090 Ottoman Humiliation (2)
Yi Hwan, who came down to the south after receiving a letter bearing the imperial seal from the Ottoman Empire, decided to stay in Tripoli for a while.
Upon hearing that he had arrived in Tripoli, the squad sent a messenger.
“Commander, it is said that the emirate meeting has been convened and is gathering in Kuwait.”
“Looks like Hasman did it.”
“If the Ottomans declare that they renounce all influence over the territories, the Confederacy promises to follow you forever, with Commander-in-Chief.”
If Yi Hwan only recognized their independence and sovereignty, the Arabs would have fallen into his hands.
In that case, there was no reason to refuse from Lee Hwan’s point of view.
“Tell them that we should end our relationship with the Ottomans and make direct contracts with the emirates to take control of the oil field and take over the territorial rights.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“We’re going to build a city in an oil field and build a road in the area, so please tell them to donate a lot of real estate nearby.”
“Real estate?”
“We plan to use concrete to bury oil pipelines underground and transport crude oil.”
“iced coffee… … !”
“Until then, no people can travel, so it would be better to build roads where vehicles can roll and connect each city. Tell them to build a road with a joint venture. If we connect roads like that, it will probably become a much more livable area than it is now.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Lee Hwan delivered the letter to the messenger and instructed him to finalize the negotiations.
Soon Lee Hwan continued to move.
Lee Hwan, who sent a messenger from Tripoli, led the army through Beirut to Nazareth.
As he crossed from city to city, he passed the Imperial Sealed Bull to the local administrators.
Then the troops began to withdraw.
“… … we’re leaving However, I just want you to add some of the supplies we need to get to the capital.”
“Do that.”
The retreating army begged Yi Hwan for food, and Yi Hwan willingly wrote a favor.
They might one day stick a knife in Lee Hwan’s back, but he wondered if he could even touch the tip of Lee Hwan’s hair in that way.
Because Osman was no longer a match for Eaststellar.
After such a journey, Yi Hwan arrived in Jerusalem and found blue flags hanging all over the city.
The crest embroidered with a flying hawk on the background of the chandelier, it was the mark that symbolized the Barony of Easterfield.
The squad that Yi Hwan had sent had already arrived in Jerusalem, and they were slowly improving the city on their own.
🤩🤩🤩🤩 … !
As Yi Hwan passed through the gates of Jerusalem, the soldiers blew their trumpets to welcome him.
A huge crowd had gathered along the way he passed.
“Hurray, Baron Easterfield!”
“He is our savior!”
From the huge crowd to the cheers like fever, the people’s hearts were piercing the sky.
How the heck did people get this high?
Lee Hwan had such a question, but the doubt was quickly resolved.
People were scattering roses and rice along his path, which meant that his path would be bright.
But these days, grain is so precious, there will be no time to waste it like this.
It was then that Lee Hwan realized that the military had been released here.
he stifled a laugh.
‘You’re really doing what you’ve been taught. You’re a good student.’
From now on, it was clear that the picture that Lee Hwan wanted would be drawn in a rough way.
***
As soon as Yi Hwan occupied northern Africa, he began preparing to build roads there and build iron fences along the borders.
The plan was to send a ship to the head office to procure materials and to hire local residents at a low price to launch a quantity offensive.
His purpose was to use the site as an oil supply route, but that was not all.
There was also the intention to dominate trade by drilling the Suez Canal, but the goal was to achieve it in a shorter period of time.
It was the securing of diamonds.
Lee Hwan, who was able to build a city by occupying the northern part of Africa, was planning to spur the production of diamonds in earnest by preparing a bridgehead to the south.
He returned to the Netherlands to check whether the Ottoman Empire was keeping its promises.
When Lee Hwan went to the Netherlands, the procurement of military supplies was in full swing in Amsterdam.
As the procurement of military supplies became easier due to the expansion of roads and the opening of railways, rumors circulated that the Dutch army was doing well by eating well and fighting well.
“If this is enough, there shouldn’t be any major problems in resolving bills.”
Soon, the first approval of military aid would be made in Austria.
The Eaststellar mercenaries were going to take a bill, exchange it in the Netherlands, and change it in the form of a bond to pay.
If Lee Hwan’s idea is correct, the Netherlands and the UK will somehow immediately use the currency exchange.
If that was the case, Lee Hwan would be making a lot of money once again.
Lee Hwan reported his criminal record to Ben-Herren in Amsterdam, and decided to find out about the trends of the Ottoman Empire.
Lee Hwan visited Ben Heren Corporation, where he found Richard having a rather serious conversation with the heads of the military.
He greeted Richard.
“Were you talking?”
“Oh, are you here? I received the message that he had come, but I didn’t know that he would come to me in punishment.”
“Isn’t it reasonable to see the Grand Duke first?”
“Haha, I didn’t know you would think of me that way.”
Richard Ben-Herren’s tension seemed high today.
It was clear that he was having a difficult conversation to hear.
‘What kind of gossip?’
Just as Lee Hwan made a different life, there is a possibility that Ben Heren also started a different life.
Europe was in a turbulent era.
Whatever the circumstances, Ben-Heren welcomed Lee Hwan very much.
“It has come very well. News of the signing of a treaty with the Ottoman Empire spreads throughout the Netherlands. Thanks to you, our Allied Forces were able to advance in a ruthless fashion without looking at the south.”
“What about the Ottomans? It seems that they were originally trying to stick to Russia.”
“He looks like he has a complicated head too. You are very well tied up because you united the emirates and established a huge force in the south. Maybe even after the war is over, you won’t be able to go up north of Belgrade, right?”
The Ottoman Empire, which bordered Austria on the border of the Baltic States, was the biggest obstacle for the Allies, but now it was becoming a strong shield to protect against Russia.
All of this was thanks to Lee Hwan’s fleet, so it might not be unreasonable that Ben Heren’s tension was high.
“Anyway, you worked hard. If you have any request from the royal family, do it.”
“Have you not already received the right to extend the territory?”
“Are you really happy with that?”
“I have achieved all my goals.”
Ben Heren looked a bit sad about something.
Rather than Lee Hwan, Richard Ben-Heren looked more pitiful, and he didn’t even know that Ben-Heren cared for him more than Lee Hwan himself.
If it’s not, it’s a plan to achieve something by using Lee Hwan.
“Then how about changing your dominion to a southern country?”
“Are you from a southern country?”
“It’s about becoming a whole country.”
“Uh… … .”
“If it’s that big, it’s true that we become a nation. Assume that the Netherlands claims sovereignty over your territory. Does that mean effective domination is possible? That’s frankly nonsense. If so, wouldn’t it be beneficial for the Netherlands to declare a new country as a southern country in the line of collecting appropriate taxes?”
The tax rate collected by the current Dominion was considerably lower than expected.
For that reason, it was said over and over again that the Baron Easterfield would be upgraded to a non-Dominion State.
‘Tax rates are going up… … .’
If he becomes a southern country, Yi Hwan should pay tribute as a Principality of the Netherlands.
However, since the size of the Dutch counter tribute to the tribute would be larger, it could actually be a huge profit as much as collecting taxes.
The question was how international diplomatic relations would be achieved when the southern country was declared.
“Because I haven’t even thought about opening a country yet.”
“But now is the time to think seriously. Aren’t you also the head of a full-fledged army and the head of a large corporation? To borrow your words, they are warlords and chaebols.”
A nation’s fence is much stronger than that of a dominion or company.
Lee Hwan decided to seriously consider the establishment of the country.
“Once the war is over, we will think about it seriously.”
“You will.”
He thought that other conditions would be better than declaring a nation-state.
To be honest, it’s a country, isn’t it possible whenever Lee Hwan wants it?
“I’d rather help get British-made necessities to the south of Africa.”
“Africa?”
“I would like to expand the road network from Cairo to Cape Town to conduct trade.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea! After all, you’ve taken control of the Middle East, so you might be able to bring things from Africa to the East.”
“I mean that.”
“Hmm, then, maybe we need to sort out our interests with the UK?”
“So, I want to ask you a favor.”
“It’s a necessities… … .”
“If that happens, I think the current problem of overproduction will be resolved soon, and there is a high possibility that the unemployment problem will be overcome. Perhaps even the title of solving overproduction would be good enough in England.”
“The problem is that of the Dutch royal family who will act as a stepping stone.”
“Yes, it is.”
Ben Heren put his hand on Lee Hwan’s shoulder.
It’s a gesture that only appears when you’re drunk, but sometimes when you’re playing a prank, this kind of behavior happens.
He smiled, revealing it.
“So, I’m telling you to go get married. You should just make an engagement with Elizabeth. This is a problem, honestly, it’s gum.”
“… … Haha, are you talking about that again?”
“My friend, marriage is an important matter. The Golden Child family is also waiting for your decision.
Now is the time to think seriously.
Lee Hwan nailed that he would arrange everything before and after.
“Once the war is over, we’ll think about it.”
“Well, you will.”
Ben Heren handed Lee Hwan a copy of the document.
After reading the contents of the document, Lee Hwan couldn’t help but be surprised.
“… … Mediterranean Corporation?”
“It was originally a company we set up with the UK to develop Suez. I will give you all the shares, so you can trade on your own.”
“Are you really okay with that?”
“What would be wrong? If you hadn’t broken the Ottomans, it would have cost more money than this.”
“Well, it does.”
“It’s not like I’m giving you a favor. That means you have done a great job.”
A very unexpected thing fell on Lee Hwan.