Chapter 14.2 - Steinbeck Fief’s Current Difficult to Progress Situation Part 2 (1/2)
Ximengsi Continent’s southern part, the central region of Steinbeck Fief, Stanley City
The new ruler of Steinbeck Fief, Clyde, encountered a big trouble. When former suzerain Duke Andrew had ruled this fief, the original residents had all run away. Now, in this desolate, untamed fief, there were basically no residents at all.
Without residents, no one would re-cultivate this discarded land. Even if Adrian Empire excused Steinbeck Fief from taxes and military service for a year, almost no resident could be found to make use of this time period. In addition, because its infamy as a cursed land was spread far and wide, it was difficult to change anything within a short time.
“Lord Clyde, at least 10,000 people are needed to maintain the fief’s operation. We don’t even have a guard regiment, and a large number of bandit groups roam the vicinity of our fief. Even those brave wanderers don’t dare to come to our fief and settle down.”
“Princess Saras, how many bandit groups are wandering nearby? I will go and deal with them all.”
“At least a thousand people. All of them came to the neighboring areas to rob lone traveling merchants.”
The predicaments Steinbeck Fief faced were not limited to bandit groups. This fief was surrounded by a hostile camp, i.e. members of “Clark Alliance.” Now, they were completely in the midst of the enemy’s encirclement. Although they had the backing of Adrian Empire that belonged to “Victor Alliance,” because of its recent defeat, Adrian Empire didn’t have the surplus energy to guard peripheral fiefs. Once Steinbeck Fief was besieged, Adrian Empire would only be able to offer words of support. Steinbeck Fief had to rely on itself.
There were several nations belonging to “Clark Alliance” near Steinbeck Fief. The individual constitutents were Adelaide Kingdom, Kruft Kingdom, Cromwell Principality, and Franconia Empire. All of them were warmonger nations, especially Franconia Empire. In “Clark Alliance,” its overall national strength was not any bit inferior to Augusta Empire, which had just defeated Adrian Empire. It was a superpower.
Steinbeck Fief’s current worth was not enough to attract the attention of Franconia Empire. The main concerns were Adelaide Kingdom, Kruft Kingdom and Cromwell Principality. The members of “Clark Alliance” practiced slavery and the serf system was prevalent. Plundering the resources of enemy land via warfare was their customary way.
Clyde looked at the map in Princess Saras’s hands, paying attention to nations around Steinbeck Fief. Other than the human nations, there was a wasteland without any markings on it. Its area was very big, roughly comparable to Steinbeck Fief. Such a large expanse bordering so many nations could not have been abandoned without a reason or else it would have been annexed long ago.
“Princess Saras, what is this region?”
“That is Needham Plain. Originally, it was also Adrian Empire’s territory, but over a hundred years ago, because of a calamitous outbreak of undead, it was discarded. Now, Adrian Empire doesn’t dare to mark this territory as its empire’s domain. It would be too embarrassing whenever others pointed out they had no jurisdiction.”
Although Light Church existed in Ximengsi Continent, the struggle between religious and imperial authority had always been very intense. Adrian Empire refused to give Light Church the privilege of establishing their church within its territory; therefore, Light Church didn’t send out manpower to purify Needham Plain. The issue of Needham Plain’s undead had been set aside like this for over a hundred years. Fortunately, those undead never left Needham Plain to create a disturbance, so no empires and kingdoms bothered about this matter.
“Needham Plain is an ownerless territory now. Nominally, Adrian Empire has jurisdiction over it, but in fact, they wish someone would clean up that awful mess.”
“Princess Saras, in Needham Plain, are there any other races other than undead beings?”