Chapter 97 The meaning of the existence of the Imperial Navy
The Imperial Palace of the Candela Empire is located in the center of the capital Wimbledon, just north of it, and stands on a hill far above the surrounding plains.
This hill was originally the only high ground in a large area of flat bottoms nearby, and the palace was built very tall, so that as soon as the people of the entire Wimbledon city could see the palace high above the golden coins in the distance.
The great Emperor of the Kandera Empire would hold court meetings in the most conspicuous building in the palace every morning, and also the core of the government affairs of the entire Kandera Empire, to listen to the rewards of the ministers of the Empire.
Generally speaking, this dynasty meeting is just a formality, and some major tasks are done and briefly reported to His Majesty the Emperor. As for the specific handling and implementation, it will be handled specifically after the dynasty meeting.
So most of the time, His Majesty the Emperor would just sit upright on a tall chair, look down at the ministers below, and listen intently.
However, today, the noble Emperor of the Kandera Empire, His Majesty Debor XVII, stood up from the tall chair very rarely, staring at a middle-aged man in the costume of an admiral of the Kandera Empire standing below with an angry face.
"The dignified Imperial Navy was unable to solve the fleet of a mere chamber of commerce. Instead, it was beaten to pieces by the other party, and its own warships lost more than 70%! Duke Warner, is this the Imperial Navy you commanded? This is the Imperial Navy that the Empire spends tens of millions of gold coins on it every year?"
The middle-aged man's head, which had already lowered, pressed his head lower, but did not respond.
Seeing that he was speechless, Debor XVII became even more angry.
"Very good. Since the Empire spends tens of millions of gold coins every year, it only raises a group of things that are worse than waste, what else do you have to do? From today on, the Imperial Navy will be removed! I don't want to spend money on you waste anymore!"
When Duke Warner suddenly raised his head, a hint of surprise flashed through his eyes when he heard Debor XVII's words.
Although there have been doubts and debates within the empire about whether the navy needs to continue to exist, and even the military headquarters’ budget for the imperial navy has been lowered year by year. However, His Majesty the Emperor has never made any statement, so the impact is not fatal.
But now His Majesty the Emperor is furious because of the previous defeat of the Imperial Navy when facing the New Air Chamber of Commerce fleet in the southern waters. He even said the words of abolishing the Imperial Navy. If someone took the opportunity to do something, it would be very likely to have a real fatal impact on the Imperial Navy.
"Your Majesty, never!" It was not Duke Warner who shouted this sentence, but Marquis Hastrey, the Minister of Finance of the Candela Empire, who was standing on the right hand of Duke Warner.
Seeing that it was him who jumped out, not only the other ministers, but even Debor XVII was shocked.
Because the Imperial Navy has always taken up a large amount of fiscal budgets but has made almost no contributions. As a result, the Imperial Finance Ministry, which is responsible for the Imperial Budget, has always had great opinions on the Imperial Navy.
Now, in anger, His Majesty the Emperor claimed that he wanted to remove the Imperial Navy, and the most happy thing was the Imperial Finance Ministry.
Why did Marquis Hastery jump out and object?
Debor XVII glanced at him for no reason: "Marquis Hastrey, why not? If you can't tell the convincing reason today, don't blame me for being polite."
Listening to the tone of Debor XVII's sinister test, the ministers below were all shocked.
It seems that His Majesty the Emperor is really angry this time.
If he still had trouble with his bad luck at this time, he would probably be in great trouble.
Marquis Hastery wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and obviously his heart was under great pressure.
However, after calming down, he barely maintained his peace and said, "Your Majesty. I don't understand the war, so I don't comment on this aspect. But as the Minister of Finance, I hope to prove the significance of the existence of the Imperial Navy from the perspective of my concern."
Everyone looked at him unexpectedly.
What is the significance of the Imperial Navy's financial existence? Isn't it meaningless besides eating the huge budget of tens of millions of gold coins in the Imperial fiscal year?
"Oh? Tell me." Debor XVII was also curious.
"Your Majesty, it is true that the Imperial Navy has to swallow tens of millions of gold coins from the Imperial budget every year. And in the past few years, at least in the years I served, I had basically no output or actual contribution, and it was indeed meaningless."
Hearing this, the ministers around him couldn't help but nodded.
This is in line with everyone's impression and evaluation of the Imperial Navy.
"But..." Marquis Hastery suddenly changed his tone and his tone increased slightly. "This situation has improved significantly in the past two years. Although I cannot give specific statistics, in the past two years, the pirates in the southern waters of the Empire have almost disappeared under the attack of the Imperial Navy, which has greatly improved the operation of Shanghai in the southern waters of the Empire. The three harbors in the southern empire are under the protection of the Imperial Navy. So far this year, the taxes paid exceed 7 million gold coins."
"Seven million gold coins?"
All the ministers around them all showed a look of surprise.
Although for the huge Candela Empire, the tax of seven million gold coins is nothing.
But before that, the Imperial Finance Department never made any reports on taxes on the Southern Seaport, which is equivalent to not being able to do so.
But now this year is only one year. This data close to zero suddenly skyrocketed to seven million gold coins, which is really surprising.
"Is it just a tax that is obtained from shipping?" asked Debor XVII.
"Yes." Marquis Hastery nodded. "The tax on these seven million gold coins is entirely from the three shipping ports. And the impact is far more than that. Because of the development of shipping, commercial activities on the southern coast of the empire have been significantly improved. Therefore, the taxes paid by cities in the southern coast of the empire have also been greatly increased this year. Compared with last year, the city with the largest increase has even exceeded 300%!"
"Three hundred percent? Marquis Hastery, are you kidding?" a minister couldn't help but ask back loudly.
Debor XVII also frowned slightly: "Marquis Hastery, this data is not a joke, are you sure?"
"Yes. Your Majesty. There are detailed statistics in the Ministry of Finance now, and you can review them at any time. I will never dare to make any jokes about the imperial finances." Marquis Hastrey said proudly.
Debor XVII nodded slightly.
Of course he believed that Marquis Hastery would lie on such matters. Because it was of no benefit and was very easy to expose. He could not have taken such a great risk to deceive the noble emperor in public.
"That is to say... because of the existence of the navy, the pirates in the southern waters of the empire were eliminated and the shipping was flourishing, which led to a significant improvement in the financial situation along the southern coast of the empire, and the improvement was very exaggerated. Marquis Hastrey, that's what you mean, right?" asked Debor XVII.
"Yes, your majesty." Marquis Hastery said seriously. "If the existence of the Imperial Navy did not show any specific significance in the past, then I can be sure now. Because the existence of the Imperial Navy has ensured the booming development of the maritime industry. If we can increase investment in this regard, I believe this will have a great help to the growth of the Imperial fiscal."
"Is that?" De Boer XVII glanced at the silent Duke of Warner and suddenly asked, "Then Duke of Warner, tell me why the Imperial Navy had not been able to eliminate the rampant pirates in the southern waters for so many years before, but could it be done in the past two years?"
"yes……"
Everyone reacted enough and looked at Duke Warner together.
However, everyone found that after His Majesty asked this question, the expression on Duke Warner's face was a little embarrassed.
Everyone was surprised.
Duke Warner had a very high reputation and status in the Candela Empire. What else could embarrass him?
"Say!" Debor XVII urged in a deep voice.
Duke Warner smiled bitterly, saluted Debor XVII, and sighed slightly: "Your Majesty. In fact, the Navy was able to clean up all the pirates in the southern waters of the Empire and even the surrounding waters within the past two years, mainly because of the help of the Frigate of the New Aircraft Chamber of Commerce..."
"Ah?" Hearing this answer, the ministers around him and Debor XVII were all stunned.
Why is it related to this new airplane chamber?
Debor XVII frowned slightly.
He suddenly discovered that because he always thought that the Imperial Navy had little significance, he didn't care much about it at all, so he didn't know much about what the Imperial Navy did.
Judging from the answer given by Duke Warner now, the changes that have occurred in the Imperial Navy in the past two years have a strong connection with the New Aircraft Chamber, and even made Duke Warner say that the "main" was because of the help of the New Aircraft Chamber of Commerce's frigate. The Imperial Navy can eliminate pirates in the southern waters.
Judging from this point of view, we can see that the ability of the New Aircraft Chamber of Commerce frigate is obviously far beyond that of the Imperial Navy. Otherwise, why can't the Imperial Navy deal with those pirates for so many years? With the help of the New Aircraft Chamber of Commerce frigate, it can be done.
Contact the war report that the Imperial Navy was defeated by the fleet belonging to the New Flying Chamber of Commerce that I received before, which proves this inference even more.
Thinking of this, Debor XVII slowly sat back on his chair, returned to his peace, and said to Duke Warner: "Duke Warner, come and introduce the frigate of the New Flying Chamber of Commerce. Why is this mere Chamber of Commerce's fleet more powerful than our dignified Candela Empire Navy?"
Just as Duke Warner was about to speak, Marquis Hastery, who was beside him suddenly interrupted, "Your Majesty, can you let me introduce this New Aircraft Chamber of Commerce to you first? I think as long as you listen to my introduction, you should understand why this frigate under the New Aircraft Chamber of Commerce is so powerful."
Debor XVII frowned slightly, feeling a little unhappy because his question was snatched by Marquis Hastrey, but his curiosity about the New Air Chamber of Commerce made him ignore this unhappy.
"Okay, then you can introduce this new flight chamber. I want to see what strange things this chamber of commerce has that can actually make the two most important ministers in our empire talk about it."
Marquis Hastree saluted respectfully to Debor XVII, pondered for a moment, and said, "Your Majesty, in fact... I have been looking for a good opportunity to introduce you to the New Air Chamber of Commerce, because I think the Empire must pay enough attention to this Chamber of Commerce..." (To be continued)
Chapter completed!