“So, the territory next door is causing trouble again?”
“Yes. This time, it’s about tariffs.”
“…Well, isn’t it fine? It’s the merchants who’ll suffer. Besides, our territory is self-sufficient.”
“The problem is the decrease in merchants coming and going.”
“We’re not really looking to acquire foreign currency right now, though.”
If anything, it’s time to release the money hoarded within the territory by the previous and previous-previous lords and distribute it to the people, even if just a little. The people are too poor.
However, I can’t just hand out money, so I’m shifting towards controlling prices.
All I’ve managed to do is release stockpiles of agricultural products, though.
“Well, retaliation is necessary, I guess. Check with the Merchant’s Guild and increase the tax a hundredfold at the checkpoint for merchants registered over there when they come to the capital.”
“A hundred!? Is it alright to raise it that much?”
“The original is cheap, after all.”
“…Come to think of it, that’s true. Even at a hundredfold, it’s only ten times the market price.”
“Exactly.”
Acquiring foreign currency has always been mainly done through the Adventurer’s Guild, so it’s not a problem. Or rather, merchants mainly buy ingots and weapons. They can’t transport large quantities at once, so their profits shouldn’t be that high.
“Let’s also triple the price of ingots for merchants from the target territory. If they say anything, tell them clearly it’s retaliation for their territory’s tariffs.”
“Is it alright to raise it that much?”
“They’re the ones picking a fight. There’s no need to hide it. We’re the ones selling. We have the right to choose our customers. Besides, we’re not in trouble even if we don’t get money from outside right now.”
I set up the Dungeon after considering how to acquire foreign currency, but to be honest, I’ve realized we don’t need that much foreign currency. After all, my territory isn’t rich, and it’s a rural backwater on a national scale. The amount spent within the territory is considerable, of course, but the expenses outside the territory aren’t that high.
The agricultural products grown within the capital are meant for consumption within the territory and the base, so they won’t be sold outside, and the main product, ingots, is still popular enough that the shortage isn’t resolved. It’s not a problem even if purchases from one territory decrease or disappear.
Rather, we can use that amount to reinforce the weapons of the knights and soldiers within the territory, which will reduce complaints from within the territory. Complaints from outside? We can ignore those.
“In that case, I’ll give the instructions immediately.”
“Ah, just make sure it’s clear that it’s the territory over there… what was it again?”
“Novak Territory, it is.”
“Right, make sure it’s widely known that the Novak Territory started it. Make it clear to their merchants that we’re taking these measures because they imposed tariffs first.”
“Understood. I’ll make sure it’s thorough.”
“Yeah.”
It’s a countermeasure, or rather, retaliation. I’m giving the instructions, but I won’t be too hurt even if they impose tariffs. We don’t actively export anything to them, after all.
“But what on earth are they aiming for?”
“Taking over the territory, perhaps? Apparently, that kind of thing happens quite often.”
Unlike Prostwill Kingdom, my home country, here in the Aeria Kingdom, the nobles in each territory have a wide range of power.
Even expanding or shrinking their own territory is allowed through military invasion.
That’s why jobs like mercenaries are born.
And the fact that the Aeria Kingdom itself allows it is surprising. Rather, it seems the royal family shows up when disputes arise between territories and extorts mediation fees. What kind of business are they running?
That’s why the lords protecting each territory are keeping an eye on the surrounding territories.
My territory probably seemed to be in turmoil due to the corruption of the previous lord and the problems with the acting lord who appeared afterward. On top of that, we even relocated the capital, so it must have looked like a complete mess.
It actually was a mess.
And if there’s turmoil, they’re trying to pick a fight with the perfectly legitimate intention of expanding their own territory during that time, from the perspective of their lord.
Hah hah hah, they can take small villages and towns if they want. It would actually save me the trouble of managing them.
“…Could it be that you’re hoping they’ll take some?”
“Ehehe.”
“I understand how you feel, but it’s not good to have too much taken away, you know? Depending on the situation, you could be told you’re not qualified to manage the territory and have it taken away.”
“Ah, that would be a pain.”
Besides, it would be a waste. Originally, I wanted connections with the outside world for the sake of maintaining the base in the future, and I never intended to take control of an entire territory, but I’m reluctant to give up something I’ve put so much effort and time into.
“Hmm, let’s have them march, just in case… I’ll have Beatrice lead the unit that finished the joint training and conduct exercises near that Novak Territory.”
“Understood.”
“What other options are there? How would a normal lord handle this kind of situation?”
Unlike me, Ject is from this country. He doesn’t talk about it himself, but it’s obvious he was originally a noble, and he’s reliable.
“It depends on the territory’s military strength at the time, but well, they’d usually declare war and invade.”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
“Yes. They’re probably waiting for a reaction to the tariffs. If we declare war in protest against the tariffs, they’ll assume we’re still energetic and wait for us in advantageous terrain. If we take measures other than that, they’ll assume we’re weakened and attack.”
“Hmm, then the unit sent for exercises…”
“Will become a defense force as is, I suppose.”
“I see… Can you predict the scale of the enemy?”
“Let me see. It’s winter, so they can call up peasant soldiers as well, so it would be around five to eight thousand, I suppose.”
“That’s a lot. We don’t even have three thousand knights and soldiers combined.”
“Considering the defense of the capital, it would be around two thousand, I suppose.”
“It’s unnecessarily large, after all.”
I guess I have no choice. I’ll go with them for the exercises.
If Barbatos and the others do their best, we can go up to around a hundred thousand.
“I need to arrange for restraints, a prison, and a Slave Trader, too. Should I just hire someone who can handle slaves in the territory?”
“…Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of yourself?”
“Because I don’t intend to lose.”
Anyway, the policy for retaliation against the tariffs has been decided. The rest depends on their actions.