1
Country of Wirydia. Territory in the northern periphery that had been under direct control of the imperial family until just a few months ago.
Due to the nature of the northern border, it serves as a market for barter with nomads during peacetime, and is a miraculous place that suddenly turns into a military assembly point when the emperor decides to wipe out the nomads.
The reason why such an area disappeared from memory even though it was given as a territory is simple.
‘I didn’t have the energy to remember.’
Once I thought about it, the incidents that occurred after I was given Wiridia as a territory were intense one by one.
The empire, which had just recovered from its wounds, mobilized a large army and set out on a northern conquest. After winning a large-scale expedition, the emperor became khan. The emperor personally held a grand triumphal ceremony. The grandson of the crown prince of the highest level of legitimacy was born. He became the godfather of the prince. The establishment of the Ministry of Supervision was decided. The transfer of the county of Tylglechen has been decided. The last was the first abdication ceremony in the history of the empire.
This is what happened in just half a year. At least, I picked only public things and that’s it, and if I include private events, I can’t bear to count them.
‘It was worth forgetting.’
The embarrassment gradually disappeared and confidence took its place. Things like that happened, but do you remember the county? To be honest, the emperor must have mistaken Wiridia as a direct control territory and only recently found out about it.
“I will visit the territory as soon as possible to normalize it.”
Of course, I didn’t show my confidence outwardly. It’s something that neither I nor the emperor have forgotten, but it’s true that he used the imperial family’s assets to manage a mere noble’s estate.
And I just nodded my head to see if even the Emperor understood my dynamic half year.
“Come to think of it, Minister. There’s no problem with the manor, but he said something interesting happened.”
“Yes?”
What are you talking about again? No problems, but something interesting happens?
‘Is that a word that can coexist?’
I drank alcohol, but I didn’t drive drunk, I feel like I heard something like that. If the emperor says it’s interesting, it’s that he’s got some f*cking f*cking sh*t.
“Listen to the chief district officer on site for details. Jim was also contacted in writing, so he won’t be able to explain in as much detail as the chief district officer.”
However, when I was told to go directly if I was curious, I couldn’t refute anything.
If you think of it as karma for neglecting the territory so far, it’s not a bad price.
Thanks to the emperor’s implicit order, I immediately headed for Wiridia. On the surface, it was a suggestion rather than an order, but seeing how they talked about managing the territory and interesting things, it was like telling them to go right away.
It’s a strange thing. I wonder what a bastard is doing when I see him kicking me out at the speed of light when he made me into an institutional jibak-ryeong under the pretext of looking at the affairs of the founding of the Superintendent.
The reason I was kicked out this time is that I provided it 100%, but it’s a problem.
“Meet Your Excellency, Earl of Wirydia. My name is Alfred Gelbein, who was the chief governor of Wirydia.”
When we arrived at the center of the Earldom of Wiridia, the chief governor greeted us. In the meantime, I don’t know why the word ‘was’ sounds so sad.
“In the meantime, a lot of effort was put into managing Wirydia on behalf of the original work.
“How can you say such a thing when you know that His Excellency has dedicated himself to serving the empire? Rather, I am thrilled to be able to help him even a little.”
Let’s start with an apology, the chief provincial governor bowed down to his waist and replied politely.
From noble mtl dot com
Don’t do that. Then I’ll be more embarrassed.
“Besides, I am very attached to this area, so I was happy to have time to sort out my lingering feelings.”
As if he had noticed my feelings, the chief district officer continued with a faint smile.
“That’s fortunate.”
Of course, I was still embarrassed, but I felt warm consideration, so I smiled. Thank you for doing so…
“Ah, let’s go inside first. I have a lot to tell you, Your Excellency.”
“Yes, let it be.”
I flinched at the word that I had a lot to tell you, but I obediently followed the chief governor to the lord’s office.
First of all, surprisingly, it doesn’t seem that there is a problem with the estate like the emperor said. If a problem broke out, the senior governor’s expression couldn’t be that calm.
‘I avoided the worst.’
He let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he avoided the title of ‘the great lord who caused an accident by neglecting the territory’. That alone is an encouraging achievement.
…Now I just need to know what the interesting thing the emperor has approved is.
‘Is it a permission problem?’
Suddenly, I made such a guess. A reasonable guess that the incident might have occurred because they were enduring as local officials in a territory with a legitimate owner.
The possibility is quite high. Although the owner forgot the fact that he had received the territory, and the provincial governors are veterans who managed Wiridia from the time of direct control, if the territory was changed to a noble’s territory, it would be difficult for the provincial officers to actively administer it. Because the owner of the territory is always different.
Yeah, it’s okay if it’s like that. As the rightful owner of the territory, it is enough to deal with it right away.
“The number of nomads in Wiridia has increased dramatically.”
But it wasn’t. The happiness circuit that had run at best broke as soon as he arrived at the lord’s office.
“Number of nomads?”
“Yes, sir.”
He calmly sat down in the seat of honor and opened his mouth. In fact, it is not surprising since it is always the case that the happy circuit misses.
I just wonder that the nomads who were incorporated into the empire, who became legitimate subjects of the empire, deliberately flowed into my territory.
‘The lords must be in control?’
This is a strange thing. Currently, the nomads are under the control of thirteen great lords who have been crowned by Sanghwang. They are not aristocrats who lack ability as they are people who have been given titles for noticing and tightrope walking.
Besides, as a rising noble and lord, he must want to somehow increase his power. He must be trying to make as many people as possible by embracing even the wandering tribes and clans that wandered without belonging. So, under normal circumstances, nomads would not come to the territory belonging to the mainland.
I’m sure not.
‘Do they fight among themselves?’
I even thought of that. If the great lords of the north were fighting by the collar, the nomads could even go south to the mainland to avoid the fight.
However, I have never heard of such a thing. In the first place, when the lords of the empire engage in armed conflict without permission, the empire blows the heads of all involved. If the lords of the empire fight, it’s a civil war—
“Also, the number of nomads visiting the market has also increased rapidly. It seems that most of the crowds heading to the nearby territory have flocked to Wirydia.”
“…….”
After hearing that, I felt something unusual.
“Chief Provincial.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Have you ever received a letter from another noble while the main work was away?”
Then the chief governor nodded resolutely as if he had been waiting for the question.
“The thirteen great lords in the north have all sent letters.”
‘Damn it.’
Just as the happy circuit always misses, the despair circuit always fits.
‘I was chosen.’
It’s not a word to use for humans, but there is no better expression than this.
I was chosen by the great lords of the north.
For the nobility, a title is a symbol of wealth, honor, and power. In addition, the territory attached to the title is an easy-to-understand reference point for measuring the status of aristocrats.
Then, are titles and estates all about nobles? That’s not it either In aristocratic society, there is a melting pot of social connections, and true power comes from the center, not from the provinces. No matter how high a noble title and rich territory you are, if you live like a hikikomori in your own territory, your influence will diminish.
Of course, among the current dukes, there are only three dukes in the territory, but the dukes already have family connections built over 300 years, countless blood relatives, and factions. Even if the duke party is just breathing in the territory, its influence does not diminish.
However, the new aristocrats have no history, blood ties, or factions.
‘So he must have wanted to contact the center somehow.’
There is a stepping stone to come into contact with the center.
I understand. Having the name of the great lord, and becoming those who represent the north, it is natural to want to exert influence in the center. It is also natural to want to be in contact with the mainland nobility without being isolated in the north.
But I didn’t know that it would be me. Isn’t there a land of legends in the north right now? If I were to ride the line, I would have thought that I would ride the line of a veteran who was also a craftsman of the emperor, but I would have imagined that I would ride the line of an aristocrat in his 20s.
‘This means to take a good look at it.’
I almost let out a sigh. The number of nomads within Wirydia increased because ‘we will not stop those who want to become Count Wirydia’s subjects.’ It means. It was as if the lord had conceded the people who would pay taxes to him.
It is for a similar reason that nomads flock to the market in Wiridia. ‘We will deal only through Count Wiridia.’ It is voluntary economic submission.
I’m sure. One marquis and twelve counts in the north reached out to me. Thirteen great lords and mighty nomads will support you, so ask that you become our leader and lead us.
‘Are you from the tribal chief?’
Confused. No matter how you look at it, this is the political power of a 100% pure settled aristocrat, not a tribal chief.
Or is the political quality of nomads no different from that of civilized people?
“…Let’s look at the correspondence first.”
“Yes, I’ll get it right away.”
After being silent for a while, he finally opened his mouth. It’s a faction member that I didn’t know, but at least I have to check what he said.
‘I’m going crazy.’
I came just to take care of the territory, but I ended up becoming an unimaginable faction leader. It was also a small but powerful faction made up of all the great lords.
No, with the Marquis in it, you can’t even call it small. If even the faction the Marquis participated in was called small, which faction could call itself large?
‘Is it a punishment?’
Suddenly, memories of the past came to mind. While returning to the island after completing the northern expedition, I thought that the emperor would suffer a little if a faction consisting of the great lords of the north appeared.
But I didn’t know I would be part of that faction. If I had known, I wouldn’t have laughed at the emperor.
‘It’s a punishment.’
If you laugh at others, the pain returns to you.
It’s a goose-inducing punishment.