Chapter 402 Alliance Establishment and Statistical Committee
When the directors of Northwest Industries (that is, the lords) learned that a big business worth millions of silver coins was going to hit their heads, It was almost crazy.
When Paul proposed the establishment of Northwest Industry, the lords initially participated with the mentality of making some extra money for fun. No one expected that it would now become an important source of income for them.
They all drove from their respective territories to Huxin Town, vying to see the mysterious client who spent a lot of money.
It turns out that he is from the Corner Bay Alliance and is the eldest son of the Foster family. This is incredible.
In recent years, as Arda has led the trend of foreign trade, the previously isolated Northwest Bay has begun to gradually come into contact with all aspects of the outside world. The lords know the status of the Foster family in the Corner Bay Alliance.
Flattery, flattery, the hospitable lords held round after round of banquets to entertain the Foster brothers.
In the newly built mansion of Count Price Parker in Lake Town, a lively dinner party with all the guests enjoying has just concluded. After the guests dispersed, the mansion fell silent.
In the bridge room on the second floor, there are still several people playing cards and talking quietly around the table.
They are Paul Greymanber, Earl of Arda, Myron Garner, Earl of Bairding, Winifred Heller, Earl of Portree, Henry Ferdinand, Duke of the North West and The Earl of Larnaca is also the owner of the mansion, Earl Price Parker.
These five people are also the five most influential directors in northwest industry.
The other person in the room was Derrick Heller, the son of Earl Heller, but he did not play at the table. Instead, he stood aside to serve his father who was disabled.
While handling the poker in his hand, Paul said: "Everyone, as foreign trade continues to increase, I think the plan for the customs union can no longer just stay on paper... Haha, I'm lucky tonight Not bad.”
He threw out several consecutive cards at once.
“I think so too!” Myron echoed. Of course, everyone knew that he and Paul were wearing the same pants.
Others had different expressions on their faces.
"Hey! I agree too."
Duke Henry Ferdinand said with a smile, "It should have been done a long time ago."
The direct territory of the Ferdinand family is Manda , the advantageous products are all kinds of agricultural products, and the advantageous products of Alda and Baierding are all kinds of manufacturing products, which do not conflict with each other, and the cheap salt and cheap iron farm tools produced by Alda are both popular in inland areas like Manda. There is a large demand in agricultural territories, and without the tolls on large and small territories along the way, it will be cheaper to sell these things to Manda. Of course, if each other cancels tariffs, they won't be able to collect tolls on their own land. It's really painful to think about it, but there are gains and losses, and we need to take a long-term view.
Seriously speaking, Henry’s current position in the aristocratic circle of the Northwest Gulf is a bit embarrassing. According to tradition, the Ferdinand family should have been the leader of the lords of the Northwest Gulf, but during the Assumption War, they actually let their own The vassal took control and eventually lost the battle. The current head of the family still relied on the support of outsiders to ascend to the position of duke. This caused a big blow to the family's prestige, and the duke's brand name was not so bright.
The person who has risen the fastest in the past few years is the previously unknown Paul Gleiman. Not to mention the powerful force he showed in the Assault War, but simply to lead the establishment of the Northwest Industry after the war, which made everyone involved Everyone has made a lot of money, which has already made many people like him. Prestige cannot be built with sticks without carrots.
In addition, his rise to power mainly relied on the strength of Alda's army, Henry felt strange every time he was on the same occasion with Paul. Fortunately, Paul gave him a lot of face. Every time they met, he would always bow respectfully. He would also greet him if he had any good things to do. He would also inform him in advance of big moves like the customs union. So Henry was happy to use the family's remaining prestige to cooperate with Paul.
On the other hand, it was Earl Parker and Earl Heller. They looked at each other with expressions on their faces that were hard to describe.
The two men had previously promised to support the establishment of a customs union, but encountered great resistance in its implementation.
Paul looked at them as if he understood.
"I know what you are worried about. Come here and listen to what I have to say."
The five of them stood up and placed their heads in a circle on the small card table.
“Ah, let’s do it like this? Is that okay?”
“Why are you hesitating? If those country bumpkins don’t know how to advance or retreat, everything will be in trouble.”
“I’ll try it. Try it.”
...
“Okay, let’s do this, let’s advance and retreat together.”
After the discussion, the five lords sat down again.
Parker said hesitantly: "Um... Count Malcolm has never been interested in our plan. How about trying to persuade him again? There is strength in numbers."
Paul and Henry Ferdinand looked ugly and said nothing.
Earl Morley Malkane was one of the initiators of the opposition to the Kent family at that time. As for who had the most credit in the Assault War at that time, everyone may not agree with anyone, but when it comes to who danced the most happily after the war, it was Earl Malkan.
The most unbearable thing for Paul is that Earl Malkan always behaves like a senior in front of him..."prompts" him.
In short, from the ears of some people who don’t know the truth, Paul’s current achievements are thanks to the support of the elder Malcolm.
And for Henry Ferdinand, the current Duke of the Northwest, Malken was quite disrespectful.
The others had not spoken yet, but Derrick, who had been standing silently behind his father, expressed his objection first. "Bringing that guy Malcolm in will definitely cause trouble? He is a greedy and mean guy."
Earl Heller's face darkened and he scolded his son: "Shut up, you have no right to speak here. "My son, you are still making unreasonable comments about others."
Derrick was unconvinced: "I am not making unreasonable comments. Since he joined Northwest Industry, he has used all kinds of methods to make profit." Using clever methods to plunder the people, the large and small blacksmith shops and iron mines in his territory are all named after Milken. "
"Alas!" Earl Parker shook his head. He also had some concerns about Milken. Hear.
It’s better not to have any contact with Malcolm yet, the lords made this decision silently.
The next step is the most critical, the allocation of external tariffs.
The so-called customs union means that everyone in their own alliance circle exempts each other from tolls, but there is no less charge for the import and export of goods outside the alliance.
However, due to geographical reasons, some territories can collect large amounts of external tariffs, such as Alda, which has an outlet to the sea, while some territories cannot.
So under Paul's suggestion, the taxes collected from external goods are used as the alliance's public treasury to be used for expenditures on public affairs of the alliance, such as paying employees' salaries, or supporting the foundation of areas with backward transportation. If there is a surplus from facility construction, it will be distributed according to the proportion of the population of each member territory - and then the respective lords will decide how to use it.
Whoever has a territory with a certain population cannot just open his mouth.
But apart from Paul's rough enumeration of his own jurisdiction, the lords of this era had only a rough estimate of the number of their subjects.
So again under Paul’s proposal, the Customs Union needs to establish a statistical committee.
In addition to counting the population and providing a basis for the allocation of public treasury, the Statistical Committee also counts the alliance's economic and trade data, such as the quantity, value of imported and exported goods, etc., to provide a basis for the alliance to formulate trade policies. .
In the future it may take on more statistical responsibilities.
Who will be responsible for managing this statistics committee?
"I propose that Brother Myron be the chairman of the committee."
Henry Ferdinand raised his voice and expressed his opinion.
"This...it's up to everyone to discuss it." Mailon stood up and gave in, looking embarrassed.
"Brother Mellon is fair, rigorous, and conscientious in his work. There will be no problem in leaving the committee in his hands."
The Duke insisted on his opinion.
"I second it!"
Paul also expressed his opinion.
Then Henry, Paul, and Myron stared at the remaining two people.
"I...I...I have no objection in principle." Earl Heller whispered hesitantly.
"This...well, I also believe in Earl Garnard."
Earl Parker had no choice but to agree.
Anyway, no matter who leads the committee, each leader will arrange their own people to supervise each other.
In this way, the long-delayed customs union was finally officially established.
(End of this chapter)