1618 Summer(June-August)

“Long live Imperator Eduardo Ivlivs Caesar Avgvstvs, the master of Europe!"

"The kingdom of Denmark wishes to be the vassal state of the New West Roman Empire, and swears to Holy Father and Jesus Christ that it'll faithfully its' army to the 10th Crusade, Imperator!"

The Danish messengers first came to London, pledging obedience.

'Guilty conscience, eh? They sure haven't forgotten what happened to them at the War of Iberian Succession, yet.'

Well, they had a point. I do felt the need to make Northern and Eastern European countries into allies or at least neutral before I officially declare the 10th Crusade against the Ottoman Empire. I didn't want a 2 front war, you know.

"Well said, then so be it."

"Thank you for your benevolence, Imperator!"

And that's why I've accepted Denmark as my 3rd vassal state, - the 1st was France and 2nd was Venice.

'I've got a long way to go! No time to waste on those Vikings!'

At the same time, I've established the Lloyd's of London via the City of London, putting them in charge of entire marine insurance - cargo insurance, onshore and offshore exposed properties, marine casualties, etc. Of course, it was funded and owned by the Royal family of the New West Roman Empire - currently, me.

As a starter, I've mandated all shipping companies to purchase shipping insurance every time they set sail while supporting 30% of the insurance cost via Royal asset. And that reduced the complaint of shipping companies.

No, they've obediently accepted it, since now their risk during dangerous ocean voyages - such as a loss of cargo or ship - is covered by the Royal - Lloyd Company, to be exact.

'Now, everything's ready!'

With the insurance funded by the Royal, the burden of shipping companies preparing for ocean voyage is drastically reduced.

'And that means more merchant ships in the sea!'

As a result, to reduce the insurance costs in the dangerous waters, ship-owners who were once privateers will be the first in line to crush the pirates in those waters. And that means more merchant ships, leading to a boom in the shipping industry.

Naturally, shipping companies will earn more money, employing more sailors, managing more merchant ships, which is a butterfly effect started from marine insurance.

"But what will happen if marine insurance refuses to cover the risk of a shipping company?"

"M...marine, do you mean sea? No, I haven't seen the sea in my life, before I came to London to wed you, Imperator!"

Of course, it will have to cover all that risk all by itself, which means bankruptcy. Why's that?

For one thing, that company will lose price competitiveness, since its' competitors are still covered by the insurance, while it doesn't. And another thing, even if its' price is cheaper than others, shippers wouldn't entrust their cargo to that company, since it's not covered by insurance.

So, with no shipper to entrust his cargo, that shipping company has no choice but to go bankrupt.

In the end, the tail will wag the dog! The marine insurance company will have the upper hand over the shipping companies.

"And that marine insurance company - Lloyd - is owned by the Royal! Yes, I'll be the master of both finance and logistics of entire Europe!"

"Hahahaha!"

"Eh! Eh!"

'Hug'

"Aren't you a cute boy, Arthur?"

I laughed as I hugged my late-born son Arthur.

"L, logistics? Do you mean logic? Sorry to disappoint you, Imperator, but I'm not clever as Prince of Wales - Richard - ...I've read a few Greek, Roman classic works, let alone recent works of Shakespeare."

'She's silly, but who cares?'

'She's already produced my late-born son, being a good trophy wife...no, I mean, I don't have to worry that she might plot something behind my back!'

1618 Winter(November-December)

Sweden also swore allegiance.

'Better late than never, huh?'

After witnessing that Denmark has sworn allegiance to the New West Roman Empire - me, to be exact - out of fear that it'll get a raw deal, it also suggested becoming a vassal state.

And I accepted it, making Sweden a 4th vassal state of the New West Roman Empire.

"Now, all that's left is Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth(Poland), eh?"

Since Tsardom of Russia - which just escaped from the Time of Trouble - is half Asian country before Peter the Great, the only Christianity and the European country that didn't swear allegiance to me was Poland.

Of course, I've already sent several secret messages to Poland , but it remained silent.

"Is Sigismund III Vasa - the current King of Poland - think of himself as Leonidas I of Sparta, who stood up against Xerxes I of Persia?"

No, to be exact, he's in a dilemma. Although being a 5th Vassal state of New West Roman Empire is not his cup of tea, he knows Poland has no chance of winning against the New West Roman Empire.

"Now, how should I teach him a lesson?"

The problem is Casus Belli or a just cause to declare war.

A self-made act is one thing, but I've got a better idea.