Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 125: Money problem(2)

Apart from the obvious reasons Alpheo had listed when arguing against dismantling the military, there was one fundamental reason that made him see demilitarization as the absolute last option: they were on the brink of something great.

In most of the battles Alpheo had commanded, victory had hinged on the discipline and training of his soldiers—qualities that were meticulously drilled into them under his leadership. At Saracena, his troops would have run at the first sight of cavalry, but the trust they had in their officers made them persevere. And this was rewarded by victory.

This level of efficiency could never be matched by a levied army hastily assembled from farmers and peasants. Alpheo had personally witnessed how his soldiers, with their tight formations and precise coordination, cleaved through enemy forces like a hot knife through butter. In a world where most lords relied on ragtag groups of conscripts and irregular militias, Alpheo's standing army was a rare gem, a finely-honed weapon that gave him a decisive edge in combat.

Still, he couldn't ignore the harsh reality of the situation. The amount of money currently spent on maintaining this elite force was staggering—and unsustainable in the long term. Even as much as he valued his army, he understood that they would need to find new sources of revenue to keep the kingdom afloat without resorting to slashing their military budget. Luckily, Alpheo had plans. He had begun to think of ways to introduce new products to the market, hoping that these ventures could at least help balance their finances.

Truth be said, Alpheo's knowledge in many sectors was far from comprehensive. In his previous life, he had been a historian, he was not an engineer nor a scientist.

He lacked expertise in trade, economics, and the finer points of manufacturing. But there was one key aspect of his first life that would aid him in the second : his upbringing in a mountain village.

In that remote village, many things were made by hand, and self-sufficiency was essential. This gave Alpheo not just theoretical knowledge but first-hand experience in producing simple yet valuable goods, such as soap, agriculatural tools and even brewing alcohol. These were items he had seen his family and neighbors make. Soap, in particular, was a luxury item for many noble houses, and with the right production methods, it could become a staple trade good that would provide a steady stream of income.