44 Chapter 44 First Meeting For Northern Protection (2/2)
”So, as I was saying, logistics.” He pointed at the map.
”This road here, here, and here, all need to be rebuilt. According to reports in the last decade, each of them washed out or lost their bridge for over three months. That is unacceptable. The army in the north would lose half of our supply base if one of those roads were cut off for that long. Even a detour of a month will not work.
”Any food that takes longer than three months to arrive, might as well not have been sent. The cost of feeding the horses pulling the wagons, and the wagon drivers would already exceed the amount of grain you can put into a single wagon, by the time it reached the front line.”
As he laid his information and demands out, they seemed to forget they were discussing with a child and became more and more involved. The changes he wanted seemed to be overwhelming to them, and the two men from the treasury didn't seem to think it could be done. After several hours, Joseph felt a break was on order.
”Very well gentlemen, we will meet in two hours' time, to further discuss other issues I wish to address. I do not wish to give you too much time to conspire with your superiors against me. Also, you are not allowed to mention the contract terms I pointed out to you in the beginning of this meeting. I will consider it a breach of contract. I understand the information will reveal itself in time, but I'm planning to use it to smoke out some of the worthless n.o.bles who will try and get in my way.”
Their mouths hung open in shock and then fury grew in several faces. Joseph made sure to note whose.
”You speak rather presumptuously for a commoner, child,” growled Walter.
”If I held to the standard etiquette rules for this meeting, we would still be going through the pleasantries of introduction. It would be almost a week before we got to any real discussion of what I need, and I simply don't have time for that. I'm sure you can understand my pressing needs considering your families holding are in the north, and you look to lose the most from anyone here today.”
Walter seemed surprised that Joseph knew that information, seeing as he had only been in the capital for less than a week.
”I believe we are both in agreement when I say that we do not wish to see the barbarians loot and pillage your towns and villages. I'm actually shocked you don't have more motivation than I, a mere commoner's son, to see that we succeed.”
”But the funds to repairs those roads…” began David, the older of the two from the treasury department.
Joseph jumped in, interrupting him, ”Look, even if the barbarians drop dead tomorrow, regular maintenance costs on those roads over the next five years, according to your estimates reported every year, which I find…optimistic, will be half again as much as my realistic estimation of properly building them now. Future maintenance costs would be reduced and speed of travel will be 20-30% faster in good weather, much less during your seasonal squalls. Now come up with a good reason why this shouldn't be done, or it goes through. I really don't want to have to go over your head to the king, just because you don't feel comfortable dealing with a child. I'm sure he can find someone who can.”
He could tell that the generals were unhappy with his tone of voice towards them, for not having the respect they probably all deserved, but the two men from the treasury were too stunned. Joseph was pretty sure they would be spending the next two hours pulling the same figures he already read through, to double check his numbers. One thing he knew well, was that numbers never lied.
”This project will save the current annual budget for the royal treasury every 9-12 years once it's done. Here's a copy of my numbers for each of you. I look forward to seeing you after lunch, in a couple of hours.”
Stella very politely escorted them out, and Joseph sat down heavily in a chair. This politics stuff was tiring. He needed to work on it more if he was going to be a king!
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