Realm of Power

"Issues such as land and population are the secrets of the empire. Is it possible that in the continent of Opalo, you can ask questions involving national secrets at will?"

Tigre sneered slightly and said, "The only thing I can tell you is that there are thousands of battleships like mine in the empire, and more powerful main battleships are beyond your imagination. Don't have anything." Evil thoughts, any conspiracy is in vain in front of our Imperial Navy."

The number "thousands of ships" made Sabo on the opposite side open his mouth in shock. He stretched his neck like a fat goose pinched by the cook. His face turned red and he quickly explained with embarrassment.

"Please don't get me wrong. In fact, what I am more concerned about is that since our two countries have been chosen by fate, why not establish maritime trade relations? I am the Governor of Port Meyer and the Minister of the Navy of the Kingdom of St. Priest. I can fully represent The Kingdom of Saint Priest signs a maritime trade treaty with your country, and even matters such as alliance can be decided."

Of course he knew that such confidential issues involving national power and military power were not suitable to be asked in such a sincere manner, but considering the thousands of powerful battleships owned by the other party and the unfathomable existence of the Imperial Navy behind him, he could already Imagine what kind of huge waves will be set off when such a powerful navy is launched into the northern waters of Oparo.

It was still a storm that swept and changed everything,

Of course, he didn't know that in order to intimidate this naval minister from a foreign continent, the cunning Tigre deliberately exaggerated the strength of the Falcon Empire's navy. In fact, as of the two Dragon-class battleships launched in October, the Falcon Empire's navy is now Own small and medium-sized There are 65 combat Dragon Tooth warships, 20 main Dragon-class warships, and about 200 warships for transporting supplies. This kind of strength is more than enough to defeat a country's navy, but to gain hegemony in a sea area, it still needs a process of development and growth.

After Tigre's exaggeration, all the timid but sharp-thinking Admiralty was thinking about was how to obtain the support and help of such a powerful ally. This was not only a matter of changing the forces in the entire maritime area, but also It was a huge turn of fate for me, the Governor of Port Meyer.

"This may be an opportunity that will change the entire North Sea power of Obarro"

Under such tempting thoughts. Governor Sabo boldly continued with some caution, "I believe this will be a moment that changes history. My Meyer Port is the best deep-water port in Barro in Northern Europe. If we can sign a trade agreement and a military agreement, I We can exempt your ships from the 10% trade tax.”

"Oh, why Port Meyer. And not the Kingdom of St. Pris? Aren't you the Admiralty of St. Pris?" Tigel, who was meticulous and thoughtful, caught the difference in the names mentioned in Governor Sabo's mouth very keenly.

"This..." Sabo rolled his eyes and said with a depressed look on his face, "You may not know that in our continent of Obarro, due to the huge benefits of ocean trade and the special geographical location,

The lord families who often occupy important ports will gradually become special existences outside the royal family over hundreds of years of evolution. Although they are nominally most of the direct territories under the control of the king.

But these people who were appointed as governors were more like financial officials responsible for making money, but they had much more power than financial officials.

In order to protect our ports and seaports, we can have our own private fleets and trading areas, but as our strength grows, there will also be wars waged against the king's taxation of our own ports.

Of course, most of the rebellious ports will be ruthlessly crushed by the army sent by the king, the governor will be captured and beheaded, the port will be looted, and then a new powerful minister will be appointed as the governor."

Saab's voice paused, and he said with some pain, "Our Saab family was sent to Port Meyer a hundred years ago.

At that time, the rebellion of the governor of Port Meyer had just been suppressed, and the entire Port of Meyer was massacred with 10,000 people under the king's order. The remaining population was less than 3,000. It was the hard work of our family for several generations.

This small port, which used to have a population of less than 1,000 people, has gradually become the seventh largest deep-water port in the Barro Sea of ​​Northern Europe. It has a population of 27,000 and has its own private harbor protection team.

My grandfather, my father, and several generations of our Saab tribe all died in the port defense battle with the enemy navy in order to protect Meyer Port.

When it came to his sadness, Sabo was no longer afraid. What's more, this was a vast sea and there was no king's eyes and ears. He said in a completely resentful tone.

"Our trading ports bear two-thirds of the kingdom's finances and taxes, supply the extravagant and extravagant banquets held by the palace every week for thousands of people, pay tribute to the royal family countless deep-sea pearls every month, and provide gifts to those who hold major positions of power. Is it easy for me to give gifts to the ministers?

"I hate the royal family, I really do." Saab's eyes were bulging, like a resentful woman who had been bullied, and he gritted his teeth and vowed, "All I want is to continue to live on, because we know that when we When these greedy demands cannot be met, the ax is about to fall. In the eyes of the king, the existence of us port governors is a split in the royal power and the biggest threat to him. "

"Is this why you ran so far and must capture the princess of the kingdom?" Tigre tilted his head. He could feel the depressive volcano-like hair from the governor named Sabo. Angry, it seems that what he said is not a lie

"Of course not." Sabo's old face blushed when he was asked, and he shook his head a little embarrassedly and said, "Although I don't like the royal family, it doesn't mean that I will vent my anger on a woman in distress. The reason why I pursued her all the way is because the new king promised me that if I could catch the escaped princess, I could get a three-year tax exemption. Three years, that's a lot of money, at least 500,000 gold coins."

"500,000 gold coins."

Tiger was secretly surprised in his heart, and subconsciously pushed his gold-rimmed glasses on his nose with his hand.

He could see the scale of the Meyer Port mentioned by Governor Sabo from this tax.

500,000 for three years, that is, about 150,000 a year. If it is placed in Vikia, where maritime trade is prosperous, it is also the scale of a large port. No wonder Governor Sabo can't hide his pride from his face to his mouth every time he mentions Meyer Port.