After the roundtable meeting this morning, the ministers simply had lunch and then quietly gathered together again.
This is not a formal Privy Council meeting.
On the surface, they both belong to the ancient "Chocolate Club" and are all chocolate lovers. But in fact, this is a small meeting attended by only a dozen ministers, including the Minister of Privy Council and the Minister of Trade.
After the Round Table Hall meeting ends and before it starts, knights who have common interests or are friends with each other will gather together to confirm each other's ideas and suggestions to avoid fighting with each other at the Round Table Hall meeting.
Although it does not have two distinct and opposing parties like Iris, they are actually forming cliques.
The difference is that these knights know each other well, and there must be more than one such small meeting. At this moment, those knights who were surprised by what they saw and heard must be in groups, gathering together to discuss with each other.
stand up.
Even every minister here may not only participate in one such small party. They speak ill of others in the chocolate club. Maybe some of them will also open a "candy club" in the evening, "honey club"
"Sugar Club" and other small groups, and then speak ill of them.
"I think there's something wrong with Your Majesty."
Privy Councilor Camelot looked serious: "It's completely different from the reaction we expected."
"It seems that you and Her Majesty the Queen are not that close."
The gray-haired old man sarcastically said: "I don't even know when she changed her personal style."
He is Avalon's Minister of Education.
But the Minister of Camelot just remained silent.
Before this, the Minister of the Privy Council had sworn that Isabel was a child with a gentle and soft personality. She would definitely not be able to adapt to the position of queen and would feel a lot of pressure.
At this time, if there is a force that can sincerely show kindness and provide help, the helpless and confused young queen will subconsciously rely on it.
This is their chance - a perfect opportunity to eliminate the high-rise faction.
The high-rise faction refers to the high-rise building at Lloyd's headquarters, and refers to those ministers who often enter Lloyd's. This usually means that they have a close interest relationship with Lloyd's.
Although Lloyd's is now in decline and not what it used to be, it still exists after all. The huge wealth it controls is still eye-catching.
And under this premise... Lloyd's, which has lost its deterrence, has become a cash machine. Now Lloyd's is leaderless, and no leader can subdue everyone. This combination of business interests is still evolving.
fight.
Because they no longer have the huge control power lurking in the shadows to convert wealth into political influence. It has been completely exposed to the public. In this case, just to maintain their own existence,
A large amount of benefits need to be continuously ceded.
The result is that ministers who originally took money from Lloyd's still take money.
They can even make more money more safely than before, and gain more benefits, but only have to do less work. Or do nothing at all - it is already friendly without destroying them.
Maybe after some time, businessmen will be able to slowly recover. But at least not now.
Under this close alliance of interests, the influence of the Knights of the Round Table of the Lloyd faction has not declined but increased. With the Foreign Secretary, the Finance Minister, the Housing and Community Affairs Secretary, the Health and Social Welfare Secretary, the Chairman of the Trade Committee, and the Maritime Secretary
As the leader, they are more closely united than before. They advance and retreat together in many matters and help each other.
Their main tendency is to open up free trade, free market, comprehensive tax reduction, and promote the "merchant knight" system. That is to say, outstanding entrepreneurs can also enter the Round Table Hall.
As the only family among the founding fathers that has been in business for generations, the Moriarty family naturally belongs to this faction.
Because at the core of the faction, former Trade Minister Drost was investigated, and the position of Trade Minister was also assigned by the Queen to another large faction that was opposed to them, as a check and balance.
That is the "Chocolate Club" headed by the Privy Councilor. They are also known as the Chocolate Pies.
Chocolate, a dessert, became popular in Avalon at the end of the Herasl Empire. Because of the high transportation costs, only a handful of knights at that time had the power and wealth to taste this expensive sweet. During that period, the "Chocolate" store was opened.
"Club" means that only veteran knights and founding families can join.
But just as chocolate gradually flowed into the people, the wealth controlled by these knight families in the early days was gradually controlled by the common people.
They were the knights who refused the bribes of Lloyd's. But this does not mean that they are honest and honest - their idea is to suppress the power and trade behavior of merchants, try their best to prevent the establishment of "merchant knights", and even demand an increase in taxes on merchants.
, and demanded that the welfare and income of knights be improved.
Tax increases and reductions, discussions on the feasibility of "merchant knights", the constraints and social welfare of knights... These are the enduring topics of discussion in the Round Table Hall.
Although they are still informal factions, they can also be said to be the embryonic form of political parties.
Because of this, the personal positions of these knights are not stable.
They also have their own personal interests, so they each have their own methods for the same purpose. This leaves room for discussion.
For example, the Chancellor of Finance likes to increase taxes on various small and valuable commodities on a large scale. For example, he plans to tax matches and kerosene lamps starting next spring. On the one hand, he can continue to promote electric lights, and on the other hand, he can increase taxes.
To make the accounts look good, on the other hand, it can also increase people's subconscious resistance to tax increases, thereby protecting businessmen in disguise.
What makes them most uncertain at present is which faction this "minister of all affairs" who is deeply trusted by the Queen should belong to.
On the one hand, he is the successor of the Moriarty family and the future head of the family - although there is no inheritance ceremony, he can even be said to be the current head of the family. Of course he should belong to the Gaolou faction.
On the other hand, the high-rise faction was hit one after another - the president and vice-president of Lloyd's were arrested one after another, the Minister of Trade and the Lord of the Admiralty were arrested, and the Minister of Maritime Affairs was executed. These all came from Aiwass.
Moriarty's direct intervention.
Today, even the Privy Councilors are suppressed.
The loyalty of the Camelot family is unquestionable. Among the twelve monarchs of Avalon so far, eight of their privy councilors are from the Camelot family.
But he was sent to the fifth position.
If it is further back, it can be understood that Isabel is closer to the high-rise faction, and then Avalon will lean towards peace and economic development. In that case, they will also have to make certain concessions and self-transformation.
But the fifth position... is actually quite high.
The first four happened to be the four pillars of the country who were "big generation", and none of them belonged to any faction. In other words, he happened to be the first after the four fifth-level powerhouses.
"I think Her Majesty Isabel's attitude is actually very clear."
The speaker was the Minister of Defense.
The old general, who was still wearing armor in the private meeting, said with a serious expression: "'Before the Privy Council, there are four protectors of the country.' This means that His Majesty, while maintaining an attitude as fair as possible, believes that 'individuals
Strength' is the more important factor.
"When the status of the four Guardians is higher than that of the Privy Council, it means that what Avalon needs most now is the fifth-level transcendent."
"...You mean, His Majesty's idea is war?"
the Education Secretary asked rhetorically.
"Combined with the idea of increasing military expenditures and increasing conscription, I do not rule out this possibility. It can even be said that it is very possible."
The Minister of Defense said solemnly: "Everyone, please prepare for war."
"When Lady Meg is probably dead?"
The new Trade Secretary Griffiths couldn't help but ask: "Don't you think we have no chance of winning?"
“I was wondering, is there a possibility,” the Privy Council Minister said slowly, “Although Your Majesty did not have the affinity for the authoritarian path when she was young, does it not mean that she cannot awaken to this path later in life?
"Just like when we grow old, some people awaken to the path of wisdom, and some awaken to the path of twilight. These are all influenced by acquired factors.
"Although we all say that Her Majesty the Queen may be the only Du Lac who cannot inherit the path of authoritarianism...but after all, the blood of Du Lac flows in her body. What if she awakens again in the future?"
The old man said slowly: "Gentlemen, don't be too harsh. Before today, who would have thought that Her Majesty the Queen could have such momentum in the first round table meeting? Then Miss Ligeia may not be inferior to Meg.
"
"I don't think it's a matter of comparison."
The Minister of Trade retorted: "As long as you think there is a possibility of being inferior, it will definitely be inferior. Your Excellency Meg is indeed powerful, but we can maintain peace only by relying on Meg to defeat all enemies."
.But as long as the Star Antimony people and the Iris people know that we have Meg, they will not invade.
"Whether or not Ligeia has Meg's power - of course, she can't have it - but even if she does, it's useless, because she is another person after all. Her name can't scare people, then
There is a possibility of war.
"Once a war starts, it may be too late. Today's Star Antimony is different from Iris twenty years ago. There is a strong need for war within Star Antimony."
Griffiths warned: "Once they start fighting, they will never stop. Because as long as they stop, they will collapse on their own. So as long as the war starts, it will be a battle of life and death."
Before he was appointed Minister of Trade by the Queen, he was the diplomatic ambassador to the embassy in Star Antimony. Later, he withdrew after Star Antimony's diplomatic attitude deteriorated. Now that Star Antimony's diplomatic attitude with Avalon has improved, so he and Avalon
Griffiths, who has a friendly relationship with Star Antimony, was appointed by Queen Sophia as the new Minister of Trade to negotiate a new phase of trade contracts.
Therefore, Minister Griffith may be the one who knows the Kingdom of Star Antimony best among all the people here.
"What do you mean?"
The Defense Secretary sarcastically said: "Raise your hands and surrender?"
He never got used to Minister Griffith.
Perhaps because he has been in Star Antimony for many years, Griffith has a strong Star Antimony style. He cannot see the knight's tough attitude and courage, but is timid. And he likes to brag about the power of Star Antimony people when he has nothing to do.
and advanced - much to the distaste of the Secretary of Defense.
"We could have turned them on to hunting irises."
Minister Griffith whispered: "And we can secretly provide help - help the Star Antimony people, and also help the Iris people. As long as the Star Antimony people feel that there is a possibility of victory, they will not stop the war; and as long as they last
If it is not captured, it will most likely disintegrate on its own."
“A good offer.”
The Minister of Camelot said slowly: "But this matter must be decided by Her Majesty the Queen."
"Should we leave it to Queen Isabel or Minister Moriarty?"
Minister Griffith sarcastically said: "Are you really not understanding, or are you pretending not to understand? His Majesty's attitude today is so abnormal, and he is obviously well prepared. Minister Moriarty was with His Majesty last night, but not today.
Come on - what else does your majesty say, he is unwell? He is a priest!
"If you put this on the Star Antimony, it means that the harem is involved in politics. Is your allegiance to Queen Isabel or Minister Moriarty?"
