"Your Highness, the Maritime Legion currently has twelve Thunderbolt warships, eight fast cruising warships, forty-six large long-distance merchant ships, one hundred and twenty-four medium-sized fast merchant ships, one hundred and eighty-four medium-sized armed merchant ships, and forty-four large armed cargo ships. In addition, there were thirteen large ocean-going whaling ships, nearly a hundred medium and small offshore fishing ships, four fast sailing passenger ships, a training camp for sailors and five training warships at Oxhorn Bay. There was also a large naval base at Flagfish Ridge on Sirovas Island.
In addition, there is a patrol fleet of twelve warships at the Haneabada Archipelago. The entire Maritime Legion has a total of fifty-eight thousand people. As the profits from commerce and fishing offset most of the military expenditure, the family now spends 280,000 to 350,000 gold fords on the Maritime Legion every year. Compared to the Monolith Legion and the Flying Tiger Legion, the military expenditure is only about a third of theirs. "
The Thunderbolt Battleship of the Maritime Legion was a sailing cannon battleship built with bronze cannons as the model for long-range attacks, while the Fast Cruising Battleship was a sailing warship built with the Flying Fish of the Kingdom of Dawn as the model. The only difference was that the large steel crossbows installed on the ship were replaced with nine small bronze cannons to attack the enemy with long-range and maneuverability. It could be called the light cavalry of the sea.
Fatty Shi was holding a thick scroll of documents regarding the Maritime Legion as he reported to Laurist. After completing the plan to reorganize and expand the four guard legions, Laurist was prepared to contribute to the family's military expenditure. His first attack was on the Maritime Legion.
"The commander of the Sunbarwood army has received orders. He is currently on Syrovas Island and will arrive here in half a month. At the same time, he has to bring the main commanders of the Maritime Legion for a reorganization meeting. In April, he submitted a request to expand the Maritime Legion's Thunderbolt warships, hoping that the Oxhorn Bay shipyard in the North Sea can build six new Thunderbolt warships within three years. However, this request was rejected by me. Currently, the Oxhorn Bay shipyard has already received orders to build twelve large long-distance merchant ships and medium-sized armed merchant ships for the Kenneth Family. The time frame is two years, and they have no spare capacity to build new Thunderbolt warships, "Fatty Shi said.
"That fella Kenneth sure moves fast. I remember I approved a document last year. It's about building ships for the Kenneth Family. It's about two large ocean-going merchant ships and eight medium-sized armed merchant ships, right?" Loriste asked.
"Yes." Fatty Shi replied, "The total cost is 150,000 gold coins, including the weapons and the training of the sailors. Their family has already sent more than 800 people to our family's navy training camp for training."
"How about this? Send a letter to Kenneth. If he doesn't mind, we can sell them the medium-sized merchant ships that were removed after the reorganization of the Maritime Legion. He won't have to wait for two years. Sixty to seventy percent new ships should be enough for him to organize offshore trade. Of course, except for the new ships that have already been put on the racks and begun to be built. Anything that hasn't been built yet can be sold, "Lollister said.
"Here's a plan. It's a rough idea of how I'll reorganize the Maritime Legion. Take it and take a look. When Sunbarwood arrives, discuss it with him. If there's anything inappropriate, we'll change it. "Laurist handed Fatty Shi a document. It was the result of his hard work over the past few days.
Fatty Shi took a look and was shocked. "Your Highness, are you going to open Beihai City and Oxhorn Bay? And Cilovas Island … "
Lollister nodded.
Fatty Shi continued to read. After reading it, he thought for a moment and smiled bitterly. "Your Highness, this is really a ruthless move. You've practically reduced the entire Maritime Legion to one-fifth of its original size."
Lollister stood up and walked to the side of the large map of the family's territory hanging on the wall. He looked at the coastline of the territory on the map and said, "There's no helping it. I've been busy on land for the past few years and didn't pay much attention to the Maritime Legion. I didn't expect it to expand to such an extent. Almost a small fishing boat has entered the Maritime Legion, and the number of people has reached more than 58,000. You should know that when I heard you talk about it, I was shocked. Although Sunbarwood is very responsible and completes the missions the family gives him every year well, whether it's maritime trade or fishing, he does his best, but this isn't what I want.
"Maritime trade should be the family's main source of profit growth, but whether it's maritime trade or fishing, the profits can't even meet the military expenses of the Maritime Legion. The family still has to subsidize 200,000 to 300,000 gold fords every year, which is very abnormal. Of course, I wasn't suspecting that the Sea Legion's Commander of the Forest Wood Army and the management personnel were corrupt. After all, Spear was in charge of supervising and managing our family's financial affairs, which had prevented such acts from happening. It's just that after I read through all the files on the Maritime Legion, I realized where we went wrong …
The purpose of establishing the Maritime Legion was to establish a family armed force that could only maintain the safety of the family's territory along the coastline, protect our territory and islands, and defend against attacks from the sea. At the same time, it had powerful combat power, could open up and protect maritime trade routes and fishing grounds, and could also carry out surprise attacks on enemies on the coastline, attacking enemy merchant ships, fishing boats, and trade fleets. Commander Sunbarwood has achieved this, and our family's Maritime Legion has become the overlord of the northern seas. We don't even have enemies that can threaten us at sea.
Sunbarwood misunderstood this, and that is, he managed everything at sea. Every sailor on every ship was included in the family's armed force, and the Maritime Legion expanded into a giant. This is not what I want, an organization that manages everything at sea. That's not the family's armed force, but a maritime business association, and one that needs the family's financial support every year. "
Laurist punched the location of Oxhorn Bay twice on the map. "Look at the North Sea Castle and the port here. Why isn't it lively? We spent so much time in Moronte City, so we should know why Silver Bay is known as the number one port on the Galinthea Continent. It's full of vitality. Yes, vitality. I thought about it for two days before I understood. But look at Oxhorn Bay, and the North Sea Castle, which has been built for several years, why is it so quiet? It's simple. All the ships that come and go are of our family's Maritime Legion, and even the dates are fixed.
Look at our maritime trade. Right now, there are only two sea routes. One is the sea route from the Shaislan Kingdom to the Haneabada Archipelago, and then to the Silovas Island. Our main commodities are spices and various daily necessities produced by our family's territory. The second route is from the North Sea Castle to the Silovas Island. But what we need to pay attention to is that these two routes both end at the Silovas Island, and our external trade relies on the Peterson Merchant Association and the Chikede Merchant Association. I suspect that the profits of our goods are artificially suppressed by these two merchant associations, which is equivalent to us becoming the producers of these two merchant associations. This is also the most important reason why the profits of our maritime trade are insufficient to make up for the military expenses of the Maritime Legion.
In reality, we have many business opportunities, such as trading with the nobles of the territories in the northwestern region of the former Redelis Kingdom, or directly shipping goods to the Mana Hill Plains, or even the Golden Coastline further south to find trading partners. But our family has an agreement with the Peterson Merchant Association, and the trade with the Ford Merchant Association should be handled by them. The Chikede Merchant Association only needs most of the spices we ship from the Shaislan Kingdom, and they have also proposed to imitate the agreement signed by the Peterson Merchant Association, where they will act as our agent for the trade of goods passing through the Golden Coastline …
This is the main reason why I want to split up the Maritime Legion. The Maritime Legion should return to the military and become the most reliable armed force of the family on the sea. As for the trade fleets and fishing fleets, we can set up a merchant association to separate them. Apart from two or three trade fleets and fishing fleets that our family controls, the rest can all be opened up to the public. These civilian fleets can buy goods from our family and trade elsewhere, and our family only needs to collect taxes. Only this way, the North Sea Castle and Oxhorn Bay will be full of vitality, and these civilian fleets will bypass the agreement signed between our family and the Peterson Merchant Association, allowing our family's goods to find a larger market. This is also the main reason why I am preparing to open the North Sea Castle, Oxhorn Bay, and the Silovas Island. “
Fatty Shi waved a few pieces of paper in his hand. "But Your Highness, you have cut down the Maritime Legion too much. According to your plan, the entire Maritime Legion will have less than fifty ships, and the total number of personnel will only be eight to twelve thousand."
"That's enough. There will be no Maritime Legion in the future, only the Northsea Fleet. Sunbarwood will no longer be the commander, he will become the commander of the Northsea Fleet," Laurist said with a smile.
"Is this really okay? I don't understand naval warfare, but the Ford Merchant Association's Invincible Fleet has more than two hundred warships, and every time they patrol the Golden Coastline of the southern seas, they will send out nearly a hundred ships. And you are still planning to split the Northsea Fleet into two patrol fleets? I feel that the military strength is a little too weak, "Fatty Shi said doubtfully.
"Hehe, don't compare the Invincible Fleet of the Merchant Association to our family's Northsea Fleet. The Invincible Fleet is still using the old naval tactics of the Sea Fleets. To our family's Thunderbolt warships, they are all slow targets. Be it mobility or long-range attacks, the naval forces of any country in the Galinthia Continent cannot compare to our family's warships. To put it bluntly, our Northsea Fleet's strength is at least fifty years ahead of others.
With six Thunderbolt warships as the main force, four fast patrol warships as support, two or three large long-distance merchant ships as supply ships, and a dozen medium-sized fast merchant ships as escorts, we can form a patrol fleet. We will patrol the North Sea and the maritime trade routes to protect the civilian fleets. At the same time, there will be a patrol fleet for rotation. Although I do not plan to increase the number of ships in the Northsea Fleet, I am still planning to change the long-range weapons of the supply ships and escorts to bronze cannons to increase the patrol fleet's long-range attacks. "
After mocking the Ford Merchant Association's Invincible Fleet and preparing to install bronze cannons on every ship in the patrol fleet, Laurist thought for a moment and said to Fatty Shi, "We need to prepare a plan to split the Maritime Legion within this year, and all the ships that have been removed will be repaired and refurbished. I plan to announce this news to the nobles and wealthy people attending the New Year's celebration at the end of this year, so that they can join the maritime trade. Of course, regardless of whether these people are preparing to form a merchant association or a merchant fleet, our family will take thirty percent of the shares as the price for opening North Sea City, Oxhorn Bay, and Silovas Island. "
"Alright, I understand. I will split the Maritime Legion according to your plan as soon as possible and form the Northsea Fleet. I will strive to report the results of the Maritime Legion's reorganization to you as soon as possible." Fatty Shi said as he put the papers in his hand into the folder he carried, and then took out another document from the folder. "Your Highness, take a look at this plan about the traffic and road facilities planning of the entire Northern Region …"
Just as Laurist was about to take it, he heard Genolio's voice from outside the study. "Miss, this is His Highness's study. You cannot enter!"
"Who are you? Where is Shi Huade?" The voice was very familiar.
"I am Genolio, His Highness's attendant. Senior Shi Huade has gone to the back of the mountain to train in seclusion."
"Oh, are you new? Blockhead, get out of the way. I have business with that bastard Locke."
"No, you cannot go in …"
"Don't force me to make a move. Scram. You're only a 1-Star Bronze Rank and you dare to stop me? What a waste of your height."
Then there was a crash. It was obvious that Genolio had been thrown into a corner.
Fatty Shi put the document back into the folder. "Locke, looks like you're in trouble. Let's talk about this next time."
Laurist smiled bitterly as he looked at the door of the study. The door was pushed open, and Alice rushed in angrily. Behind her, Genolio had probably just gotten up from the ground. He wanted to stop her with a red face. "You cannot go in. Ah, Your Highness …"
Fatty Shi had already walked to the door. He patted Genolio's chest. "Big guy, it's okay. His Highness won't blame you. You can't afford to offend this lady … "
Then he nodded at Alice. "Hello, Knight Alice. Long time no see. You've gotten prettier."
"Sorry, Baron Shredder. Was I too impulsive and disturbed your business?" At this time, Aridoli became very ladylike again. She gave Fatty Shi a knight's salute. However, the chest of this woman's half body armor was too protruding.
Fatty Shi laughed gloatingly. "It's nothing. We're almost done with our discussion, so we'll take our leave first. If you have anything to say, have a good chat with His Highness. "
As the door was closed, Aridoli's face returned to its fierce expression.
"Alice, you're too rude. But I'm still very happy to see you. Is Fina and Jali back? You've been gone for too long this time. "Laurist quickly smiled.
"Hmph, you want us not to come back, right? So that you can spend your days with your princess." Alice snorted.
"Hey, what's wrong with you? Why are you so angry? Who offended you?"
"It's you, you bastard. Last time, you said that proposing to Princess Sylvia would give the Norton family a powerful ally, so I tolerated it. But this time, the Fisablon Family has already become your family's enemy, and you still want to marry her. So you've been lying to us all this time! "Aridoli used her foot to kick Laurist, but Laurist dodged quickly and missed.
"Hey, don't get touchy. Let's talk this out …"
"I'll kick you to death, you bastard. You asked me to be your lover, and I accepted. You asked my aunt to be your concubine. She even gave birth to a son for you. The two of us don't matter, but my sister gave her first time to you. If you can't marry her, don't mess with her. You even asked her to be your concubine. The Dina sisters and my aunt are all with you now. You have to give my sister an explanation. "
"Alice, don't be unreasonable. Your sister Fina and I were together willingly. I didn't lie to her …"
"I don't care. You have to give me an explanation." Aridoli pounced over and quickly walked right into the trap. She was held in Laurist's arms and locked by his arms.
Yes, he had held it in for more than two months. Now that he touched Alice's body, Laurist could no longer hold it in …
"You've delivered yourself to my doorstep. How considerate, Alice. I love you so much …" Laurist said as he kissed her. His hands were taking off her armor.
Alice was shocked and immediately struggled. "Are you crazy? It's morning … "
Her mouth was already sealed by Laurist, and she was soon turned into a little lamb. Under Laurist's touch, she softened and began to tremble.
Laurist impatiently pushed her against the wall. His hands wrapped around her thighs and lifted her up, entering her body … (18,000 words have been omitted here. Readers, please imagine for yourselves …)
Once on the wall, once on the desk, and once on the sofa. Laurist finally felt refreshed and entered the Sage Realm. He hugged the limp Alice and leaned on the sofa. His hands were still on her body. "Alice, why did you suddenly come back? Is everything alright in the territory?" “
"I-I'm not coming back. I'm sending … sending my younger brother to Nicole Academy, and that's why I'm here. My younger sister has already gone to meet the princess. I'm here to settle the score with you, you bastard …" Although she had been tormented by Laurist, this first female knight of the Dena Family was still very arrogant.
"I like this way of settling accounts. Really, I'm not lying to you." Laurist said.
… …
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
