In the Name of Empress-Chapter 465 - 314: Blank Check_2

Could it be...

Watching Alina’s rapidly changing expression, Roland was a bit confused.

Why is this person zoning out at a time like this? We’re discussing serious matters!

He coughed heavily in frustration and loudly reminded:

"Alina, a monarch’s rule eventually comes to an end, whether they voluntarily relinquish power gracefully or are forced out. We must be prepared in advance."

"Then, what should we do? Suppress any signs as soon as they appear?" Alina replied absently, not expecting Roland to actually be thinking of an exit strategy.

Roland: "..."

He couldn’t understand how such politically illogical words could come out of Alina’s mouth.

Just as he was about to straighten his face and scold her harshly, he saw her eyes filled with confusion and panic.

With a sigh in his heart, Roland gave up the idea of mercilessly interrogating Alina.

Forget it, that’s just women for you.

Their thoughts change faster than flipping a book.

Roland had no choice but to patiently explain to Alina the historical significance of launching this legal reform.

To get the war-weary people to support wars beyond their homeland, they need to see benefits.

The Sussex-like military merit system definitely won’t work.

The warlike Jin Yuan people are almost all dead. Those who survived Marco’s devastation are mostly slick and opportunistic, avoiding harm.

Recruiting them into the army is as difficult as mobilizing citizens to arm and defend Paris during WWII.

This codex is like an aphrodisiac to awaken their martial spirit.

No one can resist the temptation of benefits, unless it’s not enough.

This codex provides a visible upward path for everyone, especially for the lower social classes.

No one wants to wallow in the mud forever, living in a daze and eventually dying without knowing why.

In this terrible era, even if they cower in the rear, most people’s lifespans are only four or fifty years.

Sufficient benefits, along with proper propaganda, can at least incite some people to become agitated.

Roland doesn’t want to create a large-scale army. In this era, without railways, a large army would first crush not the enemy, but its own logistics support system.

According to his estimates, even with home-field advantage, the Freedom Alliance’s maximum support for combat troops would not exceed one million people.

This is also the limit of Christine’s commanding ability. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

When approaching one million, the command system becomes bloated, orders are inconsistently conveyed, and the army’s combat effectiveness will drastically decrease.

To support an army of a million in battle, the number of auxiliary logistical personnel would amount to several million, requiring the entire state machinery to switch to wartime status, and the entire society to serve the war.

This extreme mobilization, draining everything, cannot be sustained for long.

Both Roland and Alina are well aware that 1795 marks the beginning of the war, and it could also be its end.

After Roland’s explanation, the gossip thoughts racing through Alina’s mind finally quieted down, and she began to seriously ponder the country’s future.

Understanding the importance of the codex, Alina quickly thought of another matter.

"Roland, have you considered that when the state machinery runs at full speed, the lives of the lower masses will become even harder, and some might be driven to desperation, they..."

Roland calmly responded, "Of course, I have. The small city residents are better off; their savings can sustain them for a while, so they wouldn’t easily cause unrest. The real hidden danger lies with the industrial workers and the self-reliant farmers from rural areas."

"Self-reliant farmers must bear more taxes during wartime, and greedy tax officials will increase their exploitation efforts. If you collect one extra pound of grain, they dare to demand three more from the farmers."

Alina nodded, sighing helplessly, "There’s no other choice. Fortunately, our Jin Yuan Kingdom is vast and fertile, so even if we collect three times as much, the farmers would still manage to survive."

"After the war, I will compensate them; for now, they’ll just have to endure a bit longer."

Curiously, Roland asked, "How do you plan to compensate them in the future?"

"Exempt them from taxes for a year and provide grain subsidies based on the number of people. If we win, there’s plenty of grain to give them. If we lose..."

She didn’t spell out the outcome of losing; losing means death, and she couldn’t be bothered to think so far ahead.

"I won’t care what happens after I’m gone, let the flood come," she said, reasoning this is perfectly sensible.

Perhaps to strengthen her argument, Alina spoke confidently: "You’ve done this before, and it had great results."

Indeed, the effect was excellent, but I voluntarily exempted taxes rather than offering empty promises.

Roland, feeling a bit speechless, finally couldn’t help but retort, "Alina, if you promise tax exemption and grain distribution after the war, can those who starved during the war climb up from the grave to eat that meal?"

Alina, flustered and unable to retort, her chest heaving with evident frustration, dared not talk back to Roland, so she bravely explained:

"The national granary can barely sustain the consumption of war for half a year. Even if we want to exempt taxes, it’s not feasible. If farmers have grain, it would only..."

"Exempt taxes and purchase grain from them in cash and bonds, but it must be on a voluntary basis."

Roland offered a solution.

He explained the operation process of this procurement method in detail to Alina.

Tax exemption not only increases the goodwill of farmers but also prevents greedy tax officials from profiting in between, and can also purify the ranks of tax officials and civil servants.

Having been Roland’s former intelligence chief, Alina was very familiar with Roland’s methods.

With an existing template, this is merely a straightforward replication, and of course, she was not unfamiliar.

Having determined that agriculture tax would be exempted during the war, Alina’s newly relaxed nerves tensed up again.

"What exactly do you mean by this cash and bond procurement method you mentioned earlier?"