Chapter 37: Second Management Planning Conference

Red Moon Calendar 1155, January 3, Agrik

“Colleagues, this year’s Second Management Planning Conference of our territory is jointly overseen by Grand Supervisor Grap the Rotting Roar of the Interior Court, Grand Supervisor Verna Diver of the Shadow Intelligence Bureau, and Grand Supervisor Tali Lightfeather of the Peacekeeping Bureau. Now, please welcome the Ministry of Finance and Trade to present a summary of our territory’s imports and expenditures.”

“Hello everyone, I am Glenk Hwee, a subterranean gnome, Director of the Audit Bureau under Moray Stonefist, the goblinoid head of the Interior Court’s Finance and Trade Division. I will summarize our territory’s financial situation over the past decade. Total revenue, under the wise leadership of Duke Sakavi, amounted to 2.485 million gold coins. Total expenditures over ten years reached 1.88 million gold coins, leaving a surplus of 605,000 gold coins.

Last year’s total revenue was 412,000 gold coins, expenditures were 298,000 gold coins, with a surplus of 144,000 gold coins. Compared to ten years ago, annual revenue increased by 385%, and annual expenditures by 282%. Trade revenue totaled 220,000 gold coins; tax revenue was 172,000 gold coins. Expenditures included 120,000 gold coins for military, 95,000 for grassroots infrastructure, and 83,000 for education and administration.”

Grap: “Thank you, Director Glenk. Now, please have the Neizheng Force present the population growth since the first census.”

“Colleagues, I am Lut Fishridge, a lizardman, Director of the Registry Bureau under Rubidu Anvil, the minotaur head of the Neizheng Force. Since the last population census was seventeen years ago and the data is no longer relevant, I will summarize current population ratios and numbers.”

According to last year’s census, total population is 2.02 million. The pigmen remain first with 610,000, accounting for 30%. Second are the lizardmen, whose population has grown rapidly to 404,000, or 21%. Next are the fishmen, whose ranking has declined but whose population remains stable at 404,000, or 20%. Then come the goblins, with 161,600, or 8%. Goblins rank nearly equal to goblins in both population and position.”

Below are minority populations: minotaurs lead with 110,000, or 5%. Next are harpies, with 80,800, or 4%. Gray dwarves number 40,400, or 2%. Marsh toads number 20,200, or 1%. Subterranean gnomes and drow elves are scarce due to minimal surface settlement, at 0.7% and 0.3% respectively.”

Grap: “Thank you, Registry Bureau colleagues, for the population report. Now, please have the Trade and Culture Department summarize our territory’s talent cultivation over these years—I suspect this is what everyone cares most about, as I constantly receive reports of insufficient personnel.”

“I am Orgma Starbloom, a wood elf and head of the Trade and Culture Department. I will now present academic achievements. First, the most pressing issue: grassroots administrators. Over the past decade, the Grassroots Administration Academy has graduated fifty thousand students, and each year henceforth will produce approximately five thousand more to join grassroots management.”

Militarily, the Junior Officer Academy has graduated twenty thousand, the Command and Management Academy one thousand, and the Magic Academy three hundred, with six hundred currently enrolled.”

I must emphasize: after this conference, all wood elf instructors—including myself—will withdraw entirely from the duchy. I am deeply concerned whether our students can assume teaching duties. Grand Supervisor Grap, please prepare contingency plans.”

Grap: “We deeply thank the wood elves, including Orgma, for your contributions to the duchy. Your aid will be remembered forever. Regarding your concern over teaching, we must trust our students. Are not each of you here today once children stumbling through their first steps?”

Orgma: “You are right, Grand Supervisor. We must have faith in our students and permit them the freedom to err.”

Grap: “Now, please have the Resource Department summarize production outputs over the past decade.”

“I am Brag Stonehoof, head of the Resource Department, summarizing total resource output over the past decade. Salt production: 5,500 tons. Iron ingots: 1,000 tons. Copper ingots: 800 tons. Tin: 240 tons. Silver ingots: 1 ton. Coal: tons. Grain: tons.”

Weapons: 40,000 scale armors, 200,000 leather armors, 80,000 helmets, 200,000 shields, 50,000 composite bows/heavy crossbows, one million arrows and bolts, 80,000 short swords, 30,000 warrior swords, 100,000 military battle-axes. City defense and peacekeeping forces are fully equipped; the army lacks all equipment except primary weapons.”

Grap: “All basic conditions have been presented. Now we enter the proposal phase. Anyone who sees a need for adjustment may speak. Please, Grand Supervisor Dusha, the gray dwarf of the Judicature Court.”

Dusha Blackrock: “Colleagues, a critical issue must be addressed: over the past decade, corruption and misconduct have proliferated in certain departments. Our earlier management system prioritized efficiency, which was understandable. Now, we have no shortage of administrative talent. We must purge these rotting elements.”

I propose establishing a Prosecution Bureau under Grand Supervisor Tali’s Peacekeeping Bureau. It will supervise without being easily corrupted. It must also oversee the Peacekeeping Bureau itself—we must remember, they control the force of violence and must be held accountable.”

“Grand Supervisor Dusha’s proposal is excellent. Any objections? If none, I will submit her proposal to the Duke for signature and implementation.”

Hock Nightlance, a jackalope: “I have a minor comment on the previous proposal. While serving in the Construction Office, I frequently encountered a problem: all my subordinates were personally appointed by me. Many were utterly unfit, yet I could not replace them—doing so would leave me without cooperation.”

If Grand Supervisor Dusha seeks to root out corruption, how do we guarantee the prosecutors themselves are qualified? Must we trust them simply because they are gray dwarves? We need a department dedicated to personnel appointments and evaluations. Only after it functions properly should we establish a supervisory body.”

Grap: “Dusha, what do you think?”

Dusha: “I fully support this resolution.”

Tali: “Colleagues, over the past decade, I have faced countless issues requiring negotiation with external powers. Such demands will only increase. I propose establishing a dedicated external affairs bureau under Trade and Culture.”

Grap: “This is indeed a problem. In fact, our Trade and Culture Department must be restructured—it no longer suits our current environment.”

Verna: “Grap, I recall you once handled herb processing and trade. I’ve noticed our territory holds vast quantities of magical flora, fauna, and ores. Can you spare personnel to form a department dedicated to manufacturing magical goods? Remember, Agrik’s magical goods district only buys gray dwarf rune weapons.”

Grap: “This is difficult. Marsh toads skilled in alchemy are too few. Lizardmen can be trained, but they are already overburdened. Still, we must begin.”

Sarut Stoneboulder, a minotaur: “Colleagues, over the past decade we’ve improved our water and town defense systems, but they rely too heavily on lizardmen. If enemies deploy tactics targeting lizardmen, we will be helpless. I propose adding jackalopes, goblins, and harpies to our defense system to strengthen it.”

Garrison forces have always been managed by regional governors or provincial viceroys—a major security risk. We need checks and balances. Currently, the army falls under the Training Bureau, but our future plans prioritize military expansion. We need a dedicated department to command the army. I propose establishing the Unified Warfare Bureau to oversee field and garrison forces.”

Grap: “Excellent proposal. Our future military development indeed requires such a department. Training Bureau, how many armies can you train over the next decade?”

Kainafen Luo De, a drow elf: “Our Training Bureau can train three legions—sequentially, not simultaneously. We also bear the burden of training Shadow Intelligence Bureau, Peacekeeping Bureau, and garrison forces. Additionally, the Fang Legion, after nearly a decade of reform, now meets all requirements of a full army.”

Grap: “Processing and Manufacturing Bureau, can you meet the equipment needs of three legions?”

Lagno Stone, a gray dwarf: "If fully equipped with scale armor, we cannot produce 300,000 sets; producing scale armor is extremely difficult. All other weapons and gear can be supplied. I recommend equipping leather armor first and forming both heavy and light cavalry. This saves cost and effort—maintaining scale armor is also a major issue."

Grap: “I will consider your suggestion. Now, Agriculture Bureau—can our grain supply support 450,000 full-time armed personnel?”

Gug Blackmire: “Grand Supervisor, last year’s Bohe Plain grain yield was 78,000 tons—this included druidic intervention from the Black Forest. Cassava cannot be stored long-term. Garrison lizardmen and fishmen can eat fish; pigmen and centaurs rely solely on grain. To feed 450,000 troops, we must import far more grain than before.”

Grap: “I recall this land once fed two million orcs. Is there still untapped potential? For example, barren land, or canals yet to be built?”

Gug: “Yes, significant potential remains. The Bohe Plain currently has 550,000 people: 250,000 lizardmen, 300,000 pigmen. Population is still insufficient, and the irrigation system remains incomplete.”

“Understood. Colleagues, any further proposals? If none, I will announce the next decade’s production plan.”

Steel Target: Maintain total output at stable levels (annual output of 1,000–1,100 tons), but increase the proportion of “refined steel” from the current 10% to 40%. Plan: produce 4,000 tons of refined steel over ten years for equipment upgrades.

Measure: Construct a “Gray Dwarf Crucible Steelworks” in Black Iron Town, using gray dwarf secret techniques to produce steel for high-grade armor, weapon cores, and precision tools.

Agricultural Sector: From Sustenance to Nutrition and Reserve

Goal: Reduce cassava cultivation from 90% to 80% of arable land; use the remaining land for rye, legumes, grapes (for wine), and oil crops to improve diet and economic value.

Strategic Reserve

Goal: Establish a food reserve capable of sustaining the territory through a three-year siege or famine.

Measure: Expand underground granaries and develop “constant-temperature preservation cellars” maintained by magic.

Military Sector

Goal: Build a coastal fleet of thirty medium-sized warships (primarily oared galleys).

Expansion of Agrik Magic Academy

Goal: Increase student enrollment from 600 to 1,500, and establish three specialized academies: Enchanting, Alchemy, and Constructing. Plan to train 300 battle mages, engineers, and alchemists capable of independent missions over ten years.

Plan Overview

First three years (1155–1158): Consolidation and Foundation. Validate refined steel technology, initiate fleet keel-laying and academy expansion.

Middle four years (1158–1162): Full Expansion. Fleet reaches initial scale; refined steel begins equipping elite units; magical goods become a new export staple.

Final three years (1162–1165): System Formation. Build a navy capable of coastal battles; core forces fully upgraded; a preliminary magical industrial system emerges within the territory.

Grap: “If no one has objections to their assigned plans, the meeting is adjourned.”