Law of the Devil Chapter 571: [Divine contention]
Chapter fifty-seventh [Divine contention]
I have to say that although the empire has survived many crises, including the invasion of sinners.
However, since the reigning emperor of Augustine VI for decades, countless wars have been launched, large or small, regardless of the outcome. Although it has consumed national power, it has at least one success: People of the Empire are used to a concept: tough!
For the outside world, whether it is a prairie or Nanyang, just one word: hit! !!
It can be said that even when the empire's national strength is weak, hawks occupy most of it!
As for the minister of etiquette, such courtiers usually do not have much say and effective power in national affairs. Because the mainland has only one empire: the Roland Empire.
There are no neighboring countries around, so the work on "diplomatic etiquette" on weekdays is basically blank. As for the prairie people, it's just a barbarian steppe.
So, the Minister of Etiquette of the Empire does not have much power in his daily life. Only occasionally national celebrations, festivals, etc. will make him do something.
So, although it is nominally a first-class empire, it is almost an empty shelf most of the time.
Today, it is rare to have a chance to show the value of your existence. This old minister is quite capable of playing hard.
The military is also opposed. For the Navy, Nanyang? It's just a bunch of indigenous people! When will this group of indigenous people also be eligible to send messengers to the imperial capital and enter the palace and the emperor will become a guest?
I am! !! What does Grandpa want? He wo n’t drive the battleship with a sword to grab it!
The military and etiquette ministers both spoke, and Prince Chen still did not make a statement. Charlie, the little emperor next to him, seemed to be eager to try, his eyes a little excited.
Although he is already emperor. But on weekdays, he really has very little opportunity to participate in discussing matters concerning state affairs. Although most of the time, he has been crowned emperor, but his life is not much different from the life of the former prince: he still studies with the court teacher every day and rides horses in his spare time.
The only difference is that the maids and messengers around them no longer call themselves "His Royal Highness." Instead, he changed his name to "Your Majesty".
But ... this ... seems ... like ... let Charlie at a young age feel vacant in her heart, faintly feeling unsatisfied!
Today! That's right today!
Seated on a high throne, watching the following empire ministers arguing with each other, each of them is like a peacock opening the screen, making every effort to exert their eloquence and efforts Performance! And they are desperately so hard, actually. Do you get your own verdict that sits high on the throne?
This ... a feeling of "control" fills Charlie's heart with unprecedented joy and satisfaction.
This is the emperor! !! With ultimate supreme power in hand, those ministers arguing no matter how, in the end ... their own words can determine their fate! !!
Thinking of it, Charlie's face was a little flushed. He immediately subconsciously glanced at his father ...
This look made Charlie's heart eager for a moment.
He told himself: Not me! They are now blushing, but the right to decide is not in my hands!
These guys are peacocks. But the object of desperate performance ... is his father!
It's not myself ... it's not my turn ...
A subtle and strange uncomfortable feeling makes Charlie a little confused ...
This secret emotion is breeding quietly.
The emperor Chen is very quiet. As a monarch, he is a profound monarch. He will not easily express his position. He will only let the courtiers display it, and try to understand the position and ideas of each courtier!
He refused to say easily. Because he knows that if he reveals his attitude easily and prematurely, then many people who are flattering will speak according to their own intentions, and maybe even some other good suggestions will be suppressed deliberately. .
Being in a high position, keep awake, and be able to observe the minds of the people below, otherwise. Once blindfolded and ears. Then ...
Prince Chen glanced at his son.
Today he asked Charlie to participate in the meeting. He intentionally wanted to gradually cultivate his son, although he was a little younger. However, let him occasionally participate in such meetings, even if he does not need to speak or make a decision, but he should be able to reap a lot of rulings to observe national events at such a close distance than those in the palace. The teacher's explanation should be more intuitive.
Unfortunately ... Even the wise Prince Ruchen did not notice the subtle emotion in his son.
After seeing that the "Eagle" faction of the empire has finished speaking, Prince Chen still does not speak. Ministers who are already familiar with the habits of the regent, understand: Obviously, His Highness has not heard enough, and he hopes to get more different opinions.
So the finance minister came out.
"Dear colleagues." The Minister of Finance bowed and saluted his colleagues around him first. His tone was calm and sincere. The old man spoke at a regular meeting, and he was anxious to roll up his sleeves and fight desperately with other ministers. Today But it was so calm that it made others a little weird.
"The first thing I want to say is ... I have nothing to question about loyalty to the empire. So, what I'm going to say next is just the finance minister of the empire. Consider. "
The Chancellor of Finance, no one interrupted him.
The status of the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been improved a little more recently than before. Especially, the younger brother of the Duke of Tulips has come to the imperial capital as an adult, and the granddaughter of the Chancellor of the Chancellor is about to become the wife of the Earl of the Sillaring family. This is tantamount to a **** bond between the Chancellor of the Treasury and the most powerful tulip family of the empire!
Even the former Chancellor of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's finances has to look in the face of the Duke of Tulips, and he must respect the old man.
"Ahem, guys." The Minister of Finance smiled slightly. Slowly: "The first word I want to say is ... cost. Hehe, this interesting word is not what I said, but the first place used by His Excellency the Duke of Tulips. Let's talk about this first. The State Book brought by the messenger. "
Speaking, he drew a piece of paper from his arms: "This is the copy I got. I'll show you a list of things they are willing to worship, and note that the contents of this list. The empire's offering is every year! "
Then the Chancellor of the Exchequer read aloud: "Two thousand pounds of Nanyang Spices, a variety of Nanyang specialty gems, calculated at the official imperial price, about 300,000 gold coins worth each year, and the price of gems is in accordance with The market price of the empire. In other words, the value is determined by us! Even if it is obviously a gem worth 300,000 gold coins, we say that it is only worth 30,000 gold coins. We also get it! Also, ten cases of top-quality pearls. Ten boxes. Five hundred ivory. Three hundred sets of fine sea sharkskin ... "
The Minister of Finance read aloud with a touch of complacency in his voice. Finally, after reading the list. The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced: "Based on this list, I asked the clerical staff of the subordinates to calculate, about every year, what they worship, which is worth about 2.5 million empire gold coins. This is only a preliminary conservative estimate. They The only requirement is that our imperial navy stopped the predatory behavior of the South Ocean, so-called spending money to buy peace. That's it. "
"Two and a half million gold coins, so what?" A military general dismissed: "As long as our fleet is at their doorstep, we don't want to move as much as we want! Hum! If we want to ! "
The Minister of Finance is not angry, and smiles lightly: "You are right ... theoretically it is true, but it is only theoretical."
He pulled out another list from his arms: "This is what I calculated ... we will pay the military expenses of the South Ocean Expeditionary Fleet! The manufacture of ships, of course, the size of the existing naval fleet is enough . So even if we do n’t need to build a new ship. But the fleet expedition to the sea once. The cost of repairing and maintaining the entire fleet is many times higher than stopping in the port! Especially the South Ocean Expedition. This remote navigation! Military puppets are also increased than during peacetime. Officers ’subsidies, food consumption, military equipment updates, maintenance and renewal of weapons, and the time we spend ... wait a minute and so on. The fleet of the South Ocean Expedition is controlled on a small scale. For example, only one third of the size of our previous South Ocean Expeditions. However, each military expenditure must reach at least 500,000 gold coins! This number is no longer available. Reduced again!
And, guys, I'll quote another number. I have here the settlements obtained in the last three Nanyang Expeditionary Wars. After deducting military and other expenses, the final results were obtained. The figures are: 360,000 gold coins and 210,000. Gold coins, thirteen thousand gold coins. "
"Impossible !!" The figures of the Minister of Finance have just been reported, and the military generals are immediately boiling!
People who have bursting their tempers immediately shouted at the Minister of Finance, "corruption! Naked corruption!"
"The soldiers bleed in front of us !!! We laid the entire Nanyang, and every time we returned with a load, how could there be only such a little number !!!"
Facing the accusations of the crowd, the Minister of Finance looked calm. He quietly waited for the crowd to curse his voice gradually, and then he turned and bowed to the regent and Charlie.
"His Royal Highness," said the Minister of Finance indifferently, "let alone ... I have only held the position of Minister of Finance for less than fifteen years. And the results of the three Nanyang expeditions I said are the earliest. Fifteen years ago, when the late Rolling family took over the leadership of Earl Raymond! At that time ... I was not the Minister of Finance! If I were to be corrupt, I would never be planted on my head at that time. Come on! "
His voice was calm: "I am the Minister of Finance of the Empire. The carriage I am riding on was given to me by His Highness the Regent a few years ago. Before that, the carriage I had used was twenty-three. Year old guy. The house where I live now was given to me by His Highness the Regent two years ago. Before ... my family had only four yards and fewer than ten servants! My granddaughter was about to marry, But I am still worrying about getting together the dowry. Many ministers of the empire, my life is the shabby ... I would like to ask, if I am corrupt, where is my corrupt money?!
The Minister of Finance's righteousness glanced around, and anyone who touched his eyes couldn't help turning his head to the side.
Even the reckless general who accused him of corruption just now couldn't help blushing, because the house he lived in was six times larger than the finance minister, and the servants in the family were nearly a hundred.
The regent finally spoke. He looked at the Minister of Finance and said, "It doesn't have to be that way, I know your hard work! If you are corrupt, there will be no incorruptible people in the entire empire! You don't have to be angry about it! ... "
Speaking, the Regent's eyes glanced at the military, with a little dissatisfaction, and said lightly: "You generals, please speak carefully!"
Several generals stepped forward quickly and apologized to the Minister of Finance.
The old man smiled, returned the gifts one by one, and then continued: "I know you have some doubts about the numbers I reported ... but I said that those numbers are settled after deducting military and other expenses. ... that is, the 'cost' of the deduction. "