Chapter 135
Malik, the first grand chief of the tribal alliance, looked at the other chiefs and said:
"Now, before we decide on future policies, let's determine the name of our tribal alliance."
Until now, there was no particular problem with just calling it a tribal alliance.
They only gathered once a year at minimum, or 4-5 times a year at most, and only performed roles like telling each other not to cross their territories, or helping a little if something big happened.
But now that they had become companions sharing life and death, there was a need to decide on a name for the group.
'We need a country to survive.'
"Let each person write down the name they think of. Then we'll adopt the name that gets the most votes."
Among several names, the one adopted was 'Masai', meaning 'people'.
A country established by people, a name Fabio would have liked very much, calling it extremely democratic if he heard it.
"From now on, we are people of the Masai Union. I become Malik, chief of the Botswana tribe of the Masai Union and grand chief."
Since deciding the country's name wasn't such an important matter to them.
Malik didn't speak at length and moved on to another topic.
"Now let's discuss what to do going forward. Chief of the Zulu tribe, why don't you speak first?"
As grand chief, he's essentially the leader of all tribes, so he's virtually a king.
But the Masai Union was still just an alliance, and the grand chief could only wield king-like authority during war.
'It's still a long way to go before becoming a king ruling over them.'
But there was no dissatisfaction in his heart at all.
If Baron Pierre, no, Fabio hadn't come and intervened, his tribe would have already been captured by those Nador bastards and become slaves long ago.
Now he's walking the journey to rule over them for generations, isn't he?
"As that Pierre guy said, we need to expand the area where our Masai influence reaches, and bring in more people. By doing so, we need to obtain gold to buy more matchlock guns, more gunpowder, and rum. Otherwise, we'll be eaten by the lion called Nador."
The reason they united under the name Masai.
It was solely for survival.
Therefore, there was not a single person here who would oppose those words.
"And let's be very honest."
The chief of the Zulu tribe raised a glass of rum in front of those here.
"How long do we have to live just playing the role of chiefs of mere tribes? Don't you want to become rich like Baron Pierre who can lead over hundreds of people and venture out to distant seas?"
There's no one in this world who doesn't want to become rich.
Other chiefs naturally listened to those words too.
"To survive, to become rich, and to keep drinking this delicious rum, I think we need to expand our forces. As we expand like that, all of us here could become grand chiefs with several tribes under our command."
There's no one who has risen to chief who isn't desperate for power.
Because they wanted to gain power, they've desperately strived from childhood until now to rise to this position.
"What does the grand chief think?"
"I agree with those words too."
Malik said that and grinned.
Then he came up with a villainous method Fabio hadn't taught.
"But rather than bringing in whole tribes under our command, it would be better to split them up finely. Make those who surrender obediently just farm, and make those who don't surrender obediently mine gold in mines."
In West African tribal society, hunting and fighting were honorable activities.
So there was also the thought that giving weapons to those who surrendered or were subjugated was too generous treatment...
'What can we trust to give those guys weapons?'
If we give them weapons, we don't know when they might rebel.
"Of course, if we just keep using them like this, they won't find motivation to work, so it would be good to gradually raise their treatment if they work for a long time."
It would be effective to accept those who obediently work well or seem loyal as 'warriors' who can fight.
Everyone agreed with that thought.
"Good idea."
"People aren't livestock, so we need to give them motivation to work."
Then Malik declared:
"There are about 10 other tribes near the Masai Union. Let's show our dignity to the Lima tribe, which is the closest tribe among them."
Everyone agreed to those words.
After the meeting concluded, they enjoyed a festival holding meat in their left hands and rum in their right.
Rum, when first drunk it was just a bit tipsy, but now they keep thinking of it even after drinking and drinking.
It's not to the level where they can't live without it, but...
'I keep thinking of it.'
So this time they requested 3 times what they bought last time.
"I'm worried it won't be enough."
Malik regretted that he should have ordered 4 times if he knew it would be like this.
**
Not long after deciding on the invasion, the Masai Union headed towards where the Lima tribe was, leading over a thousand warriors.
Though it was a war against a tribe, Malik and others were very relaxed.
"We have matchlock guns, so what."
Just having matchlock guns doesn't solve everything.
But if you have guns, it becomes easier to break the enemy's morale at once and quickly gain the upper hand in war...
As long as they're not careless, they should be able to win in most cases.
At the end of a march that even looked leisurely, Malik faced the Lima tribe's army.
He very naturally requested dialogue with the Lima tribe's chief.
"Before fighting, let's find a constructive solution through dialogue!"
It was absurd to request constructive dialogue while holding guns, bows, and spears.
But wherever you go in the world, international diplomacy is about the words of the 'stronger one' being truth, and the words of the weak one generally being ignored.
Therefore, Malik's words were not objects of ridicule.
Because the Masai Union with guns was much stronger than them.
Hearing those words, the Lima chief protested:
"Does it make sense for someone saying to find a constructive solution to come holding guns? Moreover, what wrong have we done to wage war? Speak if your mouth is open!"
The Lima tribe hasn't really done anything wrong.
Moreover, the constructive solution they speak of is actually nonsense to the Lima tribe.
No, strictly speaking, they didn't present a solution.
Whatever words came out, it was obvious they would agree while presenting ridiculous conditions while threatening with swords.
Malik didn't answer those words.
"I'll give you choices."
Then he held up two fingers.
"Will you die here, or become one of us?"
"What nonsense..."
"If you don't choose quickly, I'll have no choice but to take it as meaning you want to all die here."
Malik said that and gave a signal.
With the signal, the sound of drums rang out, and the Masai Union warriors pointed their gun muzzles to the sky.
Before long, with the sound of gunpowder exploding, acrid smoke and fire spewed out.
The Lima chief trembled in fear seeing that.
Even if he didn't know about guns, he would have trembled saying there are clubs that spew lightning...
But he had directly received teachings from the Nador army about how dangerous and terrifying guns are.
'We can't win fighting against those guys.'
"I surrender."
"Welcome to becoming one of us. From now on, your tribe will come under our command."
On this day, the Lima tribe disappeared into history.
The Masai Union was expanding its power like this.
Meanwhile, Fabio, who returned to Florence, was immediately summoned by Duke Visconti.
**
As soon as he saw me, the Duke firmly grasped my shoulders.
"As you know, I'm completely out of my mind because His Majesty greatly expanded the scale of the wedding. I'm also mobilizing the family budget. But it's not enough."
Isn't this revealing too much even though I'm his granddaughter's husband-to-be?
It's incomprehensible that even though a mere baron has received the Duke's granddaughter, he can't even change factions let alone betray.
"There's a limit even if I sell off sellable artworks or jewels. Adding up other money I've gathered, it comes to about 40,000 gold coins."
40,000 gold coins, seeing that the money gathered by the ducal family is only about twice what I earned this time, you might think:
Is the ducal family this poor?
But that's a huge misunderstanding.
No matter how lavishly nobles hold weddings, weddings that use up all the family finances are only for the 'heir' or 'young family head's marriage.
'They probably handled it within a level that doesn't burden family finances.'
The ducal family's budget used for this wedding is probably about 10% including everything from selling artworks.
Well, there's probably money borrowed from merchants too... but the annual budget is 400,000 gold coins.
"How much have you gathered?"
"About 20,000 gold coins have been prepared since the engagement, and about 15,000 gold coins earned this time in Ifriqiya."
I actually gained about 20,000, but I need to leave that much capital to do business next time.
"You've gathered 10 times the cost normal baron families use for weddings. Good, then start preparations right away. I've asked your restaurant consultant Baron Conte to prepare everything for the ceremony, so you just engrave the etiquette he teaches in your head."
I answered resolutely as if going to war:
"Yes."
Hearing my words, the Duke spoke again:
"His Majesty is coming to this wedding. Moreover, that Sforza bastard is coming too, we can't show a single gap. This is war."
Political war without gunfire.
Hah, being a noble is really difficult.