I Became the illegitimate son of a duke

86 – Bourgeois (2)

“Everyone be quiet! Your Majesty has issued a new edict.”

“Again?”

“You must be busy with college matters… Is it related to that?”

“Hmm… It must be a toll.”

Citizens of Dijon listened to the soldier’s words and tilted their heads, guessing the content of the notice held in his hand.

Some of them laugh bitterly, guessing what the announcement might contain. It is an open secret that not so long ago officials were actively studying the effects of the increase in gate tolls.

Those who have even a little bit of a connection with people who work in the government cannot know what will happen in the future.

“The gate toll tax is increased. All types of vehicles that can load and move goods, including wagons and wagons, pass through the gate by 20%, and if there is no such vehicle, simply Only individual transit taxes apply, although citizens of Dijon still enjoy exemption from such transit taxes.”

“Oh, I finally get to see a little less of the motherf*ckers.”

“What, it wasn’t a big deal.”

“What? Wait a minute, then what about the items I ordered?”

“Of course, you have to pay the increased tax. Even if you ordered it, it’s someone else who brings it.”

“I can’t believe…”

Citizens who read such announcements show different reactions. Citizens who expressed dissatisfaction because Dijon has become too complicated are delighted, citizens without carriages and kites show a negative reaction, and citizens who have had a lot of exchanges outside Dijon are shocked at the damage that the new policy will bring.

“Quiet! It’s not over yet.”

As the citizens become noisy, the soldier on the podium calms them down and continues talking.

Citizens who thought this was the end instantly became quiet at the sound. After all, there is no big man anywhere in Dijon who would disobey His Majesty’s agent cruel enough to throw the nobles into the [Pig slaughterhouse].

“Because His Majesty was concerned about the disruption to commerce, permission was granted to move out of the castle in the future for commercial establishments that interacted with the outside of Dijon. Of course, this measure also includes several inns and restaurants that depend on it Other facilities are also included. In addition, foreign merchants who sell goods outside the walls no longer have to pay tolls, so we plan to add a tax to make up for it.”

“What? Get out of the castle?”

“It’s actually an urban extension.”

“It looks good because the land price is cheap and the logistics work can be done outside… But isn’t it very dangerous?”

Unlike the calm or excited moments before, this time, all the citizens who heard the decree show a lively reaction.

In the walled city of Dijon, property prices are skyrocketing as land has already reached its limit, and if building outside the walls is allowed, anyone can see that such exorbitant costs will be normalized. Because.

Simply taking a part of the commercial facility outside is shocking, but the soldier then pours out more words.

“In addition, affordable housing will be newly built outside the city walls for citizens who move to other areas due to lack of money. From now on, they can stay in Dijon without moving.”

“What? sh*t… I recently bought a house out of debt, and the price of the house seems to be going down.”

“Okay, even if I die, I’ll live within the walls. I can move to a better house cheaply.”

“Ugh… It’s not time to stay still like this. I need to quickly buy land outside the city walls before the price goes up.”

“Even if it’s outside the walls, it’s much better than a narrow, rotten house.”

“No, why didn’t that bastard tell me the toll tax and not tell me this important information!?”

Citizens’ reactions are more overheated than before. It is clear that such a policy will lead to great upheavals.

Citizens who pay attention to the theme of building a building outside the city wall, even though they have not yet heard a proper explanation, have joy, anger, and sadness as they imagine different futures.

“It’s noisy.”

And Claude laughs while admiring the excited crowd from the balcony of the palace.

To think that so many people reacted differently to what I did, is this power?

Until now, I had only been confined to the castle, so I hadn’t felt this kind of feeling, but surprisingly it feels pretty good.

“Your Majesty, all professors in the field of medicine have gathered to await your teachings.”

“Okay, go now.”

Well, since the policy and design have all been handed down to the lower line, they can now do things on their own based on that.

…………

“You’ll see Dijon soon… Huh? What is that?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, the scenery is very different from the last time I came. Are you building something?”

The merchant who came to Dijon is surprised by the sudden change in his eyes.

As all kinds of materials are lined up in front of the gray wall, they are greatly emphasized, and as a result, the shapes of the materials can be recognized well from a distance.

A lot of processed timber, logs, cornerstones, etc. Are scattered in front of the castle wall, and a makeshift tent has been built next to these materials. And under the tent, there are several items listed.

People who appear to be laborers are carrying materials scattered around and stirring them around, or carefully placing them on the ground following certain rules.

‘Are they building barracks?’

No matter how you look at it, you can only see it as a scene where something is being built.

Since it’s being built outside the city walls, it must be a military facility…

“Isn’t that fruit?”

“Fruit?”

“Yes, under the drooping tent over there.”

“…Really, if you look closely, there are not only fruits, but also cotton fabrics and furniture.”

Isn’t it a simple construction?

As for the case of having to drag those goods out of the castle walls… Uhm, I don’t know. You’ll know what to go for.

………

“Yes? Outside the walls?”

“Yes, it seems that there is nothing we can do about it because the inside of the wall is already saturated. It has been too cramped in the meantime. Citizens were not the only ones who complained.”

“Uh… But that sounds a bit dangerous, didn’t they say they don’t build walls?”

“I’m curious about that too… Well, that’ll be fine. If the enemy comes, you’ll just take care of yourself and your possessions and evacuate inside the walls.”

“Yes, yes, but… Isn’t there such a thing as an if?”

The tents were temporary tent equipment, and the materials were not for barracks, but for various buildings…

Uh… Is this correct?

I know right away that Dijon was almost exposed to the rebels raised by the king’s uncle not too long ago.

What’s more, if there are so many buildings around the walls, you can use them as cover, or you can tear them down and turn them into ladders or siege weapons.

I don’t need to worry about it because I’m rich, but I’m a little nervous.

“No need to worry about that.”

“Yes?”

“Foreign enemies will not be able to approach Dijon because they are afraid of our Lotharing army.”

‘What is this person again?’

I was talking to another merchant to buy something, when suddenly a soldier on patrol interrupted me.

The way he speaks is very intimidating, but there is a lot of confidence in that overbearing way of speaking. He doesn’t seem to doubt anything he says.

“Just to let you know, there are other reasons besides the saturation problem that building outside the walls is permitted.”

“What is that…?”

“The poor army of the Carolingian Pigs and the Imperial Army, whose base has been blown away by the civil war, are no match for our Rotaring Army?”

“Hmm…”

I wonder if it would be a little nice to say that to me, a Carolingian.

Anyway, I get what you want to say. Foreign troops can never reach Dijon, so it doesn’t matter if there are no walls.

Tsk tsk, it’s true that Rotaring is strong, but arrogance would be poisonous.

“Above all, of course, that won’t happen, but if Dijon is attacked, why not seek reinforcements before that? It’s just as Lutesia, the royal capital, is attacked in terms of Carolingian, and Bindobona, the imperial capital, in terms of empire. That’s right.”

“Hmm… That’s true, but…”

“We didn’t completely give up on the walls in the first place. If it becomes really dangerous, we can evacuate the citizens inside the walls.”

There is nothing wrong with the soldier’s words.

If the capital is in danger of being occupied, there is a way to temporarily relocate the capital, but it would be safe to say that the war situation has already tilted significantly, and even if Dijon is really under siege, citizens can be evacuated inside as long as the city walls are intact. Of course, everything outside the walls will be plundered.

“Uh… Well…”

“Oops, excuse me. You must be a little upset that our noble duty is being questioned. Let’s see what everyone is doing.”

The soldier smiles shyly at the uncomfortable Dijon merchant, and then starts patrolling again.

I’m so embarrassed that the soldier who was so noisy suddenly came and left in an instant, but… I can’t stay still, so I have to force myself to continue talking.

“Kuhmm…Then let’s resume the deal.”

“Ah… Yes, that’s right. Did you say it was all Carolingian cowhide?”

“It’s an 18-month-old cow to be exact. The leather is very soft because it hasn’t grown very well. The tanning and drying process has already been completed.”

“Can I touch it myself?”

“Sure.”

The merchants who resumed trading immediately forget about the soldiers they just had and immerse themselves in trading.

From nob le mtl dot com

Merchants who sell leather mobilize all means, including speech and exchange of information, in order to receive even one more coin, and those who buy leather in order to pay even one less.

Even though some facilities have been pushed out of the city walls, Dijon is still thriving.