Fishing in Troubled Waters

Looking at the convoy appearing in the distance, Hudson smiled slightly. It was worth coming all this way to greet them; judging by the length of the procession, they had come with a "pledge of allegiance."

After nearly two years of preparation, it wouldn't be necessary to go to such lengths just to poach one person. A smart person would know what to do next with just a hint.

The royal family has never lacked followers. Every year, countless young nobles who have just come of age bid farewell to their parents and leave home to seek opportunities.

Especially for a powerful ruler like Caesar III, the attraction for talent was even stronger. Noble sons flocked to the royal family, and the talent pool had long since reached a terrifying number.

Anything becomes worthless when it's in excess. Many people are nominally followers of the King, but in reality, they are just retainers.

Simply put, the royal family did not provide them with enough jobs, but they did provide them with basic food and lodging.

If you need anything, just give them a call, and they will help you with it. Once it's done, you can receive a reward from the royal family.

Those who perform exceptionally well may be able to serve under the royal family. By working hard and accumulating enough merit, they may have the opportunity to obtain a title or even a fief.

Generally speaking, those who stand out are mostly powerful knights. War is their path to fame and fortune.

Basic administrative positions are too easily replaceable and have long been taken up by royal collateral branches and retainers.

High-ranking civil servants are required to have high abilities, but even higher requirements for loyalty; those who are not core members basically have no chance.

Jose was a lucky man. He first entered the royal court by virtue of his own military strength, and then stood out by virtue of his outstanding military command ability, and made it to the position of a Court Count.

He was just one step away from making it into the core team. Unfortunately, a crucial test at the last moment caused Jose to run out of luck, and he was brought back to reality.

In an effort to win people over, the material benefits were not reduced, but the social status plummeted.

A decline in status isn't without its advantages; it means less attention. Even when Caesar IV ascended the throne and the royal court swore allegiance, he was largely ignored.

As for why Jose was overlooked, half the reason was Caesar IV's indifference towards him, and the other half was that Lord Hudson spent a lot of money on him.

"Those who dislike the King should not appear before King." The King was satisfied, the person who received the money felt at ease, and the person who spent the money got the job done; everyone got what they wanted.

On the Aslant Continent, without a formal oath of allegiance, no monarchical relationship is established between the two parties, and there is no need to fulfill obligations to Caesar IV.

Only when there are no obligations binding him can Jose, as a free man, accept Hudson's invitation with a clear conscience; otherwise, such an act would be considered "betrayal."

If nothing unexpected happens, the group of people who came with Jose are also free agents.

Fortunately, Hudson's reputation was strong enough; otherwise, a remote corner like the Mountain Territory wouldn't have been able to attract so many people.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, a grand welcome banquet was held. All the high-ranking officials in the territory who could come were present, showing them great respect.

"Your Excellency, this is the team's roster information, with notes on their backgrounds, personalities, character, abilities, and special skills."

Due to time constraints, this information is not comprehensive, and some details may even contain errors. It should only be used as a reference.

As they spoke, Jose handed over a thick parchment book, clearly the result of considerable effort.

As for accuracy, it cannot be completely guaranteed, that's inevitable. Background, ability, and personality can all be found out, but character is a mysterious thing.

According to Hudson, apart from a few extremists, most people are just ordinary people and cannot be simply described as good or bad.

He's looking for talented people, not moral saints. As long as they can follow orders, carry out tasks, and don't cause trouble, that's enough.

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Jose. With your help, the future of our Mountain Territory will surely be even brighter!"

Hudson said with a sincere expression. As for the parchment book in his hand, he didn't even bother to open it.

Human relationships and social dynamics are essential everywhere. Bringing someone to your business doesn't guarantee they'll stay. The more talented someone is, the harder they are to retain.

Jose's decision to switch sides at this time was actually out of necessity. Caesar IV's disregard made his life very difficult.

Hudson's poaching efforts only made things worse for him. Not only did they tamper with his oath of allegiance, removing his name, but the supplies the royal family provided to him also decreased month by month.

His intuition told him that if he didn't make a choice soon, his royal estate would be taken back before long.

Everyone cares about their reputation, and Jose is no exception. With a family to support, how could he possibly survive if he were kicked out?

Many nobles in the kingdom extended olive branches to him, but Hudson was the one with the most sincerity.

If he develops in the Mountain Territory, he can directly enter the inner circle; if he joins other great noble families, he will still have to struggle on the periphery, and may even be suspected of being a spy planted by the royal family.

"You flatter me, Earl. The development of the Mountain Territory is evident to all. Throughout the entire history of the human race, there are very few territories whose development speed can rival that of the Mountain Territory."

Furthermore, the rapid development of these territories is due to various special reasons, except for the Mountain Territory, which truly started from scratch.

The scale of the swamp development, in particular, is breathtaking. His Excellency the Earl's ability to govern the region is truly unparalleled throughout history..."

After a barrage of flattery, Hudson knew that Jose had matured. If he had been this adept at flattery during the expedition to the Moxi Duchy, his relationship with Caesar IV probably wouldn't have been so bad.

As long as the relationship is good, nothing is a problem. Even if they can't persuade the Crown Prince at the time, they'll be exonerated if they take the blame. No matter how badly they end up, they won't be left without a title.

"Mr. Jose, there's no need for such formalities between us. We're all on the same side now, so let's just speak frankly."

Inviting you to join is to help me improve the strategic plan and identify and address any shortcomings during its implementation.

"Perhaps the gentleman is unaware that the kingdom is about to face a major problem—a debt crisis may be erupting!"

Upon hearing this shocking news, Jose's expression changed drastically, but he quickly recovered. Hudson's calm demeanor was incredibly reassuring.

"Your Excellency, do you already have a solution?"

"Jose asked expectantly."

Even after racking his brains, he couldn't figure out why his lord could remain so calm at a time when the kingdom's credibility was on the verge of collapse.

This was caused by the information asymmetry between the two sides, and Hudson was not in a position to disclose the affairs of the Moxi Duchy.

Based on the limited information available, if a bond run occurs, Alpha Kingdom, unable to make payments, will inevitably suffer a credit collapse.

Why is it that creditors had a greater advantage in previous debt relationships?

During wartime, when people are asked to buy bonds, special terms that benefit the creditors are naturally required.

As agreed, in the event of an unforeseen event, if everyone believes that the kingdom's ability to repay is in question, the creditors have the right to demand early redemption.

This clause was originally intended for the wealthy nobles, so that if they were unable to repay their debts in the future, they could use the information gap to jump ship in advance.

However, Hudson's subsequent shrewd maneuver made them suddenly realize that they could sell their bonds at a higher price and secure their profits ahead of time.

After a series of ups and downs, we have the current situation.

Whether the kingdom's reputation will collapse depends mainly on confidence. As long as everyone retains confidence in the kingdom, we can weather this storm.

To ensure that everyone's confidence in the kingdom remains intact, as long as the even more financially strained Moxi Duchy can weather the crisis, then everything will be fine.

As far as I know, the Moxi Duchy has already implemented contingency plans. On the one hand, it has mobilized its nobles to weather the crisis together, and on the other hand, it has sent representatives to hold emergency consultations with its creditors.

To preserve the kingdom's reputation, I also did my part. Not only did I not redeem my own bonds early, but I also helped them persuade a group of nobles in the expeditionary force.

Creditors in other areas have also been largely appeased. Perhaps it won't be long before news spreads that the Moxi Duchy has safely weathered the debt crisis.

If the Moxi people could weather the storm, the kingdom would be even better. Although the nobles within the kingdom didn't join the chorus demanding early repayment of bonds, bond prices on the market have still plummeted.

It is said that bonds with a face value of 20% have already appeared on the market. If the panic continues to escalate, bonds with a face value of 30%, 40%, 50%, or even lower may appear.

There's no reason to let a golden opportunity slip by. I've prepared two million gold coins specifically for this plan.

There are not many capable people in the territory, and I hope that Mr. Jose can take on this important task and acquire the high-interest bonds previously issued by the kingdom at the lowest possible price.

After the crisis ends, we'll find an opportunity to sell these bonds. My requirements aren't high; I just need to raise the funds needed for port and shipyard construction in a short time.

I almost forgot, the Berkshire Shipyard is now mine. Now I'm just waiting for the dry dock to be completed so I can move in.

The sailors and boatmen are all ready, and the artificial canal connecting the territory to the sea opened smoothly this month. While engaging in maritime trade will take some time, developing a fishing industry is not a problem.

It wasn't that he was deliberately showing off or revealing part of his wealth; it was mainly to win over his underlings.

Judging from Jose's incredulous expression, Hudson knew his plan had succeeded.

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will handle this matter properly. However, the amount of money involved is too large, so you will need to send more people to assist me in completing it."

Acquiring so many bonds at once would be too conspicuous to do it only in the Southeast Province; it must be done in multiple locations.

This raises a major security issue. Guards are definitely necessary, and ideally, skilled personnel would be needed to assist them.

Jose made the request directly.

Hudson's wealth was far greater than he had anticipated. His control over his underlings, as well as the financial, material, and human resources he displayed, far exceeded his expectations.

I originally thought that this trip would mean a decade or more of quiet farming. But judging from the current situation, it seems that this period of quiet will be greatly shortened.

"I will have Kane as your assistant, and you can choose the rest of the people you bring. I will have Tom arrange the guards, and Beldens will also provide you with protection in secret."

However, most of the people in the territory have appeared on the battlefield, making it easy for their identities to be exposed. If possible, it's best not to personally go and buy from the nobles.

Back in the grasslands, I've already collaborated with many chambers of commerce. The network of contacts is readily available. Go and talk to them; if you can agree on a price, you can use their connections again this time.

Hudson said with a smile.

Someone will definitely be sent to supervise. Two million gold coins is not two hundred gold coins. No matter how much you trust Jose, he won't test human nature at a time like this.

However, the real supervisors were not the trusted confidants on the surface, but Beldens were hiding in the shadows.

There's no way around it; given enough profit, buying people's loyalty is just too easy. In comparison, World of Warcraft is far more reliable.

"Your Excellency, you could also rally a few powerful noble families to create momentum and encourage other nobles in the country to jointly invest in the purchase of bonds."

Not only did we gain political prestige, but with the acquisition as a cover, it would also be much easier for us to operate covertly.

Even if we mishandle the operation and get caught halfway through, we can still use the pretext of protecting the kingdom's market.

Jose's suggestion delighted Hudson. As it turned out, the digging was indeed worthwhile.

Those who work in the royal family are different; their political awareness is something his subordinates don't possess.

Even those who are selected from the best and eventually enter the top echelons of the territory still have a political vision that is limited to their own small plot of land.

"Okay, it's settled then. You go and select the personnel first, and then take action after the political campaign is complete."

Judging by the timeline, it shouldn't be long before the kingdom seeks advice from us local nobles. I can bring it up then.