Law of the Devil
Chapter 588 [Palace contention] (add to arrears)
.
(Plus make up for the arrears... and, and!
Chapter 571 [Palace contention]
It has to be said that the empire has so far suffered a number of crises, including today's incursions in the face of criminals.
But since Augustine VI's great old emperor was in office for decades, countless wars, big or small, have been waged against the outside world, no matter what the outcome, but at least a little successful: he has made the people of the empire accustomed to the idea: tough!
Externally, whether prairie or southern, there is only one word: hit!!
It can be said that the high echelons of the Empire, even when the Empire is weakened, are dominated by Eagles!
And, Minister of etiquette, such a son has little say and power in matters of national importance on weekdays. Because there is only one empire on the continent: the Roland Empire.
There are no neighbouring countries around, so the work on “diplomatic etiquette” on weekdays is essentially blank. As for the grassland people, they are just grassland barbarians in a corner.
So, the Imperial Minister of etiquette, he really doesn't have much power in his hands on weekdays, only occasionally some national celebrations, festivals, etc. will make him do something.
So, while nominally a high-ranking official of the Empire, most of the time it was almost empty shelves.
Today, it is rare to have the opportunity to properly demonstrate the value of one's existence, and this elder minister is quite spiritually diligent to play.
The military also expressed its opposition. For the Navy, the Southern Ocean? It's just a bunch of indigenous people! Since when are these natives eligible to send messengers to the Emperor to enter the palace and become guests?
Shit!! What does Grandpa want? Can't he take the sword in a battleship?
Both the military and the Minister of etiquette spoke, and Prince Chen remained silent. Next to Charlie, the little emperor, his face seemed hidden with a little leapfrogging and a little excitement in his eyes.
Though he is already an emperor, he really has little chance of being involved in matters of state affairs during the week. For the most part, he has been crowned emperor, but his life is not much different from that of a former prince: he still learns every day with his court teacher and plays horseback in his spare time.
The only difference is that the lady and the messenger around her no longer call herself "His Highness the Imperial Prince”, but instead call herself “His Majesty”.
But... it seems like... it makes Charlie, a little old, feel a little empty and unsatisfied in his heart!
Today is the day!
Sitting on a high throne, watching the heavy-handed ministers of these empires argue with each other, each of them like a peacock open screen, doing their utmost to show their talent and effort in front of themselves! And aren't they so desperate, in fact, to get their own verdict that Gao sits on the throne?
This… a sense of “control” fills little Charlie's heart with unprecedented pleasure and satisfaction.
This is the Emperor!! Take ultimate supreme power, those ministers arguing no matter what, and finally… you can decide your destiny with one word!!
Thinking of this, Charlie's little face was a bit of an excited redness, and he immediately took a conscious look at the father around him...
With this look, Charlie's heart was overshadowed by the heat.
He told himself, "It's not me! They are now arguing in vain, but I am not in possession of the right to decide!
These guys open the peacock screen, but the object of desperate performance... is their father!
It's not me... it's not my turn yet...
A subtle and weird feeling of discomfort made Charlie feel a little confused...
This dark emotion breeds quietly.
Prince Chen's face is very quiet. As a monarch, he is well known as a monarch. He will not make an easy statement. He will only allow the prince to show his feelings and try to understand each prince's position and thoughts!
He was reluctant to make an easy statement because he knew that if he had made an easy and premature presentation of his attitude, a lot of charismatic people would have spoken in their own way - and perhaps even some good other suggestions would have been deliberately suppressed.
Being in a high position, you need to stay awake, you need to be able to see the minds of the people below. Otherwise, once you are blindfolded and ears, then...
Prince Chen glanced at his son.
He brought Charlie to this meeting today. He intentionally wanted to develop his son gradually, although he was a little younger, but let him participate occasionally in such meetings, even if he did not have to speak and make decisions, but listening aside should also yield a lot - so that the verdict of the great things of the close observation of the nation is far more intuitive than those of the court teachers in the palace.
Unfortunately... even Prince Chen's wisdom did not perceive the subtle emotions in his son's heart.
Prince Chen did not speak after seeing that the Empire's “Eagle” faction had finished speaking. The ministers, who were already familiar with the Regent's habits, understood: it was clear that His Highness had not heard enough and that he would like to receive more different opinions.
So, Minister of Finance, come out.
“Colleagues.” The Minister of Finance bowed down to his colleagues around him first. His tone was very accommodating and sincere. Speaking at the old man's regular meetings, he was eager to roll up his sleeves and struggle with other ministers, but today he is so calm, which makes others a little strange.
“I would like to begin by stating that… my loyalty to the Empire is beyond question. So what I'm going to say, as the Empire's finance minister, is just some calculations and considerations from the financial standpoint. ”
No one interrupted the Minister of Finance.
The status of the Minister of Finance has recently risen by a few points over the previous period, especially since the brother of the Duke of Tulip has arrived in Didu over the years, and the granddaughter of the Minister of Finance is about to become the wife of the Count of the New Rollins. This is tantamount to bringing a blood tie to the Minister of Finance and the most powerful Tulip family in the Empire!
Even the former political enemies of the Minister of Finance had to look at the face of the Duke of Tulip and respect the old man on the face.
“Cough, everybody.” The finance minister smiled slightly, slowly: “One of the first words I want to say is… cost. Oh, this interesting word was not meant for me, but was first used by His Excellency the Duke of Tulip. Let us begin with the book of nations brought about by this messenger of the South. ”
He grabbed a piece of paper from his arms and said, "Here's a copy I got, and I'm going to read you a list of what they're willing to offer. Note that the contents of this list are their annual offerings to the Empire, every year! ”
Subsequently, the Minister of Finance pronounced it with a repressive voice: “Two thousand kilograms of Southern Ocean spices, specialty jewels of the Southern Ocean of all kinds, at the official price of the Empire, are to be offered annually in quantities of approximately 300,000 gold coins, and the price of the jewels is based on the market price of the Empire, that is, the value is determined by us! Even though it is clearly a 300,000 gold coin gem, we say it is only 30,000 gold coins, it is also up to us! Also, ten boxes of fine pearls and twenty boxes of medium pearls. Five hundred ivory. 300 sets of fine sea shark skin..."
At last, after reading the list, which the Minister of Finance read with a hint of pride in his voice, he announced: "On the basis of this list, I asked the clerks of my subordinates to calculate that about every year, what they offer, worth about two and a half million Imperial gold coins, is only a preliminary conservative estimate. And all they ask is that our Imperial Navy stop plundering the South Ocean, so to speak, by paying for peace. ”
“Two and a half million gold coins, so what.” A military general does not hesitate: “As long as our fleet drives to their doorstep, we can move as much as we want! If we want to! ”
The finance minister wasn't angry either, smiling lightly: “You're right... that's true in theory, but it's only in theory. ”
He pulled another list out of his arms: “This is my calculation… we're spending money on a Southern Ocean expedition fleet! Ship manufacturing —— oh, of course, the existing naval fleet is big enough, so even if we don't have to build new ships, But for a fleet expedition, the cost of repairing and maintaining the entire fleet is many times higher than stopping at the port! Especially the Southern Ocean expedition, this long voyage! Soldiers are paid more in battle than in peacetime, subsidies for officers, food consumption, the renewal and repair of military equipment, the maintenance and renewal of weapons, the time we spend… etc., and so on, I calculated that even if the fleet of such Southern Ocean expeditions were to be kept at a very small scale, for example, only about a third of the scale of each of our former Southern Ocean expeditions. But it costs at least half a million gold coins at a time! This number can no longer be reduced!
And, ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to report another number. I have here the final results of our last three Southern Ocean expedition wars —— well, after deducting military and other expenses, the figures are 360,000 gold, 210,000 gold and 130,000 gold. ”
“No way!!” The Minister of Finance's figures have just been reported, and the military generals are boiling!
More sexually ruptured people immediately yelled at the Minister of Finance, "Corruption! naked corruption!! ”
“The generals are bleeding ahead!! We beat down the entire Southern Ocean, every time it was loaded home, how could there be only so many numbers!! ”
Faced with accusations, the finance minister was calm, and he waited quietly for the people to curse less and less, before turning to bow to the higher regent king and little Charlie.
“Your Highness, Your Majesty.” The Secretary of the Treasury said softly, "and not to mention I have held the post of Secretary of the Treasury for less than fifteen years. And the result of these three Southern Ocean expeditions, the earliest one, was fifteen years ago, when the late Count Raymond of the Rollins took office! Back then... I wasn't a finance minister yet! If I was corrupt, I wouldn't have fallen on my head then! ”
His voice was frank: “As Minister of Finance of the Empire, the carriage I am now riding was given to me a few years ago by His Royal Highness the Regent. And before that, I was riding in a carriage that took 23 years to get old. The house I now live in was given to me two years ago by His Royal Highness the Regent. And before that... I had only four yards in my house and fewer than ten servants in my family! My granddaughter is about to marry, but I'm still worried about getting the dowry together. Many ministers of the Empire, my life is the coldest... If I corrupt, where is my corrupt money?! ”
The finance minister's face was full of integrity, his eyes swept through a circle, and whoever came into contact with his eyes could not help but turn his head.
Even the reckless general who had just accused him of embezzlement could not help but blush - for his own house was six times more than that of the Minister of Finance, and his servants were nearly a hundred.
The Regent finally spoke, and he looked at the Minister of Finance and said warmly, “That's not necessary, I know your hard work! If you say you are corrupt, then there will be no more innocent people in the whole empire! You don't have to be angry about it...”
Speaking, the Regent's eyes swept towards the military. The tone of dissatisfaction was slight. "Gentlemen, be discreet!! ”
Several generals hurried out and apologized to the Minister of Finance.
The old man smiled and saluted, then continued: "I know you have some doubts about the numbers I reported... but I said, those figures were settled after deducting military and other expenses... that is, the ‘cost’ of the deduction. ”
.
(I owe you three chapters, this is the first chapter to make up! There will be updates later!
Tonight, though the update was delayed, it was late. But to show my sincerity, I'll write another chapter in the middle of the night!
Of course, the brothers don't have to stay with me all night. Why don't you all go to sleep first and get up tomorrow before it's too late.
Dance.
.
.
.
. (To be continued, please go to www.qidian.com for more chapters, support the author, and support authentic reading!)