34 – Episode 34.
State Council Hall.
We are having conversations with all five ministers in one place.
These are the people I personally selected to fill the vacant positions after Valorant’s purge.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke. Long time no see. How have you been?”
Victor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He was a member of our Grand Duchy in the previous Imperial Diet, but this time he was selected as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“Yes. Thanks to you, I had a good time.”
After shaking hands like that, this time Finance Minister Frank smiles and says,
“hahahaha, are you married and in good spirits?”
“That’s right.”
Gaston, Minister of the Interior, responds favorably to Frank.
Is Shinsu clear?
I was surprised when I looked in the mirror to wash my face today.
This is the first time I learned that dark circles can reach up to the nose area.
“That’s right. “Your Majesty the Emperor must be very beautiful.”
Anthony, the Minister of Justice, continued her words with a smirk on his face.
“hahahaha, everyone, please sit down instead of standing like this.”
With that said, I sit down and everyone takes their seats.
“So, Minister Marcus, did you rest well during the holiday?”
Everyone is wearing a suit, but here I am talking about a man wearing a military uniform.
“Your Majesty the Grand Duke. “I had a good rest.”
The only person in the empire who can wear military uniform and participate in the Cabinet meeting is the Minister of Military Affairs.
“His Majesty the Emperor will come soon.”
When I said that, the ministers except Marcus spoke cautiously.
“Heh heh, Your Majesty the Grand Duke. “Is it really necessary for His Majesty the Emperor to be here?”
“Cancer! You’re right. Doesn’t His Highness have full authority anyway?”
“And how can someone who has just been on the throne understand complex politics?”
Most of the people here are anti-imperialists who have not defected and are from the Free Cities. I don’t think Theodora will be pleased.
“Well, but isn’t he the emperor? “Furthermore, there is no legal way to prevent the emperor from attending cabinet meetings.”
According to imperial law, the chairman of the State Council is the emperor.
The meeting cannot proceed without the chairman.
“Then it would be better to change the law at this time…”
Victor makes a remark that goes a little over the line.
“No, the right to veto exists anyway and there is no need to create confusion.”
The moment I say so clearly.
-His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!
With those words, the ministers and I stand up.
-Kkiik.
Soon the door opens and Theodora enters the conference room.
With graceful steps, he glances at the people in the conference room and sits at the head of the table.
“Everyone, please take your seats.”
With those words, I and the ministers sit down.
“This is my first cabinet meeting as emperor, so I hope that the ministers of each department will lead it well.”
I and the ministers respond to Theodora’s words.
“Thank you for your kind words.”
And so the meeting began in earnest.
“Currently, the United Kingdom has a monopoly on important maritime trade. “Right now, they have not yet reached the level of an empire, but if they lose leadership in the New World, they may become competitors to the empire.”
As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he reports the current important situation to the Emperor.
Theodora, who had been listening silently, opens her mouth.
“Currently, the United Kingdom has pioneered the New World and has a lot of wealth, but the situation has not been stable since the death of the former emperor. Therefore, we must now focus our efforts on resolving the chaos rather than building ships.”
And reports to the Ministry of Finance.
“The current economic situation in Roman City is very bad. “We were on the verge of civil war, so the price of gold has risen a lot, making it difficult to make gold coins.”
I will come forward and speak on that part.
“However, I think that if the current circulation of gold coins decreases, the economic impact will be enormous. “We will sell the 30 tons of gold held by our Grand Duchy to the Empire at a low price.”
Announcing the transfer of a fairly large amount of money from the Grand Duchy to the Empire’s treasury.
It is a plan that has been in place for a long time to make up for the lack of gold in the Mint by transferring it.
Finance Minister Frank speaks to me.
“Can I buy it with bonds?”
I nod my head at those words.
“It doesn’t matter. Consider the empire’s economic status and purchase long-term bonds.”
Frank speaks with an expression of emotion at my words.
“I survived thanks to His Highness the Archduke.”
Afterwards, Theodora ordered the Ministry of the Interior to consult with the Ministry of Justice and report on specific measures, saying that the current security in the Empire was very poor and that more stern measures were needed against criminals.
And…
“Therefore, spices should be completely banned. Babylon’s trends are unusual. Considering that they have now acquired abundant water resources in the east and north, they have stockpiled a lot of war materials and are provoking the empire’s borders. “It’s not surprising that they want to go to war with us.”
Hearing those words, everyone except Military Affairs Minister Markus looks unhappy.
Well, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is something that those in power who mainly deal with will dislike, and the problem for the Ministry of Finance is that the tax revenue they used to collect as spices has decreased.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Justice may be afraid that the number of unemployed people will increase and cause confusion.
“Your concerns are valid. However, the merchants who currently import spices and the people involved in spice imports may soon become unemployed.”
With those words, Gaston of the Ministry of Internal Affairs comes forward and speaks.
“That’s right. “If everyone involved in spices becomes unemployed, public security will get even worse.”
“Plus, tax revenue will also decrease, and Babylon may try to launch a trade war in retaliation.”
When Frank spoke as if he was worried, Victor also joined in.
“There will also be friction with the United Kingdom.”
Marcus nods his head and says those words.
“I know the circumstances of other departments, but the work of our military department is directly related to the survival of the empire.”
Gaston rebels against those words and says.
“The external enemy is not the problem; if we make a mistake, the internal system can collapse.”
“That is something our military can handle. But if Babylon goes to war with us, we may lose fertile lands like Nicaea and Egypt.”
A heated conference hall.
I step up and speak out in situations where neither party easily backs down.
“But if a trade war starts, we have a lot to lose. First, you need to strengthen your interior to have a strong army. Now that Babylon’s war is over, they won’t go to war with us. So for now, as an agreement, why not tax spices a little more?”
Let’s come up with an agreement that combines the two proposals…
Frank from the Treasury says with a smile.
“That’s a really clever idea. “Your Majesty the Archduke.”
But Marcus steps forward and speaks.
“We will not go to war now, but Babylon is purchasing too many war scrolls from our empire. “This part also needs to be resolved.”
With those words, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs come forward and speak.
“No, that’s not true. “If we don’t sell scrolls, the United Kingdom and Babylon will cooperate more closely.”
“That’s right. Babylon will try to obtain scrolls through the United Kingdom. “It only hurts us.”
When I look at Theodora in this never-ending situation, she nods her head slightly.
“Then I don’t think it will be resolved right away. First, we will deal with it by raising taxes on spices. “Let the Ministry of Finance review how much taxes should be raised and report back by the next meeting.”
Frank comes forward and speaks.
“Yes!”
“Then this concludes the meeting…, Archduke? “Why are your hands up?”
As Theodora was about to end the meeting, she saw me raising her hand and looked at me with strange eyes.
“I have an urgent suggestion to make.”
I made an expression that I didn’t like it because it was a sudden action without prior consultation…
“Tell me.”
With those words, I stand up and speak.
“There are many problems with the current imperial tax law. The people of the empire are having a hard time as local lords levy taxes as they please without any standards or principles. Therefore, reforms are needed to alleviate the suffering of the people of the empire.”
From what I said, Frank and Victor’s complexions are not so good.
Frank, since it’s the Ministry of Finance, if you try to change the tax law, things will get crazy, so it’s only natural…
I think Victor is worried that if he makes a mistake, his cooperative relationship with other nobles will collapse.
“Ha… But, each local lord collects taxes…”
Victor steps forward and speaks carefully, and I nod my head and say.
“That’s right. “I am not planning to change the tax law right now, but I hope to research ways to satisfy both the local lords and the people of the empire.”
Victor sighs in relief at my words, while Frank looks despairing.
“Well… Then…?”
“We ask the Ministry of Finance to conduct a survey on the types of taxes by region, regardless of whether they are direct or indirect, and to suggest several methods based on that by next month.”
Frank in despair.
I’m probably worried because the workload is increasing like crazy.
“Grand Duke… According to imperial law…”
I am firm in my words.
“I do not mean to infringe on their rights guaranteed by imperial law. “It’s simply about research.”
I won’t know until later, but this side’s power is still weak.
To change the tax system, which varies greatly depending on the region, basic data is needed.
So, first of all, it was a trick to obtain the data and not arouse too much suspicion among the nobles.
Victor also speaks as if he is a little concerned about what I say.
“Yes. “The other nobles say we are trying to kick them out…”
“I’m not trying to throw you away. “If revenues are high but taxes are low, wouldn’t the empire be able to provide support?”
These words are sincere. It is natural that later, if incompetent nobles are eliminated, the central government will provide funds to develop underdeveloped areas.
When I think of that, Theodora looks at me with a strange look.
Theodora, who looks at me as if there is something strange about her, looks at her ministers and says.
“Hmm… First of all, let the ministers follow the Archduke’s orders. And with this, the meeting ends.”
Her first cabinet meeting ended successfully.