"Any island?"
The kings were somewhat alarmed by Gawain's words, and they fell silent.
In that moment of silence, they roughly calculated the expenses.
No matter the world, the cost of building roads is never low, so this kind of plan puts a lot of pressure on the kings.
Immediately, the astute King Gawain asked.
"Wait a minute, Saint Gawain, can this so-called Sea Train really, as you say, greatly increase the scale and speed of transporting all kinds of goods?"
If possible, haha, then of course I'd be willing to lay the foundation. Maybe one day in the future, I won't need to take a ship to Mary Geoise for meetings anymore.
See, I absolutely support your decision. You shine as brightly as the sun in my eyes.
But... Your Highness, I hope you can understand my difficulties.
Our country is truly broke right now! The burden of the Heavenly Tribute is just too heavy. To repay it, we have truly gone bankrupt!
As soon as he finished speaking, the king glanced cautiously at Gawain, then made an embarrassed expression.
At the same time, after a moment of silence, the other kings immediately spoke up in support of the king who was once again pleading poverty.
For a time, these kings, adorned with gold and jade, each wearing a crown worth at least billions of Beli, and who had not long ago been lavishly buying luxury goods and trendy slaves in Sabaody, were all the rage.
They described themselves as drifters who barely survived by sleeping under bridges.
Whether they're poor or not is unknown, but they definitely dream of becoming actors...
Seeing the kings' performance getting increasingly exaggerated, Gawain gently tapped the table.
"That's enough, everyone!"
As soon as he finished speaking, countless arcs of electricity erupted from Gawain's right hand, which was resting on the table.
The kings, who were vehemently pleading poverty, were startled by the piercing sound of the electric arc and quickly sat up straight.
Seeing that they had quieted down, Gawain withdrew his right hand and smiled.
"I understand your difficulties, but you should also understand mine."
The Heavenly Tribute is a core rule that has been maintained since the establishment of the World Government, and even I cannot easily break such a rule.
If it were only the Heavenly Tribute of a few individual countries, then I might be able to propose a reduction or exemption.
But there are seventeen kings sitting here, while no king from the Grand Line has ever reached this place, nor are there representatives from raw material exporting countries from Four Blues who are not qualified to stand here.
Adding these together, there are probably forty to fifty countries that will gradually join our cooperation in the future!
This is nearly a third of the world's allied nations. I am powerless and unable to propose, on behalf of so many kings, to temporarily retain the Heavenly Tribute and refuse to hand it over.
You should be able to understand this!
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain coldly swept his gaze around, and those he looked at all lowered their heads.
Even so, the kings would not easily shut their mouths.
After all, in the eyes of the kings, if they were to spend a large sum of money on Gawain's proposed plan, it would not only lower their own standard of living by at least one level, but also cause their nobles to complain bitterly!
In particular, the kings felt that Gawain was being somewhat out of touch with reality.
Their men, if they earn less, will never run to Gawain to complain.
Those who were seen as thorns in the side by those people were ultimately the poor kings!
In short, even though the kings were trembling with fear, they did not accept Gawain's explanation, and one of the kings immediately spoke cautiously to Gawain.
"But, sir, I... sigh."
I genuinely want to support you, but unfortunately, I really don't have the ability to do so!
After all, as everyone knows, my Kingdom of Alabasta recently experienced a drought that lasted for several years. I still have to rely on the aid and assistance of others just to barely keep the common people alive."
At this point, Cobra gave Gawain a meaningful look, and then, with masterful acting skills, continued speaking to the people around him and Gawain.
"The common people in our country really can't afford to eat. We can't squeeze a single drop of oil out of them. If you don't believe me, I can even entrust the entire economy of my kingdom to you, sir!"
At this point, Cobra adopted a "what's the use" attitude, gesturing wildly with a bitter expression.
"As long as you don't take me away, or the treasures of the nobles under my command, I'll just hand over the financial power of our country to you!"
The shops owned by the nobles under my command can pay taxes to you, but in addition to normal business taxes, if you go too far in plundering the wealth of our nobles, then even if you are Celestial Dragon, we will take the case to the Five Elders.
In short, this is what I mean: you should send someone to manage our country's finances and collect taxes from the shops of our common people, that is, from other groups, excluding nobles.
Then, you will be responsible for paying the Heavenly Tribute on behalf of our country. Is that acceptable, Your Gawain?
You see, I've handed over the reins of finance to you. Whether it's how to extract money from the common people, or how to set prices and import/export tax rates, you'll have the final say on all of that. Surely you'll make some profit, right?
However, I must emphasize again that I will not hand over the power to manage the nobility to you!
Most importantly, this management can only continue until the Sea Train is fully established!
Is this okay?
After saying this, Cobra made an interested expression, then glanced at the kings around him a few times.
Honestly, a clever king immediately became interested in the plan.
For kings, the little money in the hands of commoners was simply a drop in the ocean.
Especially for ordinary people nowadays, haha, the taxes deducted from their hands are barely enough to pay the Heavenly Tribute!
They also have their own various industries, which are where they make the most money. As long as their industries are not touched, their treasures will continue to grow.
In particular, if Gawain sends someone to manage the taxes of those lowly commoners, he can not only save the money from the Heavenly Tribute, but also the money to build the Sea Train!
Didn't the kings realize that if Sea Train were developed on a large scale, it would be a huge boon for everyone, making the pie bigger?
They certainly know that, but those good things are all in the future, yet they have to spend their current money.
Admittedly, if this deal goes through, they will earn even more in the future.
But they don't feel it's necessary for them to make such a sacrifice now.
Money is important to them, and they want to earn more.
But no matter what, they didn't want to suffer even a moment's loss!
During the reign of Chongzhen, when Li Zicheng rebelled, the emperor personally led the way in borrowing money from civil and military officials to fight the war, but they couldn't even raise one million taels of silver.
Everyone's poor!
As a result, after Li Zicheng captured the capital, he simply overturned the plate and ransacked the place.
This confiscation involved hundreds of millions of taels of silver; they were incredibly wealthy.
Those people, the smartest in the entire Ming Dynasty, almost all of them top scholars in the imperial examinations, didn't they know that if the Ming Dynasty continued to exist, they could earn even more?
Didn't they consider that if Li Zicheng were to invade, their wealth might truly vanish?
Did they simply view Li Zicheng with wishful thinking?
Some say that people at the top of the wealth chain don't always strive to become even richer.
All they need to do is keep the common people poor.
Because as long as the common people are poor enough, their land will always be cultivated, and they will always have people to serve them.
As long as the lower class is poor enough, the upper class, even if they earn less or have less savings, will still be served by the lower class.
While this statement has some merit, the facts over the years have proven otherwise.
The upper class never makes choices; they want it all.
Why should I allow my own wealth to suffer a slight loss while keeping the lower classes poor?
No, I want them to be poor, I want to be even richer, that's their logic!
History has proven that the true truth is that the wealthier a person is, the more attached they are to the wealth they already possess and the wealth they are about to acquire.
At this very moment, looking at the kings around him who were gradually becoming interested, Gawain truly looked forward to the day when he could completely eliminate them.
Although Gawain greatly admired Qin Shi Huang, he had to admit that his favorite governing methods were actually those of Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty.
Since officials have gained the qualification to manage others and a status higher than ordinary people, they should uphold the spirit of poverty and not think about accumulating any unimaginable wealth!
Even if someone embezzles a few dozen taels of silver, they should be dragged out, skinned alive, and their heads piled high!
Of course, compromise is the only option now.
Gawain sneered inwardly, but smiled at the expectant group of kings.
"Haha, Cobra actually came up with a pretty good suggestion."
Cobra's current ideas are something I've considered similar plans for some time now.
You have all handed over the economic sectors of your respective countries that are geared towards ordinary citizens to me, so that I can exploit those unruly people under your command!
I am Celestial Dragon. Even if they dare to defy you, even if they dare to outwardly comply with you but inwardly defy you, they would never dare to do anything to displease me!
I will extract more money from them, and then I will cover the costs of your respective contributions to the Heavenly Tribute, as well as all the expenses involved in building the Sea Train!
You guys are really lucky to have met such a generous adult like me. All you have to do is follow me around and enjoy it!
However, there is one very important point.
Gawain then raised his hand to the people around him.
"You all need to understand me, I'm not here to do charity, I'm here to make money too, everyone!"
Without money, how can I upgrade my large ship, and how can I support my maids and guards?
And those sought-after slaves—you don't want me to be unable to afford them, do you?
So, gentlemen, don't think you can kick me out of this business as soon as the Sea Train is completed!
The Sea Train is destined to be a very profitable business, and I'm hoping to make a fortune from it!
My Dark Bird Ship cost me a full two trillion Beli. You should understand what that number is!
So, three years, that's all I want, just three years!
For the next three years after the completion of the Sea Train, I will still hold the reins of your finances!
Moreover, I won't be paying any more "Heavenly Tribute" for you during those three years!
Do you understand?
"Certainly!"
"Haha, we totally understand! Gawain is a good person!"
"Your plan can begin immediately. You can even send someone back with me. I will ensure that your subordinates take control of the finances."
"But only for the next few years, sir, you mustn't overstep your bounds."
"Sir, you are too generous! Haha, it's just taxes from a bunch of commoners. We can still earn our money as usual, and we don't have to pay the Heavenly Tribute Washuu the Sea Train!"
"Yes, it feels like a huge benefit has fallen into our laps. How much money could those lower classes possibly squeeze out of them? This is all thanks to Lord Gawain's kindness to us!"
"I'll go back and put the adult's statue up in a shrine!"
"I'll provide the photos."
"Long live the Lord! The Five Elders are never as generous as you, they only Buster Call!!!"
"Long live the Lord!"
For a moment, under the tacit guidance of Cobra and others, the kings even began to cheer in the conference room.
Their money hasn't decreased, their country will gain countless jobs and import/export trade channels, and they won't have to pay their "Heavenly Tribute" taxes for the next few years!
For these powerful figures, this was an incredible stroke of luck. As for their sacrifice, it was simply that their subordinates lived even worse lives!
As for your question about why they don't think those lower-class people would live better under Gawain's manipulation, or even do things like being coerced by Gawain into attacking them, the upper class, or even rebelling, you should answer that they don't think they should.
Haha, don't joke around, no king would think that way!
Because Gawain is Celestial Dragon!
The kings knew the Celestial Dragon all too well. Even they, the kings, didn't treat the Celestial Dragon as human beings, let alone those mere inferiors.
Even if Gawain were a slightly smarter Celestial Dragon, the kings wouldn't think much of it.
Why is this sea filled with stereotypes about the Celestial Dragon?
As for Gawain, looking at the increasingly excited kings opposite him, he crossed his arms, rested his chin on his hands, and laughed.
Whether my plans can be realized depends on the next three to five years.
Being able to control their finances is indeed a good thing, even an unexpected bonus. Cobra hadn't actually discussed this with Gawain.
According to Gawain's original plan, he wanted to have a good discussion with the kings about specific business matters, such as a series of business adjustments involving raw material prices, and then find a profit that the kings could accept from these adjustments.
Gawain's idea wasn't wrong, but he really forgot that this wasn't the real world; this was, after all, Pirate King!
Gawain was overthinking this; he really didn't understand the kings here.
As it turns out, he knew those people far less than Cobra!
In short, the current agreement is a great thing for the kings to celebrate.
For Gawain, this is also something to celebrate.
After all, Gawain wasn't concerned with financial gains or losses. If he really needed money, he could go to the Gild Tesoro, who owned 30% of the world's wealth.
Gawain wanted was to completely connect the Grand Line!
Most importantly, for him now, the Sea Train project is not just a major achievement like standardizing train tracks!
This plan has other, even more important significance for Gawain!
Don't forget, Gawain is Thunder; he has the ability to use a medium to unleash speeds comparable to a cell phone signal!
However, the seawater, filled with Seastone Factor, slightly isolated all of that, while the pure air, without any signal towers, was insufficient to maximize its top speed!
So...
What if Gawain laid the tracks of Sea Train across every corner of the ocean?
At that point, every train and track will be Gawain's antenna!
Gawain was very eager to know.
Can he truly be... omnipresent?!