187 Political talk (1/2)
24th June 1574
”Yeah. The city itself won't have that many defences, so I need a place where all the workers can run away to in case of danger while deterring any possible invasion from ever reaching for this place. As for more mundane reasons… While it's only a matter of time before I will get all the nobles in the country to buy the cement mix off me to lay down the roads across the entire Commonwealth, for the time being, I simply need another way to use it all up, especially with how I aim to expand its production.”
Initially, the main limiting factor behind the scale of production for the cement was not the availability of the raw deposit of the resources in the area, but the horsepower that could be provided with the limited amount of the steam horses.
Yet with the increasing rate of production of those wonder-machines, not to speak about how much stronger they could be from the moment the steel production would increase to the point where I could produce both the weapons and the steel steam horses at once, there was simply no reason for me to refrain from expanding this particular plant!
”Okay, while I get the reason behind it, that forces me to ask you a rather sensitive question. Can we find a place where we could speak in private?”
Despite the loud noise of the guns erupting every few seconds along with the shouts of the veteran soldier of mine that assumed the position of the recruits' teacher, this area was still open for everyone to visit. If we were going to talk about some crucial topic that should not reach the ears of anyone else, it was understandable that Jan preferred to do so in a place where no one would dare to interrupt us.
”Sure, follow me.”
With how our relationship was developing, upon arriving here just this morning, Governor requested me to drop the formalities and stop calling him sir. Be it because he realised that it was a matter of time when my power would exceed his, both in economic and military sense or because the way in which he could trust me allowed him to consider me as a loyal and valuable ally… It didn't matter.
As the escape of the king was bound to push this country off its tracks, it was necessary to assess one's situation and tighten up the bound of any alliance that one would have. If Jan's intention was to bring me over to his faction, I would have to find a way to convince him that backing up Sobieski from Transylvania would be the best choice!
After all, with what was currently going on in the country, I could easily guess what Governor wanted to talk about, especially with how he didn't forget to inform me that the length of his visit was limited by the gathering of the Senate back in the capital!
”Okay, then. Just like I said, I won't be surprised if you find this question insensitive, but I still have to ask it. How many soldiers are you going to train?”
Only after thinking about the situation did I realise that what I expected and what Jan asked for didn't really differ that much. Rather than asking me about my opinion directly, he just wanted to gauge it by the moves I was making rather than the words that I would say!
”Well, it's not that easy of a question, I will give you that.”