Chapter 419 Territory Income
After leaving Fulangang Church, Paul hurried back to Lake Town.
As soon as he returned to the office and his buttocks were still hot from sitting, he immediately ordered someone to call Ford, the director of the Government Affairs Council, and Cecil, the intelligence minister.
"My lord, what happened." As soon as the two entered Paul's office, they felt that the atmosphere was not right. The count seemed to be in a bad mood, so he had better be careful what he said.
"You two." Paul sat down in the chair, intertwined the fingers of his hands on his abdomen, and his tone sounded depressed.
"I overheard some bad things in Port Fulan."
What bad things?
Old Ford looked as usual, but the hairs on the intelligence director's hair stood on end. Could it be that some key technology had been stolen, or that some military secrets had been leaked?
His mind immediately searched the recent work status quickly and carefully, and there seemed to be nothing wrong.
That's what I didn't detect. As the person in charge of intelligence work, I wouldn't have to face the lord's thunderous wrath.
Paul's next words reassured him a little.
"Some of our soldiers who died in the army, their relatives were treated unfairly in their hometown."
Cecil breathed a sigh of relief, this was no longer his authority and responsibility within the range.
This time it was Old Ford's turn to be nervous.
"Lord Graiman, Heavenly Father can testify that the Government Council has fully complied with your wishes and provided generous pensions to the families of each soldier who died."
Paul waved his hand and said: "I'm not doubting your work, but..."
He depressedly explained to the two what he encountered in Fulangang Church, and then solemnly told the intelligence director An order was issued: "Cecil, I order you to investigate the situation in Tutuo Village within a month. I cannot tolerate the family members of those sacrificed soldiers being bullied by others."
Old Ford and Cecil nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, Mr. Grayman, we will get to the bottom of the situation there." I have a result.”
“Farewell, Lord Graiman”
As the two of them turned to leave, they were suddenly stopped by Paul again.
“Wait, I suddenly remembered something.”
“Do you have any other instructions.”
“I want to know about the living conditions of the clergy. Especially the lower-level ones.”
Paul recalled the dress of Father Hershey.
Old Ford and Cecil looked at each other, wondering why the count suddenly cared about such a thing.
“As far as I know, the life of the clergy seems to be quite good, like Anderson, Morrison, and Violet of Port Fulang, but the one I saw "Hershey, you don't look very well-off." "That's not surprising, Mr. Grayman." Old Ford explained to him: "He is just a priest who presides over a country church. He definitely doesn't have much money." br>
Paul asked: "Why, the oil and water these country priests get...uh, I mean, isn't the treatment very good?"
Old Ford answered naturally: "This is natural. You must know that the church is a hierarchical system. Although the rural priests are front-line personnel in collecting tithes, there are not many left, not to mention most of them have families to support."< br>
"Huh? Most of them still have families?"
"Yes, they marry a wife and have children."
"Are there very few people who remain single and focus on serving the Lord?"
< br>Controller Ford shook his head: "One hundred percent piety cannot buy material improvement, so just seventy percent is fine."
"Why not? As far as I know, such a person is not Can I get a better promotion in the church? ”
"Hoo ho ho ho, Mr. Grayman." Old Ford had a mysterious smile on his face and explained to Paul in a low voice.
"Theoretically, this is true, but most of these village priests come from civilian families, and they basically stop here throughout their lives. As for higher positions in the church... those big families have to give themselves no The second son who inherits the right or... or the child born out of wedlock can have a good future. For example, the Hershey you just met is from a noble family."
Paul's heart changed. Might these lower-level priests be a force to be fought for?
In this case, he looked at the intelligence chief: "Cecil, I have to give you an important task."
"Please do as you please, Lord Graiman. ”
"Secretly investigate the living standards of all the clergy in our territory. It can be roughly divided into three classes: upper, middle and lower, as well as their respective proportions. The more detailed the information, the better."
plug Syl was stunned for a moment. What did the count want with this information? But he habitually agreed, and the count had his own reasons for doing so.
Paul turned to Old Ford, the General Manager of the Government Affairs Council and Director of the Ministry of Finance, and asked: "How much do you expect our fiscal revenue to be next year?"
Old Ford recalled the information he had on hand. , concluded: "Lord Graiman, take into account the taxes of Alda, Bailding, and Emden, as well as the various industries that you have entrusted to the Government Council to manage, and convert various physical objects and currencies into Aldo silver coins. I estimate it can reach around 120,000.”
120,000 silver coins? Paul rubbed his chin and thought deeply. If you include the economic income generated by the various forest farms, farms, workshops, mines and shops that Paul left to the Graiman family, it would be a little over 250,000 Aldo silver coins.
He recalled a post he saw in his previous life that estimated the income of rulers of various countries in Western Europe in the Middle Ages. The annual income of rulers in various countries was uniformly converted into Byzantine Nomisma. In the first half of the 14th century, the annual income of the British king was 60,000 The British pound is about 400,000 Nomisma. One Nomisma gold coin is roughly equivalent to the value of 54g of silver. The silver content of Aldo silver coins in this life is about 24~25g. After this conversion, then At that time, the annual income of the British king was more than 860,000 Aldo silver coins, so the wealth that the earl could control every year was almost equivalent to more than a quarter of the British king in the fourteenth century?
It’s quite exciting to think about it.
Of course, regarding how to distribute and use the tax revenue from Bailding, Paul must listen to the opinions of Myron Garnard, who is still the lord of Bailding, but Paul's ally has always supported him decision.
Looking at Paul who was deep in thought, Old Ford and Cecil were a little confused. The Earl first asked about the living standards of the low-level priests, and then asked about the fiscal revenue of the territory. What is he doing?
The two of them thought of a possibility at the same time: Wasn't the earl going to give money to those low-level priests?
Haha, it’s impossible. If that were the case, wouldn’t it be too much money to burn your hands?
The two of them gave up this ridiculous idea in their minds.
(After checking, the annual income of the British king in the first half of the 14th century was 60,000 pounds, the guaranteed annual income of an English earl was 1,000 pounds, and the annual income of the richest Earl of Lanster was as high as 12,000 pounds. , which was about 1/5 of the King of England. At that time, one pound contained 279.936g of silver. The protagonist originally owned an earldom, but also took charge of Bailding, and also annexed Emden, which was far larger than an ordinary earldom. , coupled with the development of industries using various new technologies, after a few years of development, it should not be excessive, right?
But there is no investigation. The area and population of the Earl of Lancaster's territory at that time was not very rigorous, haha! )
(End of this chapter)