On Greene Kleber's desk lay three coins: a gold dragon, a silver stag, and a copper star.
One gold dragon was equal to 10 silver stags, and one silver stag was equal to 100 copper stars.
Greene roughly converted the currency to that of his previous life: one gold dragon was about 1000 yuan, one silver stag was about 100 yuan, and one copper star was about 1 yuan.
[The currency system, value, conversion, etc., are settings for the convenience of writing]
[Here are some more examples for easier reading: a full plate armor set starts at 10 gold dragons, chainmail at 3 gold dragons, a good warhorse at 16 gold dragons, an Unsullied at 100 gold dragons (shipping not included), a meal with meat and a glass of beer costs 20-30 copper stars, and a farmer's annual income is about 1 gold dragon]
The Kleber Family's treasury currently held coins worth approximately 2000 gold dragons in total, meaning cash; goods in the lord's warehouse were not included in this count.
However, there was an external debt of 5000 gold dragons, and last year's interest paid was 500 gold dragons.
After the War of the Usurper, at the instruction of Jon Arryn, the King's Hand, the Vale Nobles and merchants forcibly issued loans to help the noble lords of Crabclaw Peninsula "overcome their difficulties."
This was also one of the peace treaties after the war on Crabclaw Peninsula.
You would absolutely not see a single gold dragon; the Vale Nobles and merchants used your original territory as the principal for the loan.
It was that harsh.
Refusal was an option, but Baratheon's armor had not yet been stored, and Robert had not yet had his fill of fighting.
The Klaeb Territory was valued at 5000 gold dragons, and the interest the Kleber Family paid annually had accumulated to 7500 gold dragons.
According to the contract, they still had to pay for another 5 years, which meant 2500 gold dragons, and in the final year, the principal of 5000 gold dragons had to be added.
This was a suppressive measure from the Red Keep, stemming from their vigilance towards the nobles of Crabclaw Peninsula.
The interest for post-war reconstruction sounded good in name, and the share was just enough to allow them to barely survive without being forced into desperate measures, yet it also restricted their development.
Weak and obedient Crabclaw Peninsula lords were good lords.
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The Klaeb Territory had a total population of over 2000 people, and because of the need to guard against the Mountain Barbarians' constant harassment of the territory, 200 Clan Soldiers were kept on standby, equivalent to full-time soldiers.
Under normal circumstances, this was already the limit.
Due to frequent warfare, the territory's population ratio was fewer males and more females.
The women here had strong builds, and most women needed to farm and hunt like men; there were many spearwomen.
As long as weapons were in place, spearwomen could also be conscripted for battle, to seize money and men.
Theoretically, leaving behind artisans and the old and weak, a full mobilization could lead to an extreme deployment of 1500 people.
Facing the Mountain Barbarian lords in the surrounding valleys, the small ones with only dozens of people, and the large ones with only a few hundred, were still disorganized... they could be pushed over!
Why bother farming? As already mentioned, the Kleber Family's motto has temporarily changed to "Plunder is better than hard labor."
First, they would deal with the Mountain Barbarian tribes that had gathered and united, intending to plunder, due to the young age of the heir, Greene.
The battle would begin with this.
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The next day, the dark clouds hung heavily.
The arc-shaped Whispering City was built roughly, not exquisitely.
But it was large enough to accommodate all 1000-plus liege subjects from the surrounding area during wartime.
Greene stood on the castle wall, over 20 meters high, looking down, with the Grand Steward Herschel and Knight Pel standing behind him.
The war had lasted seven years after King Robert's death, so Whispering City should have been planned much earlier.
Greene looked to the south.
The terrain to the south was gentle; according to a scale of ten thousand people, first plan and build a first ring, then a second ring... Greene chuckled slightly, "It won't be called the first ring anymore, let's call it the Inner City."
"Herschel, record this."
"Fishing Village, hereafter renamed Mermaid Port."
Grand Steward Herschel faithfully recorded it.
"A mermaid has the upper body of a maiden and the lower body of a fish tail; even the Seven Gods would praise a mermaid's beauty."
Herschel hesitated and asked, "My Lord, wouldn't such a description be a bit offensive...? Some monks are not friendly towards us."
Greene, an atheist, originally wanted to say that the Seven Gods would be enchanted, but this was already a toned-down phrasing.
"Thank you for your counsel, Herschel."
Greene paused, then said, "Bards, you go find some reliable bards, convey the meaning, and let them handle the phrasing; they are the professionals."
"Herschel, continue recording: Mermaids love to sing heartwarming songs passed down through generations; mermaids are extremely shy, only surfacing to sing at night when no one is around, their wonderful voices seem to be... hmm, like heavenly music."
Greene originally wanted to say "kissed by the Seven Gods," but continued to hold back a bit.
"Mermaids are carefree, kind, and optimistic; only when extremely sad, heartbroken, will they shed tears, and a mermaid's tears will transform into the most crystalline pearls in this world, one tear, one pearl."
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"A mermaid can only love one person in her life; a mermaid who falls truly in love will make a vow of love."
"A vow of love... make a good record of this, it's very important."
"I am willing to be the beloved of [so-and-so], to love what he loves, to think what he thinks, to bear his pain, to overcome hardship, whether in poverty or wealth, whether humble or noble, whether in troubled times or forsaken by the gods, I will live for him and die for him, never abandoning him, until eternity!"
Grand Steward Herschel and Knight Pelsimultaneously opened their mouths, their expressions rich.
Greene felt they were moved and had already believed him.
Was Fishing Village actually a hidden legendary place?
Seeing this, Greene changed his original plan.
Only a secret known to oneself is a true secret; let's fool them together.
Therefore, Greene also believed the legend of the mermaid.
Don't forget an important point: mermaids are the shyest creatures in the world, so not finding them is perfectly normal.
Come on, come to Mermaid Port, and go crazy for mermaids!
"This is a secret passed down orally only among successive Klaiber Tribe leaders. I am telling it to you now because you two are the people I trust most."
Herschel and Pel puffed out their chests.
Yes, there is no one more reliable than me in this world!
"First, mobilize all the villagers of Fishing Village to build a simple dock nearby; the location needs to be found, it can be a bit far, the main thing is for large ships to dock conveniently."
"The second step, build a lighthouse to guide nearby ships over."
"At the same time, taverns, inns, and shops must all be present. Initially, the requirements are not high, the main thing is that the functions must be complete. We must earn every copper star."
"Strong villagers must all be armed, and the old and weak can be arranged in suitable positions in the shops; we must ensure the safety of friendly guests."
"Mermaid Port must become more and more beautiful, more and more comfortable; we cannot disappoint the guests who come here drawn by its fame."
"These are all very important."
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The Grand Steward seemed to understand: "My Lord, the longer the mermaid legend lasts and the wider it spreads, the more people will be attracted to Fishing... Mermaid Port, and our leather can be sold directly to buyers, no longer being undercut by itinerant merchants. Not just leather... Mermaid Port will become a trading post."
"No wonder you are willing to spread the legend of the mermaid..."
"Yes, rules are dead; for the development of the territory, as your lord, necessary sacrifices are unavoidable."
"It needs to be spread secretly and naturally; I'm counting on you."
After speaking, Greene turned his back, stood with his hands behind him, and sighed deeply.
The hem of Greene's robe fluttered in the wind.
Herschel bowed with utmost solemnity.
Pel, wearing plate armor, his hand gripping the sword hilt, veins bulging on the back of his hand, bowed down with Herschel.