64 Episode 2 Likes and Dislikes




 Oh, come on, don't be so mad. See? Luna.
 ...... I can't believe it. I can't believe you just kissed me like that.
 You seemed pretty happy about it in the second half, didn't you?
 I just got caught up in the ...... atmosphere.

 Hercule and Lunalie were riding their horses towards Erstadt, the capital of Hayastan.
 They were accompanied by a corps of infantry, three battalions of cavalry, three battalions of archers, and some captured prisoners.

 Normally, a man in Hercule's position should be riding in a carriage. ......
 Hercule said, "This is a battlefield. He refused and chose to ride a horse, saying, "This is a battlefield, and I can't bear to ride in a carriage while the soldiers are walking.

 Lunalie also chose to ride alongside Hercule.

 ...... What is a Luna?
 It's a nickname.
 ...... I don't remember giving you permission to call me that.
 Oh, my God. I'm the emperor, what do you need my permission for?

 The man in front of me stopped.
 The man in front of me would not stop even if I asked him to stop, in fact, the more I asked him to stop, the more he would stop.

 The man in front of her would not stop even if she asked him to stop.

 "By the way, did Luna have any particular feelings about that young elf guy?
 "I liked him, I loved him.

 I liked him, I loved him," Lunalie said with a blank expression, and then ......

 Do I need to say that?
 No, not that I'm saying that, but... Well, well, don't be so picky. It's just a personal interest of mine.

 Lunalie responded to Hercule's answer with a sigh and then ......

 It's not just a childhood friend ......, it's someone you knew when you were little. There are plenty of people like that in the kingdom of Hayastan. I don't have any particular thoughts on the matter.
 "I see, so you're okay with dying?
 ...... I don't like people who act to the detriment of the Kingdom of Khayastan. If they don't think about it, so be it.

 I'm not sure what you mean by that.
 Everything is for the good of the whole kingdom of Hayastan.

 Lunalie's thoughts were consistent throughout.

 What Lunalie loves is the Kingdom of Khayastan and its people as a whole.
 In other words, she has no particular love for the people of Hayastan, one by one.

 If one Hayastanian's life could save 10,000 Hayastans, Lunalie would gladly kill that one Hayastanian.

 In other words, the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
 In other words, the greatest happiness of the greatest number.

 In other words, the greatest happiness of the greatest number.
 In this sense, Hercule and Lunalie are very similar in their thinking.

 They are both rationalists and realists.

 If I were to raise the difference, it would be ......

 The difference is that Hercule is basically disposable to himself and those close to him, and his first priority is the happiness of himself and those around him.

 Lunalie, on the other hand, would put the interests, safety, and happiness of the entire kingdom of Hayastan first, even at the expense of herself.

 "By the way, is there a man of your choice, Lunar? 
 "Someone who can benefit the kingdom of Hayastan. Someone who will protect the kingdom of Khayastan.
 So, what's your least favorite type?
 Someone who would be a detriment to the Kingdom of Hayastan. Someone who not only doesn't protect the Kingdom of Khayastan, but also puts it in danger.

 I didn't really want to ask that, but ...... 
 He scratched his head and then asked again.

 So, what about me?
 "As long as you protect me, I love you. I love you.
 Are you willing to fall in love with the individual, Hercule, and not the Emperor of Lemuria?
 "...... No.

 Hercule cowered, not saying a word.

 I'm not sure what to say, but I think it's a good idea.

 It's no fun to fall in love with someone right from the start.
 That was Hercule's idea.

 In addition, it is worth mentioning now that Hercule liked Lunalie as a woman.
 The encounter was not a good one, but Hercule was not the type to hold grudges. (Except for tormenting her with it.)

 I like the way he looks and the way he thinks. I also liked him for his high patriotism.

 More than anything, Hercule liked him because he was a bit rebellious.
 Specifically, he never used honorifics, even if he had to.


 "Your Majesty! I have something to report!
 "I don't care if you dismount. Just say it.
 What! I have a report from the scouting party! The river bridge in front of us is damaged and we can't get across!
 ...... I see. What's the water level in the river?


 "According to the report from the reconnaissance unit, .......

 Hearing the report from the reconnaissance unit, Hercule sighed.
 I don't think I can make it across.

 We're going to have to go around.
 ...... But there was one thing that bothered Hercule.

 ...... It is true that it rained in the Kingdom of Khayastan three days ago. But it wasn't that heavy of a downpour. ...... Is it that easy to get washed away?

 Or is he harassing the Lemurian army? ......

 I'm not sure what's so funny. If it rains, the bridge will flow.
 No, I don't think they're usually damaged that easily. ......

 And then, a little curious, Hercule asks Lunalie.

 Do you think the levees will break too? How much did they break last year?
 "Um, .......

 Hearing Lunalie's answer, Hercule covers his face with his hand.

 I see. ...... I understand. I'm sure you'll understand.






 The Kingdom of Fars is a feudal state.
 The Kingdom of Hayastan, which was a vassal state of the Kingdom of Fars, also adopted a feudal system in line with the Kingdom of Fars.

 However, there are various types of feudalism.
 Even in Europe and China, the same feudal system is completely different, and the internal situation differs greatly depending on the country and era.
 It is a bit aggressive to summarize them all as "feudalism".

 Therefore, Hercule divided feudal states into two broad categories.

 These are the Edo shogunate type and the Muromachi shogunate type.

 If there is a leader or king like the Edo Shogunate, who holds most of the country's territory, controls important lands, holds mines, has the right to issue money, has subjugated even religious powers, and has a much stronger military power than other lords, then ......
 The feudal system will be very strong and stable.

 On the other hand, if the power of the leader or the king is less than that of other lords, such as the Muromachi Shogunate, ......
 The feudal system will be very fragile and unstable.

 And the Kingdom of Fars is definitely an Edo Shogunate type of feudal state.

 Therefore, the Kingdom of Phallus is a powerful military power that can overwhelm the centralized state of Lemuria.

 The Kingdom of Khayastan is ......
 The Kingdom of Hayastan was undoubtedly a Muromachi shogunate-style feudal state.

 This Muromachi shogunate-type feudal system has various drawbacks.
 For example, the lords may start wars on their own, or they may not be able to unite against foreign enemies. ......

 However, this is not so relevant to the Kingdom of Khayastan, where armament was forbidden. But this is not so relevant for the Kingdom of Khayastan, which was forbidden to bear arms. (Well, it is not so relevant for us, because we have to defend ourselves from now on.

 But what is relevant is ......
 For example, it is about flood control.

 The "rule" of politics is the "rule" of flood control, and the country is the "rule" of the country and the "rule" of water.
 It is no exaggeration to say that the nation was born for the purpose of controlling water.

 It would not be an exaggeration to say that powerful nations were born in the Yellow River basin, the Nile River basin, and Mesopotamia for the purpose of controlling water.

 This is because flood control can only be done if the implementer has a certain amount of power.

 First of all, if you don't have the financial power, you cannot gather the appropriate labor force.
 It is obvious that a half-hearted attempt at flood control will soon result in the collapse of the river.

 Secondly, we must have the power and leadership to persuade the people concerned.
 This is because the flood control work includes major civil engineering works to change the flow of the river and divert water, which in some cases will have a major impact on the local economy.

 There is no such thing as a method that can satisfy everyone. ......
 At the end of the day, it is up to the state to make a decision.

 Otherwise, effective flood control cannot be carried out.

 In addition to that, weak central power hampers various public works.

 And, well, in a nutshell: ......

 The Al-Shaq family of Hayastan does not have the power to do flood control properly.


 


 However, it's not so bad if you don't have money. If they had the money, I could have gotten behind it and gotten the flood control work done. ......

 After returning to Erstadt, the capital of Hayastan, Hercule read the administrative documents of the Alshak family in the archives of Erstadt Castle and sighed.
 There are too few lands in Hayastan that are controlled by House Alshak.

 There is no such thing as too little.
 But that doesn't mean we can just leave it there. ...... Lunalee, do you have any data on tax collection?
 Yes.

 At Hercule's behest, Lunalie immediately brought out the administrative documents.
 It was a detailed document on the taxation system of the Kingdom of Hayastan, and it was very well organized.

 It's easy to read. Whoever created this document must be very talented.
 "Not really.
 You're the one who put together ......?

 I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's a bit of a jerk.

 (...... You might as well let him handle that one.)

 I've known Lunarie for a long time, and I know that she has good negotiation and information processing skills.
 Now we just have to figure out how much we can trust him.

 (Well, that's good for now.)

 Hercule put Lunalie out of his mind and read the documents.

 ...... Looks like we're going to have to make some serious changes.

 Hercule scratched his head.
 If the Kingdom of Hayastan is to be allowed to defend itself to some extent, a centralized system is more convenient than a feudal system.
 That way, Hercule could control it.

 It is also easier to understand if the tax system is the same as in Lemuria.

 ......, but it's obvious that it would take a lot of time and effort to do so, and Hercule had his hands full with the internal affairs of the Lemurian Empire, so he didn't have time for that.

 As for internal reform, we'll just have to let the pro-Lemurian Hayastans take their time. Well, we've already signed a ten-year non-aggression pact with Phallus, and I'm sure they'll keep it for five years.



 There are very few cases in history where a non-aggression pact has been kept to the end. ......
 However, it will still work in the beginning.

 In the meantime, you can change the state system of the Kingdom of Khayastan and organize a standing army.

 And that's it. ......

 I'll lend you some money for now. I'll lend you some money so you can flood control and repair the bridges. We'll send engineers from Lemuria.
 "...... Are you sure about this?
 We can't afford to have the bridge washed away and destroyed by the river every time it rains. In return, I demand that King Hayastan reform quickly.

 You can return the money in about twenty years.
 The money should be returned in 20 years.

 Your Majesty. You're not like Fahls, who thinks only of squeezing tribute. I love you. I love you.
 Thank you for that.
 And I'd love you even more if you'd say 'I give' instead of 'I lend'.
 That's not good.
 Then I hate you.

 Lunalie releases Hercule.
 Hercule cowered silently.