251 – The Road to the Emperor (7)
Today is a rare day when everything I have to deal with is finished in the morning.
In order to make the best use of the free time in the afternoon, we decided to encourage the administrators who are grinding day and night to set the framework for the empire.
So now I’m visiting administrative officers who work overtime with snacks and ice cream that cost 3 silver coins per set.
If you look at me like this, you might say that I look like King Sejong the Great who goes to encourage the scholars of Jiphyeonjeon, but…
Well, in reality, employees belonging to other departments read novels or various books and stand on duty all night, but the administrators here have to work at night because they are so overworked. There was a time when I visited at dawn and put my cape on it.
At that time, I thought this would remain as a historical story.
Lauren, who had risen to fame as a courtier, scolded the pitiful young man for saying, “You haven’t been able to extend the night watch, are you sleeping with your Majesty’s cloak on!”
Still, when I visit from time to time, everyone seems tired from work, but when the emperor directly encourages them, they feel rewarded and work harder.
Now I have to tell them to take a short break with a delicious snack as an excuse, and then work hard again.
I went to the office with that in mind, but sure enough, even today the administrators were passionately debating the future policy.
“Your Excellency, it is now necessary to reduce the number of soldiers guarding the borders of the Empire. Even if it is possible to make up for the budget by selling steel, iron armor, and weapons from the steel mill. I think it’s a waste of money.”
“Even if your majesty doesn’t want war, if you reduce the number of soldiers, the francis and the empire that pretends to be holy will definitely declare war! It’s good to walk on my palms! So, there is no need to reduce the number of soldiers. Just think about what to do with the soldiers who have nothing to do after the war.”
“My younger brother, who was on vacation a few days ago, told me that soldiers who have no other job to do are entrusted with jobs such as camp construction and road construction. By applying it, how about having soldiers in the rear participate in civil engineering work at the national level, like the engineering unit?”
Everyone has a point.
Because our empire has neither the capacity nor the intention to wage war for at least the next 5 to 10 years.
For the time being, the numerous people of the vastly enlarged Croytel Empire must be allowed to enjoy stability and prosperity. Expansion of the territory by extorting food and resources from the people who have been suffering from wars until recently should be avoided as much as possible.
Because if you do it wrong, only the mustache can make you look like a gun.
In that sense, since there will be no war for the time being, reducing the number of soldiers can be considered to reduce costs.
However, since it is impossible to dismiss soldiers above noncommissioned officers who have contributed to the empire so far, having them do civil engineering work happily like soldiers in the Roman era can be one way.
Seeing how positive discussions are taking place regardless of rank in a place where I am not present, I think that putting bureaucrats through hard times will be of great help in breaking away from the caste society…
Will a self-purification effect occur if a deadly drug called an overtime bomb is dropped on public organizations where the status order is too solid in the future?
With that in mind, I opened the door to the office and entered.
Then the magistrates saw me and all stood up to bow, but stopped them with one hand and asked:
“It’s okay. I think what we’ve been discussing so far has been talking about where to budget for education. Am I right?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t it cost a lot to expand the size of the academy by taking the exam in each baronial unit? That’s why we are gathering opinions to come up with a budget and reduce spending that seems unnecessary.”
“That makes sense. However, I don’t know about other empires or kingdoms, but the Kreutel Empire makes a lot of money from processing salted herring from ports like Blue Fort, selling steel, weapons and armor from steel mills, manufacturing and selling sugar, and cultural businesses. With the money coming into the imperial family through that business, it would be possible to increase the number of troops by 60,000 from the current level… The reason for reducing military spending. Is it for the future?”
After that, I left the snacks and ice cream and took the report they wrote and came out and said.
“First of all, I will read each proposal written by the young people. If there’s anything useful, I’ll refer to it for the next promotion review. I’ll be back in an hour, so take a break and eat some ice cream and snacks.”
**
When I came back an hour later, the magistrates had dark circles under their eyes that had faded a bit, probably because they ate ice cream and snacks.
“First of all, I read the report. I’m glad you all seem to have more insight than I expected. Starting today, I will raise your wages by 30%, and I will also give you 7 days of vacation.”
In the novels, it is said that a competent manager can manage something even if he or she is not given time to rest if he or she pays a lot of money and rolls.
Even if you earn a lot of money by rolling, if you don’t have time to spend it, the meaning will fade a lot.
So I split my free time to order dresses for Ella and Irina, who were neglected due to the ongoing war and work, and invested 5,000 gold coins for me to make a wheeled pistol that I now wear around my waist.
Even if I’m just a little bit corrupted, if I close the door for a month in order to take a break and enjoy the education of the master like Dong Tak, honestly, no one will say anything.
As a modern man, I don’t want to do such crazy things because I have even a small part of my conscience left.
At the time the administrators, encouraged by my remark about giving me a sudden leave, were about to ask if the leave would start tomorrow, I blocked the question and continued the conversation.
“However, even though your skills are excellent. Some opinions, including the plan to reduce the army that is the basis of the Creutel Empire, could not be adopted, and the rest were only partially reflected. Except for one planner.”
As it was said that only one was chosen, the magistrates looked at him with a slightly disappointed look on their faces, assuming, of course, that the highest courtier of Lorraine would receive the prize.
Contrary to their expectations, the plan I adopted…
“Third Secretary Prinz Euler, ‘Concerning the inefficiency of the self-governing security forces composed of citizens and serfs and whether they can be replaced by soldiers.’ I have brought a report containing what the Empire needs most.”
At those words, the youngest scribe here looked at me with a blank expression, unable to say anything as if he was nervous.
It’s not unreasonable, because the third-class scribe at the bottom of the ranks received by administrators who graduated straight from the academy was called in the position reshuffled after becoming an empire.
On top of that, considering that there are many outstanding people such as the 1st and 2nd rank scribes, 1st to 3rd rank inspectors, chief/deputy chief inspector, court baron, etc., It is worth the burden.
Below, there are 9th grade civil servants, assistant village chief, village chief, and bailiff, so they are relatively high in administrative positions.
Anyway, he’s the lowest administrator in the court, so he’s at a level where he has to bow his head when he sees a butler with a spare moment.
Sometimes, due to a lack of experience, stereotypes are lost, and there are cases where you look at a problem with a different perspective and come up with an effective solution.
I never thought I’d come up with a smart solution that transcended the times.
“Besides, in the former Imperial Territory, because of the reconstruction of the territory, it is necessary to prioritize rebuilding the territory by imposing military service rather than conscription, and creating something like an autonomous police force can cause trouble.”
When the descendents of the nobles imprisoned in the monastery are brought in, a madman instigates them, and the villages sympathize with the rebellion.
Variety of vigilantes using vigilantes to play against me, who have been at the end of power so far, do not guarantee their rights.
In addition, if security improves, citizens will also have a better life, and all professional soldiers excluding commanders who are transferred to the police will be assimilated as serfs.
“I think it is a report that can solve such problems at once. So, after a week’s break, Third Clerk Prinz. No, as of the current time, I will order you to be promoted to 2nd Clerk, and I will promote you to 1st Clerk immediately when this plan is implemented, so you can go to work in the office next to me for the time being. Take a week off.”
I handed the pouch containing 30 gold coins to the guy who was receiving such jealous and envious glances from the other seniors.
“This is money given in advance, believing that a good plan will be completed before the plan is completed. If you complete it properly, I’ll give you another 70 gold coins. Also, while on vacation, tell the people around you. ‘Now, you don’t have to envy soldiers’ rapid promotion and rise in status. Instead, from now on, for the sake of paperwork, the welfare of the people of the empire, and a comfortable life, wage war at your desk and get promoted.'”
If you are a third-class secretary, it is the first position that a person who has been graduating from the academy for about 1-2 years has received a ‘probationary’ ticket.
The first clerk he receives after submitting the plan is the same as the inspector in terms of his position before the reorganization, and it is a position that can be received only after graduating from college and working for 10 years…
It will be difficult to adapt, but in the future empire, it is necessary to highlight talented people like him who have ‘proved their abilities and changed their fortunes’.
So, just like they did in Korea, commoners and nobles alike will study hard to become the main characters in the success story.
With that kind of heart in mind, I patted the frozen second-class scribe Prinz on the shoulder and said.
“Let’s name the project ‘Police,’ and make sure you draft the plan from start to finish and post it. Also, if you were born as a man, shouldn’t you be given a court title by making a big contribution in the administration? Isn’t it?”