Age of Mysticism

It has been more than a month since the conclusion of the Golden Valley negotiations. As the chief minister of the empire, Luke has to deal with a lot of work every day. It is precisely because of the high-intensity operation of the imperial cabinet led by him that the empire can quickly turn the whole in the face of the international situation that is gradually moving toward confrontation between camps.

The World Bank withdrew many investment projects in the empire during this month, and the empire also confiscated many World Bank assets in the empire.

The World Bank immediately announced a sanction plan against the Golden Shield Empire. The entire industry under the World Bank implemented trade restrictions against the Golden Shield Empire, and many countries unilaterally increased the import tax rates of the Golden Shield Empire and its colonies.

Just now there was news of new sanctions. Based on the "New Ocean Anti-Monopoly Trade Act", the World Bank froze a number of accounts of the Golden Shield Empire involved in energy transactions, many of which were energy merchants in the Innovation Society.

It is conceivable that there will be more and more such sanctions, and the intensity will become stronger and stronger. When more people are implicated, they will definitely make trouble under the instigation of the World Bank.

For such sanctions, the Golden Shield Empire has few ways to counterattack. After all, the World Bank has been deeply involved in the international market for so long, with industries all over the world and the hegemony of gold certificates. The lifeblood of many countries is in the hands of the World Bank.

The "International League" established by the World Bank has confirmed that nine countries have joined, while the "Free Trade Organization" initiated by the Golden Shield Empire has only the Kingdom of Luthen publicly announced its membership, and there are three overseas colonies that can only provide raw materials.

Other countries are watching to see if the Golden Shield Empire can withstand the wave of violent sanctions launched by the World Bank.

If the "free trade body" wants to develop, it needs a zero breakthrough.

But who is willing to risk the stick of the World Bank's sanctions and get on the ship of the Golden Shield Empire?

There was a knock on the door of the office, and Yomington, Chief of Staff of the Chief Assistant, walked in.

"My lord, the former Leo Republic's ambassador to the Empire, Webster, wants to meet with you. He said that the World Bank has contacted them and expressed his willingness to support them in retaking Rio..."

Luke said to Yomington, "Sit down and tell me what you think."

Yomington came to sit across from Luke's desk, and continued, "Since the Watchers captured Leo, a group of officials from the original Republic of Leo have formed a government-in-exile overseas. They had no chance to recapture Leo. Oh, but the international situation has changed too fast recently.

Moreover, Pan died in the Golden Valley, and Yin was unwilling to return to Leo to rebuild the kingdom. Now Leo is completely messed up. According to the latest information we have collected, there are no less than eleven Leo nobles who have declared that they are of royal blood and have the legal right of succession to King Leo. The watchers are also torn apart, and there is no one who can unify Leo.

If the government-in-exile of the Río Republic gets the support of the World Bank, it is very likely that Río will soon be restored as a republic. "

Luke is very clear about Leo's current situation, and he also has his own responsibility.

When he was in the Golden Valley, he persuaded some watchers to defect from Pan, who had serious mental problems, on the condition that Yin reorganized the Leo Kingdom. As a result, Pan died, and Yin also felt ashamed and unwilling to leave the Golden Valley.

Leo's dragons had no leader, and they naturally split into a mess of loose sand.

Luke asked Yomington: "Since the World Bank is willing to support their exiled politicians to return to Rio, why did they come to us again?"

Yomington replied: "Webster said that there is a division in their government-in-exile, whether to accept the support of the World Bank or try to win the support of the Golden Shield Empire."

"Interesting..." Luke couldn't help becoming interested: "Those exiled politicians in Leo must know that we supported the Watchers and drove them out of Leo. How could they think of enlisting our support now?"

Yomington replied: "I was also curious and asked Webster, and his answer made me determined to help him get your summons."

"Tell him what he thinks."

"Webster is a Leo politician who supports seeking help from the Empire. He said that Leo and the Golden Shield Empire face each other across the sea, and there are both conflicts of competition and potential for cooperation. If the Republic of Leo is rebuilt with the support of the World Bank, It is inevitable that the World Bank will inevitably become the frontier of the World Bank's stranglehold on the empire, which is absolutely unwilling to see the empire.

Therefore, Leo will fall into endless civil wars in the wrestling between the World Bank and the Empire, and even become the main battlefield of direct conflict between the two camps. Even after the war is over, Rio may not be able to exist as an independent sovereign country.

And if they seek the support of the empire, they can quickly gain control of Leo by virtue of the influence of the empire in Leo, and regain their strength with the help of the empire, and participate in this confrontation of who is the future master as the arm of the empire middle. "

After listening to Yomington's narration, Luke said after some consideration: "It seems that Webster and his gang of Leo politicians want to use this as a condition in exchange for the loosening of the empire's blockade of the Leo ocean, and gamble on the fate of the country by the way. .

Do you think the Empire should support them? "

Yomington replied: "It is difficult for me to give you advice on such an important matter. According to the situation in Leo, probably only the government-in-exile of the former Republic can quickly pacify all parties. But if we support Leo's restoration of the republic, we still have to Beware of their retaliation.

But if a unified Leo stands on the side of the empire, it will indeed greatly improve the external environment we face, at least it will not be used by the World Bank to threaten the security of the eastern coast of the empire. "

Luke considered how to deal with Leo's current mess.

"You are right to worry. If the World Bank wants to attack the mainland of the empire from the sea, Leo is the springboard that the Shuojin people must take down, and a large-scale war will inevitably break out there. If we fight the World Bank as an agent in Leo In war, many things are beyond our control, and it will seriously consume the national power of the empire.

If Leo is in our camp, we can push the front line to the eastern border of Rio, and the pressure on the empire will be much less.

As for Leo's backbiting that you are worried about, I don't think there is any need to worry about it. Leo wanted to speculate in this camp confrontation, and only followed the empire to eat meat. If they bite back, it's because the empire's defeat has already been decided, and it's not too late for Leo to take a bite at that time.

Of course, the threshold for Leo's counterattack should be set higher for them. "

Yomington asked: "Master Chief Assistant is ready to agree to support the government-in-exile of the Rio Republic."

Luke said: "Don't reveal my attitude to Webster, tell him... I am busy receiving the noble representatives from Leo, the empire still hopes to have a neighbor with the same system, even if Leo's king doesn't Real power, even if it’s not in Rio, it doesn’t matter.”

Yomington immediately understood what Luke meant: "I know how to reply to Webster."

Luke asked again: "Does the Republic of Rio owe a lot of money to the World Bank?"

Yomington replied: "Yes. After the war between the Empire and the Leo Republic, Leo borrowed a lot of money from the World Bank after the war in order to gain competitiveness with the Empire as soon as possible."

Luke said with a smile: "Since the Republic of Leo has perished, the money owed will naturally disappear with the country. Those exiled politicians in Leo should have seen clearly what the system is, and the free world they advocated can also be realized in the kingdom." .”

Yomington's eyes brightened: "Master Shoufu's wisdom is really admirable."

"Hehe..." Luke smiled again: "Send someone to contact the watchmen and the nobles of Leo, let them seize the time to form a club, and send me the outline of the club as soon as possible, and I will see whose club is pleasing to the eye Just give me more money and weapons!"

Yomington couldn't help standing up excitedly: "I didn't expect that the problem that troubled us staff for so many days was easily solved by you, my lord. Let Leo's former politicians change their positions and integrate the chaotic Leo as soon as possible." Together, we will support a group of opposition groups. Those who are disobedient will go down, and those who are obedient will come up, which can ensure that Leo is on the side of the empire to the greatest extent.

I'm going to Webster now. "

"Go."

Yomington, who had a trick to pass on, walked out quickly, and when he opened the door, he saw a person standing outside, and Yomington immediately saluted: "His Royal Highness!"

Agatha outside the door asked, "Have you finished talking?"

"The talk is over..." Yomington moved out of the way and apologized: "I didn't know your Highness was waiting outside, please forgive me."

"You guys are talking about important things. It doesn't matter if I wait a while. Go about your business..."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness."

Agatha enters, and Yomington exits and closes the door.

"Every time you come here, you are busy with state affairs. Even at night, the lights here will be on until late at night. You can take a break and let the people below share more work."

Agatha walked to Luke's desk. She picked up a few documents and looked at them, her words filled with concern and concern about Luke's physical condition.

Luke leaned back on the back of the chair, stretched out his arms and stretched his waist, and some stiff bones crackled.

Agatha put her hands on Luke's shoulders, and said a spell to help his weariness fade away.

Feeling more comfortable, Luke patted Agatha's hand: "One of the world's strongest economies has fully decoupled from the empire, and one by one sanctions have been released. The empire has never experienced this kind of confrontation. I must pay more attention to it." Only in this way can the empire complete a smooth turn.”

Agatha put her other hand on Luke's other shoulder and pressed slowly.

"When the World Bank began to withdraw funds and impose sanctions, Her Highness the Queen and I were completely stunned and didn't know how to deal with it. I really admire you for taking the cabinet and resisting one by one. This month's Imperial Finance The report is also surprisingly good.

I really don't know how you did it. "

Back from the Golden Valley, Luke can clearly feel that the relationship between Agatha and himself has made a big leap. Although the two still like to chat about state affairs when they are alone, it feels like lovers confide in each other.

The feeling of pressure on the shoulders has a comfort that magic does not have, and the fragrance of the woman behind him makes people feel relaxed physically and mentally.

"No matter how the World Bank imposes sanctions on the empire, the empire's huge industrial system and market cannot be erased from the world system by Shuojin people. Moreover, the technology integration and technology development capabilities possessed by Raging Waves City allow our Many technologies are unique and irreplaceable.

Just for the orders for new freighters, the Haijiao District Shipyard received 146 ships and 28 Dreadnought-class warships in one go. There will be more and more orders in the future, and the imperial coastal shipbuilding industry will have to work overtime for a few years. "

Hearing Luke talk about the Dreadnought-class battleship order, Agatha asked in confusion: "Can the Dreadnought-class warships also be sold? Will it dilute the empire's maritime advantage?"

The sense of relaxation made Luke close his eyes involuntarily: "The Dreadnought-class battleship is just the bait I throw out for the ocean armament competition, and there will be 30,000-ton or even 100,000-ton warships appearing on the ocean later.

It won't be too long before there will only be Empire and the World Bank left on the track.

Concentration of manufacturing industry is our advantage. The World Bank's industry is too scattered. The more it needs to concentrate its efforts to build big things, the more obvious its weaknesses will be exposed. At that time, the World Bank will have to engage in armed conflict with the Empire when they are at a disadvantage in the sea. The Imperial Fleet guarantees that the Imperial Army will arrive where they are needed to fight at any time.

Economic confrontation and conventional military confrontation, the current national strength of the empire is sufficient to cope with the provocations of the World Bank. The biggest shortcoming is the reserve of high-end military force. There is still a gap between the empire and the five ancient civilizations. "

Agatha knew that Luke was a little sleepy, so she released the pressing force, and her voice was much softer: "According to the information collected by the Bureau of Secret Intelligence, the Shuojin people have no intention of going out in person now. A large amount of funds have been used to help the county union form a magical army and manufacture large warships.

It should be to provoke a full-scale war between the Empire and the Attorney Union, or to encourage other countries in the "League of Nations" to besiege the Empire, and the World Bank hides behind to reap the dividends of the war.

We still have time to develop fighters and weapons to fight against the Glittering Gold. Isn't the steam titan developed by Raging Waves already confirmed as a mass-produced model? "

"Yes, the Steam Titan has confirmed its mass production model. Both the Royal First and Second Magical Legions are very satisfied with the Steam Titan. The cabinet is going to place an order for 500 units to form a Steam Titan for each of the two Magical Legions. verification team.

But to deal with the Shuojin people, the steam titan is too bulky and cannot fly yet, and it needs to wait for the magic titan to be developed. The prototype test machine of the Magic Titan has been assembled by the magic laboratory of Raging Waves City. When Shelley returns with the armored assault division of Raging Waves City, the test of the Magic Titan can be carried out. "

Luke's voice was getting lower and lower, as if he was about to fall asleep.

At this time, the door of the office was suddenly knocked open, and two people broke in from the outside, shouting: "Governor... Your Excellency Governor, we are back!"

Seeing that Luke was awakened, Agatha immediately cast a murderous look at the two people who came in.

Those who came in were Shelley and Pisco, who had returned from the north. These two generals who followed Luke the first had no idea that they were jumping in and out before the gate of hell. Seeing Agatha so intimately with her boss At the same time, there is no thought of quitting at all.

Pisco even shouted excitedly: "His Royal Highness, why are you here?"