Chapter 1486: Chapter 1403: No Money for Repairs

The world balances capability and responsibility; the more you enjoy, the more you must pay. Everything has an implicit price tag, and the choice is personal.

For the wealthy, options are abundant with prices they can afford, offering greater choice. The poor, however, might have only a handful of choices throughout their lives.

Becoming the Emperor of a country grants immense power, endless wealth, and an array of beautiful women.

Yet similarly, becoming the Emperor of an Empire requires taking on equivalent obligations; while enjoying the perks, he must pay certain costs and shoulder responsibilities previously unnecessary.

At this moment, Laines the Second of the Laines Empire deeply feels an Emperor’s responsibility: he hasn’t even had time for leisure before toiling for the nation’s continued development.

“What a joke! What do you mean there’s no money to repair the Royal Palace? Last year, during my father’s reign, you evaded him the same way, and now you use the same excuse on me!” Laines the Second roared incessantly in the grand hall of the Laines Empire.

He was truly furious because his ministers had once again vetoed his attempt to increase the budget for a new palace construction.

So he was very angry, feeling these ministers were making things difficult for him: “My palace hasn’t been repaired for years, hasn’t added any furnishings, and even the number of attendants and maids has been halved!”

Since his accession, nearly a billion had been spent, yet not a single penny was for the Emperor’s enjoyment.

The Laines Empire was fully rebuilding its fleet, constructing coastal defenses, and increasing airfields for fighter jets… and most of the money was borrowed.

Indeed, borrowed! The Laines Empire didn’t have funds to rearm itself, so Laines the Second borrowed from many merchant nobles, repaying with honors and taxes from regions under these nobles’ control.

In essence, to reinvigorate national defense and swiftly regain war capabilities, the Laines Empire overspent its future decades’ finances… or rather, mortgaged its future for decades.

But after such costs and ceding much power, Laines the Second found he still wasn’t qualified to enjoy—an absolute disgrace for a patricidal emperor.

Had he known it was such a mess, why hurry to “kill” his father, seize this throne, and endure ridicule?

Also, because his anticipated good days hadn’t arrived, instead burdened by state affairs, at this moment, he lost his composure, yelling angrily at everyone: “Have you considered my feelings? I’m the Emperor of this Empire! Such penury, does this Empire’s dignity still exist? Huh? Does it?!”

“Please calm your anger, Your Majesty! We are helpless; the deal with the Great Tang Empire to purchase machine tools, equipment, and a new auto parts factory has been finalized, and this expenditure was personally ordered by you…” The newly appointed Prime Minister bowed to persuade His Majesty.

Laines the Second waved to interrupt him, refusing to buy the Prime Minister’s argument: “Don’t use this to intimidate me! I know this matter, the total value is 170 million, I certainly know! Aside from this, what else?”

Upon hearing the Emperor’s inquiry, the Prime Minister reluctantly detailed the nation’s expenses: “With spring approaching, the nation begins the agricultural persuasion; it’s an imperial tradition, initiated when learning from the Great Tang Empire’s system, a beneficial policy started, roughly needing 15 million in farming subsidies…”

“So much? It’s just farming, why allocate so much money? Can’t it be streamlined?” Mentioning this, Laines the Second felt pained. He agreed on the Great Tang Empire’s equipment purchases, which couldn’t be easily changed, but the agricultural policy, that could be negotiated.

“Your Majesty! This is absolutely imperative! The Great Tang Empire’s strength lies in agricultural self-sufficiency, with frighteningly high annual grain yield, enabling a growing population…” Seeing Laines the Second intend to affect their interests, the Agriculture Minister immediately advocated, firmly and righteously.

Laines the Second wasn’t a misguided emperor. Hearing this, he pondered and found reason, thus skipped agricultural expenses, continuing: “Besides agricultural funding, can’t other projects squeeze some money to allow me to refurbish my Royal Palace?”

He felt truly miserable, as if he had no money even to repair the new Royal Palace after ascending the throne. His father enjoyed a new palace for several years.

Back then he was young, his father still the King of the Leite Kingdom. They moved the capital to Laines, residing in the new Royal Palace built for the new emperor by the Tang Group.

To this day, he still remembered the joy upon seeing the new Royal Palace, truly magnificent, appearing so desired, a beautiful palace to own.

But now, after decades, the once resplendent palace’s outer walls, battered by wind and rain, began to peel, the palace furniture aged, and even the interior decor went out of fashion.

How could this match his status as the Emperor of the Laines Empire? How could it reflect his charisma as Laines the Second? He must renovate his Royal Palace, as this was a tradition for a new Emperor’s accession.

Even when the Laines Empire was the Leite Kingdom, the tradition existed! A new King must renovate his palace, proving wealth, showcasing control over his nation.

As a result, two months after his enthronement as Laines the Second Emperor, the palace renovation plan remained unrealized.

The Finance Minister claimed lack of funds, and the Prime Minister obstructed, leading directly to a conflict between the Imperial Chancellor and the Emperor—if not for this, he wouldn’t commit the grave sin of assassinating the Prime Minister.

Yet, after settling all opposition, he found he still lacked sufficient funds for indulgence and waste.

In a moment, he began envying Emperor Tang Mo of the Great Tang Empire: rumored to have inexhaustible funds for lavish spender.

Rumor had it, the Forbidden City of the Great Tang Empire annually had renovation funds, and Emperor Tang took full advantage of much of the palace. It’s said that several halls of the Great Tang Empire were opulently astounding, where every piece was a treasure, unobtainable elsewhere.