The King Chapter 320

  The disarmament proposal was passed at the meeting without any risk, and the nobles began to disband the army in a tacit agreement.

  It seems to be asking for opinions, but it is actually forcing everyone to accept it. Starting next month, the Kingdom will no longer provide logistical supplies to the Grand Army.

  If you think you can support so many troops, it is also possible to continue to retain the current huge armaments.

  Theoretically speaking, the number of nobles' private troops is unlimited. There is no decree in the kingdom that stipulates the size of the nobles' private army.

   It's not that the king didn't want to issue a similar decree. The problem is that all the nobles below are princes of one side, and it's impossible to agree to such a self-binding decree.

  In some special periods, the strength of some great nobles once surpassed that of the king, which is nothing new.

   "Count, the Alliance Parliament issued an announcement that three kingdoms and four duchies will be established in the Orc Prairie, and the name of the country is currently being solicited from the outside world."

  After hearing Tom's words, Hudson frowned slightly. The structure of the Three Kingdoms and the Four Principalities is undoubtedly the result of compromise between all parties.

   Originally thought that the orc prairie in the future would be full of small countries, but I didn't expect that the integration had already been completed just now.

  The ability to unite to build a country is obviously the result of the formation of multiple forces. For the meaning of the Alpha Kingdom, it really shouldn't be too obvious.

   As a high-level executive in the Kingdom, Hudson now has to broaden his horizons and consider issues from an international perspective.

  The birth of the Seven Prairie Kingdoms did not threaten the survival of the Alpha Kingdom in a short period of time, but it also blocked the future expansion of the Alpha Kingdom.

  The vast orc prairie, even if it is divided into seven, it will not be a small country.

  Under the structure surrounded by great powers, the development space of the Alpha Kingdom is basically locked.

   Break the game, forget it!

  As a rising star nobleman, Hudson has not yet had such great ambitions.

  Besides, everyone doing this can be regarded as giving the Alpha Kingdom enough face. If they intentionally set up a unified country in the orc prairie, that would really make the Alpha Kingdom sleepless.

   Everyone is busy digesting the fruits of victory. For a long time to come, there will be no major conflicts between the parties, which is enough.

   As for the newly emerged seven crowns, Hudson didn't bother to bother. Anyway, no matter who is in charge, it will not be his turn.

  In the continent of Aslant, where bloodlines are important, the throne is always something that one is born with.

   There are not no cases of counterattacks against superiors, but they are all jointly promoted by the right time, place and people. Without any of these links, it is impossible to succeed in the counterattack.

  Everything has two sides. The great changes on the grassland also have a positive side for the Alpha Kingdom.

   At least Hudson's current troubles can basically be passed safely. In the face of potential border threats, it is also very necessary to properly strengthen the strength of the nobles in the border areas.

   If there is no accident, Caesar III will soon choose to make concessions and let the great nobles in the country plant their flags in the border provinces.

   After all, the previous restrictions on movement were essentially worried about their expansion northward after they gained a firm foothold.

   Now that the hope of expanding to the north is cut off, there is no point in staring at everyone.

   It is destined to be happy and sad again.

  If nothing else happens, according to the previous distribution model, the big nobles take 40%, the middle nobles take 25%, and the small nobles take the last 35%.

  Originally, the royal family still had one, but this time the situation is special. The royal family regained the homeland of the three provinces, and everyone also helped.

  The land of these three provinces alone is enough for the royal family to digest for decades. As a wise man, Caesar III would naturally not be greedy.

  Looking at the map hanging on the wall, Hudson smiled slightly. Regardless of how the north changes, it has nothing to do with him, a noble from southern Xinjiang.

  The same applies to aristocrats when people leave their hometowns and are humble. The old aristocrat's network of contacts spread all over the place, even if the strategic focus is shifted, they can integrate into the new circle in a short period of time.

  For upstarts like the Koslow family, it is better to stay where they are. If you break into a new circle rashly, you will only be eaten and wiped clean.

  The group of northern aristocrats who went south before is the best example. Even if the backstage is hard enough, it's still hard enough to be tossed by local snakes.

  If it wasn't for those guys following the right boss this time, it is estimated that they will be liquidated after the war.

  Even with Hudson following them, the dividends of this war have nothing to do with them now.

  All because they are nobles from the North!

   Enjoying the benefits brought by the political interest group of the northern aristocrats, they have to bear the corresponding backlash.

   Now that the northern aristocratic group is being suppressed in the kingdom, the development of these northern aristocratic children is naturally limited.

  This kind of political suppression will continue in the next few years, or even decades.

   There is no way, who made the northern nobles offend the kingdom all over the place when they were strong, and they happened to be caught by everyone?

  Looking at the entire Alpha Kingdom, apart from themselves, the rest are all political enemies.

   What's worse is that their geographical location and the strength they possess seriously threaten the interests of the kingdom's nobles in the north.

   Unless everyone feels that the potential threat disappears, this kind of suppression will always be accompanied.

  The best way to get out of this predicament is to wait. Time can dilute everything, and when everyone gradually forgets the threat of the northern nobles, the relationship can be normalized.

   It is not impossible to speed up this process, such as the most common operation: political marriage.

   "Tom, send someone to notify the think tank and ask them to come up with a plan to deal with the changing situation in the kingdom as soon as possible!"

   Hudson ordered immediately.

   After working hard for so long, I finally got together a team of think tanks. It's a pity that it is still too immature and is currently in the internship stage.

  In normal times, it's okay to help with trivial matters. Once major political changes are involved, the shortcoming of lack of vision is immediately exposed.

   This is determined by birth. No matter how powerful the talents among the minor nobles were, the education they received since childhood still limited their horizons.

  Now Hudson can only provide them with as many exercise opportunities as possible. Even if they know that it is difficult for them to see through the essence of the problem, they can only force them to comprehend it.

  Facing all of this, Hudson can only comfort himself: It's better to be almost capable, so as to avoid headaches after being poached.

  The competition between the great nobles has always been full of tricks, and poaching each other is also a common thing.

  Hudson was not poached, not because of how powerful he is, it is simply because there are no outstanding talents under his staff to make everyone look at him.

  When he was the commander-in-chief, the Commander's Mansion was able to run smoothly because the auxiliary officers were all drawn from the great nobles.

  These people serve the coach, not Hudson himself. If you leave your current position, people won't buy it in an instant.

   "Your Majesty, the Earl of Hudson has submitted his resignation again!"

  The Minister of Military Affairs, Grand Duke Efiero, said with a look of embarrassment.

   "Three resignations and three requests" is not popular in Aslante mainland. Generally, if you submit your resignation letter, it means you really want to resign.

  According to the usual practice, the kingdom will not force nobles to hold important positions. After all, there is a shortage of everything in this world, except people who want to be officials.

   What's more, he is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, such a high-ranking position. As long as the wind is released, nobles who want to sit in this position can line up from the royal capital to Blood Moon Castle.

  Anyway, the war is over, the disarmament work has also begun, and the requirements for the commander's ability have also dropped significantly. It seems that it is not difficult to change someone.

   However, this is only superficial. It seems that the kingdom is peaceful, but the undercurrents hidden underground never stop.

  If it weren't for a strong coach, the nobles in the kingdom would not be so peaceful. Going out to a duel after a disagreement has never been a new thing in the aristocratic circle.

   "Tell Earl Hudson to let him take on the obligations of the nobles of the kingdom.

  After the disarmament work is completed and the nobles from all walks of life in the kingdom return to their fiefdoms, I will agree to his resignation.

   Before these tasks are completed, he, the coach, must be on duty! "

   Caesar III said helplessly.

  It's unbelievable to think about it. Other kings are worried that their powerful ministers will hold on to the military power and threaten the safety of the royal power. When he came to him, he became the coach and wanted to resign every day, and he, the king, refused to let him go.

  In fact, he had long thought of a substitution. Perseveringly looking around at the generals in the army, he found helplessly that there were too few "insiders".

  The direct generals of the royal family either lack prestige and cannot convince the public; or they are not capable enough to take on this important task.

   When it comes to military power, one should never take it lightly. There were no troubles during the war, but if something happened in peacetime, it would be a shame.

  The key is that once the big nobles grab the pigtails and want to do military affairs in the future, it will be difficult.

   "Your Majesty, the Earl of Hudson is in a hurry to resign, most likely because of the pressure exerted by the nobles in the army.

   In order to promote the disarmament plan, Earl Hudson also made a lot of efforts. It is said that there were several quarrels in the middle, but in the end he was forced to pass it as the coach.

  The standing army of the kingdom has been greatly reduced this time, and the strength of the major nobles in the army may have been reduced to a disastrous extent.

   It's not easy to not cause trouble! "

   Archbishop Afiero explained verbally.

  The number of the standing army has been reduced so badly, the most critical factor is-there is no money to make trouble.

   "It's fun to borrow money for a while, and the crematorium to repay the debt."

  The Kingdom of Alpha has issued a large number of bonds one after another. Coupled with the foreign debts owed before, the Kingdom's finances have long been overwhelmed.

  In order to save money, even the celebration banquet is kept simple. The administrative expenses that can be reduced in the kingdom have been reduced to the extreme.

  No matter how much you save money, facing a huge debt of nearly 100 million yuan, it still seems like a drop in the bucket.

  Not to mention the repayment of the principal, but the payment of the interest on the funds alone put the Alpha Kingdom under great pressure.

  Among the many daily expenses of the kingdom, the largest expenditure is military expenditure. In the past, military expenditure could account for more than 60% of the total expenditure.

   This is also the reason why Hudson was immediately regarded as a "great loyal minister" by the high-level kingdom after Hudson proposed the disarmament plan.

  The biggest expense was cut off. The kingdom's finances, which were on the verge of bankruptcy, were rescued.

   Maybe there will be a hard life in the future, but it can be maintained after all, and there is no need to worry about financial bankruptcy all day long.

   "That's all!

  The situation on the grassland is changing rapidly. The appearance of the Three Great Kingdoms and the Four Duchies is completely beyond our expectations. It is not an option to continue the stalemate.

  Find out Earl Hudson's last report, make a slight modification on it, and implement it as soon as possible! "

   Caesar III said with a sigh.

  It seems that Hudson can't bear the pressure, but in fact he, the king, can't bear the pressure.

   This is the biggest feature of joint-stock countries. When the shareholders with more than half of the shares have the same position, they have the right to make decisions, and the king, as the major shareholder, has to compromise.

  The changes on the grassland only accelerated the time for compromise. In essence, the royal power was at a disadvantage in the game with the princes.

  Similar scenes often occur in the continent of Aslante. It cannot be said that there are no kings who keep their promises, but overall they are still a minority.

  Forcibly resisting the pressure and doing it according to one's own will is not impossible in theory, but the sequelae are a bit serious.

   Occasionally, once or twice is not a big problem, if the frequency is too many, the people below will not be able to resist changing the king.

  A wise monarch will compromise at the right time. After all, things like political games have always been long-term.

  This time the political goal was not achieved, and there is another chance. There is no need to put yourself on the opposite side of the noble group in order to win or lose for a while.

  Essentially, the king and the nobles are in the same interest group. There may be conflicts due to internal distribution of spoils, but more often, they are still working together to maintain system governance.

   "Your Majesty, the interest settlement time for the kingdom's first batch of bonds is approaching. Would you like to imitate the Principality of Moxi and impose a debt repayment tax?"

  Marquis Delgado bit the bullet and suggested.

   As Chancellor of the Exchequer, he has not had a good day since the outbreak of the war.

  Looking at the hairline on the head, you can tell that in the near future, there will be another bald man in the court of the Alpha Kingdom.

   "Don't think about it. Next, they will develop new fiefs, which is the time to spend money. If you reach out to them at this time, it will be strange to get the money!

   Find a way to collect a sum of money first, and settle the interest first. After a few months of delay, the following taxes will be sent up, and it will be enough to make up the gap. "

  Caesar III decisively vetoed it.

  He is too familiar with the style of nobles.

   During the war, asking everyone to pay for it is all about cutting flesh. In this peaceful age, if they continue to cut their flesh, they will have to turn their backs.

  Of course, the most important thing is the little nobles below. Now they really don't have much money.

  During the war, they were overwhelmed by successive war taxes. Many minor nobles are heavily in debt.

  If the expropriation continues, the big nobles may not have much impact, and the bottom small nobles will go bankrupt collectively.

  For the king, the many small and medium nobles below are an important part of checking and balancing the big nobles and balancing the domestic situation.

  Once a large number of small nobles go bankrupt, a new round of land mergers is bound to start. The final result is: the small nobles are gradually eliminated, the big nobles become stronger and stronger, and finally the royal power is reduced to a decoration.

  Similar negative cases have not appeared in the continent of Aslant. Even now there are countries that are in the era of oligopoly controlled by a few big nobles.

Chapter end