The Transfer of Power
With the deal finalized and the meeting over, Hudson, on his way home, could only suppress his inner elation and put on a bitter face in front of everyone.
Watching the smug Count Pierce constantly pointing out the flaws in the world, he couldn't help but want to punch him.
Hudson's expression was grim, and his men were even more so. The Southeast Province was shouldering the brunt of this "repayment tax."
After much discussion, in addition to the repayment of the principal of six million proposed by Count Pierce, the shortfall in the government's payment of bond interest will also be allocated to the repayment tax.
The final "repayment tax" was set at 9.37 million gold coins. Of these, 1.3 million gold coins were levied on the Southeast Province, accounting for nearly 14 percent.
Such a high percentage of those who accept bribes are practically screaming "sucker" on their heads!
Clearly, being a sucker is never easy in any world. The 1.3 million in repayment tax from the Southeast Province will be shared by the nobles of the fifteen counties within the province.
Apart from Count Pierce's close associates, who were still able to smile, everyone else looked rather grim.
Especially the minor nobles who were already in financial difficulty, their faces were terribly gloomy, as if they had lost their parents.
Those in good spirits gathered together to chat, while those in bad spirits gathered together to complain to each other, and soon the group was clearly divided into two groups.
Seeing several middle-class nobles in the province joining Count Pierce's ranks, Hudson immediately realized something was wrong.
The situation was quite clear: Count Pierce had obviously realized how much hatred his actions had provoked, and had taken preemptive steps to win over the powerful figures within the province.
Unlike emerging nobles who need to spend a lot of money on construction, established nobles only need to manage their fiefdoms step by step, and their need for funds is not large.
Even if they have to pay an extra amount of repayment tax now, the impact on them is very limited; they may feel a little uncomfortable.
With the Dalton Family's influence, calming everyone down would be incredibly easy. They might not only break even, but even make a profit.
For example, tacitly condoning some of their underhanded actions.
Everyone will suffer the economic losses, but the worst off will undoubtedly be the lower-class nobles. There's a good chance a group of unfortunate individuals will fall from grace due to financial ruin.
This is an opportunity!
Large-scale land annexation is impossible, but with the cooperation of the Governor's Mansion, it is still possible to seize one or two Knight's Territory.
Especially now that Caesar III's health is precarious and a change of Royal Authority could occur at any time, the chances of gaining an advantage are even greater.
As far as Hudson knows, most of the land consolidation within the Alpha Kingdom in the last century has occurred during periods of Royal Authority succession.
Generally speaking, the lower the prestige of a new emperor and the longer he is unable to control the court, the greater the appetite of the nobles.
Having sorted out his thoughts, Hudson's original idea of taking the opportunity to win over the nobles in the province was instantly abandoned.
The feast of land consolidation is not something everyone is qualified to participate in. As a newly emerging noble family, the Coslo Family has not even digested its current gains, and if it were to engage in further land consolidation, it would easily fall into the trap of alienating everyone.
From the family's perspective, they cannot expand their power through land acquisitions; the best option is to maintain the status quo in the Southeast Province for now.
There is no doubt that the Coslo Family's strategy is at odds with the interests of the established noble families in the province.
It's pointless to talk when you don't see eye to eye, especially when your interests clash. You're destined to be on different paths, so trying to win someone over is a complete waste of time.
It's somewhat compatible, but unfortunately this group is too complex.
Some complacent nobles wanted to maintain the status quo; others were ambitious and waiting for Caesar III's death, hoping to take Fishing in troubled waters.
The situation of a "salted fish aristocrat" is usually not very good.
Their own strength was very limited, and they could not withstand the storms of life. Just surviving took all their energy, and there was no fertile ground for ambition to grow.
It's unknown how much strength could be increased if we were to win them over, but the burden that would come with it would be heavy.
Needless to say, the latter is another story. A few years ago, the Coslo Family was an ambitious minor noble family that directly used the system to force its children to constantly explore and make progress.
Taking in such an ambitious underling will inevitably lead to a lot of trouble later on.
If the underlings' abilities match their ambitions, that's fine. The worst thing is encountering a few incompetent fools who are all talk and no action, dragging their boss down with them.
Having made up his mind to observe the situation first, Hudson no longer paid attention to everyone's complaints and grievances.
However, while new underlings can be refused, those already under one's command must be taken care of.
The nobles who now associate with the Coslo Family are mainly composed of two groups.
Some of them were followers of Hudson who had witnessed his meteoric rise to power and had too much faith in him as their leader, so they joined him without a second thought.
This group may not have deep roots, but they have benefited from following the Hudson family all along. Their military strength and personal wealth are among the best of the lesser nobles.
The other group consisted of former relatives and friends, as well as minor nobles who had recently entered into marriage alliances.
It would have been impossible for a noble family to form a marriage alliance with the Coslo Family after the Hudson family's rise to power without considerable wealth. A poor, minor nobleman would never have caught the eye of a major noble family.
Right now, only a small number of unfortunate friends and relatives are truly in trouble and need financial assistance.
For various reasons, they completely missed the Hudson Rivers' rise and were unable to get a piece of the pie.
"My lord, are we just going to let the Governor act with impunity?"
A familiar voice rang in his ears, interrupting Hudson's train of thought.
"Kate, you're too hasty. The game has only just begun, why rush to deal with it?"
We may not have really suffered a loss in this matter. With everyone contributing more money, the Dalton Family actually needs to contribute the most gold coins among all the nobles in the province.
The old aristocratic families are indeed wealthy, but that wealth was accumulated over countless years by their ancestors. Given Count Pierce's current methods of squandering resources, it's impossible for the Dalton Family not to have objections.
If there are one or two losses, people can still consider the overall situation. But if there are too many losses, then it's hard to say.
But you have a point. If we completely ignore it, people might think we're afraid of him.
"Alright, let's spread the word: Count Pierce knows everyone's suffering; if you're short of money, you can borrow from the Dalton Family!"
Hudson said with a sneer.
"Your Excellency, a rumor is unlikely to have much effect. The Dalton Family is deeply entrenched in the Southeast Province, and ordinary minor nobles would not dare to provoke them."
Unless we secretly lead the charge and organize the nobles in the province to protest against him and refuse to pay the repayment tax.
However, this presents a serious problem: if things escalate, it will inevitably alarm the kingdom. In order to raise funds to repay the debt, various domestic powers will most likely demand that we continue to fulfill our tax obligations!
"Baron Keterai said with concern."
Looking at his underling, Hudson seriously doubted whether he had spoiled him, and then he realized what was going on.
Kate's abilities are indeed remarkable, but after a series of setbacks, his confidence has long been eroded, and he has lost his original arrogance and drive.
If you were starting your own business, this kind of change would be disastrous. But as a junior employee, it's best not to be too ambitious.
"What you're saying is just the normal situation. Humans are the most complex creatures. Once they're pushed to the limit, they're capable of anything."
We don't need them to go to war with the Dalton Family. All we need to do is gather a group of minor nobles who are bankrupt or on the verge of bankruptcy at the crucial moment and have them go to the Governor's Mansion's mansion to plead poverty.
"If you have any difficulties, go to the Governor; these are all official matters. Our Governor Pierce is a responsible nobleman. Since everyone is struggling to make ends meet because of him, we can't just leave him to fend for himself!"
Hudson said sarcastically.
These are all insignificant tricks, but at crucial moments, they can throw Count Pierce into a panic.
If we don't help, it will damage our reputation; if we do help, it will cost us money and effort, and we'll also block many people's path.
Trying to win over a group of down-on-their-luck individuals while offending powerful figures within the province is a huge loss no matter how you look at it.
In the Royal Capital, after sending away a group of nobles from the country, Caesar III, who had been struggling to stay afloat, finally collapsed.
There was another task behind gathering everyone here today—to formally confer titles upon those who had rendered meritorious service in the war.
Unfortunately, Caesar III's health failed him, and he was unable to preside over the ceremony. So he simply used the kingdom's system of bestowing titles upon nobles every five years as an excuse.
Counting the days, it's been less than six months since the last noble investiture, which will mark five years. Normally, these kinds of events are combined to save everyone the trouble of making another trip.
However, rules can be changed. In any case, the actual benefits have already been obtained, and now all that's missing is a ceremony. No one is willing to argue with the King over such a small matter.
After all, a dying person is not someone to be trifled with!
No one can guarantee that Caesar III will remain rational in the present moment. What if he is accidentally provoked and the Caesar, risking his posthumous reputation, insists on dragging the one who sticks out into the fray to meet the Lord of Dawn? Wouldn't that be a tragedy?
"Little Caesar, from now on, all the affairs of the kingdom will be in your hands."
Since our ancestors founded the Alpha Kingdom, it has been passed down for over three hundred years. During this time, we have weathered countless storms and hardships.
You are now taking over the best Alpha Kingdom, and also the worst Alpha Kingdom.
Without the threat of the Beastfolk, we can focus on development and catch up with the powerful nations of the Southern Continent; however, this also means that the country is no longer as united as before.
The current conflict is just the beginning. As time goes on, the internal strife within the kingdom will only intensify.
Remember this principle: stability trumps everything.
On this basis, you must also vigorously develop the royal foundation and maintain the balance between the major domestic powers.
The great nobles are the pillars of the kingdom, but the middle and lesser nobles are the foundation of the royal family. No matter how the situation develops, they cannot be allowed to annex land.
I've paved the way for you; how you walk it is up to you. All I can do now is hold on for a few more days, buying you a final bit of time.
Little... Caesar... you... want...
In the end, Caesar III could no longer string his words together, speaking haltingly and incoherently, bringing tears to the eyes of everyone present.
Crown Prince Caesar wept uncontrollably by the bedside, but continued to respond verbally until Caesar III lost consciousness and lay unconscious on his bed.
The priests and magicians guarding the vicinity rushed forward and poured a bottle of mysterious potion into Caesar III's mouth.
"Alright, Little Caesar. His Majesty is tired and needs to rest. You're an adult now, and you need to learn to face things on your own."
Judging from His Majesty's health, he can only hold on for a maximum of three months. You must take control of the court within these three months and ensure a smooth transfer of power!
Archbishop Tyron said with a sorrowful expression.
The most outstanding monarch of the Alpha Kingdom is about to reach the end of his life, and no one knows what the next era will be like.
Everyone present in the ward at this moment was a member of the royal family. They were all in the same boat, sharing both glory and ruin.
"Is there any way to prolong Father's life? No matter the cost, no matter what treasures are needed, I will search for it with all my might!"
Crown Prince Caesar said excitedly.
Fatherly love is like a mountain; you don't really feel it in ordinary times, but it suddenly becomes apparent when it comes to life and death.
Every little detail from the past kept replaying in his mind. Even the times he got into trouble and got a beating have now become fond memories.
"Alright, Little Caesar. You are the next monarch of the kingdom, don't act like a little girl."
His Majesty's health is already failing; there's no need to torment him further. What you need to do is quickly take control of the court and allow him to rest in peace.
Archbishop Tyron's words extinguished Crown Prince Caesar's last hope. Without his father to shelter him, he was now plunged into endless despair.
After a long while, he nodded seriously.
"Prime Minister, my father has repeatedly instructed me that if I encounter any political problems, I should consult you for advice. Where should I begin?"
It's clear that Crown Prince Caesar has grown up, but the price of that growth is quite heavy.
"Your Highness, the central government has been managed by our royal family for hundreds of years, and most of the core positions are in the hands of the royal family, so there is basically no chance of trouble."
The real trouble you're facing now is still at the local level.
Apart from the royal domain, the other major provinces are all under the control of local powerful nobles, leaving us with limited opportunities to intervene.
Throughout history, the biggest problem with changes of Royal Authority has been that powerful local nobles have taken the opportunity to annex land. Now, the power of the powerful nobles within the country is already extremely formidable, and their influence cannot be allowed to continue to expand.
In fact, His Majesty has already left you a solution, which is to maintain the balance of the kingdom by using the checks and balances among the nobles.
In the days to come, anyone who dares to engage in land annexation will be severely punished!