235 – There was plenty left over (2)
His Highness Otto smiled with satisfaction after hearing my story.
He made a great contribution, but I think he was pleased that he was not arrogant and handed over the initiative to himself.
Well, if you think about the good thing about power, it’s not that you can force others to do what you want… It’s quite possible.
“His devoted loyalty, risking his life to save the neighboring territory from crisis, and his ability to stop a large army and take over the county territory are truly admirable.”
Instead of answering, I lowered my head again.
“In addition, a person who wants to become an emperor must generously reward his subjects who have made meritorious contributions. Because that is the duty that you, as a monarch, must follow to your vassals.”
Befitting His Royal Highness, the future emperor, the words are so long that I feel like I’m going to fall asleep.
Just as in the military, if you doze off during the division commander’s lecture, your life becomes very difficult, so if you get caught thinking about other things here, it becomes annoying.
I have no choice but to focus on each and every word, Won.
It seems that nothing in this world is easy.
“I grant the direct earldom to Baron Cologne, and I grant the Barony of Demin to Baron Maurer, who helped him occupy the Hanseatic County.”
At those words, the nobles around him began to murmur.
“No matter how much Baron Cologne achieved a great victory, isn’t the reward too generous?”
“I didn’t give you a title, but if it’s under the direct control of an earl…”
“Didn’t you acquire the earldom on your own? In fact, you could say that the rewards are small.”
Nobles, excluding the king, generally divide the territory held by themselves and their vassals in this manner.
Self 1: Vassal 2.
Therefore, if it is a territory under the direct control of Count Hansa, it can be seen that 1/3 of the county territory was handed over to me.
Although I cannot say that I used the people’s kindness very generously, I can say that I gave it in a way that was commensurate with my achievements.
However, Dalton’s reward seems to be too small compared to his achievements.
If you compare the achievements of Dalton and I very precisely, it is true that I made a greater contribution by suggesting a plan that could lead to victory in this battle.
However, Dalton held out against an enemy army of 15,000 on the riverside with only 5,000 serf conscripts.
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Count Hansa was able to successfully carry out a surprise attack thanks to his ankle being properly caught.
So, overall, my contribution in suggesting the strategy should be evaluated as 6, and Dalton’s achievement should be evaluated as 4…
No matter how much I am a vassal directly under the prince and Dalton is a baron who is a vassal under Count Frost, the treatment is too harsh.
Prince Otto may or may not have known what I was thinking, but he walked trotting down from the platform in the throne room to where I was.
Although he is trying to act strict and solemn, Otto is now an immature young man of only twenty years old.
He was unable to hide his intention to show that he was drunk on the joy of his first victory as the next emperor due to his lack of experience.
‘The corners of my mouth are very tongue-tied.’
“Baron Cologne, Baron Maurer, please come closer.”
Dalton and I walked right up to the prince.
“Is there anything you want to say about non-gong peddlers?”
If I were a selfish person who only thought about myself, I could honestly just keep quiet.
However, even if Dalton is not my real family, he is also a person with whom I am close enough to call him ‘family’ in this world.
Even if it means reducing the amount of rewards I will receive, it would be right to take care of Dalton.
“I’m sorry, but may I ask you a question?”
Otto’s face crumpled.
“Tell me.”
Well, when high-ranking people generously tell you to speak up if you have any ‘complaints,’ it is customary to say nothing.
“The reason I was able to defeat Count Hansa’s large army and secure the territory was because Baron Maurer risked his life to fight on the riverside.”
“That’s not true.”
“However, just because Baron Maurer is a vassal of Count Frost, it would be underestimating his achievements to bestow only one barony.”
If this was a battle in which more than a dozen vassals participated, and one county territory was secured…
Even the person who made the greatest contribution would not have received a full barony.
Because everything has to be divided into several pieces.
“Pedhering in non-public works is solely my authority.”
You can only say that after Margrave Estelle has crowned you as emperor.
Now you are just a chairman who cannot ignore the opinions of the directors?
“A vassal of a vassal is ultimately a vassal of His Majesty. In addition, if we establish these correct principles, wouldn’t other vassals, knights, and soldiers be confident that they can receive fair compensation according to their performance?”
No matter what business you run, the most important job of the chairman is to give greater authority and fair compensation to competent people.
Of course, what I said is correct, but it may not be a very pleasant thing to hear from the prince’s point of view.
What are you going to do to me? I am the number one contributor to bringing this failing faction to its first great victory.
I’m not just leaving, but what’s the problem with demanding that Dalton be treated fairly?
Honestly, even if the vassals around you think that the reward you are giving me is a bit excessive, they have no choice but to accept it, they will probably think that you are giving too little to Dalton, right?
“When I think about it again, that’s true. Then, I will grant Baron Maurer the Viscounty of Lübeck instead of the Barony of Demin.”
Then Otto called out to his servant with a wave of his hand.
The servant holding the sword went towards Dalton, and Otto handed me a handsome ceremonial sword directly from his waist.
“I will give you my treasured sword as proof that I trust you. “Everyone is probably tired from coming all the way here, so please take a break today and enjoy the banquet.”
As soon as the prince’s order to congratulate the guests was issued, the vassals, including myself, immediately left the throne room.
**
Once the nobles had all left, Prince Otto spoke honestly to Estelle about his feelings.
“Isn’t Margrave Estelle, Baron of Cologne, or Martin, too arrogant? No matter how much he is said to be the one who opened the way for our crumbling faction to revive. “How can I express my dissatisfaction so openly with the course of study that I have set?”
It is not right to honestly express one’s feelings to Estelle, who is the undisputed leader of this faction.
The more he trusted Estelle, the more Otto himself had no choice but to be swayed by her.
However, Prince Otto had no choice but to rely on him, who had helped him materially and spiritually ever since he was treated like cold soup by everyone in a corner of the imperial palace.
To survive, either privately or publicly.
Of course, this situation was what the Margrave had intended for a long time, so he accepted this complaint with a half-hearted laugh.
“Certainly Baron Cologne’s actions were excessive. No matter how great his victories were, he showed his Majesty too much self-indulgence.”
As Estelle complained, Otto gritted his teeth.
“I recognize your ability, but your humble roots do not go anywhere. “I heard he was just a low-level knight and left his family to become a mercenary.”
Considering that it was Estelle who recommended Martin, this was tantamount to indirectly criticizing the Margrave.
But Estelle didn’t really dislike it.
If the Fourth Prince was an outstanding person like Martin, even if this faction grew a little later, he would just…
‘It must have become a tool to be manipulated by His Majesty.’
So, he is a moderately competent and sometimes moderately incompetent person.
In addition, the prince, who was quite honest about his feelings for a monarch, was an easy tool to handle.
Otto complained about Martin for about 10 minutes.
When the prince’s dissatisfaction had subsided to some extent, Estelle got lucky.
“His Royal Highness.”
Otto cleared his throat when he heard that.
“Hmm, that’s a bit long.”
“No. However, in the end, Martin’s actions will be helpful to Your Highness.”
“What does that mean? “Why does such arbitrary behavior help me?”
“That’s because our faction is very weak right now. So we need to attract the high lords and other vassals who are currently remaining neutral to our side.”
Otto is honest about his feelings.
However, as someone who evaluated Estelle as moderately competent and moderately incompetent, if she had to choose between ’emotion and reason’.
Of course, it was the side that prioritized rational judgment.
Of course, he has the flaw of not being able to completely cut off his personal feelings from important matters, so it is difficult for him to judge the situation calmly.
“The Baron of Cologne defeated the large army of the Count of Hanseatic, and a viscount and three barons proposed that they would like to join his majesty’s faction. In addition, the number of reliable mercenary units that have said they will stand by His Majesty’s side is more than 10.”
Of course, this mercenary group did not initially receive a high title such as Baron like Martin or Dalton.
However, everyone stood on the side of the 4th prince because they wanted to secure their share this time and receive titles such as high-ranking knights and barons.
Luckily, there were no fools in this faction who didn’t know that.
“The reason they joined His Majesty is because, even though it is risky, they expect greater rewards.”
“That’s right.”
“Then what should I do to control them? Even if we can’t give a big reward to all of them, give a big reward to those who have made outstanding achievements. “Wouldn’t you like to be heard only if you wave the big prize in front of the rest?”
“Except for the Margrave, there are not many who serve me with true loyalty. “The Baron of Cologne, as well as other vassals who joined me as soon as the civil war broke out.”
In this faction, Estelle was the most profitable, but it was the Margrave in front of him who took care of her from a young age and sometimes taught her to play dangerous games as an adult.
So, as the fourth prince, this is what he thought about Estelle.
He considers himself and his family’s interests very important, but more than that, he is a loyal subject who is loyal to himself.
However, on the contrary, Estelle’s intention was to elevate Otto, who was slightly inferior, as emperor solely for ‘benefit’.
“Baron Cologne must have seen the logic clearly. So he must have thought that it might be helpful for you to reward Baron Maurer generously.”
“That’s true, though. “Aren’t you interpreting it too favorably towards him?”
“Your Highness, Baron Cologne is a former mercenary. So he puts his own interests and the interests of his group first. “Sometimes he seems vulgar, but that’s why I can trust him.”
The reason why Margrave Estelle trusted Martin was very simple.
In Martin’s current situation, it is most advantageous for him to make Otto the emperor.
“If Your Majesty does not become Emperor, the Baron of Cologne loses everything he has. So he will risk his life to make His Highness emperor. “Isn’t that enough?”
After hearing those words, Otto nodded his head with a very satisfied expression.
“That’s right. “Then I guess I’ll go take a rest now.”
Estelle watched the scene and sighed from behind.
“Baron Cologne, or rather Martin, has always been like that. He guarantees you more than what you invested, but if you touch him wrongly, he bites the back of my neck. What kind of results will they show this time?”