The Common People Have No Sympathy for the Court's Difficulties
Upon hearing this, the faces of the governors from the southern provinces turned deathly pale.
This means that the tax, which was originally two copper coins per acre per year, will be doubled to four copper coins!
For those Independent farmers struggling to survive on barren land, this was undoubtedly the last straw that broke the camel's back.
"Your Majesty! Empress Dowager! You mustn't!" A relatively upright governor couldn't help but step forward to dissuade them. "Last year's tax collection was already poor, and many farmers were struggling to feed themselves. If taxes are increased again, it might cause a peasant uprising!"
"Then, in your opinion, where will the soldiers in the Northern Territory get their rations? And how will Earl Eisenberg's cavalry be fed?" another minister who supported raising taxes immediately retorted. "Are we just going to watch the defenses collapse, or let the soldiers in the Northern Territory fight to the death without food?"
Listening to the ministers arguing below, Empress Dowager Katerina, behind the beaded curtain, gently rubbed her temples. Finally, in a voice tinged with weariness yet undeniable authority, she delivered her verdict:
"The safety of the Northern Territory is a matter of national importance. The soldiers have risked their lives and deserve to be rewarded. As for the tax increase... although it may seem like a disturbance to the people, it is truly a last resort. Let's proceed with this proposal."
"I hope that all departments will properly communicate this to the people, so that they can understand the difficulties of the court and bear the burden a little longer. I hope that this tax increase will make things a little better for the kingdom, especially this year."
"The Empress Dowager is wise!" those who supported the tax increase shouted in unison.
The governor who had spoken out to dissuade him, along with many other silent officials, could only lower their heads in dejection, their hearts filled with despair.
They knew that this heavy tax would only increase at each level, ultimately falling on the shoulders of the poorest farmers who were least able to resist.
The prosperity of the Royal Capital and the flames of war in the Northern Territory always seem to require the blood and sweat of ordinary people to sustain them.
Behind the seemingly casual phrase, "Let the people suffer a little more," lies the impending heartbreak and despair facing countless families.
Earl Rochefort watched all this with a cold eye, feeling little joy in his heart.
He received his due share, but the coin seemed to already carry the scent of famine and anger about to erupt in the southern fields.
The challenges facing the kingdom now are probably not just the Sauron in the north.
After the most difficult financial allocation plan was barely settled in a tense atmosphere of compromise, Earl Rochefort straightened his robes, took a steady step forward, and raised the last issue of this Imperial Council, which was also a key issue concerning the kingdom's future Northern Territory strategy.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, colleagues," his voice echoed clearly in the empty hall, "Rewarding merit and punishing demerit is merely a way to settle past affairs, but the safety of the Northern Territory rests on the future."
"Now, Carnford has firmly established itself in the Northern Territory and successfully repelled the siege of Sauron's main force, proving its potential to become a strategic stronghold."
His gaze swept across the throne and the beaded curtain, and he stated his plan with firm conviction. "I propose that we seize this opportune moment, with the formal authorization and support of the kingdom, to construct a chain of defenses extending northward from Fran City all the way to Carnford."
"This system relied on the strategic terrain along the route to establish a series of mutually supporting fortresses, strongholds, and outposts, and stationed elite troops to ensure the unimpeded flow of traffic between Fran City and Carnford."
He raised his voice, emphasizing the strategic significance of this move. "Once this defensive line is established, it will greatly restrict the routes the Sauron can take to raid southward, forcing them to no longer be able to bypass fortified castles and penetrate deep into the heart of our kingdom as they have in the past."
"Carnford will no longer be an isolated enclave, but a forward fortress that complements Fran City, capable of both offense and defense. This will fundamentally change the offensive and defensive situation in the Northern Territory, creating a long-term and effective strategic deterrent against the Sauron!"
These words caused silence to fall over the hall once more, with many ministers looking thoughtful.
The military value of this proposal is obvious, but its underlying political implications are far more profound.
This will undoubtedly greatly strengthen the strategic bond and connection between the Fran City, controlled by Earl Rochefort, and the emerging Lord Karl Carnford, whom he had personally promoted. This will further integrate these two Northern Territory forces, which were already closely linked by geography and alliance, into a more powerful and independent military and political bloc.
Empress Dowager Katerina, seated behind the beaded curtain, unconsciously tapped the armrest of her phoenix chair with her slender fingers, lost in thought for a moment.
She was well aware of the potential risks behind Rochfort's proposal, which could fuel the growth of Northern Territory power and pose a long-term challenge to the central authority of the monarchy.
However, the real threat posed by the Sauron, like a sword hanging overhead, was more urgent and deadly.
If the Northern Territory defenses are breached, the entire kingdom will face annihilation.
In contrast, subtle changes in the internal power structure seem to be a price that can be tolerated for the time being.
More importantly, she had a "safety net" in her heart that she considered reliable— Princess Louise.
She believed that Princess Louise, placed beside Karl, was like a pawn controlled by the royal family planted under the ever-growing tree of Carnford.
As long as Karl can be influenced or even controlled through the Princess, the growth of the Northern Territory forces will ultimately serve the interests of the royal family.
After weighing the pros and cons, Empress Dowager Katerina raised her eyes, looked through the beaded curtain at Earl Rochefort, and made her decision in a clear and steady voice. "What you say, my dear Count Rochfort, is indeed reasonable."
"The defense of the Northern Territory is a matter of national importance, and we must plan ahead. Constructing a defensive line from Fran City to Carnford will be beneficial for long-term stability. Your suggestion is approved!"
"You shall be fully responsible for planning this matter. The necessary funds, provisions, and laborers shall be allocated and supported by the Ministry of National Defense, the Department of Public Welfare, and the Finance Department, together with the various provinces in the Northern Territory. We must ensure that this defense line is built into an ironclad bulwark for the north of our kingdom!"
"Your subject obeys! I will certainly not fail Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager's trust!" Earl Rochefort bowed deeply.
The moment Katerina finished speaking, Earl Eisenberg, standing at the front of the ranks of generals, cast a sharp, hawk-like glance at Earl Rochefort's back.
His lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue, only a shadow of gloom and intense dissatisfaction flashed across his eyes.
He was keenly aware that this decree would further solidify Rochfort's position in the Northern Territory and might soon threaten his unparalleled military power in the kingdom.
However, with the Empress Dowager having already made the decision and the situation already settled, he wisely chose to remain silent.
The Imperial Council officially concluded amidst this atmosphere of apparent consensus but underlying tensions.
The ministers, each with their own thoughts, bowed and withdrew from the hall.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the tall windows, bathing the magnificent palace in an orange-red hue, which seemed to foreshadow a more complex and uncertain future for this ancient kingdom.