Erwin took note of it, then turned to the financial page and pushed a sheet filled with numbers across the table to Ron.
"Weapons and armor have had stable production since the water-powered forging hammers went into operation: breastplates, helmets, brigandine plates, spearheads, and arrows. They are mainly sold to Novigrad and transported regularly by the Seagull;
This is currently the estate's main source of cash flow, but expenses are growing faster.
The army expansion, maintenance of the walls and waterwheels, and procurement of ingredients for the first batch of enhanced potions—every one of them is eating into profits. Last month's accounts showed that whatever came in went right back out."
Ron picked up the sheet, gave it a glance, and set it back on the table. "How much do alcohol sales account for?"
"Less than twenty percent at present. But if blackberry mead can break into the Novigrad market, that share will rise quickly."
"Prioritize alcohol sales. Keep armor exports at their current scale—no expansion. Military equipment goes to our own people first." Erwin wrote it down.
"The old Crow's Nest forces number around two hundred, but the garrison left behind by the Baron is a mess. Their organization is inconsistent, and the soldiers vary greatly in quality. When the Baron was around, they were mainly held together by his personal prestige. Under your plan, they need a complete overhaul."
"Send them back to the estate in batches and hand them over to Carl. Crossbowmen, pikemen, sword-and-shield infantry, heavy infantry, scout cavalry—retest them all according to Carl's standards. Those who fail will be reduced to militia or dismissed.
"Make up for the lack of scout training first. The biggest lesson from this ambush was our lack of scouts to reconnoiter the route. That is a serious flaw, and it