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Chapter 1068 - 1068 152 Protectorate of the Near East_3

1068: Chapter 152, Protectorate of the Near East_3 1068: Chapter 152, Protectorate of the Near East_3 The region also has lakes and rivers, providing abundant water sources and fertile land, making it exceptionally suitable for agricultural production.

It can be described as the finest land in the Near East region.

They wanted not only land but also matching infrastructure.

Normally, anyone daring to make such a demand would be dismissed by Caesar IV.

The current situation was clearly different.

Hudson’s appetite was considerable, but the royal family was also a beneficiary.

Initially, it would have meant ceding a half province from their own territory, but now they only needed to acquire land from the Orcs, which was a definite profit.

The investment in infrastructure was also financed by the Kingdom.

The Royal Family merely took the lead by contributing a bit more, but the overall expenses remained controllable.

According to the plan, the Near East region was to be divided into ten provinces.

With Hudson’s achievements alone, he could take several counties of fiefdoms, plus a county converted from land bonds, and, considering the premium compensation for going to the Near East, claiming a provincial fiefdom was also justifiable.

Although all were border areas, the Near East was clearly more dangerous than the Northern Border.

Half a province of the Northern Border, when converted, was equivalent to two provinces, which was also fair and reasonable.

From thirty percent to one-third, Hudson had only gained a few extra points of land along with a countless amount of infrastructure.

When compared to the gains of the royal family, it was utterly insignificant.

After weighing the pros and cons, Caesar IV looked at Hudson differently.

He was not just a power minister; he was unmistakably a great loyalist to the Royal Family.

Indeed, Hudson took a lot, but the Royal Family gained even more.

By swallowing six provinces of the Warhammer Kingdom, the Royal Family’s control area doubled immediately.

The cost was just a piece of royal territory in the Southeastern Province and some political resources from outside.

Once Hudson rooted himself in the Near East, the security of the Royal Family’s lands on the Northern Border was guaranteed, and they could freely invest in development.

“Your Marshal, let’s proceed with the land distribution as you suggest.

However, the infrastructure development in the later stages will still take some time to promote.

The war has just ended, and everyone is not financially strong.

The resources the kingdom can invest in the short term are limited, but within at most five years, construction and development of the corresponding projects will be completed.

If the kingdom’s resources prove insufficient, the royal family will also find a way to compensate you.

Let’s discuss the specific, detailed plans once the site selection is complete.”

Caesar IV declared spiritedly.

Hudson, remaining in the Southern Frontier, was a “power minister” and a key defensive target.

Hudson developing the Near East was a pillar of the kingdom.

Historical experience told Caesar IV that with the Orcs as neighbors, even if the Koslow Family grew larger, it would be consumed in repeated invasions by the Orcs.

Compared to the threat of the Koslow Family growing too large, he was more concerned about their lack of sufficient foundation, which could hinder Hudson and prevent him from securing a foothold in the Near East.

“Your Majesty, giving such vast fiefdoms at once might be difficult to justify domestically?

To my knowledge, no one in the history of the kingdom has ever received a provincial fiefdom in one go.

The Near East region has not yet been made a province, offering greater operational flexibility, but obtaining such vast land in one go might stir unrest among the nobles.”

Hudson reminded him.

Making a promise was one thing, but implementing it effectively was another.

Caesar IV was ultimately not Caesar III; he could not command absolute obedience within the kingdom.

If handled poorly, it could face extensive opposition from many nobles, and the ennoblement plan might be ruined entirely.

After all, failure is always easier than success.

Even if their own interests are not involved, envy can lead to loss of self-control.

“Rest assured, Your Marshal, the land in the Near East is what they themselves do not want.

If anyone dares to make a fuss, I will transfer him to the Near East!”

Caesar IV said with a cold laugh.

Remembering everyone’s refusal, he was furious.

If the kingdom’s major nobles united, developing the Near East would not be an issue at all.

Regrettably, due to the high uncertainty of the Near East, no one loved the lands that could fall at any moment.

If the nobles of the kingdom were unwilling to take it and the government refused to accept it, naturally, the King had to find a solution.

“Your Majesty, if no major nobles go there, it would be best not to establish a province in the Near East for the time being.

Instead, set up a Protectorate to manage it uniformly.

Once developed to a certain extent and able to stand firm, the Protectorate can be abolished and converted into governed provinces.”

It was typical of Hudson to frame such a power-grab in such legitimate terms.

It was not his greed, but entirely for the greater good.

If major nobles were willing to invest heavily and develop the Near East, direct governance by provinces would also be fine.

Unfortunately, these old fellows were too rational, unwilling to deplete their family resources on the uncertain Near East.

Reliance on a bunch of intermediate and minor nobles simply wasn’t adequate for the defense of the Near East.

Just look at the Seven Northern Provinces.

Some of the kingdom’s strongest long-established intermediate aristocracies could not sustain the Northern Border’s defense.

Since going it alone wasn’t working, cooperation was the only option.

Hudson’s original plan was only to command the military defense of the Near East and Northern Border provinces, but once the Protectorate was established, it would bring both military and administrative power into one hand.

“Marshal, the issue of establishing a Protectorate is too complex and requires previous consultation with all parties, so let’s discuss it during the next council session.”

Caesar IV tactfully declined.

Ultimately, reason prevailed, and he was not blinded by immediate gains.

Establishing a Protectorate did have advantages in strengthening control over the Near East, but it would also allow the region to grow too powerful.

The Kingdom currently had only thirty-two provinces in total.

With the Protectorate composed of the Near East equating to ten provinces, such a colossal scale was simply too large.

Even though the Royal Family could obtain six provinces from the Warhammer Kingdom, the actual controlled area was equivalent to only twelve provinces, nearly the same size as the total land area of the Near East.

The King was cautious, but Hudson merely smiled slightly.

The birth of the Protectorate of the Near East was just a matter of time.

He didn’t need to interfere much; just letting out a hint would prompt the unlucky aristocrats wanting to go to the Near East to take incentive action themselves.