"Don't say that." This time it was Cohen's turn to shake his head: "Dean, you personally are a major pillar of the empire's political stability."
"Don't talk about this." Dean Lorenzo's attitude towards the emperor will never change: "Princess Feline, please continue."
"Okay, I'll try to be as detailed as possible." Feilin glanced at her husband with pity and continued the topic: "Dil's analysis of these businessmen just now is completely correct. Dill estimated that there will be
It will be gradually implemented. But the behavior of these businessmen is only one line in the entire plan, and they will work closely with other links throughout the entire process."
"I also have such a premonition." Princess Dill said with a wry smile, "But I can't condense this doubt."
"To give a close example: in order to gain our trust, they will definitely betray the negotiating interests of the Demon Alliance." Princess Feilin said: "Of course, trust can be placed in one place or two.
The trust gained at such a price will not be used in only one place, or in other words, trust is only one of the characteristics and functions of this matter."
"Felin." Cohen spoke softly, for fear of interrupting everyone's thinking: "What other purposes can they achieve by doing this?"
"It seems logical that a businessman sells his empire because he wants money, but we can also reverse the causal relationship." Felin nodded to Cohen: "Why can't the Demon Alliance need someone who seems to be at a huge disadvantage?
Negotiation results, so these businessmen are allowed to 'sell out' the alliance's interests?"
"This exchange seems unreasonable, but if you think about it carefully, it is reasonable." Dean Lorenzo picked up the cup in front of him: "How much of the interests of the Demon Alliance can they betray?"
"We can make a rough calculation. The cost for businessmen to settle down is cash, which the Deputy Foreign Secretary has already obtained. And they need to learn a lot from Sibia. This requires continuity in time. What can ensure this?
A little?" Prime Minister Wei Su said: "Money is a sum of money that can unite the Sibiya Empire and not start a war again."
"Learn and imitate Sibia, form a new economy and technology, and have the power to compete... This is a very long process. Then, what these businessmen need to sell is to be able to maintain the Sibia Empire to its unending
The debt has been invested intermittently for thirty years." Princess Feilin calculated silently: "The two alliances should be worth more than 600 million gold coins in war reparations, plus interest."
With a sound of "Dang!", the cup in Dean Lorenzo's hand fell on the table. In front of this number, the old man's previous mental preparation was completely destroyed. Fortunately, the Dean himself has always had no reservations about Princess Feline.
If Cohen had told me this number, the dean might have just turned his back on him without even thinking about it.
Regarding the figure that Princess Feline said, Cohen looked like he was listening as if it had nothing to do with him. Prince Vesuvius just nodded slightly. The subtle expression on Princess Dill's face showed that she was mentally calculating the entire account...
…
The silence lasted for a while, and then Prime Minister Wei Su stood up and wiped the water stains in front of the dean with a towel: "Old man, this plan is many times stronger than the conspiracy we faced before, and this is just the beginning. Go deeper.
If you continue to understand and verify it, you will find that your whole body is full of vitality!"
"Sorry, I lost my composure." The dean came back from his daze and said, "Please continue!"
"Let me add some details. In the first step, the conspirators set up a trap to identify whether we had seen through this scheme." Wei Suguo Xiang patted the dean on the shoulder and said to everyone: "Although these businessmen
By proposing such a plan, we are betraying the interests of the alliance, but with the behavior of the emperor and the empire, we will not rush to give them exclusive trade rights. We will be careful and select the appropriate candidates ourselves."
"In other words, if we readily give exclusive trading rights to these people, does it mean that we have seen through this plan?" The dean looked back at the Prime Minister: "On the contrary, will the other party continue this plan? Or carry out the plan?
Transformation?"
"That's right, but we have to ensure that they get a share of the pie, otherwise who will sell out the profits?" Prime Minister Wei Su nodded, turned around, took the map and spread it on the table, then turned to Princess Feilin and said
: "I think you should have a more detailed inference in your mind, please continue!"
"Based on the information we currently have, we can only infer this step. If we go any further, we will lose the support of the intelligence and it is easy for deviations to occur." Princess Feilin gently shook her head: "At such a critical moment
At this moment, it is very dangerous to overestimate or underestimate your opponent. I suggest that today's meeting should not extrapolate forward, but analyze several directions in order to be prepared to respond."
"That's good, that's good. The closer you get to the truth, the more cautious you must be." The dean nodded repeatedly. In fact, he himself could no longer tolerate any more inferences: "We must ensure that the known information is correct.
We need to conduct secret testing. At the same time, we have to advance slowly in order to obtain more intelligence in the process."
"I have ordered the Deputy Foreign Secretary to deal with these businessmen, including introducing them to some large business groups in Sbia." Cohen said: "In addition, I have also asked my father to arrange for some powerful dignitaries to contact each other. Mr. Dean, the entire
I still need you to control the pace of the process. As for the date of the negotiation meeting, I can think of some reasons and postpone it to give everyone enough time."
"The entire operation is arranged by my father." Everyone unanimously approved the emperor's arrangement. Feilin then suggested: "We must master the rhythm in both official negotiations and private contacts."
"The troops are in good shape and complement each other. I can also take part in this kind of thing. Moreover, we can't just defend but not attack." After hearing Feilin's words, Cohen smiled slightly: "Since they have sent troops out of the Holy City, I
I don’t think their commander is too far away from the Holy Capital... The first thing we need to get rid of is this disadvantage of knowing ourselves but not knowing the enemy."
"Exclusive trading rights and the amount of war reparations. These are the two signs that best support our current inferences and are the key." Prime Minister Wei Su said: "Before the negotiations begin, we must get confirmation from these businessmen, but this statement
We can't bring it up, we have to let them take the initiative to speak out. Therefore, we need to send a certain number of ministers and nobles of the right level to contact them. I can do this. But the business groups in the empire must also send people to contact them at the same time.
This is a delicate job and I need the help of Feline and Dill."
The two princesses nodded at the same time and discussed a few details for cooperation.
"In this round of contact, the two sides have to talk about the actual details." Weisu, the Prime Minister, looked at Cohen: "I need the emperor to set a bottom line in advance, regarding the treatment of these businessmen and the scale involved in the contact.
etc."
"The matter of exclusive trade rights cannot be decided quickly. It must be delayed. Let them know that the empire is considering it. I want my father to preside over it and bring it to the heads of the Ministry of Interior for discussion at the appropriate time, but do not draw a conclusion yet.
Just maintain side incentives." Cohen thought twice before deciding on a strategy: "For these businessmen who are 'loyal' to us, we must first give them some sweetness. Then, the Ministry of Interior can pass a bill at the right time. I think
Let’s call it the “Trade Rules,” which clearly guarantee the safety of these merchants and their families. If necessary, their families can come to Sibia to take refuge.”
"Why do you do this?" The dean also looked at the emperor: "Tens of thousands is not a small number."
"It's very simple. If this is a huge plan that someone is secretly promoting, then these businessmen will never know the whole story. They only know the part they are doing. The threats to their respective families are also real. What they do
They acted spontaneously in order to be guided." Cohen smiled: "After handing over so much money, we naturally want to protect their wealth and lives. This is an incentive for them. At that time, they can let go of their courage.
We started a big fight and betrayed the alliance's interests with even greater enthusiasm. And we got the most authentic information - the specific amount of war compensation the Demon Alliance paid to me."
"What if the War Indemnity of the Demon Alliance is a normal figure?" The dean asked again: "For example, if the empires shared the indemnity and could pay it back in five to ten years with minimal effort, what does this mean?"
"This shows that they are hopeless, each one is stupider than the other." Cohen commented very bluntly: "Any crisis is an opportunity, especially for a large group. People who don't know how to adapt and take advantage of the crisis will only
It will gradually lead to destruction!"
"Then, if things are really like what Sister Feilin said." Princess Dill asked softly: "Under such a complicated environment, what if the war compensation paid by the Demon Alliance to us reaches an extremely huge figure?"
"I personally don't want things to develop to this point. In that case, it will be a huge crisis for our country." Cohen smiled bitterly: "Not to mention that the national mood will be affected by this number, even we will be involved, and we will be involved.
I can’t help myself!”
"Is there any countermeasure?" the dean asked eagerly: "Is Sbia just like this being involved in the conspiracy?"
"Dear Dean, I have said that any crisis is an opportunity." Cohen spread his hands: "But I have to have time to analyze. Please don't be anxious, Mr. Dean, and get more data for my reference first."
OK?"
"I understand how you feel, old man." Weisu smiled at the dean: "The emperor is right, we need more data."
"I'm a little impatient, please forgive me, Emperor." Dean Lorenzo realized that there was something wrong with his attitude, so he rarely apologized to Cohen: "Please forgive me, I want to go out for a walk to calm myself down."
"If the emperor agrees, let me accompany you for a walk in the garden. I also need to organize my thoughts."
After Cohen nodded, the two imperial concubines naturally had no objection. Prince Visu accompanied Dean Lorenzo out of the conference room and all the way to the garden in the core area of the harem. At this time, the night sky was full of stars, and in the distance
The dance ended long ago.
On the one hand, it was because the empire was facing a conspiracy whose details were unknown, and on the other hand, because his thinking was gradually becoming obsolete. Dean Lorenzo did not speak during the whole journey, his expression was solemn, and his eyebrows were knitted together. Prince Visu seemed to have something on his mind as well.
Instead of immediately trying to enlighten the dean, the two of them walked slowly along the gravel path in the garden.
"Tonight, I have some problems with my attitude towards the Emperor." After a long time, Dean Lorenzo broke the silence: "I... seem to be unable to adapt to the topics or discussions led by His Majesty the Emperor."
"I understand." Prince Weisu nodded: "Dean, you are more accustomed to holding meetings under the guidance of the First Princess. This is caused by the emperor's long-term fighting abroad. The emperor himself understands this and will not care."
"I find that I can't keep up with this whole thing." Dean Lorenzo shook his head again: "Are you really old?"
"What criteria should be used to judge oldness and immortality?" Prince Weisu smiled softly: "Dean, don't you understand your important position in the emperor's heart?"
"Then tell me, what is my position in the emperor's heart?"
"In terms of personal relations, the emperor treats you like an elder. Whether you contradict him head-on or reject a motion, the emperor will treat you with the courtesy of a junior." Prince Visu looked at Lorenzo: "In terms of state affairs, the emperor treats you tonight.
Your comments come from the bottom of your heart - Cohen has always regarded you as a pillar of the empire's internal affairs."
"What about the pillars? No matter how big the pillars are, they will eventually become old and decayed."
"If it is a pillar without soil, it will indeed become old and decayed one day, but Dean, there is soil under your feet. If there is soil, it is a big tree." Prince Weisu criticized the Dean tactfully in a calm tone:
"Your students and descendants are the branches of your big tree, not to mention the countless green leaves on these branches. Therefore, your discouraged attitude is not advisable."
"Maybe it happened too quickly, and I wasn't ready yet." Dean Lorenzo smiled bitterly and shook his head: "About this matter, His Majesty the Emperor should have a longer-term reasoning than us, right?"
"The emperor's attitude this time seems to make people think that he is not in high spirits, but that's not what happened." Prince Weisu said seriously: "I watched the emperor grow up, and although I don't know the emperor very well, I am familiar with Cohen.
Habit...the more seemingly indifferent an attitude is, the more it shows the ups and downs in the emperor's heart. Cohen didn't say it out because he was afraid of affecting our judgment."
"So, the emperor has already made up his mind about the whole matter?"
"This is different. The emperor really needs time to confirm, and he really needs our analysis..." Prince Weisu was only halfway through his words when there was a sound of footsteps in the distance. This should be the general on duty reporting something.
"Report to the Prince!" Sure enough, a Brigadier General of the Guards came to the two of them: "His Majesty the Emperor has received a secret report and will forward it to His Highness the Prince!"
"Oh." Prince Weisu took a look at the secret report and nodded to the brigadier general: "Please tell the emperor that I already know the situation."
"What happened?" Dean Lorenzo looked at the secret report from the liaison department with a special color representing the Holy City jurisdiction. He was inevitably surprised: "It's so late..."
"Look." Prince Visu handed the secret report to Dean Lorenzo: "It's a moderate episode." (To be continued)