Spending an entire week at the Lady of the Lake's tower was out of the question. There were too many matters piling up in Ryan's territory that needed his attention. In the past, when Ryan was away on campaigns, Sulia managed domestic affairs at home, with Morgiana overseeing everything. But this time, Ryan had taken Sulia with him, leaving Morgiana to handle everything alone.
To assist Morgiana, Ryan had left behind three trusted retainers: the former steward of Mousillon, Carstenburg; Gofen from the Reikland in the Empire; and Steve, a noble from Mousillon. However, as advisors, they could only offer suggestions, with Morgiana ultimately making the decisions. Her unique position as the Lady of the Lake's earthly representative made it difficult for her to interfere too much in Ryan's governance. As a result, Morgiana had been troubled by these issues over the past year.
Upon Ryan's return, he found numerous matters awaiting his resolution. He promptly convened a meeting with all his subordinates to outline his plans for the coming period.
The first issue was the potential conflict between the Empire's people and the Bretonnians. Ryan had brought in approximately 300,000 immigrants from the Imperial capital of Altdorf, including 120,000 able-bodied men. Their numbers already exceeded those of Mousillon's native population, which could lead to tensions if not properly managed.
Ryan's solution was to encourage integration and intermarriage while promoting mutual understanding. The immigrants from Altdorf brought advanced skills, various technologies, and many rare items that the native inhabitants of Mousillon had never seen before. These newcomers would help the locals overcome their current challenges.
Conversely, the natives of Mousillon would teach the immigrants how to survive in the fertile but monster-infested marshlands, how to build fortified villages and defenses, and how to navigate the local taboos and traditions. This mutual exchange would foster understanding between the two groups.
Additionally, the racial and religious differences between the Empire and Bretonnia weren't so vast as to be insurmountable. Both groups worshiped the gods of the Old World, and Alfred's Freya Ancient Church District accepted the Imperial immigrants. Two of the castles exchanged with Nuln were named "Charlemagne Castle" and "Nuln Castle," and garrisons from two Imperial companies had already been stationed there.
After addressing the immigration issue, the next topic for discussion was the awarding of honors to the Old Guard. Many of them had distinguished themselves in the Battle of Nuln, and Ryan announced that it was time to promote some of them to knighthood. The Old Guard who received this title would be elevated to the status of Ranger Knights, becoming true nobles from that moment onward.
No one opposed Ryan's decision. In fact, all of his subordinates, including Count Durin and Count Laronde of Mousillon, supported the idea.
As for whether these newly knighted men could rise further, Ryan didn't say, nor did anyone ask, as it wasn't necessary. To the knightly nobility, the fact that the Old Guard could receive knighthood, despite being of peasant origin, was already an extraordinary promotion. The idea of granting them lands or even titles was likely beyond the imagination of these former serfs.
Ryan also believed that the knighthood would satisfy this generation of Old Guard, motivating them to continue serving faithfully. If anyone truly distinguished themselves, there might even be the possibility of becoming a Knight of the Realm or earning a barony.
Ryan had quietly decided that barony would be the highest rank to which any Old Guard could aspire. This would keep them within the knightly class while preventing them from reaching the upper echelons of nobility, ensuring Ryan maintained control over his personal army.
The first batch of thirty Old Guard to be knighted would receive their titles during the Winter Festival this year. Ryan, alongside his wife Sulia and Morgiana, would personally confer the honors.
After assigning these tasks, Ryan turned to the newly appointed Baron of Merovingian, the standard-bearer and Grail Knight Armand. "How is the security in Mousillon City now?"
"We've spent a year reorganizing the entire city, but the situation is still not ideal. It will take at least another six months to fully cleanse the city of the corruption left by the vampires," Armand reported. "Especially in the slums, where there are deep, extensive tunnels. Some of these tunnels even go below sea level. Only the Lady knows what Mousillon went through during its fall to the vampires."
"Very well, it seems we cannot yet move the capital from Gene to Mousillon City," Ryan nodded. "Juan, has there been any movement around Orphan Hill?"
Dressed in his Sun Knight uniform, Juan Carlos Sunchaser sighed. "If not for the Wood Elves occupying the area, we would have been driven mad by the Skaven hiding underground. I've had to negotiate with the Wood Elves frequently. Araloth the Bold has agreed to help us clear out the Skaven threat, on the condition that their observatory's territory is doubled!"
"Then give it to him!" Ryan decided immediately. "Our priority now is to create a stable environment where we can develop and recuperate. If the Wood Elves can help us, we should agree to their terms as long as they aren't excessive. Let's focus on restoring productivity first!"
"Yes, my lord!" Juan responded loudly, acknowledging Ryan's directive.
"As for the industrial development along the Grismore River, Carstenburg, I'll leave that to you. Don't worry too much about immediate profits; the merchants from Nuln know how to proceed. We've earned their trust through our efforts in the Battle of Nuln, so their demands won't be unreasonable," Ryan continued.
"Understood." Carstenburg, still sporting his signature bald head, monocle, and clean-shaven face, looked more composed than before. Now in his thirties, he had matured significantly since his earlier days when his agreements with François were no longer relevant—something everyone understood.
"And where does the canal stand now?" Ryan asked Count Durin, who, as a former noble of Lyonnais, was most familiar with the project.
The canal would connect the northern Saanen River to the Grismore River, which flows from Palaon to Mousillon and the sea. From there, it would link to the southern Chalon River, eventually reaching the Brionne River, originating from the Athel Loren Forest, thus completing a north-south waterway.
"The northern section of the canal, starting from the Saanen River in Couronne, has been dug up to the Grismore River. It should be navigable by the end of the year," Count Durin replied. "For now, we have enough laborers, but that's because there's a famine in Lyonnais. The serfs are willing to dig in exchange for food. But once we reach the Grismore River, maintaining this pace will be challenging, as most serfs are reluctant to leave their duchies—they are, after all, their lord's property."
Ryan frowned at this. The serfs in Bordeleaux weren't like those in Lyonnais—they were wealthier and more knowledgeable. This meant higher labor costs and more difficulty in recruitment.
For now, they would have to take it one step at a time and see how things progressed once the canal between the Saanen and Grismore Rivers was operational.
With the meeting concluded, everyone went off to carry out their tasks. Ryan initially planned to check on Veronica and Teresa, but he quickly learned from his attendants that Veronica was currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Sanctuary. Her wizard tower was closed, and flames and lights were frequently seen coming from its top.
Teresa had gone back to the Garland Council for a meeting and would return in a few weeks. She had left a message for Ryan, saying she would be back before the Winter Festival.
After considering his options, Ryan decided to visit the Lady of the Lake's tower to discuss his plans with Morgiana and the Lady herself.
For the serf emancipation purchase system to succeed, Ryan needed the goddess's support; otherwise, it would be nothing more than an empty promise.
...I'm the line to the tower...
Ryan's visit to the Lady of the Lake's tower was the best news Morgiana had received in a long time. Any dissatisfaction she had vanished when she saw that Ryan had taken care of everything and come straight to the tower. The Lady's Witch personally prepared a large meal for Ryan, including a new dish she had recently experimented with.
The dish, called "Haggis," was an import from Albion. It looked like a giant sausage, with chopped and mixed sheep's heart, liver, and lungs stuffed into a sheep's stomach, sewn shut, and boiled with various vegetables to make a hearty stew.
Ryan stared at the watermelon-sized haggis. Its appearance reminded him of a demonic egg, and when he cut it open, he saw a mass of mysterious grains, black and yellowish, mingling together. He held the knife and fork for a long time, unsure of where to start. "This..."
"Don't know how to eat it?" Morgiana approached him, her scent wafting through the air. She was dressed in a vintage rose evening gown layered with floral snowflake mesh, with a unicorn fur shawl draped over her shoulders. Her slender legs, wrapped in white unicorn fur stockings, displayed a graceful curve, and in the privacy of the Lady's tower, she wore only a pair of simple open-toe heels, through which Ryan could see her smooth, pale skin and toes painted with pink nail polish.
"I'm really not sure where to begin," Ryan admitted, sitting at the dining table with the knife and fork in hand
.
"Hehe." Morgiana gently sat on Ryan's lap, taking the knife and fork from him. She cut open the sheep's stomach to reveal the stew inside, then carefully picked up a piece with the fork. "Ah~"
"Ah~ Mmm~" Ryan reluctantly opened his mouth and ate it.
"Hmm?!" To his surprise, the taste was quite good. Despite its unappealing color, the dish was soft, flavorful, and had a unique aroma. Ryan nodded repeatedly after tasting it. "Delicious, Morgiana. It's really delicious!"
"I'm glad you like it." Morgiana's face lit up with joy as she poured Ryan a full glass of Couronne whiskey. She softly said, "The mutton has a strong smell, so this dish pairs well with whiskey."
"It's very tasty, Morgiana. Thank you for all your hard work during this time," Ryan said as he enjoyed the meal, despite its appearance. He adjusted his posture to make Morgiana more comfortable. "How did you learn to make this dish?"
"In the north of Couronne and Lyonnais, there are some red-haired Albions who have migrated here over the course of history. The knight kings saw that these red-haired Albions were not corrupted by Chaos and were fierce warriors, so they accepted them. Haggis is a traditional dish they brought with them. I thought you might like it," Morgiana explained. "Do you know De Leonis, the Grail Knight under Duke Louen of Connet? He is a descendant of the Albions."
"I see," Ryan mused, realizing that the Kingdom of Bretonnia wasn't composed solely of Bretons. The northern part of the kingdom had mixed with Albions, the eastern part with the Empire, and the southern duchies of Carcassonne and Brionne had intermarried with Estalians and Tileans.
The dinner lasted a long time. Afterward, Ryan and Morgiana cleaned up the dishes and the table before retiring to the bedroom. The fireplace was already blazing, and the two sat on the sofa in the bedroom. The Lady's Witch was too tired to move a finger, and she spoke softly. "You must have something important to discuss with me, right? Is it about the serf emancipation purchase system you mentioned in your letter?"
"That's right." Ryan took Morgiana's hand, speaking gently. "This is a step we must take. Without it, my efforts will only temporarily ease the conflict between the serfs and the nobles. Without a fundamental change, my reforms will eventually be swallowed up by the great nobles, and the serfs' situation will remain the same."
"I understand that," Morgiana nodded, though she was puzzled. "But haven't you already addressed this issue with the Old Guard system?"
"The Old Guard is one path, but we can't expect all serfs to be as brave as the Old Guard," Ryan explained. "People have different roles, and we need to provide opportunities for those who aren't skilled in combat to escape serfdom as well."
"What do you propose?" Morgiana thought for a moment, agreeing with Ryan's point, but she couldn't quite grasp his plan. "Do you mean that serfs can pay a large sum to buy their freedom, acquire land from their lord, and farm it themselves? Like the current freemen, they would still be under their former lord's control?"
"No, that would only turn serfs into tenant farmers without fundamentally changing the relationship between serf and lord," Ryan shook his head firmly and laid out his plan.
The core of Ryan's serf emancipation purchase system was emancipation, not merely converting serfs into tenant farmers under the lord's authority after paying a large sum.
Ryan's plan centered on three key points:
1. Any serf who had served as a conscript and participated in warfare could qualify to purchase freedom for themselves and their family.
2. Once eligible, the serf could petition the Church of the Lady of the Lake for emancipation. By paying a substantial sum, the church would notarize the transaction, taking a small fee for its services, and the ransom would go to the lord. Neither party could renege on the agreement.
3. Upon successful emancipation, the serf would become a "freeman," severing all ties with the estate. They would no longer owe any obligations, taxes, or labor to the lord. They could live wherever they wished, work as they pleased, and enjoy full personal and property rights as citizens of Bretonnia. Lords wishing to employ them would have to offer fair wages.
When Ryan finished explaining, Morgiana fell into deep thought. The concept was so radical that she was unsure how to respond.
At that moment, the Lady of the Lake's voice came from the doorway. The goddess entered, wearing a chamomile-colored off-shoulder gown with a flowing hem, paired with black velvet stockings and white lace-up heels. She held a golden chalice in her hand and smiled knowingly at Ryan. "My champion, I've heard your proposal. I have a question for you."
"How much do you plan to set the ransom, and how do you intend to convince the kingdom's nobility to accept this plan?"
"I plan to..."
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