I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 477 A New Nation Emerges

Chris's government reforms had only just begun. On his first day as the new Undersecretary of State, Marquis Dirac hadn't even figured out what he was supposed to do when his attendant rushed in to report an urgent diplomatic matter.

Two ambassadors from southern countries arrived in Vortradnoi almost simultaneously, presented their credentials, and requested to establish formal diplomatic relations with the newly emerging Kingdom of Bagnia.

These two countries are the Union of Macon and the Union of Pomerania.

The Confederacy of Macon, located on the coast south of the Retelia Empire, is not a kingdom in the traditional sense. It is a union of several powerful commercial city-states and autonomous dominions, and practices a unique presidential republic.

The supreme leader of the alliance is the ruling president, who is elected by representatives of each member state for a fixed term, and whose power is greatly constrained by the Senate and the Citizens' Assembly.

Its national strength was formidable, making it one of the leading medium-sized powers on the Greek continent, especially renowned for its powerful navy and prosperous overseas trade.

They possessed a vast fleet of merchant ships, whose routes were said to extend as far as mysterious overseas territories, bringing back spices, silk, precious metals, and exotic treasures.

However, the immense wealth also attracted greedy eyes.

The Macon Confederation and the northern hegemon, the Retalia Empire, have a long-standing feud due to trade routes, colonial interests, and territorial disputes. Border clashes and small-scale naval battles occur frequently, making them sworn enemies.

The Mâcon Confederation may have been in dire need of finding potential allies or strategic counterweights in the north of the empire, and Bagnia, which had just annexed Minicia and was gaining momentum, undoubtedly came into their sights.

The Pomeranian Confederation, located further south of the Macon Confederation, was also a republic based on trade, but its organization was relatively loose, resembling more of a confederation protecting common commercial interests.

It consisted of several free cities and noble republics, electing a "chief governor" as a symbolic leader, while real power was held by the wealthy and powerful trade guilds.

Pomerania also possesses formidable naval power, focusing on lucrative transoceanic trade. However, its national policies are more flexible and pragmatic, typically avoiding direct conflict with land powers like the Retelian Empire and preferring to safeguard its interests through commercial infiltration and diplomatic maneuvering.

Their visit was largely driven by the prospect of enormous business opportunities arising from Baghnia's annexation of Minicia—a unified and stable new market, and a potential gateway to trade routes further north.

The almost simultaneous arrival of these two ambassadors was itself imbued with subtle political implications.

The two countries they represent are not only trade rivals but also face pressure from the northern behemoth, the Retalia Empire.

Marquis Dirac frowned as he looked at the two exquisitely crafted but drastically different letters of state.

He was adept at the diplomatic rhetoric and scheming among nobles, but he found it somewhat difficult to deal with this republican alliance, which was completely different from traditional monarchies, as well as the distant overseas interests involved, the intricate trade relations, and the shared wariness of the Reteria Empire.

The Macon Alliance, in particular, clearly displayed an eagerness to "seek strategic cooperation," which almost implied a joint effort to confront the Reteria Empire.

promise?

That would mean Bagnia could be immediately drawn into a direct confrontation with a vast empire, something a kingdom fresh from a major war and in dire need of assimilating its new territory could not afford, especially since this empire currently has very close ties with the Kingdom of Bagnia.

reject?

There seems to be no need for such a harsh attitude. His Majesty Chris seems to be very keen on doing business and selling domestically produced goods abroad.

While Pomerania's demands were more focused on commerce, the way trade treaties were signed with them, the tariffs set, and the extent to which their commercial influence was allowed to penetrate the country would all have a profound impact on Bagnia's national industry and commerce.

The economic calculations involved were far beyond the scope of Dirac's understanding.

He found himself unable to make decisions on his own.

This is no longer a simple ceremonial visit or mediation of territorial disputes, but a major decision concerning the future strategic direction of the kingdom.

His title of "Deputy Minister of State" seems somewhat pale and powerless in the face of these truly thorny international games that have far-reaching consequences.

After pondering for a long time, Marquis Dirac gently put down the letter of state in his hand and gave instructions to his attendant.

"Prepare the carriage; I must go to the palace immediately to see His Majesty."

This matter must be decided by His Majesty Chris himself. It is not merely a diplomatic issue, but a severe test of the decision-making ability and strategic vision of the newly established Bagnian central government.

Dirac suddenly realized that His Majesty's decision to leave the position of Minister of the Interior vacant and appoint him as "Second Minister" might be because he foresaw that the future would be filled with such complex and entirely new challenges that transcended traditional politics.

……

"Two countries want to establish diplomatic relations with us?"

Chris was also surprised. He put down the document about the new department's budget, frowned slightly, and then walked to the huge map hanging on the wall. His gaze passed over Bagnia and Minicia and fell on the southern region that he was not very familiar with.

"Macon Union... Pomerania..."

Chris repeated the two country names in a low voice.

He was unfamiliar with these two countries. When his plan to restore his country failed and he fled, Chris had considered seeking refuge in these two countries.

However, this was just a thought; he only had a superficial understanding of the two countries' specific situations. As a result, even after the restoration of his nation, Chris's impression of them was limited to knowing their names.

The reason is simple: the Reteria Empire was in between, and Bagnia was a mountainous country with virtually no maritime trade. Therefore, neither of these countries paid any attention to Bagnia, this godforsaken place.

"Dirac, how much do you know about these two countries?"

Chris inquired, recalling that the Hisoka family seemed to have a naval fleet, small in size but capable of navigating the storm barriers of the deep seas outside the Greek mainland for overseas trade.

Marquis Dirac bowed in reply.

"Your Majesty, I do not know much either. Both countries are city-state alliances in the south that rely on maritime trade. They are wealthy and possess powerful fleets. In particular, the Macon Alliance is constantly in conflict with the Reteria Empire... I will have someone compile the information about this matter and write it into a document to present to you when I return."

As he spoke, he presented copies of the credentials of the two ambassadors.

Chris quickly scanned the letter of credence, especially the implicit suggestion in the wording of the Macon Union's statement about "jointly addressing regional threats," which sharpened his gaze.

"Eager to find allies in the north to contain Leteria?"

Chris snorted and placed the letter of credence on the table.

"Their plan is very clever, but we have just swallowed up Minicia and need time to digest it, not to provoke a huge empire immediately, even if it is only a potential provocation."

He turned to Dirac, his tone decisive yet cautious. “Go and tell the two ambassadors that the Kingdom of Bagnia welcomes any country with goodwill to establish diplomatic relations. We can set up embassies in each other's countries and conduct trade.”

The specific trade terms should be negotiated by the newly established Ministry of Commerce. The head of the Ministry of Commerce should be told that the principle is mutual benefit, and that tariff settings should be carefully considered. If necessary, experts skilled in these kinds of numerical maneuvers can be consulted.

As for who the experts are, they're the players, of course...

"Then, regarding the deepening cooperation mentioned by the Macon Union, and the potential shared security concerns..."

Dirac asked cautiously.

"Set aside".

Chris answered without hesitation.

"Make it clear to them that Bagnia pursues a national policy of peaceful development and is committed to maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbors, including the Retalia Empire."

We have no interest in getting involved in the distant southern conflict, at least not at this stage, and any military alliance is not on the table.

He paused for a moment, then added.

"However, the wording should be tactful; do not refuse outright, nor give any unrealistic expectations."

"For example... Baghnia has just undergone a major upheaval, with numerous internal affairs to manage, and the higher-ups still need time to study and assess the complex situation in the south."

"I understand, Your Majesty."

Dirac breathed a sigh of relief. Chris's attitude was clear and prudent. He neither blindly sought allies out of arrogance nor cowardly closed the door to diplomacy. Instead, he adopted a pragmatic approach that left room for maneuver.

"What about Pomerania?"

"Trade is also the priority."

Chris said.

"It could even be implied that we are very interested in developing maritime trade routes...aren't those two companies competitors?"

Perhaps we can use this to our advantage, making them compete on the terms of the deal and securing more favorable terms for us.

A hint of admiration flashed in Dirac's eyes. Although His Majesty was young, he was already a seasoned expert in balancing power and maintaining order.

"in addition……"

Chris pondered for a moment.

"Immediately gather as much detailed intelligence as possible through our channels regarding the conflict between these two countries, especially the Macon Alliance and the Retelia Empire."

We need to know the scale of their war, the real reasons behind it, the outcome, and the possible attitude of the Retalian Empire. Because of insufficient intelligence, all our decisions are like the blind men and the elephant.

"Yes, Your Majesty, Minister Connie of the Military Intelligence Department should be able to obtain some."

Dirac accepted the order.

"Go."

Chris waved.

"Remember, be enthusiastic in your attitude, but firm in your stance."

We welcome trade, but if you want us to take sides, forget it… Let our newly established Ministry of Commerce get some experience; that's one of the very purposes of setting it up.”

Dirac bowed and left the study. He felt the pressure on his shoulders lessen considerably, and at the same time, he gained a clearer understanding of his role as the "Secretary of State."

He is not the final decision-maker, but rather the executor of His Majesty's will and the filter for complex matters.

His Majesty's seemingly cautious, even conservative, attitude is actually to buy the most precious time for the newly born Bagnia to grow.

……

When officials from the Bagnian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following the King's orders and Dirac's detailed instructions, met separately with the two ambassadors, their reactions differed.

The Pomeranian ambassador's attitude was quite normal. He and his team seemed to be there to do business with Bagnia, and they fully understood and agreed with the Marquis Dirac's message that trade should be the priority and military cooperation should not be discussed for the time being.

The ambassador, named Fabian, was a shrewd middle-aged man with a professional and warm smile on his face. He expressed his enthusiasm.

"His Excellency the Chief Governor and the distinguished members of the Senate extend their warmest congratulations on the birth and unification of the Kingdom of Bagnia."

We firmly believe that a stable and prosperous Bagnia will become an important pillar of regional trade, and we very much look forward to in-depth consultations with our colleagues in your Ministry of Commerce to explore matters such as tariff reductions, opening new trade routes, and facilitating the trade of your goods in our free markets.

He even offered to do it himself.

"I've heard that your country is standardizing weights and measures? Pomerania has a set of very accurate commercial measurement standards that have been used for over a century, and we would be happy to share our experience with your country."

His attitude is pragmatic and cooperative, prioritizing commercial interests above all else.

Of course, Chris wouldn't use the foreign business standards recommended by the ambassador. He had heard that third-rate companies make products, second-rate companies build brands, and first-rate companies set standards.

Chris wouldn't have done this if he hadn't been through a brain fart.

The ambassador of the Macon Union was very anxious. He urgently told the Marquis Dirac, who had come to communicate, that he hoped to meet with His Majesty Chris... because there was something very important to discuss.

How important is it?

It was as important as a hundred pounds of gold... The ambassador of the Macon Union was so anxious that he offered Dirac this gold as a bribe.

(End of this chapter)