Arknights is too real, right?

After the topic was announced, Speaker Lefl first stated the details that needed to be discussed, as well as the contradictions that would be entangled later.

After finishing speaking, he put the information in his hand on the table.

"Okay, let's move on to free discussion time. Regarding the first topic, do you have any comments or suggestions?"

The Yuan Congress represents the core of the country's operations. With an attitude of developing the country, anyone can put forward positive opinions.

Of course, putting the country first is the premise. Under this premise, everyone will secretly strive for something for their own selfish interests.

Everyone present can have an opinion, but Xia Feng will not.

I saw him slowly picking up the tea cup in front of him, intending to be a complete "bastard".

At this moment, the first member of the Meta Council spoke.

This was an old man with a somewhat bald head. He curled his lips in displeasure, as if the whole world owed him money.

"Humph, what else is there to discuss about the tariff issue? Since we can't agree on the same, let's leave it as it is. After all, the real exports from the north are precious metals and chemical products, not much in total."

Another discordant voice sounded.

"Fuck your mother!"

"puff!"

Xia Feng, who was drinking tea, almost burst into tears. To be honest, such vulgar words would come out in such an occasion, which was really beyond his expectation, and it was just at the beginning of the meeting.

I saw a fat man in a suit pointing at the person who just spoke and yelling.

"Lord Xi Ke, is your head squeezed by the door? Do you understand or are you pretending not to understand? It's been so many years. Don't tell me that you didn't know why the Yuan Congress set export tariffs. Do you know that precious metals and chemical products in neighboring countries have been monopolized by our country, and the transaction volume has doubled?"

Raising tariffs can increase the country's fiscal revenue, but it will increase business costs. If profits are already low, this cost will be added to consumers in disguise.

But as the saying goes, small profits but quick turnover. If the sales volume of a type of commodity increases explosively, or even becomes a monopoly, the so-called cost profit needs to be recalculated.

At the meeting, more and more elegant and easy-going nobles joined in on this issue.

“Don’t you understand, if you increase tariffs now, all your efforts will be wasted?”

"Fuck you, the channels have been opened a long time ago. Now Letania and Casimir are like lambs waiting to be fed. Are you still worried that no one will buy your goods?"

"Don't stand and talk without your back hurting. You know shit about international trade."

"Oh, don't say it so high-sounding. Are you worried about your own chemical factory? You are competing with the Imperial Treasury for food. Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"You still want to put a hat on my head?"

"Humph, if you don't do anything wrong, you won't be afraid of ghosts knocking on your door."

The discussion at the meeting became more and more intense. For a little question, these noble men, who were usually so noble and arrogant, started to curse loudly. Xia Feng thought he was at the vegetable market.

Malenleg next to him sighed and whispered.

"Xia Feng, don't be surprised. Regular meetings of the Yuan Council have this kind of atmosphere. You will get used to it gradually."

Xia Feng picked up the teacup again.

"It's okay, I'm not surprised, but I find it quite interesting."

Looking at these nobles who were arguing until their faces were red and their saliva was flying, if they thought about it carefully, Xia Feng completely understood their behavior.

The so-called identity, face, and etiquette can only be displayed on the premise that one's own interests are not violated. Of course, if everyone is thinking about the development of the country, there is no need to be so rude.

Obviously, the more fiercely people argue about issues, the more they are linked to their own interests. For them, this is not the Yuan Council at all, but a court, a competition ground, or even a battlefield without smoke.

In the conference hall, hundreds of people discussed the issue of import and export tariffs for more than an hour, but in the end they still could not reach a unified opinion.

Speaker Lefl sighed helplessly.

"Okay, the meeting on the key points and conflict points that everyone just discussed has been recorded. After the meeting, I will send someone to Chief Arlin and Princess Verin. Let's discuss the next topic."

Xia Feng paused while drinking tea.

Leif's words were very natural, as if he were stating something that completely followed the process.

It is understandable to send the meeting minutes to the Chief Executive of the Empire, Arlin, but it is a bit abnormal to skip His Majesty the King and send them directly to Princess Verin.

There are only two possibilities for this situation.

One, His Majesty the King is so ill that he cannot even review documents.

Second, although Wei Lin has not yet inherited the throne, she has been recognized by the Yuan Council and has obtained some rights.

The second topic is about increasing the national treasury grain reserves. Compared with the previous topic, this time the "debaters" have completely changed.

A nobleman with ten fingers full of gold rings and a large gold chain around his neck stood up.

"I feel that increasing grain reserves is completely unnecessary. With the empire's current reserves, even if the harvest suddenly fails due to external factors, the grain depots will be enough to sustain the citizens of the country for 8 to 10 months."

Opposition emerged immediately.

"What's the use of just eating enough, what if there's a war?"

"The same is true in the event of a war. The existing food reserves are enough for the four major military regions to fight continuously for half a year. During this period, we have a hundred ways to temporarily collect food. Moreover, with the current military capabilities, no war will last more than half a year. Even if it’s a national war.”

A collegiate officer sitting next to Speaker Lefl also spoke up.

"Yes, the situation between our country and neighboring countries is now peaceful. There has never been a backlog of conflicts or interest disputes. The possibility of war is very small. If we increase our grain reserves, we will inevitably expand the granary and increase the corresponding manpower and preservation technical support. The increase will be small. It is a complete waste of energy, and adding too much will inevitably waste people and money. In my opinion, both pros and cons are unnecessary."

The noble who objected just now snorted with a sullen face and said no more.

Speaker Leful glanced at everyone.

"Any other comments?"

Then a few more spoke, but the content was basically ambiguous. After a lot of analysis, what was said was nothing.

This issue was temporarily slowed down, but Xia Feng noticed some problems.

In theory, Victoria had been at peace for several years, and in the absence of any potential threat, increasing food reserves was asking for trouble.

Of course, the amount of grain reserves a country has is also an expression of its national strength. If the country is strong, the more it reserves, the better.

However, Xia Feng knew very well that the real starting point of this issue was definitely not the growth of national power.

If he guessed correctly, some people in the higher-ups must have smelled the smell of war.

However, there is a huge contradiction in this issue.

Not because of increasing grain reserves per se, but because it conflicts greatly with the next issue.

Xia Feng remembered that Speaker Lefl raised three topics at the beginning of the meeting, namely import and export tariffs, grain reserves, and disarmament.

If the purpose of increasing food reserves is to cope with war, then what is the purpose of disarmament?

This is like the recent public security situation around your home. You discuss with your family to strengthen the door, but at the same time, you tear down the windows in your home.

Looking at the nobles in the conference hall at this time, Xia Feng suddenly felt that there was something deeper hidden under everyone's expressions.

There are very few updates this month. I'm sorry again. Some students are worried about whether we are going to be eunuchs. Don't worry, it won't be. I will resume stable updates from next month and ensure that I update as much as possible on the basis of 2 updates a day. , let me give you a little preview. Next month I will enter the core plot of the Victoria chapter, which is the most intense conflict. I want to write this part well. I hope I can do it. Thank you everyone for your persistence. This The monthly updates are not stable so I am embarrassed to ask for a recommendation vote (I would still be very happy if I voted for it). The new crisis contract will also start next month. I wish everyone can pass the test and get the highest reward.