Chapter 87 87: the problems of Merxheim

I'm going to upload a short chapter (another POV) in a few hours. I think you'll like it. The idea in general is good. ------------------------------ If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know. Leave a comment; support is always appreciated. I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see. ------------------------------- Sommerzeit--5,2489 IC "Ready... damn," I said as I put all the books on the shelf. "So much paperwork that just needed a signature." I turned to look at the mountain of witch hunters' reports. I had quickly reviewed most of the investigations. They were mostly legitimate, with reasonable doubts: people disappearing on certain nights and no one knowing what they were doing until they eventually found a group performing rituals with animal blood. Others were minor offenses that weren't directly under the hunters' jurisdiction, but since they had wasted time investigating them, they wanted to punish them with some lashes as a lesson. That's why I sent a letter to the Cult of Verena in Altdorf asking them to send me a group of their younger members, if possible, to serve as judges in my courts. With at least five or ten diligent, hardworking judges, it should be enough for the city for now, until we build the necessary courthouses to handle the inevitably growing judicial load. Because now, with the witch hunters acting like they were on steroids, those 84 initial cases would quickly turn into hundreds, if not thousands, that would need to be dealt with according to the law. I also added that I would try to bring in graduates from the University of Altdorf to see if it was possible to delegate some of my responsibilities to them, although... Still, I had work to do. A pseudo-revolt had occurred in my mining town: the inhabitants from Ostermark and Ostland had started fighting among themselves, causing many injuries in a large brawl. The exact origin of the fight was unknown, but considering the history of tensions between Imperial provinces, I had no doubt it was due to a simple pride issue over where they were born. For the last few days, they hadn't been working as tensions remained high. Everyone was waiting to see which side would attack the other first. "I literally disappear, and people start killing each other as if my authority ceases to exist just because I left," I said angrily when I heard the guards' report from the mine. For obvious reasons, they couldn't control the disturbances. Forty men can't stop over a thousand angry protesters. So, I sent one of the guard captains, accompanied by five hundred soldiers, to remind them what happens when they rebel over stupid things. A little tough love would probably put them back in their place. At the same time, cross accusations started emerging among citizens: everyone was pointing fingers in front of the witch hunters. Luckily, they didn't have the legal authority to accept popular accusations without evidence, otherwise we'd have bonfires lit for two months straight. While I started reorganizing the militias to control the situation, my personal army finally arrived: the 2,800 soldiers that belonged directly to me and the 3,000 men from regiments that had previously served other nobles. I immediately put them to patrol the streets and impose order. I also ordered them to discreetly monitor the witch hunters because they were now operating without coordinating with the local militia. They were completely on their own, and many of their interactions with citizens could end with a peasant stabbed by a sword or blasted by a blessed pistol. So, while all the gold I received from my participation in Bretonia was being stored, I began issuing orders to hire more workers and continue expanding the industry that fed construction. I ordered hiring many more brickmakers, building more furnaces, hiring more charcoal burners, woodcutters, and commissioning the construction of three additional blast furnaces. I also ordered employing people to bind sheets of paper with goat leather to make books, as the files were starting to multiply. I had the Breton horses sent to my private stables so that the families in charge of their care would do everything possible to breed them with Imperial horses. Hopefully, I'd get a stronger and faster lineage for future generations. Also, I left the bodies of the fallen at the Morr temple so that they could be buried with all the proper rites. I gave gold coins to the families of the deceased, through their comrades in arms, assuring them that I would continue paying the deceased's salary under the conditions I had already established. Without wasting any time, I began to move the group of Bretonnians that had arrived. They were preparing makeshift beds, but we immediately redirected them towards Merxheim. We passed by the blacksmith's shop in my industrial zone and took all the available axes. I ordered all the draft horses to be gathered, as the work had to be done quickly and relatively safely while we were present. We crossed the river and took the dirt road to Merxheim. Being further away from the witch hunters, I could once again unleash my magical abilities without fear of their inquisitive gazes. I began to expand my perception in the great forest of Merxheim. I sensed a great number of crude and misshapen machetes: it was certain there were Beastmen. I also felt the aura of corrupt objects, that foul sensation in the mouth, concentrated in the center of the forest. It was very likely a large herd. Additionally, I picked up signs of goblin presence: small knives and arrow tips in some nearby caves. Probably Sylvan goblins. So when we started cleaning the forests, we would be met with brief fights against Beastmen and constant harassments from hidden goblins. In any case, we had to make the most of the day. Winter was getting closer. As soon as I arrived in Merxheim on horseback, I went to inform the local noble — who managed the land on behalf of the Elector Count of Reikland — that these lands were now mine, and they needed to leave immediately. With a group of two hundred riders, we arrived at the town and headed to the castle, which was mostly made of wood. I clearly saw that it was a large town, a commercial transit hub located between the maritime routes of Marienburg and Altdorf, but it failed to attract any true interest. I saw with my own eyes how several merchant ships passed by without stopping. There were no river ports, they could only watch them pass. The town remained a poor spectator of the flow of wealth. My plan wasn't to keep the Bretonnians in simple barracks. I intended to use them as labor to build a new city by the Reik River. A city that would attract naval merchants, compete directly with Schilderheim, and eventually steal the spotlight as a docking point. My city would be designed to absorb that wealth, charge docking fees, taxes, and serve as a distribution hub for my own goods. Because so far, the merchants who come to Reinsfeld are small or medium-sized. I haven't seen any large ones coming to trade or buy serious patents. A relatively young noble quickly came out, accompanied by some guards. "Blessings of Sigmar, administrator," I said, making the twin-tailed comet salute. "Blessings, noble Imperial," responded the administrator, mimicking the salute, though more briefly. I took out the scroll granting me rights over Merxheim and handed it to him. "By order of the Emperor, Elector Count of Reikland and Prince of Altdorf, the fief of Merxheim has been granted to the ownership of my family in perpetuity. And so, I formally request that you cede control of the castle to me, to take my rightful claim," I said to the administrator, who took the scroll and began to read it. "Yes, indeed... Well, I'm off," said the administrator, barely trying to hide the huge grin that appeared on his face. "Hold on," I said, looking at him seriously. "What kind of reaction is that?" "The most normal one," he responded, shrugging. "I'm not going to stay in this hellhole. I accepted the position because it was an order from the Emperor, thinking I'd have large farmlands and serfs at my disposal. But the Beastmen attack every week, and there's barely any arable land. This place has no future. The problem is now yours. I'm heading back to Altdorf and the Emperor's court. Any place is better than this." The guards who accompanied him stood there, looking at him with wide eyes, not saying a word. "Then leave my land," I said, with little interest. "You don't have to tell me twice," replied the noble before entering the castle. It wasn't long before he came back out with a carriage that looked like it had been made by the finest craftsmen of Altdorf. Accompanied by a group of knights, he left the castle like a gust of wind. "Is it really that bad?" I asked one of the guards, who was looking lazily as his former lord left so happily. "Things are bad because... because he spent everything on expensive wines and fine meals from some merchants. We barely had permanent guards. The Beastmen have attacked several times, killing some and taking others into the forest," responded the guard with a bitter voice. "Typical of a city noble," I spat on the ground. "Well, listen. I'm bringing around three thousand men. We're going to clean up the forests as soon as possible." "Really?... By Sigmar... our prayers have been heard," said another guard, his eyes shining. "Yes... that's the plan," I confirmed. "But listen well: a large group of Bretonnians is coming to these lands. Some will stay permanently, others just for a while. They will help us cut trees to move the forest as far from the city as possible. It's too close, and it makes it easier for the Beastmen to move." "Grail worshippers?" asked one of the guards, visibly disgusted. "Yes, those. Here, everyone must cooperate to make this move quickly. So, anyone with the strength and ability to work will do it. That's my first order as your lord: help cut trees and uproot roots. We're going to leave this area spotless. These lands will be a great granary for Reikland when we're done," I said seriously, turning around immediately as the guards headed towards the village to spread the news. When the first Bretonnian servants arrived, I quickly started giving orders. Since I was the only one who knew Bretonnian, it was my duty to ensure they understood what they were being told. I left a group in charge of preparing food, while others began setting up their small logging camps. I distributed the large group of people into eight camps, all protected by a small garrison of my men, and positioned them along the road to Merxheim. It wasn't long before the first gunshot from a musket was heard. The Beastmen had started to emerge from the forest, drawn by the large number of humans in the area. But this time, they weren't facing peasants armed with sticks or poorly trained troops from some random noble. They were facing veterans seasoned in clearing the forests of the Empire and soldiers hardened by the war in Bretonnia. As soon as the Beastmen were spotted by the musketeers, they fell under a hail of lead without the chance to respond. As soon as the first camps and palisades were set up, the axes began felling trees relentlessly. The huge Bretonnian labor force worked with axes, horses, and ropes to guide the falling trunks, as the landscape slowly cleared with the fall of the old trees. The horses and serfs pulled up the stumps with effort, cleaning every meter of land. The work took an incredibly fast rhythm. Every hour, dozens of trees fell. Gradually, we moved the forest away from the road and Merxheim village, opening space for new roads, farms, and settlements. Throughout the day, hundreds of trees fell, accumulating in large piles. It was only the first of many days of clearing. Tomorrow, after my troops had rested a bit, we'd pay the Beastmen a visit. ------------------------------ If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know. Leave a comment; support is always appreciated. I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see. -------------------------------