Chapter 9: Problem
Today, Crown Prince Edel made an official visit to the Bucharest Military Academy. He was keen to inspect the progress and training of the cadets under the supervision of Principal Prosi, the head of the academy. Principal Prosi, a former Deputy Commander of the Third Division of the Romanian Army, was known for his solid military knowledge, effective leadership style, and a serious approach to his responsibilities. His most commendable trait was his unwavering loyalty to the Crown Prince, especially evident during a recent corruption scandal. This loyalty earned him the Crown Prince's trust, leading to his current position where he was expected to cultivate competent junior officers, a vital asset for the Crown Prince's influence over the military.
"How are the cadets performing, Principal Prosi?" Crown Prince Edel inquired as they walked through the academy grounds.
"The current batch is expected to see about 350 cadets complete their training. Out of these, about 50 will graduate without difficulty, but another 100 might find it challenging," Principal Prosi reported.
"Is this assessment based on German standards?" the Crown Prince asked, referring to the rigorous military training benchmarks used in Germany.
"Yes, Your Highness," Principal Prosi confirmed. The Crown Prince frowned slightly, contemplating the lower-than-desired pass rate which stood at 70%, barely reaching 80% even with additional training.
"For those who might not graduate, consider allowing them to re-enroll or, if necessary, discharge them. However, for those from noble families, particularly those above the rank of viscount, assign them to my personal guard," the Crown Prince decided after a moment of thought.
"Are there any standout cadets in this group?" the Crown Prince shifted the topic, interested in identifying potential talents.
"There is a young cavalry officer, Shan Prot, who has shown remarkable insight into battlefield tactics. Previously a company commander in the 4th Division, he has consistently ranked first in competitions. He is a promising candidate," Principal Prosi responded, understanding the Crown Prince's interest in nurturing capable leaders.
"If he continues to excel, recommend him for the royal guard. I believe General Brongart would appreciate his skills," the Crown Prince noted, making a mental note to keep an eye on Officer Prot's progress.
After concluding his visit to the academy, Crown Prince Edel discussed other matters with Captain Carust, his chief bodyguard. "What should be on our agenda next, Captain?"
"Your Highness, I recommend inspecting the Romanian Kingdom Armory," Captain Carust suggested. The armory was a significant project financed by German investments, currently under construction and still organizing its workforce and awaiting machinery shipments from Germany.
That evening, Crown Prince Edel dined with King Carol I and his consort, discussing the day's events and future plans. "How did your inspection go?" the King inquired.
"Everything is proceeding smoothly and as planned," Crown Prince Edel assured him.
"Keep a close eye on the industrial developments as well, and ensure your subordinates manage these projects efficiently," the King advised, to which the Crown Prince nodded in agreement, "I will oversee them personally."
The following day, Crown Prince Edel reviewed a troubling report from Gurgiu County. It detailed how Viscount Sirukorsi, a local noble, had harshly treated several peasants unable to pay their rent, leading to the deaths of three under his custody. The situation escalated when Viscount Sirukorsi was assassinated during a land inspection, and the subsequent police investigation uncovered hints of an underground organization inciting peasant unrest.
King Carol I had entrusted this delicate situation to Crown Prince Edel as a test of his political acumen. The report troubled Edel; he was well aware of the peasants' hardships, exacerbated by Romania's economic challenges and the nobility's oppressive practices. With limited funds and the pressing need to maintain military readiness, there was little room for alleviating the peasants' burdens, a situation that left him feeling constrained and frustrated.
Reflecting on his knowledge and the strategies employed by other nations, Crown Prince Edel decided that a thorough investigation was necessary before any decisive action could be taken. He summoned Captain Carust, instructing him to dispatch a reliable officer to Gurgiu County to gather detailed intelligence on the supposed peasant organization.
"Arrange for someone competent to investigate this matter in Gurgiu County. If needed, they can seek assistance from Colonel Milok's unit," he ordered.
Captain Carust acknowledged and promptly assigned the task to Skorle, a young and resourceful guard known for his adeptness and discretion. "Let Skorle come over and see me," he commanded.
Soon after, Skorle, a cheerful and sharp-minded young man, appeared before Captain Carust. "You called for me, sir?"
"His Royal Highness has assigned us an important task, and I believe you are the best fit for it," Carust explained the situation and the mission details to Skorle, who listened attentively and prepared to depart for Gurgiu County the following day.
Located in the southwest of the capital and bordered by the Danube River, Gurgiu County was a strategic and sensitive area, with Bulgaria lying just across the river. Upon arriving, Skorle visited the local police station to understand the current developments concerning the peasant unrest.
"We will send more people to investigate, and we must unearth this Farmers Brotherhood. We cannot allow it to flourish unchecked," Edel declared to his chief guard, Carrust, who nodded gravely in response, "Yes, my lord."
Upon returning to his office, Carrust promptly organized a thorough investigation, sensing the deep concern the crown prince harbored for this matter. Although Carrust did not fully grasp why the crown prince placed such significant emphasis on this seemingly minor group known as the Peasant Brotherhood, he knew his duty was to carry out the orders given.
As the investigation deepened over time, the structure and activities of the Peasant Brotherhood gradually came to light. It was an organization initiated by the people of Fredello, spearheaded by an individual who had once been a member of the Romanian Peasants Party. His radical ideas had led him to break away from the party, subsequently founding the Peasant Brotherhood.
The organization was still in its nascent stages, yet it had already shown considerable potential. This indicated that the issues plaguing the countryside were indeed severe. Reflecting on this, Edel summoned his head guard, instructing him, "Inform the investigators to pay closer attention to the rural conflicts and provide me with a detailed report on their findings."
The following day, Edel reviewed the reports which highlighted numerous rural disputes primarily stemming from the scarcity of land available to farmers, with the majority of the land owned by nobles. Notably, Edel's own family was among the largest landowners in Romania. This system allowed farmers to rent land from nobles who would then sell a significant portion of the produce abroad for profit, neglecting domestic needs. Additionally, the rampant exploitation by usurious lenders in the countryside had exacerbated the farmers' plight, making organizations aimed at aiding them increasingly popular.
Edel felt an unsettling familiarity with the Brotherhood of Farmers, likening it to a similar, albeit weaker, organization in another major country. This resemblance left him uneasy. Simply suppressing the group seemed ineffective; instead, he contemplated guiding the farmers to channel their grievances more constructively. Given that the nobility, including the royal family, formed the backbone of the kingdom and were major landowners, any direct intervention in land issues was unfeasible. Thus, alternative solutions were needed to forestall any potential uprising until a more robust economic strategy could be developed.
Revisiting the report, a phrase caught Edel's eye: "The Jew of loan shark." This reminded him of a common approach employed across Europe that might also serve as a viable solution for Romania, considering that these lenders contributed little to the national welfare.
Upon consulting King Carol I, Edel narrated the situation and proposed his strategy. After some deliberation, Carol I consented with a simple gesture, "Go ahead."
Edel then instructed Carrust, "Deploy personnel to monitor the key members of the Peasant Brotherhood and arrest them on my command."
"Understood, my lord," Carrust affirmed, then left to execute the orders.
Next, Edel sought the cooperation of the military to manage this volatile situation, requiring the expertise of Puleshan. "Your Highness, what instructions do you have?" Puleshan inquired upon Edel's arrival.
"Let's discuss this in your office," the crown prince directed. Once inside, Edel outlined his plan, "The army must keep a close watch on the peasants and protect our citizens. However, those Jews engaging in usury are not to be shielded. They have leeched off our people for too long—this is divine retribution."
"Very well, my lord. I will relay your commands to the army," Puleshan responded, acknowledging the gravity of the directive.
Meanwhile, in the village of Brogel in Iasi, a group of peasants huddled together, their conversation punctuated by shivers in the cold. "Did you hear? Those vampire-like Jews on the mountain have driven another family to ruin," one lamented.
"Yes, it's horrific. The Mikel family suffered the same fate, and now his poor sister has been sold into prostitution," another added angrily.
"We are so impoverished, yet these vampires won't spare us," a third peasant chimed in. "Why doesn't the king punish these scoundrels?"
"I've heard the sheriff might be in league with those moneylenders," a well-informed peasant speculated.
Suddenly, a stranger interjected, "I heard there's a plan to deal with them on November 15th."
This news sparked immediate interest among the peasants, who quickly gathered to discuss the possibility of joining the fray to perhaps seize some valuables. They decided to keep their distance initially and only move in if an opportunity presented itself. Word of the planned action spread rapidly through the village.
On November 15th, nearly the entire village, barring the elderly and children, set out to witness the event. As they reached the county seat, they found a large crowd of peasants already encircling the houses of the Jewish moneylenders. Inside, the moneylenders were in a state of panic, realizing that neither calls for help nor attempts to escape were possible. The usual support from local authorities was conspicuously absent.
Overwhelmed by desperation, the crowd surged forward, breaking into the houses and looting them. The absence of police or military initially gave the mob free rein, leading to chaos and violence.
Hours later, the police chief and army commander, who had been observing from a distance, finally intervened. "Let's bring these people back to their senses," the police chief ordered sternly.
As the authorities restored order, the crowd quickly dispersed, leaving behind a scene of devastation. The following day, life resumed its usual pace for most, but the scars of the victims and their families would take much longer to heal.
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