726: Chapter 26, Trouble Maker_1 726: Chapter 26, Trouble Maker_1 “Earl, we’ve arrived at the royal palace!”
Alerted by the guard, Hudson poked his head out of the carriage, only to be dumbfounded at the scene.
Crown Prince Caesar himself had come to welcome him!
It should be noted that he and the prince were not acquainted, and their short previous interaction had ended on a sour note.
Now acting so enthusiastic, it didn’t seem right no matter how he looked at it.
To give a courteous reception is often a prelude to asking a favor.
After some brief pleasantries, Hudson immediately sensed something was amiss.
Crown Prince Caesar seemed a bit too eager.
It was as though a significant event had occurred, and immediate Visit NovelHub for more amazing novels and chapters.
Even he, a noble who had been involved in previous verbal conflicts, had become a target for persuasion.
Being the son of the king and serving as the bond that connects the Moxi Duchy through marriage, Crown Prince Caesar’s position was virtually unassailable.
The explanation for his current eagerness could only be one—King Caesar III’s time was running short!
For a new king, the most crucial task is to stabilize the situation.
As an important figure in the military and the fourth dragon knight of the continent, as long as Crown Prince Caesar was not foolish, he would definitely want to win Hudson over.
Compared to the stability of the kingdom, the small conflict that had occurred in the Moxi Duchy was negligible.
Upon entering the grand hall and exchanging greetings with several early-arriving nobles, Hudson took his seat and quietly awaited the start of the meeting.
“Since our ancestors established the Alpha Kingdom and walked through all weathers to get us where we are now, it has been 326 years.
The main reason for calling you all here today is to discuss the future development of the kingdom.
The Orc Empire has declined, causing major changes in international relations.
The previous policies of the kingdom no longer suffice.
This not only concerns the future of the kingdom but also your families’ futures.
Please freely share any suggestions you may have!”
The fading of a hero’s glory.
Looking at the frail and shaky King Caesar III, everyone couldn’t help but feel a sense of sorrow.
Regardless of their positions, in everyone’s eyes, Caesar III was a competent king.
“Your Majesty, although international relations have stabilized, it doesn’t mean the crisis is over.
As our kingdom is weakened, the other major kingdoms in the central region have become increasingly active, their influence gradually extending towards the Northern Continent.
The Warhammer Kingdom faces internal warfare and struggles to suppress those ancient tribes lurking in the world of ice and snow, let alone the elves in the Norwegian forest.
If the situation gets out of control, the whole Northern Continent will fall into chaos.
As the most powerful kingdom in the north, we have the duty to maintain regional stability.
It is now the year 99991 of the Holy Calendar, and the next catastrophic event is imminent.
The more restraint we show now, the more violent the explosion will be in the future.
In this context, the kingdom must have a powerful standing army to maintain an unbeatable position in the future upheavals!”
As he spoke, Grand Duke Aefero cast a glance towards Hudson.
Among all the fief nobles, Hudson, who had served as the grand army commander, had the closest ties with the military.
In the past, such positions were usually held by the nobles in the capital, or by members of the royal family.
Having risen to power through unexpected circumstances, Hudson had been labeled as the spokesperson for the military ever since his appointment as commander in chief.
“The Grand Duke is correct, given the current situation, the kingdom can’t afford substantial military reductions.
Despite apparent tranquility on the continent, an arms race has been underway for several years behind the scenes.
Due to the orcs, the kingdom has fallen behind in several areas of the new military technology revolution.
If we want to catch up now, it’s more than any one clan can manage.
We must unite and cooperate sincerely.
I propose setting up a special research fund for developing magic crossbows, magic crystal cannons, magic navigators, magical beast breeding, and all kinds of magic potions.
As for the source of the funds, I suggest extracting a portion from the tithe.
For any shortages, we could impose additional taxes on luxury items like spices and tea.
Taking into account the practical situation, I believe the funding for these projects should not be less than three million gold coins.
In the short term, there are no major conflicts confronting the kingdom.
The number of standing troops can be reduced, but considering the practical situation, it’s not suitable to do so drastically before the formation of the magical beast army.
The current number of standing troops in the kingdom has already reduced to 260,000, which is relatively reasonable.
Even if we want to continue reducing, there is limited room for further cuts.
Isn’t that the price we pay for being the third kingdom on the continent?
If the number of the standing army is too small and fails to deter the enemy, won’t every Tom, Dick, and Harry try to take advantage of us!”
Hudson’s words immediately stirred up a storm among the fief lords.
They needed to secure their interests and could not neglect the interests of the kingdom either.
In the world of nobility, reputation matters.
The nobles from a strong kingdom wield greater authority than those from a weak one, especially when it comes to international transactions.
This is particularly true for large families engaged in international trade; they need a strong kingdom backing them.
Alliances are temporary, while interests are eternal.
Although Hudson seemed to be stating obvious facts, he was, in fact, causing a split in the noble camp.
The major noble alliance, which was temporary due to common interests, immediately split into two factions.
Several major noble families involved in international trade, swayed by their interests, became indecisive.