Chapter 202
Chapter 202: Bring Some Friends With You (1)
Thanks to the wizards joining in, the construction speed had increased significantly, but there was still a severe lack of capable personnel.
The main issue was the shortage of officials to handle administrative tasks.
As the territory and population expanded, the corresponding administrative work had skyrocketed.
At first, the officials from Penris were eager to tackle their duties, but the overwhelming workload began to pile up.
In this era, it was hard to find individuals who had learned to read and could handle administrative tasks.
“Hmm, it feels like work is getting more and more stuck,” Ghislaine muttered, gazing at the towering stack of reports during the meeting with the retainers.
Claude, with dark circles under his eyes, lamented, “Yes, at this rate, the construction projects will fall behind again. Calculating the laborers’ wages, managing resource supply, and handling accidents aren’t running smoothly. There’s just too few people to check and handle those operations. Even with Divine Power allowing us to work without sleep, it’s still the case.”
“And Piote is working hard to resurrect them still,” Ghislaine added.
“Psychic fatigue is pretty considerable too. Divine Power doesn’t restore mental strength,” Claude grumbled, having passed out and been revived multiple times. His body was fine, but his mental strength was draining, and he was slowly nearing a breakdown.
To handle the suddenly increased workload, they needed far more officials than they had now.
“Are people still looking around?” Claude asked.
“Yes, but it’s not easy. We say we’re distributing food, so many people come, but most of them haven’t been vetted yet, and it’s hard to trust them. Who knows how other nobles might embed spies among them? It’s tough to assign important tasks to unverified individuals.”
“That’s unavoidable. We need to gradually lift the blockade on the territory. For now, let’s assign simple tasks only to those who haven’t been vetted.”
They couldn’t keep the territory closed forever.
New people needed to be recruited, and they had to sell food and iron ore to acquire other resources in bulk.
This was an issue they had to tolerate as the territory had expanded.
As they continued to expand their influence, these challenges would keep arising. They had to start preparing for it from now on.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Ghislaine pulled out a plan she had been considering.
“Let’s start by setting up educational institutions throughout the territory. Places to teach basic studies and the most urgent medical knowledge first.”
“Educational institutions?” Claude questioned.
“Yes. There are bound to be smart people among the territory residents. If we teach them a bit, they’ll be able to handle simple tasks. What do you think?”
“That’s not a bad idea. We’ll have to build them at some point anyway. But it will take time to establish and teach, so it won’t fill the lack of officials immediately.”
“We’ll have to solve that issue separately. For now, let’s quickly set up the educational institutions and recruit people to start studying right away. No tuition. It’s free.”
“But… will people actually want to learn? Most will probably think, ‘What good will this do me? I can’t eat bread from studying.'”
Claude’s remarks were valid. In the common perception, education was not something just anyone pursued.
It was a privilege of well-off commoners or nobles.
Many believed it was better to earn money working than squander time on education that rarely pays off.
But Ghislaine neatly solved that issue.
“We’ll say if they study, they get bread.”
“Huh?”
“Who gives away food for studying? It’s an investment for our territory. If we test them and find capable individuals, we’ll ensure their livelihoods while they focus on studying.”
“Uh, um… Got it. That sounds good.”
Claude, being an academic, did not oppose this.
For the future of the territory, they needed to cultivate talents long-term starting now.
And he knew that such a stable environment was vital for studying.
Though it might be costly, it was undoubtedly a good policy.
The other retainers, being educated themselves, didn’t genuinely oppose either.
After sorting her thoughts briefly, Ghislaine continued, “Once the situation stabilizes a bit more, I plan to create educational institutions to teach swordsmanship and magic to the territory residents. I’ll even establish new laws for that.”
Every retainer looked perplexed at the sudden announcement.
Regardless, Ghislaine expressed her thoughts openly.
“Firstly, all child labor is prohibited. In our territory, no one can work until they reach adulthood.”
“What?!”
The retainers were taken aback. No other territory in the Ruthania Kingdom had such laws.
Even children were expected to start working by a certain age, no matter how young.
Thus, it was common to see children brought by their parents working in the fields or construction sites.
Even if it was just menial labor, at least they could earn a small wage.
In such a tough world, it was only natural.
“Many territory residents will oppose this. They think… children are akin to their parents’ property… they’ll feel their rights and freedoms are being violated.”
“I don’t care. It’s absolutely prohibited from now on. Tell them there will be serious consequences if they disobey. However, we’ll provide more food support to homes with children.”
“Ugh, understood.”
The retainers bowed their heads. Once the lord made a decision, she would push it through.
There would surely be strong opposition from the territory residents, but it was unavoidable. They could only appease them with additional food.
To ease the awkward atmosphere, one retainer chuckled and said, “I didn’t know you cared so much for children, my lord. Everyone will praise your warm-heartedness.”
Ghislaine blinked before replying, “What are you talking about? If children start laboring from a young age, they won’t grow properly. If we feed them well and raise them healthily, they’ll become excellent soldiers for the territory in the future. Hence, child labor is banned. Once they come of age, they’ll undergo basic military training each year.”
“…….”
Everyone had momentarily forgotten what kind of person their lord was. Realizing Ghislaine’s intentions, the retainers were left speechless.
But Ghislaine wasn’t finished yet.
“Secondly, all children must receive basic education. Since we’re setting up educational institutions, everyone must participate in compulsory education. Since we’re merging residences, it should be possible soon.”
“Um… Does that include…?”
“Yes, knowing how to read and having at least minimal knowledge is essential to becoming a good soldier. This will diversify the operations soldiers can undertake, and perhaps a remarkable commander might emerge among them.”
“…….”
“Thirdly, treatment costs for sick individuals will be wholly covered by the territory. So accelerate the establishment of medical facilities in every residence. Recruit doctors as much as possible.”
“Um… Does that include…?”
“Yes, the residents must be healthy and strong to become soldiers who can fight anytime. Everyone is to become powerful recruits.”
“…….”
“These three laws come into effect in the territory starting today. I trust there’s no one who opposes them.”
Though the intentions might seem a bit eccentric, in the long run, these laws would positively affect the territory.
While no one was outright against the laws, there was one problem.
After clearing his throat a few times, Claude spoke up.
“Uh-huh, all of this is good. Very good, but… we still lack personnel to manage the territory. Even if the doctors can teach while managing the hospital, we have other fields where… who will teach and nurture people at the educational institutions?”
Ghislaine grinned.
“We can quickly fill that gap. There are always ways.”
“Teaching isn’t an easy task. It’s not enough to just know how to read. They need to have at least some knowledge. Where will we find such scholars?”
Ghislaine pointed her finger at Claude.
“Go get some friends from that Academy you attended. There are plenty of people over there, right?”
“M-my friends?”
“Yes, lure as many as you can. By any means necessary. When they come to Penris, promise them teaching positions at the academy and posts in the territory management.”
Claude’s face turned pale. Who would want a position that combined teaching and management? No one would want that kind of job.
Moreover, he couldn’t bring his friends, who had studied together, into this miserable territory.
‘They’re my friends, but honestly, they’re all weaklings. Physically and mentally.’
Claude had engaged directly in the rebellion, went through all sorts of things, and somehow gained a strong (?) mental resolve.
But his friends who studied with him were scholars who had lived nobly focusing only on academics.
They would be crying and fleeing within a week of arriving here, that much he could guarantee.
“Is there really a need to go all the way to the weak Seiron Kingdom to recruit scholars? There are plenty of scholars in the Ruthania Kingdom too, right? There are several large academies everywhere.”
“What would those people want to come to this barren northern land? It’s tough even finding ones from here, and this isn’t easy.”
“Then what makes those scholars in other kingdoms want to come here? Leaving home is hard work. Hard work.”
It was certain. He himself was struggling ever since he left home.
Ghislaine chuckled at Claude’s words.
“Stop overthinking. Your friends are probably all unemployed or in lowly positions. Do you think I wouldn’t know?”
“Ugh….”
Claude took a step back with a perplexed expression.
Then, thinking it over for a moment, it became clear.
What noble would employ scholars involved in treason? To avoid unnecessary risk, nobles had excluded them as much as possible.
After the rebellion incident, most of them would have lost their positions or been chased from their territories, living in poverty now.
Claude’s mentor was a highly respected scholar in the Seiron Kingdom, leading a faction until embroiled in treason.
So, many disciples belonging to that faction were likely very numerous.
Ghislaine clicked her tongue and continued.
“Tsk tsk, now that you’ve become a Chief Officer in such a large territory, it’s time to help out your struggling friends too. Is it fair for you to just enjoy success alone?”
“Wow….”
Claude pounded his chest in frustration.
Success? Am I living well? I just want to escape all of this already!
With a mountain of work and not enough sleep, what kind of “living well” is this?!
Stumbling with a dizzy head, Claude finally steadied himself and said, “Honestly, you know they’re not the easiest to bring along, right?”
It wasn’t entirely his fault, but he did indirectly provide them with the stigma of suspicion.
Out of guilt, he had severed ties and avoided contacting them. Although he wanted to help by sending money, he was broke—working as an unpaid slave.
In that situation, how could he ask them to come here and suffer?
But Ghislaine answered nonchalantly.
“I understand, but ignoring the problem isn’t the answer, right? What can a blocked scholar do there? Even if it’s tough, it’s better for them to come here and utilize their skills.”
“…….”
That was indeed the truth. What had troubled Claude the most was the sense of powerlessness from being unable to do anything, and the hopelessness of seeing no future ahead.
Perhaps in time, they would all live like beggars until the end.
With all the skills and dreams they had built up gone unseen.
After contemplating for a while, Claude hesitantly asked, “…But what if I just can’t do it?”
“You know our style, right? We’re going to work hard with this personnel until we fill the gaps. Why are you asking this suddenly?”
“Ugh….”
Claude rubbed his forehead.
Honestly, the lord’s words were all correct. That was the only way to gather many scholars at once.
It would be far better than struggling to recruit one or two at a time. There was no need to verify whether they were spies for rival nobles.
They were all people who had learned enough, so taking on high-ranking positions shouldn’t pose a problem. Moreover, since their fields of expertise varied, they could quickly fill up the deficiencies in the territory.
As Ghislaine observed Claude deep in thought, she casually said, “I’ll promise to treat them well. It’s better for them to bring their families and settle in here. I’ll ensure their livelihoods are secured.”
‘Wow, even in this situation, you want to increase the population a little bit.’
Claude stared at Ghislaine with a dumbfounded expression. She was definitely someone who maximized opportunities at every chance.
But in a situation like this, his friends would probably appreciate it. At least they wouldn’t have to starve here.
Scratching his head a few times, Claude seemed to have made up his mind.
“Alright, I’ll bring them. All of them, even their families.”
He had ignored it before out of painful wounds, but he knew that was not the right thing to do. He needed to give them a chance to choose their own future.
This had nothing to do with him being overburdened.
Ghislaine smiled, evidently satisfied.
“That’s a good thought. Try your best to persuade as many as you can to come.”
“Then I’ll need to spend some money.”
“Why?”
“If I show up with them looking all raggedy, who will want to come? I need to appear as someone ‘successful,’ right? I should also spread some money around to make the right impression.”
“Hmm, sure… whatever you need, just use it wisely. Only spend the necessary amount.”
Ghislaine replied hesitantly.
It was understandable for her to be hesitant.
She was the type to never skimp on what was necessary, but Claude had an inkling he’d overspend.
Since she couldn’t follow him to keep an eye on him, she’d have to let go a little this time.
“Ahem, then I’ll be off!”
Claude, having rightfully received permission for embezzling public funds, gleefully took Wendy with him.
His belief in not overthinking and enjoying decisions was clearly evident.
After glancing at his departing figure, Ghislaine clicked her tongue.
“Gillian, take 50 knights and 200 soldiers with you to provide escort. He might get robbed by bandits with that recklessness. Make sure people return safely too.”
“Understood.”
With a solid escort by his side, Claude felt no hesitation.
He set off towards the Seiron Kingdom, pulling the wagon loaded with food.
