Chapter 1640 Privileged Trader
In the empire, to become a rogue trader, you must first obtain a trading license issued by the empire's high-level officials. In the long history of the empire, licenses were roughly divided into four types.
The first and earliest trading license was issued by the Emperor himself to reward those dynasties and families who sincerely submitted or assisted during the Terra Unification War and the Great Crusade. The license is valid forever as long as the empire exists. It is also called the imperial license.
The second, during the Great Crusade, the Primarch was also granted the power to issue publisher's licenses, which were also permanently valid, but this license was mainly applicable in the expedition and conquest zone of its issuer at that time ( In other words, if your permission was signed by Dorn, you might be confiscated by Tieyong City Manager if you went to do business on Boss Pi's territory). After the Horus Heresy, the only remaining permissions issued by the original body became More powerful, such as the licenses of Guilliman and Dorn. The validity of these two certificates is second only to the license issued by the Emperor himself, also known as the Primarch License. (Of course only those who are loyal will do, and those who are disloyal will do the same)
The third type is that after the Beast War, as the original body gradually fell, the High Lords Council also gained the power to issue—— In the past, they were all issued by the original body. The Lords Council seconded the increase in effectiveness and began to classify certificates. In principle, permanently valid certificates are used to reward people who have made great contributions to the empire, but in many cases, high lords and their core The power group will use this license as a special reward to bribe those who are young and powerful enough to threaten their status. It is equivalent to saying that if you don't compete with me for power, I will promise you eternal wealth. This is also called a lord's license. .
The fourth type began to appear at the end of the 40th millennium. In order to cope with the increasing number of wars and expand income, the High Lords Council began to issue a certificate that was only valid for one generation or a limited number of generations. At the same time, the scope of activities was only allowed within a certain period. A general trading license in the sector. This type of license is basically clearly priced, and sometimes the right is even granted to the district governor. However, this license has almost no privileges and authority and only exists as a business certificate. (Classic British financial solution)
After a long time, the original Imperial License is now extremely holy, because every such license has a drop of the blood of the Emperor himself, and Most of them are well kept in the stasis field, and its authority allows the family with this license to almost ignore the intervention of most imperial agencies, because the license is granted by the Emperor himself, and no one has it now. To deprive it of the power, even if the licensed family patriarch commits a crime, he can only arrest and execute the offender, but the family must continue to fulfill the sacred contract with the emperor. (Iron Hat King of the Empire)
However, after ten thousand years, there are only a handful of ancient merchant families that still exist, and the empire will not be overly troubled by this.
At the same time, these ancient Rogue Trader families not only have special political status, they can also purchase decommissioned ships from the Imperial Navy by relying on the ancient treaties in the Imperial Office License, or even order new ships directly from the Forge World. To expand your original trade fleet, those with some money can buy second-hand Moon-class cruisers. If you have strong financial resources, you can directly buy a Rogue Trader cruiser specially designed for Rogue Traders. This type of ship is upgraded from a modular-designed Moon-class cruiser. It comes from the ship's self-sustainability and firepower, and generally uses additional macro cannons and light spears to replace bulky torpedo launchers and adamantine rams.
As far as Soshyan knows, the Hoyland family has at least 16 such merchant cruisers, as well as 3 "retired" battleships, as well as a large number of small ships and armed transport ships. Its fleet strength is It is one of the best in the entire Maelstrom area, stronger than the Imperial Navy.
And these are still the paper strengths of the Hoyland family. No one knows how many hidden ships and strengths this family, which has occupied the main trade routes of the Maelstrom and made a lot of money for ten thousand years, still has. However, in the last Ba During the Dabb War, the Hoyland family did not openly intervene, but only provided transportation assistance to the loyal parties. Huron did not seem to cause any trouble for them, which shows that even he has some scruples about this ancient family.
All kinds of thoughts flashed through Soshiyang's mind rapidly. Now that he was going to launch troops against the Maelstrom, whether it was logistics or combat, the support of this ancient merchant family was indispensable.
So he turned around and picked up a goblet from the silver plate held by the waiter on the side.
"Mr. Ernst Marley Hoyland, the cause of revolt in the Maelstrom cannot be separated from the support of Hongshang. The Hoyland family's ten thousand years of loyalty to the Emperor belongs to everyone. An example."
With the support of a descendant, Old Marley tried to move forward, and then bowed slightly.
"The Hoylander family is the eternal loyal servant of the emperor. We will fully support the expeditionary force and clean up the heretics." His voice was very old, but it was not blurry, but rather clear. Soshyan nodded with a smile, Then raise your glass.
"Let us drink a drink together for the health of old Ernst."
Sosyan has given the Hoylander family enough face, the old man Ma Lei coughed twice and said:
"How dare I accept such a great gift!"
"Your contribution to the empire is worthy of this drink."
After saying that, Soshyan put the finished wine glass on the plate and came to the last person.
The Claremont Family, the second largest Rogue Trader family in the Maelstrom after the Hoyland Family, also holds an Imperial Office License, but is not as powerful as the Hoyland Family. , the main force of the fleet consists of 13 merchant cruisers and 1 decommissioned battleship. However, the family fully supported the empire in the last Badab War, and also sent a fleet to participate in the battle against Huron. Afterwards, it also suffered multiple retaliations from the Red Pirates. , even one battleship was robbed, so that the power was greatly reduced. Originally, it could basically compete with the Hoyland family, but now it is completely at a disadvantage.
And according to intelligence, the Claremont family also experienced a serious civil strife a few years ago. A quarter of the captains in the family left the Hoyland family, and their territory and trading stations were reduced by nearly half. , even the head of the family is just a 10-year-old boy named Yule Clement.
Therefore, the person who is really in charge of the family is the eldest daughter of the previous head of the family, Syllou Clement. Dressed in an ice blue dress, she is holding the hand of her younger brother. After seeing Soshiyang, she slightly She bent her knees and twisted her skirt and lowered her head to perform aristocratic etiquette, while her younger brother was frightened by the huge space warrior. His face turned pale and he subconsciously took two steps back, causing a burst of slight laughter from around him.
Seeing her brother like this, Silu Clement was helpless. Just as he pulled him over, Soshiyang suddenly left the Terminator's guard, walked less than two meters away from the boy, and then bent down with his hands behind his back. , said with a smile:
"Hello, Mr. Yoel Clermont."
(End of this chapter)