King Lampali XIII sat quietly in the small garden in the backyard of the palace, with a blanket covering his legs, facing the rare warm sunshine in early winter, and slowly flipped through a report in his hand.
This report was submitted by the Wang ** Department two days ago. It was the third time he read it today, but he still read it very seriously.
Because this report is a summary report before and after the Battle of the Muerto Mountains. As a king who ascended the throne during the turmoil more than ten years ago, and then calmed down the turmoil in the most difficult situation and secured the throne, the current king King Rampalli XIII knows more about military affairs than the previous kings, and he also values more.
Having been in office for more than ten years, he is well aware that the ongoing conflict between the Lampali Kingdom and the Northern Sark Kingdom has greatly implicated the entire Lampali Kingdom.
Because of the suppression of the Sak Kingdom, the Lampali Kingdom is forced to spend huge amounts of gold coins on the Zhenbei Army every year. The military department spends almost half of the military expenditures allocated every year on the Zhenbei Army. Only then could they barely block the Sark Kingdom's offensive.
However, the Lampali Kingdom is also stuck in this quagmire. It must spend a lot of military expenditures every year and cannot escape.
In fact, Lampali XIII was also well aware of the strategy of the Sak Kingdom. The reason why the Sak Kingdom did not launch a real all-out war with the Lampali Kingdom was because he wanted to rely on himself to be far better than Lampa. The much stronger national power of the Li Kingdom dragged down the Lampali Kingdom to death, and then captured the Lampali Kingdom without any blood.
On the contrary, if we really go all-out and start a full-scale war, it may arouse a full-scale resistance from the Lampali Kingdom. Even if we win in the end, the Sak Kingdom will be severely weakened and may be benefited by fishermen from other countries.
But I know that the Lampali Kingdom has no way to solve this problem. Because the Sak Kingdom is stronger than the Lampali Kingdom and takes the absolute initiative, it would be great if the Lampali Kingdom can barely hold on, but how can it possibly find another way to counterattack.
This time the Battle of the Sierra de Muerto. Although the Sark Kingdom looked aggressive at first. It seems that they want to launch an all-out attack, but in fact they can only seize control of the Muerto Mountains. Didn't move forward.
In fact, this move was clearly intended to put further pressure on the two countries, forcing the Kingdom of Lampali to increase its investment in the Zhenbei Army, making the already overburdened finances of the Kingdom of Lampali even worse.
But the Sark Kingdom never thought of it. The Lampali Kingdom's Northern Army unexpectedly suddenly changed into brand new equipment and weapons, and was also equipped with a terrifying magic machine such as a magic trebuchet. Coupled with almost free pure steel arrows, it was a forceful and powerful attack. Wrested the Muerto Mountains back from them.
In the end, the Zhenbei Army now had full control of the Murto Mountains, and the Sak Kingdom was under tremendous pressure and had to increase its investment in the Greedy Wolf Legion and Tiger Legion to prevent the Zhenbei Army from counterattacking.
As for the counterattack on the Muerto Mountains... with the support of the Zhenbei Army's extremely powerful armaments. But it is simply unthinkable in the short term.
However, in the report submitted by King Lampali's Ministry, it was uncharacteristically not to express merit to His Majesty the King, but to ask for help.
According to military statistics, during the Battle of the Sierra de Muerto. Although the Zhenbei Army performed heroically and regained control of the crucial Muerto Mountains, the price paid by the military was a one-time investment of 170,000 gold coins, which was almost the entire military expenditure of the year. And empty.
In order to maintain control of the Muerto Mountains, the Zhenbei Army currently spends more than 40,000 gold coins every month.
Not to mention anything else, the cost of transporting supplies alone exceeded 10,000 gold coins.
And this is the number that the military department has saved after saving after saving.
In this report, the Military Department clearly listed all the data, and then clearly stated that the Military Department now has no money. If the Kingdom’s finance does not make additional allocations, the Military Department will not be able to sustain it at all. Correspondingly, Yes, the Muerto Mountains will definitely change hands again.
At first glance, this report seemed like a threat to force His Majesty the King to give money, but Lampali XIII knew very well that what the military said was true.
Because he understands the kingdom's finances better than anyone in the kingdom.
The kingdom's finances have no money, and the military department naturally has no money.
But this is another problem that must be solved. Otherwise, all the efforts made by the Zhenbei Army will be in vain, and the Lampali Kingdom will become even more passive.
However, if another way is found to increase military expenditures for the military department, the result will be that the two countries will further deepen the quagmire, worsen the kingdom's finances, and form a vicious cycle.
How to break this endless cycle
Lampali XIII thought for a moment and picked up another report on the table next to him.
This report is the Kingdom’s Autumn Harvest Summary Report submitted by the Kingdom’s Agriculture Department some time ago.
In this report, Bonta City was placed in a very prominent position.
The reason is simple, because in this year's autumn harvest, Bangta City's results were so outstanding that they far exceeded the performance of other cities in the kingdom.
In this report, the Department of Agriculture highly praised the current lord of Bonta City, Earl Stark, saying that he was the first contributor to Bonta City's success in this autumn harvest and deserved the highest commendation. It is said that if every city in the kingdom can have such a strong food production, then the Lampali Kingdom will completely get rid of food problems in the next few years, so that all its people will no longer be troubled by famine.
After reading the report carefully, King Lampali XIII suddenly exhaled a puff of air from his nostrils, snorted slightly, a cold smile flashed across his face, and then picked up another report. , after looking at it for a while, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, and the smile on his face turned into relief.
This report is a secret report. It is thick and consists of dozens of sheets of paper.
If Xu Yi were here, he would be surprised.
Because this thick report is all about the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce.
Regarding this report, King Lampali XIII actually read it more carefully than the previous reports from the Military Department and the Agriculture Department. Many times he would stop and think for a while before continuing to read.
After taking nearly an hour to read the entire report, King Lampali XIII put down the report and leaned back on his chair. He closed his eyes facing the warm sunshine, looking like he was planning to take a nap, but judging from his tightened brows and the corners of his mouth that twitched from time to time, it was clear that he was actually deep in thought.
after awhile. There was a soft sound of footsteps entering the garden. Rampalli XIII was awakened from his reverie.
He knew it without opening his eyes. It must be my favorite little daughter Sevigny who is here.
"Father, are you able to take some free time to rest today?" The footsteps stopped in front of him, and then Sevini's slightly surprised voice sounded.
Lampali XIII opened his eyes and showed a gentle smile to Sevini. Pointing to a chair diagonally opposite, he motioned for Sevigny to sit down.
"Say it." After Sevini sat down, Lampali XIII said briefly.
Sevini knew that his father did not like to waste time, so he nodded and handed a document in his hand to Lampali XIII.
"Is it about that guy Xu Yi again?" Lampali XIII did not reach out to pick it up, but instead asked Sevini with a teasing smile.
Hearing the hint of joking in his tone, Sevini's pretty face blushed slightly. He handed the document in his hand to Lampali XIII a little more.
"You'll know just by looking at it."
Lampali XIII smiled, took the document, and after glancing at it twice, his expression immediately became solemn. He actually sat up straight.
After he carefully read the entire report, he pondered for a moment, and asked Sevigny seriously: "How sure are you?"
Sevini thought for a while and replied: "Based on my understanding of Xu Yi, since he said so and solemnly made this suggestion to you, I think I am at least half sure."
"Okay, if you can be half sure, it's worth doing."
Lampali XIII looked down at the report in his hand again and smiled to himself.
"Hey, I didn't expect that the matter that I have been worrying about for more than ten years was solved so easily in the hands of this boy. Fortunately, he actually thought of making an idea to go to the Principality of Standing. Although I also knew the land of the Principality of Standing before. It’s fertile and can produce a lot of food, but we really didn’t have the strength to conquer it, so we had to give up the idea.”
Sevini smiled slightly: "Father, Xu Yi said that many things in this world can be solved with money without using force. In addition, he also said that things that can be solved with money are nothing. event."
Lampali XIII couldn't help but stare: "This guy said it easily. Their Xinfei Chamber of Commerce has made a lot of money. Of course he can say such big words, but how can our kingdom's finances be as good as that of their chamber of commerce?" He has the ability to make the entire Lampali Kingdom also make money?"
Sevini narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled: "Father, what if Xu Yi really has a way to make the entire kingdom rich?"
Lampali XIII was startled, frowned and glanced at Sevini: "Sevini, I know you have always admired Xu Yi very much, and I also agree that the magic industry led by their Xinfei Chamber of Commerce has indeed changed the entire Bangta City. But a country is different from a chamber of commerce or a city, and it’s not that simple.”
"How will you know if you don't try it." Sevini shook his head. "Father, our Lampali Kingdom has been on the same path for hundreds of years, but there has been no improvement. Now that there is finally a possibility of change, why are you just not determined to try? ?”
Lampali XIII stared at Sevini for a long time and sighed: "How could I not understand this. But Sevini, there are many things in the kingdom, and even I can't decide easily."
"I understand." Sevini nodded slightly. "I don't want you to make huge changes, I just want you to give more help to this change."
Lampali XIII chuckled: "I knew that you came here to ask for benefits from that boy again. If he hadn't already been married, I really doubt whether you had planned to marry him. "
Sevini's face turned red, but he did not refute anything. He just stared at Lampali XIII: "Father, I am serious. Even when Xu Yi was treated like this by Earl Stark, he was still thinking about it. Our entire kingdom considers that if we don’t give him some support, he will be disappointed. I feel that we cannot lose him and the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce under any circumstances.”
"It's not that I disagree, it's just that you haven't said what benefits you plan to seek for him this time, and how can I agree?" Lampali XIII said with a smile. "If you still ask for territory, then don't say it. There is no way I will agree to it. Last time I gave that boy a territory, the noble council would be in a quarrel. If you give it to him again, I will be annoyed to death."
Sevini paused and replied seriously: "I hope you can give the New Flying Chamber of Commerce the right to trade freely."
Lampali XIII was startled, and then sternly said: "This is impossible!"