Reincarnated as a boss tyrant in the game

Leaving the Imperial Palace, Soren headed to the State Affairs Office to report for duty. He was five days later than originally scheduled, and he figured that State Affairs Minister Neumann was already thinking about him, perhaps even preparing to make things difficult.

Taiwan Novel Network → 𝙩 𝙬 𝙠 𝙖 𝙣 . 𝙘 𝙤 𝙢

Neumann's State Affairs Office was located on the main street to the right of the Imperial Palace, adjacent to the Radiant Temple.

Therefore, after exiting the palace gate, he only had to travel about three hundred meters to see the landmark building of the State Affairs Office, a Gothic-style building with a pointed roof.

As Soren got out of the carriage in front of the State Affairs Office, the central gate of the office swung open, and an official dressed in a dark green noble's robe, with a rapier hanging at his waist, led a dozen or so subordinate officials out to greet Soren with a hand on his chest, saying, "Your Highness, I, your old servant Neumann, along with all the officials of the State Affairs Office, respectfully welcome you!"

Soren plastered a warm smile on his face, returned the greeting, and said, "Marquis Neumann, you are too polite. I, Soren, am late in coming and am here to apologize..."

As he spoke, Soren sized up Neumann. He had an oval face, thick eyebrows and large eyes, a hooked nose, and a serious expression. Even as Soren returned the greeting, there was no smile to be seen on his face.

Clearly, he was somewhat displeased with Soren's unexplained absence of five days.

In the game, Soren never had any intersection with Neumann's fate. By the time he awakened and resolved to fight for the throne, Neumann had been dead for several years.

Now, seeing the real person, Soren recalled the biography of Neumann.

In the glorious historical river of the Holy Prague Empire, Neumann's name shone like a brilliant star. With his unwavering loyalty and extraordinary ability, he made great contributions to the empire.

Neumann was an impeccable loyal minister, possessing both wisdom and skill of the highest order, deeply admired by the emperor and the people.

It could be said that without State Affairs Minister Neumann, there would have been no golden age of Holy Prague III.

Everything in the world has two sides. Behind this loyal minister Neumann also lurked an unknown side. He was somewhat petty and always remembered and retaliated against those who had offended him.

This personality trait made him a formidable opponent in the eyes of his political enemies.

Regarding Neumann's character, it was rumored that he was upright and resolute, and he was too lazy to even communicate with those he disliked.

This characteristic was fully reflected in his twenty-five-year feud with Earl Bryant.

Both were once talented young men in the imperial capital, but they formed a deep-seated hatred for some reason and became like fire and water ever since. Wherever Neumann appeared, Earl Bryant would avoid him like the plague;

and vice versa. If the two were forced to meet, they would tacitly become mutes, with not even a glance exchanged between them.

Soren keenly observed Neumann's expression and attitude, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "It seems that this great minister doesn't like me very much either."

But thinking about it, it was understandable.

Soren was assigned to the State Affairs Office for further study and should have reported on his first day, but he delayed it for a full five days without sending anyone ahead to inform them, which undoubtedly aroused dissatisfaction among the people.

If it weren't for the orders of his cheap imperial father, he probably wouldn't even have been able to enter the gate of the State Affairs Office.

The fact that Neumann could patiently come out to greet him in person at this moment was undoubtedly a great respect and flattery to Soren.

If Soren wanted to rely on Neumann's power to seek a relaxed position in the future, it would probably be impossible.

"It seems that this job will be difficult to start!"

Stepping into the State Affairs Office, Soren couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Obviously, Neumann and the State Affairs Office he led, and even the entire bureaucratic system of the State Affairs Office, had become the first problem Soren faced.

If he hadn't transmigrated, he would probably feel helpless in the face of such a complex situation.

Neumann proposed with a smiling face, "Your Highness, since the Salt Equalization Policy was proposed by you, why not directly appoint you to the position of Salt Equalization Commissioner?"

As soon as Soren heard this, he immediately became alert. He understood that Neumann was trying to trip him up.

Although the State Affairs Office and the Ministry of Finance were nominally responsible for their respective fields, in actual operation, the powers of the two often overlapped.

Taking the Salt Equalization Policy as an example, the new department derived from it—the Salt Equalization Bureau—should have been directly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, responsible for the production and sale of salt. However, the State Affairs Office often interfered, especially in key matters such as the appointment of officials.

Neumann's move was clearly intended to use Soren's Salt Equalization Policy as a bargaining chip to involve him in the dispute between the State Affairs Office and the Ministry of Finance.

Soren knew very well that this was not a simple job assignment, but a complex political contest. He had to be careful to avoid being drawn into this vortex.

Once the State Affairs Office controlled the Salt Equalization Bureau, he would be able to allocate funds independently without having to apply for appropriations from Horns, thereby truly realizing his political ambitions.

A cunning light flashed in Neumann's eyes. He knew that this was the key moment for his rise, and he had to seize this opportunity and firmly grasp the Salt Equalization Bureau in his hands.

Neumann's plan was extremely clever. He knew that as long as he could get Soren to agree to serve as the Salt Equalization Commissioner, that is, the head of the Salt Equalization Bureau, then the State Affairs Office's control over the appointment of officials in the Salt Equalization Bureau would be justified.

This also indirectly acknowledged the leading position of the State Affairs Office in the higher-level management department of the Salt Equalization Bureau.

Neumann's purpose was very clear, which was to prevent Horns from finding any reason to refuse.

After all, as the promoter of the Salt Equalization Policy, it was undoubtedly the most reasonable choice for Soren to serve as the Salt Equalization Commissioner.

In this way, Neumann could not only achieve the purpose of controlling the Salt Equalization Bureau, but also cleverly make Horns speechless, which could be described as killing two birds with one stone.

As soon as Soren heard this proposal, he immediately put on a humble posture and laughed, "Oh, Lord Neumann, you are really flattering me too much. I'm afraid I'm not up to such an important position. The main purpose of my coming here is to learn more and increase my knowledge. Moreover, the appointment of such officials still needs to be approved by my imperial father, don't you think?" These few words of his were understated, but cleverly threw the problem back to Neumann.

The implication was, you want me to be the Salt Equalization Commissioner? Of course, as long as my imperial father nods, I have no problem.

Would his imperial father agree?

Of course not. If the Salt Equalization Bureau belonged to the Ministry of Finance, it would mean that 20% of the annual income would go into the internal treasury, which was his own money bag, and he could spend it however he wanted without the consent of the Ministry of Finance.

Sure enough, a flash of anger immediately crossed Neumann's eyes when he heard Soren's refusal.