Chapter 152: Seventeenth Episode: Chapter 7 (2/2)
”Why did Marshal Alan send you here?”
”Marshal, you've remembered inaccurately! I was sent by Marshal Alan to the Second Corps of Eighth Region as a staff officer, and then the commander of the Southern Army Group, General Eugene Mir Bradley, assigned me to this position. Oh, and...”
Something else seemed to have rung a bell in Colonel Payne Lubelly, ”Now I am commissioned by General Eugene to serve as your coordinator with the Southern Army Group headquarters.”
Oscar nodded and pointed to the cigars in the colonel's hand, ”I welcome you to join us, my lord coordinator!”
Payne Lubelly returned the cigar box to its original position under the watchful gaze of everyone, ”Your Highness, I don't smoke.”
The soldiers in attendance seemed to be examining the expression of the young prince, but Colonel Payne Lubelly spoke again, ”But I'm truly honored to join your battle formation!”
Oscar nodded in satisfaction and motioned the colonel to take to his seat.
”So... who would like to speak first?” Oscar looked at the crowd of officers.
The division head of the Military Intelligence was the first to volunteer, as usual, ”Your Highness, would you like to hear our bills?”
”Certainly!”
Messier spread out a document in delight and began dictating, ”Including both the competition and confiscation of coins from the criminals, we've accumulated a total of...” Baron shifted his gaze to Colonel Payne Lubelly who maintained a straight face, ”hmm, a grand amount! To the point where His Highness suffered a cramp from counting the coins!”
The crowd of officers burst out laughing, and even Oscar couldn't help but join in. He then quickly waved his hand at his officer, ”Enough with the nonsense, continue on!”
”Yes, Your Highness!” Messier performed a deep bow, ”According to Vielonna Trading Hall's system records and the state coffer's copy, we are required to compensate a total amount of 1087 million golden Tis to the affected merchants. Then, regarding this enclosure operation's compensation plan, if we go on with the price of 70 golden Tis per mu, we estimate at least 80 million to even 100 million!”
Someone from the crowd whistled at the abundant amount mentioned, and Oscar also nodded reluctantly. This indicated that his room full of gold would soon be emptied.
”It seems that the enclosure operation has been exaggerated. A 100 million golden Tis can only recover hundreds of hectares of land from the nobles, I know that they actually occupy more than this amount!”
Messier flipped over to a new page, ”As for the reimbursement to the nobles, the local finance department of the five southern provinces can solve one-third of them, in addition to the 60 million golden Tis we currently have in our hands… it should be possible!”
Oscar spread out his hand and announced, ”Let's toast to us being poor again!”
The officers broke into laughter once more.
”However, Your Highness, we still have some priceless objects in our hands!”
”Oh?” Oscar's eyes widened.
”Have you forget about it?” Messier was once again excited and turned to another page of the document, ”We have hundreds of precious paintings and antiques, as well as countless jewels!”
Immediately Oscar's spirits were dampened, ”Don't they all belong to the merchants? They would come and collect their belongings once the coffer case is closed!”
”No, Your Highness! I don't think they will!” Messier laughed treacherously, ”Indeed, we don't know much about what happened behind the curtains of the Vielonna Trading Hall. It turns out that the underground coffer has a regulation of not accepting material objects but only coins. Those financial giants must have deposited these pieces of jewelry obtained from the black market or unknown sources in the coffer because they thought that was the safest place in the world!”
”You mean... these things are now without owners?”
”No, Your Highness, I mean that they are now all our spoils of war! The kind that we can relocate freely!”
Oscar was perfectly content with the news and lit his cigar, ”Next time, remember to announce good news first. I was scared to death by that previous bad news!”
Messier nodded obediently, ”Your Highness, actually there is more good news!”
”Oh?”
”As you've said earlier, the lands occupied by the great nobles are definitely more than the amount measured by the enclosure operation. However, His Majesty the Third nonetheless chooses to support you. Please take a look at this decree which has just been delivered!”
Oscar took the document over, and at first glance, he had already leaped from his seat.
”From the 9th month of year 791 to the present, all housing and land sales contracts of the five southern provinces during the aforementioned period have all been nullified. The Imperial Secretariat has instructed the related local taxation departments to join in the operation of Ministry of Justice, and all properties and lands must be returned to the original owners. The commissions for both parties are to be paid in ten-year terms, in installments without additional interests!”
Oscar laughed out loud and slapped his hand on the table, ”Look what His Majesty the Third has done? The southern nobles right now must feel worse than eating flies!”
”Yes, Your Highness!” Messier chirped in, ”This document will let the nobles know that their commissions for the lands have drifted into the depths of the sea! The seller can pay off their debts in ten years' time, without interests! Now, these nobles can't even bargain!”
Oscar glanced at the bottom of the document, and sure enough, he noticed Kachev Drakas Ferdinand's signature after His Majesty the Third's. The young man couldn't help but snort, ”This old fox deserves his nickname! Publishing this government clause was definitely his idea to take away my credit! By doing so, the southerners will only remember the emperor's benevolence!”
Messier smiled faintly, ”Your Highness, this is only a simple matter! This official document can only be distributed after being mimeographed. You just have to place your signature in front of Duke Kachev's!”
”Am I allowed to do so?” Oscar's mouth gaped open.
”You are the military and political adviser for the five southern provinces and the person who specifically executive this administrative order. Don't you think you're allowed to do so?”
”Messier, you really are a brilliant guy!” Oscar gave an imposing laughter, ”Just do as you said, and place my signature behind His Majesty but before the old fox Kachev.”
His Highness the Prince had been occupied the whole day and finally, it was time for refreshment. It seemed as if dinner had to be postponed too. Lord Rowel, the palace chief, commanded all the attendants to push two carts of high tea to the prince's study room. Their arrival was immediately welcomed warmly by the officers.
Vielonna was once the capital of Titan's previous dynasty. Although there were already no traces of the old dynasty to be found in the current Titan, its unique imperial flavor was retained in the traditional palace high tea.
Lowel prepared some the highly flavored Vielonna Kung Fu Black Tea for His Highness the Prince and the officers. This special drink required mixing Assam black tea originated from the Far East and some pure brandy. When heated, the blue and white flames danced with each other soothingly, and the interior of the study was immediately filled with the fragrance of the tea. In the meantime, the brandy in the tea was deprived of its alcoholic taste and bitterness and replaced by the sweet taste of glycol. Finally, before actually tasting it, adding in the right amount of properly roasted sugar cubes into the drink would produce a unique charred aftertaste, all of which would make Vielonna Kung Fu Black Tea live it up to its name of imperial refinement and unpredictable style.
”There are more sandwiches and almond cookies!” the young prince shouted loudly, and the officers immediately transferred the plates with his orders in front of him while they indulged themselves in jade-green jello and Burton honey cheesecakes.
After several rounds of devouring, the tea break eventually came to an end. Although the scene couldn't bring oneself to be complimentary, those who surrounded His Highness the Prince were some officers that wouldn't listen to reason. For instance, Princess Alanis wouldn't enjoy a tea break with her husband. She would much rather be with Sasha gossiping about Elizabeth than to deal with these men equipped with shoulder straps.
”And so… it's time for us to discuss how to utilize these spoils of war we hold in our hands!” O'Neil finally spoke. He had been busy picking his teeth just now.
Almost instantaneously, the officers paused their own discussions, but Major General Janin Sherman, who recently took office at Southern Military Intelligence Bureau Division as chief assistant, broke the brief silence!
”Your Highness! I suggest that we utilize this fortune as military expenditure! As you have been informed, most of our Southern Branch operation personnel are still stuck in the chaotic war zone and they urgently need funding for operations!”
”I agree with utilizing this fortune for military spending!” Messier quickly stood up, ”But no matter what, the funds must be transmitted from the headquarters, and they are also struggling with much difficulty as well! Our friends from the Statistic Division constantly complain about the massive expenditure and the lack of funds!”
Several of those chief officers who had traveled down south with the young prince nodded in unison, but their southern colleagues weren't too keen on giving up either.
”Your Imperial Highness, the next stage of our mission is to clear up the remnants of the armed bandits, and the Southern Branch needs urgent funds!” Janin Sherman who had been promoted to Major General recently retorted strongly on just grounds.
Messier was feeling somewhat annoyed. This guy was only the leader of a small operation unit last month, who did he think he was?
”General Janin! I hope that you consider the issue of the overall situation. The financial situation at the headquarters is also desperately stretched. If even the funds of headquarters are not strengthened, how can the Southern Branch fight alone?”
”I mean...”
”Alright!” Marshal O'Neil finally interrupted the sudden quarrel. ”Sit down, all of you, and listen to me!”
Oscar rose from his seat and his hand traced over the five southern provinces drawn on the battle map.
”I think... it seems more practical to spend our loots in the south!”
A cheerful smile washed over Janin Sherman's face, while on the other hand, the rest of the chief officers from the capital lowered their heads, completely disheartened at the fact that their master seemed to have acquired himself a new favorite.
”However, this money can't be used as military expenditure!” Oscar turned away from the map to face the crowd of now dumbfounded officers, ”First of all, we need to turn these loots into golden Tis. Everyone knows that these prizes came from dirty and illegal means, and therefore, it must be difficult to get rid of them. I'm thinking of putting them up for auction as well as black market transactions... at the soonest, we can get results by next spring.”
”What do you think of when I mention the coming spring?” the prince suddenly asked. All of the officers shook their heads in confusion, apart from Colonel Payne Lubelly from the Southern Group Army headquarters who abruptly stood up.
”Marshal, spring is the season for all things to recover and the season for sowing!”
Oscar couldn't help but re-examined the experienced and steady colonel of the Imperial Guards, ”Exactly! Colonel Payne is right, spring is the season of sowing! Earlier before, I kept an eye on this year's agriculture and noticed the farmers' harvest is low, even though we're already in the middle of the 10th month. Therefore... these loots will be turned into grains, various kinds of materials, and most importantly, they will be turned into wheat seeds!”
”Grains and materials can be distributed to people in difficult winter conditions in the form of material loans. As for wheat, we will implement wheat seeds into each household next spring, and then...”
”Then wait until the time of harvest to recall our loan with a meager interest!” Colonel Payne Lubelly added on to the prince's remark, which made young Oscar pay even more attention to him.
”But... this is the matter of local government and Ministry of Agriculture!” Janin Sherman voiced out his confusion; he couldn't understand the reason to invest so much in those poor farmers.
Oscar waved his hand and replied, ”Have you not realized that I have the power to represent the five southern provincial governments? Besides, our general strategy for the South is also decided based on the advantages we have. The recovery of agricultural production in the South will drive the development of the entire region. Although in such a brief period the level of production will not be restored to that from before year 791, what we need to do now is to lay a solid foundation for the stability of the entire region.”
”That's right!” echoed one of the officers, ”The farmers don't request for much, a few acres of land and a stone house are sufficient to please them. Moreover, the bases of the armed bandits are mostly on barren mountainous areas. As long as we fundamentally change the state of existence there, perhaps we can even save the effort of offensive attacks as they will start to crumble internally!”
Oscar nodded in agreement, ”That's what I thought too! What do you all think?”
Messier was sharp and sensitive enough to realize His Highness the Prince had already made up his mind, and so he tried to provide an out for his fellow colleagues.
”Your Highness, on behalf of headquarters, we only need to request for one representative from the empire's Ministry of Agriculture to be transferred over. As long as the funds for starting production are in place, we can take action according to the strategy deployed by the Ministry of Agriculture. After all, they are the experts in this field. Besides, we also want to prevent anyone from having ulterior motives to misuse this fortune. The bureaucrats in the south have always been very courageous, so it's not impossible that they may want to seek profit from it!”
”Your explanation makes sense!” Oscar finally decided, ”Look for time to get in touch with the farming departments of the five southern provinces, but don't reveal too much to them. Demand them to come up with a rough plan and wait until we have all the spoils of war exchanged into golden Tis before referring to the Empire regarding this matter.”
”Yes, Your Highness!” Messier gave a smug look to Janin Sherman. At least for now, this huge sum of coins had fallen into his hands.
Late night in Vielonna was still lit up by starry lights. Behind the bright colors and moving shadows, several mottled figures appeared on the cold and dark ancient walls. It was as if a whole city had been trapped in between the frames of four walls.
The wheels rolled into the streets where the stones were paved, and sounds of horses' gallops became more audible to the ears. The guards positioned below the city walls immediately tensed up. They scattered around to move roadblocks in an attempt to stop these visitors who had already entered the military restricted area.
Smoothly, the carriage of His Highness the Prince passed through this sentry under the ancient city wall and entered a walled courtyard. A towering pillbox stood in the yard, but the inside was too dark to be distinguished, though from the weathered stone walls one could vaguely confirm its long history.
This was the military prison of the Imperial Guards of the Fifteenth Region, for about a month, this place had been detaining successively big merchants awaiting to be brought to justice.
”What is it?” Elizabeth felt a twinge of fear when she was led into this pitch-dark dungeon.
”A present!” O'Neil Andrew Morisette laughed. His hands caressed the lady's back, but it didn't seem to have eased the beauty's shivering.
The prison guard was leading in front with a torch to light the way. On both sides of the dungeon were locked doors, and strange screams and wails echoed from behind them.
”What on earth are you up to?” the woman was getting impatient.
”We're here!” the prison guard stopped in front of one door, and from within his arms, he reveals a set of keys to open the door.
A sudden wind rushed out of the door, and the woman huddled into the man's arms. Oscar reluctantly embraced the trembling warmth. He thought the conditions in here were rather acceptable, at least, much better in comparison to Damorga!
”Who? Who is it?” the weak man asked, frightened at his surprise visitors.
Elizabeth immediately grew alert. She recognized this voice; even if she were to be burned into ashes, she would never forget this voice.
”Oh God! Isn't this the chairman of Vielonna Trading Hall? What happened to you?” the woman cried in a faint voice, but anyone could detect the woman's bad intentions.
The old man struggled, and his sudden movement frightened the woman. But Elizabeth's eyes had finally adjusted to the dark now, she couldn't help but laugh when she noticed the old man was tied to the cross.
”Where's the younger brother?” Elizabeth turned around to ask the young prince.
His Highness the Prince scratched his head awkwardly, ”My men might have used too much force… his dead body was hung up by afternoon.”
”Haha!” Elizabeth moved toward the bloody old man with cautioun, ”Where's your walking stick? Those tools that you used to torture women? Don't you have them with you?”
”Whore… cheap…”
”How can we keep him quiet?” the woman asked the young prince once more.
Oscar returned her a weak smile and motioned to the prison guard. This man who wrapped himself in black garments immediately revealed a needle and thread and began sewing the old man's mouth shut. Oscar shook from the victim's miserable cries, while on the other hand, Elizabeth was getting more excited at the old man's suffering.
”As I've promised, almost everyone in the world named Manzonola is dead. He's the only one left behind, so how do you want to handle him?”
Elizabeth took the Marshal's sword from His Highness the Prince without a word.
”Can you leave for a moment?” the woman mumbled mechanically.
Oscar pivoted and headed for the door, and soon he heard the low moans of the old man coming from the prison. A brief moment later, the whimper was replaced by the woman's intermittent sobs.
Embracing the woman from behind, he accompanied her to leave this horrible dungeon. Oscar gave the room behind him a final glare, only to realize the old dog had already been chopped into bits and pieces.
Oscar took back his sword before spitting at the chopped corpse, ”You deserve this!” Then he bit the woman's ear softly.
”My little baby! Let's do something wonderful...”
It seemed like O'Neil Andrew Morisette was becoming more and more like a real prince.