Chapter 3 Zhuo Ke I (Part 2)

In the audition hall, the Chancellor of the Finance Minister Alovin Sfranchi was arguing fiercely with the Navy Secretary Odoma Gray Port in front of the emperor.

"What if the fleet of Grey Harbor City is mobilized to protect trade routes in the east, then what should I do if Grey Harbor? The Mussols are watching our every move."

Odom stared at Alowen with his blue eyes and questioned him angrily.

Odom's gray cloak was tied to his chest, and underneath it was a black jacket.

He wore a belt around his waist to secure his sword. His capable short black hair, dense beard, and his strong figure were consistent with his military experience at sea.

"Ensure the safety of Okenburn's southbound route is the top priority, and that is the lifeblood of the imperial economy!"

Alowen did not retreat, and he crossed his arms and glared back at Odoma.

Alowen has black curly hair and a very clean face. As a man over 40, he has no beard. Zhuoke prefers his catchy nickname, "needless", which means no difference from "a man without a vegetation".

The white tunic worn by the needless man is embroidered with a comet pattern. Judging from its fine workmanship, it must be one of the best workshops in the empire.

This kind of clothing is rare even among the richest people in the empire, although it seems a bit cheaper in Alovin's mediocre body.

His hands were covered with gilded rings and a chain hung around his neck, with a silver key on it, the Imperial Minister of Finance and symbolizes the power to manage the Imperial taxes and expenditures.

"Are you a fool?"

Odoma's voice was filled with contempt.

"It is no different from telling them that the waters of Grey Harbor to Okenbourne are empty and unprepared; if you bypass the south, you have to pass through two pirate nests, Niujiao Harbor and Smugglers Paradise.

Even if I spent ten days and half a month to get there, if I met Stanmore's "Happy Executioner" and his plundering fleet, I would lose my head!"

Alowen shook his head and said, "Stanmore only has his blood taxes and doesn't have your head. The port city to the east has no way to conduct maritime trade outward. Without fleet guarding routes for a day, merchant ships will not be able to do business in one day."

Although Zhuoke never got used to Alowen's slightly contemptuous tone, he agreed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this matter that it was time to transfer the fleet of Grey Harbor to the east.

"Give me enough gold coins, your silver key is hung around your neck to make decorations? As long as there is enough gold, I can build a fleet that can compete with the invincible navy under Igomel II back then.

By then, no matter whether he is a bullshit pirate of the Free Alliance or a fleet of the Holy Palacis Empire, they will not even dare to put one of them farts!"

Hearing Odom's fantasy of copying the great achievements created by the "Hainer" Igomel II more than 500 years ago, Zhuo Ke at the door burst out inadvertently "sprayed" and burst out.

"His Highness Zhuoke."

Hearing Zhuoke's laughter, Alowen and Odoma temporarily stopped quarrel and bowed their heads to pay tribute to Zhuoke.

"Sorry, did you bother me?" Zhuo Ke quipped.

Alowen replied with a smile: "No, there is no..."

Odoma lowered her head slightly without saying a word.

"Father."

Zhuo Ke greeted the emperor in the distance.

"son."

Wigridge sat on the throne, wearing a jewel-carved crown and a fitted red ankle robe. He was covered in white hair and sharp eyebrows. He had brown eyes and slightly light lips, and a neat beard.

He was embroidered on his sleeve, which was embroidered with the same pattern as that on Zhuoke's armor, and the golden dragons held a gray star, which was the armor of the Apollion family.

"While the trade routes in the eastern part of the empire are important, Grey Harbor is our only port on the western coast and we cannot easily mobilize the garrison fleet there."

Wigridge said to the two people beside Zhuoke.

Odom nodded affirmatively, "Your Majesty is wise."

After saying that, he looked at Alowen with a slight smugness.

"But," continued Wigridge: "It is not a long-term solution to keep the pirates of the Free League like this.

Alovin took some gold coins from the treasury and moved all the unemployed shipbuilders in Kongtour City, Yue Harbor, and Oakborn to Ash Harbor to build a new batch of ships."

"Your Majesty, this will be a considerable expense," Alowen's expression was a little stiff. "In a rough calculation, it will cost about 400,000 to 500,000 gold coins."

"I believe we can afford it." Vigridge, who is over fifty years old, is still full of authority.

"Odoma, after the fleet is formed, I hope you can fulfill your responsibilities as the Minister of the Navy and escort the trade in the eastern part of the empire."

"That's certain, your majesty." Odoma responded with his right hand on his chest, "I will offer you a new fleet within a year."

Wigridge nodded with satisfaction, waved his hand and said to the two of them, "If there is nothing else, you two will step down first."

After Odom and Alovin bowed and said, Vigridge asked Zhuoke in front of him, "Tell me, son, how did the things I handed over to you?"

"Are the carpenters in Fengxing Street? He killed his wife." Zhuo Ke replied indifferently.

He was not concerned about the case his father gave him. The chief law enforcement officer should have been the last arbitrator of legal disputes in the empire and the emperor's right-hand man, but the emperor seemed to prefer to use his own hands to manipulate everything.

His power was limited everywhere by Wigridge, the "balance" of his father and emperor, and all he could involve was these insignificant trivial matters.

"Is that all?" My father's tone was full of suspicion.

"What else?" Zhuo Ke asked unhappily, "that man is a perverted carpenter who likes to patronize brothels. He went home in the middle of the night. He probably had a dispute with his wife that made him angry. He killed the person in anger, and the bastard even dug out his eyes."

Wigridge shook his head, "Are you all the conclusions you saw with your own eyes, or did you get from the carpenter and the plate, or did you not even enter the door and just guess?"

"Have you sent someone to follow me?" Zhuo Ke asked angrily. How could his father be so clear about what he did?

"I'm protecting you." Wigridge accused.

"I don't need your protection."

Only the Royal Guard Captain Gozolon could fight with him. Zhuoke didn't feel that someone needed to protect him secretly. This was nothing more than an excuse his father had found to monitor him.

Wigridge sighed, "As the heir of the empire, he has no guards around him. The armor he wore makes everyone recognize who you are. Do you think it will be safe for you to do this?"

"If you really think I am the heir to this empire, I wouldn't deal with some useless things here every day." Zhuo Ke retorted.

"Kid, trust me," said Wigridge, "it's all for your future."

"You always say that, but I'm ready!" Zhuoke said.

He could not understand his father's thoughts. As the eldest prince, he received the best education and training since childhood.

Whether it is history, governance, economy, etiquette, horse riding, fighting and hunting, I have certain achievements, but in my father's eyes, these seem to be worthless.

"Do you think you're ready?"

Wigridge asked back, "Tell me, if you were asked to decide, how would you deal with the appeals of Alovin and Odoma just now?"

"I will accept Alovin's proposal and let Odom take the fleet stationed in Gray Harbor to the east to protect the route." Zoke replied.

"Then let the coast of the important towns in the west be unguarded?" asked Wigridge.

"I don't think this would be a problem. The Kingdom of Mussol in the south is still quite right now, and the forests in the Black Forest in the west are not able to threaten the naval strength of Gray Port.

As far as I know, all they can make is small rafts, if you call those things a boat.”

Zhuoke was very satisfied with his idea. If the plan went smoothly, the empire not only did not need to spend much effort on immigration and shipbuilding, but could also restore the safety of the eastern route one or two years earlier.

Wigridge continued to ask: "If the Kingdom of Mussor and the Lin people decide to join forces to attack Grey Harbor, how should the defenders in Grey Harbor deal with Mussor ships and Lin people's soldiers?

Both the sea routes and the road routes are separated, and there will be insufficient food storage in no time."

"No...the probability of such a thing happening is slim." Zhuoke was not convinced by Wigridge. "Every choice we make is a risk, and my plan is the best choice because he has extremely low risks and high returns."

"You take it for granted. There is no best choice in this world, only worse choices."

Wigridge stood up from the throne and said to Zoke: "Everyone has their own ideas and selfishness, and as rulers we need to weigh their pros and cons, make certain compromises, and choose the option that is most beneficial to the empire.

Alowin wanted the HNA trade in the east to return to normal as soon as possible, because his own private merchant ship was also waiting to set off at Okenburn's port; while Odom did not want to transfer the fleet from the gray port run by his family, and did something that would have no benefit to him."

"They were court officials of the empire, and it was their duty to obey the king." Zhuoke was puzzled.

"So you still have a lot to learn," Wigridge patted his son on the shoulder.

"Even if I ask Odom to obey the order, he will immediately lead the fleet to the east, he will worry about the safety of the Grey Harbor day and night.

But building ships in Gray Harbor can not only strengthen the empire's maritime strength, but also make Odom, who promises to protect the Eastern routes in the coming year, so that he will fulfill his duties wholeheartedly."

Zhuo Ke nodded as if he had some understanding. No matter how he argued, his father would only think that he was right.

"It's good that you understand," said Wigridge. "Also, I hope you can take the task I assigned you seriously, so that you will be truly ready to take my place in the future."

(End of this chapter)
Chapter completed!