章 4: Future Plans

After resting for another two hours, I got up, asked a servant to get me clothes for heading out and had a quick bath before moving to meet my father. I knew that I had little to no knowledge of actually fighting from either of my two lives, so instead I had now decided to focus on using my talents to making the territory prosperous. It was a blessing that I had reborn in an era where sons were given responsibilities from a young age, in fact it was a matter of pride on how early one starts helping his parents.

I arrived at the hall where my father usually resided during the day dealing with the day-to-day activities of the territory. My father greeted me with a smile and gestured me to sit across him. I greeted him and sat down. He asked me about my health and if there was anything I required, seeing that the first thing I did after getting up was come meet him. I had to give it to him for being so keen as to directly deduce that I had a motive in meeting him.

I usually spent my days learning from the tutor, practicing swordsmanship or horse riding, or meeting and goofing around with some friends. I was only a year away from being handled certain responsibilities of governing as well as being presented in the society. It was a custom to hold a grand celebration for the sixteenth birthday of a prince or princess. It was done because by that time they were considered to have completed their education and start developing their own circles for their futures.

I still had a year left and with me being somewhat adept in my education my father usually let me spend my time as I pleased. We were in a comfortable position in the royalty hierarchy and even though he knew I was not exceptional he was content. As I was still months away from any responsibility, he had no idea why I would seek him out especially.

I began by saying that I felt that I was ready to take some responsibilities and I would like his support and the end to my formal education. He was surprised but did not object. He asked if I already had some plan or if he should arrange a position so that I can start working. I conveyed that even though I had a few ideas of my own I would like to know his opinions on how I should proceed.

He thought for a while before harshly pointing out my weak area, the military and directly ruled out any near possibilities in the field. He suggested for me to start from either the tax collection department or the public court. He explained that though I will not start with heading either of them but I could certainly learn much while observing.

The tax collection department required me to visit the different villages with the officers, this will give a closer perspective on the economic side of the territory. On the other hand, if I decided to stay in the public court department, I would have a closer look on the day-to-day workings and problems that the people in our territory had to face.

My thoughts were a bit different but I now had a wider perspective on things. I conveyed what I had planned. I asked for one of the departments to be totally under me, where I can make decisions even without asking him about it. It was a bold proposition for sure, and in olden times at that, it could be borderline considered that I might be trying to overthrow my father for the greed of the throne. My father was quick to point out on how big of a risk I was asking him to take.

Running a territory that was a well-oiled machine required every part to know how the rest works and I was asking to practically remove one part and let it have its free run. Instead of getting angry and irrational he asked me to justify what I was asking for. He was a seasoned king and soldier who had raised me alone without remarrying so he knew both my temperament and rational, this was the reason that he did not flip and asked me to reason.

I told him that I knew my own shortcomings and so instead I had long decided that I would try to be the ruler who will focus on the prosperity of our territory instead of war and since I was just starting, I would like to have a department under my control and if it goes like I hope and shows satisfactory enough results then I will put forth any further ideas to him and my experience will give me credit. I had asked for autonomy because I did not know how conflicting some of my ideas can be and two heads will always butt, hampering any progress.

He asked why I was not willing to carry out this thing in a year when he would have anyways asked me to take some responsibilities. I responded that I felt ready and did not wish to spend one additional year, passing time on something unnecessary just to stick to the customs. He seemed to be somewhat pleased and agreed to my request with a requirement that a strong troop be always stationed with me.

He asked which department I would like to head and I told him, either the public court, the agriculture department or the construction department. He understood the first two as these were important but did not understand why I would need jurisdiction over what and how things are constructed throughout the territory. This was reasonable as any major construction was very rare in the first place and if it was undertaken it would always take years for a single one to be completed.

It was a valid concern and I was ready with a reply.

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