Yes, Madam Prime Minister

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But even with such a monopolized and scarce commodity, these bastards managed to ruin it to the point that they couldn't pay the high taxes. In the end, these bastards came up with an extremely bad idea: forced purchase. They stipulated that everyone must buy a certain amount of salt produced by them, and that they would have to pay for the transportation themselves.

Ronan was truly impressed by this group of people.

If anyone had been willing to put in some effort and use their brain, things wouldn't have turned out this way.

On the third day after taking over the job, Ronan sent a list of information to the previous buyers and called everyone together for a Q&A session to address the potential buyers' questions.

"My lord, why has the iron mine been marked off?" a merchant asked.

“Because I felt this shouldn’t be sold to a private individual,” Ronan explained.

Do I think this reason is sufficient?

Of course, the real reason is that the coal-iron complex is going to be developed next. The iron mines in the Northeast are crucial. Even though the mines owned by the Wangli Chamber of Commerce do not account for a large proportion of the total output, Ronan still decided to take them back. Not only that, but all mines that are not state-owned will be taken back.

"Lord Rhine, could the adjacent small vineyards be combined into a single unit and sold?" a nobleman asked.

“No,” Ronan replied.

Ronan actually hoped for regional monopolies in the wine industry, because only monopolies could truly unleash the kingdom's advantages in the wine world, allowing a large monopolistic consortium to dominate foreign markets, instead of the current situation where different wine regions and estates within those regions are fighting amongst themselves.

However, Ronan is currently unable to attend to matters related to wine.

Since he can't spare the time, he can't let others have the opportunity to monopolize the market, lest it cause trouble for his grand plan.

"Director, can the land occupied by the factory workshop be paid for in installments?" a middle-aged man who wasn't dressed very well asked.

Ronan glanced at the person next to him, who then introduced the speaker to him.

This person's grandfather immigrated from the eastern grasslands of the Western Continent. His grandfather initially worked in a tannery under the Royal Chamber of Commerce. Later, due to his outstanding performance, he was promoted and received a raise. When the tannery went out of business, his grandfather took out all his savings and borrowed some money to take over the factory.

Nowadays, this factory is a supplier of leather to various high-end leather workshops. The leather for the boots that Ambri wears when she goes to tend to the flowers and plants in the mud comes from this leather factory.

Although the factory belongs to him, the land does not, so the middle-aged man really wants to buy the land, but he has limited funds and wants to pay in installments.

"Yes, for factory land like this, where the buyer is the factory owner, installment payments are possible."

Ronan provided an answer.

Ronan's attitude towards these handcrafted manufacturing factory owners was one of support.

Seeing that Ronan was so easy to talk to, the buyers began to ask questions enthusiastically, and the Q&A session, which was originally supposed to end in half a day, lasted from early morning until late at night.

After the Q&A session, Ronan did not return to the palace, but went to the Carl family's house in the capital. His father, Marcus, said he wanted to introduce Ronan to someone.

Upon arrival, Ronan was immediately surprised.

He knew this person; it was Finance Minister Bruno.

Marcus, as the host, left immediately, leaving Ronan and Bruno alone in the room.

"In my position, everyone asks me for money. It's not like I can simply choose not to be greedy," Bruno earnestly explained to Ronan.

Ronan paused for a moment, then looked at the other person with an expression of pity for someone with intellectual disabilities. "Whether you're greedy or not, I don't care at all."

“I have dirt on many people,” Bruno added.

Ronan laughed. "That's your problem, it has nothing to do with me. Unless you can dismantle the Ministry of Finance for me, you are of no value to me. But you can't do that. You're just a high-class mascot. If a mascot doesn't know its place, it will suffer a terrible fate."

“You’re being far too arrogant,” Bruno said through gritted teeth, his fists clenched. “What I possess is beyond your imagination.”

Ronan couldn't hold back his laughter any longer. "Hahaha, then you should hurry up and use the leverage you have to blackmail those parasites and get them to come together. By the way, I suggest you write your will first, because they will most likely kill you rather than unite."

“Take out 70% of your current assets, then resign voluntarily. I will suggest that Anli give you a title so that you can retire with honor and enjoy your old age in peace.”

Ronan continued.

"Impossible." Bruno's attitude was firm.

Chapter 389 Can't understand, self-deprecatingly perfect, no loss either way.

Ultimately, Ronan and Finance Minister Bruno failed to reach any agreement, and the meeting ended in an unpleasant atmosphere.

After Bruno left, Marcus came over, carrying a bottle of red wine in his left hand and a plate of thinly sliced ​​sausages in his right.

After placing the wine and snacks on the table, Marcus asked, "How is it?"

"It's not good. He was about to die, and when we gave him a way out, he acted like he was unwilling. Fine, he was unwilling, I'm not someone who can't compromise, but he just left. I really don't understand what he was thinking."

As Ronan spoke, he couldn't help but shake his head.

Marcus opened the red wine and poured it for Ronan. "I guess he wants you to respect him."

"I don't respect him?" Ronan was a little confused. Wasn't he respectful enough?

“What he wants is that kind of aristocratic respect. He’s an aristocrat who isn’t an aristocrat, and he cares a lot about that. You, a broad-minded country bumpkin, probably can’t understand it,” Marcus said. “In short, only when he gets that will he truly be willing to bow down to you and complete the deal.”

Ronan didn't mind Marcus calling him a country bumpkin at all, but was a little puzzled, "but our deals went very smoothly."

Marcus smiled. "Because I am a true nobleman, and he is not."

"Ha, this is getting more and more ridiculous." Ronan laughed, then changed the subject, "You must have received a lot of money from this minister to facilitate this meeting, but I haven't seen you say a word for him."

Marcus ate a slice of sausage. “We self-important nobles will definitely charge money for our services. But if we like someone, we’ll offer additional help after the money is paid. If we don’t like someone, we’re lucky if they even do the job after we’re paid. Unfortunately, the Minister of Finance is really not to our liking.”

Just then, Marcus's expression suddenly changed. "Have you ever thought about using the finance minister to oust the prime minister?"

“That’s not easy,” Ronan said.

The position of prime minister is not something that can be filled by the king's word; it is elected by the election commission. The election commissioners' choices are driven by both personal considerations and the interests of the interest groups behind them. The prime minister's position is the result of a multi-party game.

Conversely, the prime minister cannot be dismissed by the king with a single word; it requires the agreement of multiple parties.

"It's difficult for others, but not so difficult for you."

Marcus said.

From the moment Ronan and Ambrina returned from the New World until now, Ronan has repeatedly used tactics of dividing and conquering factions, even turning enemies into friends in the blink of an eye.

This tactic itself is not particularly clever, and few people don't understand the principle of making more friends and fewer enemies.

However, most people who understand the principles lack the ability to put them into practice, or rather, they cannot offer anything that can turn enemies into friends. Even if it's just a pie in the sky, most people can't draw a picture of it.

But Ronan can.

So much so that Ronan's actions seem to have offended everyone, yet also seem to have offended no one.

This is what truly impressed Marcus about Ronan.

"I think the Prime Minister is great, and there won't be anyone better than him for the time being."

Ronan said this.

Upon hearing this, Marcus's resolute and heroic face froze for a long time. When he regained his composure, he said, "This is truly unbelievable."

As Marcus said this, he stared at Ronan, who remained calm, which was tantamount to confirming his guess that Ronan was secretly colluding with the current Prime Minister.

“It’s all just your speculation,” Ronan said.

“Indeed,” Marcus said with a smile.

Before long, the wine was almost gone, and there were only two sausages left. Marcus gave Ronan an invitation: "There's a party in two days. Everyone is eager to meet you, the Holy One."

"A saint?" Ronan was shocked. He was a saint.

Marcus took a small sip of his drink. This middle-aged nobleman, who was over forty, was very serious when he was serious, and very unserious when he was unserious.

He deliberately used an exaggerated, deliberate, reciting tone to say, "Yes, Mr. Ronan, because you never sleep with other men's wives and maintain long-term relationships with a few women, we confer upon you the title of a saint."

"Hahahaha." Ronan was amused and laughed. After laughing, he couldn't help but sigh, "If I'm a saint, what are those ordinary people who spend their lives happily with their wives? Saints?"

"Unfortunately, in the eyes of us nobles, many people have not yet risen to the level of being human."

Marcus said sarcastically.

He was a clear-headed man who was pessimistic about the future of the nobility and looked down on most of them, just like his son, Ronan's friend, Karl.

The difference is that Karl felt a sense of resistance and helplessness towards his noble birth, and tried to find a way to break the status quo.

Marcus, on the other hand, accepted it with self-deprecation, deciding to repair the wrecked ship without interfering with his own gaming life.

"It's regrettable that, in the eyes of us bureaucrats, they are not even human beings."

Ronan also made a self-deprecating remark.

After saying that, Ronan drank the last bit of wine in his glass, stuffed the invitation into his pocket, and stood up.

Marcus stood up as well. "I hope you can come to the party in two days. By the way, this party doesn't need female companions."

"I'll definitely come when I have time."

Ronan responded.

That night, Ronan stayed at Elena's place, and the next morning, he went straight to the Security Bureau's education center.

"Huh, release them?" Isabel thought she had misheard.

Isn't the plan to first educate these people so that they deeply realize and admit their mistakes, and then have them prove that they truly want to reform?

As for what constitutes reformation, that's simple: it means bravely standing up to point out who the bad guys are and fighting against evil forces to the end.

“That’s right, release them. The finance minister might do something stupid…” Ronan recounted his unpleasant conversation with Finance Minister Bruno to Isabel, “Since he’s so adamant, I can only do him a small favor.”

“Him?” Isabel looked at Finance Minister Bruno with disdain. “He does have a lot of dirt on people, but the problem is, does he think he can boss people around just because he has dirt on them? If he dares to call on those people to come after you, they will only band together to kill him first.”

In this matter, Isabel's judgment was exactly the same as Ronan's.

A smile flickered across Ronan's lips. "Isn't it good that he's dead? The Security Bureau can finally handle a major case and invite a lot of students to teach. Of course, if he can also rally a group of people against me, that's fine too. Either way, we're not at a loss."

"Sigh, this kind of idiot doesn't even realize how much less political power he has compared to you."

Isabel could only sigh for a moment.

Surely no one actually thinks Ronan is a kept man, right?

He has extraordinary relationships with high-ranking church officials, influential nobles, and the country's most powerful magicians. Based on these relationships alone, Ronan is already one of the most powerful people in the country, not to mention others.

Some people just love to court disaster.

Chapter 390 Family Precepts, Preferences, I Challenge You to a Duel

A party is being held at an estate not far from the capital.

The estate belongs to the current Duke of Loire, a man who strictly adheres to his family precepts, which are well-known to all: the first Duke of Loire's saying, "Life is short, so watch more plays and have more women."

The Duke of Loire was the most influential among the nobles without fiefdoms, not because his surname was Freige and he was from a collateral branch of the royal family, nor because he owned a street in the capital and was the capital's top landlord, but because from the first generation, the ducal family had been fulfilling one purpose: to act as peacemakers and persuade the nobles not to cause trouble for the king.

Three hundred years ago, the founding monarch of the Golden Eagle Dynasty, Oran, forced the lords of various fiefdoms to come and stay in the capital for a year every other year. A hundred years ago, although Lawrence abolished the relevant decrees and granted a lot of real fiefdoms to noble lords, the lords granted by Lawrence were superficially similar to those in the feudal era, but in essence they were completely different. The reason was that in Lawrence's time, the title of lord was truly granted by the king.

Later, the real power of the nobles and their military power were completely taken away. In their fiefdoms, anyone who genuinely wanted to carry out construction was constantly harassed by officials, while those who didn't care much about anything were fine. Since that was the case, they simply decided to live in the capital permanently.

As for the nobles who have long lost real power and only have a few privileges left, they have been staying in the capital for a long time, taking every opportunity to freeload.

The banquets and gatherings held by the Duke of Loire are typical examples.

Because of Ronan's presence as a heavyweight guest, only a few noble families of any significant standing in the capital were able to attend.

Meanwhile, Ronan and Marcus were walking on the outer tree-lined path.

"My God, is it really that fierce?"

Ronan walked along the tree-lined path of the manor and suddenly sighed.

Marcus, who was personally guiding Ronan, asked curiously, "What's going on?"

“Three hundred meters away, behind that tree, a woman is giving a man oral sex,” Ronan said, half-laughing and half-crying. “This woman is wearing a corset, so she can’t bend over, and she’s wearing high heels, yet she can still squat down to do this. That’s pretty impressive.”

“The Duke of Loire’s parties are never short of opera or ballet actresses seeking opportunities, and ballet actresses are always quite skilled,” Marcus said. “A while ago, you and the Queen often went to the theater. If you had made a small gesture, many actresses would surely have asked you to give them pointers on their acting.”

“Unfortunately, I have no interest.” Ronan indicated his lack of interest. “Has the Earl given them any acting pointers?”

“Ha, I like actors who aren’t so professional,” Marcus said.

Ronan's curiosity was piqued. "An unprofessional actor?"

Marcus explained with a smile, "She's a girl who came from the countryside to the capital. She's pretty, a little cunning, but still quite naive. I like to help these girls. Once they find a stable job, I'll leave. Even if my body is still young, some time has passed and it's still past."

"Looks like there's a story behind this," Ronan remarked.

Marcus said, "Few men are as successful as you when it comes to relationships."

Before they knew it, the two had arrived at the center of the party.

Ronan met the Duke of Loire before; after all, the Duke was present at Ronan's wedding to Ambrina. However, Ronan had not taken a good look at the Duke that time.

The Duke had a long, thin face with a mustache that curled upwards at the edges. His beard and hair were meticulously groomed. He was not thin, and his somewhat flamboyant and tight-fitting aristocratic clothes fit him perfectly without being too tight or too loose.

However, even if someone is in good physical condition, a slightly sickly pale complexion can make them appear very weak.