When the meeting ended, everyone else dispersed, but Karl did not leave, appearing to have more to say.
Seeing that he wasn't leaving, Duke stayed as well. Although he didn't particularly like this pretty boy, they were on the same side now, and compared to someone like Lorenzo, who was always indirectly cursing people, the straightforward Karl was much better.
After everyone else had left, only Augustus, Faol, Karl, and Duke remained in the large conference hall.
"Is there anything else you wish to discuss?" Augustus asked with concern.
"Should we integrate the existing troops first or expand the army first?" Karl asked directly.
"What do you mean 'we'? Integrating the existing troops is my job, it has nothing to do with you. Expanding the army is what we both need to do," Duke interjected, emphasizing a clear division of labor.
"Why do you always miss the point? Is that important?"
"Integrating existing troops and expanding the army, which comes first and which comes second, that's not important either, isn't it all the same?"
"How could it be the same? If we go straight to integrating the existing troops without any leverage, the resistance we encounter won't be small. At best, it will cause delays; at worst, it will lead to trouble. However, if we expand the army first, having some bargaining chips, then the resistance to integrating the original troops will be much smaller. I know that's your task, but it's also a matter for the Papal States."
"You already have the answer, don't you? Why are you still asking?"
"That's my idea. Don't I have to ask the Pope and your thoughts?"
Duke thought for a moment and then said, "I think what you said makes sense."
"I agree. Let's proceed with that," Augustus consented.
"There's one more issue," Karl continued, "To ensure the quantity and quality of conscripted soldiers during the expansion, I hope we can offer some attractive conditions."
"Speak freely." In this era, there was no such thing as social security or the 996 work culture. What would be considered exploitative in later generations was enough to make many people grateful now. As long as Karl didn't think it was excessive, Augustus certainly wouldn't, so he was free to propose anything.
"Firstly, the treatment of soldiers must be guaranteed, preferably improved upon the existing basis, at least higher than most countries."
"No problem." Augustus had already planned for that.
"Secondly, I hope the troops' weaponry and equipment are as good as possible, updated with technological advancements, and that effective training is conducted promptly to ensure the troops' combat effectiveness and thus reduce casualties."
That sounds good, but Augustus understood that this point was not as simple as it sounded. It was very expensive, and it would require a significant expenditure at an unknown time. Therefore, he couldn't make too many firm promises.
"As long as the finances allow, this can also be met as much as possible."
If financial problems arose at some point, it wouldn't be his decision. What could be done without money? The issue of money would have to be resolved first.
"There's one more point, and it's the most important one. I hope we can award land and titles to officers and soldiers based on their military merits, making military service a path for commoners to rise to nobility."
That's a good idea. Augustus was about to agree when Faol reminded him, "This will undoubtedly have a very positive effect on the army's combat effectiveness, but if we create a large number of new nobles, the old nobles will certainly object. We need to be careful."
Augustus suddenly realized: this was the trickiest part. Those with vested interests never thought there were too many people sharing the cake. To create new nobles, it was impossible to give them only empty titles; they also needed corresponding shares of benefits, whether land or wealth. To avoid harming the interests of the old nobles, the cake would have to be made bigger, and the extra portion given to the new nobles.
And even then, the nobles would still not be happy. Nobles were nobles because they were rare; if nobles were everywhere, the title of nobility would become worthless. It seemed now that they all had their own agendas, but once their common interests were touched, it was not impossible for them to unite against him.
"Actually, it won't have that much of an impact," Karl said, not intending to completely change the structure of the Papal States. Everything he thought and did was purely for the sake of strengthening the army. "This is just recruitment propaganda. We don't need to create too many new nobles; just having some will suffice. A piece of propaganda won't cause too much of a stir among the nobility, but for commoners, it's different."
"Aren't you deceiving them?" Duke indignantly questioned.
"How is it deception? The propaganda only says that land and titles will be awarded based on military merit. Even if it's only one person, it's still fulfilled, and no one can say anything."
Augustus smiled, thinking: Such an obvious trick, can it still attract people?
"If you can think of doing this, how could others not know? How will it still attract people then?"
"You overestimate them. Even if they know, they will still be attracted," Karl said with a slightly playful tone. "What torments people more than despair is hope. This world is never short of ambitious failures. How many people, for a bit of elusive hope, disregard everything and bet their lives, with the vast majority ending up with nothing, and only one in ten thousand succeeding. Opening this path to advancement is giving them that hope."
"Giving them hope, and then letting them despair, God knows what they'll do," Duke clearly disagreed with this statement.
"By the time they reach complete despair, they won't be able to cause any trouble anyway," Karl said indifferently.
For some reason, after hearing Karl's words, Augustus suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
"Although that's true, it's better not to do it that way. Since we said we'd award titles based on merit, then let's implement this thoroughly. The Papal States has no shortage of titles, and in the future, it won't lack land either. As for the old nobles' opposition, I'll figure out a way then."
"That would be even better. I really can't help with such matters. Unless you plan to directly use the National Defense Force to conduct a bloodbath."
"That joke isn't funny at all," Augustus said with a serious expression. Using the official army for such a thing, was he out of his mind? If Karl's words got out and were taken as his own, some people might act first.
Karl chuckled, looking a bit awkward.
"Is there anything else to add?" Augustus looked at Karl, then at Duke.
"I suggest introducing relevant laws to strictly enforce military discipline, especially prohibiting the looting of civilians in other countries during war." Having witnessed too many instances of 'bandits scour like a comb, soldiers like a fine-tooth comb,' Duke detested such predatory behavior.
"Are you kidding? If we don't loot, what will we use to reward the soldiers? Should we loot our own country instead of others?" Karl expressed his inability to accept this.
"Isn't the national treasury's expenditure already enough? If we win battles, there will naturally be rewards. Why do we need to rely on robbery to reward the army?"
"The army is already a heavy financial burden on the nation. Why can't we save where we can? If we can use the enemy's resources to solve a part of it, it both strengthens us and weakens the enemy, killing two birds with one stone. For an army of tens of thousands, how could the nation's meager rewards possibly be enough?"
"Human greed is endless!" Duke retorted sharply.
"Alright, this is not something to consider now. You two should not discuss this privately either. Focus on the current tasks. I have my own plans for this matter," Augustus interrupted sternly.
Karl and Duke had been at odds since they first met, but their previous conflicts were not irreconcilable. This point, however, was a clash of ideologies that could not be resolved quickly, and this rift would not disappear on its own.
Which method to implement in which war would depend on the specific circumstances. At that time, he would directly specify it to avoid disagreements, or if that didn't work, he would compromise slightly: no looting of civilians, only nobles.