Chapter 1123 - 172: The Dark, Corrupt Assessment Criteria and the Empire’s True Strategy in the Border Prince’s Territory

Chapter 1123: Chapter 172: The Dark, Corrupt Assessment Criteria and the Empire’s True Strategy in the Border Prince’s Territory

The greed and that false smile on the envoy’s face disappeared instantly, replaced by an offended, cold anger. He put down the knife and fork and carefully wiped the splashed wine droplets on his cuff with a napkin, with movements so slow that it was suffocating.

"Lord Su Li," his voice was no longer lowered, reverting to a pretentious, rigid tone, even carrying a hint of admonition, "please mind your words and actions. You are facing the envoy representing the authority of the Imperial Elector Council."

He raised his head, his slender eyes fixed on Su Li, without any sign of panic, only a kind of elevated arrogance, as if stating some self-evident truth.

"Your question itself exposes your shallow understanding of the Empire’s expansion policy." The envoy’s voice was exceptionally clear in the silent hall, "What is called bribery? We consider this the most direct and effective assessment standard. If a territory cannot even produce 10,000 Golden Crowns, then its strength is certainly negligible. On the contrary, being able to produce 100,000 Golden Crowns is enough to prove they deserve the status of a Baron!"

"Your thinking is too naive, Bauhinia Knight. Think from another perspective, why do the Electors establish pioneer territories in the Border Prince’s Territory? Why recognize the noble status of pioneers? Is it to appreciate pastoral scenery or listen to some knight’s personal story of ’virtue’?"

He glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the indignant officials and generals from Hesse Territory, finally returning to Su Li’s face.

"No! Of course not! Whatever grand imperial ambitions or territorial expansion, they’re all excuses! Ultimately, it’s all about capturing interests! If the expansion in the Border Prince’s Territory doesn’t satisfy the interests of the Electors, why would they support this endeavor? Why recognize some new nobles?"

"A territory that can’t even prove its own ’weight’, unable to provide substantial support for the Empire’s upper echelons," the envoy’s tone was full of disdain, "what is its significance? Its so-called ’strength’, ’population’, ’economy’, if it can’t be converted into actual resource contribution when the Empire needs it, then it’s just a pile of worthless numbers!"

He leaned slightly forward, his gaze like a cold awl: "Count Litaner of the Swamp Territory, his ’weight’ is very clear! He understands the great pressure the Empire faces on the border, and the hardships the Elector Lords endure to maintain the Empire’s massive war machine! He generously donated close to 500,000 Golden Crowns, providing every Elector Lord with tangible income! This proves his loyalty and further proves that his territory has the strength and determination to support the Empire’s grand ambitions! Such a territory deserves a higher status, worth more trust and resources from the Empire!"

"Lord Su Li," the envoy’s voice carried blatant pressure, "you keep claiming that Hesse Territory is strong, expansive, even comparable to a Count’s Territory. Then prove it in the most direct way! Prove your loyalty to the Empire! Prove that your territory possesses the ’weight’ necessary to support this status!"

He leaned back in his chair, once again interlocking his hands on the table, returning to that all-controlling posture: "10,000 Golden Crowns is the threshold for a Kingdom Knight, proving you qualify to be the cornerstone of the Empire’s order. 100,000 is the foundation for a Baron, proving you can protect a region. 500,000 is the foundation for a Count, proving you have the potential to become a pillar of the Empire in the border, worthy of the highest praise and recommendation in council reports."

"This is not bribery, Lord Su Li," the envoy’s voice was unequivocal, packed with indisputable authority, "this is the ’Special War Contribution Tax’ you and your territory pay to the Empire, the only way to prove your value and earn your deserved status! It is the core of the Empire’s expansion policy!"

"The Empire needs lords who can fight and pay, not farmers who only know how to farm! So-called strength without the support of gold coins is worthless on the Elector Council’s scale!"