Chapter 571

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

However, since the old emperor Augustine VI was in power for several decades, countless wars, big or small, were launched. No matter what the result, although it cost national strength, there was at least one success: he made the people of the Empire used to a kind of idea: tough!

Outside, whether it's Grassland people or Nanyang, there's only one word: fight!!

It can be said that the high level of the Empire, even when the Empire was weak, was dominated by hawks!

The Minister of etiquette, on weekdays, does not have much say and real power in state affairs. Because the mainland has only one Empire: the Roland empire.

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

Therefore, the ceremonial Minister of the Empire has no real power in his hands on weekdays. Only occasional national celebrations, festivals and so on, can he do something.

Therefore, although he was nominally the first-class senior official of the Empire, he was almost empty most of the time.

Today, it is rare to have a good chance to show the value of their existence, the old minister is quite enough spirit to play hard.

The military is also opposed. For the Navy, Nanyang? It's just a group of aborigines! When are these aborigines qualified to send envoys to the imperial capital to enter the Imperial Palace and become guests?

I Pooh!! What do you want? I'm not going to grab it with a sword and a warship!

Both the military and the Minister of etiquette spoke, but Prince Chen still did not make a statement. Next to the little emperor Charlie, his face seemed to be a little eager to try, and his eyes were a little excited.

Although he is already emperor. But on weekdays, he really seldom has the opportunity to participate in the discussion of national affairs. Most of the time, although he has been crowned emperor, his life is not much different from that of the former Prince: he still studies with the palace teacher every day and plays on horseback in his spare time.

The only difference is that the palace maids and envoys no longer call themselves "His Royal Highness". Instead, he called himself "Your Majesty.".

But... This... Seems to... Seems to... Make young Charlie feel a little empty and unsatisfied in his heart!

today! Today is the day!

I sit on a high throne and watch the powerful ministers argue with each other. Each of them is like a peacock. They try their best to show their eloquence and performance in front of themselves! And they are so desperate, in fact, is not for. Do you get your own verdict for sitting high on the throne?

This... A sense of "control" filled little Charlie's heart with unprecedented pleasure and satisfaction.

This is the emperor!! Holding the ultimate supreme power, those ministers will argue no matter what, and finally... They can decide their fate with one word!!

Think of here, Charlie's little face a little excited blush. He immediately took a subconscious look at his father

This one eye, let Charlie's in the heart eagerness suddenly gloomy a few minutes.

He told himself: not me! They are now fighting red in the face, but the right of adjudication they hope to obtain is not in my hands!

These guys are peacocks. But the object of desperate performance... Is his own father!

It's not my turn... It's not my turn

A subtle and strange feeling of discomfort made Charlie feel at a loss

This kind of secret emotion is quietly breeding.

Prince Chen's face is very quiet. As a monarch, he knows the way to be a monarch. He will not easily express his position. He will only let his ministers show it and try to understand the position and ideas of each minister!

He is not willing to express his position easily. Because he knows that if he shows his attitude easily and prematurely, many flatterers will follow his own meaning and even some good suggestions will be deliberately suppressed.

If you are in a high position, you should keep sober and be able to see the minds of the people below, otherwise. Once blindfolded and blindfolded. So

Prince Chen looked at his son.

It was he who brought Charlie to the meeting today. He deliberately wants to gradually cultivate his son, although he is still a little younger. However, let him occasionally participate in this kind of meeting, even if he does not have to speak or make decisions, but he should be able to gain a lot by listening in. Such a close observation of the adjudication process of state affairs is far more intuitive than the explanation of those palace teachers in the palace.

It's a pity... Even the wise Prince didn't realize his son's subtle emotion.

Seeing that the "Eagle" faction of the Empire had finished speaking, Prince Chen still didn't speak. Ministers who have a good understanding of the Regent's habits will understand: obviously, his Highness has not heard enough. He hopes to get more different opinions.

So the chancellor of the exchequer came out.

"Colleagues." The chancellor of the exchequer bowed to his colleagues first. His tone was calm and sincere. The old man always wanted to roll up his sleeves to fight with other ministers when he spoke at the meeting. Today, he is so calm, which makes other people feel strange.

"The first thing I want to say is that... My loyalty to the empire is beyond question. So what I'm going to say next is that as the chancellor of the exchequer of the Empire, I'm just going to make some calculations and considerations in terms of finance. "

No one interrupted the chancellor of the exchequer.

Recently, the position of the chancellor of the exchequer has been improved a little bit more than before. In particular, the younger brother of the Duke of tulip has come to the capital of China, and the granddaughter of the chancellor of the Exchequer is about to become the wife of the Earl of the new Rowling family. This is tantamount to let the chancellor of the exchequer and the Empire's most powerful tulip family pull a blood bond!

Even the former political enemies of the chancellor of the exchequer have to look at the face of the Duke of tulip and show some respect to the old man.

"Cough, everybody." The chancellor of the exchequer gave a smile. Slowly: "the first word I want to say is... Cost. Hehe, this interesting word is not what I said, but the first place where the Duke of tulip used it. First of all, let's talk about the credentials brought by the envoys of Nanyang this time. "

Then he took out a piece of paper from his arms: "this is the copy I got. I'll read you a list of what they are willing to offer. Pay attention to the contents of this list. It's their annual tribute to the Empire, every year! "

Later, the finance minister read aloud in a cadenced voice: "two thousand jin of Nanyang spices, various kinds of Nanyang specialty gems, according to the imperial official price, each year there are about 300000 gold coins worth of land, and the price of gems is according to the imperial market price. In other words, the value is determined by us! Even if it's a gem worth 300000 gold coins, we can say it's only worth 30000 gold coins! Also, ten cases of top grade pearls. Twenty cases of Chinese pearl. Five hundred ivory. Three hundred sets of superior sea shark skins... "

When the chancellor of the exchequer read aloud, there was a faint smug in his voice. Finally, after reading the list. The chancellor of the exchequer announced: "according to this list, I asked the clerks to calculate that about every year, what they offered was worth about 2.5 million imperial gold coins. This is only a preliminary conservative estimate. Their demand is that our Imperial Navy stop plundering Nanyang and spend money to buy peace. That's it. "

"Two and a half million gold coins, so what." A military general disdained to say: "as long as our fleet comes to their home, how much we want is not how much we move! Hum! If we want to! "

The chancellor of the exchequer was not angry, but he said with a faint smile: "you are right... In theory, it is true, but only in theory."

He took another list out of his arms: "this is my calculation... The military expenditure of our fleet for a southern expedition! Ship manufacturing Oh, of course, the size of the existing naval fleet is enough. So even if we don't need to build new ships. But the fleet went out on an expedition. The cost of repairing and maintaining the whole fleet is many times higher than that of parking in the port! Especially the southern expedition. This kind of long-distance navigation! When soldiers go to war, their pay is also higher than that in peacetime. The subsidies for officers' land, the consumption of food, the renewal and repair of military equipment, the maintenance and renewal of weapons, and the time we spent... And so on. I have calculated, even if we control this kind of naval fleet in the southern expedition to a very small scale, for example, It's only about a third of the scale of our previous expeditions. But each time the military spending, but also at least 500000 gold coins! This number can't be reduced any more!

And, guys, I'll give you another number. I have here the final results of the settlement of our last three expeditions. Er, after deducting the consumption of military and other expenses, the final results are: 360000 gold coins, 210000 gold coins and 130000 gold coins

"No way!" As soon as the number of the chancellor of the exchequer came out, the generals of the military immediately got excited!

Those who are more aggressive immediately yell at the chancellor of the exchequer, "corruption! Naked corruption! "

"The soldiers are bleeding in the front!! We've got the whole Nanyang, and every time we come back with a full load, how can we only have such a few numbers! "

In the face of the public criticism, the chancellor of the exchequer was calm. He waited for the public to scold him quietly, and then he turned and bowed to the high regent and little Charles.

"Your Highness, your majesty." The chancellor of the exchequer said lightly: "not to mention... I have been the chancellor of the exchequer for less than 15 years. The earliest of the three expeditions I mentioned was the one led by count Raymond, the late Rowling family, 15 years ago! At that time... I was not the chancellor of the exchequer! If I'm corrupt, I'll never fall on my head at that time! "

His voice was calm: "as the chancellor of the Empire, I am riding in a carriage that my highness the Regent gave me a few years ago. Before, the carriage I took was an old guy who had been using for 23 years. The house I live in now was awarded to me by his Highness The Regent two years ago. Before... My family had only four yards and less than ten servants! My granddaughter is about to get married, but I'm still worrying about getting my dowry together. Many ministers of the Empire, my life is the most miserable... Excuse me, if I embezzle, where is the money I embezzle? "

The chancellor of the Exchequer's face was full of righteousness, his eyes swept around, and those who touched his eyes could not help but turn their heads. Even the reckless general, who had just accused him of corruption, could not help blushing because he lived in a house six times as big as the chancellor of the exchequer and had nearly 100 servants. The Regent finally opened his mouth. He looked at the chancellor of the exchequer and said, "don't do that. I know you have made great contributions! If you are corrupt, there will be no incorruptible people in the whole empire! You don't have to be angry about it... "As he said, the Regent's eyes swept toward the military, his tone was a little dissatisfied, and he said faintly:" you generals, be careful! " Several generals quickly stepped forward and bowed themselves to the chancellor of the exchequer. The old man laughed and returned the gifts one by one. Then he continued: "I know people have some doubts about the figures I reported... But I said that those figures were settled after deducting military expenses and other expenses... That is to say, the" cost "deducted."