Firearms in a Fantasy World

Chapter 62: The King's Troubles

Translator: Cinder Translations

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Recently, His Majesty King Rodney XVI of the Kingdom of Aldor has faced numerous troubles.

The first trouble arose when spies of the rebels set fire to the granaries within the capital city, leaving barely enough food to support the daily needs of the hundred thousand residents of the royal city, let alone mounting a southern campaign to quell the rebellion.

The government immediately dispatched officials to the royal demesnes to gather food. What they discovered nearly caused His Majesty to faint again—most of the local warehouses' actual food stocks did not match their official records. Enraged, King Rodney XVI launched a thorough investigation, revealing that some officials responsible for management had been secretly selling off supplies, while others had exaggerated or concealed reports to curry favor.

In great anger, His Majesty sent enforcement officers to bring the offending officials back to the capital for public trial before the masses.

After their crimes were announced by the judges, executioners thrust the criminals into the furious crowd, shouting, "These parasites are the reason you suffer hunger and deprivation!"

The fate of these officials was predictable. The trial, which began promptly at 8 AM, concluded within an hour. The subsequent "execution period," carried out by the populace themselves, lasted for three grueling hours until midday, after which the exhausted crowd dispersed. When the executioners came to collect the bodies, they were barely recognizable. Their severed heads were then displayed atop the city gates, though who among them might have been scapegoats, no one could say.

According to the suggestions of many military generals, the kingdom's government should have immediately implemented a rationing system, requisitioning all food stocks from civilian households and distributing essential provisions based on household size, while ensuring ample supply for the advancing army.

However, this proposal faced vehement opposition from administrative ministers, who argued convincingly: given the integrity of local officials, the amount of food gathered would likely fall short, leading to widespread starvation. Moreover, commoners cared little for loyalty and honor, focusing instead on their immediate sustenance; faced with starvation, they would surely rebel.

After weighing the pros and cons, His Majesty ultimately rejected the military's proposal.

To conserve food, a strict prohibition on alcohol was imposed throughout the royal demesnes: aside from a few licensed breweries, all others were forbidden from producing alcohol. Nobles were restricted to purchasing no more than half a liter per day, while commoners could buy no more than one liter per week from designated outlets. Public drinking and the presence of alcoholic beverages at gatherings were strictly forbidden, with severe penalties ranging from nobles losing their titles and heavy fines to commoners facing death.

To prevent merchants from exploiting the situation to inflate food prices, the government set maximum price limits. Soldiers stationed in front of every shop selling food and drink in the capital ensured compliance. Nevertheless, residents had no choice but to spend significantly more than usual to purchase food.

As food gradually accumulated from local requisitions into the capital, the upper echelons finally breathed a sigh of relief. Yet immediate deployment of troops southward became impractical. Consequently, the loyalist militias were temporarily disbanded, and regional lords returned home to await the next harvest, planning to reconvene their forces next year, contingent upon this year's yield.

The second trouble arose from his youngest daughter's departure from home. With no current means to crush Giles' rebellion, King Rodney XVI had to consider the various fence-sitters across the realm cautiously.