"I'm very glad that there are people like you here who can still remember that the purpose of military existence is to defend the empire and protect the people." The queen replied, glancing at the officers on the left, "Unfortunately, the vast majority People have forgotten this point. The imperial fleet stationed in the strait was supposed to protect the people, telling them not to be afraid of wind and rain, and not to be afraid of powerful enemies. Since when, for people, our navy is more terrifying than pirates?"
As soon as she raised her hand, the finance minister beside her took a step forward, holding a petition in her hand.
"read."
The queen said coldly.
The Minister of Finance cleared his throat, and recited aloud the densely packed lines of different handwriting on it.
From the first day they arrived in Rose Strait, the queen's spies wandered into every corner of the port. When investigating the whereabouts of the port tax revenue and the actions of the Confranc family, they also recorded many other small things. At the same time, spies disguised as ascetic monks also came into contact with all kinds of citizens.
In the past, it was these ordinary citizens who were most easily overlooked, but at this time, the words from these ordinary citizens whose names the navy could hardly remember became a sharp sword in the queen's hands.
"On July 23rd, Soldier Geoffrey has to take the new wool..."
"On June 11, Lieutenant Sim seized two merchant ships of the Booker Chamber of Commerce..."
"On May 18, Captain Andre maliciously defaulted on the agency funds..."
"April 9th..."
"... We ask Your Majesty, I implore you, to uphold justice for your people, I implore you, to listen to the voice from the ashes."
"..."
The voice of the Chancellor of the Exchequer echoed in the Hall of White Mirrors.
The petition revealed the "good things" that the Rose Strait Navy has done over the years: corruption and bribery, expropriation, harsh treatment of businessmen, wanton tax collection... from officers to soldiers. In the petition, the citizens protested like a wave. They petitioned the Queen to restrain the army and clear the port.
How long has the petition been read, and how long have the people in the White Mirror Hall been sitting on pins and needles.
"I think, since I have heard their voices, I should also listen to your voices," said the Chancellor of the Exchequer, bowing and returning to his original position with the petition. The Queen said flatly, it was difficult to see if she was angry, "Does anyone have any objections to this?"
All the seats are silent.
Earl Boli looked around, and even the generals he had personally promoted bowed their heads in silence. He sighed for a long time, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
"Count Boli, please answer me," the queen asked softly, "do you think you are soldiers, robbers or thieves? Are you carrying the glory of the empire on your shoulders, or the people's curse? This country, or come to ruin this country?"
Earl Boli bowed deeply to the queen and said in a low voice, "Please come down."
"Sit down, Earl Bolly."
said the queen.
She took something from the servant next to her.
Seeing the thing in the queen's hand, Captain Andrei's face on the officer's seat turned pale, and beads of sweat rushed out at the end of the cold winter.
"Actually, why do I want to hear these things? Why do I want to believe that these are true?" The Queen casually opened the sailing diary and said softly, but every word was like a loud slap in the face. On the faces of the officers and commissioners in the Hall of White Mirrors, "However, the fact is that at the most important throat of the empire, our drunken night patrols, our captains leave the ship all night - even the most important sailing diary can be easily steal."
She closed the navigation diary, raised her eyes, and looked at everyone in the hall.
"Gambling, corruption, embezzlement, laziness... How much glory does the Imperial Navy still have?"
The nautical diary was thrown to the ground by her, making a heart-shattering muffled sound.
The queen stood up slowly, restrained all the gentleness on her face, and was as cold as a sword drawn out of its sheath.
"I am speaking to you today in the name of Lord Roland, in the name of the highest military commander of the empire, and even more so in the name of all Roland people. You are guarding the most important throat of the empire. The Roland people entrusted to you are your wives and children waiting at home. Only when you shoulder the glory can your loved ones gain real security and respect."
"Now, you will have two choices:"
"One, always keep in mind the mission of a soldier, and make yourself a sharp sword guarding Rose Strait."
"Two, make an enemy of the empire."
…………………
Seabirds circled in mid-air, and the royal banner embroidered with crossed swords and roses on the Tower of the Sun was raised high, hunting and unfolding in the wind. During the daytime, on the Tower of the Sun, the mirrors in the hands of the statues of the eight sun gods reflect the sunlight and are dazzling.
A vigorous and merciless naval purge took place on this day.
Those involved in rebellion who were temporarily imprisoned in the Moon Tower were dealt with in accordance with the law, while those in the navy who were disciplined and corrupted were dismissed and investigated. Abigail becomes the first female officer in the Imperial Navy, commanding the Nemesis, which she had captured during the Rebellion.
The reorganization of the Naval Military Council is stricter than that of the Navy. From the establishment of the Naval Council by Edmund III to the present, this institution has finally got on the right track, fulfilling the function it originally envisioned as the government supervising the military.
During the entire process of the Imperial Navy's restructuring, Earl Boli stayed behind closed doors due to illness, and those who wanted to put pressure on the Queen through him ran into a wall and returned. However, at this time, the queen is in control of the secret fleet accepted by the royal family after the fall of the Confranc family—now it is renamed the "Thousand Islands Fleet". Field reform, but it can't cause too much splash.
In the queen's official residence when the navy was in full swing.
Earl Boli, who was supposed to stay behind closed doors, was accepting the Queen's invitation to come and enjoy afternoon tea.
"Please sit down, sir." The Queen's attitude was much more friendly than that day in the Hall of White Mirrors. "I am very grateful for all the help you have done in this transformation."
"I am a soldier, and it is my mission to protect the empire."
Earl Bolly bowed to the queen and said solemnly.
The Queen smiled and motioned him to take his seat.
The smooth progress of this naval reform is inseparable from the Earl of Boli. In the Hall of White Mirrors, he and the Queen sang a double reed together. In the subsequent changes, Abigail was able to take over the "Nemesis" more smoothly with the help of Earl Boli.
Count Boli looked at the porcelain cup in front of him and sighed in his heart.
In fact, this is not the first time he and the Queen have met in private.
When they met for the first time, he imagined how to reject the queen's request, but unexpectedly, the first sentence the queen said was "the navy does not interfere with the succession to the throne. You proposed it, right?"
Earl Bolly was amazed at the queen's acuity.
After Edmund III died of illness, the Imperial Navy in Rose Strait voted to remain neutral in the contest for the succession to the throne. Few people know about this matter, and even if they do, they don't know it's his idea.