Conley ignored the two people's reactions and continued, "Third, I need a sum of money, not much, two hundred thousand gold lions is enough."
"Are you kidding?" Allister said dissatisfied, "It's not like you are the only one sending troops to deal with Ilea. We will also send people to form a coalition army. Why do we have to pay you extra money?"
Claudio also said, "You own Red Plains and occupy Lionheart Castle. How can you be short of money?"
Conley's face was very ugly. He thought the same before moving into Lionheart Castle. As a member of the Empire, how could he not have heard of the prosperity and luxury of that city.
But when he got there, he discovered that Lionheart Castle was extravagant, but it was also a bottomless pit.
Previously, when the Vespasian family was here, products and commodities from other parts of the empire were continuously sent to Lionheart Castle, which supported the prosperity of the largest town on the continent and the luxurious life of the royal family and nobles in the city.
But now there is a war on the continent of Bratis. Although Conley occupies the Red Plains, his access to other places is almost blocked, so supplies from there can no longer be transported there.
However, the consumption habits of the nobles in the city will not change for a while, which makes prices begin to rise. For those wealthy nobles, although such an increase makes them feel a little sad, it is not unbearable.
But the common people at the bottom felt that they could no longer survive, and some of them chose to leave Lionheart Castle and go to other places to make a living. This further reduced the number of producers, and prices continued to rise.
Conley is also aware of the problem of personnel attrition, but neither he nor Lanita are financial or economic talents themselves, and neither of them has faced such a complex and difficult economic environment before.
So Conley just ordered that ordinary civilians were prohibited from leaving Lionheart Castle at will.
This has alleviated the problem of personnel loss to a certain extent, but it cannot solve the problem of rising prices. At the same time, it has also worsened the public security in the city.
Ordinary people who cannot afford the rising prices can only steal and rob to fill their stomachs.
Conley also had to recruit more guards to maintain law and order, but this was another huge expense.
And the worse thing was to come. When Conley checked the treasury, he found that there was not a penny in it.
Conley initially thought that Solomon emptied the treasury when he occupied this place, but when he found Lanita and the previous finance minister, he realized that it was originally empty.
Not only was it empty, the Vespasian family also left him a big gift, a huge debt of 2.6 million gold lions.
These are all holes left by previous emperors. The good news is that most of them no longer need to be repaired due to the war.
And Conley didn't intend to pay back the remaining part, so he wasn't so kind as to clean up the mess for the Vespasian family.
But this caused a new problem: Conley could no longer borrow money.
Because no one wants to lend money to someone who doesn't pay back the money.
And this time is different from Solomon's time. Conley has two more competitors (not counting Ilea), and he can't be too harsh on the nobles below and blatantly take advantage of them, otherwise
If they were pushed too hard, all those people would come to support Allister and Claudio.
To sum up, Conley really has no money now, so he wants to take care of Allister and Claudio when he comes here this time.
But this is not easy. Allister and Claudio's money did not come from the strong wind. Moreover, the money was given to their competitors.
Conley could only settle for the next best thing, "If you don't want to give it, just borrow it from me. I'll return it to you in a year."
The three of them discussed the conditions proposed by Conley for two days, during which Allister and Claudio also put forward their own requirements.
In the end, after a long debate and bargaining, the three of them concluded a covenant, swearing on the honor of their respective families and the gods behind them, to temporarily cease the war and gather all the troops on hand to defeat Ilea, a powerful enemy.
Lanita also promised to send two giant dragons and two hundred Wing Clan warriors to the expedition, which was basically all the power she could muster.
After the three of them agreed on the date of dispatching troops and the meeting place, Conley and Claudio went back to prepare.
On Allister's side, Duke Schroeder also returned to the north to recruit troops, but Allister himself stayed in Short Tail Town. He waited for Priest Cornelia to return four days later.
However, the latter brought him bad news, "I'm leaving for a while."
"How long is a period of time, ten days, half a month?" Allister asked.
"I don't know, but it should take at least two or three months to come back."
"Are you serious?" The smile on Allister's face froze, "The war is about to begin, Priest Cornelia, you don't need me to remind you that we need you and the life behind you.
goddess.
"Is there anything more important than defeating Ilea?"
Cornelia was somewhat silent when she heard this, and silence itself represents an attitude.
Allister was also a little angry, "You go, I can still defeat the country queen of the West without your help, but then I will have to reconsider the beliefs of me and my people.
"Duke Schroeder has always hoped that I could also convert to Fengel, the god of storm and ice."
Cornelia sighed, "I will send two of my disciples to help you."
"But your people have already been defeated by Merlin and his Shuangxiu Tutor once." Allister raised his voice.
"Now I'm beginning to suspect that you didn't go with us to attack Ilea because you were worried that you would have to face Merlin. You know you are no match for him."
"Watch your words, Your Majesty, and don't forget who won the Crescent for you." Cornelia's expression also became serious.
"You have your mission, and I have mine. The goddess of life has plans for each of us."
Allister wanted to say something more, but seeing her livid face, he didn't dare to say the next words. He just snorted, turned around and left.
Cornelia looked at his back and looked a little tired, but she only rested in Short Tail Town for half a day before having her horses ready and hurried out of the city.
When Allister heard that Cornelia had left again, his dissatisfaction with her became even stronger. He simply didn't even want the two disciples sent by Cornelia and turned them away.
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This chapter has been completed!