Chapter 1058: Chapter 1001: You Have No Other Choice

As soon as Horn finished speaking, Anthony Seck sprang from his chair like a jack-in-the-box.

"Let me state in advance, I have nothing to do with this Jose!"

"Hohoho, didn’t you just say that this Jose was your student?" The senators from Moska Town immediately jumped in.

"I don’t remember that, I bear no grudges," Anthony Seck argued on his own, "Don’t slander me, I’m warning you, Your Majesty, he’s slandering me, he’s defaming me!"

Although Horn hadn’t said anything yet, in the eyes of many senators, Jose and Oludo were already politically like dead men.

Nowadays, Black Snake Bay mostly survives by relying on Horn, especially the Spice Company and the Sugar Workshop.

Without the former for transportation, spices are worth not a single dinar.

Black sugar without processing at the sugar mills of Langsande County sells for nothing as well.

Not to mention that over sixty percent of Black Snake Bay’s grain relies on being transported in from the northern Thousand River Valley.

Horn controls the economic lifeline of Black Snake Bay and has firmly grasped the military through the military police and task force.

Although the Holy Alliance once promised not to interfere in Black Snake Bay’s internal affairs, in reality, the Saint’s Grandson wields significant influence there.

Whether it’s the Sugar Workshop, the Spice Company, or the military police, none care about making a good impression at the Pope’s place targeting just one or two senators.

It’s not just these two, other Black Snake Bay Secret Faction senators are the same.

As long as Horn doesn’t treat the Black Snake Bay senators as a whole, it’s quite simple to discipline two or three of them.

Hearing Anthony Seck speak made Jose and Oludo’s vision black out repeatedly.

The two couldn’t help but focus their angry eyes on the nonchalant Kesuku nearby.

Dammit! That trouble-stirring military police captain!

"Alright, it’s not that serious." Horn tapped his knuckles on the table, quieting down the arguing two groups.

"I’m not blaming you, just discussing facts! Mr. Anthony Seck, please sit down." Horn cleared his throat, "I’m also very concerned about the issue you raised, those Beastmen and the Secret Party in the woods are indeed a chronic problem that needs to be dealt with."

Anthony Seck’s eyes lit up under his white eyebrows: "You mean, you’re preparing to send the army to clear out these Beastmen?"

"On the contrary." Horn shook his head, "To protect the eastern county’s port, I might need to redeploy a large number of the military police and Divine Punishment Army."

"What?!"

This time, all the senators in the room were jolted like springs.

Although they usually curse these military police and Divine Punishment Army as black dogs, frankly, they really can’t do without these people.

Because the number of a Wizard Clan members is limited, and later due to the wizard split, many low-level disciples went to towns.

As for the family’s plantations, they are scattered in many places.

They do need the transformed police officers to help patrol and suppress the woodland barbarians, monsters, and beasts.

What is Horn planning by withdrawing the security forces now?

"Your Majesty, absolutely not."

"Your Majesty Saint Sun, if you withdraw the military police, what will we do? We’re weak and helpless!"

Seeing the senators’ alarm, Horn spread his hands: "I’m also helpless. The Falan have embargoed the Royal Court, so this year’s spice exports are bound to decrease, and the Spice Company will go bankrupt.

I’ve just spent a lot of money to open up the musk canal to help you sell spices.

If I don’t redeploy these military police and task force, how can we suppress the barbarians in the eastern county? How can the spice fleet navigate?"

The senators pondered for a moment, only to helplessly realize Horn was right, there’s indeed no way.

If not redeployed, it’s a problem with sales; if redeployed, it’s a problem with production.

Now it’s a dilemma blocking both paths.

Anthony Seck approached the table and asked quietly: "Your Majesty, you must have a solution since you’ve called us, right?"

"I’m here to ask for your opinions, can you defend against those Beastmen yourselves? Don’t your estates have arrow towers and guards?

I remember these Beastmen aren’t too strong, why do they succeed repeatedly?"

The many senators looked at each other, frowning with thought.

"Your Majesty, it’s because the plantations are the property of the wizards, so the slaves naturally can’t warn or protect the plantations, and end up fleeing to protect their own lives."

"Isn’t that incorrect?" A senator sitting in the back row frowned and said, "Even if they are hired hands, the plantation isn’t their property, they’d still run away."

Horn laughed: "Let me give you a hint. During the Empire’s great expansion, why were they able to resist the barbarians using the same serf system?"

Jose, who was in despair, suddenly remembered something and immediately realized this was an opportunity: "I understand, it’s because at that time, the serfs were organized, they knew unity, unlike now where they are scattered."

"Exactly." Horn cast an appreciative look at Jose, "Because of organization and a sense of identity, they could oppose the barbarians under a leader’s guidance."

"How can that be achieved?" In a moment of mutual understanding, Oludo asked perfectly.

Horn raised two fingers: "The first point is, no matter what, you have to let them have their own property, even if just nominally.

Secondly, you must organize them, cater to their spiritual and living needs.

That way, they can solve problems on their own, without troubling you."

Upon hearing Horn’s strategic method, Anthony Seck and others didn’t know what expression to make.

It must be said that Horn’s whole reasoning model is quite logical, and the conclusion is very reasonable.

The first requirement is manageable, tricking these slaves, but as for the second requirement...

"Your Majesty, the first requirement is fine, but the second, our personnel and private troops are either in the city or have become tax police soldiers..." Anthony Seck smiled wryly.

The Secret Party can control villages and towns, but the problem is their scope has become too large.

Some core plantations are fine, but the new plantations and border plantations are unmanageable.

"Then why not consider how the nobles solved this problem a thousand years ago?"

How did the nobles solve it a thousand years ago? The senators were first confused before their expressions changed one after another.

With a trembling voice, Anthony Seck asked: "Are you referring to the church?"

"It’s the Saint Father’s Association." At this moment, Kesuku finally spoke up, "The Saint Father’s Association is best at grassroots stability maintenance."

"Didn’t you promise not to interfere in Black Snake Bay’s internal affairs and religion?"

"But do you have a choice?" Kesuku retorted, "Let me say this, these slaves are almost all followers of the Miseria church, so the Saint Father’s Association can integrate seamlessly.

And your ghostly family faiths probably can’t assimilate these slaves even after one or two generations.

If you want to expand the plantations and earn more money, you must face the increasing cost of governance.

Now that the Pope has offered you a choice, with only a small amount of money, you can deploy monks to maintain stability at the grassroots level.

So, either choose the church, opt for the Saint Father’s Association, or don’t make any money."

The room fell silent, and Horn, observing their indecisive looks, chuckled softly: "No need to rush a decision. This is a fundamental issue that may only be implemented in the Northern County initially.

You’ll have plenty of time to consider, because even if it needs to pass, it must respect Black Snake Bay’s basic law and be voted on.

Now, let’s move on to the next topic—the stopgap measure, shall we?"

Burying their various concerns and doubts in their hearts, Anthony Seck smilingly asked: "Let’s put this fundamental solution aside. Can you tell us about this stopgap measure?"

"It’s simple, I’ll mobilize the Imperial Guard to strike a heavy blow at the Beastman Tribe, providing security for over a year."

"That would be great," several senators rejoiced.

"However, the Ry Court Barracks is also low on supplies." Folding his hands, Horn rested his chin on them, "What do you say?"