Chapter 391 Griffith’s Hostility

After the Round Table Hall meeting this morning, the ministers simply had lunch and then quietly gathered together again.

This is not a formal Privy Council meeting.

On the surface, they both belong to the ancient "Chocolate Club" and are all chocolate lovers. But in fact, this was a small meeting attended by only a dozen ministers, including the Minister of Privy Council and the Minister of Trade.

After the Round Table Hall meeting ends and before it begins, knights who have common interests or are good friends with each other will gather together to confirm each other’s ideas and suggestions to avoid conflicting with each other during the Round Table Hall meeting. fight.

Although it does not have two distinct and opposing parties like Iris, they are actually forming cliques.

The difference is that these knights know each other well, and there must be more than one such small meeting. At this moment, those knights who were surprised by what they saw and heard must have gathered together in groups to discuss.

Even every minister here may not have only attended one such small meeting. They speak ill of other people in the Chocolate Club, and maybe some of them will hold a small meeting such as "Candy Club" or "Honey Club" in the evening to speak ill of them.

“I think something is not right about Your Majesty.”

Privy Councilor Camelot’s expression was serious, “It is completely different from the reaction we had expected.”

“ It seems that you are not that close to Her Majesty the Queen."

The white-haired old man said sarcastically, "I don't even know when she changed her personal style."

He is Ah. Walloon Minister of Education.

The Minister of Camelot just remained silent.

Before this, the Minister of the Privy Council had sworn that Isabel was a child with a gentle and soft personality. She must not be able to adapt to the position of queen and will feel a lot of pressure.

At this time, if there is a force that can sincerely show kindness and help, the helpless and confused young queen will subconsciously rely on it.

This is their perfect opportunity to eliminate the high-rise faction.

The Gaolou faction refers to the high-rise building at Lloyd's headquarters, and refers to the ministers who often enter Lloyd's. This usually means they have a close interest in Lloyd's.

Although Lloyd's is now in decline and is not what it used to be. But it still exists after all. The vast wealth it holds is still eye-catching.

Under this premise, Lloyd's, which lost its deterrence, turned into a cash machine. Nowadays, the Lloyd community is leaderless, and no leader can subdue everyone. This combination of business interests is still fighting among itself.

Because they no longer have the huge, shadowy control to turn wealth into political influence. It has been completely exposed to the light. In this case, light wants to maintain itself.To exist, it is necessary to continue to cede a large amount of interests.

The result is that ministers who originally took money from Lloyds still take money.

They can even safely take more money and gain more benefits than ever before, while doing less. Or simply do nothing and not destroy them to be friendly.

Perhaps after some time, the businessmen will be able to slowly recover. But at least not now.

Under this close alliance of interests, the influence of Lloyd's Knights of the Round Table has not declined but increased. Led by the Foreign Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of Housing and Communities, the Secretary of Health and Social Care, the Chairman of the Trade Committee, and the Maritime Secretary, they are more closely united than before. In many matters, we are in an attitude of advancing and retreating together and helping each other.

Their main tendency is to open free trade, free market, comprehensive tax reduction, and strive to promote the "merchant knight" system. Entrepreneurs with outstanding opinions can also enter the Round Table Hall.

As the only family among the founders of the country that has been in business for generations, the Moriarty family naturally belongs to this faction.

Because the core of the faction, former Trade Minister Drost, was investigated, the position of Trade Minister was also sent by the Queen to another large faction that was opposed to them, as a check and balance.

That is the "Chocolate Club" headed by the Minister of the Privy Council. They are also known as chocolate pies.

Chocolate, a dessert, became popular in Avalon at the end of the Herasl Empire. Because of the high transportation costs, only a handful of knights had the power and wealth to taste this expensive sweet. The "Chocolate Club" opened during that period was only accessible to veteran knights and founding families.

But just as chocolate gradually flowed into the people, the wealth controlled by these knight families in the early days was gradually controlled by the common people.

They were the knights who refused Lloyd's bribes. But this does not mean that they are honest and upright. Their proposition is to suppress the power and trade practices of merchants, try their best to prevent the establishment of "merchant knights", and even demand an increase in taxes on merchants, as well as an increase in the welfare and income of knights.

Tax increases and reductions, discussions on the feasibility of "merchant knights", restrictions on knights and social welfare are enduring topics of discussion in the Round Table Hall.

Although they are still informal factions, they can also be said to be the embryonic form of political parties.

Because of this, the personal positions of these knights are not stable.

They also have their own personal interests, so they have their own methods for the same purpose. This leaves room for discussion.

For example, the Chancellor of the Exchequer likes to increase taxes on various small and valuable commodities on a large scale. For example, he plans to tax matches and kerosene lamps starting next spring. On the one hand, he can continue to promote electric lights. On the one hand, he can increase taxes to make the accounts look better. On the other hand, he can also improve people's income.People subconsciously resist the tax increase, and then use it to protect businessmen in disguise.

The most uncertain thing for them at present is which faction this "minister regardless of ministry" who is deeply trusted by the Queen should belong to.

On the one hand, he is the successor of the Moriarty family. Although there is no inheritance ceremony for the future head of the family, he can even be said to be the current head of the family. Of course he should belong to the Gaolou faction.

On the other hand, the high-rise faction was hit one after another. The president and vice-president of Lloyd's were arrested one after another, the minister of trade and the minister of the navy were arrested, and the minister of maritime affairs was executed. These all came from the direct interference of Aiwass Moriarty.

Today, even the Privy Councilors are suppressed.

The loyalty of the Camelot family is unquestionable. Among the twelve monarchs of Avalon so far, eight of their privy councilors came from the Camelot family.

But he was sent to the fifth position.

If it is further back, it can be understood that Isabel is closer to the high-rise faction, and then Avalon will be inclined towards peace and economic development. In that case, they will also have to make certain concessions and self-transformations.

But the fifth position is actually quite high.

The first four happened to be the "eldest generation" of the four pillars of the country, and they did not belong to any faction. In other words, he happened to be the first after the four fifth-level powerhouses.

"I think Her Majesty Isabel's attitude is actually very clear."

The speaker was the Minister of Defense.

The old general, who was still wearing armor in the private meeting, said with a serious expression, "Before the Privy Council, there are four protectors of the country. This means that His Majesty is trying to be as fair as possible. , believes that individual strength is a more important factor.

“When the status of the four Guardians is higher than that of the Privy Council, it means that what Avalon needs most now is the fifth-level transcendent. "

"You mean, His Majesty's idea is war"

The Minister of Education asked.

"Combined with the idea of ​​increasing military spending and increasing conscription, I This possibility cannot be ruled out. It can even be said that it is very possible. "

The Minister of National Defense said solemnly, "Everyone, be prepared for war. "

"When Her Excellency Meg is likely to have passed away"

The new Trade Secretary Griffiths couldn't help but asked, "Don't you think we have no chance of winning?"

“I was wondering if there is a possibility,” the Privy Council Minister said slowly. “Although Your Majesty did not have the affinity for the authoritarian path when she was young, it does not mean that she cannot awaken to this path later in life.

"Just like when we grow old, some people awaken to the path of wisdom, and some awaken to the path of twilight. These are all influenced by acquired factors.

"Although we all say , Her Majesty the Queen may be the only Durak who cannot inherit the path of authoritarianism, but after all, the blood of Durak flows in her body. Ten thousandShe woke up again later."

The old man said slowly, "Old ladies, don't talk too harshly. Before today, who would have thought that Her Majesty the Queen could have such momentum during the first round table meeting? Then Miss Ligeia may not be inferior to Meg. ”

“I don’t think it’s a question of incomparability.” ”

The Minister of Trade retorted, “As long as you think there is a possibility of not being able to compare, then you will definitely not be able to compare.” Lord Meg is indeed powerful, but we cannot maintain peace by relying on Meg to defeat all enemies. But as long as the Star Antimony people and the Iris people know that we have Meg, they will not invade.

"Whether Ligeia has Meg's power or not, of course, she can't have it, but even if she does, it's useless, because she is another person after all. Her name can't scare people. , then it is possible to start a war.

“Once the war starts, it may be too late. Today's Star Antimony is different from Iris twenty years ago. Star Antimony has a strong need for war within it. "

Griffith warned, "Once they start fighting, they will never stop. Because if they stop, they will collapse on their own. So as long as there is a war, it is a battle of life and death. ”

Before he was appointed Minister of Trade by the Queen, he was the diplomatic ambassador to the embassy in Star Antimony. Later, he withdrew after Star Antimony’s diplomatic attitude deteriorated. Now Star Antimony and Avalon His diplomatic attitude improved, so Griffith, who had a friendly relationship with Star Antimony, was appointed as the new Minister of Trade by Queen Sophia to negotiate a new stage of trade contracts.

So Minister Griffith may be. He is the one who knows the Star Antimony Kingdom best among all the people here.

"What do you mean?"

The Minister of National Defense sarcastically said, "Surrender with your hands up?"

Perhaps because he has been in Star Antimony for many years, Griffith has a strong Star Antimony style and cannot see the toughness of the knight. His attitude and courage are rather timid. He also likes to brag about the power and advancement of the Star Antimony people, which makes the Minister of Defense quite disgusted.

“We can turn them to fight against Iris. "

Minister Griffith whispered, "And we can secretly help the Star Antimony people and the Iris people. As long as the Star Antimony people feel that there is a possibility of victory, they will not stop the war; and as long as they do not capture it for a long time, there is a high probability that they will disintegrate on their own. ”

“A good proposal. "

The Minister of Camelot said slowly, "But this matter must be decided by Her Majesty the Queen. ”

“Should we leave it to Queen Isabel or Minister Moriarty?”

Minister Griffith sarcastically said, “You really don’t understand, or you are pretending not to understand His Majesty.” Today's attitude is so abnormal, obviously he was prepared for it. Minister Moriarty was with His Majesty last night, but today he did not come. What else could Your Majesty say? He is not feeling well and he is a pastor.