I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 289: Comparison and Incitement (3)

After Fabio left, another man entered the room where the Emperor was.

The man spoke to the Emperor as if he were addressing a father, casually.

“I've been hearing a lot of rumors among the nobles that Your Majesty is showing too much favoritism toward Count Rothschild. This is being said not only by the faction of the Duke of Sforza, our rivals, but also by the faction of the Duke of Visconti.”

Among the nobles of the Toscana Empire, even those with titles of count or higher, very few have the privilege to meet the Emperor freely whenever they desire.

To be more precise, only a count who is the Emperor’s right or left hand, a noble of considerable stature, would be able to meet the Emperor regularly.

Other landed nobles (those with territories) need to go through various complicated procedures and wait for several days to meet the Emperor.

Fabio, however, is almost ignoring all of this.

“Does the Crown Prince think that I am favoring Count Rothschild too much?”

“I highly value his abilities, but I believe he could become a courtier who will ruin the Empire in the future.”

“The Crown Prince is very wise. However, that’s a half-truth and half-mistake.”

“... Are you saying that although he is talented, he will not become a courtier who will ruin the Empire?”

The Emperor smiled faintly.

“No, Count Rothschild is a man who, right now, could destroy the Toscana Empire if he chooses to.”

The Emperor does not know the hidden stories of Count Rothschild, such as how he made a fortune by scamming the Holy Empire with tulip investments or tried to incite a war between the Lyon Kingdom and the Holy Empire by selling clothing.

But from what the Emperor knows about Rothschild's various actions...

He stopped the Kingdom of Granada from expanding to the sea and colonizing Iprikia, causing a civil war with the Governor of Nador.

He made the Duke of Guillaume from the Lyon Kingdom pay for daring to raid a village in his territory by orchestrating a war that allowed him to take over the Lyon Kingdom's lands without shedding a drop of blood.

He used sanitation and accounting, among other methods, to develop the Empire while rapidly expanding the areas he could reach.

‘His abilities are truly beyond words.’

“As you know, Crown Prince, Fabio also instigated the civil war between the Kingdom of Granada and the Governor of Nador. If he can do such things on the outside, why wouldn't he do the same within?”

“I still don’t understand. If Your Majesty knows that Count Rothschild could become a dangerous courtier, why do you continue to support him?”

The Crown Prince had turned 20.

He was officially an adult, and it would not be strange if he and a princess consort were to have a child and produce an heir. However, in the Emperor's eyes, the Crown Prince Marcos still seemed too young.

But Fabio, who had been scheming all sorts of wicked plots since the age of 20, was the abnormal one.

At that age, it's normal to know the basics but not yet be able to apply them.

Just like Crown Prince Marcos in front of him.

‘There is still a long way to go.’

“Marcos.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“This is a private conversation, so you can call me ‘Grandfather.’ Let me teach you something, and you should engrave it deeply into your bones and heart.”

Crown Prince Marcos perked up his ears to listen to the Emperor’s advice.

“In military strategy, it’s said that in order to win a war, you must be able to place your enemy in the palm of your hand and see through their moves. The same goes for dealing with competent subordinates in politics. Do you know why? If the answer doesn’t come immediately, think about it and answer slowly.”

Marcos thought for a moment before answering.

“I was taught that knowing the enemy's movements helps prevent surprise attacks. So, I believe we should always be on guard against Count Rothschild, as he could become an [N O V E L I G H T] enemy of the Empire at any time.”

“70 points, no, 80 points. Count Rothschild could indeed become a traitor to the Empire at any time, but for now, he will not betray the Toscana Empire under any circumstances.”

“And why is that, Grandfather?”

The Emperor had been watching Count Rothschild, Fabio, for quite a while.

At first, he was pleased, thinking he had found a very capable subordinate, but now, it felt like wielding a double-edged sword.

If mishandled, it could wound, or even sever, the Emperor’s own body. Fabio was sharp and dangerous...

But, surprisingly, the way to deal with him was simple.

“Count Rothschild is someone who values his family, his business, and his territory more than anything else. If he betrays the Toscana Empire, he could lose all of that. He’s not the kind of man who would take such risks.”

Of all the businesses in the Empire, the Rothschild business is the one treated the best.

And among all the territories, Rothschild’s lands are the most efficiently managed with the lowest tax rates.

Moreover, Fabio once delivered a decisive blow to the Kingdom of Lyon just because they raided one of his villages.

And his love for his family needs no further explanation.

‘He raised his concubine’s son as if he were the legitimate heir, even treating him like the son of his legal wife.’

Some even say that apart from the succession rights to the title, he gave everything to his concubine's child.

“That’s why I trust him.”

“You believe that someone who has so much to protect will be cautious and won’t plot a rebellion?”

The Emperor reached out and gently patted the Crown Prince’s head.

“Every noble is the same. Deep down, they all covet this throne. But they follow me because they know that if they fail in rebellion, they will lose everything they have.”

“Grandfather.”

“There’s no noble I can trust completely. No, you shouldn’t even trust your own family. Among the royals, many are just waiting for the chance to claim the throne.”

The Emperor remembered his firstborn son, who had been assassinated not long after the Crown Prince Marcos was born.

The most trusted servant had been bribed by the United Kingdom, and that servant poisoned the Emperor's son, causing his untimely death.

The Emperor didn’t have time to mourn and immediately named the current Crown Prince as his successor.

To maintain power and preserve the bloodline.

He had placed his second son, not his firstborn, as the Crown Prince.

“And keep Count Rothschild close.”

“Didn’t you just tell me to keep my distance from him?”

“The profit he seeks benefits me as well. He has always presented plans to win over the serfs and merchants to my side, and by following those, the imperial authority has only grown stronger.”

Fabio had only been active for about five or six years.

But in those six years, the imperial authority had noticeably strengthened, though it was still incomparable to the past.

“On the other hand, don’t distance yourself from him.”

The Crown Prince didn’t ask too many questions.

“Count Rothschild is someone who could cause a great deal of chaos if he ever falls out of your favor. But don’t ever think of purging him. If he sets his mind to it, he could set the Toscana Empire on fire at any time.”

Up until now, the Emperor had been carefully observing Fabio.

But there was one thing he didn’t know. Fabio had already burned several countries, including the Holy Empire, and he was a proud employee of the East India Company, with a burning desire to deliver a fiery religious reform across the world someday.

Lately, I've been feeling an itching in my ears.

It’s not that I haven't washed them, but why do they itch like this?

Is someone talking bad about me?

Damn, there have been so many misdeeds that I can't even guess who it might be.

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“Count, are you sure you’re alright?”

“What are you talking about?”

“About reducing the taxes the serfs pay. If the other nobles find out, there’s sure to be an uproar.”

“They probably will, and if it gets out that I suggested this, the factions of Duke Sforza and Duke Visconti will definitely try to attack me.”

Just because factions are the same doesn’t mean they always get along.

Even in modern nations, political parties may sue each other or pressure one another despite being from the same party.

Especially when their own interests are threatened, they’ll naturally want to eliminate me.

The nobles may fear crossing the Emperor, but they won’t hesitate to take down a mere count.

“So what’s the problem?”

“No, Count. If several nobles join forces to attack, what will happen?”

“Sebastian, think logically. Should we raise taxes on the wealthy merchants and lower taxes on the serfs, or should we raise taxes on the poor?”

Although I live like a man who sold his soul to make money...

Even I know that lowering taxes on the poor and raising taxes on the rich is better for economic activation.

If our Rothschild business wants to make more money, we should start by reducing labor hours.

“After lowering the serfs’ taxes, what should we do? Sell our goods.”