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IBHJ Chapter 178
🕑 Added 2023-03-29 22:01:33 +0000 UTCMerlin looked confused as he pointed to the pile of documents on the table and asked, "You called me here just to handle these paperwork?"
Shirou simply nodded in response.
Merlin complained, "What's going on? I'm a magus! I'm a court mage! What kind of magus handles government affairs?"
Shirou pointed to himself, "I do. Stop wasting time and go handle them. Otherwise, I'll have Kay entertain you properly."
Merlin's expression turned sour at the mention of Kay, and he spoke with a depressed tone, "Can we please not talk about Kay? My stomach is starting to hurt again."
"Then get to work quickly!"
Merlin asked helplessly, "Could you at least tell me what exactly I'm supposed to do?"
"Of course, handle things!"
Merlin sighed, "That's too vague. I'm more than willing to help you as part of our agreement, but the thing is, my Clairvoyance can only see the present, and the kingdom you want to build is a future kingdom based on wisdom. Regrettably, creating a kingdom beyond my comprehension is not something I can assist you with."
"So, you mean to say that I have to teach you?" Shirou narrowed his eyes.
Merlin nodded.
Shirou: "..."
He covered his eyes with his hand as he felt a headache coming on. 'This wise man isn't reliable,' he thought with a sigh.
"Then classify these first," he said to him, trying to keep his frustration in check. "Please tell me you understand the concept of classification."
"I may not know about the wisdom of the future, but in this era, I'm still a wise man. Don't treat me like a fool!" he protested.
"Thank you for your help."
Merlin nodded in acknowledgement and set his staff aside to begin classifying the documents.
Shirou sat down and began to project Gáe Bolg, his chosen Noble Phantasm.
Both his origin and attribute were sword, which meant that projecting sword-type Noble Phantasms would consume less magical energy and allow him to produce more of them. However, he knew that on the battlefield, the length of a weapon could be the deciding factor between victory and defeat.
For the safety of his soldiers, projecting Gáe Bolg was the best option. As for armor, that would need even more magical energy and wasn't a viable option at the moment.
He decided to prioritize providing his army with good weapons before gradually equipping them with armor.
Currently, Artoria was stationed in the north, single-handedly fending off the relentless onslaught of magical beasts. She had been at it for three days straight and was likely on the brink of exhaustion. Meanwhile, Bedivere was leading the people to construct defensive walls. Once the walls were erected, Artoria could withdraw and take a much-needed respite.
Shirou's military might was woefully inadequate. He had even contemplated resorting to feudal conscription to bolster his forces. Under this system, peasants toiled as farmers during peacetime but were obligated to serve as soldiers in times of war, with the entire populace being armed for battle.
Unfortunately, Cornwall was presently in a state of poverty, and the northern region was under constant siege from magical creatures, leaving the people in Caerleon without proper homes. With such a lack of fundamental necessities, there was simply no excess labor force available.
Feudal conscription was certainly necessary, but it was crucial to prioritize the most pressing matters and deal with them first before gradually tackling other issues.
"To be frank, you have a limited workforce at your disposal. You need to recruit more people," Merlin remarked as he sorted through the paperwork.
"I am aware of that. Agravain has drafted recruitment notices, and I have even requested him to seek assistance from other lords."
He let out a heavy sigh and continued, "I'm severely understaffed. Can you believe that I've established nine departments, but I can't even find nine officials to fill them? At this rate, I'm ready to hire anyone who can read, regardless of their background."
"I see," Merlin nodded and stood up, saying, "I have finished sorting through the documents."
"Excellent. I have exhausted all my magical energy," Shirou said as he projected 107 Gáe Bolgs. He then rose to his feet and gestured towards the spears. "Take these spears to Morgan and summon the court magi who are accompanying us. I have already decided that Morgan will be overseeing the magi' team moving forward."
"But she has always displayed contempt towards other magi. Will she agree to this arrangement?"
"I already asked her, and she said yes."
"I see. Just be careful. Keep in mind that she already thinks of you as her own brother. If she were to discover your true identity, she might not hesitate to end you."
"I've got enough problems as it is. Please don't make things any worse."
Merlin gave a brief nod and took the Gáe Bolgs with him as he departed.
Shirou swiveled his waist and settled back onto the throne, returning his attention to the paperwork in front of him.
Despite not possessing the gift of foresight, Merlin was undoubtedly a wise man for his time. His organization of the work was meticulous and thorough, to say the least.
However, these proposals...
"How much are they planning to produce? And where do they intend to implement it?... Are they trying to deceive me with these numbers?" Shirou pinched his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
Reading ancient proposals is simply unbearable for modern people. Unlike modern proposals that are based on concepts and grounded in reality, from methodology to specific implementation methods, the plans drafted by these officials cannot be called proposals at all.
While they stated the amount they planned to produce and the locations where they planned to implement their plans, they neglected to mention the necessary manpower or the specific implementation methods.
Shirou was already stretched thin and could not handle everything. However, despite his overwhelming workload, these inadequate proposals had to be sent back!
The vague proposals lacked any practical meaning that could guide production. It was clear that Shirou would have to teach these officials how to write proper proposals that were grounded in reality and contained specific implementation methods. Without these elements, the plans were essentially useless.
Fortunately, Shirou's strength lay in planning, so teaching the officials how to write proper proposals wasn't too difficult for him.
While the production proposals were terrible, some of the management proposals related to manufacturing and commerce were actually quite good. Although they seemed backward from a modern perspective and had noticeable flaws that required reform, he recognized the importance of taking practical steps and proceeding gradually. After all, achieving everything in one step was not always feasible.
He believed that it would be more effective to focus on increasing production capacity first, without delving into the management of manufacturing and commerce. After that, they could gradually improve the production relations system and then move on to the slow and steady reform of the system step by step. This way, they could achieve the desired results without overwhelming themselves with too many changes at once.
...
In the stillness of the night, everything was shrouded in darkness. Inside the palace, the flickering candlelight was the only source of illumination.
Seated alone in front of the throne, Shirou patiently read through the government affairs documents one by one.
Before his transmigration, he was an urban salaried worker who had been exploited by a heartless boss. Unpaid leave was the norm, so staying up late was not a new experience for him.
By midnight, he had finished reading all the documents and neatly set them aside. He then picked up a piece of paper and began planning other matters.
As a newly established foundation, there were still many frameworks that needed to be put in place, including official titles.
Under Shirou's command, there were no specific titles or ranks assigned to anyone, and everyone appeared to be equal. While this may have seemed idealistic and beautiful, it was actually a recipe for disaster. Without clear roles and responsibilities, confusion and chaos were inevitable.
The absence of official titles meant that everyone's opinions were equal, with no one having the authority to overrule another. Under Shirou's leadership, this approach had worked well so far, but if they were to govern on their own, chaos would likely ensue.
In contrast, Camelot's title system was a noble political structure that decentralized royal power and granted a high degree of autonomy to regional lords. Essentially, the country was divided into separate pieces. While this system had its benefits, it could also lead to fragmentation and disunity if not managed properly.
Given the potential problems associated with the absence of official titles and the risk of excessive regional autonomy, it was essential to establish a centralized authoritarian title system. This would need to be followed by measures to limit regional autonomy and bring back greater levels of control.
While this was a massive undertaking that required a long-term plan, it was crucial to establish the necessary framework as a first step. Rushing the process could lead to unforeseen problems down the line, so careful consideration and planning were necessary.
Another issue that needed to be addressed was the military rank system and support system. Simply copying the systems of the modern world would be ill-advised, as they did not fit the unique circumstances of the time, the economic basis, or the people's quality. Blindly copying these systems would be dogmatic and could lead to disastrous outcomes.
Instead, the modern systems could serve as a foundation, with adjustments made to fit the practical situation. This required a great deal of thought and consideration, as it was essential to strike the right balance between tradition and modernity, while also considering the needs of the military and the country as a whole.
With the framework hastily drafted, the first rays of dawn began to lighten up the sky. Shirou summoned Merlin and tasked him with overseeing the political affairs and returning any inadequate proposal documents.
Upon receiving his orders, Merlin let out a sigh and remarked, "Am I still a court mage? It feels like I've become your domestic official."
He patted Merlin's shoulder, "Everyone is busy right now, and you're no exception. Once the situation stabilizes, I'll make sure you get a well-deserved vacation."
Merlin looked skeptical and quipped, "You're good at coaxing people, but you're not trying to trick me, are you?"
Shirou pointed to his own eyes and asked, "What do you see?"
"Two eye boogers?"
"Tsk!" He clicked his tongue in displeasure and said, "It's sincerity!"
As Merlin departed, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had heard that statement before.
...
Despite their limited understanding of Shirou's farming concept, Lucan and the other officials in the agricultural department worked diligently. Shirou had tasked them with recruiting people for farming just yesterday, and to his surprise, they had already managed to gather a group of individuals by this morning. However, as he gazed upon the meager crowd in front of him, Shirou couldn't help but frown, "How many people are here?"
Lucan responded promptly, "Your Majesty, I counted each person individually. There are six hundred and seventy-two people present."
He was taken aback. "Only this few? I have over fifty thousand people in Cornwall and Caerleon combined!"
Lucan appeared apologetic as he explained, "Your Majesty, it's true that there aren't many people here. When you ordered the fortifications to be repaired, Bedivere took away more than ten thousand people. And when you ordered the walls to be built, Geraint took away many more. Additionally, most of the people in Caerleon are still building their own homes. Yesterday, I went to the nearby villages in Cornwall, and unfortunately, there were only these individuals left, as there is little else for them to do. The remaining population comprises mostly of elderly and children."
Shirou: "..."
As he pondered the situation, he realized that Europe was originally sparsely populated, and the population density during ancient times was even lower. It dawned on him that he not only lacked sufficient troops but also faced a severe scarcity of basic human resources – a shortage of people!
Feeling a headache coming on, Shirou rubbed his forehead and asked, "What about horses? How many do we have left?"
"We have a total of seven hundred and forty-two horses, including the local horses in Cornwall and the three hundred horses gifted by Sir Ywain. The majority of them are being used by the army."
Shirou made a decision. "Our main focus is on developing agriculture. Let's take all the horses out and distribute them to the villages."
Lucan appeared surprised. "Distribute them to the villages?" he repeated in disbelief.
"Yes, that's what we will do. We don't have any other option. Please proceed with the distribution as soon as possible."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Lucan nodded and promptly left to carry out the orders.
Although Cornwall's land was vast, its population was too small. This meant that meticulous cultivation using oxen was not a viable option, and that rapid horse-drawn plowing was a more suitable method of farming.
There were both advantages and disadvantages to using oxen and horses for farming. Ox cultivation was characterized by meticulous attention to detail, and it was cheaper to use oxen than horses. In contrast, horse cultivation prioritized speed and offered a broader range of military and civilian uses, but horses were more expensive and depreciated quickly, unlike oxen which retained their value.
Due to the high cost of horses and their rapid depreciation, horse-drawn plowing was never a popular method of farming in ancient times. This was also due in part to the fact that the modern world was surrounded by nomadic tribes, and the military value of horses often outweighed their civilian use.
However, Cornwall did not share this concern. In the early stages of development, the priority was to stabilize and develop the region, rather than worry about counterattacks. In essence, it was an opportunity to take advantage of Vortigern's attack on Camelot to develop his country.
The primary advantage of horse cultivation was speed. With the same level of technology, horse-drawn plowing was four to five times faster than ox cultivation!
Given the sparsely populated nature of Cornwall, horse-drawn plowing was an ideal option. Interestingly, in Europe around the sixteenth century, ox cultivation was gradually phased out in favor of horse cultivation, due to its efficiency and versatility.
In reality, there was no clear distinction between the advantages and disadvantages of using oxen and horses for farming, as both had their own strengths. However, selecting horse-drawn plowing in regions where relations between people and the land were strained and surrounded by nomadic tribes, would have been a risky decision. Similarly, opting for ox cultivation in Europe, where the land was extensive and the population sparse, would have been an inefficient use of resources. Ultimately, adapting to local conditions was always the best course of action.
If horse-drawn plowing was to be adopted, it would require a specialized plow and horseshoes designed for horses. Fortunately, Cornwall had skilled blacksmiths who could craft these tools. However, for the time being, the focus was on having the farmers cultivate new land.
Shirou addressed his people, "I will teach you a new technique for cultivating farmland. Once you have learned it, it is important that you share it with others and not keep it to yourselves. Do you understand?"
"Yes!" the people responded eagerly.
He proceeded to teach them the method of burned-soil farming and encouraged them to share this knowledge with neighboring villages. He also requested the people of Caerleon, who were currently building their homes, to prioritize constructing basic, habitable dwellings before venturing out to cultivate new land.
Shirou held a significant position in the hearts of the people from Caerleon. When he advised them to build simple homes before cultivating new land, the majority of the population heeded his words and proceeded accordingly.
However, a new issue soon emerged – how should the newly cultivated land be managed? In Camelot, private ownership was recognized as the cornerstone of the aristocratic system.
Shirou decided to implement the equal-field system. However, he was aware of the potential risks associated with this approach and thus modified it by drawing inspiration from the modern land management system of his world.
He proclaimed that the land was owned by the state and belonged to everyone, rather than to the king or any particular individual. However, each household was bestowed with the exclusive right to utilize the land that they had already cultivated.
He was unsure whether this modified equal-field system would be sufficient to prevent future issues, but he believed that it would serve to boost productivity in the present.
And indeed, the people's eagerness to cultivate the new land ignited a wave of productivity across the entire region!
