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Chapter 771 - 771 46 Must Add Money_2

771: Chapter 46, Must Add Money_2 771: Chapter 46, Must Add Money_2 If the news leaks out, a large number of people would be offended.

Under normal circumstances, the Alpha Kingdom is capable of repaying its debts.

If it were to default due to a bank run, this would be a one hundred percent refusal to pay.

After all, once national credibility is lost, even if the continued repayment of debts cannot be recovered, it’d be better to cut one’s losses, at the very least it could save a large sum of money.

Thinking of this, Shelter VII frowned.

Deep down, he already began to doubt whether this was the right thing to do.

Declaring the Alpha Kingdom bankrupt can indeed have a great political impact, but it does save money!

After fussing around, the heavy debt burden that originally weighed on them was directly thrown off.

Scolding is pointless when there’s no money.

Under the squeeze-out tide, the Alpha Kingdom simply couldn’t come up with that much cash.

Given the current international situation, the initial plan to secretly push for armed debt collection also miscarried.

Shelter VII was very worried.

If the Alpha Kingdom was not suppressed, it may backfire, and instead ease their economic burden.

…

In the Jade Palace, looking fly-like snow at the diplomatic documents, a faint smile appeared on the corners of Caesar IV’s mouth that was not easily noticeable.

They were filled with criticisms, protests, and condemnations.

His scolding was so harsh and the tone so serious, he was doused in verbal abuse.

However, among the many letters of condemnation, none demanded military intervention!

Without any actual actions and remaining only in verbal condemnation, Caesar IV didn’t feel any pressure.

“How are the talks with the Black Forest Kingdom going for the Department of Foreign Affairs?”

Caesar IV asked with concern.

Such a high price was paid, how could they not reap enough benefits?

Especially as a new king, Caesar IV, whose foundation wasn’t firm yet, needed to hand in a satisfactory report to everyone.

What is a monarch’s prestige?

It’s not empty promises or decisiveness, but the ability to bring actual benefits to everyone.

Nobles are all pragmatists.

Only when they see tangible benefits can they sincerely support him.

“Apart from some minor details that need further communication, in general, we have reached an agreement.

As agreed, the Black Forest Kingdom will annex the Columbia Country.

As compensation, the Black Forest Kingdom will waive all the debts we owe them.

This includes the direct debts between the two governments and the war bonds we sold in the Black Forest, totaling about 993,000 gold coins.

As for our debt relationship with Columbia Country, it is naturally all cleared.

Preliminary estimates suggest the total amount of this debt will not be less than 6 million gold coins.

If we add on old debts, the figure will be even larger.”

Count Francis’s words did not cause any ripples.

Although the Columbia Country is a small country, it had been a vassal of the Alpha Kingdom for a long time.

When the boss goes to war, how can the follower not respond?

They didn’t need to personally go to the battlefield to fight, but they always needed to provide some financial support.

Over time, a huge amount of foreign debt was owed.

It’s just that the creditor was easygoing, they could delay repayment.

Now, the Columbia Country is about to be wiped out.

If the creditor gets tossed, there’s no need to continue paying the debt.

Just by this operation alone, the total debt of the Alpha Kingdom fell nearly one-sixth from its peak.

This method of paying off debts is easier than collecting taxes from the nobles.

The only regret is that this operation is a one-time deal.

What was offset was just a book value, not a single penny of cash was seen.

“Alas!”

After sighing, Caesar IV said helplessly, “Let it be, this time the Black Forest people got the better deal.

We won’t meddle in the subsequent matters.

If we could get hold of the centuries-old accumulation of the Columbia Country, our financial pressure would definitely be greatly reduced.”

“Your Majesty, the Columbia Country has withstood for hundreds of years, even if it is annexed by the Black Forest Kingdom, it cannot be completely absorbed immediately.

From the current situation, Louis Vuitton has no intention of organizing a resistance.

This means they must fully accept the nobles of the Columbia Country.

This group of people is nothing but trouble.

If these people are not purged, their annexation of the Columbia Country will only exist on paper.

If they kill these people, it will cause chaos in the noble world.

Not only will they lose their national reputation, their future plans for expansion will face staunch resistance from everyone.”

Prime Minister Duke Newfoundland tried to persuade.

Clearly, he has been tormented by the whimsical ideas of Caesar IV.

He is deeply worried that his King would disregard the actual conditions and want to share the Columbia Country with the Black Forest Kingdom.

Militarily, there is no problem with this approach.

The King has thrown in the towel, and one can imagine how weak the resistance would be.

However, taking Columbia would complicate things.

Not only are the nobles problematic to handle, dividing the spoils internally within the Kingdom is also difficult.

Pulling the country’s nobles together to divide up the spoils wouldn’t work as the spoils are too meager.

Furthermore, it is not suitable to divide these newly annexed and unstable border regions.

If the Royal family tries to monopolize the spoils, the Kingdom’s major nobles will undoubtedly cause a disturbance.

It could even threaten the throne of Caesar IV.

Given these circumstances, the best choice is to sell Columbia in exchange for cash to pay off the Kingdom’s debt.

“It’s not so complicated, having chosen to annex Columbia, the Black Forest people wouldn’t care about their mannerisms.

Once you start framing and setting them up, you will continue to do so countless times.

As long as the Black Forest people are willing, there will never be a shortage of opportunities to fabricate charges.

Just you watch, the nobles of Columbia will soon fall on hard times.

Once they’re sufficiently embattled, that old fellow Alexander V will play the good guy again, announcing a pardon for these unlucky bastards and restoring their status and position.

Of course, by that time, most of the nobles of Columbia Country will have died.

The few survivors won’t be able to stir up much trouble.”

No sooner had Caesar IV finished speaking, he realized that everyone was looking at him strangely.

By heavens, he didn’t plan on doing such a thing, he was only speculating about the future actions of the Black Forest Kingdom.

But explaining now seems pointless.

None of them harbor any hope for him, their King, to be of good character.

After all, such sinister and malicious measures aren’t typically conceived by normal people.

“Your Majesty, now that you have insight into the Black Forest Kingdom’s next move, let’s split with the Black Forest people and make them pay more!

The centuries-old accumulation of the Columbia Country, if fully gathered, is worth far more.

Not to mention the land, serfs, castles…all these assets, even if we only take a portion, we can still sell it for tens of millions of gold coins.

The Kingdom is currently in need of people to populate the northern provinces.

If we can get hundreds of thousands of people, it will greatly accelerate this development.

If they aren’t willing to pay, we will send our troops to seize it.

With the professional quality of the Kingdom’s army, we can certainly seize more than they can.”

Duke Aefero stated unabashedly.

Originally, as Minister of Defense, he was firmly against framing and setting up Columbia.

But seeing so many benefits now, his stance has inevitably been shaken.

If enough benefits can be gained, not only would the Kingdom’s financial pressures be greatly reduced, but Caesar IV could also establish prestige in the hearts of the nobles.

Attributing the Kingdom’s international image to the prestige of the Monarch is ambiguous in its pros and cons.

But for the Royal family, it is completely acceptable.

“Respected Duke Aefero, this matter is currently under negotiation with the Black Forest people by our Department of Foreign Affairs.

However, as for deploying troops, it’s best not to do so.

Given the current status of the Kingdom’s army, even if they seize a large amount of spoils, the Department of Finance won’t get much share.

We might not even have enough for the military expenses.”

Count Francis hurriedly dissuaded.

Robbery by the military is too common in the Continent of Aslante.

Almost every foreign war has seen such a scenario.

The unfortunate thing is, most of the spoils are divided by the noble military officers.

Even if there is a portion left, it would be withheld by the military for various reasons.

Hoping to get rich by robbery, we must first strictly discipline the military, instilling the concept of “all confiscations are public” into their minds.

Thinking of such a thing is sufficient.

Actually executing it has no feasibility.

The Kingdom’s army, in essence, is a patchwork of different forces.