Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 45

‘Impressive.’

Gerhard turned from the documents to Edar.

Edar was studying the documents, his eyes showing fatigue.

Before him, Griff continued his explanation.

“…Therefore, I propose focusing on developing the three settlements of Rifnyak, Swordmark, and Nürten into granaries.”

“Hmm.”

Edar rose and looked down at the map.

He compared the three settlements, stroking his chin.

“Approved. Report the manpower needed for implementation later. No need to report other necessities.”

“Thank you.”

“Next is Rachel. You say the chapel needs expanding?”

“Yes. As Father knows…”

Gerhard frowned slightly.

Several other familiars mirrored his expression.

The familiar in a nun’s habit, Rachel, presented a blueprint to Edar.

She led the liberated slaves, the ‘Raa’ fanatics [a religious group devoted to Edar].

Many familiars revered Edar, but Rachel’s fanaticism was so intense that only her fellow believers seemed to appreciate her.

‘Crude.’

Gerhard sneered at the blueprint.

The architectural plan for the wooden building looked amateurish.

As a legion commander experienced in building fortifications, he found it very crude.

Perhaps she had designed it herself.

‘At this rate, it will collapse during construction.’

He considered pointing out the flaws, but Edar tapped the blueprint and said,

“If you build it like this, the ceiling won’t hold. You need more load-bearing columns and denser walls.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Look.”

Edar grabbed a piece of charcoal and redrew the blueprint.

He added the missing foundation, marked the framework materials, and reinforced the rafters and joists… Gerhard thought he was completely redesigning it.

“Wow…”

“Here. Done. Discuss the rest with Griff and build it.”

‘As expected.’

Gerhard nodded.

‘His wisdom is boundless.’

Most would hesitate, but their master answered without a moment’s pause.

Gerhard’s loyalty solidified each time he witnessed such decisive wisdom.

“I think we’ve covered the settlements. Gerhard.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Edar frowned slightly.

He disliked being called Your Majesty.

‘He allows worship as a god, but he’s peculiar.’

Gerhard knew the reason.

Edar wanted to be closer to his familiars.

However, Gerhard possessed the personality of a legion commander.

Wasn’t he created to call Edar Emperor from the start?

He had no intention of treating his master as a peer.

So, despite Edar’s corrections, he feigned mistakes, and Edar eventually stopped correcting him.

“The governor-general will report on the situation in northern Wallachia.”

Gerhard rose.

“The population of northern Wallachia is still being determined. A significant amount of data from the previous lords has been intentionally damaged or omitted, requiring a new census.”

The culprit was likely the former lord or his family.

Upon hearing of the annihilation in the Great Plains, they fled with valuables, paralyzing the administration with scorched-earth tactics [a military strategy of destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy].

“It won’t be easy. Even if the north is barren, it must have tens of thousands of people. Restoring the administration will take time.”

Several familiars exclaimed in admiration.

Tens of thousands, dozens of times the population of the Great Plains.

They had struggled to settle thousands of liberated slaves; the prospect of governing a population dozens of times larger was daunting.

“Oh, how many will want to migrate to the Great Plains?”

Griff sighed.

The north was saturated.

Many farmers would readily migrate with a little encouragement.

And that number would dwarf the liberated slaves.

“I think we’ll receive more immigrants this month than we’ve increased in the past few months.”

This was inevitable once the administration of northern Wallachia was restored and the immigration policy implemented.

Griff knew this, hence his reaction.

“We need to increase grain storage.”

Edar smiled, saying nothing.

He couldn’t refuse immigration simply because it was difficult.

Northern Wallachia, geographically limited in growth.

The Oroko Great Plains, abundant but sparsely populated.

The focus was obvious.

“I’ll leave that problem to the governor-general. Next.”

“Next is the land status.”

He placed another map over the Olymus map.

It depicted all of northern Wallachia.

The map was color-coded, with red covering two-thirds of the area.

Gerhard circled the red areas.

“This area is land with unidentified owners in the ledger.”

“Pastures, forests, farmland. Everything.”

“Yes.”

Edar smiled.

Unidentified owners suggested missing records.

Administration might be haphazard, but such widespread omission seemed unlikely.

‘That can’t be. They’re all complicit.’

The lords were notoriously fierce tax collectors.

Did they truly not know the landowners in their territory?

No, they knew but pretended otherwise.

‘The non-red areas are land that officially pays taxes. The rest are privately exempted.’

Instead of officially declaring tax exemption, they vaguely claimed ignorance of ownership.

“Did you issue a proclamation to landowners?”

“Of course. We announced that anyone owning land, regardless of prior agreements, should report it. We gave them ample time. This is what remains.”

“Confiscate it. Distribute it to the serfs.”

“For free?”

Edar shook his head.

“Free land grants are limited to the Oroko Great Plains.”

Gerhard agreed.

Edar owned both the Oroko Great Plains and northern Wallachia.

However, his focus was on developing the Great Plains.

Population was the greatest need there.

He offered immigration benefits, but treating northern Wallachia the same would discourage migration.

“Confiscate all land with unidentified owners, and sell the farmland cheaply to the serfs living there.”

“I understand. However, processing will take time.”

“Are you short-handed?”

Gerhard nodded.

“I’ll send additional familiars, but… even that won’t be enough.”

Edar rested his chin on his fist.

“I’m thinking of rehiring former administrators.”

“Hmm? Ah, that’s right. Even if the northern nobles are gone, many administrators must remain. Do as you wish. Recall them and gradually retain only the useful ones.”

“Can we pay their salaries in kind or land?”

“No.”

Edar shook his head firmly.

“Salaries must be paid in currency.”

“Paying in currency will strain the budget.”

“I will increase mining at the Lagoa Mine. Reorganize the budget. Calculate the cost of maintaining the administration and report it with an additional budget request. I will support you.”

Edar considered giving land an extreme exception.

“Why are you doing this?”

“I’m going to dismantle the feudal system. I don’t want a relationship where lords give land to vassals in exchange for service.”