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Chapter 805 - 805 60 Nourishing Life Within Stabilizing Elves Outside_3

805: Chapter 60: Nourishing Life Within, Stabilizing Elves Outside_3 805: Chapter 60: Nourishing Life Within, Stabilizing Elves Outside_3 The situation in Alpha Kingdom is quite different.

It is surrounded by countries of the Human Race and, even if it wins a war and annihilates the Different Races, could only seize a few enclaves.

This is still the best-case scenario, but more likely is that the Human Kingdoms in the central and southern parts of the continent would clear out the Different Races while those in the Northern Continent remain well and thriving, leaving Alpha Kingdom having fought a pointless war.

It can’t be said to be pointless, it merely widens the disparity between the north and south of the continent.

From being a powerful nation on the continent, Alpha Kingdom slowly declines to an ordinary kingdom, being increasingly disadvantaged in international competition.

“A continental war breaking out now would be extremely detrimental to the Kingdom.

Even if the Human Race won a decisive victory, we still lack the capacity to divide the spoils of war.

If possible, the Kingdom should try to avoid this war.

At the very least, we need to delay the outbreak of war, ensuring that we are not dragged into the battlefield at the onset of the conflict.

The Kingdom’s financial situation remains pessimistic.

Perhaps the Department of Foreign Affairs can seize this opportunity to request debt relief from other countries’ governments.

We cannot hope to have private loans forgiven, but if government loans were erased, our burden could also be greatly reduced.”

As soon as the Marquis Delgado spoke up, he showed the proper temperament expected of the Minister of Finance, constantly thinking about the Kingdom’s financial issues.

“Your Excellency the Marquis, this might be difficult.

We owe other countries’ governments more than ten million gold coins, which is no small sum.

At such a time, our requests might only be agreed upon by a few small countries near the elf race in the Northern Continent, and even then, their agreement would be conditional.

If the Kingdom wishes not to get involved in the war initially, the best option would be to find excuses to keep our troops at bay.

After all, with so many countries in front, the war wouldn’t reach our homeland anytime soon.

If it could be delayed for three to five years, the Kingdom, having regained its strength, could involve itself in the war under different circumstances.”

Prime Minister Duke Newfoundland objected.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is already under enough pressure; to make such impractical demands would truly be asking too much.

Putting oneself in others’ shoes, if someone owed Alpha Kingdom a large sum of money and suddenly requested debt relief, he wouldn’t agree either.

Even if genuinely out of money, the debts could be postponed.

On the Continent of Aslante, no country has ever defaulted before its downfall.

As for choosing to watch and wait, that’s even less surprising.

As the front could manage a policy of appeasement towards the Black Forest Kingdom, now it can also keep its troops at bay.

In any case, Alpha Kingdom is not the only one in this situation.

When the Orcs invaded, most countries on the Northern Continent didn’t send troops right away either.

“The Chancellor is right, the most important thing now is to buy time, and all other issues must give way.

Duke Aefero, if continental war were to suddenly erupt, how much military pressure would the Kingdom face, and do we have the capacity to cope?”

Duke Aefero, when named by Caesar IV, had an expression of discomfort and hadn’t even opened his mouth to respond when his face gave away his true feelings.

“Your Majesty, the international situation is unpredictable, and currently, we don’t even know who the enemy is.

It’s difficult for the Military Department to give a definite answer.

If you wish to anticipate an outcome, I suggest summoning Earl Hudson to the Capital to report.

He holds greater authority on military matters.”

Duke Aefero decisively passed the responsibility.

As the Minister of Defense, he surely doesn’t lack professional competence.

However, he holds a pessimistic view on this issue and does not dare provide the assurances that Caesar IV seeks.

“The Southeastern Province is currently facing a beast tide, and Earl Hudson is in charge there, definitely unable to leave anytime soon.

We need the Military Department to develop a reasonable response plan based on the current situation, to avoid being caught off-guard if continental war suddenly erupts.

Let’s not be too pessimistic.

For now, at least the threat from the south has been temporarily removed.

The Three Great Central Kingdoms are unlikely to provoke a civil war among the Human Race during a continental war.

The threat from Different Races and other countries is still blocked by others first.

The Department of Foreign Affairs can strengthen communication with the Elf Race, and it would be best to sign a binding non-aggression treaty.

As long as we can stabilize them, we have won much of this war.”

Caesar IV spoke frankly.

These strategies were all left by Caesar III before his death.

Anticipating that continental war was about to break out, he had already planned for the future of Alpha Kingdom.

Initially, Caesar IV had been skeptical, but the unfolding of events was almost identical to his father’s predictions.

The only difference lies in the timing of the continental war’s outbreak, which occurred slightly earlier, but the development of the situation was largely as expected.

Finding no better strategy, Caesar IV could only adopt his late father’s national policy—”Nurture internal vitality, stabilize the Elves externally.”