Chapter 440: Chapter 427: The Imperial Conference Convenes Again_2
The Military Department plans to take all the remaining officers there, whereas the soldiers are not a particular concern, conscription is fairly simple in this era.
Perfikot nodded slightly and then said, "Cut by ten percent, they need to remain in Langton."
Upon hearing Perfikot’s words, the representatives from the Military Department clearly didn’t look pleased. They believed they had compressed the scale enough, yet Perfikot mercilessly only gave them a quota of ninety thousand.
However, the representatives from the Military Department did not argue with Perfikot but rather began discussing which people could be cut and whether they could manage to stay within the ninety thousand after compression.
The Military Department quickly unified their opinion, responding to Perfikot, "The Military Department can accept this condition."
"Very good, now onto the next issue." Perfikot looked at the others, waiting for their questions.
Today’s meeting before the emperor mainly involves Perfikot and the heads of various departments explaining the response to the end-times crisis, while also addressing questions raised by other departments.
"Regarding the Navy, is it necessary to abandon all of those Imperial warships?" The Navy Minister spoke up, seemingly wanting to preserve something for the Navy. After all, for hundreds of years, the Victor Empire relied on its Navy to conquer the world, and the Navy can’t give up their ships.
Perfikot thought for a moment before speaking, "The Navy can retain new vessels built within the last ten years. I will later provide a modification plan to turn them into land patrol ships, which will be used to travel between the Empire’s homeland and the Northern Territory after the oceans freeze."
"Land patrol ships? What are those?" The Navy Minister looked puzzled.
But Perfikot couldn’t be bothered to explain, simply pulled out a blueprint and tossed it over: "Look at the blueprint yourself, this matter is unrelated to today’s agenda. If you want to understand more, come find me another time."
The Navy Minister said nothing more, simply caught the blueprint and began to examine it.
With the Navy Minister quiet, the Military Department had no further questions, as many things weren’t that complicated for them, and their demands were fairly simple.
However, while the demands of the Military Department were simple, the demands of the nobility were anything but.
Following the Military Department’s speech, Duke Ruth of Gloucester addressed Perfikot, "There are about twenty thousand noble families in the Empire that require..."
"Only nobles who pass the audit can go to the Northern Territory, those not on the previous list of 160,000 nobles shall not go there as nobles," Perfikot coldly cut off Duke Ruth and added, "If they renounce their noble status, choosing to go as ordinary people, I won’t stop them."
Upon hearing this, Duke Ruth breathed a sigh of relief but couldn’t help but argue, "They are all nobles of the Empire, and there are tens of thousands of them. Asking them to renounce their noble status is quite heartless."
"The Empire doesn’t need so many freeloading nobles; I have already given them a chance. It’s not my responsibility that they can’t pass the audit," Perfikot detested such rhetoric, her attitude becoming extremely harsh, "If anyone continues to pester me, don’t blame me for a bloodbath in Langton!"
"Lord Brandelis, you’ve gone too far," the Empress spoke faintly at this moment, addressing Perfikot’s words.
Although nominally it’s a front-court meeting, the Empress had barely spoken during this particular session, and the hosting of the meeting inexplicably shifted from Duke Ruth to Perfikot.
But even so, the Empress still retains absolute authority in the front-court meeting.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I misspoke," Perfikot lowered her head to apologize to the Empress, but did not apologize to Duke Ruth nor withdraw her previous statement.
Without a doubt, this means that the Empire’s nobles can only fight over the opportunity to retain their noble status and go to the Northern Territory from the previous list of 160,000.
That quota has long been allocated, and those nobles eligible have mostly passed the audit, even if a few weren’t up to standard, they managed to slip through via various means during this time.
Those remaining either lacked the capability or connections, merely participants in the lower tier atmosphere group among the noble circles, unable to represent the noble community and lacking any prominence or speaking power.
Yet they are still nobles, and under normal circumstances, they are needed to form the bulk of the noble community, creating a fervent atmosphere.
Nevertheless, in the face of the apocalyptic disaster, even Duke Ruth understands these nobles going to the Northern Territory would only be a burden, contributing nothing else.
Thus Duke Ruth’s speech earlier largely played into Perfikot’s act, as they had already reached an agreement on the noble population issue earlier, those words were mainly for the others present.
This is why the Empress merely reminded Perfikot that she’d gone too far earlier but didn’t stop her from proceeding.
Bear in mind, when the Empress ascended years ago, she intended to reduce the number of nobles, and now with such an opportunity, she wouldn’t let it slip by.
The Empire indeed needs nobles; the rule of the Victor Empire is supported and maintained by the nobility, but the large number of non-productive nobles had the entire Empire’s support in the past with no major issue, but now faced with the apocalypse, with limited resources in the Northern Territory, these noble lords are somewhat unsightly.
Perfikot’s statement to strip them of noble status before allowing them to go to the Northern Territory was quite astute, and the court ministers present believed those eliminated nobles would certainly not choose to stay in the Empire and await death.
Although there are some responsible individuals among the nobles, they had already secured a ticket to the Northern Territory during the previous selection process, even if there are rare exceptions, these do not affect the overall situation.
Moreover, for those responsible nobles, if they’re willing to stay and undertake the task of maintaining the Empire’s homeland, isn’t this fulfilling their duties to the Empire and self-preservation from another perspective?
Perfikot issued a self-rescue guide, not for it to be revered or used as toilet paper; she hopes those nobles can convert their castles and estates into shelters, thereby protecting their people like feudal lords of the past.
Even though Perfikot knew she was asking too much, in these matters, the nobles’ awareness cannot match that of the church.
Thus, Perfikot and Duke Ruth employed a cunning strategy, abandoning these nobles entirely while giving them a choice: renounce their noble status and go to the Northern Territory as commoners or stay in the Empire and lead the populace in self-rescue.
As for choosing neither? It would be better to wait for death, as Perfikot wouldn’t pamper idle people in the Northern Territory or the Empire.
"Lord Brandelis, the Industrial Department needs some quotas, approximately thirty thousand," the Industrial Minister, Sir McIntock, suddenly spoke, requesting quotas from Perfikot, "The Empire’s outstanding merchants and factory owners also need some migration to the Northern Territory, they and their families need quotas."
Indeed, having entered the era of industrial revolution, a bourgeoisie represented by capitalists and factory owners have gradually risen, and within the Empire, they have acquired considerable influence and voice.
Faced with Sir McIntock’s speech, Perfikot merely glanced at him and said, "There is only a quota of ten thousand people, but I can give you an additional quota of ten thousand, they can be purchased with money, one hundred thousand gold pounds per person, non-negotiable, with asset collateral accepted."
After speaking, Perfikot looked at the others again, asking them, "Does anyone else have any questions?"
"Lord Brandelis, how are you arranging for the royal family?" The Empress suddenly spoke at this time, presenting a question unconsidered by Perfikot previously.