Chapter 316 316-Meeting with the Mayor
In the evening, Howard hosted a banquet for Count Terni.
The two celebrated together, raising their glasses in a cheerful atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the neighboring countries of Pomerania and Bohemia were at war.
Pomerania, a coastal nation, wasn't keen on legitimate trade.
The country had a notorious habit of plundering other nations' fleets, a practice that discomforted its neighbors.
Others engaged in honest trade, transporting goods and earning profits, while Pomerania focused solely on immediate gains through piracy.
This shortsightedness was evident.
Constantly raiding other fleets, merchants dared not venture near Pomeranian waters.
Who would willingly take their wealth and goods into the den of pirates? It was a simple logic that led to a clear outcome: Pomerania, despite being a coastal nation, earned little from maritime trade.
The total income from both pirating and their own fleet's trade paled in comparison to what could have been earned through proper development of trade.
Thus, Pomerania was seen as a shortsighted country.
Interestingly, the King of Pomerania himself did not engage in piracy.
The pirates who set sail from Pomeranian ports were acting in the interests of Pomeranian nobility.
This issue was less about choosing the wrong path and more about a lack of control, or perhaps it was rooted in traditional culture and historical habits.
Bohemia, a country renowned for its sizeable territory and stubborn resilience, was not particularly famous for its military prowess.
Like Pomerania, it faced similar financial constraints due to its landlocked nature.
However, Bohemia's larger land and greater troop numbers gave it an advantage.
In this confrontation, Bohemia deployed an army of 20,000 soldiers.
The battle took place near a forest where Bohemia had initially planned an ambush on Pomerania's forces.
However, their plan leaked, forcing them to engage earlier than expected.
The Pomeranian army broke ranks and fled.
Due to the forest terrain, Bohemia also suffered considerable losses, especially in the latter stages of the battle, incurring moderate casualties.
Tragically, within the Pomeranian army were some brave and fearless light and heavy infantry who suffered severe losses, demonstrating a poor performance.
This battle revealed that part of Pomerania's tactical thinking still lingered in the past, vainly hoping to break enemy lines with Viking-style fearless charges.
This led to widespread disappointment in Pomerania's strategic capabilities.
…
In earlier years, during the era dominated by the Vikings, the phrase "Viking conquest" was not taken lightly – it often meant bloodshed.
Wherever they went, they potentially left nothing but desolation in their wake.
They were not only adept at attacking fleets at sea but also capable of coastal landings.
They pillaged treasures and wealth, dragging them back to their ships, and then joyfully returned to their homelands.
To describe the Vikings during their era of conquest as mere pirates would be an understatement; their ambitions stretched far beyond that.
When you had a considerable force, they acted as pirates, but without a military presence, they might just settle and refuse to leave.
With the rise of trade-focused thinking and an increase in maritime traffic, some coastal nobles couldn't help but feel the urge to return to their old ways.
Many nations had already strictly prohibited piracy, leaving Pomerania, a minor player during the Viking era, hesitating to follow suit.
In truth, all it would take to change Pomerania's course was a royal decree banning piracy nationwide.
However, the King of Pomerania lacked the vision to see this, and although he had considered issuing such a decree, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to do it.
Various reasons led to Pomerania's current dilemma, resulting in a nation lacking wealth and unable to improve its military capabilities.
Pomerania dispatched an army of 17000, but it was intercepted by Bohemia's forces, leading to a battle.
As Howard lounged on the sofa, lost in thought, Bosiden entered the room and cautiously said, "My lord, there's something I'm not sure if I should mention."
Howard, leaning back on the sofa, responded, "Go ahead."
Bosiden took a slight breath before speaking, "Well, my lord, since you became a duke, it seems you haven't fully grasped the reality of it."
Alerted, Howard sat up straight and asked, "What do you mean?"
With a hint of embarrassment, Bosiden explained, "It seems, my lord, that you have forgotten to assign fiefs to your vassals. Resarite and Kaido often come to me with inquiries."
Howard uttered an "Oh," realizing his oversight. In fact, he had casually mentioned being a duke during a discussion with Catherine about Rolf, saying, "He's a duke, and so am I, what's there to fear?" Indeed, Howard hadn't fully adjusted to the idea; after all, he had earned the title of marquis through battles, whereas the duke title was directly bestowed by the emperor.
The ease of receiving it might have made it less impactful.
Howard sighed, "Yes, indeed, it's inappropriate of me. I am a duke now, and you all must have been waiting anxiously."
Bosiden bowed his head and humbly said, "I wouldn't dare."
Howard waved his hand, indicating there was no need for Bosiden to feel ashamed, and then walked over to his desk to start drafting documents.
Bosiden stood by, nervously and rigidly, not daring to make a sound.
When Howard finished the documents and handed them over for Bosiden to read, he accepted them with both hands and began perusing them.
Howard granted Anna a county within the Luka region, making her a countess effective immediately, the same rank as her cousin, Count Edward.
Margaret received a county within Lagusa, becoming a countess herself.
Resarite was also awarded a county, elevating him to the status of a count.
In the remaining county of the Duchy of Lagusa, which included two baronies and two cities, Howard bestowed a barony upon Bosiden and another upon Vettel.
Furthermore, he assigned seven or eight villages to Alonso.
The matter regarding Kaido was put on hold, as Howard was hesitant to grant him any additional titles.
After reviewing the documents, Bosiden expressed his gratitude for Howard's generosity.
Following a brief conversation with Howard, he left to prepare for the ennoblement ceremony.
Subsequently, Howard summoned Vettel and informed him, "Following Bosiden's reminder, I've granted titles to each of you according to your merits. You will receive a castle and the surrounding lands, becoming a baron."
Vettel, visibly delighted, bowed and said, "I am truly fortunate to serve under you, my lord."
Howard continued, "Summon the mayors of the two cities within the last directly governed county of Lagusa. Now that other areas have been assigned, it's time for me to have a discussion with these mayors. If I'm not satisfied, I might implement certain policies."
Vettel's expression turned more serious, understanding that Howard intended to assert control over the mayors.
He nodded and left to carry out the task.
Approximately two hours later, the mayors of the two cities stood nervously in a room, awaiting their introduction to Howard under Vettel's guidance.
Vettel had already prepared them, advising, "Lord Howard is a capable ruler. If you work for him, he won't let you down. But if you disrespect him, let me remind you of what happened to the former mayor of Wislot – he was replaced."
Understanding the implications, the mayors followed Golan to meet Howard.
Howard's first question caught everyone off guard: "What are your views on the New World?" This left both mayors, and even Vettel, the Minister of Finance, who was standing nearby, startled.
The mayors exchanged glances with Vettel, wondering if the topic wasn't supposed to be about increasing taxes.
Why suddenly bring up the New World? Vettel maintained a neutral expression, striving to present himself as unobtrusive and compliant in front of Howard.
Howard waited for their response, his keen eyes shifting between the mayor standing close to Vettel and the one slightly further away.
Both mayors, feeling the pressure, chose to answer rather than keep Duke Howard waiting.
One mayor said, "I think the New World is great. It's vast and unknown, rich in resources and land. We should encourage its colonization."
The other mayor, following the first's lead, added, "I agree. It's a good idea. We should send more people to the New World."
Howard nodded slightly, indicating his satisfaction, and then asked, "How do you find the current import and export volume at Lagusa's ports?"
One mayor replied, "Ever since you became the Duke of Lagusa, our port's traffic has increased significantly. Every day, many ships dock and set sail. This place is becoming more and more prosperous."
The other mayor added, "The large orders for iron products from Nok have boosted our local manufacturing industry."
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