The Mighty Dragons Are Dead - Chapter 134:
Chapter 134: Chapter 134: The New Consultant of Fresh Flower Town
The Duchy of Sapphire follows the system of the Steel Ridge Kingdom.
Knights are led by the Knight Commander, while officials are headed by consultants.
As Liszt’s family tutor, Goltai, after the implementation of the Feudal system, was designated by the Earl to accompany Liszt to Fresh Flower Town, what he sought was the position of consultant.
After all, no matter how nicely one puts it, a family tutor can’t change the fact that he is part of the servitude.
Marcus was the same, also a family tutor, yet still a Retainer Knight in status, belonging to the servant hierarchy. Even Goltai himself was a noble, although the lowest-level Honored Knight, while he was not even a noble, just one of the better-off among the commoners.
“Lord, are you going to appoint me as the consultant of Fresh Flower Town?” Goltai was still a bit incredulous. Having been there for half a year, Liszt had never mentioned the role of a consultant, and he had almost given up hope.
Unexpectedly, fortune fell from the sky, and without warning, he was appointed as a consultant.
“What’s the matter, Teacher Goltai, do you not wish to take up the position?”
“Willing, of course, I’m willing, how could I not be, haha.” Goltai was invigorated, his face abloom with joy, “I am always ready to serve you, my Lord. I will take part hands-on in governing Fresh Flower Town and will definitely live up to the responsibilities of a consultant without any slack.”
Liszt said, “I have been observing your recent work attitude. You are my family tutor, and I trust you. Fresh Flower Town is my only fief, and it is also the foundation for my quest for honor. Its importance goes without saying, and I hope you will take it seriously.”
Goltai put away his bright smile, placed his left hand over his chest, and performed a solemn Knight’s salute, “As you wish!”
“Fresh Flower Town is in your hands now, my consultant.”
“I am honored to serve you, my Lord!”
There was no grand appointment ceremony; Fresh Flower Town was just a small rural town, and thus simply and plainly, a consultant, akin to the head of the town, was chosen.
Strictly speaking, a consultant was only slightly more prestigious than an Administrative Officer, and Goltai’s actual power had not increased much—consultants could appoint town officials, which might sound powerful, but the Castle was just next door, and no official’s appointment could possibly avoid Liszt’s notice.
However, his income had greatly increased.
His former salary of ten copper coins a day had risen to twenty. His income increased, and he could buy lots more fine wine or some furniture for his little family with Freya.
“Congratulations, Consultant Goltai!” Isaiah and the others congratulated Goltai one after another.
Goltai was full of pride, his laughter incessant, “For Baron Liszt, for the favor of Knight’s honor, and for the future of us all, let us together build Fresh Flower Town into a more prosperous and wealthy place!”
A man revived by good news has a spirited glow.
Goltai, now a consultant, threw himself into his work with boundless enthusiasm for the next two days. In addition to managing specific affairs, he did not forget Liszt’s instructions and made a comprehensive plan for the future of Fresh Flower Town. For this, he made a request during the evening banquet.
“My Lord, I’m planning to conduct another census of the town, no, it should be called a town’s resources survey. First, we should calculate the acreage of farmland, properly plan the agricultural structure of Fresh Flower Town, so that, when the five hundred serfs arrive, we can quickly arrange for them to farm. Secondly, we’ll investigate the trade situation of the caravans and organize craftspeople to run their shops rationally.”
Waving his little fork, he spoke passionately without concern for noble etiquette, “The caravans passing through our town are growing in number. The Fresh Flower Caravan and the Thorn Caravan can sell our town’s produce outwards. Our business district will soon flourish, bringing a great many Gold Coins to the Castle!”
“That’s a good line of thinking, Consultant Goltai. Make this plan more detailed and then submit it to me for review.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Outside the town office.
Kostor was pacing back and forth, occasionally greeted by passing civilians whom he responded to one by one. Now, Kostor was a town celebrity, not because he had been the first captain of Fresh Flower Town’s first vessel, the Fresh Flower Vessel, but because of his tireless quest for knowledge.
He had tried to recruit nearly every young son of the households: “Young man, you’ve got spirit, come learn to sail with me!”
Even the young bachelors were approached: “There are more men than women in Fresh Flower Town, you won’t find a wife here. Better to learn to sail with me; there’s a world full of women out there. One voyage, and you could land a hard-working, big-bottomed woman to bear you many sons.”
Most people just sneered at Kostor’s recruiting efforts.
The “continental mindset” brought by the nobles had given the narrow-minded civilians a natural fear and ignorance of the sea.
So, after countless rejections, Kostor had managed to recruit only ten bachelors and twelve young men to learn sailing with him, becoming Sailor Apprentices. And this was free education; if he charged tuition, probably no one would come, and he’d have to subsidize their lunches from time to time.
If it hadn’t been for the Lord Landlord’s fixed payment for the Teaching Knight Squad’s salaries, he wouldn’t have been able to recruit even one apprentice.
His yearning for the sea stopped Kostor from feeling discouraged; he remained enthusiastic, training these Sailor Apprentices of various ages.
But for the past couple of days, not a single Sailor Apprentice had turned up.
Kostor was becoming frustrated.
Clip-clop-clip-clop.
The sound of horseshoes on the gravel road rang clearly.
He immediately went to meet him; the town’s consultant was back: “Consultant Gao Ertai!”
“Ah, Captain Kostor, what can I do for you?” Goltai looked travel-worn, his face turned somewhat purple from the sun’s exposure.
“My apprentices have all gone to chop wood, Consultant Gao Ertai, they need to study sailing, not to be diverted to irrelevant tasks like chopping wood.”
“Sorry, Kostor, but chopping wood is not irrelevant. It’s an order directly from the Lord Landlord, vital for the future development of Fresh Flower Town. Your sailing business, it can wait a few days, especially since you don’t need to set out to sea. Consider it a vacation for yourself—I wish I had time for one.”
Goltai didn’t take Kostor seriously, wanting only to send him away—the town has enough trouble farming, let alone having spare time for sailing.
However, he underestimated Kostor’s determination. Once Kostor mentioned that “the Lord Landlord hopes to develop the sailing business,” he stuck to Goltai relentlessly, following him everywhere, even if Goltai went home. Pressured, Goltai finally agreed to a compromise.
“I can let you take back the twelve young Sailor Apprentices to continue their training with you, but the adult apprentices must chop wood.”
“Agreed!” Kostor responded eagerly, satisfied to have secured the twelve young apprentices.
“One more thing, the youngsters will help at the chopping site, earning two copper coins every two days. You will have to cover this loss.”
“Oh my, I don’t have the money!”
“Would you have the youngsters earn nothing then? Their parents will have a word with you about that, Kostor.”
“The sailing business is for the glory of the Lord Landlord; should the town stand by and watch? The town should pay for this!”
After a fresh bout of stubborn haggling, Goltai finally promised that during the woodcutting campaign, the apprentices’ lost wages would be subsidized by the town.
Only then did Kostor board the Fresh Flower Vessel contentedly.
Facing the twelve apprentices, he called out loudly, “At high tide, the Fresh Flower Vessel will sail towards the docks of our future. For the next few days, we will spend our time around the docks!”
