Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 107

Constructing the Human Empire with Subordinates 109

Administrative System Reform (Organizational Chart Attached)

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“An administrative reform. You’re finally doing it.”

I sat at the round table in the middle of the tent.

Calliope stood behind me as always, Skadi sat to my right, and Griff sat to my left, chewing on dried fruit he had placed on the table.

“I haven’t been able to tell you because the situation has been so urgent, but things have been too haphazard. Frankly, if it weren’t for us, some people wouldn’t have been able to hold on and would have run away, you know?”

I chuckled at his obvious attempt to show off his hard work.

“Still, you’ve managed to find some breathing room. Even with the ongoing conflict with the Council, you’re not mobilizing all your siblings like before, are you?”

“Hmm.”

Pasiphae, Gerhard, Nuadille, and many other subordinates are busy, but the vast majority of them are combat-specialized subordinates, so they are doing work that suits their skills.

However, subordinates with non-combat abilities were mobilized to transportation units, intelligence units, and all sorts of other places, and are now being demobilized and returning to the Great Plains.

As Griff said, the conflict with the Council continues, but at least there is enough room to manage internal affairs.

“Do you have a plan for how to reorganize?”

“Skadi will talk about that.”

I looked at Skadi.

The administrative system reform plan had been discussed with her in advance.

She stood up from her seat and placed a large piece of white paper on the round table.

“First, understand this: reforming the administrative system is to clearly define each person’s role, and the authority given to that role comes from the Emperor—that is, Father’s power.”

“······.”

“Therefore, the purpose of the reform is not to limit the imperial power. The imperial power is infinite, and the administrative system is a division of labor to reduce Father’s workload.”

In other words, it is based on an absolute monarchy.

The reason for pointing this out is that there is no national law.

Where does the power of administration begin, and how far does it reach?

Since there are no regulations regarding this, it is a statement to prevent misjudgment.

“Of course.”

“Who would stand above us other than Edar?”

Calliope and Griff agreed firmly.

I smiled inwardly as I looked at the two people who did not hesitate for even a moment.

‘While discussing the system reform with Skadi, there was talk about democracy. To be precise, we talked about whether it would be a good idea to introduce a constitutional monarchy.’

I picked up my teacup and briefly recalled the memory.

‘I am not omniscient. There are bound to be big and small mistakes. I could end up doing something like, “That bird is harmful.” So, I considered limiting power as a way to prevent that.’

Mentally, my origins must have had an influence.

My origins were in a democratic country on Earth.

Familiarity is hard to shake off.

‘But reality is reality. In this world, democracy cannot function properly.’

The reason is simple.

Because there are superhumans in this world.

‘There’s no need to bring examples from afar. Look at this country.’

Let’s say I made the empire a constitutional monarchy.

If the law stipulates that the emperor has no political power, will the power disappear?

Would Calliope follow the instructions of a citizen or a representative elected by the council?

What if she refuses to follow the representative’s instructions?

‘This applies not only to her but to all subordinates. I am the only one who can give orders to subordinates, and whether or not subordinates follow the government’s orders depends on my will.’

In the end, even if a democracy is established, it is a democracy borrowed from my power.

The intention to limit my power has disappeared far away.

‘It’s no different from me playing house alone.’

It was a funny thought that suddenly came to mind.

“If you agree, let’s start right away.”

Skadi wrote “Emperor” at the top center of the white paper.

“Since the foundation of all power comes from Father, it is natural to put Father at the top, right? And below that, as the person in charge of overseeing state affairs, the Imperial Chancellor—me.”

She wrote “Imperial Chancellor” and her name below “Emperor.”

“One of the reasons for the administrative reform is to relieve Father’s burden. Therefore, the number of Father’s direct subordinates should be minimized. But…”

Next to the Imperial Chancellor, she wrote “Public Church, Rachel.”

“Religion will be an exception.”

“Why? If you put it directly under Edar, there would be no way to control that pseudo-religion in principle, would there?”

Griff asked, opening his usually narrowed eyes.

Instead of answering, Skadi put a cigarette in her mouth and looked at me.

Because what he said was the same question she had asked me.

I answered in her place.

“It is to guarantee the autonomy of the Public Church.”

“Autonomy?”

“It’s because of proselytization [converting people to a particular religion or belief]. You acknowledge the necessity of religion, but you emotionally dislike it. If it belongs to the administration, you will definitely intervene to control Rachel’s actions, won’t you?”

Just now, he openly argued that control was necessary, didn’t he?

Griff coughed and scratched his head awkwardly.

“The Public Church has several negative aspects, but it is a necessary evil. To reject the gods of other races, to prevent me from being influenced by Tiamar, it is necessary to guarantee autonomy and actively engage in activities.”

I also agree with Griff’s expression.

No matter how I look at it, the Public Church would be a dangerous religion if it were on Earth.

But it is better than the religions of other races that take human sacrifice for granted.

It is also a problem that there is no time to proselytize in a moderate and leisurely manner.

‘Do you say to fight poison with poison?’

“Therefore, the Public Church has Rachel as its leader and is directly under me.”

Griff groaned and smacked his lips as if he was disappointed.

It would have been an opportunity to put a leash on a sister he didn’t like.

“I’m worried that she might act arrogantly because she is directly under Edar.”

“Don’t worry. I will grant autonomy, but I will conduct periodic audits once the administration is established. She won’t be able to do anything too radical or foolish.”

“When you send the audit team, I would like you to send me if possible.”

“I’ll consider it.”

I nodded with a light smile.

Skadi continued.

“In broad terms, the Public Church, which symbolizes religion, and I, who symbolize the administration, are directly under Father. And under the administration, we will establish all sorts of departments, the first of which is the Governor-General’s Office.”

There were two Governor-General’s Offices.

The Germania Governor-General’s Office and the Wallachia Governor-General’s Office.

The existing Northern Wallachia Governor-General’s Office was incorporated into the Great Plains.

Unlike the two regions corresponding to the Governor-General’s Office, the existing ruling class was completely replaced, and although it was a short period, Gerhard’s Governor-General’s Office had firmly established regional stabilization, so it was worth making it a direct territory.

Griff tilted his head at the Governor-General’s Office.

“Is there really a need for a Governor-General’s Office? Wouldn’t it be less wasteful of administrative power if each department of the administration handled it?”

Skadi shook her cigarette from side to side at Griff’s point.

“The two countries have existing systems, right? Most of the ruling class is still alive, and there have even been uprisings and civil wars. If we take away their authority and centralize power at this time… well, it’s obvious, isn’t it?”

They would join the uprisings and civil wars and only do good for the other races.

“The two countries will be temporarily managed by establishing separate Governor-General’s Offices.”

This is also a realistic problem, no less than religion.

Only a few weeks have passed since I received the thrones of the two countries.

I had done nothing in the two countries for a few weeks.

I was suppressing uprisings and civil wars in a situation where I did not even inherit the basic administration, such as the population and land area, so it was not a situation where administrative reform was possible.

I had to figure out what was in my hands first.

“The role of the Governor-General’s Office is to inherit the existing administration and gradually lead the system change. Pave Kusrorf is scheduled to be appointed as the Governor-General of Wallachia, and Helmut as the Governor-General of Germania. It’s a lifetime position, but the Governor-General’s Office will be dissolved within a few years, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Pave is a figure who was dragged around as a puppet by the aristocratic council, and Helmut is a vassal of Seodret, isn’t he? Are they capable? Can we trust them?”

I answered Griff, who was questioning.

“The two are more like figureheads to reassure the nobles. We will place several subordinates with real power under them to govern, so you don’t have to worry.”

Griff nodded and then paused.

“Wait a minute. Edar? Then… you don’t mean that we have to take the brothers in charge of administration and send them there again, do you?”

I avoided his gaze without answering.

“There’s no other way, is there?”

“…Can’t you just make us, whom you summon every day, specialized in administration? I’m asking you quite earnestly.”

How nice would it be if it worked out as he wished?

“Oh, dear.”

Griff groaned and tilted his head back.

The scale of the two newly established Governor-General’s Offices will be enormous.

In response, a significant number of subordinates in charge of administration in Olympus had to be reassigned to the Governor-General’s Office, and the remaining people had no choice but to share the workload caused by their departure.

It was truly an administrative hell.

Even Skadi, who was announcing the reorganization plan, gave a bitter smile.

“After the Governor-General’s Office, there’s Pasiphae. I’m thinking of adding additional tasks to the work she’s in charge of and making it into a department.”

The work Pasiphae was in charge of was also considerable.

The reason was her characteristic, alchemy [a philosophical and protoscientific tradition aimed at transmuting base metals into gold, discovering a universal elixir, and achieving immortality].

At first, I built a workshop and provided support so that she could research and create as much as she wanted, but she started to get involved in supplying the items needed for research, developing mines, and controlling transportation units, getting involved in all sorts of tasks like an octopus.

“To summarize, we will create a department that oversees social capital, construction, production, logistics, research, etc., and the name will be the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry.”

“…There won’t be any manpower left after reassigning the administration to the Governor-General’s Office.”

“She’ll have to do it alone for a while. What else can we do?”

Skadi smiled, putting a cigarette in her mouth.

Griff blinked for a moment and whispered.

“If Pasiphae asks, please tell her I wasn’t here.”

I ignored his gaze and whisper and cracked a peanut.

Skadi wrote the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry to the right of the Governor-General’s Office, and next to the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry, she wrote the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Security Forces.

“Next are Gerhard and Nuadille. Gerhard will be dismissed from the Governor-General’s Office and assigned to the newly established Ministry of Military Affairs. Nuadille will continue to carry out the work he was already in charge of and formalize it under the name of the Security Forces.”

“Does having a separate Ministry of Military Affairs mean you are considering creating a standing army?”

“That’s right. The reorganization is limited to administrative reform for now, but as soon as the Wallachia civil war ends, I will instruct Gerhard to create a new military system.”

I said I would dismantle the feudal system [a social structure where a lord owns land that is worked by peasants in exchange for military service or a portion of the produce].

If the feudal system disappears, the knight class will also disappear in effect.

If the knight, who is a professional soldier, disappears, where will the army be gathered from?

‘Hire mercenaries, conscript citizens, or form a standing army.’

Mercenaries cannot be trusted, and conscription is too weak.

Therefore, there is no choice but to have a standing army.

“The goal is to form a regular army that includes the standing army and the reserves in the future, and the official name will be unified as the Imperial Army.”

“Hmm… How will we be distinguished from ordinary soldiers?”

“We are considering separating them like the army and navy. Subordinates are strong but small in number, and ordinary soldiers are large in number but weak… Father has decided to adjust the military system separately with Gerhard, so ask him later.”

As Skadi distinguished, the Imperial Army will be divided into subordinates and ordinary people.

If we were to divide the main force and the auxiliary force, the subordinates would be the main force, and the ordinary people would be armed with a huge number of gunpowder weapons to assist the enemy’s subordinates.

‘This issue can only be considered after Pasiphae secures the saltpeter [potassium nitrate, a key ingredient in gunpowder] production area and improves gunpowder weapons.’

The reason why Pasiphae is not in Olympus right now.

Because there is a saltpeter production area on the map I gave her.

It was not too late to discuss it after she secured the area and returned.

‘The design for improving cannons is finished. The problem is that there is a severe shortage of materials, factories, technicians, and soldiers to use the cannons.’

“The Security Forces are a formalization of Nuadille’s work, right?”

“Yes. A quasi-military organization that works in the shadows, such as intelligence, counterintelligence, and operations. It feels like we’ve included subtly different roles in one place, but… realistically, we can’t afford to divide the administrative system in detail right now, can we?”

Griff nodded strongly.

“So we’ve grouped them together like this for now. Griff, the surveillance and intelligence you operate will be taken over by Nuadille from now on.”

“Oh.”

Griff’s face lit up.

“I agree. I agree. Please take as much as you want.”

Skadi smiled at the reaction and looked at the organizational chart.

“Under the administration, we have organized four: the Governor-General’s Office, the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry, the Ministry of Military Affairs, and the Security Forces. What’s left is the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Justice. Among these, I’m going to ask you to take charge of the Ministry of Interior, is that okay?”

“Are you not going to assign it to me if I say no?”

Skadi shrugged.

“I will take charge of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice as a temporary measure. As I have said several times, the number of brothers and sisters is absolutely small. I have to hold both positions until the staff is filled.”

The number of subordinates.

I put down my teacup and thought about the subordinates.

As of today, the number of subordinates is just over 900.

Nearly half of them are combat-related subordinates.

So, is the other half subordinates who handle administration? Unfortunately, only some of the remaining half can handle administration.

‘Subordinates have many occupations other than administration, such as production, commerce, and religion. It is too inefficient to assign administration to them. It would be different if there was an abundance of manpower in other fields, but there is a shortage of hands in all fields.’

After taking them off one by one, there were not many subordinates assigned to administration.

“There are about 200 people who can handle administrative work, and from here, we will send them to the cities and villages of the Great Plains as administrators, and also to the Governor-General’s Office…”

“If we go according to the reorganization plan, there will be less than ten people left in Olympus to handle administration, including Edar, Skadi, and me.”

Skadi silently puffed on her cigarette a few times.

“Father, is it really not possible?”

I slowly raised my head as I was cracking peanuts.

“Can’t you summon subordinates specialized in administration?”

It was such an earnest look.

I was speechless and coughed.

[The waiting time has been reset.]

[Time remaining until next use: None.]

[The Subordinate Creation skill is available.]

[Would you like to use it?]

And I activated the skill that had just finished its waiting time.

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Boatman

Max

Lv. 23

Grade: D

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“······.”

Max, the subordinate who was newly created in a country without a navy, flinched at the awkward atmosphere and looked around, then quietly left the tent after reading our thoughts.

“Don’t make Edar-nim uncomfortable.”

Calliope said sternly in the silence.

Griff and Skadi coughed.

“Anyway… there is no one among the remaining people who can handle finance or law professionally. So I have to do it. At least until Father creates an expert in that field.”

I smiled faintly.

“In addition, finance and law are special. Let’s take law as an example. What laws do we have? The Great Plains has no laws. What laws are there in a reclaimed land that is only a few decades old at most… We just have to solve it with common sense. Germania and Wallachia will have the Governor-General’s Office hire the existing administrators as they are and let them handle it on their own.”

The Ministry of Finance was even more so.

The Great Plains does not collect taxes.

Because I gave them a tax exemption for a short period of 1 year, or a long period of 5 years or more.

It is an abnormal financial structure with only expenditures other than mining revenue.

“As a temporary measure, we should take smart people from the freed slaves as administrative assistants. The Public Church is doing that, right?”

“Yes, freed slaves will be pouring in from Germania and Wallachia. If we sort them out there, we can somehow manage.”

To be honest, we can fill the bureaucracy [a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives] with freed slaves.

Even if they are not freed slaves but free citizens, the administration will run.

But why am I so obsessed with subordinate officials?

‘Because the abilities of subordinates are overwhelming.’

It’s not just about being quick-witted.

Subordinates are human, but they are not human beings.

Humans live exposed to all sorts of desires, but subordinates live with only one desire.

That desire is loyalty and affection for the master.

‘If an ordinary person becomes an official, they will inevitably suffer from desires.

Taking bribes, abusing power, violating duties—these are common even in modern society, so how could it be less common in a less developed society?’

Subordinates are different from ordinary people.

If a subordinate abuses power or violates their duties, it is not for the subordinate’s own sake, but for my sake.

‘An ideal bureaucrat with no corruption, full of enthusiasm, righteousness, and loyalty. How wonderful would it be if we could control and lead the country with such bureaucrats.’

That is why I am obsessed with subordinate officials.

“Since the topic of law has come up, how do we legislate?”

“Similarly, we will create a separate institution.”

Skadi wrote “Privy Council” between the Public Church and the Imperial Chancellor.

“The Privy Council will be an advisory body for Father. In the empire, law is the emperor’s decree. The Privy Council plays the role of advising before exercising the decree.”

Of course, the main role is to advise on legislation.

Just as I am compiling an encyclopedia, I can personally create laws, but there was a problem that I was looking at the world from the perspective of a modern person.

My common sense could be considered unfair in this world.

The Privy Council is a role that reconciles between my ideals and reality.

“The members of the Privy Council will be composed of half professional personnel dispatched from each department and half ordinary people.”

Here, ordinary people naturally refer to humans who are not subordinates.

For example, humans like Kistler, who was the village chief of Olympus.

“It will be difficult to gather even 10 people right now, but the goal is 50 people.”

Griff stroked his chin while looking at the organizational chart.

“It seems like we’re almost done.”

“There’s one last thing left.”

Next to the Emperor, she wrote “Imperial Guard Office.”

“In the future, the enemies we face will directly target Father. And the level of the enemies will be quite high. Even Calliope alone may not be able to stop them easily.”

For a moment, one of Calliope’s eyebrows twitched and her thoughts also fluctuated.

“Especially if you go on a campaign yourself like you have been doing. Who will protect you after sending Calliope to the front? So we are establishing a guard independent of the Ministry of Military Affairs.”

“Why is it called the Imperial Guard Office and not the Imperial Guard?”

“There are no people. To be called the Imperial Guard, there should be about a thousand people. Calliope, how many subordinates do you recognize right now?”

Calliope said without a moment’s hesitation.

“None.”

Skadi was surprised by the answer and asked back.

“None? Not even one?”

“None. Not even one. You are all weak.”

Griff said with a smile.

“What Imperial Guard Office? Let’s just start with the Imperial Guard.”