Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

Chapter 293: War Bonds

While the troops of the Alda army were battling bloodily on the frontlines, a certain lord was indulging in a peculiar pleasure.

With her green hair and a graceful figure, the female advisor Ladi Sertia was gently massaging his shoulders from behind. The pressure was just right, and through the clothing, the warmth of her tender hands was palpable, almost eliciting a moan.

Oh, to have a dignified scholar and a legendary witch stoop to such a level was a matter of great satisfaction.

He slightly raised his head, meeting a pair of expressive, affectionate eyes. The owner of these eyes, Betty Dias from the Gubera Empire, knelt beside him on the carpet, elegantly dressed, highlighting her enticing form. She rhythmically punched his legs, left and right, with her little fists.

Upon meeting his gaze, Betty turned away shyly, playfully scolding, “Really, I have never done this before…”

He chuckled and gently stroked her beautiful blonde hair. Betty squinted her eyes, reveling in the touch like a cat enjoying its master’s affection.

Ah, what a decadent, corrupt life!

…

“Count… Count… Count!”

The world suddenly started to shake, blurring the view before his eyes.

What’s happening? Paul shook his head.

When he came to his senses, the enchanting eyes he saw were replaced by a man’s stern face.

“Barnett! Why is it you!” Paul almost jumped out of his chair, startled at the sight of the man before him. “Where are Ladi? Where’s Betty?”

His chief secretary apologetically said, “Lord Grayman, I’m sorry to disturb your rest. The ladies are right here. Shall we continue with the meeting?”

“Uh… Yes, of course.”

Paul then remembered he had scheduled a meeting with heads of various departments to discuss recent work progress. To his embarrassment, he had dozed off midway.

Recalling the events, he blamed Hansel, whose reports were always convoluted, lengthy, and rhetorically complex. Hansel’s words would twist and turn, expanding a word into a sentence, a sentence into a paragraph, forcing Paul to engage every brain cell to grasp his meaning.

Now, Hansel’s seemingly century-long report had ended. Paul glanced inside the room, finding Ladi and Betty seated nearby.

The witch lady showed no expression, her head down, flipping through her notebook.

Betty, however, looked at Paul with disdain: Grown men dozing off and drooling in their sleep, and waking up calling out the names of two ladies, what does that mean?

She subtly wiped the corner of her mouth.

Paul took out a handkerchief, wiped his mouth, and cleared his throat.

“My apologies, I’ve been a bit fatigued lately… What’s next on the agenda?” freewebnσvel.cøm

The head of the Administration Council, old Ford, began, “Lord Grayman, regarding our finances, I must discuss something with you.” fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Paul, rubbing his forehead in distress, said, “Don’t tell me we’re running out of money.”

“Unfortunately, that is the case. Our expenses in May were over 8,000 silver coins. Even with your personal funds, we’re nearly out.”

Since the salt miner revolt, the expansion of the Department of Public Safety and the internal security forces had significantly increased security expenses.

Ever since the war with the Kent family started, military spending had become the biggest drain on Alda’s finances. After landing at Fish Tail Town, to meet the demands of two fronts, Paul had nearly 2,000 militia recruited from various stations sent to the battlefield. He had also approved Schroeder’s plan to recruit auxiliary troops locally.

In war, soldiers can’t go into battle empty-handed. Suitable weapons and equipment were necessary. Soldiers needed food and drink, and some alcohol before battle for a morale boost.

Paul strictly forbade his troops from solving supply issues through looting—unless he had no other choice.

Up to now, Alda’s military force had grown to nearly 6,000 men. If not for his wealth-generating abilities, Paul would undoubtedly have been the most militaristic and financially strained lord in the history of the Grayman family.

Such a “huge” army was burning through money like water in the eyes of old Ford and Philip, the seasoned members of the lord’s manor.

“I don’t understand. Our territory has expanded so much, with the whole northern part of Emden and soon the entire Carter family’s lands under our control. Can’t the tax revenue from these areas offset some of the expenses?”

“Count, the situation I’ve described to you already takes that into account…”

Of course, the Administration Council didn’t plan to leave these occupied areas’ taxes to their former owners.

“Count, I have a suggestion…”

“Hansel? Let’s hear it.”

“Actually, if you stop providing allowances to the soldiers, you could save a significant amount of money. Like other lords, serving in the army for one’s lord is a duty of the citizens.”

Hansel’s suggestion garnered some approval, but Paul immediately shook his head: “No! Absolutely not! Material incentives are crucial for maintaining morale. Our recent string of victories has proven that my decision to provide allowances to the soldiers is correct. Whose army is as capable as ours in battle?”

“If it’s about material incentives, there are other methods that are commonly used…”

“No! That’s even worse!”

Paul interrupted Hansel, knowing what he was about to suggest, and could not bear the thought of his painstakingly trained army falling to the level of bandits.

Seeing the Count reject all suggestions, Hansel proposed another idea: “Count, if I’m not mistaken, isn’t Port Fran in the process of establishing a stock exchange?”

Paul nodded: “Yes, that’s a long-established plan, as you know.”

Hansel continued: “In that case, why not issue war bonds through the stock exchange? It would not only raise military funds but also promote the business of the exchange. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”

“This… Issuing bonds for personal gain as soon as it’s established doesn’t seem right?”

“What’s right or wrong in this? Isn’t it common for kings and lords to borrow money for war? As far as I know, the Grayman family has never had an incident of not repaying debts. Besides, with our army’s impressive progress, there will surely be no shortage of bond buyers. Moreover…”

Hansel paused, lowering his voice: “This could also be a way to test the rich in your territory, to see who is truly with you and who is not. After all, those who buy bonds certainly don’t want you to fail.”

Paul had an epiphany: “You’re right, Hansel.” But he hesitated again: “What if the war drags on too long and we can’t repay the debts?”

Hansel replied: “Given the current situation, running into a deficit sooner or later is inevitable. Why not raise a substantial amount of money now, make more firearms and cannons, and quickly take over Center City? I’ve heard that the Ferdinand family’s wealth, accumulated over generations, is unmatched among the northwestern lords. If you seize the northwest Duke’s treasury before others, why worry about repaying the money?”

“But what if… unfortunately, there’s not as much money in the treasury as rumored? Those rich are not like the penniless salt miners. Stirring up trouble with them could be more problematic.”

Hansel smiled slightly: “What’s there to fear? Haven’t you also made more firearms and cannons?”

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