The expedition to Eight Peaks Mountain was a massive undertaking with immense potential rewards, but it came with equally immense costs. Setting aside the challenge of traversing a long sea route, simply feeding and supplying an army of nearly 50,000 men each day was a colossal task.
In the past, Ryan's wars had always been fought within human territories or at least on the fringes. In those cases, the army could secure supplies as they marched, either through requisitioning or by drawing resources from nearby regions. However, this grand expedition offered no such convenience. The Badlands held no provisions to be had, nor could they rely on the enemy's supplies. This meant that all logistics would have to be organized from Bretonnia, purchased from Estalia and Tilea, or obtained from the Sea Gates.
But beyond the Sea Gates lay a barren wasteland, a harsh climate of dry plains and deserts where Greenskins had roamed for millennia. Along with the Greenskins, there were also Ogres, remnants of the Strigoi vampire kingdom, and small Dwarven exploration parties. As Ryan's army advanced, they could expect no supplies from the Badlands. Everything they needed would have to be brought with them, and a stable supply line would need to be established.
Reality was not like a game, where you could simply click on Ryan and Belegar, order them to march straight to Eight Peaks Mountain, and then click "end turn" to watch it all unfold. If only it were that simple, but war was never so easy.
Without adequate logistics and supply lines, this vast army would be doomed to destruction.
Belegar's initial expedition had been successful thanks to the support of the Dwarven kingdoms, their ability to navigate the Underway, and the foresight of Belegar's rangers, who had secured portions of the tunnels and stored long-lasting provisions. Iron Peak's Dwarves also provided support. Dwarves could survive on beer and hardtack for long periods, and they were resilient enough to endure hunger, but humans were different. They couldn't travel through the Underway like the Dwarves, nor could they survive on meager rations indefinitely. Furthermore, Belegar's first expedition had involved fewer people, making it easier to manage. Now, with an army of nearly 50,000, the scale of daily consumption alone was staggering, not to mention the inevitable losses along the way.
Thus, when Ryan reviewed the budget for the expedition, even Sulia found it unbearable. If they followed the budget as planned, they would have to empty the family treasury, exhaust the royal coffers, and even sell off assets just to scrape by.
"War bonds, Eight Peaks bonds, intended to fund this war," Ryan explained earnestly. "Only by this means can we raise enough funds for the expedition. If we help Belegar reclaim Eight Peaks Mountain, the treasures alone in the ancestral shrine—thousands of sets of rune armor—will be more than enough to repay all debts. And that's not even considering the countless riches buried in the dozens of mines."
Sulia was still concerned, wanting to ask what would happen if they lost.
But that thought was fleeting. She knew Ryan wouldn't lose. He was her man, the kingdom's hero, humanity's hero.
Ryan would never fail.
"Who gave you this idea?" Sulia asked offhandedly.
"Olica, she told me," Ryan replied, his serious expression breaking into a sly grin. "Apparently, the Dark Elves often issue similar bonds. Before a Black Ark sets sail, its commander will issue these bonds. The only difference is that our bonds are currency-based, whereas theirs are slave-based."
"She certainly has a knack for this sort of thing… She's clever and gives you many ideas," Sulia admitted with a slight smile. "But I must say, humans and Dark Elves are fundamentally different. We don't have much experience with this in Bretonnia, but you have a good advisor now, don't you?"
"Grand Duke Schultz," Ryan nodded. "I'll discuss it with him in detail. He has the most experience in this area."
"Ryan, remember, no matter how close you are to Grand Duke Schultz, you mustn't forget that he is, ultimately, a businessman," Sulia cautioned. "He'll always think from his perspective. Merchants aren't to be fully trusted; they can only—"
"No, he can be trusted," Ryan shook his head. After a moment of thought, he whispered in his wife's ear, "He's one of Father's men."
Sulia understood. She wanted to say more, but Ryan's hand was already slipping under her gown. "My dear, you look stunning tonight~"
"Ryan, you rogue…" Sulia immediately understood what Ryan intended, her face flushing. "Why don't you spend some time with Olica, the one who gave you this idea? Why are you focusing on me?"
"I'll deal with Olica tomorrow, my dear~ After working non-stop for three days, the first person I wanted to see was you," Ryan whispered as he gently removed Sulia's peep-toe heels and began to play with her soft feet, encased in white stockings. "I missed you."
"Mm… I missed you too, Ryan…" Sulia's face turned a deeper shade of red as she closed her eyes and leaned in for a kiss.
... I'm the divider that says the moon is beautiful tonight...
The next morning, Ryan and Grand Duke Schultz of Marienburg shared breakfast in the courtyard of the Couronne Palace.
Even the king's breakfast was relatively simple: freshly ground Araby coffee, toasted croissants, grilled chicken fillet, jam cakes, and fried eggs. That was Ryan and Schultz's breakfast for the day.
Ryan's time was tight. Although today's schedule wasn't packed, the king still needed to make the most of every possible moment. Sitting across from each other in the bright courtyard, with the clinking of silverware against pristine white tablecloths, Ryan and Schultz discussed the issuance of Eight Peaks War Bonds.
"Hmm… If we're relying solely on my connections and your personal reputation, forget 100,000 gold crowns; even if you asked for a million, Marienburg's two chambers would lend it to you," Grand Duke van der Kuypers Schultz remained as poised and elegant as he had been when they first met over a decade ago. Or rather, after meeting the Emperor and hosting several Primarchs, Schultz seemed to have gained even more. "You're right, though. I was somewhat negligent. The princes of Marienburg's business world often don't lend you money because they expect repayment. You're a hero of humanity, a great knight king, and… if you're burdened with too much debt, it could severely hinder your future."
Ryan nodded slightly. Businessmen were indeed greedy, or rather, that was the nature of capital. As the knight king and a hero of humanity, if they could control him through debt, the benefits would far outweigh the simple act of repayment.
To put it simply, did the Venetian merchants lend vast sums to Byzantium just for the interest?
Didn't the people of Constantinople eventually welcome the Ottomans and their new order with open arms?
"In contrast, bonds… these are simply money, pure and simple. Gold coins, nothing more. They're just like those copper coins that workers despise but still have to use," Schultz explained the difference to Ryan. "The problem is that the value of these bonds depends entirely on your personal reputation and the credit of the Bretonnian kingdom. Unlike borrowing from merchants, you can't be sure how much you'll raise… but it's worth a try. Your name and the kingdom's credit still hold significant value."
"Some merchants have even discussed privately that if you're willing to mortgage the Barony of Gienne, they'd lend you 200,000 gold crowns directly."
Ryan nodded, contemplating the pros and cons of choosing bonds versus borrowing from merchants. Schultz had laid out all the issues clearly. The choice and the decision were his to make.
The biggest drawbacks of issuing bonds were twofold: first, the uncertainty of how much money could be raised; second, if they lost, it would mean Ryan's personal and Bretonnia's national credit would be ruined.
The consequences would be dire.
Seeing Ryan deep in thought, Schultz's expression changed slightly, showing hints of approval and perhaps joy.
A great leader must make decisive decisions when necessary, but when there is time to think, they must not be hasty. That would be irresponsible.
As Ryan continued to contemplate, Schultz added, "Sir Ryan, if I may call you that. I won't call anyone else 'Your Majesty.'"
"Just call me Ryan," Ryan replied, shaking his head. "If you have something to say, go on."
"What I mean is, if you borrow money from me privately and can't repay it, like that 100,000-gold-crown war loan, if you truly can't repay it, it's fine. I can personally decide, say, to extend the repayment period," Schultz explained, shaking his head slightly. "But other merchants aren't the same. If they come after you for repayment, as long as the paperwork is in order, I can't help you. Want me to give an example? It's about His Majesty."
"Please do," Ryan said, clearly intrigued when he heard it was about the Emperor.
"The Holy Terra is not a peaceful place," Schultz smiled. "Even today, many warlord families are still vying for power, pulling strings against each other. Do you know why? Because when His Majesty unified Holy Terra during the 31st Millennium, he allowed several warlord families who had surrendered or cooperated to retain a small piece of land and a small private force. Now,
ten thousand years later, these warlords' descendants still exist on Terra, still holding onto that small piece of land and their private forces. Some have become glorious rogue trader dynasties, some have become high-ranking officials in the Administratum, some have found their place in the Ecclesiarchy, and some have even joined the Custodes. But a few families still ride around on old, modified bikes, causing havoc in Terra's crowded streets, and as long as they don't cause too much trouble, even the Custodes and the High Lords' Council can't do much about them."
"Because that was Father's promise," Ryan understood. "Even Father must keep his promises. If he does, then I must as well."
"Exactly," Schultz nodded at Ryan's answer. "So you can't hope to default on your debts to Marienburg's merchants, or play any loyalty-based games like 'you're not loyal, so I'm sending a commissar.' That's not what His Majesty would want. A debt is a debt, and a promise is a promise. His Majesty's promises are still valid after ten thousand years. What I can do is help persuade the major merchants to get involved. The choice is yours: issue bonds, or take out large loans?"
They finished their breakfast as they discussed these matters.
"I've decided, we'll issue bonds!" Ryan declared as he left, shaking hands with Schultz. "We'll start by issuing 50,000 gold crowns' worth of one-year Eight Peaks bonds and see how the market responds!"
"You've made your decision?" Schultz nodded. "Alright, I'll come up with a plan and test the waters in the market. But I must warn you, the princes of Marienburg's business world won't like this. They'll try to undermine the credibility of your bonds and force you to borrow from them."
"It doesn't matter. Outside of Marienburg, they're nothing. They're terrified of death, utterly terrified. Merchants are always weak, of course, except for you, Grand Duke Schultz," Ryan laughed. "As for the outcome, I'm confident that actions speak louder than words. And when it comes to publicity, I have my people, and you have yours."
"Very well," Schultz said, bowing slightly. "If there's nothing else, I must be going. The business world is ever-changing, and I need to conduct investigations and test the waters. It's well known that most of Bretonnia's free citizens are concentrated in a few cities. I must tell you, the primary buyers of bonds will be free citizens, self-employed farmers, and the bourgeoisie, not the great nobles or merchants. But you can start spreading the word."
"I understand," Ryan nodded. "Father has given you a task, hasn't he?"
"Yes, and it's a bit tricky…" Schultz sighed. "I can't say more."
"Very well, then. Farewell, my lord, and may you succeed."
"Goodbye, Ryan."
After Schultz bid farewell to Ryan, a rumor began circulating in the Couronne Palace that day. According to the Royal Chamberlain Carlsberg, the newly crowned King, Ryan "The Pious" Macador, planned to issue war bonds! These bonds, named Eight Peaks War Bonds, were intended to fund the expedition to reclaim Eight Peaks Mountain.
The entire kingdom was abuzz, especially the great nobles who hadn't yet left Couronne. Many of them felt deeply insulted by this. Since when did the honor of Bretonnia have to be sullied by something as lowly as money and bonds?
But those who could meet with Ryan, the Dukes, knew the truth. Without issuing bonds, where would the war funds come from? When Richard abdicated, the royal treasury had less than 5,000 gold crowns left—barely enough to cover a month's worth of logistical expenses for the chivalric expedition. And it would take a month just to sail from Bordeleaux to the Sea Gates!
This grand expedition was burning through money at an alarming rate…
As for the lesser nobles, those indignant young knights wouldn't even have the chance to meet the King. Most of the minor nobles were already packing up, leading their warhorses and preparing to head to Bordeleaux. They didn't pay much attention to the so-called Eight Peaks War Bonds. Most knights and nobles firmly believed that the King would bring them victory.
By staying in the palace, Ryan avoided the first wave of backlash. In the morning, he met with Dukes François and Berchemund, learning that they would be sending their best troops, including the Red Dragon Brotherhood, composed mostly of Grail Knights, and the Champions of Quinelles, a mix of Grail and Questing Knights. The Unicorn Guard, formed from Winford's fugitive regiment, would be led by Grail Knight Count Anselm of Cuileux.
Sanctuary Grail Grand Knight Caradoc, Devonshire's godfather, was also preparing to depart. This expedition would field an unprecedentedly powerful force.
François even joked about whether he should buy some Eight Peaks bonds.
Ryan refused on the spot. The bonds weren't meant for great nobles like his father-in-law.
At noon, Ryan had lunch with his family and Emilia. He planned to take a short nap before resuming his duties, but an unexpected visitor arrived.
The true King of Eight Peaks, Belegar Ironhammer, came rushing in, breathless. He blocked Ryan's path, saying, "Brother Ryan! Brother Ryan, what's going on? How can you suddenly issue Eight Peaks bonds? How can you use our clan's treasures as collateral to borrow money?"
As if you haven't borrowed before, Ryan thought to himself.
"I'm not using your treasures as collateral, King Belegar," Ryan replied after a moment of thought, smiling as he lowered his head. "We're only using the outcome of this war to raise funds. If we don't win this war, we won't have enough money. When we win, we'll naturally be able to repay."
"Win? Of course we'll win!" Belegar said, clearly frustrated. "But what if we lose? Brother Ryan, haven't you considered that? Our good names will be ruined! By Grungni's beard, you must be out of your mind!"
"It doesn't matter. I've thought of a backup plan. If we lose, we'll gather the remaining troops and form a roaming warband. We'll call it the Eight Peaks Chivalric Army and roam together," Ryan laughed. "I think there's never been a roaming warband led by two kings. It would be quite prestigious, not disgraceful at all, really."
"Ah, you're… By Grimnir, I swear you've lost your mind!" Belegar's beard bristled with anger as he shook his head. "I'm writing this down! Brother Ryan, you'll see!"
"We're all gambling, King Belegar—your kingdom and mine," Ryan said, leaning down and extending his fist toward Belegar. "The fate of our kingdoms rests on this. Are you ready, my friend?"
"…" Belegar's expression softened as he stared at Ryan.
After a long pause, a large fist met Ryan's, and Belegar burst into laughter. "Haha~ Yes, the stakes are all in on this!"
"But unlike before, this time we can win, and we will win!"
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]