Ch.27Foundation of Reform (5)

“…Really? The nobles?”

In the back alley of the night, where the only light comes from torches around the castle and the stars and moon in the sky, Chloe listens to someone wearing a hood.

It’s not just one person.

Hooded figures continue to appear and speak, and Chloe naturally listens to their stories, compiling information.

“Thank you, please continue to keep watch.”

“No need to thank us, we’re simply repaying our debt.”

“If it weren’t for you, miss, we would have starved to death in the orphanage—”

“Enough, enough. How many times is this now?”

Chloe waves her hand dismissively at their repeated expressions of gratitude, though a gentle curve forms on her lips.

“I told you not to thank me. The one you should be grateful to is…”

“Lord Claude.”

“That’s right.”

……….

“…What are these fools doing?”

I tried to distribute the four-crop rotation method throughout the country, but some nobles refused my recommendation, saying, “Will the Duke take responsibility if losses occur from using an unverified farming method?”

I understand their position since it is indeed an unverified method, but… the way they rejected it? Do they have a death wish?

“What should we do about it?”

“Leave them be.”

It’s their loss if they don’t adopt it.

When all the places that implemented the four-crop rotation method double their yield, those fools will finally realize what they’ve done.

When that time comes, they’ll cry and beg… No, I’d better set things straight now.

“All farmland in the Bourgogne Duchy that wishes to use different farming methods must receive approval from the Duke of Bourgogne or his representative. There’s a need to coordinate in advance if the farming method poses significant risks.”

“Yes, I will convey the new decree to everyone.”

“Good.”

Vassals are granted unlimited authority within their territories, but this authority doesn’t extend to matters of taxation and rebellion. And farming is directly connected to taxation.

With such perfect justification, no one should dare challenge this law.

Let them try to persuade me while their neighbors are doubling their crop yields. I’ll certainly make it difficult for them.

“Chloe, how are the sugar beets doing?”

“They’ve successfully taken root. However, the farmers are expressing difficulties since it’s their first time cultivating this crop—they don’t know when it will fully grow or what precautions to take.”

“That’s to be expected. It’s fine. Tell them they won’t be held responsible if the sugar beets wither by mistake.”

“Yes, master.”

Losing a few crops due to cultivation mistakes was anticipated from the beginning, and we imported plenty of sugar beets, so it won’t be noticeable.

So the sugar beet issue is settled… Let me reorganize the projects I’m currently undertaking.

‘Luka is thoroughly revamping the administration, so I, as a layman, don’t need to interfere. As for agriculture, only the farming method has changed while everything else remains the same… Should I start by creating independent farmers?’

Currently, most farmers in the Bourgogne Duchy are tenant farmers subordinate to noble manors or large landowners.

This is extremely effective for maintaining a stable system, but it results in the complete destruction of the middle class or unnecessarily concentrates power in the upper class.

And most of my political enemies are from the upper class.

An increase in independent farmers leads to growth in the middle class, which eventually gives rise to a new class—the bourgeoisie.

The bourgeoisie will bring different problems compared to the current aristocracy, causing more headaches… but the emergence of the bourgeoisie is inevitable. Earth’s history proves this.

…Alright, now for the middle class— No, before that, let’s hear Leclerc’s opinion.

“Leclerc, what do you think of Bourgogne’s agricultural system? I mean… about tenant farming.”

“Tenant farming… truly a problematic system. But we cannot touch it.”

“Indeed.”

If tenant farmers were replaced by independent farmers, the government’s tax revenue would increase tremendously without intermediaries skimming off the top. The tax burden on farmers would decrease as well.

The problem is that nobles and landowners won’t stand for it.

Currently in the Bourgogne Duchy, nobles and landowners own about 70% of the land, the church owns 15%, and the remaining 15% is shared between me, the Duke of Bourgogne, and the common people.

This means that if I want to abolish the tenant farming system, I would have to fight against that 85%.

There’s a reason other countries leave the tenant farming system alone. They lack the strength to withstand the combined assault of domestic interest groups.

Only after guns and cannons appear and the state monopolizes all violence produced domestically through an advanced military system can tenant farming be abolished—

Wait a minute.

‘Guns?’

Guns and cannons, gunpowder weapons.

The greatest driving force that propelled the Middle Ages into the modern era.

They swept away the privileged class of knights, necessitated the development of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and various other disciplines, and provided the impetus for nations to undergo radical centralization.

“Leclerc, do you know anything about guns? Or perhaps gunpowder?”

“Guns… I’ve never heard of them, but I do know about gunpowder. I’ve heard that in the Eastern Empire, gunpowder is essential for weapons called cannons.”

“Hmm?”

What? Cannons already exist?

But why have I never seen one?

“Gunpowder and cannons are strictly prohibited from being exported by the Eastern Empire, making them difficult to obtain abroad. Even within the Empire, cannons are limited to a small number of central military units, so gunpowder is considered rare even among their nobility.”

Reading my puzzled expression, Leclerc explains what I’m curious about as if reading my mind.

It was quite creepy at first, but I’m used to it now.

“Is that so?”

Then… it’s certain that gunpowder hasn’t been widely distributed.

If they had produced a lot of gunpowder, it would have leaked out or more armies would be using cannons, but that hasn’t happened. This means they’re either controlling gunpowder production or only producing small amounts due to limited capacity.

‘Good. I need to produce gunpowder.’

Gunpowder, or rather the black powder that can be made in this era, can be created by mixing saltpeter and charcoal with sulfur or iron oxide in a ratio of 75:15:10.

Even if you use less sulfur or iron oxide, it only reduces the explosive power slightly without affecting the explosion itself, so the most important ingredient is saltpeter.

Without saltpeter, you can substitute nitrates, ammonium nitrate, or was it sodium nitrate? These can be used as alternatives.

When substituting, I remember the ratio needs to be different… hmm, my memory is a bit fuzzy. Well, with enough trials, I’ll find a good ratio.

Anyway, who would have thought my extensive travels abroad in my previous life would come in handy like this? Back then, I cursed those experiences, but I guess this is what they call a blessing in disguise?

‘And the method to obtain saltpeter, or potassium nitrate, is…’

In modern times, it’s simply manufactured in factories. In the past, they mined guano (bird droppings) or extracted it from saltpeter mines.

“Leclerc, are there any saltpeter mines in our country?”

“Saltpeter… a substance frequently used by alchemists. I believe no such mines have been discovered.”

And in regions without bird droppings or mines… ugh.

Just imagining it makes me nauseous. It’s truly a horrific sight, but I should be thankful I don’t have to see it myself.

“…Leclerc.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“If I were to order people to create fields using urine, excrement, ash heaps, and straw, what do you think they would say?”

“…”

I can tell immediately from that expression. Ines, sitting over there, has the exact same look.

Of course, everyone would think I’ve gone mad.

“Just… tell them publicly that it’s a method for creating new fertilizer.”

“Publicly? Then the truth is—”

“It’s a method that can produce gunpowder.”

“Gunpowder… you say?”

“Yes.”

Somehow, Leclerc’s reaction isn’t as shocked as I expected.

He seems to believe my claim about making gunpowder, but doesn’t understand why we need to make it in the first place.

Well, it’s natural for someone who has never seen gunpowder to react that way. I understand.

“I’ll write up the design for this field. Have the technicians build it on my private land according to these specifications. This should be prioritized second only to administrative reform among our current projects.”

“Yes, understood.”

It seems like the conversation suddenly veered from independent farmers to something strange… but what does it matter? This will ultimately become a method to create more independent farmers.

……….

“Contact me if you change your mind.”

“…Yes, please return safely.”

A nobleman emerges from the door of an ornate room.

The servants cleaning in the corridor immediately bow their heads and avert their gaze as he approaches.

Normally, such obvious avoidance of eye contact would offend the sensibilities of a modern person, but this nobleman is accustomed to it and shows no sign of displeasure.

The nobleman, satisfied with the servants’ deference, walks toward his carriage parked outside.

“Tsk… Everyone is so frightened. We’re not starting a rebellion, just stating our demands. Why all the fuss?”

“It seems things didn’t go well.”

“Indeed. The Duke has won the war against Caroling, and the northern rebellion has only recently ended, so they advised caution for the time being.”

Having left the mansion and boarded the carriage, the nobleman complains to his attendant sitting beside him.

“I tried to instill courage in the hesitant nobles… but they all have hearts the size of beans.”

“…Haha, you are indeed bold, my lord.”

The attendant finds it strange that these people can move so normally around such a killing machine, but keeps these thoughts to himself. Such matters are not his concern.

The attendant secretly prays that the Duke will show mercy to them if things go wrong.