I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 228: Auditing and Absolute Power (2)

The Duke chuckled lightly after listening to me.

"Among the nobles, there’s no one who wouldn’t want to gain absolute loyalty from their subordinates."

East and West, two cultures that hardly share anything in common except for the fact that they are both human. But even between these two, there is one ideology that transcends.

"Power is maintained because the people and vassals support it, and it can both strengthen and weaken over time."

In the East, especially in Confucian culture, this is interpreted as 'the will of the people is the will of heaven,' and it has been taught that lowering taxes without any measure is the ideal.

In the West, the lord is supposed to act as a lord, and the vassals are expected to be loyal, as this is part of their contract. Fulfilling this contract is both a human duty and a divine will.

If one doesn’t abide by this, then breaking a lord’s skull is lawful under the rational contract relationship.

"This is where the difference between the West and the East starts."

My thoughts wandered for a moment, but the important thing is that for a ruler to maintain power, there is only one key element.

Gaining the loyalty of subordinates.

"And loyalty doesn’t just come from treating the vassals generously. In fact, it comes from making them fear you, the Duke, doesn’t it?"

I borrowed a quote from one of the greatest Renaissance thinkers, Machiavelli.

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His Prince has many complicated twists, but if I were to summarize it slightly differently, this is the essence of it:

A person’s goodwill can be easily betrayed without punishment, so money-hungry scoundrels will gladly stab a ruler who is loved by all. But a frightening person can make people swear loyalty out of fear because if they make a mistake, that person could erase them and their family from this world. Out of fear, they have no choice but to serve.

So, if you are a ruler, rather than being a beloved ruler, become one who inspires fear.

"You can’t be Jesus; don’t even try. Good work."

This is the theory that governs the Tuscany Empire in the West, and honestly, it works in any organization.

Even the great King Yeongjo, who was a pioneer in quantum mechanics and emphasized filial piety despite killing his grandson’s father, was able to maintain his position as king even when he later developed dementia, until the day he died. This was because he was a subject of fear.

If he had been a ruler with a gentle image like King Sejong, but lacking his ability and being a morally rotten ruler, it’s obvious that he would have become a retired king in his later years, a mere figurehead.

"Everyone says they want to be respected and loved nobles in front, but honestly, those who think like that are, frankly, idiots. Nobility is noble because they are an object of fear, not because everyone loves them."

Most politicians are like that because their personalities are broken in one way or another. Even if they may behave kindly toward subordinates, the moment they show themselves as approachable and friendly, someone always emerges to stab them in the back. These people, who have lived their lives in such a way, end up becoming politicians. Expecting anyone to be normal in such an environment is a mistake.

I may also be damaged in some ways, or maybe more than I expect.

Since my thoughts strayed for a bit, it's time to move on to the most important main dish.

"Please hire accountants and conduct an audit of the Visconti Duke’s direct estate. After uncovering any corruption, prove efficiency."

The scary thing about audits is exactly this.

When the accountants rush in, check the books, and review the budget, corruption that I didn’t even know about will start spilling out. During the process, missing funds will suddenly reappear as well.

"After proving efficiency, suggest this to the factional nobles. They’ll have no excuse to refuse."

Nobles of the medieval era are never stupid. Even if they didn’t fully understand the auditing system, if they hear about checking the books, they would all rise up in protest.

But when efficiency is proven, and they are presented with the justification that you’ve found the money their subordinates have been secretly pocketing?

Opposing the audit would make it possible to accuse them of being corrupt, leading to their downfall. This is why, both then and now, powerful figures always claim a righteous cause when they start wars—whether it's for the sake of God, democracy, or to liberate the people.

The Duke, listening to me, struck the table with a displeased look.

"That’s a very good idea. But if I were to uncover corruption and punish someone, the other nobles would no longer trust me. Which noble in this world would follow a lord who tries to uncover his own corruption?"

Originally, those in power cover up the crimes of their people or at least minimize their sentences, and there’s a reason for that.

Becoming an object of fear is important, but even more important is what I can gain by following this noble.

But if the head of a faction uncovers my corruption and ruins me?

Who would follow someone like that? That’s basic common sense.

"Drawing a sword and swinging it means you want war, but showing the other party that I could draw my sword is a great tool for negotiation."

Since the mid-20th century, the world has been more peaceful than it has ever been in history.

Of course, there are still civil wars happening somewhere in the world, and ongoing underground battles that don’t make it to the news. Wars are still happening all over the place, but...

For the average person in a developed country, war has become something distant.

Such times are nearly unprecedented in history.

‘This is possible because of nuclear bombs.’

Whether it's world wars or wars between nations, a simple threat of nuclear bombs can deter most conflicts.

Without nuclear bombs, the modern world might have been a far bloodier place.

"By conducting an audit and uncovering the corruption, if I were to accuse or punish a factional family, of course, you, Duke, would be breaking the contract with them. Why would I advise you to do something so disloyal? For the continuation of the Rothschild Baron family, for Erica, Kris, Chloe, and my children, the Visconti family must prosper."

My power is based on massive wealth, the political backing of the Emperor and Duke, and my unique perspective on seeing things others don’t.

If any of these are missing, I will fall into ruin instantly.

No, my political enemies would probably burn me in the Florence Square.

I’m not joking; literally.

‘The Visconti family and I are one.’

This is what the Duke must have been aiming for when he arranged my marriage with Erica.

"Just threaten them. Tell them that if they continue to resist, this information could be exposed."

Nuclear bombs aren’t actually made to be used in wars directly.

In fact, after Little Boy and Fat Man were dropped, nuclear weapons have never been used in warfare, whether officially or unofficially.

But just having them is enough to ensure that no one can touch you freely.

Information gained through an audit should be used in a similar way.

"You sometimes say really scary things, as if you’re not bothered by it at all."

"Am I laughing?"

I was just stating what should be an obvious and normal idea.

Excluding the concept of auditing, this is something any noble would naturally think about.

"And when you look through the audit, all the clues to corruption come out. Among them, those who are selling our secrets or weaknesses to the Sforza Duke, or have already betrayed us, will show themselves. Make an example out of them."

There’s a saying: "Make an example of one to prevent others from committing crimes."

This idea has been passed down from ancient times to the present.

It’s important to educate people that committing crimes is wrong, but it’s just as important to show that if you commit a crime, you’ll pay for it painfully in prison.

Thanks to this obvious truth, national security is maintained, and the kind of safety where people can walk home drunk late at night without being mugged is established.

By showing the nobles what happens to traitors, even those who didn’t think of betraying will have to listen more carefully to the Duke’s words.

They’ll think that if they don’t listen, something bad could happen to them.

"Indeed, if I hold their weaknesses, my power will become even stronger. But wouldn’t that mean you’d be handing over your weaknesses to me as well?"

I can’t cut my own hair, so within the faction, they’ll probably bring in other merchants to act as accountants and dig through the books.

In the process, they’ll find some things that could become a problem for me.

But since I was the one who first thought of the auditing system and pioneered it, I’m sure I haven’t left any unnecessary information to be found.

But I didn’t mention any unnecessary information, and I smiled while answering.

"We’re family, aren’t we? What does family mean? It means we complement each other’s weaknesses, right?"

After a bit more casual conversation with the Duke, I called Erica and we shared some light daily chat before heading back.