Rose Empire

While enjoying the breakfast served by Adela, Charlotte asked Cecilia, "Have you finished counting the spoils?"

"I'm glad to hear you have things other than lovemaking on your mind."

Cecilia chewed the sausage in her mouth with a crunching sound, as if she was biting someone to vent her emotions.

However, after complaining, Cecilia still answered Charlotte's question seriously: "I've almost finished the inventory. There are only a few odds and ends left. I should be able to enter them all into the account today."

"Then tell me about the situation," said Charlotte.

"The bulk of the spoils this time are roughly divided into three categories. The first is cash, the second is cloth, and the third is alcohol." Cecilia said, counting on her fingers.

"Huh? I remember I didn't bring any drinks back." Charlotte said curiously.

"No, you brought back a batch of wine. They were packed in old wooden boxes and crystal bottles, together with gold coins. I discovered them by chance when I was counting cash." Cecilia explained, "I asked a merchant who is proficient in wine to identify this batch of wine. This wine is called 'Sea Snake', a specialty of the city-state of Bataan. The 'Sea Snake' you brought back is the last batch of wine brewed by Bataan winemaker Manet before his death. It is about two hundred years old. Only two thousand bottles of this batch of 'Sea Snake' were brewed, and each bottle is priceless. And this time you brought back a total of 42 bottles!"

Cecilia's face flushed with excitement. These were not just bottles of wine, but piles of gold and silver. Cecilia had already thought about how much she could do if she exchanged all the wine for money. She could build a road from Ambratu to Lanwan Viscount's Territory to Quik Forest Earl's Territory, build a dock, a shipyard, and build some new ships...

But Charlotte was not so excited. She asked in confusion: "Why did the precious wine of the city-state of Bataan appear in the public treasury of Dorucocha?"

All these spoils she had looted from Dorukocha.

"This..." Cecilia suddenly showed a gossipy smile, "I heard that fifty years ago, the royal family of the Gangtu Empire ordered one hundred bottles of 'Sea Snakes' brewed by Master Manet before his death from Badan, but the merchant ship carrying the sea snakes was robbed by pirates shortly after it set sail, and the Gangtu royal family and Badan never found the pirates. And the batch of wine you brought back has the Gangtu royal family's emblem on the outermost box..."

"Tsk, robbing their ally's merchant ship for some wine, this really seems like something mercenaries would do." Charlotte sighed.

"Unfortunately, the remaining fifty-eight bottles were probably drunk by the Dorukocha people." Cecilia felt a little sad.

"It's nothing to regret. These are just icing on the cake. Although they are precious, it's not easy to sell them for money." Charlotte said indifferently, "In addition to the wine, we got some money and cloth."

"As for money, you brought back about 450,000 fusos, 300,000 asses, 2 million dirhams, and 4 million pinkels this time." Cecilia counted them on her fingers, and then she couldn't help but smile with emotion, "In terms of cash alone, you can really say you came back with a lot this time."

As is the currency of the Kingdom of Lesare, and the exchange rate with the Fuso of the Orlan Empire is roughly 1.5 to 1. Three hundred thousand As is approximately equivalent to two hundred thousand Fuso.

The value of the dir has been rising recently, but the increase is not large enough to affect the exchange rate between it and the fuso. After all, the circulation of the Oranfuso is astonishingly large - this thousand-year-old empire probably doesn't even know how many fuso it has minted in total. Therefore, currently two million dir can still be roughly converted into 500,000 fuso, but this should only be temporary.

As for the astonishing 4 million pinks, that was the currency of the city-state of Dorukocha. It was a traditional art of the city-state of Sokya. This currency was independently issued by each city-state and was rarely used by the people of the city-state themselves.

The only city-state currency in the Sokya region that is recognized by the entire peninsula is the dir issued by Fidelity.

“Pink can melt it and cast it into copper ingots.” Charlotte said immediately.

"You think too much," Cecilia complained, "Although Pink looks golden, the craftsman actually found out after cutting it open that most of this coin is iron."

Hearing this answer, Charlotte was speechless: "I shouldn't have brought these wastes back."

"With the two million dirs this time, the dirs accumulated in our gold exchange should have exceeded five million. Should we open a service to exchange dirs for fuso at the gold exchange?" Cecilia asked. "Many Sokya merchants, or merchants who want to do business in the Sokya Peninsula, have asked at the gold exchange whether they can exchange dirs."

"No, that's not necessary," Charlotte shook her head without even thinking. "The exchange office will continue to follow the original arrangement. It will only exchange dir into fusos, not fusos into dir."

"Hmm..." Charlotte paused and continued, "However, the exchange office can add two more services. It can exchange Fuso and As, and it can also exchange Dier into As."

"It is still not allowed to exchange as into dir?" Cecilia asked again.

"Yes, it's not allowed." Charlotte shook her head again.

Cecilia didn't quite understand why Charlotte hoarded so many dirhams, but since Charlotte insisted, she just followed the instructions.

"The cloth you brought back was mainly linen and woolen cloth, 250,000 shekels of linen and 70,000 shekels of woolen cloth. In addition, there were some cotton cloth, furs and silk." Cecilia continued to talk about the main topic.

Sher is a unit of length, which is roughly the length from an adult's shoulder to his fingertips.

"However, the price of cloth is relatively low this year. Whether it is linen or woolen cloth, it may be difficult to sell it at a considerable price." Cecilia asked again with some concern.

"Then don't worry about making money," Charlotte said. "Sell these linen and woolen cloths at a relatively favorable price in the market of Elm Town, and only allow the residents of Viscount Lanwan and Ambratu County to buy them. It can be regarded as a new set of clothes for my people."

“Okay.” Cecilia took note.

"How much silk is there?" Charlotte asked again.

"About ten thousand shekels," said Cecilia.

"Take out all the silk," Charlotte continued, "and take ten bottles of that 'sea snake'. Each bottle of 'sea snake' must be packed in a complete wooden box with the royal emblem of the Gangtu Empire. I will use them to reward the soldiers who have made meritorious contributions this time."

"Yeah." Cecilia nodded again.

PS: Thank you all for your monthly tickets and blade recommendation tickets, thank you very much.

PS2: This is yesterday's chapter. Sorry for keeping you waiting! There will be another chapter tonight!

PS3: Recommend a book "One Transformation in Every World"

Sister: If you want to go out and play, you have to become a girl.

An Ran, who was bored of being trapped in the infinite space, finally agreed to her sister's request in order to go to the outside world.

An Ran: I am working hard for love and justice today.

Volume 127: Chapter 115 Chapter Rewarding for Merit and Luxury Marketing

Three days later, Charlotte finally got dressed and went out again. She was wearing a handsome and neat military uniform and a viscount's dagger at her waist.

"Where are you going first, Miss?"

Renee asked before the carriage set off.

Cecilia, who was riding in the same carriage, glanced at Renee.

Charlotte lived in Cecilia's sister's house, and Renee naturally lived here as well. Cecilia blushed when she thought about the three days of intimacy, but the little maid watched the three days of pornographic palace without changing her expression. During this period, she even had time to help Charlotte with some work such as sending and receiving official documents and uploading and downloading orders.

Now it seems that the little maid still has an indifferent expression, and Cecilia doesn't know what to say for a moment.

"Let's go to the territory treasury first." Charlotte said.

The newly built treasury of the territory of Viscount Lanwan is just outside the city of Yushu Town. Viscount Lanwan’s food, non-strategic materials and captured spoils are stored there.

"Your Excellency, Miss Cecilia."

As soon as Charlotte arrived at the treasury, a middle-aged man trotted up to the carriage to greet her.

The middle-aged man's name was Gomez. He used to be a shopkeeper of a minor noble family. In fact, he was the shopkeeper. Four or five years ago, Charlotte saw his business talent and spent money to hire him. Now, Gomez served as the chief steward of the public treasury in the Viscount of Lanwan.

Although his name sounds like a warehouse keeper, Gomez is actually responsible for the dispatch of materials in the entire territory. In terms of authority, he is more like a logistics manager. Gomez has always done well in this position and is a capable general in Cecilia's hands.

"No need to be polite," Charlotte smiled and raised her hand as she got off the carriage, asking Gomez to excuse her from the formality. Then she asked, "Have my swordsmiths prepared everything for me?"

"Everything is ready." Gomez replied immediately.

Under Gomez's guidance, Charlotte entered a warehouse where many luxury items made of gold, silver and jewelry were stored. In a corner of the warehouse, Charlotte saw rows of neatly stacked mahogany boxes.

"These are the swords you need," Gomez said.

Charlotte opened a mahogany box covered with silk, on top of which lay an exquisite dagger inlaid with silver and gold.

Charlotte picked up the dagger, which felt heavy in her hand. She drew the sword from the sheath, and the blade was shining brightly. There were some small words engraved on the spine of the sword: "Battle of Dorucocha - Celine Adkins". Turning over, there were also words on the spine of the sword: "Sword of Merit - Charlotte Mellefield".

"Have the swords been checked?" Charlotte asked.

"Miss Cecilia and I have checked them," Gomez said, "Every sword is well made. Any sword with a flaw has been eliminated. These swords have no flaws at all."

"Very good." Charlotte put the sword back into the box and said, "Please load these onto the carriage for me."

"Yes."

Gomez immediately arranged for a carriage and guards.

On the other side, Cecilia also loaded all the silks and ten bottles of antique wine "Sea Snake" into the carriage according to Charlotte's request.

"Put some more cash in there, um... maybe 700,000 francs," Charlotte said.

"Hey, do you need to carry so much money?" Cecilia was a little surprised.

"Well," Charlotte was sure, "we don't have that much money anymore?"

"That's right. After all, the spoils you brought back alone amount to 450,000 fusos in cash."

Although she said so, there was still some reluctance in Cecilia's words. She understood what Charlotte wanted to do.

As soon as Charlotte returned to the Viscount Lanwan's territory, she gave all the knights who participated in the expedition an extra month's salary, plus three days of vacation.

Now that the three-day holiday is over, some post-war matters must be dealt with, such as rewarding meritorious service.

Charlotte asked the guards to clear the racecourse south of Elm Town, and set up a stage in the middle of the racecourse. She then poured 700,000 fusos worth of gold coins in front of the stage, and countless spectators were immediately attracted.

There's no way, the golden hill is just too eye-catching.

There was also a row of long tables next to the hill, on which were laid silk and a row of gray wooden boxes.

After completing these preparations, Charlotte and Cecilia sent someone to the military camp to pass on the message.

The eye-catching gold mountain, the gorgeous silk and the somewhat worn-out wooden boxes together inevitably made people feel strange. Charlotte personally stepped forward, opened the wooden boxes, took out ten sea-blue crystal bottles, and placed them next to the wooden boxes.

Most of the people coming and going in Yushu Town, or staying to gamble, were businessmen. Soon, a sharp-eyed businessman recognized the iconic blue-green crystal bottle and the emblem of the Gangtu royal family on the old wooden box.

"Miss Cecilia," a businessman who knew Cecilia asked in a low voice, "Excuse me, this is..."

"The last batch of 'Sea Snake' brewed by Master Manet during his lifetime." Cecilia replied.

The crowd was suddenly in an uproar again. That was the legendary famous wine, and ten bottles appeared here at once.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency!" A merchant recognized Charlotte and shouted, "I am willing to pay 10,000 francs for a bottle of 'Sea Snake'."

"What can ten thousand do? I'm willing to pay fifty thousand fusos!" someone else made an offer.

Hearing such an offer, Cecilia opened her mouth slightly, as if she was about to speak, but stopped herself. Whether it was ten thousand or fifty thousand, it was obviously far below Cecilia's psychological expectations.

Charlotte was not surprised at all. This is the reality. When the market price of a commodity reaches a certain level, it is difficult to actually sell it at a high price.

Many people know that this batch of "sea snakes" is priceless, but no one can explain why.

Is 50,000 francs a low price? Actually, it is not low. Before Manet died, there were 2,000 bottles of "Sea Serpents". At 50,000 francs per bottle, the value of that batch of "Sea Serpents" was 100 million francs! This is not a small amount at all, and it is completely worthy of the saying "priceless".

This is why Charlotte was not as excited as Cecilia when she suddenly heard that she had picked up a batch of precious antique wines for free.

"I'm sorry, these wines are for rewarding my warriors. I don't intend to sell them." Charlotte said to the merchants with a smile.

The crowds watching became even more curious. What kind of warrior could he be that needed such a grand reward, and even the drinks were so precious.

Not long after, Hermann Green arrived at the racecourse with the entire army that was heading to Dorukocha. As soon as they entered the racecourse, even the usually calm Hermann Green was startled by the golden hill in front of him, not to mention the other knights and squires, who simply couldn't take their eyes off the hill.

Charlotte walked up to the platform, looked around, and waited until the audience gradually quieted down before she spoke: "My subjects, knights, and guests who have come from afar. Perhaps everyone already knows that not long ago, the shameless Dorucocha people united with Bataan, Carmela and other city-states, intending to invade my territory. I, Viscount Lanwan, Charlotte Melefield, led my knights to resist..."

Charlotte calmly gave a general description of the war that had taken place not long ago. Of course, in her words, she was completely the victim, the bullied party, the one who needed sympathy.

"Although I am inferior to the enemy in terms of cunning and number of troops, my loyal knights fought bravely and fearlessly, and the Viscount Lanwan still won the final victory!"

"I am moved by this loyalty and bravery, which should be respected and rewarded. So I decided to reward those who have made contributions in this battle generously."

After finishing his long speech, Charlotte paused for a moment before announcing the first reward: "All squires and knights who go to fight against Dorukocha will be rewarded with 100 fusos each; and knights will be rewarded with 500 fusos each!"

"Wow..."

The crowd around was suddenly in an uproar.

There were at least two to three thousand soldiers in helmets and armor at the scene. Even if all of them were calculated at 100 fuso, the reward would be close to 300,000 fuso.

The soldiers in the audience also found it unbelievable, especially the squires. In the past, they not only received no income from their service, but were often used as slaves or cannon fodder. It was good enough that they didn't die inexplicably on the battlefield. How could they be rewarded for their merits?

However, Charlotte had already started distributing money. She personally took five hundred or one hundred gold coins from the small gold mountain and handed them to the soldiers one by one.

The soldiers who received the actual money all blushed, not only the squires, but even some of the knights were so excited that their faces turned red. Some of them had been knights and had been farming for more than ten or twenty years, but they might not have 500 francs in savings at home.

In the end, Charlotte paid out a total of about 640,000 in bonuses. Her wrists were sore, but looking at the beaming faces of the people, Charlotte felt that it was worth spending so much money.

"Next is the second reward. Ed Adkins, Ryan Nasazzi, Adams Bell, Celine Adkins..." Charlotte walked up to the podium again, took out a piece of parchment, and read out the names on it one by one.

Each time Charlotte read out a name, Herman Green would remind that person to go up to the stage.

This list was provided by Hermann Green, and it records ten knights who performed outstandingly in the war.

After all ten people came on stage, Charlotte said, "You have all been brave and courageous in the battlefield. Today, in the name of Charlotte Melefield, I will bestow upon you this sword that records your meritorious deeds." Then she bestowed ten swords of merit upon the ten people.

There is no miracle on these meritorious swords, nor are they made of any extraordinary materials. The only feature is that they are gorgeous, beautiful, exquisitely crafted, and meticulously carved. If used to kill people, the blade of this sword may be bent, but it is definitely a sharp weapon for showing off in the market.

The knights who received the sword of honor from Charlotte were all beaming, especially when they saw their names engraved on the sword. Although knights were the lowest nobles, they were still nobles after all, and nobles cared about their reputation. In the past, many of them did not have the conditions or opportunities to save their reputation, but this time Charlotte made them feel what glory was.

Not only was there honor, but there were also more tangible benefits. Charlotte asked the guards to bring rewards to these ten people - a roll of gorgeous silk and one thousand fusos for each person.

Standing on the high platform, enjoying the envious and admiring looks from the surrounding local people, foreign businessmen, and mercenaries, Adams and other young knights couldn't help but raise their chins a little.

In fact, the two people who deserve the most recognition this time are Hermann Green and Robin Mancini. The former, as the commander of the assault force, took the lead in charging into battle, and the latter led the Grey Knights and led a siege and two night attacks in succession, which was an outstanding achievement.

But Hermann Green insisted that Charlotte was the commander of this battle. He was just given the title of commander-in-chief and did not actually make much contribution, nor did he achieve much, so he did not need to be commended.

Taking into account the special nature of the Grey Knights, Robin Mancini was unable to commend them publicly and could only reward them privately.

So, neither of them went on stage.