Chapter 3 Post-Ice Doomsday, Nobles of the Kingdom, Conversation
I forgot when Moriarty once heard someone talk about it: the so-called aristocratic life is a corrupt, extravagant, decadent, lifeless life that should be swept into the trash heap at the bottom of history.
Moriarty did not agree or disagree with this assertion at the time. After all, as an engineer, he had not really been in contact with or entered such a circle, so he had no basis for making comments or thoughts.
But now, when Moriarty, as the only son of a baron family, is completely in the territory of the powerful local nobles of the Kingdom of Erathia, he can say with great confidence: The above discussion is simply fart!
In imagination, those dandy aristocratic children who bully men and women, take advantage of the people's wealth, idle around all day, and walk their horses around do not exist in the land of Erathia at all.
This is not to say how noble Erathia's aristocratic tastes are, how perfect her thoughts are, and how lofty her ideals are, but the cruel reality has fundamentally eliminated the possibility of those aristocratic parasites.
Since the "Ice Doomsday" five hundred years ago, the Kingdom of Erathia, the continent of Antagrich, and even the layout of the entire plane have undergone earth-shaking changes.
Despite struggling to survive the horrific impact of the "Ice Doomsday", the Griffin family still stands as the rulers of the kingdom in the royal capital "Standwell". However, unlike their ancestor "Gryphon Heart" Griffin.
In particular, the royal family's dominance over Erathia is far from what it was before the "Ice Doomsday".
At the same time, taking advantage of the extreme decline of the royal family's military strength and the collapse of the mage system, the kingdom's local nobles took advantage of the situation to rise. Although Erathia is still a complete human kingdom in name, the royal family's power stick can only
It wields unimpeded power in Standwell and its surrounding areas. As for public affairs and administration in other parts of the kingdom, it is largely dominated by local aristocratic forces.
Although the Griffin family has tried several times to regain its power and regain the glory of "Gryphon Heart" over the past few hundred years, the "cunning" local nobles have never been willing to let go of the power they had finally obtained. Therefore, the royal family
The battle of wits and courage with the local nobles, where you advance and I retreat, became the mainstream of the kingdom's internal political life.
Of course, the above "games" between "central" and "local" are always limited to acceptable levels. Whether it is the royal family or the nobility, they strictly follow certain rules. After all, this is the entire kingdom.
The basis of existence. If one day neither the royal family nor the nobles abide by it, then the kingdom will cease to exist.
It is precisely because of this historical origin that the nobles of every kingdom, whether they are descendants of the royal family or children of local nobles, will be involved in this "big game" from the moment they are born. No one can be an exception, and no one can
Escape. Unless someone declares to give up his title and automatically becomes an ordinary civilian.
In addition to the implicit and subtle political struggles within the kingdom, another major threat faced by the local nobles is more naked, military pressure and threats of force from outside the kingdom.
The Kingdom of Erathia is located in the center of the Antagrich continent, occupying the most fertile land and the largest grain-producing area on the continent. Every year, the output of wheat, oats and other food crops harvested on the Erathia Great Plains accounts for almost
to one-third of the continent's output.
When the cubs of the orcs were wandering in the wilderness of Crulod looking for food, when the natives of the Tartalia Great Swamp struggled with famine every year, when the caravan from Brakada had to take out precious
When magic items are exchanged for flour and other supplies, the people of Erathia can easily eat enough. Ah, maybe it is an exaggeration to say that they can easily eat enough, but at least it can be said that the number of people who died of hunger in the kingdom can be said
It is the least on the mainland.
Therefore, it can be said that the Kingdom of Erathia occupies permanent wealth that makes the entire continent jealous and jealous.
Although, during the founding war of the Kingdom, the "Heart of the Griffon" led the extremely powerful human legion to almost sweep across Antagrich, and then established the recognized human hegemony of the Pan-Continent. However, as time goes by, the ruthless progress of
Faced with the indisputable decline of the kingdom's military strength, other continental races that once trembled under the iron-blooded blades of the human legion once again began to prepare for action.
Of course, based on the analysis of the current world structure, perhaps the moment of large-scale military conflict between countries has not yet arrived, but there are already more and more small actions under the table.
Especially the Crulods from the west of the kingdom. Those barbarians who resented that humans had swept their ancestors off the throne of the continent's hegemons would, from time to time, openly rush into Erathia like greedy locusts and burn them.
, robbery, destruction. The official explanation of Crowlod is: they are just a small group of wasteland bandits.
However, among this group of "wasteland bandits", the elite wolf cavalry of the Krulod military was spotted more than once.
In response to such a severe situation, the local nobles had to repeatedly strengthen their armed forces to deal with the ruthless "wasteland bandits" who came and went like the wind. However, before the all-out war between Erathia and Crulod actually broke out,
, but it is difficult to change the status quo where the kingdom's nobles are strategically passive and beaten.
It is precisely because of the above pressures and persecutions from internal and external sources that most nobles must remain alert and alert at all times. Perhaps ladies and ladies can attend some banquets and outings from time to time to kill the long boredom.
Time, but the noble men had to never stop running around for various affairs in their territories.
The larger the territory, the higher the title, and the greater the responsibility.
In the following month, Moriarty spent more than half of his time following the Baron's father after his recovery, helping to deal with family affairs. As for the remaining free time, he was allocated to magic and "General History of the Continent".
The harvest of the farm, the trade of the family caravan, the defense of the territory, the contacts with other nobles in the county, and the massive amount of work allowed Moriarty to fully understand the "happy life" of an aristocratic young master from top to bottom, inside and out.
Because of Moriarty's previous "ridiculous behavior", his prestige and dignity both inside and outside the family have been greatly affected. Although no bad phenomena have occurred yet, Moriarty can clearly detect the presence of many servants, including servants.
Many people in the world have subtle “views” about themselves.
However, Moriarty's outstanding performance in assisting the Baron in handling family affairs finally changed everyone's views. Even the Baron was surprised by his son's maturity and ease at work. For such a sudden change,
, the only explanation the Baron could come up with was that the huge stimulus of losing his mother made this previously fragile boy grow up overnight.
Gradually, Moriarty is regaining his father's trust and expectations in him, and this is what the newly born Moriarty is trying to achieve.
"Moriarty, what do you think of Frith's caravan's performance this year?" In the large study room, the Baron sat on his usual high chair, while Moriarty sipped a cup of special black tea.
Suddenly, the baron handed Moriarty a piece of parchment with dense numbers recorded on it. On it was a performance report for a caravan belonging to the Ensberg family.
"Hmm... so so." Moriarty put down the tea cup, took the parchment, read it carefully, and then handed the report back to the baron and said.
"Oh? You think it's normal?" The baron looked at his only son with interest: "What's the reason? You know, this time Fris brought more than 30,000 kingdom gold coins to the family."
"Yes, Father, this is my opinion." In response to the Baron's rhetorical question, Moriarty smiled slightly: "The so-called income is not just an abstract number or amount, but more of a beneficial synthesis.
Sexual status. Take Frith's caravan as an example. In the past year, it traveled between Erathia and Tartaglia twice, using food and iron tools in exchange for a large amount of cheap furs and some swamps.
Specialty product. From this point of view alone, Frith is worthy of being the family's silver-level caravan manager, and his hard work has indeed brought considerable wealth to the family."
"Well, continue." The baron looked at him patiently.
"However, it seems to me that furs and swampland specialties like 'agava' cannot fully match the huge risks taken by the family caravan. Although there are no barbarians in Tartaglia
bandits, but the threat posed by chaotic conflicts among the indigenous tribes there is no less than in the wilderness." Moriarty said calmly.
"So in your opinion, what kind of business is more in line with the interests of the family?" the baron then asked.
"In the long run, colonization reaps the greatest benefits." Moriarty stood up from his seat and said unhurriedly: "But as far as the current reality is concerned, this is not possible."
"Yes. The swamps of Tartaglia are a nightmare for any army. It is not that the kingdom has not made such attempts in the past, but the results are obviously not ideal." The Baron agreed with Moriarty's first point of view.
.
"So, father, which one of the 'commodities' produced in Tartaglia do you think is the cheapest?" At this time, Moriarty suddenly asked the baron.
"The cheapest?" The Baron didn't seem to expect Moriarty to ask this question, and he himself had never thought about it this way: "Herbs, furs, wood carvings, rough sulfur?" The Baron didn't think he was being asked.
When the son asked why he was dissatisfied, he spoke more and more interestedly. And what he mentioned were the bulk commodities exported by Tartaglia every year.
"No, father, none of these." Moriarty shook his head, and at the same time took out a Dannemann black cigar from a delicate wooden box next to the desk, cut the cigarette holder with a silver cigar cutter, and then cut a
The match was lit for my father.
The baron took the cigar, took the first puff, then spit it out, nodded with satisfaction, and waited quietly for Moriarty to continue.
"In my opinion, the cheapest 'goods' in Tartaglia are not the swamp specialties, but the natives of Tartaglia themselves." Looking at the baron surrounded by cigar smoke, Moriarty said "pop"
He leaned down, put his hands on the big desk, and said.
"Oh?" The baron's gray eyes flashed instantly: "Are you talking about the Tartaglia mercenaries? Well, Tartaglia's mercenaries are indeed the cheapest fighters in the Pancontinent, but they have a reputation for being cowardly and useless.
It is also as well-known as its cheapness. Besides, the Ensberg family does not have much 'inherent territory' in the 'arms' market, so it may not be easy to get involved."
"No, father, I am not referring to armed mercenaries such as hammerheads or lizard archers, but the most common indigenous people. Including the elderly, women, and children." Moriarty said shockingly again.
"Be more specific." At this time, the baron slowly put down the cigar in his hand and sat up straight.
The Baron also began to become really interested in this conversation.
