VALRRR
patreon
[FMMIKA] Chapter 222: Get Back to Work
🕑 Added 2023-10-03 19:17:44 +0000 UTCWith the banquet of yesterday and the heartfelt exchanges of the night, the internal strife as well as the battle of the Artoria Species, had come to a satisfactory conclusion.
History had turned a new page.
Artorius, the Dragon Emperor, head of the Pendragons, and leader of the Artoria Species, had resumed his duties, returning to his office within the palace to govern the empire.
From Britain to Sicily, from Brittany to the Black Forest.
The Holy Roman Empire, spanning over three million square kilometers of land, was home to over twenty million people, including Romans, Celts, Germanic peoples, and various other minority groups.
In such a vast empire, there was much work to be done. And Artorius knew that all too well.
For a diligent ruler, especially one from the traditional feudal system, it often meant working sixteen hours a day or even more. Yet, even with such dedication, it was a daunting task to manage an entire nation effectively.
Traditional feudal rulers typically appointed chancellors or similar positions, such as grand scholars or elders, to help share the burden. This led to a series of power struggles, alliances, and rivalries between rulers and their advisors.
As the system developed further, with the establishment of ministries, military councils, and chambers, some improvements were made, but the essence of feudalism remained strong.
From this perspective, Artorius was fortunate.
Thanks to the implementation of the homunculus project, he had a plethora of just and incorruptible individuals who worked tirelessly out of a sense of duty, rather than a lust for power.
The Einzbern family prospered as a result. They served as both Artorius's cheerful maids and court officials, the epitome of efficiency when there was work to be done and invisible when there wasn't.
Of course, Artorius had no intention of making all his officials part of the Einzbern family. Doing so would grant them an overwhelming amount of power, and this had already raised concerns among some.
Yet, these beautiful secretaries were so proficient that it was difficult to find fault with them, leaving others with no choice but to accept the situation.
Officials from other regions, as well as middle and lower-ranking officers in the military, consisted of ordinary, random-looking homunculi. Aside from those who had chosen to follow Artorius, there were nobles from various regions and talents, most of whom belonged to mage families.
Their 100% literacy rate set them apart from many noble families who couldn't even recognize large letters. This ensured that the general populace remained at ease and prevented any confusion in their thoughts.
With tens of thousands of homunculus officials' help, Artorius could finally execute his will. He extended his vision to every major settlement in the empire, establishing a robust, top-down, centralized system.
Indeed, these major settlements only reached the level of 'urban', and there were no more than that. This was already the limit for empires in this era.
It couldn't compare to the future, where governance extended down to the street and community levels. However, compared to most other countries of the same era, the empire was ahead of its time.
If Artorius hadn't altered history, the Frankish Empire would be a chaotic mosaic of tribes, towns, and autonomous villages.
Clovis, once Artorius's greatest enemy, and even Charlemagne, for centuries, were nothing more than 'kings on horseback'. They were military leaders who possessed the title of ruler but had no means or experience in governing a nation.
In fact, they had no actual territories to govern; nearly all lands were held by their vassals.
These vassals possessed absolute power within their respective territories, and these powers had become customary, untouchable by kings or emperors. Whether it was the law, property, or the people, everything was their own, and they would spare no effort to resist the central authority to safeguard their wealth and power.
This was the true origin of the concept of private property being sacred and inviolable in modern Europe.
Fortunately, none of this would happen again.
There would be no more so-called individualism, no more so-called liberalism. Artorius severed it all at its roots.
For the next several centuries, perhaps even longer, the empire would relentlessly promote collectivism, nationalism, and order.
Ultimately, the empire would become a wise and rational, caring community, united and positive in politics, rather than a loose collection of rubbish using the banner of freedom.
Thinking about this, Artorius felt content.
Yes, he did enjoy a life of ease, and in matters of love, Artorius might have a tiny bit of shortcomings, but compared to the contributions he made to humanity, these minor flaws weren't too bad and weren't too hard to accept, were they?
In summary, with the efforts of hundreds of Einzbern secretaries in the central secretariat, and the collaborative work of thousands of officials in the twelve central ministries, most of the issues that needed 'central government' attention were handled thoroughly.
Issues from the regions, development plans, military matters, and politics.
Artorius could rest easy. So much so that Lion King, who had followed him to the office, was slightly surprised and said:
"I thought you would be busy every day."
"Of course, I'm busy." Artorius replied calmly, "I'm busy thinking about the future of humanity and the direction of the empire's development."
"Rather than that, leave some ordinary affairs to your subordinates."
"The key is the system, my dear mother."
"Hmm…?"
Lion King instinctively felt that something was amiss in what Artorius said, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong, so she just furrowed her brow and remained silent.
Seeing his mother like this, Artorius couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
Although Lion King had the dignified demeanor of a mature big sister, she wasn't particularly skilled in politics and management.
But it didn't matter; people aren't born knowing everything.
Artorius had plenty of time to refine, or rather, educate his mother into the person he liked.
Thinking about this, Artorius's level of happiness rose once again.
