Chapter 612 Chapter 572: The Seriously Ill Duke of Tulip

"Every time the empire conducts a Nanyang expedition, the 'cost' spent, as I said just now, used to be more than 1.5 million gold coins each time. And generals, although the soldiers ahead are brave, but after all, your ships are going to It was built with money, and once it goes to sea, the warship needs to be repaired. The weapons are specially made to rust at sea, and they also need to be repaired and replaced frequently. Equipped with enough vegetables and fruits, these are much more expensive than ordinary army rations. And all of these cost money!" As he said that, he sighed deeply: "What I want to say is, just from the cost point of view, if the generals said 'We drive our own warships to rob, why do we need them to send it', it is worthless." Wrong, but, in fact, it can be said that the gains outweigh the losses. Moreover, we spend an average of more than 18 months, or even more, on an expedition. And the result is only a mere 100,000 to 200,000 gold coins."

He took out the list of Nanyang envoys again, and flicked it lightly: "But now? Every year, we don't let the soldiers bleed, let them go to sea, and don't spend half a copper in gold coins. Three million gold coins will be sent! I think, even a child can figure it out, which one has the greater harvest." Finally, the old man bowed deeply to all his colleagues, and said slowly: "Of course, I also understand... this matter is not only about money, but also about the face of the empire and the dignity of the country. If the former slaves, Now sitting high on the guest seat of our palace, being our guest... In any case, it is not decent. It will even make others laugh... After what happened to us Roland people, even the Nanyang slaves Can you be qualified to sit on an equal footing with us? I think this is what everyone wants to say."

What the old man said made many people couldn't help but nodded slightly, but at this time, the old man suddenly changed the subject: "But, everyone, at this time, I'm afraid it's not the time to be concerned about face! Ahead, Kaspersky's line of defense The war is going on... The soldiers are bleeding and sacrificing, and we spend a lot of military expenses and supplies to replenish the front every month! The signs and training of recruits, as well as the pensions for the casualties, and the rewards for the meritorious soldiers... These are also all It costs money! Moreover, to put it bluntly, we now have no possibility to engage in any more Nanyang expeditions!In other words, if we don't accept this offering, we won't even have the chance to sail to Nanyang to grab it ourselves!Therefore, we accept this offering, and what we get is an annual financial income of three million gold coins.If you refuse...it's...zero! "

His last few words gradually became a little impassioned. The old man held his head up and looked around awe-inspiringly. ... Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!Snapped! Applause suddenly sounded! Everyone looked around, but they saw that the old Prime Minister Robeschell, who had been silent all the time, with half-closed eyes, leaning on the chair as if he had fallen asleep, had straightened his back at this moment, with a calm expression, and was surprised by everyone. In his eyes, he didn't shy away from clapping his hands one after another! This old fox... everyone is a little suspicious.

Robeschell, the old prime minister, has become more and more depressed recently, and he fell ill in the first half of the year, and then he lived in seclusion. He used to come out occasionally to put on airs, but now he doesn't even put on airs. He had already laid out his chariots and horses, and hid in his home to retire. If it hadn't been for the regent calling him to participate in the meeting today, the old prime minister hadn't appeared in front of everyone for several months. But at this moment, the old guy who has basically retired recently, and the old guy who firmly implements the strategy of protecting himself with wisdom, suddenly stepped forward uncharacteristically!

In front of many ministers, the oldest minister in the empire straightened his already crooked spine, with a resolute expression on his old and weak face, and expressed his attitude with the most direct actions! It's been a long, long time since he "expressed his opinion" - no matter what! "Everyone, please allow me to say something." The old prime minister barely stood up, a little trembling, the serious illness a few months ago, he did not pretend, but really almost died of illness, after all, he was too old up. When the oldest person in the empire was about to speak, everyone immediately fell silent—this is seniority!You may not support him, you may not like him, but, with his age and experience, you must respect him—even if it is only on the surface!But must!

"When it's time to pay attention to face, it is natural to pay attention to face." The old prime minister's voice is not as stable as before, and even trembles like some old people are used to: "But, sometimes, merit is more important than face... Especially, now, I think, the empire does not have the capital to blindly pursue such things as 'face'." When he said this, he gasped for two breaths because of lack of strength, and then, a gleam suddenly burst out in his cloudy old eyes, as if he had been looking at a lion that was clearly aging, but suddenly revealed his claws and majesty!

"If!" The old prime minister's voice reverberated throughout the hall at this moment: "If anyone here has a good idea to earn three million gold coins a year for the empire, then I agree with you." , Kick the Nanyang envoy on the pier back into the sea! If you don’t have any good ideas, then... cough cough! I agree with the Minister of Finance’s point of view.” hum! ! In the main hall, more than 20 high-ranking officials from various departments of the empire couldn't help talking in low voices! The old prime minister... He actually expressed his opinion! Is this a sign of something?

The so-called "tiger is powerful", this old prime minister who has been insignificant recently, suddenly "comes in" at this time, still revealing his unparalleled political influence! After all, decades of seniority is no joke.Even the ministers of ceremonies who still wanted to argue, and some military generals who were not showing signs of expression but were still unconvinced in their hearts, could only silently shut their mouths in front of the old prime minister at this moment. No matter what, this face is always given. Soon the Regent stood up, and he delivered the final "judgment".

"Tomorrow at noon, I will receive the Nanyang envoys here... All the etiquette rules for reception, follow the rules of the grassland people - national ceremony!" When the real boss of the empire spoke, everyone immediately bowed to answer. And at this moment, when Prince Chen stood up, the little Charlie beside him also stood up, but neither the many ministers who answered with their heads down nor Prince Chen who was frowning and thinking next to him, did not see that this little emperor There was a hint of unhappiness in his eyes! This is the end? That's it? And me?I... I am the emperor now!From the beginning to the end, no one asked me a question?

Father... didn't even look at me before he made his decision? That's right!I'm still very young, I'm not yet an adult!But anyway, I now wear a crown on my head! !Even in name, I am the emperor of this empire! Even... Father, you should say a few words to me in name! ! And now...he made a decision directly, not even pretending to me!I... what am I called "emperor"? What is the difference between "Prince" and "Prince"? ! His hands were hidden in his sleeves, clenched into fists involuntarily. ... There are two very old topics: In this world, what grows the fastest? ambition! In this world, once something grows and develops, it tends to get out of control? desire! ... After the meeting adjourned, the old prime minister walked out of the hall slowly with the support of the court attendants—this is also an honor that only he can enjoy. But at this time, the Minister of Finance deliberately fell behind and followed the old prime minister. Robeschell looked at the court attendant beside him, smiled and said, "Okay, thank you, I can go by myself." The court attendant glanced at the chancellor next to him knowingly, then bowed and retreated. The old prime minister struggled to lean on his crutches, and the finance minister next to him quickly stepped forward and supported him. Robeschell looked at the old colleague beside him, and suddenly sighed, his tone was full of aging: "Interesting, interesting! You actually came to help me. Don't forget, you are not much younger than me. " As he spoke, he looked intently at the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and smiled wryly: "You are old, we are all old. Look at me now, I can't walk by myself." The Minister of the Exchequer's face was solemn, his eyes flashed with suspicion, and he said in a low voice: "My old friend, I really didn't expect today that you...you would..." "I can actually talk?" The old prime minister smiled, he smiled naughtily like a child, blinked, and said in a low voice: "You, and they...are you used to it, I have become a sitting The decoration in the chair? Hehe, many people are not used to me talking so rashly." "Actually...why do you have to." The Minister of Finance sighed: "I am ready to fight with others in the hall today, even if it is to roll up my sleeves and have a big fight, or even offend more people, I will I have already prepared for it! But you, you have already withdrawn from this vortex, why stand up and help me today?" "I... am not helping you." The old prime minister looked around, lowered his voice, and said in a low voice: "I promised someone, just last night. He came to my house and begged me in person. I must come forward in this matter." "Who? Could it be..." "It's that kid. Hey, our Lord Tulip Duke." "Du Wei?" The Minister of Finance frowned: "He... didn't he say that he was seriously ill a few days ago? I heard that he was so ill that he couldn't even get out of bed. We sent someone to visit, but we couldn't even see him..." "Could it be him." The old prime minister smiled, but then his face became more worried: "I thought he was pretending to be sick. After all, a few days ago, the regent seemed to have deliberately taken power from him. Now he Pretending to be sick, keeping a low profile at home, although it is a bit too obvious, it is also the meaning of the question... But, I guessed wrong, Du Wei, he is really sick!" There was deep regret in the old man's voice: "Do you know? He came to my house last night. When he saw me, he was sitting in a wheelchair. He..." "His what?" "Our Lord Tulip seems to be completely paralyzed." The old prime minister gritted his teeth: "He also admitted it, and he swore to me that he was not lying. He really couldn't move his whole body, just when I was talking to him During the process, he fainted twice! He explained to himself that something went wrong when he was doing the magic experiment. Alas... in this situation, he is in such a state, it is really impossible to come forward to help you fight in the auditorium. What's the matter, just come and ask me." Speaking of this, the old prime minister laughed at himself: "And me? I have long thought that Du Wei is the most suitable candidate for the position of 'bottom left first'. I am relieved to pass this position on to him. But now, since he is in this situation, I have no choice but to bite the bullet and come out, standing on the last shift, and helping him for a while longer." ... In the Tulip Duke's mansion. Du Wei sat in the yard, leaning softly on the wheelchair.His complexion was as usual, even faintly rosy, but... What troubled Du Wei was that he had returned from overseas for many days, but his "rehabilitation period" still hadn't passed. He was like a person who was completely paralyzed, and his mind was gradually clearing up like an ordinary person, although he was still a little weak. However, his mental power is still not enough to control his body. Not to mention standing up and walking, even grabbing a pair of chopsticks now requires almost all of his body's strength to barely do it. "My lord." Little Zach came to the mansion very early today. He stood beside Du Wei and said in a low voice: "The news from the palace should spread soon... But, I don't understand, since This matter was handled by you alone, and the line in Nanyang was also created by you, why don't you go to the palace by yourself? With your power, as long as you sit in the palace, there are probably not many people who oppose it dare to speak." Du Wei smiled softly, and his tone was a bit complicated: "Because of this, I can't go! Not only can I not participate in this matter in Nanyang, I can't speak, I can't express... On the contrary, I should stay away from it. Keep this matter far away, the farther the better!" Looking at little Zach's puzzled eyes, Du Wei smiled: "You are very smart, but you are very proficient in business. Politics is different. I don't need to explain these things to you." After a pause, he whispered: "By the way, in the back yard... how much wine did you send there today?" "A whole three big carts." Little Zach suddenly had a strange expression on his face, and said with a wry smile: "Boss, if this continues, all the wine storages in all our shops in the imperial capital will be empty! How many days has it been? Car wine! Let alone a human, even a cow can’t drink it, right?” Du Wei didn't speak, but smiled helplessly in his heart: It's really not a cow! But a dragon! The most terrible thing is that in the body of this dragon is still a prisoner who has been imprisoned for tens of thousands of years!He hasn't eaten or drank fine wine for tens of thousands of years... After being released from prison, wouldn't he go crazy as compensation? Old Chris lives in the backyard, because of his "dragon shape", Du Wei has issued a strict order not to allow anyone to approach the backyard!Of course, the old Chris is already familiar with the new body, and he can already use the transfiguration technique calmly to become a human.But... It cannot be ruled out that he drank too much, and when he got agitated, he exposed his dragon body. Du Wei didn't want people to know that he raised a "golden dragon" in the backyard of his home. Because, the empire has an iron law, which was jointly issued by the imperial family and the magic union: any magician is not allowed to keep any dangerous magic pets in the imperial capital!This is under the protection of the capital of the imperial capital! And among the banned magic pets, dragons are at the top of the list! The funny thing is, Du Wei knows that the real identity of old Chris is far more terrifying than a dragon! What's more, in addition to this ten thousand year old prisoner, there is also a witch king, Bai Hechou? ?