novelxo Chapter 316 316-Meeting with the Mayor
Chapter 316 316-Meeting with the Mayor
In the evening, Howard hosted a banquet for Count Terni.
The two celebrated together, raising their glasses in a cheerful atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the neighboring countries of Pomerania and Bohemia were at war.
Pomerania, a coastal nation, wasn't keen on legitimate trade.
The country had a notorious habit of plundering other nations' fleets, a practice that discomforted its neighbors.
Others engaged in honest trade, transporting goods and earning profits, while Pomerania focused solely on immediate gains through piracy.
This shortsightedness was evident.
Constantly raiding other fleets, merchants dared not venture near Pomeranian waters.
Who would willingly take their wealth and goods into the den of pirates? It was a simple logic that led to a clear outcome: Pomerania, despite being a coastal nation, earned little from maritime trade.
The total income from both pirating and their own fleet's trade paled in comparison to what could have been earned through proper development of trade.
Thus, Pomerania was seen as a shortsighted country.
Interestingly, the King of Pomerania himself did not engage in piracy.
The pirates who set sail from Pomeranian ports were acting in the interests of Pomeranian nobility.
This issue was less about choosing the wrong path and more about a lack of control, or perhaps it was rooted in traditional culture and historical habits.
Bohemia, a country renowned for its sizeable territory and stubborn resilience, was not particularly famous for its military prowess.
Like Pomerania, it faced similar financial constraints due to its landlocked nature.
However, Bohemia's larger land and greater troop numbers gave it an advantage.
In this confrontation, Bohemia deployed an army of 20,000 soldiers.
The battle took place near a forest where Bohemia had initially planned an ambush on Pomerania's forces.
However, their plan leaked, forcing them to engage earlier than expected.
The Pomeranian army broke ranks and fled.
Due to the forest terrain, Bohemia also suffered considerable losses, especially in the latter stages of the battle, incurring moderate casualties.
Tragically, within the Pomeranian army were some brave and fearless light and heavy infantry who suffered severe losses, demonstrating a poor performance. contemporary romance
This battle revealed that part of Pomerania's tactical thinking still lingered in the past, vainly hoping to break enemy lines with Viking-style fearless charges.
Howard granted Anna a county within the Luka region, making her a countess effective immediately, the same rank as her cousin, Count Edward.
Margaret received a county within Lagusa, becoming a countess herself.
Resarite was also awarded a county, elevating him to the status of a count.
In the remaining county of the Duchy of Lagusa, which included two baronies and two cities, Howard bestowed a barony upon Bosiden and another upon Vettel.
Furthermore, he assigned seven or eight villages to Alonso.
The matter regarding Kaido was put on hold, as Howard was hesitant to grant him any additional titles.
After reviewing the documents, Bosiden expressed his gratitude for Howard's generosity.
Following a brief conversation with Howard, he left to prepare for the ennoblement ceremony.
Subsequently, Howard summoned Vettel and informed him, "Following Bosiden's reminder, I've granted titles to each of you according to your merits. You will receive a castle and the surrounding lands, becoming a baron."
Vettel, visibly delighted, bowed and said, "I am truly fortunate to serve under you, my lord."
Howard continued, "Summon the mayors of the two cities within the last directly governed county of Lagusa. Now that other areas have been assigned, it's time for me to have a discussion with these mayors. If I'm not satisfied, I might implement certain policies."
Vettel's expression turned more serious, understanding that Howard intended to assert control over the mayors.
He nodded and left to carry out the task.
Approximately two hours later, the mayors of the two cities stood nervously in a room, awaiting their introduction to Howard under Vettel's guidance.
Vettel had already prepared them, advising, "Lord Howard is a capable ruler. If you work for him, he won't let you down. But if you disrespect him, let me remind you of what happened to the former mayor of Wislot – he was replaced."
Understanding the implications, the mayors followed Golan to meet Howard.
Howard's first question caught everyone off guard: "What are your views on the New World?" This left both mayors, and even Vettel, the Minister of Finance, who was standing nearby, startled.
The mayors exchanged glances with Vettel, wondering if the topic wasn't supposed to be about increasing taxes.
Why suddenly bring up the New World? Vettel maintained a neutral expression, striving to present himself as unobtrusive and compliant in front of Howard.
Howard waited for their response, his keen eyes shifting between the mayor standing close to Vettel and the one slightly further away.
Both mayors, feeling the pressure, chose to answer rather than keep Duke Howard waiting.
One mayor said, "I think the New World is great. It's vast and unknown, rich in resources and land. We should encourage its colonization."
The other mayor, following the first's lead, added, "I agree. It's a good idea. We should send more people to the New World."
Howard nodded slightly, indicating his satisfaction, and then asked, "How do you find the current import and export volume at Lagusa's ports?"
One mayor replied, "Ever since you became the Duke of Lagusa, our port's traffic has increased significantly. Every day, many ships dock and set sail. This place is becoming more and more prosperous."
The other mayor added, "The large orders for iron products from Nok have boosted our local manufacturing industry."
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