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Chapter 1063 - 1063 151 The Trade Under the Game

1063: Chapter 151: The Trade Under the Game 1063: Chapter 151: The Trade Under the Game They engaged in forced small talk all the way to the Royal Palace.

The mid- and low-ranking officers all went to attend the victory banquet, while the group of senior officers instead entered the Council Chamber.

Hastily convening the meeting was not exactly what Caesar IV wanted, but there was no alternative.

If he didn’t take advantage of everyone being together to solve the problem, once they returned to their territories, addressing the Near East issue would become much more difficult.

Offline, he had already sent people to negotiate with various parties.

It was regrettable that including Hudson, a number of Major Nobles held no love for the Near East Region.

Nobles did not have the right to choose their fiefs, but they had the right to refuse them.

As was customary, the lands that nobody wanted to accept would be governed directly by the Kingdom.

No sooner had this frightening idea been brought up than it was met with collective opposition from the court officials, particularly those from the Ministry of Finance, who were especially vehement.

The direct territories of the Kingdom were either great cities or strategic locations.

They either generated financial revenue for the Kingdom or strengthened control over the regions, ensuring the implementation of government power.

The Near East Region had nothing to do with either of these points; taking it over was a pure burden.

The cost of rule by Noble Lords compared to direct governance by the kingdom was far from negligible.

Immigration, castle building, reclaiming wasteland, and constructing defenses all required money.

Placing bureaucrats in charge of these tasks was like opening a bottomless pit.

Even if the Kingdom endured the initial stage of investment through gritted teeth, there would still be a need to pour money in each year to defend against Orc invasions.

The nobility didn’t want it, the government didn’t want it, and The Royal Family certainly didn’t want it either.

The old Royal territory in the Three Provinces of the Northern Border was a hefty burden.

From their recovery to now, on average, administrative expenses were losing hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins annually.

As for the Near East Region, which had an even greater area than the Royal territories of the Northern Border, the losses would only be greater—and an endless stream of unlimited losses at that.

According to the Minister of Finance, if the Kingdom were to take on the Near East Region, this Gold-eating Beast, the kingdom’s finances would go bankrupt at least ten times.

The degree of exaggeration was uncertain, but regardless, Caesar IV was frightened.

If the Major Nobles were unwilling to take this leap, then the minor nobles alone certainly couldn’t fill this pit.

Without a major power taking the lead, throwing more middling and minor nobles into the fray would not be enough to support the Near East Front.

“The Near East Region is home to numerous rivers and lakes, boasting superior natural conditions, fertile land, and abundant water and grasslands.

The area spans over 1.3 million square kilometers, comparable to the Twelve Provinces of the North.

Once developed, the Kingdom’s national power could increase by at least thirty percent, and everyone could reap handsome rewards.

The Orcs have been dealt continuous heavy blows and will lack the strength to look west for several years.

This is a rare opportunity for us, as long as we all…”

Your Excellency, the Prime Minister Newfoundland passionately promoted the benefits of the Near East Region, but unfortunately, everyone was simply not buying it.

Making initial developments in the Near East Region would mean everyone had to tighten their belts for maybe ten or twenty years, but that could be achieved.

However, to maintain the Near East, whether the Kingdom could invest enough to succeed remained an unknown.

It’s easy to destroy but hard to build.

Without addressing the threat of the Orcs, it’s impossible to focus on farming with peace of mind.

To obliterate the Orc Empire was merely a political slogan; an unaccomplished goal after hundreds of years of shouting it.

Who could guarantee its resolution within their lifetimes?

It was a business that was sure to lose money, so naturally, nobody was willing to do it.

“Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, indeed, the development of the Near East Region is of great significance.

However, given the heavy losses we incurred in the war, we simply lack the capacity to participate.

Furthermore, as the Near East Region is the Kingdom’s frontline and our provinces neighboring the Elf Race’s sphere of influence is also frontline territory.

It is urgent to build the South Border Defense Line!

As for the Near East, if the Kingdom has the capacity to develop it, fine, else we should just wait.

Using the Seven Northern Provinces as a boundary to establish defenses will even save some money.”

The words of Duke Zuell also represented the stance of the Provincial Nobles at the border.

The overall situation was indeed important, but everyone still needed to look after themselves first.

Normally, it was unlikely for the elves to invade the Kingdom, but then there were abnormal situations too.

Not suggesting the abandonment of the Seven Northern Provinces and directly utilizing the existing defenses of the Northland was a responsible action.

“Duke Zuell, you understand how great the threat of the Orcs is.

If we don’t seize the Near East now, we may have to face a fully-fledged Orc Empire decades from now.

If the Kingdom wishes to escape the strategic dilemma, we must push eastward, continually shrinking the living space of the Orcs, limiting their recovery speed through resources.”

The words of Duke Rodriguez successfully drew everyone’s attention back to the Near East.

In all the past Orc invasions, casualties on both sides numbered in the millions; the elf population simply couldn’t sustain such losses.

Even if conflicts did break out, it would be localized warfare.

A full-scale war would mean the Elf Race, even if victorious, would lose their future.

Compared to the threat of the Orcs, the “Elf Threat Theory” was clearly less convincing.

Moreover, the Elf Race was famed for their magic across the Continent, and before the Elf Mage Group, ordinary defenses hardly played any significant role.

If it truly came to conflict with them, the most effective tactic would still be field battles.

As long as they could inflict certain casualties on the Elf Army, failing was not an issue.

After a few defeats, both sides would come to the negotiation table.

“It’s not that easy to constrict the living space of the Orcs.

Even the Orc tribes are not forces that ordinary Noble Lords can handle.

The best method for forming effective defense is still to coordinate the military forces of the various frontline provinces and conduct a unified defense.”