It’s been a little over a year since I was born.

This world doesn’t actually celebrate birthdays other than taking note that the person is then a year older though apart from a few important ones. I don’t mind much though since after you reach a certain mental age birthdays aren’t really important anymore anyway, in my opinion.

Also, today I’ve reviewed the dirt dug up on the various knight households.

Knights are a huge pain for me right now…

They’re pretty much sub-nobles, and can’t be executed without reason. Any executions would also result in large amounts of backlash for the territory, with scared knight households leaving and new ones being unwilling to come.

Knights aren’t chivalrous or honorable as one would think.

They’re basically nobles to nobles like nobles are to the royal family. Not all of them can even use a sword properly…

Swords aren’t actually as popular in this world as most fantasies would suggest they are though.

For one, with the exception of greatswords, swords aren’t a battlefield weapon. You wouldn’t charge into battle with one.

They’re the world’s most popular sidearm. Like a modern pistol.

Also, duel wielding swords isn’t a reliable thing at all. Shields are far more useful than them.

It’s broken my perception of swords a bit.

In this world, polearms are king. Things like Pikes, Billhooks, and Spears of all kinds.

It’s due to the reach advantage that polearms have over other weapon types. It allows it’s wielder to hit their opponent without the opponent being able to hit them. It’s something that seems like cheating.

Not all Knights can use a polearm either though.

At least all of them can actually fight, whether that be with a Bow, Sword, Spear, or Staff is up to them.

But anyway, I need to figure out how to get rid of a great amount of knight houses without harming my territory's reputation very much.

This means I can’t directly execute them.

…I’ll have to be pulling strings from behind the scenes. Sell information on the knights with dirt dug up on them slowly throughout a few years to opposing knight houses. Or plant seeds to allow them to dig dirt up on eachother naturally.

This will also cause them to have an internal war with each other, which is extremely good for the stabilization of my rule over the Akashi Territory, surprisingly enough.

After all, they’d be far too busy fighting each other to think of going after me.

I think the royal family is doing the exact same things with the nobles…

The various anti-royal factions are always fighting each other while the pro-royal factions don’t fight each other and try to stay away from any fighting unless the anti-royal faction really pushes them.

…I hate politics, I think.

At least, I hate being a tool in politics. Being the one pulling the strings isn’t bad though, I suppose.

I call Bedo to my room.

“Yes, little master?” He asks

“I need to pull strings from behind the scenes.” I explain to him “Over the next few years, cause the knight households to dig up dirt on each other and fight against each other. Cause enough chaos that they don’t pay attention to me. When they bring evidence to the table on each other, eliminate risks to the territory by readily executing them, but not always. Get someone lazy to do it so they don’t always eliminate all threats right away so as to not be noticed. Allow them to be particularly lazy with knight households that aren’t threats, however.”

Bedo’s eyes shine. “Little master, you’re a genius!” he praises

Is it really that impressive…?

“We can deal with the risks to the territory without alerting any knight households this way while also improving our reputation among noble households! It’s an excellent plan, especially from someone so young.” Bedo tells me with a grin

Ah… I suppose that’s right. A noble will certainly notice that I’ve gotten rid of all the knight households that oppose me in a naturalish way, which will make me look competent.

It’s also hidden enough to the busy knight households that they won’t discover it until it’s far, far too late.

“Right… I suppose so.” I reply to Bedo

Hmm… it might be best to have an official operation to make any movements from the Akashi house masked.

It could be called operation ‘Cleaning’.

It’ll have two goals. Both of which are excellent. Additionally, a successful operation isn’t as suspicious as a failed one.

After all, why not hit two birds with one stone?

The hidden goal would be getting rid of Knight Household risks, whereas the official goal would be to fix the problem of the smell in the Akashi Territory towns and villages. It’s something that’s normal across the land, but still something that should be fixed.

This would also give an excuse to travel throughout the territories. Information could be placed for various Knight households while there.

As for how to fix the smell, a sewer system to take better care of human waste, public bathhouses to fix the BO, and creating places for people to dump garbage, along with a job for taking that garbage far away from the city or town.

The main things being thrown out are rotten food, wood pieces, and things that are completely unusable. Those are pretty much all degradable.

Things like metal is already sold to be melted down and reforged, and equipment repaired over and over again to save money.

I explain my plan to Bedo.

He’s panting with excitement.

“Now get to work.” I order, dismissing him before he can get too creepy.

He nods his head excitedly before running out.

Alright, now that that’s done with, all I have to do is wait.

I call a maid and order her to get some food for me. I’m really hungry…