Yes, Madam Prime Minister

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“Now comes the important part,” Ronan said. “Her Majesty the Queen owns a majority stake in these companies, so the government will have to pay to buy these stakes from her. At the same time, the government will also repay the money Her Majesty the Queen owes to the banks.”

"Are you kidding me? She didn't spend a single penny on those shares, but now the country has to pay off all the debts?" Alexander slammed his fist on the table in anger. "Are you two trying to plunder the country?"

He was telling the truth. Ambrina did not spend a single penny to acquire these shares. She acquired them primarily because of her status as the heir to the throne, and secondly because she was able to borrow money from banks.

"As king, isn't it a right granted by God the Father to take money from the country?" Ronan retorted.

Alexander laughed. "Unfortunately, the country doesn't have that much money."

“The state may not have it, but the corrupt officials do. They can issue internal bonds nationwide that can be converted into state-owned enterprise shares, which can be considered a benefit for civil servants. This country may lack money, but it doesn’t lack corrupt officials,” Ronan said.

“Using money to buy these internal bonds in exchange for shares in state-owned enterprises is tantamount to admitting that you are a corrupt official,” Alexander retorted.

“The law doesn’t punish everyone. If everyone admits to being a corrupt official, what can the king do? He can’t expect officials to work in handcuffs and shackles, can he?” Ronan said jokingly.

“You’re being too reckless,” Alexander said.

Ronan shrugged. "I think I'm too normal compared to sultans or emperors. These people have never done anything human in their entire lives."

Alexander was so angry he was speechless, his beard bristling.

“Wait, I haven’t finished explaining my conditions yet,” Ronan continued. “After Her Majesty the Queen sells her shares to the state, five percent of the profits from these state-owned enterprises must be used for royal expenses. By the way, I’m referring to pre-tax profits.”

“Five percent, do you know how much money that is?” Alexander questioned Ronan.

“Believe me, I know better than you,” Ronan replied.

Despite the fact that the Western Continent has experienced the Age of Exploration and is now very prosperous in commerce, and that Ronan has invented the steam engine within the kingdom, the country's fiscal revenue still mainly comes from agriculture, accounting for two-thirds, while all other sources combined account for one-third. The lifeblood of agriculture—seeds, fertilizers, farm tools, and feed—is all in the hands of these few state-owned enterprises.

These state-owned enterprises will remain under Ronan's control for a long time.

“Think it over carefully,” Ronan said. “Also, neither His Majesty nor I will ever take the initiative to propose converting these enterprises into state-owned enterprises. Only you can take the initiative to propose it. In the end, His Majesty will reluctantly agree. His Majesty must appear to be being pressured by officials and nobles. At that time, His Majesty will take the opportunity to propose some policies to benefit the people. You must oppose them. Finally, under the pressure of His Majesty, you will have no choice but to agree.”

As a king, of course he should take the benefits and act like a good person.

As for officials, aren't they just there to take the blame?

Having said what needed to be said, Ronan left the tavern and headed straight back to the palace.

Ambrina had too much milk, more than the two children could finish. Ronan had to go back and help his son and daughter have a few bites, and also take care of the mother's physiological needs.

The following day, the last day of the year, a banquet was held in the palace.

There were only a few people at the royal family's banquet.

Ambrina's mother died at the hands of her sister, her three uncles were exiled by her father, her eldest uncle died in a rebellion during an internal conflict, her second uncle's whereabouts are unknown, her cousins ​​died at the hands of Ronan, and she was left with only two sisters.

Ronan's father died young, and his mother and brother were killed by his father-in-law's men.

The banquet consisted of only four people: Ambrina, Ronan and his wife, Ambrina's sister Isabelle, and Mariana.

Although Isabelle's identity has been stripped, it's still just a matter of a word from Ambrina if she wants to invite her.

The banquet itself was a routine event, but this time it had another purpose.

That was to arrange the marriage of the third daughter, Mariana. Mariana was already sixteen years old and of marriageable age.

According to tradition, a princess's marriage is usually a political alliance to create a public image, but Ambrina did not have such thoughts. Therefore, she felt that she should respect her third sister's wishes. Of course, respect does not mean agreement.

“I want to leave this country and go find my prince,” Mariana replied.

Isabel covered her face, thinking to herself, "Just as I thought. My third sister always says she's the eagle from the myth, destined to help a prince in distress and achieve great things. After hearing it so many times, I, her older sister, don't know if she's truly crazy or just pretending."

Ambrina considered for a moment, then said, "Then let's announce to the public that you are sick."

“Great! I’ll leave tomorrow!” Mariana exclaimed with joy.

Chapter 429 New Year, Making Big Money, Protestantism and Catholicism

The year was 1589, and Ronan was thirty-two years old.

In early January, the new Property Law was announced to be fully implemented.

With the principles of fair and free trade and the protection of private property established, capitalists cheered with joy.

In mid-January, the Ministry of Taxation was officially established, staffed by the same personnel from the former Ministry of Finance's tax system. At the same time, Queen Ambrina issued a special recruitment decree, seeking tax police officers from across society, with priority given to mages. It was expected that 5,000 people would be recruited at once, most of whom would be assigned to several major cities, including the capital, to participate in tax work as law enforcement officers.

Any act of tax evasion, tax avoidance, or tax fraud will be immediately investigated and punished.

The capitalists looked ashen-faced.

In late January, a commendation ceremony was held to recognize the military operation that raided the Rhine region last year.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ambrina, following the dying wish of the late King Lucien, promoted her own people to occupy every important position in the Military Staff. She also treated those who had previously sided with Isabel differently: those who actively sought to align themselves with her were retained, while those who did not were transferred from important posts.

At the same time, Queen Ambrina fined Ronan three thousand golden eagles for dereliction of duty, overstepping his authority, influencing military operations, serious violations of royal protocol, and interference in national personnel changes.

Prices in the capital have risen again; a single bronze musket can now only buy two large baguettes. Normally, one large golden eagle is equivalent to 2,304 bronze muskets, while Ronan, a "department-level cadre," only earns about five large golden eagles a month. Naturally, he cannot afford the fine.

This fine could only be paid by Ronan's wife; yes, it was Ambrina who fined Ronan, and in the end, it was Ambrina who paid it.

I drank three cups as punishment, and my wife drank them on my behalf.

In early February, Prime Minister Alexander proposed a bill to convert a number of companies under King Ambrina's control into state-owned enterprises.

The discussions and deliberations lasted for two months.

The plan was finalized at the end of April.

The plan is basically the same as Ronan's original proposal.

Of course, it won't be a one-size-fits-all approach; it will start with pilot programs and proceed gradually.

During this period, another major event occurred in March: Villa sought to purchase the manufacturing technology of the Magic Revolver, offering 100,000 gold lions along with the technology for an aircraft.

Of course, Villa didn't pay entirely with gold coins; that's just to sound nice. In reality, he used silver coins more often. But that didn't matter, since silver was a hard currency back then.

The Golden Lion is also a type of gold coin, slightly heavier than the Golden Eagle. The Golden Eagle has a gold content of around 90% and weighs over 40 grams, while the Golden Lion has a gold content of around 95% and weighs 50 grams.

If it were all gold, 100,000 gold lions would amount to nearly five tons of gold.

It has to be said that this is Villa; they really plundered the New World to their heart's content. There's nothing else to it but that they have a lot of money.

However, Villa had an additional condition: they would not sell to Wieland.

In fact, it would take five or six years for Villa to replicate that magic revolver, but Villa seems unwilling to wait. Clearly, there is friction with the Weyland side again, and they are about to start fighting again. Villa is eager to improve its military strength.

Ronan and Prime Minister Alexander agreed not to agree.

Sure enough, Wieland soon came knocking, offering an extra 20,000 for an exclusive deal.

Villa laughed. "You want to compete with me on price increases?" Villa immediately raised the price to 150,000.

The kingdom offered a price of 200,000; whoever pays first gets to take it.

Villa and Weyland weren't stupid; they knew that if they kept raising the price, they would be ripped off. So they secretly went to Weyland to discuss jointly lowering the price.

Ideally, no one would buy anything, but that's impossible. If we agree not to buy now, what if the other person buys something later? This is the prisoner's dilemma: we have to buy, but we have to negotiate and lower the price together.

The three parties reached an agreement: Villa and Willand would each pay 180,000 Villa Golden Lion coins to purchase the complete technology for the Magic Revolver.

Ronan and Ambrina, the incompetent ruler and wicked queen, made a fortune from this, as the large sum of money was directly transferred to the Ministry of the Interior.

Villa didn't lose out much; he had so much money he didn't know what to do with it.

Wieland has suffered a huge loss. His colonies are not places to dig for gold, at least not yet. The colonies require gentlemen to work hard to exploit and squeeze them. Every penny is the gentleman's hard-earned money. Doesn't whipping slaves make them sweat? Don't slaves bleed when whipped? So this is hard-earned money, there's nothing wrong with it.

In May, large-scale riots broke out in many parts of southern China.

The causes of the riots were multifaceted, but the most obvious one was religion.

Over the past few decades, religious conflicts have occurred almost every few years.

In this world's Kingdom of Fas and Ronan's original timeline of France, the distribution of Protestantism and Catholicism is reversed. In the original timeline, northern France was Catholic and southern France was Protestant, but here, the south is Catholic and the north is Protestant. The reason for this is the War of the Two Kings a hundred years ago, in which the northern nobles who believed in Catholicism either fled or were driven to the south.

It's fair to say that if Ronan hadn't lived in a city where religious beliefs were quite liberal and Protestantism was the majority, marrying Ambrina would have been much more difficult, because Ambrina was Protestant, while most people in the South were Catholic.

This time, the attack came with great force, and the reason can be said to be related to Ronan. Ronan sold the steam engine technology to the Protestant church. The Protestant church, which had always been at odds with the Catholic Church, used the steam engine, a powerful weapon that shook the rural economy, to invade the Catholic Church's sphere of influence.

The old church, of course, could not tolerate it.

On the other hand, although the nobles of this world kingdom have been weakened time and again, it is impossible for them to form an alliance and start a war like the French nobles in Ronan's timeline.

However, organizing armed struggle is not a major problem.

These nobles don't really want to rebel. The rebellion more than a decade ago was suppressed, and now they have no chance at all. They just want to cause some trouble and get some benefits.

"Let's wait and see. Once the Protestant side can't hold on and the Catholic side is completely out of control, then we'll send troops to suppress them."

Ronan said this to Ambrina.

Within the kingdom, the Protestant forces were much stronger than the Catholics. However, in the south, the Protestant sphere of influence was scattered. Moreover, this was a Protestant offensive, and the main Protestant force in the north had not moved at all. The actions were taken by the Protestant church forces and nobles in the central region. The Catholic forces in the south had the home-field advantage and could easily crush the Protestants.

Although the Southern Catholics only wanted to rebel and the Southern nobles only wanted to gain some benefits, the religious fanaticism was stirred up and it was inevitable that things would get out of control.

"We'll talk slowly after the crackdown."

Ronan set the tone.

In mid-May, the situation escalated as expected, with the armed Protestant clergy being brutally attacked and a large number of innocent people being massacred. Thousands of people were executed by various ancient and cruel religious punishments, and even a pregnant woman was tied to a frame in the square and burned alive.

The central government characterized these people's actions as a rebellion against the Father, and Ambrina ordered the mobilization of the Northern Legion to storm the south and suppress the rebellion.

There's not much to say; once the army arrives, a bloody crackdown is inevitable.

Chapter 430 The Self-Cultivation of Subordinates Requires a Heavy Blow, Sisters' Rice Bowl

In late May, in the south.

Ronan's former right-hand men when he was the secretary-general of Wright, "Blind" Seth and "Mute" Lyon, reunite.

"Blind" Seth is a witty but tight-lipped person. He is two years older than Ronan, and because of his baby face, he still looks very young even though he has only barely reached the level of a novice magician.

Thanks to Ronan, he was already a division chief in charge of civil affairs under a state government in the north. He even managed to get the opportunity to accompany the governor at the end of last year's report meeting. In terms of rank, he and Ronan were both "department-level cadres".

This time, he was specially seconded to help handle the follow-up affairs after the crackdown.

Meanwhile, "Dumb" Leon, who is a year younger than Ronan, successfully reached the age of thirty through his own focus and became a full-rank mage. He is now a first-rank mage, but he still looks sickly.

He was more senior; when Ronan was sixteen and in charge of the anti-revolutionary purge, he was Ronan's "white soldier," and afterwards he continued to act as Ronan's informant within the city hall.

Unlike "Blind" Seth, who rose through the ranks because of Ronan's connections, he stayed in Newsea City to look after Ronan's property and is now the city's secretary-general.

Two years ago, he also married Lutas, who had briefly worked as Ronan's maid, after she had actively pursued him.

This time, "Dumb" Leon's mission is to act as the leader of the collaborators.

Meanwhile, Major General Rodrigo, who was leading the troops in charge of the suppression operation and had come from Villarun with his parents like Agustina, was giving a mobilization speech not far away.

"Everything is done in the name of religious activities."

"Then they went out into the streets to loot and vandalize. How are these old believers any different from demons?"

"To me, there are only two suns in the sky. Only His Majesty, who follows the will of the Father and carries out the destiny of the people, is the only sun. But now, these demons have cast a shadow over the sun."

"Gentlemen, we are all soldiers. Soldiers are simple-minded and born to serve our country."

"Gentlemen, we are righteous. It is the times and the people who have chosen us to eliminate these scoundrels. I have no doubt that these people are heretics of Venaia, supported by the traitors of Villa, and are extremists who have never given up their desire to destroy us."

"Gentlemen, do not hold back your firepower. These old believers misinterpret the Father's will; they are a cancer, a worm. We can no longer hesitate; we must strike hard."

"Gentlemen, history will surely affirm our actions, for it was done for the Father, for His Majesty, and for the sake of all the people in the name of justice!"

"Go! Old Believers, leave no one alive!!!"

"Leave not a single one alive!" the soldiers below shouted in unison.

On the other side, the mute and the blind man heard the deafening shouts of battle. The usually taciturn mute man looked at the blind man and said, "If I remember correctly, this major general used to be a Catholic."

“I recently converted to Protestantism,” the blind man replied.

The mute man sneered, "Heh, it seems that not only morality can be flexible, but so can faith."

“They are all brothers of the Father, so it can’t really be considered conversion,” the blind man joked habitually.

The mute man glanced at the blind man, but didn't react. Instead, he put on a serious face and asked, "I heard you got divorced and married a widow?"

“That’s right, the governor’s niece,” the blind man replied. Otherwise, how could he have gotten the chance to meet the king just because he was Ronan’s old subordinate? Ronan, his old boss, had already given him so much; if he asked for more, he would be out of touch with reality.

That night, the first crackdown began.

After that, there will be one suppression after another, or rather, one massacre after another.

On the same night, at Ronan's home.

The sisters, Golan and Alice, were lying on the same bed.

Alice arrived first, unaware that Grand would also be there. Had she known, she would never have agreed, but by then it was too late to leave.