I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 514 Chris on Inspection (Transitional Plot)
The train's wheels continued to collide with the rails, producing a rumbling sound that Chris missed dearly.

Chris remembered that when he used to go out to work, he often squeezed into such fast-paced trains. However, although the carriages back then were smoother than the steam trains he was on now, they couldn't compare to the luxury of the carriage he was in now.

Ah, that's not surprising.

I used to be just an ordinary person, but now...

He leaned back slightly against the soft chair back upholstered in velvet and premium padding, beneath the King's private train, which featured a sophisticated shock-absorbing design. A faint scent of Minician incense filled the air, along with the rich aroma of freshly polished mahogany furniture.

Outside the window, the unfamiliar scenery of the border region between the Kingdom of Bagnia and Minicia unfolds slowly before my eyes: vast farmlands, dense forests, and distant undulating mountains.

Aside from the roar of the wheels, Chris heard no other noise except the careful footsteps of the servants in the next carriage and the occasional crackling of the firewood burning in the fireplace.

Their identities are now worlds apart.

"Dong dong dong..."

There was a soft knock on the door of the private room, so quiet that Chris, who was enjoying himself, almost didn't hear it.

"Please come in."

The door was gently pushed open, and Julie walked in, dressed in a suit jacket and black stockings.

Julie, the archivist, was someone Chris deliberately brought along. She wasn't originally on the list of accompanying personnel, but when Elena became pregnant and was forced to stay in the palace to rest, Chris added her name to the list.

This wasn't because Chris was lustful and wanted to find a Fijian monument to amuse himself on the road, but rather to prevent Elena from having an accident.

Although Julie was just a female archivist, and at most had the identity of the head of the Imperial Guard, even if Elena died, her status would not be enough to support her becoming queen, and she would not even have the possibility of profiting from this matter.

However, Chris didn't dare gamble on Julie's rationality.

Women are emotional beings, and Chris knew that very well.

Sometimes they get carried away by their emotions and do things that men find incomprehensible, or even things that harm others and themselves.

Although Julie is shrewd and capable, and her style of doing things tends to be rational, she is ultimately a woman, and a woman who has a special affection for herself.

Chris wasn't sure if Julie, who remained in the capital and wielded some hidden power, would act irrationally under the influence of some emotion, whether it was out of a desire for Elena's position or simply because she was being manipulated by other forces to exploit her subtle jealousy of Elena.

Keeping her by your side may seem like a sign of intimacy, but in reality, it's about keeping her under your watchful eye – that's the safest approach.

As for whether Elena will discover Julie's infidelity because of this action... Chris isn't worried about that, because Julie's following was Elena's own request.

Under Chris's gaze, Julie walked in from outside the compartment, carrying a document in her hands. With light steps and impeccable posture, she placed the document on the small mahogany table in front of Chris.

"Your Majesty, this is an urgent secret report that we just received from the First Fleet."

Her voice was steady, without any discernible emotional fluctuation.

Chris nodded, not immediately looking at the documents, but instead asking casually.

"Are you adjusting well after the long journey?"

Julie looked up, her intelligent eyes quickly sweeping across Chris's face before she gave him a bright smile.

"Thanks to Your Majesty's concern, everything is fine."

"That's good."

"Your Majesty, lunchtime is approaching. I've brought the menu from the food cart. What would you like to eat?"

"No need to make arrangements. The train will arrive at Tavitsky station in an hour. I'll eat after I get off the train."

Chris waved his hand and, in front of Julie, picked up the document and pretended to read it.

Because of the player's presence, Chris knew everything that happened to the First Fleet after they arrived on the island and after they left. He was only looking at the documents now for the sake of acting.

So Chris finished reading the documents in a very short time, and when he put them down, he found that Julie hadn't left... no, she must have come back.

Chris looked at Julie with a questioning gaze.

"His Majesty."

She bowed slightly.

"According to the train staff, local officials and some dignitaries are already waiting on the platform in Tavitsky, ready to welcome you... Your Majesty, what are your instructions?"

Chris nodded, turning his gaze back to the window.

Tavitsky is the first major border city after entering the former Minisian territory, and its symbolic significance is great. The reaction here will largely foreshadow the tone of his inspection tour.

Chris hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"The notice was sent out that after the train arrives at the station, I will make a brief appearance on the platform to receive local officials, but I will not give a lengthy speech."

At the same time, we declined all invitations to banquets and public gatherings and went directly to the Guards' camp.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Julie quickly jotted down the orders.

"Any reports from the courtroom?"

"No."

"Go down."

"Yes."

Julie, who was serving as the temporary secretary, put away the documents in her hands with satisfaction. Before leaving, she winked at Chris, and only after receiving no response from him did she turn around and open the door to the private room.

Chris watched Julie's departing figure silently until she disappeared from sight, without uttering a word.

Julie's attitude was a bit anxious; indeed, keeping her by his side was the right choice.

Judging from her current behavior, if Julie were to stay in the palace, she would definitely do something. Chris made her his secretary, even if it was temporary, which represented immense power, yet she was still somewhat dissatisfied.

Sure enough, women.

"Secretary."

Chris spoke softly, and a voice responded from a corner of the private room.

"I am here, Your Majesty."

"Was there any omission or falsification in Julie's report?"

"No."

"I'd like to give her a little warning, do you have any ideas?"

"No."

……

The King's Express arrived at the Tavitz station on time. To welcome the King's arrival, the local officials had already cleared the station and sealed off the area inside and outside, strictly prohibiting unauthorized personnel from approaching.

The whole process was nothing more than local officials dressed in their best formal attire, lining up on the platform to greet the guests, saying the same old compliments and oaths of loyalty, presenting some symbolic gifts, and then the highest-ranking official stammeringly reading out a lengthy welcome speech.

After finishing his rambling and greeting each of the welcomers, Chris's feigned warmth quickly came to an end.

On the same day, Chris's men began auditing the accounts of officials in the Tavitsky region.

Tavitsky is a city of players, where the mayor and other miscellaneous matters are decided by players with voting rights, but the city is still largely a city of the Kingdom of Bagnia.

The operation and promotion of the city's official system remain under the control of the Ministry of the Interior of the Kingdom of Bagnia, and the players who hold shares in the city of Tavitsky have no objection to this.

They play games for fun. As long as it doesn't interfere with their monster-hunting, questing, world exploration, or harm their actual interests, such as city dividends, they won't bother with those tedious government affairs.

As long as the officials sent by the Ministry of the Interior aren't too outrageous and can maintain the city's basic operation and order, the players are basically in a "do whatever you want, just leave me alone" state.

This also resulted in a peculiar situation in Tavisky's bureaucracy: "players are laissez-faire, NPCs are in charge."

The players had no objections to Chris's inspection of the Tavisky City Hall; in fact, they felt he was too late.

Because the players who hold shares generally feel that there is something wrong with the officials in the city, and they are very likely to be corrupt.

There are also branches of the tax department and the court in the city. However, because this is a player's city, their power in Tavitsky is relatively limited. They are also constrained by the intricate local network of relationships and the players' "non-interference" attitude, making it difficult to conduct in-depth investigations.

Many problems are masked by cumbersome official documents and seemingly compliant operations.

But King Chris's presence and the direct audit team he brought were a completely different matter.

The king's authority, like a sharp sword, easily severed the invisible shackles that had once hindered the investigation. The audit team consisted of accountants from the capital, capable officials familiar with local affairs, and a few players who were actually seasoned accountants in reality. They held the king's decree and had the highest authority to access all files and question any person.

The audit was carried out swiftly and efficiently.

The city hall's ledgers, warehouse inbound and outbound records, project funding and expenditure details, tax collection and payment vouchers... all documents were moved to the temporarily requisitioned city hall lobby and checked day and night by the audit team.

Initially, local officials tried to maintain a semblance of calm, using various technical terms and complicated procedures to deflect the issue.

However, through the audit team's meticulous questioning and cross-verification, vulnerabilities began to be exposed one by one.

They falsely reported engineering projects to embezzle funds from the kingdom.

They collected exorbitant kickbacks when purchasing materials. They also created various pretexts to establish "management fees" and "service fees," which they then lined their own pockets.

Some even colluded with a few scoundrels among the local players, engaging in bribery related to resource allocation and quest distribution...

Each and every incident is shocking.

The evidence was quickly compiled into a booklet and presented to Chris.

Chris looked at the numbers and facts listed in the report, his expression calm, and then he let out a heavy sigh.

"I knew it."

After sighing, Chris began to categorize these corrupt officials based on the files.

There are three types of officials in the Kingdom of Bagnia. The first type is those who are capable, honest, and competent... These are the pillars of the country and should be given important positions and protected.

The second type is officials who are capable but not so clean, or who know how to be "flexible".

They may have taken shortcuts to expedite their work, sought "reasonable" benefits for themselves and their subordinates within the bounds of the rules, or received reasonable perks in certain gray areas.

These are the majority of officials; they maintain the basic operations of the kingdom and are capable, but their loyalty and integrity are questionable.

Chris's attitude toward these types of people is to "control their use and observe the effects."

They will be subject to varying degrees of punishment, such as warnings, fines, and transfers from key positions, but they will not be immediately stripped of their official posts. They will become the focus of attention and continue to demonstrate their talents under strict supervision.

The third type is the incompetent and greedy worm.

They occupy positions but accomplish nothing, only knowing how to scheme for personal gain; they are pure cancer and a liability.

Chris did not hesitate at all when dealing with such people... "Those with conclusive evidence, arrest them immediately, hand them over to the Ministry of Justice, and deal with them severely. Confiscate their property to replenish the national treasury. Those with egregious circumstances will be publicly executed as a warning to others."

The work was proceeding in an orderly manner. People died, went to jail, or were demoted. In a short time, Chris eliminated a large number of positions, causing the city of Tavisky to come to a standstill.

However, this is only temporary, because three-legged toads are hard to find, but people who want to become officials are everywhere.

The new officials have arrived by express train from the capital and will arrive in Tavitsky tomorrow, and will begin their work the following day.

Chris went a bit too far with Tavitsky, but it was necessary because the city, due to its unique circumstances, was far more rife with corruption than other parts of Bagnia.

Chris was genuinely afraid that if he didn't take drastic measures, this atmosphere would spread to other places.

After spending some time cleaning up Tavitsky, Chris led his men away from Tavitsky, and the convoy headed towards the countryside on the outskirts of the city.

Leaving behind the steel behemoths of trains and the bustling city, one is greeted by vast fields of wheat awaiting harvest, dotted with farmhouses and grazing cattle and sheep in the distance.

Here, the air is filled with the fragrance of soil and ripe crops, a stark contrast to the smells of coal and engine oil in the city.

Chris's inspection was not a whirlwind tour. He rejected the "model" villages arranged in advance by local officials and instead chose a route at random, stopping the convoy at what appeared to be an ordinary field ridge. He stepped off the carriage, his boots touching the soft earth.

Chris wasn't wearing a magnificent royal robe, but rather simple clothes that allowed him to move around easily. However, his overall demeanor and the elite guards following behind him still made the farmers working in the fields realize that a great man had arrived. They stopped what they were doing in fear and knelt down on the ground, at a loss for what to do.

"Get up, everyone. I was just taking a look around."

Chris spoke in a gentle tone in Chinese. Although he understood Miniese, he had an interpreter with him because of his status and some reasons that could not be said openly.

After briefly reassuring the local farmers, Chris walked towards a golden wheat field, reached out and touched the heavy ears of wheat, and asked the old farmer about this year's harvest, tax burden, seed source, and family situation.

The old farmer was initially so nervous that he was incoherent, but under Chris's calm attitude, he gradually opened up and started talking.

His name was Old Hank, and he was about sixty years old. His bronze face was etched with the lines of time, but his eyes were surprisingly clear and bright.

"In reply to...in reply to Your Majesty,"

Old Hank rubbed his rough hands, trying to make his native accent sound clearer.

"This year's wheat is growing exceptionally well, with heavy ears and plump grains. It's all thanks to Your Majesty's blessing, and the excellent seeds sent by the gentlemen of the Ministry of Agriculture..."

He pointed to the wheat field in front of him, a genuine smile on his face.

"If the weather stays this good, we can start harvesting in about ten days. I estimate that the yield per acre will be at least 30% higher than in previous years!"

"What about taxes? Are they a heavy burden?"

Chris asked with concern.

"tax?"

Old Hank paused for a moment, then waved his hands repeatedly, his tone even carrying a hint of pride.

"No taxes, Your Majesty! The farmers of Bagnia have long since stopped paying royal grain and national taxes!"

"The kingdom has a law that exempts farmers from agricultural taxes. Now, after keeping enough for their own food and seeds, the rest of what's harvested can be sold to the kingdom's supply and marketing cooperatives at very fair prices!"

He seemed afraid Chris wouldn't believe him, so he quickly added something.

"My two sons, the eldest is serving in the Blue Banner Army and getting paid, the younger one is in the village militia. The kingdom takes care of military families, not only exempting them from taxes, but also providing subsidies for purchasing farm tools and livestock from the supply and marketing cooperative, and giving them priority in getting the best seeds!"

Back when I was in Minicia, I never dared to dream of such a good thing. I'd work myself to the bone all year round, and after paying rent, the little left was barely enough to make ends meet…

At this point, old Hank became somewhat agitated, looking at Chris with slightly reddened eyes.

"Your Majesty, to be honest, before the merger, my family only had a few acres of poor land, and we barely made ends meet. Now, thanks to the subsidies from our two sons and what we, the old couple, have earned ourselves, we've added another hundred acres of good land. There's hope for the future!"

He pointed to a newly built, spacious and sturdy brick house not far away.

"Look at that house, it was newly built last year. The old thatched house used to leak when it rained. Now... it's like heaven and earth!"

Chris was satisfied with old Hank's answer, although it was clear from the latter's response that his family's situation was somewhat different.

Putting everything else aside, Old Hank's eldest son joined the Blue Banner Army, and his second son became a militiaman. Judging from his situation, his family is clearly a local gentry or something similar.

Chris's gaze passed over the agitated old Hank and landed on the silent farmers behind him.

Although their clothes were not as presentable as old Hank's, they were patched but washed clean, and their complexions were a healthy rosy-black, not the pale color of malnutrition.

Their gazes toward old Hank were filled with awe, but not much fear; rather, they were driven by pure curiosity and restraint toward King Chris.

"It seems that the kingdom's policies have indeed benefited the fields."

Chris felt somewhat relieved, but not entirely at ease, because Old Hank's family's situation was unique and could not represent all farmers.

He turned to the other farmers and asked in the same gentle tone.

"And you? How are things at home? Are you facing any difficulties?"

The farmers looked at each other and finally elected a relatively bold middle-aged man to speak.

Speaking with a heavy accent, he stammered that life was indeed much better than when he was in Minicia.

No taxes are required, the supply and marketing cooperatives offer stable grain prices, and relief can be applied for during years of disaster.

Although not as wealthy as Old Hank's family, they were no longer worried about having enough to eat and wear, and they even had some extra money to buy new things.

Overall, these Minisians have begun to identify themselves as Bagnians, especially old Hank, who constantly emphasizes "we Bagnians," "the laws of the kingdom," and "the kingdom's supply and marketing cooperative" in his conversations, his words filled with a sense of belonging and pride.

Chris was very satisfied with the inspection. After chatting with the farmers for a while, he bid them farewell and sent the convoy toward the nearest Blue Flag Army camp.

The civilian inspections here have come to an end; next up is the military.

Just like Chris's inspection of the farmland, during his inspection, he found that although the performance of the Blue Banner Army in the Tavitsky area was not perfect, it was still passable. The soldiers in the camp were in high spirits and neatly dressed.

Because they were caught off guard without prior notice, Chris believed their performance was genuine.

After a brief one-hour inspection and a short chat with the camp commander, Chris encouraged him and immediately decided to promote the latter's rank and position, much to the latter's delight.

(End of this chapter)