Imperial Diet II

[econ21]

Prinz Henry: I am alarmed at the Chancellor's report that no new construction is possible. If we prioritise recruitment of troops before buildings, we are putting the horse before the cart. Investing wisely in buildings will provide the surplus that will allow us to support a larger army. If we recruit the larger army first, we will never attain the surplus that will allow us to upgrade our buildings.

I am particularly concerned about upgrading Staufen to a fortress. Is that one of the new constructions that is not possible or is it exempt because Sigismund already queued it? I believe the upgrade to a fortress is a particularly significant one for all Household armies, as it gives us access to dismounted feudal knights and pavisse crossbowmen. Dismounted knights will be a great advantage in siege situations (whether defending or attacking), and will also be useful in countering enemy spears in field battles. Pavisses will give us missile superiority over many of our foes. Cutting back on the upgrade to a fortress in order to buy a few more armoured spearmen would be a false economy.

[Ignoramus]

Count Sigismund der Furchtlose gets to his feet.

I second what Prinz Henry says. It is madness for us not to upgrade Staufen to a fortress. How can we hope to fight the French on level terms if we do not even have one fortress, while they have two! The Reich boasts the best spearmen in Europe, yet even a spear is useless against a sword. Our blacksmiths are so stretched that they can only provide swords for our Ritters. I urge the Chancellor to cease this madness!

Count Sigismund resumes his seat.

[FactionHeir]

The prince speaks wise words.
What is the point of recruiting a household army made of peasants and lowly spearmen rather than improving our economy and ability to produce better troops to fight our wars?
While we are recruiting troops, we also need to pay and feed them for as long as they serve us, straining our ability to build at the same time.

I suggest that buildings go first and training last - when we actually need the additional troops.
While household armies are a priority, a better trained one is of even higher priority.

[Kagemusha]

Duke Of Franconia speaks up:

"I will speak shortly,since i must leave to Magdeburg soon. While i agree with Prinz Henry,that Swabia needs the fortress to create troops of high quality. The thing is that we are in transitional phase. While we have enough men both in South and West currently.East and North needs the manpower badly. Once we have the men,we will start gaining revenue from the spoils of war. Chancellors job is to stand between individual houses and balance the revenue of gold. But isnt it more important for Austria and Franconia to have forces that can beat their enemies, rather then,how good units others can build later. Im sure the hold in building projects is just temporary anyway. Now i must leave the Diet,since my counts are starting to engage the enemy and i should be with our main army."

Dietrich Von Saxony leaves the Diet.

[TinCow]

*One of the Chancellor's scribes clears his throat.*

Surely the Duke of Swabia is aware that Chancellor der Stolze made the investment for the fortress in Staufen during his own term. Accordingly, construction will begin on that structure this year, despite the lack of other expenditures on buildings. Chancellor Mandorf has not even been able to find sufficient funds to repair the wall of Bologna, one of Bavaria's own cities, yet he still let Chancellor der Stolze's construction orders at Staufen stand out of respect for his office. Hopefully the Duke of Swabia has as much concern for the security of Franconia and Austria as he does for the improvement of his own lands.

The Chancellor would also like me to inform you that priority constructions will resume next year.

[econ21]

Prinz Henry: Scribe, as should be clear by my earlier query, your Prinz is aware that Sigismund had already authorised the fortress upgrade for Staufen. However, Sigismund had not made the investment - no money had been spent. That is why I asked whether Sigismund's decision meant Staufen was exempt from the Chancellor's moratorium on buildings. Nonetheless, I am glad to hear Staufen is exempt and that the Chancellor has authorised the necessary expenditure for its upgrade.

As to your arch remark about my concerns, my concerns are not a matter for scribes. Especially ones who cannot see that a fortress in Staufen will contribute to the security of Franconia and Austria. The troops a fortress at Staufen could produce are not earmarked for any one House and we have no other fortresses capable of producing them at present.

[TinCow]

*Maximillian Mandorf enters, fresh from bringing Christian justice to lowly highwaymen. He glares at his scribe and gestures towards the door. The man sheepishly slips out.*

Perhaps I should give that man a history lesson on what happens to insolent scribes in places such as this.

*Mandorf sighs.*

My Prince, I understand the theory of how investments in future construction work, but you must also understand reality. The reality is that when I assumed my post, the construction of the fortress had already begun and the appropriate monies had already been deducted from the Imperial treasury. As my scribe stated, I have respected that situation and let the orders stand. You should be most grateful for this, for I most certainly would not have otherwise given priority to construction of that facility at this time.

You accuse me of putting the cart before the horse, yet you are doing the same, my Lord. We have three castles capable of producing decent, professional soldiers. They are certainly not of a quality to make the world shake with fear, but they will perform admirably for the time being. What we need more than anything is not soldiers or even the facilities to produce more soldiers. What we need is money.

Accordingly, it is my full intention to give favor to financial structures and only allow for military construction when there is extra money to spare or when it is essential for the security of the Reich. I understand you will likely vehemently disagree with this assessment, but I believe it to be correct and under the current circumstances, it is my decision to make.

During my campaign for Chancellor, I pledged one thing above all others: giving the Houses the means with which to defend themselves. Austria and Franconia are horrendously vulnerable to attack and their defense cannot wait for armored knights to be produced from Staufen a decade from now. They must be immediately given the forces they need to protect their lands. Accordingly, my priorities are as follows:

First, to immediately increase the professional military strength of Austria and Franconia. Second, to repair the walls of Bologna and invest in new financial structures. Third, to reorganize the defense of cities so that they are garrisoned by militia which do not require pay out of the Imperial treasury. Fourth, to improve the military infrastructure of the Reich.

No doubt there will be much future disagreement with my policies...

*Mandorf's face grows cold and he stares straight at the Prince.*

...but I do not care for petty squabbling over every minutia of my policies. I will do what I believe is right for the betterment of a Christian Reich! That does not include giving favor to any one House or to any one Elector. If you wished for a Chancellor who would pour the Imperial treasury into Staufen, then perhaps you should have run for the office yourself.