Chapter 58 – Cavalry II
Translator: Isekai Shousetsu
We sent the first diplomatic mission to the Equus clan.
Wheat, Rock salt, wine, and wool trading then began around the time the first mission finished.
The Rosyth Kingdom is quite engaged in agriculture. but not so in animal husbandry.
Conversely, the Equus clan is engaged in animal husbandry but not quite in agriculture. To feed their nomadic lifestyle, they have to resort to importing wheat.
Thus, this is easily a win-win relations.h.i.+p.
As expected, it seems they too wanted this trading relations.h.i.+p.
In making friends, the first exchange is very important.
After this, we sent more missions once every month.
The twelfth month, the first month, the second month, the third month, and the fourth month.
The missions went well and brought forth bountiful returns.
Around the time the relations.h.i.+p between the Rosyth Kingdom and the Equus Clan deepened, we received a message from a mouse we planted inside the De Morgal Kingdom.
It seems the De Morgal Kingdom would conduct large scale military movements around the Sixth Month.
Apparently, they’re aiming to have their invasion coincide with the wheat harvesting season.
The Rosyth Kingdom also has finished the defensive measures.
My Ars Territory too has begun conscripting soldiers.
And so comes the fifth month. We’re sending the 7th diplomatic mission.
This time we’re not only coming to trade but also to propose the recruitment of about 200 Equus Clan soldiers as mercenaries. Rather, you could say that is our main objective this time.
The Equus Clan are also feeling the pressure of the De Morgal Kingdom’s impending invasion so I don’t think it’s a bad proposition for them. Naturally, we will pay them wages in addition to shouldering the war expenses.
We will also give bereavement pay to the families of soldiers who might die.
That is our offer.
However, as expected, they are still treating the military movements with caution. They replied that they’re considering the offer.
And now, they have sent a diplomatic mission themselves. They’re requesting for a top official to negotiate with.
In other words, “show us how sincere you are in wanting an alliance.”
Having said that, King Rosyth can’t go.
If he set out poorly, rather than the Equus Tribe’s territory, he’d instead be going straight to heaven.
So in his place, it was chosen that……
“Ooh! This is the summit. What a nice view, don’t you think so?”
“That’s right. But please don’t get too close to the cliffs. You might fall and die, after all.”
I tell Julia in good humor.
Julia was chosen as King Rosyth’s representative.
It was supposed to be Raymond at first. However, the Equus Clansmen themselves requested for Julia. They said they have a patient in need of the famous sorceress Julia’s medical expertise.
Certainly, Julia’s medical abilities is quite a notch above the rest. She’s been doing her best after all to cure King Rosyth.
However, I’m sure it’s quite painful for her that no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t cure King Rosyth.
Apparently, King Rosyth has an unusual incompatibility with sorcery and medicine.
Well, regarding sending her…
King Rosyth seems to be greatly against it.
‘Sending my beloved daughter abroad is out of the question!’ He said.
Well, there’s a possibility that it’s a trap so that reaction is only natural.
However, without the cavalry the war won’t be feasible.
And so, I volunteered to come with Julia as her guard.
I’m touting myself as the strongest in the Rosyth Kingdom.
If I come with Julia, then King Rosyth’s anxiety would be a.s.suaged.
Besides, I’m the planned successor to the King. So, it’s probably a good idea to show my face and meet with the Lord of the Equus tribe. I’ll be relying on them from now on after all.
And with that, the two of us (including thirty-two (32) guards - twelve of which, including Roswald and Virgar, I provided while the rest by King Rosyth) have crossed the Alva Mountain Range.
Though we couldn’t use carriages, all of us are riding horses.
What’s surprising is Julia’s quite skillful in horse-riding.
Or should I say as expected of a sorcerer?
Anyway, If I recall correctly, we were supposed to meet at the summit but…
“Ah, it seems they’ve come.” (Julia)
Julia points her finger towards the Equus tribe’s party.
They’re a group of thirty people in horseback. You can tell they’re the Equus tribe from their banner.
“Oiiiiiii!!” (Julia)
Julia waves her hand to the Equus tribesmen. It’s immodest so can you please stop it? It’ll affect our country’s honor, you know.
Though I think so, there’s no way I’d tell that to Julia.
Besides, the man leading the Equus Tribe waved his hand back.
The two are accomplices.
After what it felt like about 5 minutes, we finally meet up with the Equus tribesmen.
The man in the lead goes forward a little.
“My name is Muzio Equus Sulpicius. I’m the second son of the Equus Tribe’s Chief. You must be Princess Julia, am I correct?” (Muzio)
“Yes. I am Julia Rosyth. I’ve come as the representative of King Rosyth.” (Julia)
After the introductions, Muzio s.h.i.+fts his gaze to me.
“And you are?” (Muzio)
“I’m Almis Ars. I’m the lord governing the Ars Territory. I’m accompanying Julia-sama this time as her guard.” (Almis)
“I see, I see. You’re the famed son of the Gryffon, right? Can I call you Almis? Of course, in exchange, you can call me Muzio.” (Muzio)
“I don’t mind but……” (Almis)
This guy’s quite overfamiliar. Hey.
“Haha, no need to be so stiff and polite! I’m just the second son after all!!” (Muzio)
He’s slapping my back without reserve.
It’s the first time I’ve met this type of person huh……
“Ah, Is that so? Then let’s hold back on the honorifics. But please, stop hitting my back. It hurts after all.” (Almis)
“Ohtto. Sorry, Sorry.” (Muzio)
Muzio stops. .h.i.tting my back.
I’ve never seen this kind of person before even during my previous life.
Just like that, I become worried about my human relations.
“At any rate, Lady Julia and Almis seem to be skillful at horse-riding. Is it because of those little tools there?” (Muzio)
Muzio shows interest in the saddle and the stirrup.
The Equus Tribesmen, including Muzio, are all riding unsaddled horses. They’re probably curious.
“You’ve prepared seats to make it easier to ride the horse, and footholds to carry the feet. I see. Certainly, that would make it easier to ride the horse and even carry equipment. Can you possibly teach us how to make these tools? (Muzio)
“Then we shall bring over some of them by the next diplomatic mission. Everyone still has to cross this mountain to return home after all.” (Julia)
Julia jokingly says.
Making saddles and stirrups is exceedingly simple. You can even make something basic right now.
You might as well give them the real deal to increase our relations if they’re going to be able to copy them anyway.
“But I must say, the wool we bought from your Equus tribe is quite wonderful. Our country’s wool cannot compare.” (Julia)
“Haha, It’s our main product after all. The secret is to make the sheep exercise, feed them high quality gra.s.s, and bring them up in a stress-free environment. If I may say as well, your Rosyth Kingdom’s wheat too is quite splendid. We can never produce such delicious wheat. By all means, can you please teach us the secret to it?” (Muzio)
The Rosyth Kingdom receives comparatively more warmth and rain for a country in the Adernia Peninsula so it’s soil can grow fertile.
With these the Kingdom can harvest high quality wheat.
As expected, there’s no way those who’ve studied nothing but agriculture recently can lose.
“I’m not that knowledgeable in agriculture but……Sir Almis is, am I right?” (Julia)
Julia pa.s.ses the torch to me.
Certainly, I’m quite knowledgeable in agriculture but……
“Almis, by all means, teach us!” (Muzio)
“Well……I don’t mind but……I won’t be able to say anything without seeing your agricultural methods first. Well, for the meantime let’s talk about it in general. There are three factors needed to raise crops.” (Almis)
I teach Muzio about the basics of agriculture.
“What you need are water, sunlight, and soil nourishment. You can’t grow crops with even just one of these missing. Water and sunlight are dependent upon the climate, although you can redirect water from rivers. Soil nourishment is the easiest that can be controlled by humans.” (Almis)
Muzio tilts his head in confusion to my statement.
“Nourishment?”
“It’s kind of like food for the crops. Don’t you need to feed sheep high quality gra.s.s to make high quality wool? It’s the same concept here. You need to provide large quant.i.ties of nourishment to grow high quality crops. Nourishment is inherent in the soil in the beginning so there’s no problem. However, it becomes one when the nutrients become exhausted.” (Almis)
Muzio seems to have a flash of inspiration.
“I see. That’s why we get fewer harvests every year, huh. It was strange after all even though the weather wasn’t horrible. So then, how would you return the nutrients to the soil?” (Muzio)
This guy is quick on the uptake, huh.
Now then, up to how much do I need to explain.
“First, the typical method is to let the fields rest. In other words, it’s a method where you don’t cultivate anything for a year. It’ll recover a year’s worth of nutrients.” (Almis)
“I see, I see. However, with that we would have to reduce our arable land, huh. Furthermore, the soil won’t be able to completely recover, am I right?” (Muzio)
Faster, tell me more.
Muzio’s eyes are telling me that.
“We can artificially supplement the lacking nutrients. Let’s see……For example, like scattering ashes to the fields or scattering soil taken from the forest. Forest soil is packed with large amounts of nutrients. You’ll know because they can support the growth of huge trees.” (Almis)
I declare as I survey the surrounding trees.
Even though humans haven’t touched any of them, the trees are growing chaotically as if they’re competing to become the biggest tree.
I read this somewhere in a book. That the forests imagined and yearned for by city dwellers are forests that have been touched by human hands. Actual forests are much more terrible places.
The Romano Forest kind of feels like this huh. Although the varieties of trees growing are different.
“Hou, Forest soil, is it? Then we’ll try it immediately. Is there anything else?” (Muzio)
“It’s not like there’s nothing else but……Let’s talk about that after the conclusion of the alliance.” (Almis)
I’ll keep quiet for now that sheep feces can become fertilizer.
I also don’t intend to tell them about the crop rotation system even after the conclusion of the alliance.
Although that would depend on how our dealings go.
“Fufu, you’re quite the tease, huh. I’ve got one more reason to persuade father.” (Muzio)
Oh, Muzio is in the Pro-Alliance Faction, huh.
Well, he seems to be in favor of agriculture so he must be in the Reformist Faction.
“Why is the Lord Equus not in favor with the alliance?” (Almis)
“Hmmm, it’s because he’s conservative from the very beginning, see. He also hates agriculture. He said he doesn’t like something that’s like scratching the earth. We also had quite the difficulty in making him agree to the trading. He said we’d destroy our culture if we learned to live in extravagance. His primary reason for objecting this alliance is that he doesn’t want to get involved in the affairs of other countries. He also thinks that it’s stupid to shed blood for a war that has nothing to do with us.” (Muzio)
From what I heard, it doesn’t seem like he’s an obstinate man.
He didn’t object to agriculture even though he hated it. He also didn’t oppose the trade even though he was against it.
I think he saw that they’d reap profits that’s why he allowed them.
However, he’s against the alliance. His reasons for objecting are quite spot on, too.
It seems we would have a hard time convincing him. However, we won’t have any problems if we can show that the returns overweigh the risks.
Although Julia has the authority in the negotiations, I’ve received an order from King Rosyth himself to manage a substantial part of it myself.
It’s because Julia’s negotiations skills are still doubtful after all……
“Ohtto, We’ll be leaving the mountain shortly. We’ll set up camp immediately after we descend from the mountain, would that be alright?” (Muzio)
“Yes, that would be fine. It’s almost evening after all.” (Julia)
It’s been decided we’ll make camp after descending from the mountain.
We can finally rest.
As expected, it’s quite tiring being on horse-back for a long time, huh.
Upon descending the mountain, vast gra.s.slands spread before us.
We can turn these into farms if we could manage to prepare irrigation equipment and apply fertilizer.
Perhaps, we could even make this into a large grain producing regi……no, I still don’t know if that could be done but, at the very least this won’t be a hopelessly dry region.
“Alright, let’s quickly set up our yurts.”
The Equus tribesmen begin setting up their large tents.
Up until now, they’ve been acting like textbook nomadic tribes. Will this keep up, I wonder?
“Are all Equus Tribe houses yurts?”
“Well, a lot of the commoners live in yurts. However, the royal family and the n.o.bility do have buildings as houses and palaces in the capital. We have summer and winter capitals and we change residence depending on the season.” (Muzio)
With that, won’t the houses you’ll come back to be covered in dust? Do you leave behind caretakers?
They don’t feel like genuine nomads but rather half-nomad half-agricultural people. They also speak Adernian after all, although with an accent.
Sometime after the yurts were finally set up, Muzio’s subordinate comes in a huge hurry.
“Sir, it’s an emergency!! We’ve spotted an ‘Cruel Dragon’ headed in this direction.”
“Stupid! How the h.e.l.l did you overlook something that big!? Why the h.e.l.l did you not keep watch properly!?” (Muzio)
Muzio shouts angrily.
Dragon?
“I’m sorry……The sun has fallen so we never thought that such a thing would appear…”
“Tsk…Fine. It can’t be helped. We won’t be able to lay our hands on it after all once it starts running……” (Muzio)
Muzio looks over his shoulder at me while declaring:
“Sorry. It’s because of our incompetence. A ‘Cruel Dragon’ is closing in on us. We’ll hold it back so please escape with Julia-sama. ……Although I would be very happy if you could partic.i.p.ate if you’re confident you can handle that lizard.” (Muzio)
Hmm. What now?
I’ve never fought one.
“For the time being, I’ll come along and bring my Dragon Damascus Sword.” (Almis)
“Great! Let’s go and exterminate that lizard together!” (Muzio)
Author’s notes:
I originally wanted the Alva people to speak Kansai-ben but it got quite troublesome so to h.e.l.l with it.