Chapter 331
Since the shuttle loom and the spinning jenny were displayed at the October press conference, many people in the textile industry have expressed their intention to purchase them.
Under Paul's instructions, the machinery factory announced to the public that there were still some unresolved technical problems with the Jenny spinning machine and that external sales were suspended. This disappointed many factory owners.
However, the shuttle loom was launched as scheduled, and Huxin Town Machinery Factory still received a large number of orders. Driven by demand, the machinery factory expanded and began to recruit new apprentices in preparation for mass production of flying shuttle looms.
In addition to flying shuttle looms, agricultural machinery such as cotton gins, threshers, haymakers, root cutters, and mills are also popular, and these machinery are also included in plans to increase production.
The sales of new machinery brought Paul a large amount of wealth and income. Although Paul took the initiative to separate the public and private treasury, the Huxin Town Machinery Factory was the property of the Graiman family and not under the jurisdiction of the Government Affairs Council, and all its income went to Paul. in the private treasury.
But the machinery factory also needs to pay taxes like other factories opened by factory owners, and the money goes into the public treasury of the Government Affairs Council. Many people don't understand this. In their understanding, the entire territory belongs to the Graiman family. The function of the Government Affairs Council is to help the lord manage the affairs of the territory. Only Paul's orders are obeyed. Paul has control over the jurisdiction of the Government Council. The public treasury has the final say, so what is the difference between the Graiman family's machinery factory paying taxes to the Government Administration and a person handing money from his left hand to his right hand.
But even though more than one person raised doubts about this, Paul still insisted that there is such a procedure, and in terms of complying with other laws, all Graiman family industries, including the machinery factory, and other private workshops and workshops Generally the same.
Another thing that makes Paul happy is the development of maritime trade. With the continuous construction of civilian sailboats, the proportion of goods transported by sea in export goods is getting higher and higher, which means that sales Goods going south are being exploited by territorial checkpoints on land, and the money is getting less and less.
In order to further develop maritime trade, the Government Council spent a lot of money to purchase a shipyard under the name of Earl Price Parker. This shipyard also occupies a natural harbor. Fulan Port Shipyard sent a large number of management and Technicians took over the shipyard and transformed the equipment and facilities, training the shipyard's old craftsmen, and preparing to produce new ships that meet Alda's needs.
Expanding [domestic demand] in the vast area of the Northwest Bay is also within the plan of Paul and the Government Council. Since Paul proposed the "Customs Union" plan to Henry Ferdinand, who had just succeeded to the throne of Duke, in Center City, many plans have followed. Sells his plans to other lords. For several months, the major lords exchanged letters frequently, discussing the so-called "customs union" and secretly calculating the pros and cons to themselves.
Unified opinions have not been reached externally, but there was a quarrel internally. The abolition of tariffs was a major event. According to the ancient tradition, Paul and Mellon jointly summoned the famous families, lower nobles, large estate owners and powerful people in Alda, Bairding and Emden, which were newly under the jurisdiction of the Council of Government. Businessmen and factory owners gathered in Lake Town. Paul asked them for their opinions on the plan to form a customs union, and explained that the significance of the establishment of the customs union was to reduce or even cancel tariffs between the northwest gulf territories and eliminate mutual trade. barriers, thus forming a close trade and economic area.
Originally Paul thought that this was just a formality and that these people would unconditionally support the lord’s decision, but unexpectedly he encountered strong resistance.
Businessmen and factory owners welcome this plan very much, because it will greatly reduce their cost of importing goods and raw materials from outside, and if other territories also implement the same policy, they will sell to other territories. The cost of goods will also be reduced.
The objections came from the manor owners or landowners. Their land produced the goods and raw materials needed by merchants and factory owners, including grain for food and wine making, cotton for textiles and Wool, etc., once tariffs are reduced or even eliminated, skilled merchants and factory owners will have more choices, which will cause the competitiveness of their crops to be greatly reduced, thus seriously affecting their income.
Destroying people's wealth is like killing their parents. In the past, Paul promoted crop rotation, consolidated farmland and even inspected real estate. Although the landowners complained about the lord's repeated efforts, they were basically cooperative. After all, many measures were beneficial in the long run. It would also be good for them to come. But on the issue of tariffs, they actually showed strong opposition and were unprecedentedly united.
The lower-level nobles of Bailding and Emden either expressed support or opposition based on the majority of their respective territories or the industries they run personally. Paul now understood that the original tariff was not just a means for the lords to make money, but also a protection for the promises of supporters in the territory. In this era when agriculture was dominant, the greatest reliance of the feudal nobles was the landowners in their territories. The lords protected the interests of the landlords by promulgating a series of policies, including tariffs, and the landlords contributed money and efforts to maintain the power and dignity of the lords. They also sent the best children of their families to join the lord's army and serve as important servants, officers, etc. Position - the lord had no other choice. If he did not let the children of these big families hold the position, should he let the children of illiterate peasants or serfs hold the position? I can't even communicate well.
Many landowners in Beldine and Emden have the status of knights. They were an important part of the military power in the previous territories. Although there are no real knights in Arda, they are also In the same way, most of the officers in the new army after the restructuring are children from landlord families, after all, they can read from the beginning.
Due to too much resistance, Paul had to announce that the matter would be discussed later. The opponents breathed a sigh of relief and left Huxin Town one after another after touring the new atmosphere of Huxin Town. . Although they could see that the earl was deeply reluctant.
The first thing Paul did after the meeting was to discuss the army's rewards with Chief of Staff Schroeder. In the Assault War, there were many officers who commanded well and needed to be promoted, and many soldiers who fought bravely to kill the enemy needed rewards.
“I have no objection to your plan.”
Paul took a quill and put a big check mark on the plan Schroeder handed him, and signed himself name.
“But in this way, a lot of junior officers’ positions will be freed up, right?”
“Yes, sir.” Schroeder replied, “The plan is to only serve those with military exploits. Supplemented by Veterans and Graeman Academy cadets."
"Well, very good. But..." Paul stared into the eyes of the old knight and said slowly: "As for the origin of the new officers...you have to control this ratio."
Schroeder gave it to the lord With a reassuring look, "Lord Grayman, I will control it."
The lord had discussed this issue with him a long time ago, and he also knew the purpose of the lord doing this. He originally wanted to spend several The years have gradually turned around, but Lord Earl seems to be a little impatient to wait.
The count's words echoed in the room.
"Schroeder, I need the staff...no, it is my own will that can directly affect the company and platoon level."
(End of this chapter)