Building an empire which the sun never set-Chapter 51: Government meeting

The next morning, Arthur woke up early and went out for his usual morning run. After returning to his room, he quickly took a shower and had a fast breakfast. Once he finished eating, he set off for the government meeting scheduled for that day. As he arrived at the designated meeting room in the palace, he encountered King Cedric at the door. After a brief exchange, they entered the room together. By the time they stepped inside, the ministers had already arrived and taken their seats. The King sat at one end of the table while Arthur took a seat at the other. The meeting then began.

The first item on the agenda was the security of trade in the White Sea. The Minister of Defense, Daniel, was the first to speak.

"After securing Maraz Strait, we repaired and expanded the fortress. A permanent garrison has been stationed there to defend it, and a military port has been constructed for the navy. Additionally, a fleet has been deployed to this area to operate in the White Sea. This fleet has been actively combating pirates who have been attacking Pendralis trading vessels. We have successfully weakened the pirates by targeting their bases on islands and uninhabited ports in Velmora through continuous raids and bombardments. While a few pirate ships still operate in open waters, their ability to threaten our trade convoys has been significantly reduced. Furthermore, by assigning naval escorts to accompany large trade fleets through dangerous routes, we have greatly minimized the number of attacks on commercial vessels."

King Cedric nodded approvingly. "This is good. It seems the pirate problem in the White Sea is no longer a major concern. Let us proceed to the next agenda item."

At this point, the Minister of Finance, Henry, took the floor.

"Your Majesty, as you are aware, the expansion of our nation's industry has led to a growing demand for raw materials such as coal, iron, and cotton. Our textile industry, in particular, relies on cotton imports from the Usman Empire's Nefara territories. The cotton produced in this region has long fibers and is highly durable, making it ideal for mass production. However, due to the rapid expansion of the textile sector, the demand for raw cotton has surged over the past few years. Since we have been the primary importer of Nefaran cotton, the rising domestic prices have led the Nefaran administration to impose export restrictions. As a result, we have started sourcing cotton from the easternmost regions of the White Sea, where it is transported overland from Asia. Unfortunately, given the textile sector's rapid growth, this alternative supply will soon become insufficient. If we do not address this issue, our textile industry will face serious difficulties."

Arthur was surprised to hear this. While he had been aware of the textile sector's expansion, he had assumed that the issue of raw cotton supply would not become critical until they could establish a trade route to Indoria, one of the world's largest cotton producers. Clearly, the growth of the textile industry had exceeded his expectations.

Turning to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arthur asked, "What is the political situation in Nefara?"

The unexpected shift from discussing cotton to Nefara's political landscape caught both the foreign minister and the rest of the room off guard. A brief silence filled the room as everyone turned to Arthur. Then, the Foreign Minister began to speak.

"Your Highness, although Nefara is officially part of the Usman Empire, its governor, Ali Pasha, has established a semi-autonomous rule due to the empire's limited ability to exert direct control over such a distant province. In recent years, Ali Pasha has consolidated his power by nationalizing the cotton industry, allowing him to dictate market prices. This has greatly enriched Nefara's economy, and Ali Pasha has used this wealth to strengthen his military. Following the Maraz Strait War, which demonstrated the dominance of firearms on the battlefield, he has invested heavily in the production of high-quality artillery and rifles. Intelligence reports indicate that other neighboring kingdoms are also investing significant resources into improving their firearms. Additionally, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of foreign spies attempting to steal our technological advancements. Our intelligence and security forces have successfully apprehended many of them."

Arthur nodded, processing this information. "How has the central Usman government responded to Ali Pasha's growing power?"

The Foreign Minister continued, "They are aware of his increasing influence and have taken measures to curb it. While Ali Pasha has tried to appoint his loyalists to key administrative positions in the surrounding provinces, the central government has actively blocked these efforts. Meanwhile, tensions are rising between the Usman Empire and its northern neighbor, the Syvatoslav Kingdom. The Kingdom has long sought access to the Black Sea by seizing Usman territories along the coast. Intelligence suggests that they are in the final stages of enhancing their firearms technology. Once they feel adequately prepared, they are likely to launch an offensive. The Usman government is aware of this impending threat and has been focusing its preparations on the northern front, which is why they have refrained from taking direct action against Ali Pasha."

Arthur reflected on this and recognized the similarities to the historical Russo-Ottoman conflicts in his previous world. He pondered potential solutions. Sending an exploration fleet to secure an eastern trade route would require establishing refueling stations for steamships along the way, which would take years. By that time, demand for cotton would have further increased due to the adoption of sewing machines and the expansion of textile factories. Thus, relying on Nefara remained their only viable option for now.

"I have a solution to the cotton problem," Arthur declared. "The most practical course of action is to increase cotton production in Nefara. Based on Ali Pasha's actions, he appears to be both ambitious and opportunistic. We should leverage this by proposing a trade deal. The agricultural land in Nefara is concentrated around the Nefara River. We can offer Ali Pasha a loan to construct irrigation canals to expand farmland. Additionally, we can sell mechanical farming equipment to improve efficiency and encourage commercial agriculture. In return, we will secure a purchase guarantee for the cotton produced in these new farmlands."

King Cedric considered this before asking, "What if Ali Pasha decides to raise prices later on?"

Arthur responded, "The White Sea region is crucial to our textile industry. If war breaks out between the Usman Empire and the Syvatoslav Kingdom, we should form an alliance with the Usmans to block Syvatoslav's access to the sea. Unlike the Usmans, the Kingdom has a strong centralized government. Supporting the Usmans will allow us to use them as a buffer state against the Kingdom. During this conflict, while the Usmans are preoccupied, we can seize control of Nefara. Given their weakened state, they will not be able to retaliate."

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King Cedric frowned. "Even if we take over Nefara, the local population has a different religion and culture. They will resist our rule, and we will face continuous uprisings."

Arthur countered, "We don't need to formally annex the region. Instead, we can overthrow Ali Pasha and install a regime led by locals loyal to us. They will enact policies in our favor while maintaining the appearance of self-rule. Given the technological and logistical limitations of this region, indirect rule through a proxy government should be sufficient."

A moment of silence filled the room as the ministers contemplated Arthur's proposal. Finally, King Cedric spoke. "For now, the issue of occupation remains a matter for the future. However, the textile industry's cotton shortage is an urgent concern. Finance Minister Henry, coordinate with the banks and calculate the appropriate amount of credit to be allocated for this agricultural expansion. Once the figures are ready, inform the Foreign Ministry so they can initiate diplomatic negotiations with Ali Pasha. Draft a formal agreement that outlines our financial support in exchange for guaranteed cotton supply."

After a brief pause, the king added, "Instruct our intelligence agencies to closely monitor developments between the Usman Empire and the Svyatoslav Kingdom."

Before the meeting concluded, Arthur spoke once more. "There is one more matter I would like to discuss regarding infrastructure. I propose installing gas lamps along major streets and factories in the capital."

Arthur elaborated on the benefits of gas lighting. Factories could operate at night, increasing industrial output. Crime rates would decrease with well-lit streets. Additionally, shops and restaurants could remain open after sunset, stimulating economic activity and increasing tax revenue.

King Cedric and the ministers asked several questions regarding the feasibility and costs of the project. After an hour-long discussion, they decided to implement a pilot program by installing gas lighting in key commercial districts and factory zones in the capital. If successful, the infrastructure would later be expanded to other major cities.

As the meeting concluded, Arthur left the palace, heading toward the industrial district. In his hands were detailed plans—both for the gas infrastructure and for future inventions that would further propel Pendralis into the new era.