HBWnovel Chapter 947 164
Chapter 947 164
A personal letter from Perfikot was delivered back to the Northern Territory by a small high-speed floating vehicle and submitted to the Cabinet.This was a direct order from the Regent of the Empire, and no one dared to show any negligence.
Upon receiving the news, Prime Minister Wellington immediately ordered all the cabinet members to convene for an emergency meeting, while also dispatching a court attendant to present a copy of the letter to Her Majesty the Empress.
The Empress's reply quickly came back: "Lord Perfikot's proposal concerns the Empire's future, and the Cabinet must review it immediately, fully cooperating."
In the Cabinet meeting hall, the long table was filled with the most powerful ministers of the Empire on both sides.
The Prime Minister, Minister of the Army, Minister of the Navy, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Industry... and even a representative from the Alchemist Association was present—the most powerful people in the Victor Empire were gathered together, and all eyes were on the letter spread out on the tabletop.
"Three hundred skilled craftsmen, two thousand volunteer immigrants, and a new missionary group..." The Minister of Finance's fingers tapped heavily on the letter, voice carrying suppressed discontent: "Gentlemen, this is not just an 'expense' issue—this is going to drain the Empire's reserves for the next three years!
After they are sent to the Old World, the Empire will still need continuous input to carry out the Regent's plan!
Moreover, the relocation of craftsmen and immigrants will directly affect the productivity of the Northern Territory, not to mention the transport cost of the Floating Fleet and infrastructure investment in the Old World!"
Although Perfikot's demands were much smaller than the large-scale war they had previously anticipated, mobilizing so many people and transporting them to the Old World still required a considerable outlay, and it was not an easy job for the Ministry of Finance to handle that.
The Minister of Industry immediately countered: "The concerns of the Ministry of Finance are understandable, but have you overlooked the potential value of the Old World? Those reestablished cities, those nations accepting the Empire's grace...
These will all become the foundation for the Empire's dominance of the world! What Lord Perfikot wants is not charity, but a strategic investment!"
"Strategic investment?" The Minister of Finance sneered, "Have you forgotten what the last 'investment' in the Old World resulted in? And now, you intend to send two thousand civilians to fill the same pit?"
The Minister of the Army slammed the table and stood up, the medals on his uniform clinking: "Watch your words! Minister of Finance! Lord Perfikot has already deployed Godslaying Armor and the Steam Knight Order in Seven Hills City!
The missionary group's reports clearly show that the surviving locals' hatred for the Old Gods far exceeds their fear! This is the best moment for us to take root!"
The Military Department has always supported Perfikot, not only because the Brandlis Clan hails from the military, with strong ties, but more because it is closely related to their interests.
"Hatred?" the Minister of the Interior softly interjected, "Hatred can't withstand the minus forty degrees cold wind! As far as I know, the survivors in Seven Hills City have regressed to a cave-dwelling state, and even the most basic social structures have collapsed.
If two thousand immigrants are thrown in, they might lose thirty percent due to disease and infighting in the first year—who will bear the media pressure then? What about Her Majesty the Empress's reputation?
And this is just the first batch! God knows how much stuff, how many people we ultimately have to send to the Old World! With these resources, we might as well rebuild Langton and the Empire's homeland!"
The Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke up at this point: "The 'Civilization Ember' plan Perfikot mentioned, this has long been in the works. Moreover, before the apocalypse, the Empire had conducted technological exchanges with many nations in the Old World, and now is the time to come to their aid."
"But the problem is, how do we convince people to willingly go to the Old World?" The Minister of the Interior seemed somewhat troubled: "It's a wasteland ravaged by an apocalyptic winter, cold winds raging, with Evil God believers running rampant... Who would want to take their families to such a place?"
The Alchemist Association representative suddenly chuckled and projected a piece of data onto the central holographic map on the table: "Allow me to remind you all, according to the real-time data of the Energy Tower, the temperature in the underground city of Seven Hills City has stabilized at above five degrees, even more habitable than some settlements in the Northern Territory.
As for the social structure... as long as there are sufficient supplies and military deterrence, the speed of human re-establishing order far exceeds your imagination."
The Alchemist Association, influenced by the former president Sanderion and with Perfikot himself being the most outstanding alchemist of the current era, can basically be seen as the regent's mouthpiece and backbone.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs seized the opportunity to interject: "What's more important is the political gain! The exiled government of France secretly contacted us this morning, willing to exchange their starfall alloy smelting technology in White Pearl Harbor for immigration quotas. If we miss this opportunity—"
"—Starfall alloy?!" The Minister of the Navy spoke for the first time, a gleam in his eyes: "Are you certain it's the kind of alloy that can forge Godslayer weapons?"
"Absolutely." The Minister of Foreign Affairs smiled: "So this is not really an expense issue, but a matter of prioritization—are we going to survive on the warehouses of the Northern Territory, or seize the opportunity to restart human civilization and truly let the Empire rule the entire world?"
The meeting room fell silent for a brief moment.
"It indeed... seems very attractive." The Minister of Finance's expression finally changed, and he slowly nodded: "But we need to ensure the supply of materials can keep up."
"The floating city modules have already moved ahead, and the missionaries have also established initial bases in the area." The Minister of the Interior glanced at the report in his hand: "As long as the first batch of immigrants successfully takes root, subsequent progress will be much easier."