Chapter 352 352-The Transformation of the Kingdom
Howard believed that if he could fully acquire the habitat of a certain species, it would provide an inexhaustible source of economic wealth.
In the past, the exotic creatures of Romagna and Ferrara, although they bred rapidly, were too few in number and were quickly hunted to extinction.
However, this time, with the indigenous beasts of the New World, there was no doubt about their abundance.
Securing these creatures meant Howard could stop worrying about economic issues.
It would free him to focus on managing his mercenary group.
Having witnessed these beasts firsthand, Howard took this matter very seriously, thus he decided to lead the expedition himself, fearing his subordinates might make a mistake in their assessment.
Upon arriving in the New World, Howard breathed in the fresh air of this uncharted land, gazing upon its lush greenery and rolling hills, and saw it as a treasure trove for the Oungria Kingdom.
The current situation was limiting, development was crucial, but sometimes the necessary resources for such an endeavor were not available.
Hence, this period was critical for establishing a strong foundation based on the land.
This land was inherently fertile, and it seemed likely to remain so.
However, if it had been barren or infertile, the nobles would not have invested time and effort into cultivating or expanding it.
The basic objective was to establish a city capable of sustaining a thousand people.
Once this was achieved, all teams of migration experts would move on to another province bordering this one.
Therefore, if the land was originally poor, it might remain so for a considerable time.
These green waters and mountains required careful exploration to uncover items of economic, culinary, mining, and textile value.
Leading an expedition of a thousand, Howard ventured into the forest in search of exotic beasts.
Guided by an expert, they successfully located the creature's habitat.
Both Howard and the guide rejoiced with a high-five, celebrating their find.
Two months later, Howard declared war on Bohemia, which in turn called upon Lubeck and Pomerania for assistance.
Pomerania, still relatively weak, and Lubeck, a nation known more for its commerce than military prowess, struggled in combat.
Howard, leading his newly formed Oungria Kingdom army, advanced swiftly, capturing Pomerania's major provinces with ease.
He then coerced Pomerania into withdrawing from the war, not only demanding a payment of 75 gold coins but also imposing a monthly tribute of 10% of their economic revenue.
Lubeck, witnessing the unfavorable turn of events and having suffered defeats at the hands of the Oungria Kingdom, sought an early peace with Howard.
However, Howard, seizing this rare opportunity, spent more time meticulously capturing each of Lubeck's provinces, eventually securing a port province for himself.
Bohemia, facing defeat, surrendered to Howard.
In exchange for peace, Bohemia ceded a duchy-sized territory and paid an immediate sum of 316 gold coins, followed by a monthly tribute of 10% of their economic revenue to Howard.
Back in Oungria Kingdom, the domestic situation was flourishing.
Many citizens, who once could only dream of such a feat while under the threat of the Osland Kingdom, were astounded to see their nation pushing into the heart of the continent.
Howard entrusted Bosiden with the task of stabilizing the newly conquered regions, ensuring the well-being of the populace and maintaining order.
For the critical task of integrating the Bohemian province into the core of the kingdom, Howard appointed Nora, a former imperial empress.
Her experience and stature were expected to quell any thoughts of rebellion among the newly subjugated people, ensuring a smooth transition and consolidation of power in these tumultuous times.
The provinces that were once directly governed by the empire had now been successfully integrated into the core of the kingdom under Nora's leadership.
The trade routes were bustling and unobstructed, and the tenant farmers lived stable lives.
However, the frequent wars waged by the Oungria Kingdom had led to a shortage of local soldiers.
Howard planned to recruit more people into the army after the winter.
Though the formation of the Oungria Kingdom's Black Army was initially successful, it was still small in number and essentially a temporary force, primarily composed of mercenaries.
Howard had begun to adopt a model similar to that of Edward's, transitioning to a mix of mercenaries and conscripted soldiers.
He had instructed Neplon to rigorously train these mercenaries; they were not to be paid for subpar performance that matched only that of ordinary conscripts.
Ordinarily, achieving high standards in such conditions would be challenging, but Neplon's training methods were exceptionally effective.
Moreover, many nomadic or unsettled people of the eastern steppes of Oungria Kingdom, fearing the incursions of Osland Kingdom, were especially diligent.
Howard, personally, was not fond of mercenaries and wasn't skilled in utilizing them.
He always believed that steady, gradual progress was the best path for development.
His frequent dealings with loan merchants were not a healthy management style, in his opinion.
Initially hesitant, Howard was persuaded by Neplon, who argued that having a professional army, even if not perfect, was better than none at all.
The journey to a professional military was not achieved overnight, and thus, Howard agreed to the formation of the Black Army.
A month later, the Osland Kingdom declared war on Salvia.
However, Salvia was like a prey on the chopping board of the Oungria Kingdom, and Howard was not about to let Osland Kingdom take it.
Howard had always been unsure about how to handle the Osland Kingdom, but Neplon reassured him.
This time, there was no need for such worry.
The initial success of the Black Army could give Howard a glimpse of its potential.
After careful consideration, Howard decided not to personally command the upcoming battle, entrusting the leadership instead to Neplon.
Howard had immense trust in Neplon's military acumen.
He reasoned that if the troops, under Neplon's command, were to be defeated, he would accept it more readily than bearing the guilt of a personal strategic failure.
During the war, Howard cooperated fully.
Although there were setbacks, at the war's most critical moment, the spiritual leader of the study group came to Howard's aid, drawing significant attention from civilizations across the continent.
This led to various nations declaring war on the Osland Kingdom.
In time, Howard's borders extended eastward to Constantinople Castle, giving him full control over the Balgen Peninsula.
As the war progressed, Howard promoted a number of military officers to the nobility.
The peninsula had its challenges, but the ideals of the Oungria Kingdom were well-suited to address them.
Howard invited several artists to depict the war between the Oungria Kingdom and the Osland Kingdom.
Once the paintings were successfully completed, Howard's fame grew.
With the development of firearms, Howard felt the time was right to dismiss all the old-era troops in his infantry.
The archers and longbowmen, among others, were all ordered to change their profession.
If they could meet the standards of the musketeers, they would continue to serve; if not, they were to be let go.
Ness expressed concern about this, saying, "These men are strong and skilled warriors. If you deny them the opportunity to earn money, what if they turn to banditry, attacking merchants and civilians?"
Without hesitation, Howard replied, "Then let our armed forces with modern weaponry teach them a lesson. They will understand my good intentions."
Howard, utilizing the Luka port, procured a substantial number of cannons from the Fran Kingdom and Westia Kingdom, thereby fortifying his forces.
Concurrently, he established a military academy.
Howard had visited this academy once, and left with a complex expression, never mentioning it again.
He felt that the academy was overly theoretical, more akin to training mathematicians than artillery officers.
In recent days, Howard, along with Catherine, disguised themselves to blend in with the ordinary folks of the countryside and the city of Pist, eager to observe the living standards of the populace.
However, things had changed significantly.
The spread of Enlightenment ideas had enlightened the citizens about their rights and the power they possessed, making governance more challenging.
For instance, after purchasing some apples from a fruit shop, Howard and Catherine were strolling towards the east, in the direction of the clockmaker's street, when they heard an angry woman's voice.
Following the sound, they came upon a scene involving an officer in blue military uniform mounted on a brown horse and a plainly dressed civilian in white, appearing rather destitute.
The incident unfolding before Howard and Catherine mirrored an experience they had once encountered on the streets of Pist.
While the earlier part of the road had been repaired, preventing the splashing of mud, a stretch between the cavalry barracks and the clockmaker's street remained unfixed.
A cavalry officer on horseback, much like Cotler from the past, inadvertently splattered mud onto someone's clothes.
However, the stark difference now was the woman's refusal to back down.
She vehemently asserted her rights, her gaze fixed unyieldingly on the eyes of the officer mounted on the brown horse.
Her words were laced with spit, her expression fierce and unyielding.
Unlike Cotler, known for his amiability with the public, this cavalry officer reacted harshly, striking the woman with his whip.
She fell, her arm previously cradling a basket of fruit, which now tumbled to the ground.
The fruits, following suit, rolled into the muddy earth.
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