Law of the Devil

It has to be said that although the empire has experienced many crises up to now, including the current invasion of criminals.

However, since Augustine VI, the overjoyed old emperor, has been in power for decades, countless wars, large or small, have been launched abroad. No matter what the result is, although it consumes national power, at least one thing is very successful: he made the people of the empire Accustomed to a philosophy: Tough!

Externally, no matter whether it is a prairie person or a Nanyang, there is only one word: fight! !

It can be said that the top management of the empire, even when the empire's national power is weak, is dominated by hawks!

As for the Minister of Etiquette, this kind of minister does not have much say and real power in national affairs on weekdays. Because there is only one empire on the mainland: the Roland Empire.

There are no neighboring countries around, so the work of "diplomatic etiquette" on weekdays is basically blank. As for the prairie people, they are just prairie barbarians confined in a corner.

Therefore, the Minister of Etiquette of the Empire does not really have any real power in his hands on weekdays. It is only the occasional national celebrations, festival celebrations, etc. that allow him to do something.

Therefore, although he is a first-class official of the empire in name, he is almost empty most of the time.

Today, it is rare to have the opportunity to show the value of one's own existence. This old minister is even more energetic and desperate to use the military to express his opposition. For the Navy. Nanyang? It's just a bunch of natives! When did this group of aborigines have the qualifications to send envoys to the imperial capital, to enter the imperial palace and become the honorable guests?

I bother! ! What does the uncle want. Wouldn't he drive a warship and grab it with a sword?

The military and the Minister of Etiquette both spoke, but Prince Chen still didn't make a statement. The little emperor Charlie next to him seemed to be faintly eager to try, and his eyes were a little excited.

Although he is already the emperor, on weekdays, he really rarely has the opportunity to participate in discussing the affairs of the country. Most of the time, although he has been crowned emperor, he lives a normal life. In fact, there is not much difference from the life of the prince in the past: he still learns from the court teacher every day, and rides horses to play in his spare time.

The only difference is that the maids and envoys around him no longer call themselves "His Royal Highness", but instead call themselves "Your Majesty".

But...it...it seems...as if...it makes the young Charlie. There seems to be a faint emptiness in my heart, and there is a faint feeling of dissatisfaction!

today! Today is the right time!

Sitting on a high throne, I watched these powerful ministers of the empire arguing with each other. Each of them was like a peacock spreading their tails, trying their best to show their eloquence and performance in front of me! And they are so desperate, isn't it just to get their own verdict that allows Gao Gao to sit on the throne?

It's...a feeling of "in control." Let little Charlie's heart be filled with an unprecedented sense of happiness and satisfaction.

This is the emperor! ! Holding the ultimate supreme power, no matter how those ministers argue, in the end...you can decide your fate with one word! !

Thinking of this, Charlie's little face flushed with excitement. He immediately subconsciously glanced at his father beside him...

This glance made Charlie's eagerness suddenly dimmed a bit.

He told himself: Not me! They are now arguing red-faced, but they hope to obtain the right to adjudicate, but it is not in my hands yet!

These guys are peacocking their tails, but the object they are desperately expressing... is their father!

It's not me yet...it's not my turn yet...

A subtle, odd feeling of discomfort. Charlie couldn't help feeling a little dazed...

Such dark emotions. Breeding quietly.

Prince Chen's face is very quiet, he is a monarch. Knowing the way of being a king, he will not express his position easily, but only let his courtiers show it to their heart's content, and try their best to understand each courtier's position and thoughts!

He refuses to express his position easily, because he knows that if he expresses his attitude easily and prematurely, then many flatterers will speak according to his own meaning--maybe even some other people who were originally good Suggestions will also be deliberately suppressed.

If you are in a high position, you must stay awake, and you must be able to clearly read the minds of the people below, otherwise, once your eyes and ears are blindfolded, then...

Prince Chen glanced at his son.

He was the one who asked Charlie to come to this meeting today. He intends to gradually cultivate his son. Although he is still young, let him participate in this kind of meeting occasionally. Even if he doesn't have to speak or make decisions, he should be able to gain a lot from listening. Less --- it is far more intuitive to observe the ruling process of major national events at such a close distance than those explained by court teachers in the palace.

It's a pity... Even Prince Chen, who is as wise as Prince Chen, has not noticed the subtle emotions in his son's heart.

Seeing that the "Eagle" faction of the empire had finished speaking, Prince Chen still didn't speak. The ministers who were already familiar with the regent's habits understood: Obviously, His Highness has not heard enough, and he hopes to get more different opinions.

So, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, came out.

"My colleagues." The Minister of Finance first bowed to his colleagues around him. His tone was very calm and sincere. This old man would usually roll up his sleeves to fight with other ministers when he spoke at a meeting, but today he is like this. Calm, it makes others a little weird.

"The first thing I want to say is... there is no doubt about my loyalty to the empire. Therefore, my next words are just some calculations and considerations from the financial aspect as the finance minister of the empire."

Speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. No one interrupted him.

Recently, the status of the Chancellor of the Exchequer has improved a bit compared to before, especially the younger brother of the Duke of Tulip has come to the imperial capital as an adult. The granddaughter of the Chancellor of the Exchequer is about to become the wife of the earl of the Silla family. This is tantamount to creating a blood bond between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the most powerful Tulip family in the empire!

Even the former political opponent of the Chancellor of the Exchequer had to look at the Duke of Tulip, and had to respect the old man on the surface.

"Ahem, everyone." The Minister of Finance smiled slightly and said slowly: "The first word I want to say is... cost. Hehe, I didn't say this interesting word, but it was the first one used by His Excellency the Duke of Tulip. Let's first talk about the credentials brought by the envoys from Nanyang."

talking. He took out a piece of paper from his arms: "This is the copy I got. I will read to everyone the list they are willing to offer. Note that the contents of this list are their offerings to the empire every year. It is every year !"

Afterwards, the Minister of Finance read aloud in a cadenced voice: "Two thousand catties of Nanyang spices and all kinds of Nanyang specialty gems. Calculated at the official price of the empire, an amount worth about 300,000 gold coins needs to be enshrined every year. Moreover, the price of the gem land is based on the market price of the empire." , That is to say, the value is up to us! Even if the gem is worth 300,000 gold coins, we can say that it is only worth 30,000 gold coins, that’s up to us! Also, ten boxes of high-grade pearls and twenty boxes of medium-grade pearls. Five hundred pieces of ivory. Three hundred sets of high-quality sea shark skin..."

When the Chancellor of the Exchequer was reading aloud, there was a hint of complacency in his voice. Finally, after reading the list, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced: "According to this list. I asked the clerical staff of my subordinates to calculate it. About every year, The things they enshrined are worth about 2.5 million imperial gold coins. This is only a preliminary conservative estimate. And their request is only that our imperial navy stop plundering the Nanyang. The so-called spending money to buy peace is just that .”

"Two and a half million gold coins, so what." A military general said disdainfully: "As long as our fleet arrives at their door, we can move as much as we want! Hmph! If we want!"

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was not angry either, and smiled lightly: "You are right...in theory, it is true, but it is only in theory."

He took out another list from his arms: "This is my calculation... The military expenditure of our South Seas expedition fleet! The manufacture of ships-oh, of course, the size of the existing naval fleet is sufficient Well, then even if we don’t need to build new ships. But once the fleet goes out to sea for an expedition, the repair and maintenance cost of the entire fleet is many times higher than that of staying in the port! Especially for the Nanyang expedition, this kind of long-distance voyage! When soldiers go to war The military pay is also higher than in peacetime, officers' subsidies, food consumption, military equipment renewal and repair, weapon maintenance and renewal, and the time we spend...etc. The fleet of this kind of Nanyang expedition is controlled at a very small scale, for example, it is only about one-third of the size of our previous Nanyang expedition. But each military expenditure must reach at least 500,000 gold coins! This figure has already It cannot be reduced any further!

And, folks, I'll give you another number. Here I have the settlement of our last three Nanyang expeditions --- er, after deducting military expenses and other expenses, we got the final results. The numbers are: 360,000 gold coins, 2 110,000 gold coins, 130,000 gold coins. "

"Impossible!!" The number of the Minister of Finance had just been reported, and the generals of the military immediately boiled over!

Even more irritable people immediately yelled at the Chancellor of the Exchequer desperately: "Corruption! Naked corruption!!"

"The soldiers are bleeding in the front!! We have conquered the entire Nanyang, and every time we return with a full load, how could there be only such a small number!!"

Facing the accusations from the crowd, the Minister of Finance looked calm, and he waited quietly for the scolding gradually died down, before he turned around and bowed to the aloof Prince Regent and Little Charlie.

"Your Highness, Your Majesty." The Minister of Finance said indifferently: "Not to mention... I have only served as the Minister of Finance for less than fifteen years. And the results of the three Nanyang expeditions I mentioned, the earliest one is still ten years old. Five years ago, the time when the late Rowling family was led by Earl Raymond! At that time... I was not the Minister of Finance! If I was corrupt, I would never be blamed at that time!"

His voice was calm: "I am the Minister of Finance of the empire. The carriage I am riding now was rewarded to me by His Royal Highness the Regent a few years ago. Before that, the carriage I was riding was an old carriage that had been used for 23 years. You guys. The house I live in was awarded to me by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent two years ago. Before... my family only had four courtyards, and there were less than ten servants in my house! My granddaughter is about to get married, but now I Still worrying about getting the dowry together. Many ministers in the empire, my life can be described as the most shabby... Excuse me, if I am corrupt, where will my embezzled money go?!"

The Minister of Exchequer's face was full of righteousness, his eyes swept around, and everyone who met his eyes turned their heads involuntarily.

Even the reckless general who accused him of corruption just now couldn't help but blush—because the house he lived in was six times larger than the chancellor's, and there were nearly a hundred servants in his family.

The Regent finally spoke. He looked at the Minister of Finance and said softly, "You don't have to, I know your hard work! If you are corrupt, then there will be no clean people in the entire empire! You don't have to be angry about it..."

As he said that, the Regent cast his eyes on the military, and said in a dissatisfied tone, "Generals, be careful!!" Several generals hurriedly stood up and bowed to apologize to the Minister of Finance.

The old man smiled, returned the salutes one by one, and then continued: "I know everyone has some doubts about the figures I reported... But as I said, those figures are calculated after deducting military expenses and other expenses... That is, the cost of deductions.".