Chapter 325 Post-War Meeting Part II
Riz turned to the rest of his ministers, scanning the faces around the table. "Anything else I might have overlooked?" he inquired.
Michael Manfura, the minister of foreign affairs, stood up and spoke, "Your Majesty, we have received a letter from Blande."
He handed the letter to the king, who swiftly opened it and perused its contents.
A smile tugged at the corner of Riz's lips as he read through the missive.
A slight chuckle escaped Riz's lips as he finished reading. "How amusing," he remarked, shaking his head slightly. "They dare ask for the return of Erle Island after the war they waged against us."
Michael's expression mirrored the king's amusement as he replied, "Indeed, Your Majesty. It appears that they are trying to reclaim what was lost, but we both know that Erle Island rightfully belongs to Ryntum now."
Riz leaned back in his chair, "Instead of complying with their request, I believe we should send them a letter in return, asking for war reparations. After all, they were the aggressors in this conflict, and they should be the ones to pay for the damages and losses we suffered."
Michael nodded, understanding the implications of such a response. "I will draft the letter immediately, Your Majesty," he assured the king.
"Make sure to convey our firm stance," Riz emphasized, "And let them know that we expect just compensation for their transgressions. If they pay, we can consider the war between us and them ended. But if they refuse, we might have to send our soldiers to the north and collect the payment."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty," Michael reassured the king, "I will draft the letter with the utmost clarity. They will be made aware of the consequences of refusing our request."
Riz's curiosity peaked when they are discussing the country in the north, "Speaking about the north, what happens to the Duchy of Camble? Did they get eliminated by Sidgean Empire?" he inquired.
He had been too focused on the war with Barlia, and as a result, he had lost track of the developments in the northern regions.
He was aware that the Duchy of Camble had shown interest in purchasing arquebuses and artillery from Ryntum, but he hadn't heard much about them lately.
Michael shook his head, "It's the opposite, Your Majesty. The Duchy of Camble managed to push south, securing the path to the port city of Robine," he informed.
As the person who is responsible for foreign affairs, it is Michael's job to always take note of development in other nations.
Riz's eyebrows furrowed as he listened to Michael's report. "They managed to push south?" he repeated, a hint of surprise in his voice. "That's unexpected. I had no idea they were capable of making such advancements."
Michael nodded, understanding the king's concern. "Yes, Your Majesty. I'm a bit surprised too." he replied, "It seems the Duchy of Camble has been controlling the path to the port city of Robine for some time now."
"Let me guess, they capture that city so it would be easier for them to import more weapons from us right?" Riz asked.
Michael nodded affirmatively, "There's no doubt about it, Your Majesty. With our possession of Erle Island, we can now establish a more direct trade route with them."
The king leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. "You're right," he finally said, "Let them know that we are open for trade. If they want to buy, then why not sell it?"
"As you wish, Your Majesty," Michael replied, taking note of the king's instructions.
"Ah! And one more thing, send a letter to Cerdeauxia as well. Inform them that they have two choices, either hand over the remnants of the Barlian army to us or send them back to their home country. If they fail to comply, we will consider their actions as joining the war against us."
Michael quickly scribbled down the additional message, "Understood, Your Majesty. I will make sure the message is conveyed assertively."
Riz nodded in response to Michael's assurance. He then turns to Wendall, the minister of food and agriculture. "How about the food situation? Do we have excess grains to send to Barlia?" he asked.
Wendall's expression turned serious as he replied, "As you probably notice, Your Majesty, the price of grain has been continuously rising during the war. It caused concerns as our population simultaneously increased. However, with the war coming to an end, the price is expected to go down. Regardless, I suggest we focus on developing farmland to cater to the increasing demand. We should start with the most fertile land we have, the province near the Phoenix Forest."
"Don't worry, Wendall. I had the same thought as you. I know food security is crucial for our people." Riz responded. "So, I will trust your judgment on this one, Wendall. Proceed with the plan to develop the farmland in the region."
"Leave it to me, Your Majesty," Wendall responded with a nod, "I will prepare the initial blueprint for the agricultural expansion as soon as possible."
Riz smiled, satisfied with Wendall's reply.
As the discussion continued, Riz turned his attention to Charlotte, "What about the investigation I assigned to you?" he inquired.
Charlotte's expression turned serious as she reported, "Milord, the movement we have been monitoring is growing larger. They seem to be taking advantage of the war and the suffering of the people, especially refugees to gain more followers."
Riz listened intently, his brow furrowing in concern. "Have you been able to identify their key figures?" he asked, wanting to understand the depth of the situation.
"Yes, Milord," Charlotte replied. "We have managed to identify most of their leaders and have been closely monitoring their activities. We also successfully figure out where they get their money from."
Riz frowned, "They had outside support? Aren't they rich?"
"Well, the more money they had, the better for them, right?" Charlotte said, "Anyway, the fund flow in from Cerdeuxia and Blande. We still figuring out if it was from a specific individual or an organization."
"Haa... Why I'm not surprised," He sighed, acknowledging the challenges they might face while dealing with this movement.
"Keep a close eye on them," he instructed. "Their activities may pose a threat to the stability of our kingdom."
"Shouldn't we eradicate them by now? Charlotte asked, "We had all the essential proofs to prosecute them."
"The kingdom just get out from war and I don't want to plunge it into another tumultuous event. Moreover, we need them to attract more people so we can eliminate them in one fell swoop." He explained.
"Understood, Milord."
This chapt𝙚r is updated by fr(e)ew𝒆bnov(e)l.com