TL: Etude Translations
Paul, after leaving the church in Port Fran, hastened back to Lakeheart Town on horseback.
As soon as he returned to his office, before he could even get comfortable in his seat, he imdiately ordered the summoning of Ford, the Chief Administrator of the Administration Council, and Cecil, the Head of the Departnt of Intelligence.
“What has happened, my lord?” The two sensed an unusual tension upon entering Paul’s office. The count seed to be in a foul mood, so they chose their words carefully.
“Gentlen,” Paul spoke, intertwining his fingers and resting them on his stomach as he slouched in his chair, his tone sounding sowhat irritated.
“I inadvertently heard so disturbing news in Port Fran.”
What kind of disturbing news?
While Ford remained composed, Cecil, the intelligence chief, beca visibly anxious. Was it a case of stolen critical technology or a leak of military secrets?
He rapidly reviewed recent work affairs in his mind, finding no slip-ups.
It must be sothing he was unaware of. As the head of intelligence, he dreaded facing the wrath of the lord.
Paul’s subsequent words sowhat eased Cecil’s anxiety.
“So of the families of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in our army have been treated unjustly back in their hotowns.”
Cecil exhaled in relief; this was outside his area of responsibility.
Now, it was Ford’s turn to be nervous.
“Lord Grayman, I swear by the Heavenly Father, the Administration Council has provided generous compensation to every family of the fallen soldiers, just as you instructed.”
Paul waved his hand, saying, “I’m not questioning your work, but…”
He explained to them the incident he encountered in the Port Fran church and then firmly instructed the intelligence chief: “Cecil, I order you to thoroughly investigate the situation in the village sheltering these families within a month. I cannot tolerate the families of our fallen soldiers being bullied.”
Ford and Cecil nodded gravely: “Rest assured, Lord Grayman, we will thoroughly investigate the matter.”
“Alright, you may go now. I expect results soon.”
“As you wish, Lord Grayman.”
As they turned to leave, Paul suddenly called out to them again.
“Wait, sothing else just ca to mind.”
“What further instructions do you have, my lord?”
“I want to know about the living conditions of the clergy, especially those of lower ranks.”
Paul rembered the attire of Father Hersch from the church.
Ford and Cecil exchanged glances, wondering why the count suddenly took interest in such a matter.
“From what I know, the clergy live comfortably. People like Anderson, Morrison, and Vaolette from Port Fran, but that Hersch I saw seed to be living modestly.”
“It’s not surprising, Lord Grayman,” Ford explained. “A re priest overseeing a rural church wouldn’t have much wealth.”
Paul inquired, “So, the inco… uh, I an the treatnt of these rural priests isn’t very good?”
“It’s only natural,” Ford responded matter-of-factly. “The church is a hierarchical system. The rural clergy, although frontline collectors of tithes, don’t get to keep much, and most of them have families to support.”
“Most of them have families?”
“Yes, they marry and have children.”
“Are there not many who remain celibate and devote themselves entirely to God?”
Ford shook his head: “One hundred percent devotion doesn’t necessarily bring material improvent, so seventy percent is sufficient.”
“Why can’t it, as far as I know, don’t such people get better promotions within the church?”
“Ho ho ho, Lord Grayman,” Ford said with a mysterious smile, leaning in to explain quietly to Paul.
“In theory, yes, but most of these rural priests co from common families and usually remain at that level for life. As for higher positions within the church… those are often reserved for the younger or illegitimate sons of great families who lack inheritance rights. For instance, the Hersch you t is from a noble family, as far as I know.”
Paul pondered this. Could these lower-ranking clergyn be a force to be reckoned with?
With that in mind, he turned to the intelligence chief: “Cecil, I have another important task for you.”
“Please command , Lord Grayman.”
“Conduct a secret investigation into the living standards of all the clergy within our territory. Broadly categorize them into upper, middle, and lower tiers, and provide detailed information on their respective proportions and conditions.”
Cecil paused, wondering what the count needed this information for, but he agreed, accustod to obeying without question, trusting in the count’s wisdom.
Paul then turned to Ford, the Chief Administrator and head of the finance departnt, asking, “What do you project our financial inco to be next year?”
Ford recalled the data he had at hand and summarized, “Lord Grayman, considering the taxes from Alda, Baylding, and Emden, along with the various industries you have entrusted to the Administration Council, and converting all goods and currency into Ordo silver coins, I estimate it will be around 120,000.”
120,000 silver coins? Paul stroked his chin in thought. Including the inco from the various forests, farms, workshops, mines, and shops operated by the Grayman family, it would be about 250,000 Ordo silver coins.
He recalled a post from his previous life that estimated the incos of dieval Western European rulers in Byzantine nomismata. The mid-14th century inco of the King of England was about 60,000 pounds, roughly equivalent to 400,000 nomismata. One nomisma gold coin was approximately equal to 54 grams of silver, and an Ordo silver coin contained about 24-25 grams of silver. By this calculation, the English King’s annual inco would be over 860,000 Ordo silver coins, aning his own wealth as a count was more than a quarter of the 14th-century English King’s?
The thought was exhilarating.
Of course, regarding the distribution and use of tax revenue from Baylding, Paul would certainly seek the opinion of Malron Ganard, still the Lord of Baylding and a staunch supporter of his decisions.
Watching Paul deep in thought, Ford and Cecil were puzzled. Why was the count inquiring about the living standards of low-ranking clergy and then the financial inco of the territory? What was he planning?
Both n simultaneously thought of a possibility: Was the count planning to distribute money to these low-level clergy?
Ha ha, impossible. That would be like burning money in their hands, wouldn’t it?
They dismissed this absurd thought from their minds.
(AN: Upon research, it was found that in the first half of the 14th century, the annual inco of the King of England was 60,000 pounds, a count’s minimum annual inco was 1,000 pounds, and the wealthiest Earl of Lancaster had an annual inco of 12,000 pounds, about 15% of the King’s. At that ti, one pound contained 279.936 grams of silver. Considering the protagonist’s original countdom, his additional control over Baylding, and his annexation of Emden, which far exceeds a typical earldom, plus the inco from industries developed using various new technologies, it would not be excessive for his annual inco to reach twice that of the Earl of Lancaster in the mid-14th century, right?
However, the exact size and population of the Lancaster earldom at that ti were not researched, so this setting is not very strict. Ha ha!)
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