A Hot Potato Is an Opportunity

In Dadir City, the atmosphere of war has permeated every corner of the city.

Unbeknownst to many, prices in the city have begun to rise quietly, especially for essential daily necessities, where prices have soared the fastest.

The prefectural government has issued multiple documents to stabilize prices, but driven by fear, the market has long lost its rationality.

With the added fuel of greedy merchants, prices soared even faster.

Those most affected were the soldiers from the Northern Frontier who followed the Ciss south.

Having been away from home for so long, my homesickness was already intense. Now that a major war is about to break out, and Jiajuan is still on the front lines in Northern Frontier, this feeling has been amplified even further.

To appease the troops, the Ciss made many efforts. Most of the soldiers started families here and had wives and children.

Even after taking root, the deep affection for their homeland remains firmly imprinted in everyone's hearts.

Viscount Ciss himself has been spending more time gazing north lately. Clearly, his homeland still holds a deep and lingering place in his heart.

"Young Master, are you just going to give up the tax farming rights like this?"

"Butler Feren asked in a panic."

For the prefect, the power to collect taxes was undoubtedly the most important power, equivalent to financial power.

A prefect who loses control of the finances will inevitably have a significantly reduced say in prefectural affairs.

"It's too late! War is imminent, and everything must give way to war."

The strongest in Laite County is the Mountain Territory. Before this, I could use the rules of the game to fight against it, but now it's too late.

Without the cooperation of the local nobility, it will be difficult for us to gather enough strategic materials on time. This matter concerns the safety of the front lines, and cannot be delayed.

Moreover Laite County was first hit by war, then by a locust plague, and its economy has not yet recovered.

Many territories have barely achieved a balance between income and expenditure, and are simply unable to provide enough resources. It is not easy for them to complete the tasks assigned by their superiors as required.

We can't really drive someone to their death, can we?

It's better to pass this hot potato to Hudson.

The fact that the Coslo Family had friends and relatives everywhere used to be his greatest advantage, but now it has become his greatest disadvantage.

Judging from the fact that the tax-collecting task fell to him, not only would he not make any money, but he might also have to pay for a lot of supplies for others.

Normally, doing someone a favor is fine. But during wartime, any unexpected event can turn these into unpayable debts.

Ciss said with a cold laugh.

But the resentment in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.

Risk and reward are always directly proportional.

Complaining is risky, but isn't it also a form of self-comfort in the face of helplessness?

Mountain Territory

With his opponent completely defeated, Hudson, the winner of this round of power struggle, did not show the joy that a victor should have.

Aside from assembling a thousand soldiers in the shortest possible time, both war taxes and the task of procuring supplies encountered obstacles.

People come here every day, complaining about being poor and miserable.

Hudson could forcefully execute orders against those he had no personal relationship with, but he truly couldn't bring himself to do it to relatives and friends with whom he had a long-standing connection.

Hudson has done everything he can to secure the Governor's Mansion.

Count Pierce did not deliberately make things difficult for the nobles of Huaidun and Wright Nobles of the Two Counties, whose tasks were only 80% of those of the nobles in other areas.

Although the level of care was insufficient, it was still provided nonetheless. Such things can never be perfect.

The kingdom's tasks are divided by province. If some counties produce fewer resources, other counties must produce more, and the total amount must be reached.

Seeing the crowd groaning in the hall, Hudson snapped, "Enough!"

The purpose of inviting you here today is to discuss solutions, not to listen to your complaints.

Resisting the Beastfolk invasion is the responsibility of every noble in the Alpha Kingdom. We gather supplies in the rear because someone is fighting for us on the front lines.

If you feel it's unfair, you can choose to sign up for the war. As long as you take your troops to the front lines, you won't need to worry about money and supplies!

You all know the total amount of money and grain that needs to be raised in the Laite County, and you all know whether the figures I have allocated are fair and reasonable.

Don't think you can get away with crying and making a scene. The assigned task is a strict order; you must reach the quota.

Failure to fulfill noble obligations will result in the loss of your territory and noble status; there will be no going back then!

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but that's only true at home. Outside, no one is obligated to cater to them.

If making a scene could solve the problem, then everyone would run off to make a scene, and what would happen to the front lines?

According to past practice, nobles in various regions contribute both money and manpower. The only exception is the Northern Nobles, who only need to fight on the front lines.

Everything is fair.

This mobilization model was because the private armies of nobles in various provinces participated in the war, and they adopted a rotational combat model. They would fight for a period of time and then come down to rest and regroup, and then others would take over.

As Northern Nobles responsible for defending their territory, they didn't receive such treatment. Once war broke out, they could only fight to the death on the front lines until the war ended.

To defend their lands, the Northern Nobles had long since devoted all their efforts to expanding their armies and preparing for war. Each and every one of them was a warmonger, pouring all the money and provisions from their territories into the army, without needing the kingdom to send anyone to urge them on.

"Your Excellency Hudson, it is not that we do not wish to fulfill our noble obligations. However, our territory is currently in dire need of funds, and we are simply unable to bear this expense."

"I'm frustrated," said Knight Hendel.

You could tell from that helpless expression that this guy was truly powerless and prepared to give up completely.

If we can't do it, we can't do it. Even if we are forced to go to the front line ahead of time, we still can't come up with enough money and food.

Strategic materials, in particular, will not only be supplied now, but every month thereafter. And this number will most likely continue to increase.

For some impoverished nobles, it might not be difficult to scrape together enough supplies for one or two months, but the long-term consumption was truly unbearable.

"Knight Hendel, I am aware of your situation. Providing supplies and funds to the front lines for an extended period must be quite stressful for you."

But rules are rules, and neither you nor I have the right to change them. The King's decree must be carried out without fail.

In Laite County, the nobles facing similar predicaments were not isolated cases. In fact, it could be said that most nobles were experiencing some degree of hardship.

We are all adults and capable of taking responsibility for our actions. Whatever decision you make, I respect your choice.

If you don't want to contribute money and supplies, you can fill out a registration form, lead your army, and go to the front lines with the supply convoy to participate in the defense of the kingdom.

I must remind you that stopping the Beastfolk invasion is not as easy as suppressing the Skull Society's rebellion.

Based on the experience of past wars, the earlier you enter a war, the lower your chances of surviving. Think carefully before you decide whether you want to take the risk.

My personal suggestion is that you first gather as many supplies as possible and complete the tasks assigned above. Only if there's absolutely no other way should you lead your troops to serve on the front lines.

Money and provisions are ultimately external possessions. Even if you deplete your savings now, you can always accumulate more in the future.

But life is one's own.

Especially for families with few descendants, if you die on the front lines, your hard-earned wealth will simply fall into the hands of others.

Hudson offered his earnest advice.

If the shortfall were small, we could easily cover it. But the current situation is clearly not right; some people are just giving up right from the start.

Well, there's no other way but to follow the rules. Everyone has a responsibility to fight the Beastfolk; those with money should contribute money, those with food should contribute food, and those with nothing should risk their lives.

The atmosphere at the ceremony suddenly became tense. The nobles who had originally hoped to win over the crowd suddenly realized that their original reasons were actually quite ridiculous.

It's true that they're in trouble and deserve our sympathy. But the problem is that everyone is facing difficulties right now. The nobles responsible for procuring supplies are struggling, but those fighting on the front lines are facing even greater difficulties.

"Your Excellency Hudson, our supplies won't last much longer. We can't let our people go hungry just to complete our mission!"

Do you have any suggestions on how to help us get through this difficult time?

"Baron Sanchez asked expectantly."

After this reminder, everyone realized that today's meeting was to discuss countermeasures and overcome the difficulties together.

Faced with the expectant gazes of the crowd, Hudson shook his head and said with feigned helplessness, "I knew that everyone was having difficulties, but I didn't expect them to be this severe."

To be honest, even in the Mountain Territory, completing the mission is extremely difficult; I have to find a way to fill the gaps.

yyxs. la

The Mountain Territory suffers from food shortages, and among various strategic resources, only iron production is relatively abundant. According to regulations, 150,000 pounds of high-quality iron are required monthly to fulfill the task.

As you all probably know, even at normal market prices, this much good iron is worth more than five thousand gold coins.

At times like these, it wouldn't be surprising if the price doubled if you sold it outside.

Iron smelting costs have always been high. Even without considering the cost of ore and coal, the cost of feeding, drinking, and providing for thousands of miners is a huge expense.

Such a heavy financial burden is beyond my means. In order to reduce expenses, I can only take on some forging tasks to cut costs.

The situation in the Mountain Territory is unique, and it's impossible for everyone to follow suit. However, everyone can develop some side hustles that they can accomplish based on their own circumstances.

For example, lords along rivers and streams can catch fish, and after being dried, one pound of fish can be equivalent to four pounds of rye.

If you have the means, it would be even better to raise some fast-growing aquatic products yourself.

In territories with abundant prey, some game can be caught, dried, and used as a substitute.

Even wild vegetables growing in the fields can be harvested after being dried. People can also plant some fast-maturing crops depending on their circumstances.

Laite County is only a hundred or so miles from the sea. If you have a lot of connections, you can get a boat and organize people to go out to sea to fish, which is also a way out.

If none of these can be done, then my Mountain Territory lacks labor. Blacksmiths, miners, farmers, shoemakers... can all come over.

The hiring price will be calculated based on the actual skills and abilities required. You can send someone to discuss the specific details with the manager below.

The specific methods you use will depend on your actual situation. Even if the supplies you raise are just a drop in the ocean, it's still better than doing nothing.

Making dried fish, dried meat, or dried vegetables are all typical bad ideas. It's not that the solutions are flawed, but rather that they are divorced from reality.

These are all well-developed and cultivated lands. The fish and shrimp in the river are often visited by the residents along the banks; the wild animals in the mountains and forests also frequently appear on the tables of noblemen.

Wild vegetables were also a form of food; for serfs, wild vegetables could be considered half a staple food. They were a must-have at almost every meal, and there wasn't enough for their own consumption, so where would they find any surplus to make dried vegetables?

Going out to sea to fish is utter nonsense. Even if someone had the connections to get a boat, sending a bunch of landlubbers to fish is not a reliable idea.

Moreover, the seas of the magical world are not peaceful either. The vast oceans teem with countless dangerous creatures.

Being a fisherman has always been one of the riskiest professions. Given the peace of mind of farming, almost no one is willing to risk going out to sea to fish.

The real solution shown to everyone is to rent out labor. Resources like food and cloth cannot be produced overnight, but mine output can be increased in a short period.

During wartime, iron was a highly sought-after commodity. Whether it was raw iron produced or finished weapons forged, it could be used to satisfy the Governor's Mansion.

After a pause, Hudson added, "If all of this is done, it still won't meet the needs."

You could also consider becoming mercenaries, serving in the military for wealthy nobles in neighboring provinces, and earning a hefty reward.

If there are many applicants, I can suggest to the Governor's Mansion that you stagger your military service dates to avoid being drafted by the province during your service.

While both involve going to the battlefield, following the provincial armies to the front lines and being able to return for rest periodically, the safety is far greater than joining the Standing Army and fighting until the end of the war.

As is customary, the kingdom will not conscript a large number of nobles from our Southeast Province to the front lines unless it is a critical moment.

Theoretically speaking, as long as the provinces coordinate well, it is possible to stagger the dates.

It wasn't that Hudson was exaggerating; there was a genuine need for it. Some wealthy nobles who happened to be in a transitional phase in their lives had a need to hire people to perform their duties in their place.

Mercenaries have low fighting spirit and are only barely capable of performing city defense tasks. In open field battles, once they suffer a defeat, desertion is very likely to occur.

In principle, the kingdom prohibits this practice of hiring people to serve, but the law is not without human sentiment, and there are always exceptions.

For example, during the last Skull Society uprising, some family heirs in the two counties were still babies.

We can't exactly send these baby lords to the battlefield, can we?

In such situations, the officials in charge of implementation will turn a blind eye and tacitly allow them to use mercenaries.

There are also risks involved; if the mercenaries serving in place of the employer cause problems, the employer will also be held liable.

Normally, people prefer to have nobles do it for them. They are all people you know well; you can run away from the priest, but not the church.

In addition, there is another situation—the exchange of obligations.

Simply put, it was a system where nobles from different provinces exchanged their obligations. You would go to my province to fulfill your obligations, and I would go to your province to fulfill mine.

It was limited to nobles of comparable status and overall strength, and required the consent of the Governor of both provinces.

This situation often occurs in large families.

Large families often have many members, and it's normal for collateral branches to be distributed in other provinces. During wartime, if they didn't feel comfortable sending others to the battlefield, they would exchange members in this way.

Generally speaking, as long as you apply, there won't be any problems. Anyway, someone will do the task, everyone gets what they need, and it's convenient for each other, which also leaves a good impression.

The number of members in large families varies, and their actual circumstances differ as well. It's impossible to collect all the necessary funds for such an exchange; any discrepancies necessitate compensation.

It could be supplies, or it could be sending personnel to serve. The specifics will depend on the actual coordination situation.

If the situation is urgent and there is no time for coordination, then the obligations are directly transferred. Simply put, when these nobles enter another province to fulfill their obligations, their obligations are directly transferred to that province.

Having gone through countless rounds of gameplay, everyone has accumulated rich experience, and no one can gain an advantage in this regard.

They were all forced into this situation by the Beastfolk. Throughout the long years of war, the pressure of life and death forced the leadership of the Alpha Kingdom to continuously improve.

Contingency plans were formulated well in advance to address various unforeseen circumstances. For the lower-ranking nobles, it was not important who they followed to the battlefield; what mattered was fulfilling their duties, none of which could be neglected.

"Your Excellency Hudson, if we send all the able-bodied men to work in the Mountain Territory, can military training also be conducted here?"

Baron Keterai asked, forcing himself to be brave.

The local nobles faced difficulties, and the Northern Nobles were no exception. Apart from a few wealthy nobles, most Northern Nobles could not afford to bear the burden.

Kate had originally prepared to go to the battlefield, but now that she suddenly realized she could still struggle a little longer, she naturally wanted to find out the truth.

"Of course! But it's limited to the reserves, who will conduct basic military training every ten days."

The specific training is your responsibility; I will only provide the venue.

During the busy farming season, you may also allow able-bodied men to return to the territory to work. Prioritize food production in the territory.

Don't be too happy yet; you need to be mentally prepared. Mountain Territory only hire surplus labor during the off-season, so the prices won't be too high.

As he spoke, Hudson deliberately glanced at Viscount Ciss, whose face was ashen. If this guy hadn't gone easy on him and dumped all the trouble on him, he wouldn't have had this opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

If it weren't for this special period, it would have been almost impossible to get the entire county's workforce to come and work.

Even if the lords were willing to swallow their pride and send their men to work for them, Hudson couldn't afford to pay them wages.

After all, the market is influenced by supply and demand, and simply increasing production capacity will only lead to a price collapse.

Only during times of war, when the demand for iron reaches its peak, can production be increased at any cost.

With the huge profits brought by the production boom, the development costs of the territory naturally followed.

Knowing full well Hudson's sinister intentions, but seeing it as a blatant conspiracy, Viscount Ciss was powerless to stop it.

Even if it was said aloud, it couldn't dampen everyone's enthusiasm to join in. From the moment they chose to lie low, the reins of Laite County fell into Hudson's hands.

"To cause damage?"

The idea was barely formed when Ciss himself nipped it in the bud. Increasing iron production was entirely in the Alpha Kingdom's interest.

The King's decree explicitly called for increased iron production across the land, so that more weapons could be forged and more troops could be armed to fight the Beastfolk.

Already at a disadvantage, if he were to jump out and go against the tide, he might end up losing all his remaining popularity among the Northern Nobles.

After glancing at everyone's expressions and then looking north, Viscount Ciss slowly stood up and said with a grin:

"Hudson Hudson's arrangements are quite reasonable. As long as the iron production in the Mountain Territory increases, everyone's material crisis will be easily resolved."

Even if there are some shortcomings, everyone can borrow money! Our generous Hudson is not a stingy person.

However, while everyone is focused on production, military training must not be neglected. Every full-scale Beastfolk invasion has ended in bloodshed.

"With only one training session every ten days, I'm afraid..."