The "Grunny's Beard" tavern at Haimen Pass was a high-end establishment jointly run by humans and dwarves, with dwarves holding 51% of the shares, humans holding 46%, and the remaining 3% controlled by elves. Although few elves ever visited, they weren't excluded due to a lack of shares.
The dwarves of Haimen Pass were considered the most accepting of elves among all the dwarves in the Old World. However, even here, relations between the two races remained cold.
When Ryan and his companions entered the tavern, they were welcomed warmly. The head dwarf bartender immediately placed three glasses of vodka on the table as they sat down. "Welcome, King of the Knights and esteemed Grail Knights. These are on the house. All dwarves remember your glorious victories, and for at least the next decade, we won't have to worry about the greenskins from the Badlands. It's cold outside—have a glass of Kislev vodka to warm yourselves up."
"Thank you," Ryan replied politely in Dwarvish. For certain reasons, they chose to sit in the main hall rather than in a private room upstairs. The three ordered some local specialties: roasted meat, pies, skewers, seafood, and red tea imported from Cathay.
As they ate, they discussed their upcoming plans for the assault on Arsenal Fort in January. Scouts sent by Blackheart Reep reported that the fort housed between six thousand and ten thousand greenskins. The greenskin warlord, Git Acidbelly, was a goblin shaman known for his cunning and skill in field battles.
Arsenal Fort was situated between two hills, making it a stronghold that was difficult to attack. For the knights, it would be a challenging battle given the terrain. However, Ryan's side had the advantage of Belgar's superior siege skills. The Dwarf King had already devised a detailed siege plan based on the fort's layout, and all that remained was for Ryan and his forces to execute it.
As they talked, a group of Cathayans entered the tavern. The leader wore a robe adorned with a nine-dragon and five-claw pattern, with a pheasant embroidered on it, and a long string of beads that nearly reached his belly. He wore yellow imperial boots and a jade belt. The group ordered drinks and food in rough Common Tongue and sat down to eat. One of them, named Hong Fuchu, noticed Ryan and pointed him out to the leader, who haughtily shook his head, indicating no interest.
The Cathayans then loudly chanted, "Long life and boundless blessings to the Grandmaster."
"Quite rare to see Cathayans here," Kalad remarked, intrigued by the novelty. "I remember the Old World only has a Cathayan embassy in Tyrell, and the last time a Cathayan delegation visited was seven hundred years ago."
"Cathayans occasionally come to the Old World for trade," Fedemund, the eldest son of Duke Bodrick of Bordeleaux, explained. "We sometimes trade with them for silk, gold, tea, porcelain, and magical artifacts, but outside of trade, contact is rare."
"Yes," Ryan nodded. "Thousands of years ago, a Cathayan envoy arrived in Araby to trade with the Nehekharan dynasties and even brought the secret of firearms. The last contact was seven hundred years ago when an envoy arrived in Tyrell and established an embassy. At that time, Cathay was ruled by the Wu Dynasty. However, the Wu Dynasty eventually stopped sending envoys, becoming increasingly isolated and reducing trade. It's said that Cathay has had many emperors since then, including a period when an emperor known as the Monkey King usurped the throne. The Dragon Emperor later restored his lineage to power. In Cathay, the title of Dragon Emperor is passed down to every new emperor, and when a new family takes control, a new dynasty begins."
"Indeed, I've heard there's an old Cathayan saying: 'Are lords and kings born of noble blood?' They don't seem to have a concept of nobles and commoners," Fedemund mused, raising his mug for a sip. "That's quite different from the Old World. Their common folk seem to enjoy overthrowing the Dragon Emperor and replacing him with a new one."
"Much like Tyrell's populism," Ryan casually remarked, holding his mug. "Populism works like that, while we in Bretonnia have an elitist system."
"Populism and elitism? My king, I don't quite understand. What's the difference?" Kalad asked, intrigued by Ryan's vast knowledge, which always seemed inexhaustible.
"Elitism is simple. It means the country is governed by an elite class that makes all the decisions," Ryan explained, gesturing toward himself, Kalad, and Fedemund. "We are the elite. We're knighted nobles and Grail Knights. We, along with the other nobles and Grail Knights, govern the knightly kingdom. There's no issue with that, right?"
Kalad and Fedemund nodded in agreement.
"Just like us, the Empire, the dwarves, and the elves all practice forms of elitist governance," Ryan continued, pointing at the food on the table. "The kingdom's policies and military campaigns are controlled by the knighted nobles. A small group of us controls the fate of the majority, which is what we call elitism."
"That's how it's always been, right?" Kalad pondered aloud. "Are we supposed to let the peasants, whose job is to farm, make decisions about governance and military matters?"
"Exactly. That's the strength of elitism," Ryan agreed. "When it comes to leading armies, we naturally choose a skilled knight to command the battle, not ten peasants to vote on the strategy. If we did that, we'd be doomed. War is for professionals; peasants should stay out of it."
Kalad and Fedemund laughed at the thought, finding it absurd.
"But elitism has its flaws too," Ryan added, his expression growing serious. "The first problem is recognizing true elites, and the second is corruption within the elite class."
Ryan pointed out that while the Grail Knight system, overseen by the Lady of the Lake, helped ensure true merit, ordinary knightly families had long-standing issues. Many knights were granted titles simply by inheriting them or receiving a spurs ceremony, regardless of their actual abilities or morals. This led to some unqualified individuals becoming knights, causing harm rather than serving as protectors.
He also mentioned that most knightly nobles were only skilled in warfare, not in governance, but still held leadership positions in managing their territories, often making a mess of things.
Lastly, many decisions made by the nobility were not in the interest of the kingdom or its people but were influenced by their own selfish motives.
Ryan sighed as he drank from his cup, reflecting on the fact that while elitism had its advantages, it also created a system where those in power hoarded resources and made decisions to benefit themselves, a problem nearly impossible to resolve.
"Then what about populism? Is it just about voting?" Kalad asked, pondering the alternatives. "Should we let the peasants participate in decision-making?"
"Populism allows the common folk to have a say," Ryan explained. "Take Tyrell, for example. Their prince is chosen through a legal vote by the citizens. Everyone is equal, and the majority's choice is seen as just and fair. This system prevents the prince from being overthrown—though he might still be assassinated."
"But the problem with populism," Ryan continued, "is that if we let peasants vote on military strategy or governance, the kingdom would fall apart. Peasants don't understand long-term benefits. If I build a canal for trade, they'll only see that it ruins their fields. If we let them vote, that canal would never be built. And if someone promises them short-term gains, they'll vote without hesitation."
"Furthermore, populism can lead to mob rule, where the common folk believe their decisions are just because they hold power. This can quickly spiral into chaos."
"Despite all its flaws, populism is one of the few ways to curb elite corruption," Ryan concluded. "Unlike Bretonnia, which has the Lady's oversight and the Grail system, the Empire fell apart under its old regime and had to reform its electoral system. But even now, they struggle with the same issues. That's why our system, despite its flaws, remains superior. For now, Bretonnia will continue on the path of elitism."
Kalad then asked, "How do we prevent these problems from becoming worse?"
"The key," Ryan replied, "lies in maintaining an open and fair path for advancement and ensuring that the nobility reforms its bureaucracy."
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