The palace of the Kandla Empire was located in the northern center of the capital, Wimbledon City. It was located on a small hill that was far higher than the surrounding plains.
This small hill was originally the only high ground in the surrounding plains. The palace was built especially high, so when the citizens of Wimbledon City looked up, they would be able to see the palace in the distance.
And the great emperor of the Kandla Empire would hold a court meeting every morning in the most conspicuous building of the palace. It was also the core of the Kandla Empire's government affairs, the Great Hall of Government. He would listen to the reports of the ministers of the empire.
Normally, this court meeting was just a formality. Some important matters would be done and some brief reports would be given to the emperor. As for the specific implementation, it would be dealt with after the court meeting.
Therefore, most of the time, His Majesty would only sit on a tall chair, looking down at the ministers below and listening attentively.
But today, the honorable emperor of the Kandla Empire, Deboer XVII, stood up from his tall chair. His face was full of anger as he stared at the middle aged man in the Kandla Empire's general uniform.
"The great empire's navy couldn't even deal with a mere merchant's fleet. Instead, they were beaten to a pulp. They lost over 70% of their ships!
Duke Warner, this is the empire's navy that you command?
This is the empire's navy that the empire spends tens of millions of gold coins on every year? "
The middle aged man lowered his head even more, but he didn't respond.
Seeing that he didn't respond, Deboer XVII became even angrier.
"Very good. Since the empire spends tens of millions of gold coins every year to raise a bunch of trash, then what do we need you for?
From today onwards, the empire's navy will be completely removed!
I don't want to spend any more money on trash like you! "
Hearing Deboer XVII's words, Duke Warner suddenly raised his head. His eyes flashed with a trace of surprise.
Although the empire's navy had always been in doubt and debate, and even the military's budget for the empire's navy was lowered every year, the emperor had never expressed his opinion. So the impact wasn't fatal.
But now the emperor was furious because of the empire's navy's defeat against the New Flyer fleet. He even said that the empire's navy would be abolished. If someone took this opportunity to make a fuss, it could have a fatal impact on the empire's navy.
"Your majesty, you can't!"
The one who shouted this wasn't Duke Warner, rather it was the Candra Empire's finance minister Marquis Hastri standing to the right of Duke Warner.
Seeing him jump out, not only the ministers, but even Deboer XVII was shocked.
Because the empire's navy had always taken a lot of the empire's budget, the empire's finance department had always been very negative towards the empire's navy.
Now that His Majesty had declared that he was going to remove the Imperial Navy out of anger, the Ministry of Finance should be the happiest.
Why did Hastri Marquis jump out to oppose it?
Deboer XVII looked at him strangely, "Hastri Marquis, why can't you?
If you don't give a convincing reason, then don't blame me for being impolite. "
Hearing Deboer XVII's sinister tone, all the ministers felt a chill in their hearts.
It seemed that His Majesty was really angry this time.
If they still wanted to provoke him at this time, then they would really be in big trouble.
Hastri Marquis wiped the cold sweat on his forehead. It was clear that he was under a lot of pressure.
But after calming himself down, he forced himself to remain calm and said, "Your majesty.
I don't know much about war, so I won't comment on it.
But as the finance minister, I want to prove the meaning of the empire's navy from my perspective. "
Everyone looked at him with surprise.
The meaning of the empire's navy's financial existence?
Wasn't it meaningless apart from consuming tens of millions of gold coins of the empire's budget every year?
"Oh?
Tell me about it. "Deboer XVII's curiosity was piqued.
"Your majesty, it is true that the empire's navy eats tens of millions of gold every year from the empire's financial budget. And in the past few years, at least in the years I've been in office, there has been no production or actual contribution. It can be said to be meaningless."
Hearing this, all the ministers couldn't help but nod.
This was in line with their impression and evaluation of the empire's navy.
"But … …" Hastri Marquis suddenly changed the topic and raised his voice.
"This situation has clearly improved in the past two years.
Although I can't give you specific statistics, but in the past two years, the pirates in the southern seas of the empire have disappeared under the attack of the empire's navy. This has greatly increased the shipping industry in the southern seas of the empire.
Just the three seaports in the south of the Empire under the protection of the Empire's navy alone have paid more than seven million gold coins in taxes this year. "
"Seven million gold?"
The surrounding ministers all looked surprised.
Although seven million gold in taxes wasn't much to the enormous Kandla Empire, the empire's treasury didn't report the taxes.
But before this, the Empire's Ministry of Finance had never made any reports on the taxes collected by the Southern Port, which was equivalent to nothing.
But now, in just a year's time, this number, which was close to zero, had suddenly skyrocketed to seven million gold coins. This was really too surprising.
"Is it only from the taxes collected by the sea?" Deboer XVII asked.
"Yes." Hastri Marquis nodded.
"These 7 million gold coins are all from the taxes collected from the three sea ports.
And the impact of this is far from just that. Because of the development of the sea, the commerce in the southern seas of the empire has greatly increased. Therefore, the taxes paid by the cities in the southern seas of the empire have also greatly increased.
Compared to last year, the city with the biggest increase has even exceeded 300%! "
"Three hundred percent?
Hastri Marquis, are you joking? "A minister couldn't help but ask.
Deboer XVII frowned, "Hastri Marquis, this number isn't a joke. Are you sure?"
"Yes.
Your Majesty, the treasury already has the detailed statistics. You can review it at any time.
This is related to the empire's finances, so I definitely wouldn't joke about it. "Hastri Marquis said proudly.
Deboer XVII lightly nodded.
Of course, he believed that Hastri Marquis wouldn't lie about this because there was no benefit to it. Moreover, it would be very easy to see through it. He wouldn't take such a big risk to lie to the emperor in front of everyone.
"In other words ….. Because of the navy, the southern seas of the empire have been cleared of pirates, allowing the sea trade to flourish. This has greatly improved the financial situation of the southern seas of the empire, and the degree of improvement is very exaggerated.
Hastri Marquis, is this what you mean? "Deboer XVII asked.
"Yes, your Majesty." Hastri Marquis said with a serious expression.
"If the existence of the empire's navy didn't show any specific meaning in the past, then I am certain that because of the existence of the empire's navy, the sea trade has flourished.
If we can increase the investment in this area, I believe it will be a great help to the empire's finances. "
"Is that so?"
Deboer XVII glanced at the silent Duke Warner and suddenly asked, "Then Duke Warner, tell me, why was the empire's navy unable to clear out the rampant pirates in the southern seas for so many years, but suddenly was able to do it in two years?"
"That's right ….."
Everyone reacted quickly and looked at Duke Warner.
However, everyone noticed that after being asked this question, Duke Warner's expression was a bit awkward.
Everyone was surprised.
Duke Warner's reputation and status in the Kandla Empire was very high. What could make him feel awkward?
"Speak!" Deboer XVII urged in a deep voice.
Duke Warner bitterly smiled and bowed to Deboer XVII. He sighed and said, "Your Majesty, the reason why the navy was able to clear out all the pirates in the southern seas of the empire and even the surrounding seas was because of the New Flyer's escort fleet ….."
"Ah?" Hearing this answer, the ministers and Deboer XVII were dumbfounded.
How was it related to the New Flyer again?
Deboer XVII frowned slightly.
He suddenly realized that because he always thought that the empire's navy was too small, he didn't care much about it. He didn't even know what the empire's navy was doing.
Based on the answer Duke Warner gave, the changes in the royal navy in the past two years had a strong connection to the Frestech Chamber of Commerce. It even made Duke Warner say that it was "mainly" because of the help of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce's guard fleet that the royal navy could clear out the pirates in the southern seas.
Judging from this point, it could be seen that the New Flyer's escort fleet was far more capable than the empire's navy. Otherwise, why would the empire's navy be unable to clear out the pirates for so many years? With the help of the New Flyer's escort fleet, they could have done it.
Thinking back to the news that the empire's navy was defeated by the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce's fleet, this inference was even more proven.
Deboer XVII slowly sat back in his chair and calmed down. He said to Duke Warner, "Duke Warner, come, introduce the New Flyer's escort fleet.
Why is a mere chamber of commerce's fleet stronger than our grand Kandla Empire's navy? "
Duke Warner was just about to speak when Hastri Marquis suddenly interrupted, "Your majesty, can I introduce the New Flyer to you first?
I think that as long as you listen to my introduction, you should understand why the New Flyer's escort fleet is so powerful. "
Deboer XVII frowned slightly because his question was interrupted by Hastri Marquis. He felt a trace of displeasure, but his curiosity about the New Flyer made him overlook this trace of displeasure.
"Alright, then introduce this New Flyer to me.
I want to see what's so special about this chamber of commerce that it can make our empire's two most important ministers talk about it. "
Marquis Hastri respectfully gave Deboer Seventeenth a bow. After thinking for a bit, he said, "Your majesty, actually ….. I've always been looking for a good chance to introduce the Frestech Chamber of Commerce to you because I feel that the empire must place enough importance on this company … …"