Ch.194Central Authority (4) (Slightly Modified)

“Mmm… Is this really enough?”

The dissidents have been mostly dealt with on charges of treason, and the nobles’ private armies are in the process of being confiscated. Plans to unify administrative rights, judicial authority, tax collection rights, and more are well underway.

But it still feels like something’s missing.

Having decided to completely overturn the existing feudal order, ending with just this seems too underwhelming…

‘Above all, the timing couldn’t be better.’

Just as I was about to persuade and threaten the vassals to hand over their military forces, Duke Aquitaine suddenly stepped up and set an example for all the other nobles, making everything proceed remarkably smoothly.

While the vassals are confined here in Dijon, the dismantling of their armies will proceed in their territories, making this the perfect time to carry out something more radical.

Of course, I should avoid such radical actions now that the vassals are essentially hostages in Dijon, as it would severely damage my image. But I gave up on image management long ago.

Besides, dismantling armies and unifying administrative powers are already radical actions.

“…Good.”

In my country—no, I mean in Korea from my previous life—there was a strong tendency to despise anything from the Joseon Dynasty, but now that I’m here, I can definitively say those contemptuous views were completely unfounded.

While I might struggle to defend some ideological aspects, administratively, they not only suppressed the local powers and nobles—the yangban—but practically eliminated them in a political sense, creating a system where everyone had to submit completely to the king’s authority or face death.

The concept of lords didn’t even exist; all land in the country was supervised by officials called “Sattos” dispatched from the central government—an achievement beyond impressive, truly awe-inspiring.

I’d like to apply this directly to my Lotaring, but… unfortunately, Lotaring hasn’t developed enough to make such actions possible yet. Completely eliminating the lords would naturally require enormous costs and would have serious repercussions, necessitating a life-or-death struggle with them.

However, transforming lords into local officials who still bear the title of lord should be straightforward.

As long as I continue to recognize their land ownership rights, resistance from the lords should be minimal.

“Is anyone outside?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are the lords who have come from various regions still resting well in Dijon? We should hold another banquet soon.”

“I will make the preparations.”

I keep holding banquets as a pretext to gather the nobles, and I hear that in public discourse, the word “banquet” is starting to be perceived less as a party for enjoyment and more as a gathering to discuss political affairs… Well, changes in word meanings happen frequently, so there’s no need to correct it.

If Chloe and Ines have finished persuading Duke Aquitaine, I should increase the intensity within the scope of our contract.

……….

“Could you… repeat that?”

Did I hear that correctly?

I must have, but it’s so outrageous and reckless that I simply cannot comprehend it.

“Her Majesty the Queen stated that His Majesty the King lamented that merely taking away military power was too modest, and that he intends to ensure that only one person in all of Lotaring can call himself a lord—His Majesty the King himself.”

“…What are the conditions that define someone as a lord?”

“If one possesses military authority, administrative power, judicial authority, and police power, and privately collects taxes from the people, wouldn’t that be sufficient to be considered a lord?”

He’s insane.

He clearly said before that lords could keep enough soldiers to maintain order in their territories, but just days later, he now wants to take away even policing rights.

This goes beyond breaking faith—it’s as if the concept of trust never existed for him in the first place.

“…You know well that I fall into that category of lords. Why are you seeking my cooperation?”

“Because if Your Highness decides to part ways with His Majesty, you would be finished off by the nobles in that very moment.”

Sadly, I can’t refute that.

I can no longer distance myself from the King. If I did, without his protection, I would be torn apart mercilessly from all sides.

Although my territory is far from the Lotaring Kingdom, distance is no obstacle for those with true malice.

“That’s not enough to truly motivate me. People aren’t beasts who work merely because they’re whipped. Above all, even beasts don’t willingly walk into a slaughterhouse.”

But that truly isn’t enough to motivate me.

Cutting ties with everyone, including the King, and shutting myself in my territory while blocking all external access and becoming self-sufficient is certainly a viable option.

After all, the fundamental duty of a lord is to care only for his own territory, regardless of the chaos in the outside world.

“You’re right. One cannot use people without adequate compensation. We will eliminate all lords belonging to the Aquitaine duchy whom Your Highness has not designated to be spared, allowing you to absorb their territories.”

“…But wouldn’t lands acquired that way become His Majesty’s territories rather than mine, since I wouldn’t be able to exercise judicial, military, or taxation rights?”

“As I recall, both I and His Majesty have been speaking only about the Lotaring Kingdom’s territories. Your Highness’s territory is in Caroling, not Lotaring, isn’t it?”

“…”

That’s not wrong.

Until now, His Majesty has implemented various policies only for the Lotaring Kingdom’s territories, except for matters of rebellion or national defense. For the Caroling Kingdom’s territories, he has merely dispatched governors and collected taxes without direct rule.

Given His Majesty’s nature of discarding promises like old shoes when it benefits him, I couldn’t trust a mere promise, but his past actions make this quite convincing.

“Moreover, Your Highness surrendered your army but won’t actually lose it.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Since we need to station troops in the Caroling Kingdom to check neighboring countries and vassals, it would be difficult to control everything from distant Dijon. While you may not become the commander-in-chief of the royal army stationed in Caroling, you will obtain a position that allows you to use military forces under proper justification and law.”

…I didn’t expect this.

Indeed, stationing troops in the Caroling Kingdom is essential to deal with the Andalusia Kingdom to the south, various peninsula nations to the southeast, the Albion Kingdom to the north, and the vassals. This would be extremely difficult without the cooperation of local Caroling nobles.

If I could cooperate with the King while exerting influence over those stationed troops through an official position… that’s quite a good deal.

“Very well, I’ll cooperate. Should I act as a lightning rod to divert attention from His Majesty?”

“Oh? Aren’t you already doing that? Even receiving such delicious-looking refreshments as gifts.”

Chloe looks at the sealed refreshments thrown in the trash as she says this.

…As I keep noticing, her manner of speaking is too… impertinent for her appearance.

It makes sense given that she was the King’s milk-brother and is now his concubine, but shouldn’t she at least pretend to be courteous?

“…By the way, why are you telling me this only now? If you had told me from the beginning, our conversation would have been much quicker.”

“Well… it’s fun. If I had revealed all my cards from the start, you might have made more demands and things could have gotten complicated.”

Chloe says this with a seductive laugh, as if teasing me, but strangely, I don’t feel particularly angry. Is this the power of beauty?

…Whatever, I don’t care anymore.

I should just stop worrying and prepare for what needs to be done.

……….

“I’m glad to see you all. It’s so convenient to gather everyone while you’re here in Dijon.”

“…Pleased to see you, Your Majesty. We will enjoy the banquet today as well.”

Their expressions and tone don’t look pleased at all, but at least they’ve said they’ll enjoy it, so I’ll let it pass.

“I know that using banquets as political venues has diminished their joy somewhat, but without such occasions, how else could I gather all of you at once? Please understand.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

You people never come when simply summoned, always making excuses.

And you don’t accept what I’m doing in Dijon at face value either. You brought this upon yourselves, hmm.

“Your Majesty, thank you for holding this banquet.”

“Duke Aquitaine. There’s no need for thanks; this is simply my duty. Having welcomed you all to Dijon, shouldn’t I regularly hold banquets to show my hospitality?”

“Haha, I gladly accept Your Majesty’s kindness.”

Duke Aquitaine continues to express genuine joy and speak without deception.

Truly, he’s admirable but slightly difficult to understand.

It makes sense that he would go all-in with me since we’re politically aligned, but still, attending a banquet without invitation and then voluntarily surrendering his army without being ordered to… how should I put it, it’s an all-in where he’s even thrown in the deed to his house.

Anyway, his dependence on me is so intense it’s almost off-putting.

Ines and Chloe, whom I assigned to the task, said he agreed to cooperate with transforming lords into local officials… wow, what a rare loyal subject and meritorious retainer. I must reward his loyalty abundantly.

“Your Majesty, may I receive one more favor?”

“What is it?”

“Shamefully, although my territory, the Duchy of Aquitaine, has a history spanning hundreds of years, its administrative power and legal system are incomparably weaker than those of the Lotaring Kingdom. I’ve tried to emulate Lotaring’s administrative system and laws to solve this problem, but it was beyond my capabilities. So I would like to directly receive Your Majesty’s cooperation… would you please grant this?”

“Well, of course I must grant that. Even if you hadn’t asked, since the Caroling Kingdom’s territories are also mine, I would have had to unify the administrative and judicial systems eventually.”

He’s quite impatient—I was going to bring this up myself.

Given our prior arrangement, that’s not entirely sincere, but he definitely seems to appreciate my efforts to some extent.

Even with our deal, he wouldn’t have been so enthusiastic if he thought my intervention in his territory would only bring him losses. I must reward his loyalty and trust abundantly.