Chapter 273
“He didn’t die, did he?”
Paul asked, looking at Baden who was frothing at the mouth and fell to the ground.
After careful inspection, the guard replied: "My lord, he is not dead yet, he just fainted."
"Drag him out, don't leave him here to be an eyesore."
"Yes!"
Paul narrowed his eyes and carefully recalled what had just happened.
The punishment of Baden was a test to see what attitude this representative figure among landowners and squires had towards his lord's authority.
The result was unexpectedly good. The local snake fainted directly. In Paul's view, this showed that Baden knew that he could not resist the punishment from the lord.
What was the situation like a year ago? Pirates invaded and beat the old lord to death. Then ruffians and road bullies ran rampant and traffic was blocked. The lord's government decrees could only be circulated around Huxin Town. ,
Paul thought to himself that if he had punished such a big landowner at that time, Baden would never be so frightened and would even "bargain" with him.
Suppressed the pirates in the northwest bay, showed his strong financial resources to develop industry and commerce, dared to fight against the powerful Kent family, and famously fought the Battle of Biddo Castle in the northwest, once again restoring the lord's authority in the Earl of Alda.
This forces the landlords and gentry, who have held power in the countryside for generations, to be cautious when facing orders from their lords.
A large landowner and tax collector like Baden was the de facto lord on his own territory. In addition to contracting taxes, before Paul established the peasant association and the military service station, all lords The government's corvee service, military service and other affairs all have to go through their hands.
Baden's reaction gave Paul further ideas - to completely abolish the tax collector system under his rule. He had already had this idea, and he wanted to abolish it immediately at last year's year-end meeting, but was dissuaded by Director Ford.
...
"You must act calmly. It is really inappropriate to make such a decision now!"
When Paul raised it again at the meeting, Manager Ford once again dissuaded Paul.
“Why, Baden is also one of the most prominent landowners in Arda. People like this have surrendered. Who else dares to disobey my decree?”
“That’s because you punished me. It’s just Baden.”
Manager Ford stroked his beard and slowly analyzed: "As the saying goes, a big tree attracts wind. With Baden's family wealth, I don't know how many people are secretly jealous. He is unlucky because of his crimes. Others will only applaud or even add insult to injury. But if you make a paper The law has abolished all tax collectors, and the collective interests of all of them will be leveraged. They will jump over the wall in a hurry. During this sensitive period when we are at war with the Kent family, there will be less trouble within Alda. Just one less thing, otherwise it will give external enemies an opportunity."
Paul was dissatisfied: "Now that the Lord's Mansion has a lot of troops, do they dare to rebel? I think only one battalion can be used to deter them. Stop them." Schroeder, the chief of staff on the side, coughed, "Uh... Lord Graiman, in this matter... with all due respect, I don't think the current army is very reliable..."
"What do you mean by this, Schroeder? You have also seen how excellent the army we have trained is."
Paul looked directly at the chief of staff, The Arda army was his greatest pride. Except for a small setback when fighting against pirates in the early days of its establishment, it had never let him down. Schroeder's words were simply pouring cold water on him.
"Sir, I am not referring to combat effectiveness."
The chief of staff said cautiously: "Sir Graiman, according to your request, when the officers of the Arda army are selected and promoted, the knowledge they have mastered is An extremely important reference factor, and in our army...those children from real civilian families can hardly even write their own names before joining the army. They only began to receive basic reading and writing education after joining the army. This led to us. Most of the officers are children of landlords and gentry. You know, children from rich families always have an advantage in education than children from poor families."
"So?" Paul already understood. Schroeder meant that reality poured cold water on him again.
Schroeder looked at him: "The bigger the family, the stronger the family concept. I think it is difficult for the grassroots officers to guarantee their loyalty to you when it comes to abolishing tax collectors. In the end, In a bad situation... they will do some irrational things under the instigation of the family."
"In addition, I would like to remind you that the abolition plan you proposed before is also included in this, and it is indeed not allowed. Too hasty.”
Paul was a little frustrated. Schroeder was right. He himself also remembered a saying from his previous life, "He who has the same desire will win." Even if those officers would not directly resist him because of the constraints of their oaths, would they still work for him as before when facing the enemy? Can such an army still be invincible?
"Is there no other way?" Paul was very depressed. Since he took the throne, he felt that there were various constraints on everything he did. He had to consider this and that. In fact, it seems that he has never done anything that can truly be called social change since time travel, which really damages the reputation of a time traveler.
“Please at least wait until the number of officers with civilian origins reaches a certain proportion before you launch your reform plan. This proportion... I recommend no less than three-fifths. But... this takes time, Considering that to maintain the combat effectiveness of the army, we still have to rely on officers from wealthy families, and the formal education at Graiman Military Academy has just begun."
"I hope that you will gradually expand the number of civilians as trainees in the future. "Yes, sir, I will pay attention to this in the future, but I also want to say that it is not appropriate to let children from poor families hold all positions. As a lord, you must." Maintain a good balance.”
"I know this."
Next Paul asked the two about their next course of action. According to the established plan, the army would divert the attention of the Kent family, and then the navy's warships would sail up the Vis River to open up a "second battlefield." Now a riot has disrupted the plan.
Both Controller Ford and Chief of Staff Schroeder suggested focusing on internal stability at the moment. No one can tell whether a second riot will occur.
The final decision was that the two battalions commanded by Bryce would continue to be stationed in the newly occupied areas, and the troops still remaining in Arda and Bailding - including the navy and army, would be stationed in various places. As soon as there is any trouble, suppress it immediately.
An efficient communication system must be established. The current method of relying on fast horses and birds to deliver urgent messages is neither timely nor reliable, and is not conducive to his control of the two earls' territories.
Paul thought of his long-shelved "Flag Signal Station" plan.
(End of this chapter)