Shepherd Tantra

Chapter 391 Griffith’s Hostility

After the roundtable meeting this morning, the ministers simply had lunch and then quietly gathered together again.

This was 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 was a small meeting attended by only a dozen ministers, including the Minister of Privy Council and the Minister of Trade.

After the round table 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 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 have gathered together in groups to discuss.

Even every minister here may not have only attended one such small meeting. They speak ill of other people in the Chocolate Club, and maybe some of them will hold a small meeting such as "Candy Club" or "Honey Club" in the evening to 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 had expected."

"It seems you are not that close to Her Majesty the Queen."

The white-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 must not be able to adapt to the position of queen and will 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 was their chance—the perfect opportunity to rule out the high-rise faction.

The high-rise faction refers to the high-rise building at Lloyd's headquarters, and refers to the ministers who often enter Lloyd's. This usually means they have a close interest in Lloyd's.

Although Lloyd's is now in decline and not what it used to be. But it still exists after all. The vast wealth it holds is still eye-catching.

And under this premise... Lloyd's, which has lost its deterrence, has become a cash machine. Nowadays, the Lloyd's community is leaderless. No leader can subdue everyone. This combination of business interests is still fighting among itself.

Because they no longer have the vast, shadowy control to turn wealth into political influence. It has been completely exposed. In this case, just to maintain its own existence, it needs to continue to cede a large number of interests.

The result is that ministers who originally took money from Lloyds still take money.

They can even secure more money and gain more benefits than ever before, while doing less. Or just do nothing - not destroying them is already friendly.

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 Lloyd's Knights of the Round Table increased instead of declining. Led by the Foreign Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of Housing and Communities, the Secretary of Health and Social Care, the Chairman of the Trade Committee, and the Maritime Secretary, they are more closely united than before. In many matters, we are in an attitude of advancing and retreating together and helping each other.

Their main tendency is to open free trade, free market, comprehensive tax reduction, and promote the "merchant knight" system. Entrepreneurs with outstanding opinions 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 the core of the faction, former Trade Minister Drost, was investigated, the position of Trade Minister was also sent by the Queen to another large faction opposing them as a check and balance.

That is the "Chocolate Club" headed by the Lord Privy Councilor. They are also known as 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 had the power and wealth to taste this expensive sweet. The "Chocolate Club" opened during that period was only accessible to veteran knights and founding families.

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 same knights who had refused Lloyd's bribes. But this does not mean that they are honest and honest - their idea is to suppress the power and trade practices of merchants, try their best to prevent the establishment of "merchant knights", and even demand an increase in taxes on merchants, and increase the welfare and income of knights.

Tax increases and reductions, discussions on the feasibility of "merchant knights", restrictions on knights and social welfare... these are 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 have their own methods for the same purpose. This leaves room for discussion.

For example, the Chancellor of the Exchequer likes to increase taxes on various low-value commodities on a large scale. For example, he plans to impose a tax on matches and kerosene lamps starting next spring. On the one hand, he can continue to promote electric lights. On the other hand, he can increase taxes to make the accounts look better. On the other hand, he can also raise people's subconscious awareness of the tax increase. Resistance, and then disguised to protect businessmen.

What makes them most uncertain at present is which faction this "minister regardless of ministry" who is deeply trusted by the Queen should belong to.

On the one hand, he is the heir to the Moriarty family. He is also 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 trade minister and the admiralty minister were arrested, and the maritime minister was executed. These all came from the direct intervention of Aiwass Moriarty. Today even the Privy Councilors are silenced.

The loyalty of the Camelot family is unquestionable. Among the twelve monarchs of Avalon so far, eight of their privy councilors came 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 concessions and self-transformation to a certain extent.

But the fifth position... is actually quite high.

The first four happened to be the four pillars of the country, and they did not belong 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 Secretary 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 recruitment, I do not rule out this possibility. It can even be said that it is very possible."

The Minister of Defense said solemnly: "Everyone, be prepared 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 will not be able to 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 not being able to compare, it will definitely not be comparable. Your Excellency Meg is indeed powerful, but we can maintain peace not 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 War is possible.

"Once a war starts, it may be too late. Today's Star Antimony is different from Iris 20 years ago. There is a strong need for war within Star Antimony."

Griffith warned: "Once they start fighting, they will never stop. Because as long as they stop, they will collapse themselves. So as long as the war starts, it will be a battle of life and death."

Before being appointed Minister of Trade by the Queen, he was the diplomatic ambassador to the embassy in Star Antimony, but he later withdrew after Star Antimony's diplomatic attitude deteriorated. Now that the diplomatic attitude between Star Antimony and Avalon has improved, Griffith, who has a friendly relationship with Star Antimony, was appointed by Queen Sophia as the new Minister of Trade to negotiate a new stage of trade contracts.

Therefore, Minister Griffith may be the one who knows the Star Antimony Kingdom best among all the people here.

"Then 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 stayed at Star Antimony for many years, Griffith has a strong Star Antimony style. He couldn't see the knight's tough attitude and courage, but he was timid. And he likes to brag about the power and advancement of the Star Antimony people when he has nothing to do - this makes the Minister of Defense quite disgusted.

"We could have turned them on to hunting iris."

Minister Griffith whispered: "And we can secretly provide help - help the Star Antimony people and 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?"

(End of this chapter)