"Yes, Ryan, your instincts are correct—something is indeed wrong," François agreed, nodding as he looked at his son-in-law standing by the sand table and his daughter who had just entered the room. A contemplative expression crossed his face. "This has been the focal point of our ongoing debate."
"That is, even with some strategic missteps and insufficient preparation, it is highly unusual for Kislev to lose over twenty thousand men," Lawn added, stepping up to the sand table. "We've been debating this earlier. Given Voroshilov's tactics, it's clear he was overly aggressive and overly reliant on the power of the Bear Cavalry. However, even with superior numbers and plenty of firearms, the way this battle turned out still leaves many questions."
"The casualties are too high," Ryan said, eyeing the flags on the sand table. "I think I understand why Voroshilov insisted on pushing forward. The reason is simple: in the process of attacking Ostrosk, Kislev had already lost over ten thousand men. After paying such a heavy price, merely defeating a thousand barbarians and capturing a fortress would be hard to justify. So instead of abandoning the effort, he likely decided to press on, even if it meant further heavy losses, to drive the barbarians out of the Troll Country. At least after this battle, the Beresung tribe would be wary of crossing the mountains again."
"Exactly," Bohemond nodded, his brow furrowed. "But the problem remains: no matter how we run the simulations, no matter how much we underestimate Voroshilov's command abilities or overestimate the barbarians' tactical prowess, it's still inconceivable that Kislev's army suffered over twenty thousand casualties. This was the elite force left behind by the former Tsar Boris Bokaha, and it has been nearly wiped out. It's unimaginable!"
"So, there are only two explanations: either Kislev exaggerated its casualties, or the Chaos-worshipping northern barbarians have grown stronger," Ryan said, nodding as he realized François and the others' underlying concerns. "Kislev has no reason to report such high casualties falsely. The only explanation is that the northern barbarians have indeed become stronger. They've received blessings from the Dark Gods. The winds of Chaos blowing from the northern Chaos Wastes are strengthening the Kurgans, the Huns, the Mongols, and the Norscans, who are all preparing for the arrival of a true Everchosen to lead them south."
"No, that's impossible!" Duke Adalhard of Lyonnais exclaimed loudly. "Impossible! The Great War Against Chaos was only one hundred and sixty years ago! The last Everchosen, Asavar Kul, died only a few years ago. How could another Everchosen emerge so quickly?"
"Nothing is impossible," Ryan countered. "Don't forget, there is no concept of time in the realm of Chaos. As long as some Chaos scum passes the Dark Gods' tests, they can become the Everchosen. Sometimes, centuries might pass without one, but sometimes, two might appear within a decade. Adalhard, don't apply rationality and common sense to Chaos."
"Sorry, it's just that the northern coast of Lyonnais has been plagued by Norscan longships recently. If it weren't for Bodrick's… relative, who leads an entire pirate fleet and spends his days raiding the Norscan coastlines and looting large quantities of gold and silver, Lyonnais might have descended into chaos by now," Duke Adalhard, who was just around fifty years old and one of the younger dukes, said while rubbing his head in frustration. "I must admit, these pirates are quite generous, but every time they dock, I worry about public order."
"Are you talking about Saltspite? Erayna Saltspite is not my relative—not at all. She's merely… the daughter of Manann!" Bodrick protested. The old duke, who was over ninety years old, grew irritated just thinking about the matter. "I simply received a divine oracle instructing me to introduce her to you."
"Oh yes, Manann, that damned sea god who impregnated the wife of a Norscan chieftain with his child," Bohemond grumbled. "Bordeleaux is the only part of the kingdom where Manann is widely worshipped. If you ask me, that female pirate can't be trusted. She's just out for revenge. Who knows if she'll turn against us once she's done?"
"Hah, dear Bohemond, have we ever managed to kill all the Norscans in a single day?" Bodrick mocked Bohemond's shortsightedness. "If there ever comes a day when Saltspite manages to wipe out all the Norscans, I'd be overjoyed."
"Enough quarreling," Ryan finally interjected, addressing Bohemond. "No matter what, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Over the years, Erayna Saltspite has destroyed more than twenty Norscan coastal fishing villages and outposts. Just for that, the benefits she's brought us far outweigh the potential risks. Bodrick is right: even Charlemagne and the Savior Ludwig could at most attack and destroy Norscan coastal villages and ports. No large army dares to venture into the Norscan interior. You can't kill all the Norscans."
"I support Ryan's proposal: since we can't wipe out all the Norscans, let that female pirate plunder and destroy to her heart's content," Lawn agreed, looking at the sand table on the table before addressing everyone. "For now, our information is still limited. No matter what we speculate, this is the outcome of the Winter War. We've been debating so long, we've almost forgotten why we came here."
"Oh, right," Bohemond snapped out of his thoughts. "I nearly forgot. We're here to seek Ryan's advice on the serf redemption system."
"Yes, Ryan, you always manage to surprise us," Lawn sat down, a wistful and sentimental look in his eyes. "Do you remember when we first met on Mount Skaven?"
"Of course, I remember. At that time, I had just managed to slay a four-armed Minotaur and was seriously injured. You were riding an elven warhorse that made me drool. I nearly wanted to rob you," Ryan chuckled.
"You bastard," Lawn laughed, not saying more. "A remarkable bastard."
"Thanks for the compliment," Ryan and Sulia exchanged a smile. The Duke of Mousilon coughed a few times and addressed the other dukes, "I know you all have many questions and opinions about the serf redemption system. That's fine; we'll go over them one by one."
"Good." Apart from François, the other dukes had been waiting for this. Upon hearing Ryan's words, they all nodded in agreement. As the hostess, Sulia clapped her hands, signaling the attendants and maids outside to come in and remove the sand table. The group then took their seats.
"Now, let's discuss the serf redemption system," Ryan said, taking a seat with Sulia, while the remaining five dukes followed suit. Duke Bodrick seemed the most eager, while Duke Adalhard appeared to have a troubled expression. Duke Lawn and Duke Bohemond looked both expectant and hesitant. As for François, he sat beside Sulia with a smug expression, clearly thinking about how much more gold his coffers might hold.
The room fell into a brief silence, just as Ryan had expected. Duke Bodrick was the first to speak. "Ryan, I've read your proposal on the serf redemption system, and I find no issues with it. I'm planning to implement this system in Bordeleaux. When can you send someone to guide us?"
"Anytime you need," Ryan nodded, smiling. "If you're still concerned, Bodrick, you can have Fedemund visit my territory for a firsthand observation."
"Excellent. I'll send him over right after this meeting," Bodrick replied eagerly.
Today, Sulia was dressed in a classic black laced gown with a gingerbread wood grain pattern, paired with black velvet tights and over-the-knee high-heeled boots. Seeing Bodrick's enthusiasm, she thought it was only natural for the Duke of Bordeleaux to be so interested in the serf redemption system.
The Duchy of Bordeleaux was one of the smallest in the kingdom of Bretonnia, with a total area slightly larger than Ryan's territory when he first recaptured Mousilon but hadn't yet reclaimed southern Lyonnais. Moreover, due to historical reasons, the serf system in Bordeleaux was never fully implemented, partly because the Duke of Bordeleaux had always worshipped both Manann and the Lady of the Lake. The inland areas of Bordeleaux worshiped the Lady of the Lake, while along the coast, Manann held more sway. The Sea Knights, though adherents of chivalry, were not as rigid as the Bretonnians. They generally believed that the land blessed by the Lady of the Lake stopped where the rivers turned into the sea. Few Sea Knights owned land, but they traditionally reaped enormous profits from the sea.
As a result, before Ryan's arrival, Bordeleaux was the most commercialized and industrialized region in Bretonnia. Manann's Dockyard was the only port in the kingdom capable of building large artillery warships.
With a dense population, developed commerce and industry, and the establishment of trade routes with Marienburg, the High Elves, the Ashen Legion, the Lizardmen, and Estalia, Bordeleaux's sailors accumulated vast wealth from trade, filling the Duke's coffers with gold.
Additionally, when Ryan
first arrived in Bretonnia, he made it a priority to ally with Duke Bodrick for a straightforward reason: the Sea God's Fleet was the only blue-water navy in Bretonnia.
Navies are expensive, require huge investments, and take a long time to build, with slow returns. Since Ryan lacked the funds and energy to create a navy from scratch, it made sense to ally with Bodrick's blue-water navy, especially considering the Sea God's Fleet had the blessing of Manann.
Due to the needs of maritime trade and security, the Sea God's Fleet continued to expand, with new ships being launched from Manann's Dockyard every month and large orders coming in from the Ashen Legion, making profits hand over fist.
With Bordeleaux's issues addressed, Ryan signaled the others that they could ask their questions.
"Ryan, regarding your serf redemption system, I can't shake the feeling that..." Duke Bohemond of Bastogne began, hesitant. As the most direct descendant of Arthur, Bohemond was both intrigued by the benefits the system could bring and deeply worried. "I feel that you haven't considered the nobles of the kingdom enough and have instead favored the serfs."
"That's correct," Ryan admitted frankly. "I have indeed favored the serfs in this matter. But Bohemond, you've seen the problems we faced before and the changes that followed. We were on a path of decay, and the kingdom needed reform. The serfs' lives needed to improve. And I haven't neglected your interests either. The serfs still have to pay a significant sum to redeem themselves. That's my way of compensating you."
Upon hearing this, the dukes nodded in agreement. Indeed, they had no strong reason to oppose the system. The large sum required for serfs to redeem themselves was enough to placate the knightly nobility, especially since few nobles were as adept at governance as Ryan, François, Bodrick, or Lawn.
"I understand your point," Bohemond remained hesitant. "But… while having more money is good, what if one day all the serfs pay off their redemption fees and become free men? Who will farm the land then? Surely we won't have to till the fields ourselves?"
"Bohemond! What an impractical thought," François interjected, his face darkening. Before Ryan could respond, the older man continued, "Bastogne has two hundred thousand serf households—two hundred thousand! How many do you think could actually afford the redemption fee? Enough to impact farming? Moreover, if all two hundred thousand serf households paid off their fees, that would be thirty million gold crowns! Wouldn't that be enough for your family?"
"But… money can run out, while the land produces indefinitely," Bohemond persisted. "What happens when the money runs out, and there are no serfs left to farm the land? What then?"
"The land is still yours," François argued. "You can hire people to farm it or lease it to the free men. Sure, the tax rate might be lower, but with Ryan's tax reforms, the more you work, the more you earn. You won't have to worry about the land going unfarmed! And you can encourage the free men to establish new villages and clear new land. Even if the new land isn't yours, the extra tax revenue will be!"
"Hold on," Ryan raised his hand, signaling François to stop. He smiled at Bohemond. "Duke Bohemond, let's take an example. You know about the reforms the Savior Ludwig implemented after the Great War Against Chaos, right?"
"Yes, I know. Emperor Ludwig said everyone has the right to be compensated for their labor," Bohemond nodded.
"Then, do you think the Empire is short of people to farm the land now?" Ryan asked. "Are there few people wanting to farm? Why do you think I was able to bring thirty thousand immigrants from the Empire? Why does Karl Franz still struggle with the overcrowding in Altdorf? Don't the beggars, sailors, laborers, and scavengers in those cities want to farm and make a living?"
"I see your point, Ryan. You've convinced me," Bohemond thought for a few minutes before finally nodding in relief, a smile spreading across his face. "Alright, I'll start preparing to implement this system as well."
Before Bohemond had even finished speaking, Regent Lawn raised his hand, signaling that he had something to say. "Ryan, I have a question too."
"Go ahead," Ryan gestured for Lawn to speak.
"We all know that growing cash crops is more profitable than growing food—grapes, sugarcane, rapeseed, olives, and the like," Lawn interlocked his fingers, resting them on the table. "Once serfs become free men, they will naturally pursue higher profits. This could lead to most free men growing cash crops instead. What will happen to our food supply?"
"That's a valid concern," Ryan nodded. "But I have a solution."
"A solution?" Lawn asked, intrigued. "What is it?"
"Comprehensive planning."
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