203 – Before the Storm (6)
In a country led by Ciel von Kreuttel, King of the Kingdom of Creutel, there is no choice but to choose the conscription system.
Because, since the last expedition of the Franchi Empire, which was carried out by the mad emperor of the Elain Empire, we had to review a system that could mobilize a large amount of supplies and troops.
Currently, His Majesty the Emperor of the great Eline Empire, nicknamed the King of Madness by neighboring countries, blindfolded me and my vassals, who were marquess, and declared that they would purify them by labeling them as ‘traitors’, and suddenly became traitors.
Thanks to this, the empire I belonged to became a definite hostile relationship, and it became a situation where a large-scale war could break out.
In addition, there is a truce with the Holy Romanian Empire that is behind it, and the war is virtually unknown when it will resume, and Franchi sent the heirs of three families belonging to the great nobility as hostages, but I do not know when they will strike me in the back.
Therefore, in the worst case scenario, our kingdom may find itself in a situation where it has to wage a war on three fronts.
And no matter how plentiful my kingdom is in food, and its production efficiency and productivity are high compared to other countries, it is impossible to maintain enough standing armies to fill them all.
Of course, if you have enough troops…
Franchi will maintain an alliance with me and act together, and Romania will not move recklessly…
The criterion for a sufficient number is a force of sufficient size to wage war on all three fronts.
” My kingdom is so rich compared to other empires. From their point of view, I would look like a farmer raising a flock of geese that lay golden eggs.
And there is an evil thief who is targeting the Kreutel farm around me, and there are two guys who are worried about stealing.”
When I said this, Balt, who became a count when the kingdom was established, replied in a solemn voice.
“The Mad King of the Eline Empire was originally as crazy as Schwein, and the emperors of the Franchi Empire and the Holy Roman Empire might change their minds and steal at any moment.
As expected, the rest of the monarchs, except for Your Highness, are distrustful. But fortunately, the mad king is not insane.
If he had been able to make a wise decision at all, he would have formed an alliance with the French Empire and pressured us from now on.”
What is this? Even Balt, who has supported me the longest… Does he think he has become a king because he lives according to benevolence like Liu Bei?
I came all the way here because I was trying to subdue the perverted and incompetent Earl of Schwein who was just trying to steal his other’s wife, and to escape from the clutches of the mad emperor of the empire…
… Still, I didn’t openly say, ‘The land you own looks delicious, so I’ll take it.’
Also, Balt didn’t know anything about political engineering until the Battle of the Yellow Plains… What the heck happened… ?
This is not a bad change, but from the point of view of looking at it, it is disconcerting that longevity such as equipment or heojeo has gained the special skill of ‘tactician’ in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
“The empire is rotting from the inside out, do you have the mind to do that? If I had been able to make a wise decision in the first place, I would not have started an expedition like this and slowly dried me to death.
By the way, Balt… As far as I know, you don’t have any knowledge of political engineering like this? What’s happened in these few months… “
Then Balt scratched his head and said.
“My wife said this. ‘When you’re a baron, it won’t be a problem as long as you know how to command an army.
But now that I’m a count, I can help with internal affairs, but there will come a time when you’ll have to make your own political decisions. Study for that time.’ Then…
For the past few months, I have been teaching political knowledge at night. Thanks to you, I only study at night… “
It is desirable that Balt has acquired such knowledge about politics, but…
Do you think of Balt, where I finish my military training, troop management, and handling officer personnel affairs during the day, and split up my sleeping time at night to learn politics from my wife who is about 20 years younger… I felt special.
At that time, there weren’t that many tasks that he had to deal with, so if he was doing self-development, overtime should be exempted.
“If this conscription system is resolved, I plan to give the kingdom’s officials a vacation in turn. So I’ll give you a vacation then too, and enjoy your time with your wife.”
When Balt was told that he was on vacation, he looked happy and looked like he had everything in the world, but when he was told to spend it with his wife, he looked shocked.
From Noble mtl dot com
Anyway, it seems that the education of his wife, who was said to have taken second place in the political science department of the academy, was quite difficult.
However, from what I have heard, the relationship between Balt and his wife is very good.
So, your relationship will be better after you spend a good time together day and night.
Also, even though Balt is old, he is a knight who lives on his physical strength, so at night he will show off his dignity as a husband by exerting his full strength and recover his pride.
Wouldn’t it be scary to see her wife come out of the bath, as married men say? It can’t be.
“If you are going to go on vacation instead, didn’t you ask me to process the draft I presented to you regarding the conscription system before you go? What was the result?”
“It was perfectly written with the help of my officers and officials. First of all, look at this report and listen to the explanation.”
Balt handed me a bunch of papers, then went on with his words.
“First of all, as Your Highness said, all males under the age of 30 belonging to the Empire are obliged to undergo a physical examination for conscription.
Based on the results of this examination, those who are fit for conscription will be obliged to serve for two years.
If you are in charge of the household economy and you have no idea how to make a living for the rest of your family during the conscription period, you are classified as exempt from conscription.
In addition, once the military service period is fulfilled, a citizenship card is issued to the discharged person along with the privilege of being freed from ‘serf slavery’.
Those who failed to fulfill their duties due to failing to pass the inspection will not be given any special disadvantages.
In the future, in the appointment of a government official, the 10% bonus that ‘those who have completed military service’ receive will not be received, and a certain amount will be paid as military service tax in case of succession to a title or territory.”
The Baltic states that no special disadvantages are given, but there is a difference of nearly 20% only in the tax rate of income between families who remain as ‘serfs’ because they cannot serve and those who do not.
Anyway, since it is a kingdom built on the feudal system, there is a wall of status that cannot be crossed between formal citizens and serfs… This is a relative disadvantage.
In other words, serfs are more likely to voluntarily enlist in order to become citizens and lead a more prosperous life.
“First of all, conscripted soldiers go to training centers in Nantes, Blueport, Hamburg, Akitel, Iris, Nevery, and Johannes to receive basic military training for two months, as well as reading comprehension skills and various training.
Those who complete the training are collectively given the rank of Private, and are allowed to serve for 22 months in a unit near their hometown.
And the minimum wage is paid because equipment and food and shelter are guaranteed during the service period.
By doing this, the eldest son of the farming family will be able to expand their household when they get married, and the second son and younger will be able to lay the necessary foundation for self-reliance.”
At the same time, even though armies in modern countries have been ruined by dung-guns, they have caused many problems…
It is also true that the military at the time provided basic education to the common people to increase their average capabilities and help them socialize and cultivate patriotism.
However, conscription as a soldier has the disadvantage of lowering the birth rate due to the delayed start of social activities…
Anyway, it would be good to plant an image that a new start can be made only after serving in the military by providing funds to start social activities anew after serving in the military.
“Also, according to Your Highness’ order, only those who were previously selected as soldiers and had more than two years of service experience were given the option of being promoted to sergeant or being discharged after receiving 10 gold coins.
In addition, among the conscripted soldiers, only those who have been recommended by two or more lieutenants below the company commander will be provided with a system to receive long-term service examinations and receive noncommissioned officers.
The officers… The support rate of nobles is so high that there is no need for a system… “
Unlike Korea, the hurdles for applying for a noncommissioned officer are on the high side, but in Korea, even if you become a noncommissioned officer, your life does not bloom all of a sudden.
In this society where the quality of life is completely different depending on one’s social status and class, if it is possible to become a sergeant if recommended by a government official like in Korea…
Ninety-nine out of 100 soldiers will make a fuss about becoming professional sergeants, and in the worst case, they will try to bribe even by rooting out the pillars.
Just like the common people who tried to buy Gongmyeongcheop in the late Joseon Dynasty…
So, he must have decided that it was appropriate to limit the number of ways he could become a noncommissioned officer.
In general, once a sergeant becomes a sergeant, unless he is injured or punished, he does not intend to quit as a sergeant belonging to a higher rank in society.
No matter what, I try to fill the retirement age for my rank, expire a sergeant, or be discharged as a lieutenant.
As an officer, he said that it was the only way for nobles to obtain a title, and he was willing to pay a bribe to enlist.
And as a result of checking up to here, there is no problem that stands out from the big picture.
“Okay, then just add this to the report.”
“What is it?”
“Among those who were conscripted, those who participated in the war should be paid the same amount of wages and allowances as soldiers before the reorganization during that period, and give priority to long-term service selection for those who have made majors.
Also, if war breaks out, conscripts should plan to remain in the rear as much as possible. Then you can get off work and spend quality time with her wife.”
With that said, I waved my hand and gave Balt a three-day vacation permit.
After receiving the vacation permit, the Baltic made a subtle expression… Well, I’ll be back soon with good news that I’ve been resting well.
Then, I wrote on a piece of blank paper with the pen that was on my desk.
[Advantages and disadvantages of supply through the abolition of the warlord merchant system]
[In case of small supply bases around supply bases, increase in supply efficiency]
“The battle that decides the end of a war is over in a single moment, but the preparations for it must be thoroughly prepared several years in advance to reduce sacrifice. But… This is not good.”
I opened the report saying that I was not good and checked the contents.
The following was written in it.
[The Duke of Brussels, the regent of the Elaine Empire, succeeds in replicating gunpowder and matchlocks. Attempting to duplicate the current cannon.]