Chapter 62: Closed-Door Meeting
Aging whiskey is a long process, and although Bruno hoped to shorten the time, at his core… he was a conscientious nobleman!
Therefore, the first batch of whiskey from Idar was scheduled to be bottled on the very day when the road connecting Idar City and Mann Fortress was completed.
Bruno had already decided on the name"Water of Life"!
With some proper packaging and promotion when selling it, the price had to be several times higher.
Who has the easiest money to uh, no who is the best target for making money?
Of course, the nobility!
They were the wealthiest people in the world!
The Norman Empire was no longer the invincible force it had been when it was first established.
As the original noble families who earned their status through blood and war gradually faded, their descendants indulged in the riches and power their ancestors left behind, losing the warrior spirit that once defined them.
Now, all they cared about was maintaining their noble dignity.
They preserved their image but had long since lost their substance.
——
Currently, everything in Idar was running smoothly.
To the north, the Citadel of Namur was slowly being constructed by the tireless efforts of serfs.
To the south, the cement-paved roads were being laid at an accelerated pace under Bruno's orders.
Seeds were being sown in the fields by serfs and commoners, water wheels groaned and turned along the riverbanks, and curved plows were pulled forward steadily by oxen.
At Cape Saltworks, gleaming white salt piles sparkled under the sun before being loaded onto ox carts, carried away by the salty sea breeze.
At the fishing port, boats shuttled between the sea and land, bringing fresh, lively fish to the tables of Idar's people.
In the study, Arnel repeatedly sketched magic formations, only to throw one failed draft after another onto the ground in frustration.
The distillery had already started producing whiskey, and the papermaking workshop meticulously followed Bruno's instructions on fermentation.
However, amidst this peaceful atmosphere, Bruno noticed a problem.
Although it wasn't serious yet, as Idar's economic strength grew, it would become increasingly obvious.
Simply put, Bruno realized that the territory's administrative structure had significant flaws.
There was severe overlap and confusion in many officials' duties.
This issue was particularly evident among Idar's lower-ranking officials.
They lacked clear departmental boundaries—one day, someone might be helping Old Ford manage finances, the next, they might be assisting Shabi with waste collection.
Their job roles were poorly defined, and there were no clear positions or responsibilities.
Although no major issues had arisen yet, what would happen when problems did occur? Who would be accountable?
Streamline the administration and clarify responsibilities!
As soon as this thought entered Bruno's mind, it firmly took root.
The Next Day
Bruno summoned all key officials of Idar to the lord's castle, including Old Ford, Shabi, Lopida, and others, for the territory's first-ever official closed-door meeting.
The sudden meeting caught many off guard.
After all, for years, their lord had never actively concerned himself with Idar's affairs.
The banquet hall of the castle had been completely rearranged for the occasion. Besides Bruno, the attendees included Old Ford, Shabi, Lister, Lopida, and Sam Layton, as well as White Barrel, who oversaw construction projects, and Arnel Brad, the only magic apprentice in the territory.
As for the castle servants, they were all given the day off.
"The purpose of today's closed-door meeting is to summarize last year's major events in Idar and to plan for the upcoming year." Bruno spoke with uncharacteristic seriousness.
"Last year, Idar's total expenses were around 3,800 gold coins, with 2,300 gold coins spent on constructing the Hanging Garden."
"However, our total income for last year was only 3,300 gold coins, with 2,000 gold coins coming from land taxes and agricultural production."
"In other words, we ran a deficit of around 500 gold coins, which we covered using past reserves."
Hearing this, everyone except Old Ford, who managed the finances, was shocked.
To them, running a surplus every year was the norm.
Bruno continued:
"As for this year, thanks to the widespread use of cement, we expect the construction cost of the Citadel of Namur to be reduced to around 3,000 gold coins."
"At the same time, Cape Saltworks is projected to generate over 3,000 gold coins in revenue for the first time this year."
"Additionally, because no land is being left fallow this year, agricultural production and land tax revenue are expected to double, reaching an unprecedented 4,000 gold coins!"
Bruno couldn't help but smile.
Seven thousand gold coins!
For comparison, the average annual income of a Norman Empire earl's domain was around 3,000 gold coins.
Even the richest earldoms in the empire's west only made 5,000 to 6,000 gold coins per year!
They were becoming wealthy!
However…
Among those present, only Bruno seemed to think so.
Old Ford's mouth twitched.
He wanted to say: "If the fertilizers don't work, next year's agricultural output will plummet..."
But since this was Bruno's first formal meeting, as the chief steward of Idar, he couldn't openly contradict his lord.
So, he simply nodded along in agreement.