Volume 2: Empire Chapter 68: Pillars of the Empire
Luke and Dale strolled in the palace, and when they were tired, they found a place to rest. Dale suddenly became curious about the state affairs of the empire, so Luke, who was originally going to talk about his adventures in the Anno game, could only talk about the crises and problems the empire was facing.
Only then did Dai'er know what the real world outside Saint Lun City was like. As a princess, she could not imagine the hunger and suffering in other places.
"I originally thought that the downtown area was the poorest place, but I didn't expect that they went there because they couldn't make ends meet in other places. I thought that the place I saw was the world, but I didn't expect that the world was beyond my imagination."
At this time, Luke and Dale were sitting on a bench on a suspended terrace, with floating clouds outside and Saint Lun City below. The lower city on the east side was like a half moon surrounding the upper city, and the buildings on both sides of the city wall were a striking contrast.
Luke said to the sentimental Dale: "This is the inevitable result of the progress of the times. What we can do is to find a way to solve the problem when it arises.
Remember what I did in downtown? "
"Remember!" Those days were Dai'er's first adventure. She asked again, "What happened next?"
Luke didn't tell Dale how fierce the fighting was in the downtown area, but instead told her about his investment in the downtown area.
He pointed to the large urban area on the east side and said confidently: "It won't be long before tall buildings are built there! Flat roads will crisscross, and shacks will disappear in large areas, so that everyone can live in houses that are windproof and rainproof.
Cars loaded with goods would come in and out every day, railways would run through the city, and airships would land there.
One day, the Upper City will take the initiative to demolish the city wall, and what will flow between the two cities will no longer be garbage, but wealth!"
Dai'er followed Luke's direction and looked towards the downtown area again. From Luke's description, it seemed as if she really saw a prosperous downtown area.
"I believe in you. You will definitely surprise everyone. You and Sister Agatha are both sincere about the empire. I shouldn't have misunderstood you..."
Luke asked, "What's the misunderstanding?"
"Nothing?" Realizing that she had let the cat out of the bag, Dai'er quickly covered her mouth and pointed to the nearby sky and said, "Look, there's an airship docking here."
Luke turned around and saw a small steam airship parked on a nearby tower platform. Luke recognized the logo on the airship and said, "That's the cabinet's airship... The palace is floating in the air, and cabinet officials can only come to see His Majesty by transport airships.
Let's go, I'm hungry, let's find a place to eat."
Dai Er jumped up and said with a smile, "I know which palace chef makes the best dishes. Come with me!"
Dai'er took Luke to find something to eat.
The eunuchs who got off the airship, led by Prime Minister Gabriel, went to meet Emperor Augustine.
The imperial conference was held.
The aid materials from Nutao City were delivered to the southern battlefield. They were all scarce daily necessities, which greatly alleviated the low morale of the army caused by the unfavorable attack.
"After a period of attack on the southern front, the entire army entered the defensive repair phase." Gabriel submitted a document to Emperor Augustine. "The Barbarian Legion is organizing a large-scale counterattack. The southern army is facing great pressure in the occupied area of Tedega Hill. General Qiao Xiuer hopes to get more material support and launch a second round of attack immediately after the Barbarian Legion's offensive slows down."
General Joshua led the elite troops of the Northern Army to fight fiercely in the Tedejia Hills. As soon as the first round of attack ended, they were ready for the second round of attack. Such a high-intensity battle brought about a huge consumption of supplies.
The cabinet has drawn up a list of materials to be delivered, which, along with the remaining reserves in the treasury, are included in the submitted documents.
Emperor Augustine looked at the document silently. Although the empire had prepared for this war long ago, he couldn't help but jump when he saw the consumption. There seemed to be a lot of supplies in the treasury now, but if the war continued like this, it would not last for more than a few battles.
A battle report was also sent from the Western Front yesterday, also asking for money and supplies.
In order to defend against possible invasions, the pressure on species transportation and reserves in the north is no less than that in the south.
"Do we need to give so much?" asked Emperor Augustine.
Gabriel answered awkwardly: "This is a list of data that has been suppressed by the cabinet. General Qiao Shuer has entered the Tedega Hills, and the supply line has been extended a lot. The military expenses and supplies for the troops guarding against other noble territories cannot be withheld at this time..."
Emperor Augustine knew that during the war, the army’s military expenditures and supplies could only be increased and must not be reduced.
"Okay, according to this standard, send the supplies to the southern front as soon as possible." Emperor Augustine hesitated for a while, and finally agreed to the list, and then said: "The generals and soldiers on the front line shed blood for the empire, we have an obligation to let them eat well, rest well, have sophisticated weapons, and life-saving medicines.
But intelligence shows that the empire is very likely to face three wars at the same time.
The western front is controllable, and Acrylic has received support from many Western lords. The strategy he gave me to suppress bandits is not based on the use of force. As long as the empire gives him more money, he can raise a lot of supplies on his own.
The wars in the south and north will inevitably be difficult. With the empire's current reserves, it cannot support the consumption of fighting on two fronts.
Does anyone have any good ideas?"
Prime Minister Gabriel replied: "To raise military funds, we can issue national debts, and to produce materials, we can expand factories. The expansion plan for Nutao City has been submitted to His Majesty. The six towns to be incorporated into Nutao City have good transportation and industrial bases. The machines can be transported from the sea to Nutao City to quickly build factories.
Nutao City has opened many schools for skilled workers, and there are also many factories where you can practice. It is entirely possible to train workers while building a factory, and production can begin immediately after the factory is built.”
Augustine nodded and said, "The Acting Governor of Meteorite is attending Princess Dale's coming-of-age ceremony at the Imperial Palace. I will discuss the expansion of Raging Waves City with him in detail.
What stage are the Crusaders at now? Can they be mass-produced to replenish the battlefield?"
Gabriel replied: "The production of Crusaders requires a lot of expensive materials and the production cycle is slightly longer. In addition, the last incident of the caltrop armor factory made us discover some shortcomings of the actual combat of Crusaders, and we need to improve the technology.
Fortunately, Professor Qingkong from Oulu College has joined the Crusader Engineering R&D team, and soon we will be able to provide the Empire with more complete elite soldiers."
Augustine couldn't help rubbing his head.
Meteorites and clear sky, will the empire's war machine be unable to move without these two people?
“It is good news that Professor Qingkong has joined the Empire’s Crusader Project.
Anything else important?"
Gabriel went on to say: "The Ambassador of the Republic of Rio protested against the covert support of the Lookout rebels by the City of Raging Waves, and against the collusion between the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet of the City of Raging Waves and the pirates in attacking their navy and merchant ships.
Request the Empire to respect the friendly relations between the two countries and severely punish Meteorite. "
Severely punish the meteorite!
Emperor Augustine felt a tightness in his chest that he couldn't get out.
As soon as your Rio Republic protested and asked me to severely punish Meteorite, I killed Meteorite right after...
Will I, the emperor of the empire, have the face to see people in the future?
Emperor Augustine said to Gabriel righteously: "Go back and inform Ambassador Leo and tell him... Meteor is an important official of the empire. If there is no evidence for all his accusations against Meteor, it is a serious slander and will greatly damage the relationship between the two countries.
Meteorite rescued Leo's consul from the Lookout, are they so ungrateful?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will respond to Ambassador Leo in a stern and factual manner.
Your Majesty...Now the liberal activities in the empire are rampant, and with the secret support of the At County Alliance, they have launched many rebellions. One of them entered the Kama Mountains and seriously threatened the trade route of the Raging Wave City. The Raging Wave City Council decided to set up a 300-man militia to protect the safety of the trade route. "
It's related to meteorites again.
Emperor Augustine suddenly felt that not only the war could not move without a meteorite, but the entire country seemed to be unable to move without a meteorite.
How much benefit did the meteorite bring to these people!
If this isn't a powerful official, then who is?
Emperor Augustine is even more murderous towards Meteor, but can the empire withstand the turmoil of Meteor's death?
"Does the Imperial Army have no way to deal with these rebels? We need Fury City to set up a militia to protect the trade routes! What is the Fury City fleet for?"
Prime Minister Gabriel knew that this loophole had been opened for Nutao City, which would have a huge impact in the future, so he answered carefully: "Your Majesty, now all places are sending troops to the north, and we cannot organize enough troops to enter the Kama Mountains to suppress the bandits.
The Acting Governor of Meteorite has a strategic plan to threaten the coastal areas of Art County from the sea. This requires the naval forces of Raging Waves City to concentrate their forces to first eliminate the Leo Navy, and then go north to confront the Art County Navy.
The fleet of Nutao City is receiving new warships and is busy training, so it cannot spare troops to protect the trade routes.
It seems that the only feasible way is for Nutao City to raise funds and form a militia. The trade routes of Nutao City are related to the strategies of all directions of the empire, and there can be no mistakes! "
Emperor Augustine knew part of Meteor's strategy against Leo through Agatha.
It has to be admitted that the City of Rage secretly supported the Watchers in fighting the Rio Civil War, which saved the empire from being attacked from all sides, made the relatively wealthy coastal cities the rear base of the empire, and allowed the empire to connect with the world to continuously obtain blood and nutrients.
If it weren't for the meteorite, the Rio Republic would have taken advantage of the civil war to harass the coast of the empire and seize the dominance of the sea. At that time, once the empire's gates were closed, they would attack from all sides and take it away.
The importance of meteorites rose to a higher level in the mind of Augustine the Great.
Kill? Don't kill?
Extremely conflicted.
Emperor Augustine was not in the mood for the meeting. He just listened to a few topics and then asked the cabinet ministers to hand in all the topics that had not been discussed yet.
"I'm tired. I'll finish reading these topics today and reply to you tomorrow. You guys can go back... The empire is facing many problems now. As important officials that I rely on, you must do your best."
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
The cabinet ministers left, and Emperor Augustine waved his hand, and the eunuchs and royal knights also walked out.
The door closed, leaving only Milscombe standing nearby.
"What did Meteorite do today?"
Milscombe replied: "Meteorite met Prince McDonald this morning. Prince McDonald...he insisted on recognizing Meteorite as his brother and asking Meteorite to help him make money."
Upon hearing the news, Emperor Augustine showed a strange expression on his face: "This tradition of the Lusien royal family has made the empire want to annex Lusien Bay but has never been able to do so.
The economic boom created by Meteorite in Raging Waves City made everyone like him, including the Queen. Christina was very happy with Meteorite's large investment in the Kingdom of Lucien.
Since she married into the palace, I have rarely seen her smile."
Milscom said: "Her Majesty the Queen is kind-hearted. The investment of Raging Waves City in the Kingdom of Lucien can enable many people to live a prosperous life."
"Yes, the queen is a kind woman." Emperor Augustine then continued to ask: "What did the meteorite do?"
"Meteorite went to meet Princess Dale, and the two of them toured the palace together and got along very well. Now they went to the kitchen and asked the palace chef to make some dishes for them."
Augustine asked, "Meteorite has always been with Dale."
"Yes."
Augustine asked again: "Agatha stayed in his bedroom until very late last night?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. But although the princess drank a lot of wine with Meteorite and stayed in his room for a long time, she was always by the window... The patrolling royal knights and the palace guards on duty saw it."
Emperor Augustus knew that Agatha wanted to avoid suspicion, but he still felt extremely uncomfortable knowing that his two most beloved daughters were so close to Meteorite.
"Do you think I should kill Meteorite?"
Facing Augustine's inquiry, Milscombe immediately replied: "Your Majesty, my duty does not allow me to comment on political affairs. Protecting your safety is my first priority."
"Let's talk... There aren't many people I can trust in this palace."
Milscombe was silent for a while and replied: "Your Majesty, you should admit that you are old and your thinking and decision-making are not as good as before. You would not be so hesitant and would not ask me before.
Because you know, I am a warrior. "
Hearing such a straightforward answer, Emperor Augustine was stunned for a moment, then he laughed: "Yes, you are a warrior. I actually let a warrior give advice on such an important matter. I am really old.
Arrange for Meteorite and I to meet at the dinner. He has done so much for the empire, I should have met him a long time ago!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Emperor Augustine pointed to a pile of documents on the table and said, "Send these to my office and notify the queen. I need to finish my official business as soon as possible and concentrate all the wisdom and energy I can now to decide the future of the empire in the evening."
Milscombe saluted to Emperor Augustine who stood up and said, “As you command, Your Majesty, I will go and inform Her Majesty the Queen immediately.
Is lunch delivered to your office as well? "
"Um!"
