with gold everything is easier

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Friedrich Wilhelm POV

It had been almost two moons since the expedition began, but already many plans had begun to blossom.

The textile industry had started with hundreds of looms already in place by the time the first cotton harvest was ready, and they were already showing their fruits new shipments of fabrics and clothes started arriving every day

The clothes were processed in the same place, which has reduced a little the arrival of people to Neu Danzig, and they have preferred to go to goldengrove or the actual Hannover, as the military governor named it, making a lot of manpower required there, as many tailors and people working in the looms are needed to keep the production that will soon replace the cotton from Dorne.

Luckily, we have already been able to release a good amount of funds from the city construction because we have finished the major projects only leaving the proper maintenance of the infrastructure we have and start expanding the sewage system to the outskirts of the city

the slums had become another part of the city that must be fixed many houses had been built without any knowledge and with very flammable materials in fact not long ago there was a fire that cost the lives of many people had already sent many builders and soldiers to end the stupidity of the slums and begin to expand the city with the construction of simpler houses in the form of apartments with space for families of 4 people and have a sewage system included in this way we will fix once and for all the chaos that has formed outside the walls.

The price of these apartments will be cheaper, which would allow some people to buy them, but the idea is to rent them, since it is better to have a constant income than a single payment.

But it is not only the problem that the prices of the houses are high because of the cost of the materials, there is also the problem of the crime.

Maybe inside the walls everything works perfectly because crime is so rare that the guards complain they are bored, since there is nothing to do, they only get paid for going around the city

But outside the walls things change, there are many problems from thieves to kidnappers, mainly they are for pleasure houses, according to Aleksanteri we have a group that is dedicated to kidnapping women and slave trade, to essos, apparently this organization brings and takes slaves to the markets of essos through the ports of oldtown, since it seems they could not bribe my customs agents to allow them to achieve their work in a more efficient way.

But Aleksanteri already located their area of operations and should be raiding their hideout right now, that way we can give a public sign that we are concerned about what is happening outside the walls because it has begun to increase the discomfort of the inhabitants of the slums because the vast majority that is arriving are not Protestants are followers of the faith of the seven who seek a better future but without the need to adapt to the local religion.

And until the last moment they have been complaining about our institutions and that we are leaving the small folks behind, I don't know if this is another scheme of the faith of the seven or that they really thought that if they traveled to Neu Danzig, they would get rich overnight.

But we have already started with the expansion plans and very soon this housing problem should be solved, since the construction work had already started, and it shouldn't be long before the first apartment complex is up, and we can put hundreds of people living there.

I could already tell that we were short of funds if the damn expedition does not go well I will have to delay my plans considerably and possibly establish new taxes in a more intensive way, just thinking how many governments have fallen because of unpopular taxes makes me tremble if mine could be the same.

I was rubbing my head to ease my aches and pains when Friedrich von Roon came into my room.

''tell me that you have good news'' I said, looking at Friedrich.

''I don't have good news, I have excellent news, my king'' said Friedrich very happy.

''tell me how the expedition went'' I said a bit seriously.

''Excellent Johann brought with him more gold than he left with and he has the holds full of spices, without considering that he brought 3 galleons full of precious stones that can be cut to make jewelry, we are talking that we could have huge profits'' said Friedrich leaving some accounting books on the table.

''that's very good news, let me check them'' I said as I opened the ledgers.

''wow 45 million golden dragons trading with only 1 island of all ''I said surprised

''yes, but he managed to befriend the local prince and signed a trade treaty, which benefits us a lot'' said Friedrich while handing me a document

''I see 80% tax reduction very good, we should think about sending more ships to trade, send a fleet there every 2 moons to get plenty of benefits'' I said very happy.

''about that Johann was attacked by pirates, according to him, they attacked him while he was leaving the port at night, so there was a reduction in the amount of the attackers, as he was attacked by almost 30 pirate ships, but he thinks it could have been more, so it is dangerous to make a trade route if we don't have the possibility to send a strong escort with the merchant ships'' said Friedrich a little worried

''mhhh we could establish patrols in the area, but we will need a place to get supplies to maintain a long term mission, we could try to do the same as in the north and buy enclaves to keep the patrols in the area, so Johann's friendship with that prince could serve to establish permanent economic relations and expel the pirates from the area'' I said while looking at some nautical charts that came in the books.

''A wise decision my king, most of the merchants have preferred to be paid in spices and not in gold, they are going to try to sell them elsewhere, so the gold we have in the holds can be used immediately for more projects, and we can wait for the gold to start coming in from the sale of spices to the public'' Friedrich said with a kindly tone

''Yes, let's avoid selling all at once so that our investors don't have such a hard time to get good prices, who should be paid in gold?'' I said with hesitation.

''Klaus, lord Tarly and a couple of other merchants, but anyway almost 35 million golden dragons are available to be used'' said Friedrich

''I see, well, I order you to hire more workers for the expansion of the city, I want the problem of the slums to disappear as soon as possible, since now, we have the funds, and we will be able to make that party that nobody will want to miss'' I said very calmly

''I understand, something else you would like to do now my king'' said Friedrich with his hands on his sword.

''I am thinking of starting a compulsory school system for the youth and voluntary for the adults, so we can help with the shortage in our administration and not rely so much on the nobles and the clergy'' I said thoughtfully.

''My king that is not going to be very popular among those sectors, they might see that you plan to replace them, besides the only ones who can read are them and the engineers, who is going to teach them?'' said Friedrich worriedly

''They will keep their privileges, I'm just trying to avoid a shortage of people in my administration, and they will have to teach them because I order them to and if they have a complaint, well Lothar always needs more men for his fight in essos'' I said with a serious tone.

Yes, my king, I will do your will,'' said Friedrich with a cheerful tone, as he left my room to carry out my orders.

With this, I will be able to take some power away from my church, although for the moment there is no corruption like the one that brought us to the reform, it is still possible that having so much power in the administration they will start again with the bad practices of diverting funds for architectural works or personal expenses, limiting their powers now is essential

While the nobles should not be a problem, I will have to guarantee them officer positions in the army, it should be enough for them to consider that they keep a good fraction of the power that corresponds to them.

The problem I think will be the resistance of the parents to these classes, as they will focus mainly on teaching them German numbers and reading something simple, but enough so that they can be used as administrators and begin to remove the priests from my administration so they can focus on praising God for once.

But many people will see that we are attacking their ways and there could be resistance to my order, so we have to be careful when it comes to applying this new decree that will start soon we will have to build facilities in all the cantons, for the moment we will start with the biggest villages in each canton until we make education compulsory for all.

I was deep in thought when a hand touched my shoulder.

''Wow, I really scared you'' said Aleksanteri.

''Where did you come into my room, is the door locked?'', I said, alarmed.

''Where do you think, through the window'' said Aleksanteri with a smile.

''It's more than 15 meters from the floor to this window you really climbed that far'' I said while looking out the window

''Yes, though it wasn't easy to climb, but here I am to give you a report of my mission in the slums.

''Tell me how did it go?'', I said inquiring

''Well we caught everyone in the slums I took the liberty of executing on the spot 1 to make it clear what will happen to those who try to take a place in filling the city with brothels or pleasure house'' Aleksanteri said laughing

''How much gold did they have?'' I asked doubtfully.

''They had quite a lot, almost 10,000 dragons, so the escort business is very profitable, we should get into it'' said Aleksanteri as he sat down and put his feet up on my desk.

''You're crazy they would murder me before signing the decree the head of the protestant church can't do that'' he said opening his eyes

I control the pleasure houses in the reach, and you just set up regulations, so you don't have to worry about an epidemic of sexual diseases, so we can permanently prevent someone else from trying to fill the business you refuse to take over because of moral issues'' said Aleksanteri putting his hands behind his head.

''Mhh yes it could be, so expand your spy network a little more in the reach'' I said while putting my hand on my chin

''You get two birds with one arrow, you generate income, and you protect yourself from more slavers, and you have a group of people who can get low to mid-ranking secrets, since I doubt anyone would release anything important after fucking a woman'' Aleksanteri said looking me in the eye.

''Well try your luck with that business, just make sure they can't find any relation between that business and you as it would taint me considerably in front of my subjects if they know I let you get into this business'' I said scratching my head.

''Great, I will make sure it works soon, but I will need funds my king'' said Aleksanteri sitting back down as normal

''Yeah count on it, by the way, Johann brought you your order from the summer islands the plants needed to make the poison that makes you purple'' I said looking at Aleksanteri

''But what fantastic news, I hope your majesty doesn't mind that I'm going to try that poison to see how effective it is'' said Aleksanteri, laughing.

''Of course you may leave,'' I said, waving the door open.

Well, at least we have the resources now to continue with my projects.

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