19 Episode 18 Sugar (1/2)

You don't have enough troops.

Don't you have a standing army?

It's not enough at all.

Karolina tilted her head in wonder at Hercule's words.

It seems to Carolina that we have a strong enough army.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. Do you understand what kind of countries are surrounding our country?

Of course I do. What do you think people are?

Then, Carolina explained to Hercule one by one.

First, the Kingdom of Phallus, the greatest enemy of the Lemurian Empire.

Also known as the Phallus Empire.

It is a great nation with a power comparable to the Lemurian Empire.

Its religion is polytheism, with Abra Dazzle, god of justice, law and fire, as its supreme deity.

It is a holy fire religion.

The Lemurian Empire and the Kingdom of Foulth consider each other to be demonic nations that must be destroyed, and so conflict continues.

However, a truce is currently in place.

This is because Hadrian III, the father of Hercule, was defeated twice by King Sasan VIII of the Kingdom of Phars, and made peace by paying a large amount of tribute.

These large tribute payments put pressure on the treasury of the Lemurian Empire.

This is not the only enemy of the Lemurian Empire.

There is also the Kingdom of Bulgaron, a northwestern nomadic nation of the Bulgarons.

(*They call themselves an empire, but no country, including the Lemurian Empire, recognizes them, so I'll refer to them as the Bulgaron Kingdom.

These nomads come from the far east, and their skin and facial features are completely different from those of the people around here.

Mongoloid.

It is easy to understand them as Mongoloid.

The Kingdom of Bulgaron has invaded the Lemurian Empire many times, and is so powerful that it has besieged Nova Lemuria three times.

The Lemurian Empire has made peace with this country by paying tribute.

In the west, there are other nations that share the same messianic faith but have different ...... doctrines.

The relationship between them and the Lemurian Empire is currently in a lull, but ......

The Lemurian Empire is in a lull.

The Lemurian Empire is in a very nice situation, with enemies on all sides.

In the event that you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at ....... We need to get a proper army in place as soon as possible.

How many troops do you need for that?

At least 100,000 infantrymen.

Hundred thousand. ......

Currently, the military strength of the Lemurian Empire is about 20,000 infantry, 10,000 archers, and 10,000 cavalry, for a total of 40,000.

The Lemurian Empire's military strength is currently 40,000, consisting of 20,000 infantry, 10,000 archers and 10,000 cavalry.

The ideal is 150,000 infantry, 50,000 cavalry, and 20,000 to 30,000 archers.

”......Three times the current number? Can you do that?

I can't do it right now.

You say it's impossible, but actually it's not impossible if you want to do it.

Yes, if you impose a very heavy tax.

But if you do that, the country will fall in a flash and collapse from within.

If we could just double the tax revenue, we could get it right. ......

”Doubling the tax revenue is difficult, but even if we doubled the tax revenue, we wouldn't be able to provide an army of more than 200,000 troops, would we?

No, if my calculations are correct, we can.

No, if my calculations are correct, we can do it, though we'll have to use a bit of subterfuge.

Can't we just hire mercenaries?　It's cheaper to hire extra men.

I don't really like mercenaries.

They loot at will and run away when the war goes bad.

That's what mercenaries are.

If there is no alternative, we have to use them, but if possible, we don't want to use them.

”I want to double my tax revenue first.

”Can you increase ......?

There's nothing we can't do.

Coffee and bone ash porcelain are now in full-scale production.

There is no doubt that they will become a major industry of the Lemurian Empire in another ten years.

But it's not enough.

Industrial products are not bad, but ......

After all, the most efficient way to earn foreign currency is through ......

I think the best way to earn foreign currency is to grow sugar.

”Sugar?

Karolina tilted her head.

There were two kinds of white powder in front of Hercule's eyes.

They are not powders that make you feel good when you inhale them.

It might feel good to lick it, but it's not ...... anything fishy.

It's just sugar.

The difference is that there are two kinds.