King
Chapter 727 - 727 26 Troublemaker_2

727: Chapter 26, Troublemaker_2 727: Chapter 26, Troublemaker_2 “Earl Hudson, you speak logically.

If the conditions allow, we would be supportive of the Kingdom establishing an army of a million soldiers,”

But the reality is: we are broke!

Its enormous debt is already suffocating the Kingdom.

Maintaining such high military expenses will undoubtedly destroy our fragile finances.”

Three years of constant war have drained the Kingdom’s population.

Not only is the Kingdom impoverished, but the people are too.”

You prosperous nobles of the Southeastern Province may not understand the hardships we endure in the North Border Region.

Filling the Kingdom’s tax quotas has made all the nobles’ hair turn white.”

The war has exhausted the budgets of several Northern provinces to the brink of collapse.

We do not beg for support from the Kingdom, but nobody should continue to increase our burden!”

Duke Torsten was the first to fire a volley of criticism.

Hatred is a part of it, but conflicting interests are the primary factor.

The northern border and these big international trades don’t have much in common.”

Even though the Kingdom has established a harbor in the Northland for military use, commercial use was only possible after the war.

Maritime trade cannot be developed overnight.”

We have already lost a large sum of money recently, and combined with war expenses, the pockets of the five major families in the Northland are not fat anymore.”

Especially since the Kingdom has cut their military subsidies, now all their expenses have to be funded by themselves, and the Northland is not as prosperous as the Southern Frontier.”

Even if they wanted to get into maritime trade, they could only take one step at a time and slowly accumulate capital.

It is unknown when it will be fully developed.”

The establishment of the Prairie Seven Kingdoms was initially an opportunity.

It is a pity that several provinces to the North were still in between.”

All the recently migrated nobles are so poor that they are almost desperate.

How could they let them go and share a slice of the pie!”

If they do not benefit from it, why should they pay for it?”

“Duke Torsten, the Alpha Kingdom is a single entity, and breaking it up with your little groups behind closed doors is absolutely not permissible!”

“When you faced the orc threat, everyone fully supported you.

You wouldn’t quickly forget that, would you?”

“The North Border is now safe, but that safety was fought for by everyone in the Kingdom!”

Hudson sharply retorted.

Frankly speaking, Hudson had no desire to be in the spotlight.

Unfortunately, too much was at stake.”

Even though he had received plenty of technical materials through various backdoor trading, the Koslow family still wanted to venture out into the sea, and the issue of seamen and shipbuilders remained a significant problem.”

The obvious issue cannot deceive the wise and well-experienced Caesar III.

Just last night, a sudden guest changed Hudson’s mind.”

A nearby maritime fleet, a large shipbuilding factory, and accompanying sailors and shipbuilders are the stakes Caesar III is willing to gamble.”

Of course, these things weren’t given for free.

All the personnel and equipment have to be paid for.”

In the bourgeoisie era, where capital was prevalent, everything could be bought and sold.

If you couldn’t buy it, you weren’t offering enough.”

On the aristocrat-led Continent of Aslante, the most important means of production have always been non-commercial.”

In the entire Alpha Kingdom, there are only a few families that possess these things, and the royal family is one of them.”

After weighing the pros and cons, Hudson still chose to cooperate.

As for the issue of the Noble Alliance, they hadn’t informed him in advance, so he pretended not to know.”

In order to avoid pulling in too much hatred, Hudson played dumb at the beginning, not mentioning anything about the war bonds tax, and just revolved the discussion around the military budget.”

As the military representative, it’s not expected to demand an increase in the military budget.

One certainly couldn’t expect him to suggest cutting the standing army, could they?”

“Hudson, don’t spout nonsense!

We from the Northland…”

Before an infuriated Duke Torsten could continue, the Duke Rodriguez at his side quickly pulled him back.”

If they kept arguing like this, they would really fall into Hudson’s trap.”

Forming factions is one thing if done privately.

Others may talk about it, but if you openly discuss it, you would be confessing to Hudson’s accusations.”

Bringing up the contributions of the Northland nobles has no point, who asked them to fail at the end?”

Everyone just remembers their misconduct of selling military supplies.

As for the merits of defending the Kingdom prior to that, all have been forgotten.”

Perhaps aware that the situation was going out of control, Caesar III intervened, saying, “That’s enough.

Today’s agenda is to discuss the Kingdom’s future development, not a place for personal grievances.”

If there is disagreement on political stance, then let’s put it to a vote.

There’s no need to intensify the conflict.”

Although it seemed like he was being fair to both parties, it was evident who he preferred from Duke Torsten’s gloomy expression.”

If it weren’t for being held back by his colleague at the right moment, he would have unknowingly stepped on a huge landmine.

He would have been utterly defeated, or at the least, be left humiliated.”

If he had the power, he would have challenged Hudson to a duel on the spot.

It was too sinister, even using the meeting to set traps for him.”

“His Majesty is right!”

“Respected Duke Torsten, I apologize.

I was too impulsive just now, please forgive my rudeness!”

Hudson’s sincerity echoed in the room.

If it weren’t for his little trick just now, everyone might have believed him.

However, nobility ‘s manners have always been like that.