episode_0034

Chairman of the State Council.

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.

“His Majesty the Archduke. long time no see. How have you been?”

Victor, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Although he was a member of our Grand Duchy in the previous Imperial Diet, he was selected as Minister of Foreign Affairs this time.

“Yes. Thanks to you, I had a good time.”

As we shake hands like that, this time Finance Minister Frank smiles and says,

“Haha, are you in good spirits after getting married?”

“That’s right.”

Gaston, Minister of the Interior, responds favorably to Frank.

Is your spirit clear?

When I looked in the mirror to wash my face today, I was surprised.

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 so beautiful.”

Anthony, the Minister of Justice, continues with a smile on his face.

“Haha, everyone, please sit down instead of standing like this.”

Saying that, I take my seat and everyone takes their seats.

“So, Minister Marcus, did you rest well during the holiday?”

Everyone is dressed in suits, but here I see a man wearing a military uniform.

“Yes, Your Majesty the Archduke. I had a good rest.”

The only person in the empire who can wear military uniform and participate in cabinet meetings is the Minister of Military Affairs.

“Your Majesty the Emperor will come soon.”

When I said that, the ministers except Marcus spoke cautiously.

“Hehe, Your Majesty the Archduke. Is it really necessary for His Majesty the Emperor to be here?”

“Cancer! you’re right. Doesn’t His Highness have full authority anyway?”

“Besides, 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? In addition, 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 bit overboard.

“No, the right to veto exists anyway and there is no need to create confusion.”

The moment I say so firmly.

-His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!

At those words, I and the ministers 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 the ministers of each department will lead it well.”

The ministers and I respond to Theodora’s words.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

And so the meeting began in earnest.

“The United Kingdom currently 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 a rival country to the empire.”

As 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 a lot of wealth by pioneering the New World, but the situation has not been stable since the death of the former emperor. Therefore, now we must focus our efforts on resolving the confusion rather than building ships.”

And it reports to the Ministry of Finance.

“The current economic situation in Roman City is very poor. As the situation almost fell into civil war, the price of gold has risen significantly, making it difficult to make gold coins.”

I will speak out on that part.

“However, if the number of gold coins currently in circulation decreases, I think 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.”

Announcement of the transfer of a rather large sum from the Grand Duchy to the Reich’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 says to me:

“Can I purchase 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 orders the Ministry of the Interior to consult with the Ministry of Justice and report on specific measures, saying that the current security of the Empire is very poor and that more decisive measures are 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.”

At those words, everyone except Military Affairs Minister Markus looks unhappy.

Well, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is something that the people in power who usually 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.”

At 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.”

“In addition, tax revenues will also decrease, and Babylon may try to launch a trade war in retaliation.”

When Frank said he was worried, Victor also joined in.

“There will also be friction with the United Kingdom.”

Marcus nods and says those words.

“You 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 you make a mistake, the inside may collapse.”

“That is something our military can fully handle. However, if Babylon goes to war with us, we may lose fertile lands like Nicaea and Egypt.”

A heated conference hall.

In situations where neither party easily backs down, I step up and speak out.

“But if a trade war begins, 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. His Majesty the Archduke.”

But Marcus comes forward and speaks.

“We won’t go to war now, but Babylon is buying too many war scrolls from our empire. This part also needs to be resolved.”

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs step forward and speak out.

“No, that’s not possible. 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’s only a loss for us.”

When I look at Theodora in this never-ending situation, she nods slightly.

“Then I don’t think it will be resolved right away. First, we will deal with it by raising taxes on spices. The Ministry of Finance should review how much taxes should be raised and report it by the next meeting.”

Frank comes forward and speaks.

“Yes!”

“Then let’s conclude the meeting with this… Archduke? Why are you raising your hand?”

Theodora, who was about to end the meeting, saw me raising my hand and looked at me with strange eyes.

“I have an urgent suggestion to make.”

He looks like he doesn’t like it because it’s a sudden action without prior agreement…

“Tell me.”

At those words, I stand up and speak.

“There are many problems with the current tax law of the empire. 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 Treasury Department, 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… However, 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.”

At my words, Victor sighs in relief, and 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 is in despair.

Maybe he’s worried because the workload is increasing like crazy.

“Grand Duke… But 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 strength is still weak.

In order to change the tax system, which varies greatly depending on the region, fundamental 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.

“Haona. 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 provide support?”

I mean this. 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 she is curious about something, looks at the ministers and says.

“Hmm… First, let the ministers follow the Archduke’s orders. And this concludes the meeting.”

Just like that, her first cabinet meeting ended successfully.