BY HERESIES DISTRESSED – snippet 9:
“In what way, Master Qwentyn?” one of his other guests asked in guarded tones.
“It seems evident that the Grand Inquisitor’s objective is to minimize contact between potentially apostate Charisians and the citizens of the Republic,” Qwentyn said calmly. “One can hardly draw any other conclusion from the his directives, not to mention his explicit instructions to the Lord Protector and to the other heads of state of the major mainland realms. The possibility that the consequences of his directives may very well exceed his intentions clearly exists, however. It’s been suggested to me that perhaps it would not be inappropriate for those of us deeply involved in international trade and investment to consider ways in which certain of those unanticipated consequences might be minimized.
“For example, the Grand Inquisitor has specifically directed that our ports are to be closed against any and all Charisian-flag vessels. None of us, I’m certain, would ever even consider setting our own will in opposition to the commands of the Grand Inquisitor. However, his directives refer specifically to the realm where a ship is registered; there was nothing in them which pertained to where a ship might have been built, or even where its cargo might have originated.” He smiled benevolently at his listeners. “My own House has recently signed a long-term lease-purchase agreement by which we have taken possession of several dozen Charisian-built merchantships. Since the agreement is a lease-purchase, it’s obviously in our best interests to secure our ownership interest in the vessels, especially in these troubled times. Accordingly, their registries have been transferred from those of the kingdom in which they were built to the Republic, where their current owners are located.”
Eyes narrowed around the table as his guests digested that. It was true that the Grand Inquisitor’s orders had specified the seizure of Charisian-owned vessels. If ships were no longer registered in Charis, and if their owners were no longer Charisian subjects, then the letter of Vicar Zhaspahr’s commands would no longer apply. Still . . . .
“Have you discussed these ‘lease-purchases’ with the Chancellor’s office?” the Charisian-accented guest asked slowly.
“There’s been no need to involve the Chancellor in such routine transactions,” Qwentyn said tranquilly. “Obviously, his office is aware of them, however, since it’s responded most favorably and promptly to our requests to expedite the registration of the transfers of title.”
“I see.”
The Charisian and the others seated around the table digested that, as well. Given the fact that the vessels themselves would be useless without crews to man them, and given the fact that the Siddarmarkian merchant marine was virtually nonexistent, a rather delicate question arose. After several seconds, one of the other guests cleared his throat.
“I can well appreciate how the transactions you’ve described would go far towards meeting the Grand Inquisitor’s desires while simultaneously providing the necessary bottoms to keep essential commerce moving. My own shareholders might well be interested in participating in similar transactions, but, alas, we do not possess a stock of trained sailors from which to provide crews.”
“As a matter of fact, that presented certain difficulties to us, as well,” Qwentyn said, nodding gravely. “We determined that the simplest decision was to hire the additional sailors we required. In fact, the sellers were kind enough to provide us with the trained seamen we needed. The simplest solution, actually, was simply to hire the passage crews who delivered the vessels to us. Obviously, they were already familiar with the ships in question, and the majority of them had no objection to sailing under Siddarmarkian colors. One ship is very like another, after all.”
Eyebrows rose. It was abundantly clear that the legal maneuver Qwentyn was describing was no more than a paper transaction. And if that was clear to them, they felt confident it would be clear to others. The possibility that Zhaspahr Clyntahn would be . . . unhappy when he learned of it appeared significant, but it was obvious Qwentyn was, in fact, acting as the Lord Protector’s messenger in this instance. And while it was undoubtedly true that the Grand Inquisitor’s wrath and the disapproval of the “Knights of the Temple Lands” was not something to be lightly contemplated, it was also true that the Lord Protector was far closer to them. With winter closing in, it was even conceivable that some five-days would pass before anyone in Zion learned of this particular maneuver. And if — or when — Vicar Zhaspahr learned of it, the Church’s long-standing policy of not pushing Siddarmark too hard would undoubtedly come into play. The most probable negative outcome would be a forced repudiation of the “lease-purchases,” and it was highly probable that the Republic’s diplomats (and law masters) would be able to spin even that out for months. Months during which the official owners of the vessels in question would be making money hand-over-fist in markets where the general reduction in shipping would enforce scarcity and drive prices steadily upward.
And if the Lord Protector’s administration was prepared to pursue this arrangement, who knew what other arrangements it might be prepared to sanction, as well?
Several eyes slid sideways, towards one of the guests, in particular. He was neither Charisian nor Siddarmarkian, and his tunic sleeve carried an embroidered crown surmounted by crossed keys. The crown in question was orange, not white, which meant he was a senior bailiff for a member of the Council of Vicars, and not some lowly archbishop or bishop. His presence had been unexpected, and more than one of the other guests waited to hear him denounce what Qwentyn had just said.
Instead, he simply frowned thoughtfully. If he felt the intensity of the regards directed at him, he gave no sign of it, but after a few moments, he nodded.
“As you say, Master Qwentyn, the consequences of the exclusion of Charisian-owned shipping have already been profound. And, like most of the people in this room, I’m responsible for serving the best interests of my patrons. Clearly, the upward surge in prices is making that significantly more difficult. I feel quite confident that my employers would wish me to explore every possible avenue by which those rising prices might be controlled. I think this lease-purchase arrangement of yours has a great deal to recommend itself as a means whereby the Grand Inquisitor’s directives and intentions can be given effect without bringing about a total collapse of our maritime commerce or imposing disastrously high prices. In fact, it would seem to me that the purchasing approach you’ve chosen to follow is only one of several possible options. For example, had you considered –”
The atmosphere around the table shifted noticeably as the bailiff leaned forward, his eyes intent. Business is business. They could almost physically hear him saying that, although they all knew he would never, under any circumstances, admit that he had.
The arrangements they were discussing probably wouldn’t last, yet they might very well hold up for quite some time. And if the Lord Protector remained as willing to pursue . . . innovative solutions as he clearly was at this moment, some fresh arrangement would undoubtedly be waiting in the wings when the Church finally got around to quashing this one.
Which suggested all sorts of interesting future possibilities . . . .
Karina, yeah the eligibilty requirements were discussed somewhere in BSRA, and basically only landowners can vote, which means the assembly is dominated by the farmers and rich merchants. Not that most of the rest of the population seems to mind, however, because their best interests (which more or less amounts to keeping the trade relationship with Charis strong) also correlates closely with their best interests.
Although actually I’d beg to differ on the electoral college. The original colonies (and the political parties that formed early on) were split very heavily between the “city slickers” and the “country bumpkins”. In order to prevent the more numerous city slickers from constantly outvoting the country bumpkins in every area, the membership and systems of the senate and the electoral college were created. Same effect but different motivation. And given just how bitterly the two sides continue to hate each other to this day it would have been a good idea even if their motivation was as bad as the revisionists want to pretend it was.
RH
@46 and 50 – It hasn’t occured to Merlin yet. Plus they lack the training to be effective analysts because they don’t know what could be important to an intelligence community. Prince Nahrman has the training but lacks the trust of the Inner Circle, and is not likely to be entered into that trust for a while if ever. Merlin could, of course, have OWL filter the intel he gives so that Zherneu members get Church affairs, Nahrman ends up with geopolitical affairs, and a mixed-bag goes to Merlin, but he’s doing fine as he is now so the only real relevance for such an extension at this point would be to establish the foundation for a better intelligence agency.
@49 Given the history in even the most restrictive democracies, there is no reason for Siddarmark to exist within the matrix of the Church. With Safehold starting out governmentally at the point where rulers derive their right to rule from God, the concept of government derived from the people (even if it’s just landowners) runs counter to a mandate of heaven. The only argument for Siddarmark forming as it does would be that the Council of Vicars is essentially an electorate body of representatives. Given the current level of corruption in the Church, I’d say it would have been safer for Siddarmark to form as a republic around 200-300 years after creation because any Adams in the church hierarchy would have died off and the systemic corruption would have started at the level to where things like a republic, slavery, and Inquisitory extremism could be ignored for a given amount of payment.
Alistair, I agree that I would like the idea. I think they should have done it already, but setting it up is a bit of a logistical nightmare. The secret is too absolutely critical to keep. I don’t think putting lots of advanced technology in St. Zherneau’s would be a good idea, nor anywhere else on Charis. Too much chance of A) some sensor detecting it, B) some member of the “outer circle” (or even somebody completely unprepared) stumbling onto it, or C) some other mistake being made. So now you’re looking at some sort of “isolated enclave” which means feeding, clothing, etc for them becomes a logistical nightmare.
Then of course you can’t just have these guys disappear from St. Zherneau’s without giving some sort of excuse to the others. Unless Merlin wants to fake all their deaths…
I would like to see it happen. But I understand why it hasn’t as well.
RH
Also @49, the Adams leftover from Alexandria would have had time to let their ideas take root and grow by the time they died, thus leaving the formation of the Democracy as a matter of “later than Adam and therefor natural” course if any Angels were watching still.
E, the Vicarate is a democratic body (at least in theory) as well. And so far as we know, it has been since its founding. In which case the Republic of Siddarmark could very easily have been modeled after the early Vicarate.
RH
@53 An isolated Enclave beyond the reach of most people… Not a logistical nightmare, given that much so Safehold is used to mechanical labor. Merlin could even show them hydroponics and biochar techniques to keep them more than fed. The question is for what purpose Merlin would establish such a place. It would have to be for some mid-level function that necessitates a removal from society, like intelligence processing or R&D (I could see “Inventors’ Societies” forming in Charis as a logical solution for concentrating brainpower while restricting immediacy of impact).
RH, I accounted for the Council of Vicars.
The way I see Siddar developing, they’re too army-centric to challenge Charis’ industry, so they will probably end up as a major resource provider for things like food and lumber. However, given the fact that they have the largest Charisian population outside of Charis, they could develop industries faster than the other nations because they’re really the only “open” export market that the Empire of Charis has.
RH@43. If the manpower situation Siddermark faces is truly as stark as you suspect, the most beneficial thing Merlin could do for Charis is to ‘encourage’ the development of more efficient reapers and other farm tools. I had assumed Safehold was using pre-18th Century techniques in farming, otherwise the whole idea of serfs and slaves would not be economical. With those tools the excess manpower freed from the farm can go just about anywhere. Britain used them in factories, but Siddermark can use them in their army.
Those 18th century farm labor saving devices will make Siddermark THE power on the mainland without rifles. With rifles they would own Howard and Haven. So, this proposal of Master Qwentyn’s can be a perfect wedge to sell them these new tools. Siddermark would have some time to implement these changes in farming while Charis has the G4 attention riveted firmly there. Sounds like a win-win to me.
PZ
@ RobertHuntingdon (41)
Where you quote King Haarald as saying “Some of us are born kings now”, I would suggest that a better explanation for this quote is that we now know that he was aware of the order of St. Zherneau.
And although some character may have said that “Siddarmark was clinging to its ancient Republican form of government”, I fail to see that this equates to 892 year earlier. Surely a revolution 600 or 700 years ago would still qualify as “ancient”. I don’t see that any quote of this form would support your conclusion that it was set up on (or shortly after) the day of creation.
BTW, in your post (42) where you wrote “I just don’t see Clyntahn as being smart enough to think of it. Every characterization of him I’ve seen puts him as an intellectually lazy person who thinks of one idea, assumes that because it was his it must be the best idea possible, and charges forward where angels fear to tread without even thinking about any possible alternatives much less second bow-strings”, drove me to musing.
Since Safehold had “real” angels, who physically ‘bestrode the world” for a period, the concept of “angels fearing to tread” would have not been allowed to take root. Clyntahn’s belief in his own omnipotence echoes Langhorne’s belief in his omnipotence, and omnipotent beings don’t fear anything. To paraphrase Merlin, not all old earth sayings are in use on Safehold, and I think that this is one that would be lost (at least in the literal sense)
“the excess manpower freed from the farm can go just about anywhere. Britain used them in factories, but Siddermark can use them in their army.”
It does matter what you use that excess labor for. Factories cause your country to grow wealthy. Armies cause your country to grow poor, unless you use them for conquest or rent them out. It would be terribly destabilizing. (Of course, Merlin’s goal is to be destabilizing, but maybe not directly in this manner.)
Snicker… good point Wyrm. But I was using the saying to relate to OUR thought processes. It was not intended to say that he would recognize the concept or consider it worthy of worrying about, because I didn’t even think of that possibility. I was thinking solely of a way to describe him to ourselves that we would get a chuckle out of.
PZ, I agree that there (eventually at least) needs to be some sort of agricultural revolution so that they can in turn have the manpower available for a true industrial revolution (even if merely a water-powered one). I’m not sure what can be done here however. I’m not a farmer, nor am I sure what is currently in use on Safehold. I’m game for some speculation on the topic if you are however… :) Could, for example, a machine be created that is drug behind a team of horses or draft dragons or whatnot that uses the turning of its wheels to turn gears that in turn somehow plow the field? Is such an idea even remotely realistic?
RH
Republics are not inherently democratic or opposed to established religion. Venice lasted close to a thousand years with an extraordinarily restricted suffrage and Catholicism as the state religion. They did one have major incident with the Papacy but not until the 1600s and the position of the local church was never even questioned let alone threatened.
Charis’ population deficit is most likely to appear in how they run their army. The US policy is to maintain a relatively small army with soldiers wedded to as much advanced technology as is possible. Siddarmark and its “matchless pikemen” might have gained such a reputation through a similar policy, but they still have more people than the Empire of Charis because of their mainland status; this means that Charis has to take the technology aspect even further, which they have, than Siddarmark in order to multiply the effectiveness of each soldier.
@46: To answer each of your questions in sequence, at least as I see them:
1. I can see at least two likely reasons here. The first is the simple fact that OWL’s data is almost certainly video and audio feed. The monks can’t process it in its raw format like Merlin can because they lack the necessary hardware to do it; I also don’t think Merlin can afford to build them a computer to do it with, let alone transport it to them. And then there’s teaching them to operate it properly…
The second reason is at least partially related to the first. We’re talking about hours and hours (and possibly even more) worth of recorded data from all over the world every single day. To transcribe that all to text (even if it were just the important stuff, which Merlin would still have to review to make sure it was important) would take even a group of people weeks to read. In other words, he gains too little for too much effort at the moment. Even in the future, it’s still going to be an awful lot of work for a large group of people – and I doubt there’s even a thousand monks available, so the intel would have to go to regular Charisians. Maybe they’d accept it, maybe not. This isn’t the sort of thing you want to leave up to chance.
A third reason is that while the monks may be willing to accept the ideas of advanced technology and humanity’s true history and so on, they’re undoubtedly a very conservative lot. I don’t know that they’d react well to actually having advanced technology dumped in their laps, which is another argument against a computer. And what happens if it slips out that the monks are working with intel that couldn’t have been gathered except through ‘demonic’ means?
And a fourth reason is that Merlin may simply not have thought of it yet. PICA he may be, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to think of everything.
So there’s four reasons for you.
2. Maybe, maybe not. Chances are, there is indeed something to them, even if they’re only the control circuits for the Rakirai systems. In that case, it’d probably be a bad idea to bug them, especially if they have some kind of sensors to keep an eye on things. Wouldn’t do to alert the church that there’s a “minion of Shan-Wei” lurking about, which is almost certainly what they’d consider Merlin to be (with the irony, of course, that he _is_).
3. Because it isn’t end-game time. No nation at war is ever going to relax its security measures merely because it’s do-or-die. Seriously, think about it. Even if it were end-game, the last thing Charis wants is to reveal its trump cards early.
4. Be interesting to see what Weber has planned here. And Hektor is canny enough that I doubt he’s just going to be executed, at least not if he can do anything about it.
Rh: Speculating on a ploughing machine.
I bet something could be invented that uses the same principal as the first horse-powered trains. As I undderstand it, you blindfold the horses and they are made to walk on a survase that acts sort of like a hamster’s exercise wheel. This, in turn, is connected to gears and pulleys and things that are used to move the train forward. I understand they used this system for boats as well. It shouldn’t be too much of a quantum leap to adapt it to some sort of tractor or harvest machine. I’m not a farmer either so, I don’t know how feasible this would be but that’s my 2 cents, for what it’s worth.. This technology may be in use in very small-scale applications already. Dogs turn meat on spits using this system, I believe. I don’t remember having encountered it in any of the books but, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen seeing as how not much is said about how things are run in the kitchens of palaces or rich merchants who can afford a large kitchen staff.
I would suspect that if the church starts seeing any sort of advancements in Siddarmark holy war will be declared and they will be crushed because a militarized nation with spare people tends to cause problems.