Whispers of the Gods

Chapter 3 Chuck I

In the audience hall, the Minister of Finance, Allowin Sfrench, and the Minister of the Navy, Odoma Grayhaven, were arguing fiercely in front of the emperor.

"If the fleet of Gray Harbor City is mobilized to the east to protect the trade route, what about Gray Harbor? The Musors are watching our every move."

Odoma stared straight at Alowin with a pair of blue eyes, and questioned him angrily.

Odoma's gray cloak was fastened across his chest, over a black jacket.

Around his waist is a belt that secures his sword.His short black hair and bushy beard, as well as his muscular figure, are in line with his military experience at sea.

"Ensuring the safety of the route to the south from Oakenburn is the top priority, that is the lifeblood of the empire's economy!"

Arrowyn didn't flinch, he stared back at Odoma with his arms folded.

Alowin has curly black hair and an unusually clean face. As a man over forty years old, he doesn't have any beard.Zhuo Ke prefers his catchy nickname, "Beardless", which means no different from "Man Without Seed".

The white tunic worn by the Beardless, embroidered with comets, must have come from one of the finest workshops in the Empire, judging from its fine workmanship.

This kind of clothes is rare even among the wealthiest people in the empire, although it looks a bit cheap on Alovin's mediocre body.

He wears gold-plated rings on his hands, a chain around his neck, and a silver key on it. This is the logo of the Imperial Finance Minister, which symbolizes the power responsible for managing the taxation and expenditure of the empire.

"Are you a dummy?"

Odoma's voice was full of contempt.

"To get from Grayhaven to Oakenburn, not only do you have to sail around the entire kingdom of Mussall, it's no different from telling them that the seas of Grayhaven are empty and undefended; you have to go around the south, and you have to go through Oxhorn Harbor and smugglers Paradise for these two pirate dens.

Even if it takes ten days and a half months to get there, if I encounter Stanmore's "Happy Executioner" and his marauding fleet, I will lose my head! "

Allowin shook his head and said, "Stanmore only wants his blood tax, not your head. The port city to the east of us has no way to conduct maritime trade. If there is no fleet to escort the route, merchant ships will not be able to do business for a day."

Although Zhuo Ke had never been used to Arrowin's slightly contemptuous tone, he agreed with the Minister of Finance on this matter that it was time to transfer the Gray Harbor fleet to the east.

"Give me enough gold coins, your silver key is hanging around your neck for decoration? As long as I have enough gold, I can build a fleet comparable to the invincible navy under the command of Igomel II back then.

At that time, no matter whether he is a bullshit pirate of the Freedom Alliance or a fleet of the Holy Palacis Empire, they will not even dare to fart! "

Hearing that Odoma was fantasizing about replicating the great achievements made by "Sea Voyager" Igomel II more than 500 years ago, Zhuo Ke who was at the door inadvertently let out a "chuck" laugh.

"His Royal Highness Prince Zhuo Ke."

Hearing Zhuo Ke's laughter, Aluowen and Odoma temporarily stopped their quarrel and bowed their heads to pay Zhuo Ke's respect.

"Sorry, did you disturb the two of you?" Zhuo Ke joked.

Allowin replied with a smile: "No, not at all..."

Odoma lowered his head slightly, without saying a word.

"Father."

Zhuo Ke greeted the emperor in the distance.

"son."

Vigrich sits on a throne, wearing a jewel-encrusted crown and a fitted red ankle-length robe.He has white hair and sharp eyebrows.He has brown eyes, thin lips, and a neat beard.

His sleeves, close to his wrists, were embroidered with the same design as Draco's armor, golden dragons holding a gray star, the arms of House Apolion.

"The trade routes in the eastern part of the empire are certainly important, but Gray Harbor is our only port on the western coast, and the garrison fleet there cannot be easily mobilized."

Vigrich said to the two people beside Zhuo Ke.

Odoma nodded affirmatively, "Your Majesty is wise."

After all, he looked at Arlowin with a little complacency.

"However," Vigrich continued, "it's not a long-term solution to let the pirates of the Freedom Alliance go on like this.

Arrowin, take some gold coins from the treasury, and transfer all the unemployed shipbuilders in Airtide City, Moonport, and Oakburn to Gray Harbor, and let them build a batch of new ships. "

"Your Majesty, this will be a considerable expense." Arrowyn's expression was a little stiff. "A rough calculation would cost about 40 to 50 gold coins."

"I believe we can afford it." Vigrich, who is over [-] years old, is still full of authority in his voice.

"Odoma, after the formation of the fleet is completed, I hope you can fulfill your responsibilities as the Minister of the Navy and escort the trade in the eastern part of the empire."

"That's for sure, Your Majesty." Odoma put his right hand on his chest and responded, "I will dedicate a new fleet to you within a year."

Wigrich nodded in satisfaction, waved his hand and said to the two: "If there is nothing else, you two should step back first."

After Odoma and Allowin saluted and left, Vigrich asked Zhuo Ke in front of him, "Tell me, son, how is the matter I entrusted to you going?"

"The carpenter on Fengxing Street? He killed his wife." Zhuo Ke replied indifferently.

He didn't care much about the case his father handed him.The Chief Law Enforcer was supposed to be the final arbiter of legal disputes within the empire and the emperor's right-hand man, but the emperor seemed to prefer to control everything with his own hands.

His power was restricted everywhere by the "Scale" Vigrich, who was his father and emperor, and he could only involve in these insignificant trivial matters.

"Is that all?" There was suspicion in his father's tone.

"Otherwise?" Zhuo Ke asked unhappily, "That man is a perverted carpenter who likes to patronize brothels. He fooled around and came home in the middle of the night. Most likely there was some dispute with his wife that pissed him off. Killed people next time, and the bastard even gouged out people's eyeballs."

Wigrich shook his head, "Did you see all this with your own eyes, or did you let the carpenter tell you the whole story, or did you just rely on guesswork without even entering the door?"

"Did you send someone to follow me?" Zhuo Ke asked angrily.How could father be so aware of what he had done?
"I'm protecting you." Wigrich acquiesced.

"I don't need your protection."

In Madkaline, only Gozolon, the captain of the royal guard, can fight against him. Zhuo Ke doesn't feel the need for someone to protect him secretly. This is nothing more than an excuse his father made to monitor him.

Vigerich sighed: "As the heir of the empire, you go out without any guards, and the armor you wear makes it possible for anyone to recognize who you are. Do you think it will be safe for you to do so?"

"If you really think that I am the heir to this empire, I wouldn't be here dealing with useless things every day." Zhuo Ke retorted.

"Trust me, kid," Wigrich said, "it's all about preparing you for what's to come."

"You always say that, but I'm ready!" Chuck said.

He couldn't understand his father's thoughts. As the eldest prince, he had received the best education and training since he was a child.

Whether it is history, governance, economy, etiquette, or horseback riding, fighting and hunting, I have certain attainments, but in the eyes of my father, these seem to be worthless.

"You think you're ready?"

Vigrich asked back, "Tell me, if you were to make the decision, how would you deal with the demands of Aluo Wenwen and Odoma just now?"

"I will accept Allowin's proposal and let Odoma take the fleet stationed in Gray Harbor to the east to protect the route." Zhuo Ke replied.

"And leave the coast of the western city undefended?" Vigrich asked.

"I don't think this will be a problem. The Musor Kingdom in the south has a decent relationship with us now, and the foresters in the Black Forest to the west don't have the naval strength to threaten Gray Harbor.

As far as I know, the only thing they can make is little rafts, if you call those things boats. "

Zhuo Ke is very satisfied with his idea. If the plan goes well, not only will the empire not need to spend a lot of time on immigration and shipbuilding, but it will also restore the safety of the eastern route one or two years earlier.

Vigrich continued to ask: "If the Kingdom of Musor and the Lin people decide to join forces to attack Gray Harbor, how should the defenders in Gray Harbor deal with the ships of the Musors and the soldiers of the Lin people?
Both the sea line and the road line are cut off, and it will not be long before there will be a problem of insufficient grain. "

"No...the probability of such a thing happening is very small." Zhuo Ke was not persuaded by Wigrich, "Every choice we make is a risk, and my plan is the best choice, because he Very low risk, high reward.”

"You take it for granted. There is no best choice in this world, only worse choices."

Vigrich stood up from the throne and said to Zhuo Ke: "Everyone has their own ideas and selfishness, and as rulers, we need to weigh their pros and cons, make certain compromises, and choose what is best for the empire. Options.

Arrowin wants to restore the sea trade to the east as soon as possible, because his own private merchant ship is also waiting to set off at the port of Oakenburn; Something that does him no favors. "

"They are courtiers of the empire, and it is their duty to obey the king." Zhuo Ke was puzzled.

"So you still have a lot to learn," Vigrich patted his son on the shoulder,

"Even if I let Aldoma obey the order and lead the fleet to the east immediately, he will worry about the safety of Gray Harbor day and night.

But building a ship in Gray Harbor would both strengthen the empire's sea power and reassure Aldomar, who promised to protect the Eastern Sea Route in the coming year, that he would perform his duties wholeheartedly. "

Zhuo Ke nodded if he realized something. No matter how he argued, his father would only think that he was right.

"It's good that you understand," Wigrich said, "Also, I hope you can take the tasks I entrusted to you seriously, only in this way will you be truly ready to take over my position in the future."

(End of this chapter)