Chapter 328：

Since the shuttle loom and spinning jenny were shown at the press conference in October, many people in the textile industry have expressed their intention to buy.

Under Paul's instruction, the machinery factory announced to the public that there were still some technical problems in the Jenny spinning machine that had not been resolved, and the sales to the outside world were suspended, which disappointed many factory owners.

However, the shuttle loom was launched as scheduled, and the Huxin Town Machinery Factory still received a large number of orders. Driven by demand, the machinery factory was expanded, new apprentices were recruited, and the shuttle looms were mass-produced.

In addition to shuttle looms, agricultural machinery such as cotton gins, threshing machines, hay cutters, root cutters, and mills are also welcomed, and these machines are also in the production increase plan.

The sales of new machinery brought Paul a lot of wealth and income. Although Paul took the initiative to separate the public treasury from the private treasury, the Huxin Town Machinery Factory was the property of the Greiman family and not under the jurisdiction of the Government Council, and all its income went to Paul in the private library.

However, machinery factories also need to pay taxes like factories opened by other factory owners, and the money goes into the public treasury of the Government Council. Many people don't understand this point. In their perception, the entire territory belongs to the Greiman family. The function of the Government Council is to help the lord manage the affairs of the territory. Only Paul's order is to obey. The public treasury has the final decision, so what is the difference between the Greiman family's machinery factory paying taxes to the Government Council and a person passing money from left to right.

But even though more than one person raised doubts about this, Paul still insisted that there was such a procedure, and in terms of complying with other laws and regulations, all the Gleiman family businesses, including the machinery factory, were no different from other private workshops and workshops.

Another thing that makes Paul happy is the development of maritime trade. With the continuous construction of civilian sailing ships, the proportion of goods transported by sea in export goods is getting higher and higher, which means that goods sold to the south are being sold by land. There is less and less money to be exploited in the previous territory checkpoints.

In order to further develop maritime trade, the Government Council spent a lot of money to buy a shipyard under the name of Earl Price Parker. This shipyard also occupies a natural good harbor, and Port Fullland Shipyard sent a large number of management and technical personnel to take over the shipyard. The shipyard also carried out renovation of equipment and facilities, trained the old craftsmen of the shipyard, and prepared for the production of new ships that meet Arda's needs.

Expanding the [domestic demand] of the vast area of ​​the Northwest Gulf is also within the plans of Paul and the Council of State. Since Paul proposed the "customs union" plan to Henry Ferdinand, who had just succeeded the Duke, in Center City, there have been successive Pitch his plans to other lords. Over the past few months, the major lords have exchanged frequent letters, discussing the so-called "customs union", and secretly calculating the pros and cons to themselves.

The outside has not yet reached a unified opinion, and the inside first quarreled. The abolition of customs duties is a major event. According to the ancient tradition, Paul and Mellon jointly summoned the famous families, lower-level nobles, large manor owners and powerful Merchants and factory owners from around the world gathered in Huxin 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 the customs duties among the territories in the Northwest Gulf, and to eliminate trade between them. obstacles, thus forming a close trade and economic region.

Originally, Paul thought it was just a process, and these people would unconditionally support the lord's decision, but he unexpectedly encountered strong resistance.

Merchants 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 implement the same policy, their cost of selling goods to other territories will also be reduced .

Objections come from manor owners or landowners. Their land produces the goods and raw materials needed by merchants and factory owners, such as grain for food and wine, cotton and wool for weaving, etc. Once the tariff Reducing or even canceling them will give more choices to skilled merchants and factory owners, which will greatly reduce the competitiveness of their crops, which will seriously affect their income.

Cutting off one’s wealth is like killing one’s parents. In the past, Paul promoted the crop rotation system, consolidated cultivated land, and even checked real estate. Although the landlords complained about the lord’s tossing round after round, they were basically cooperative. After all, many measures are in the long run. It would be good for them to come too. But on the matter of tariffs, they have shown strong opposition and unprecedented unity.

The lower-ranking nobles of Bairding and Emden, on the other hand, occupy the majority according to their respective territories or the industries they personally manage, either expressing their support or opposition.

Only now did Paul understand that tariffs were 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 dominated, the greatest reliance of the feudal nobles was the landowners in their territories. The lord protects the interests of the landlords by promulgating a series of policies including tariffs, while the landlords spend money and efforts to maintain the power and majesty of the lord, and also send the best children of their own families to join the lord's army as attendants, officers and other important Position—the lord has no other choice. Instead of letting the children of these big families take up the position, is it possible to let the children of illiterate farmers or serfs take the position? Can't even communicate well.

Many landowners in Bairding and Emden have the status of knights, UU reading www.uukanshu. com They were an important part of the military power in the former territory. Although there were no real knights in Arda, it was the same. After the reform, most of the officers of the new army were children from landlord families. .

Due to too much resistance, Paul had to announce that this matter will be discussed later. The opponents breathed a sigh of relief and left Huxin Town one after another after visiting the new atmosphere of Huxin Town. Although they could see that the earl was full of reluctance.

The first thing Paul did after the meeting was to discuss with Chief of Staff Schroeder about the rewards for the army. In the War of the Ustors, there were many officers who commanded well, and they needed promotion, and many soldiers who fought bravely, and they needed rewards.

"I have no problem with your plan."

Paul took a quill and put a big tick on the plan Schroeder handed him, and signed his name.

"However, in this way, many positions for junior officers will be vacated, right?"

"Yes, my lord." Schroeder replied, "The plan is to supplement from the veterans with military exploits and the students of Gleiman Academy."

"Well, very good. But..." Paul stared into the eyes of the old knight and said slowly: "About the background of the new officer... you have to control the ratio well."

Schroeder gave the lord a reassuring look, "Master Greiman, I will control it."

The lord had discussed this issue with him a long time ago, and he also knew what the lord's purpose was. He originally wanted to spend several years to gradually reverse it, but the Earl seemed a little impatient.

The Earl's words echoed in the room.

"Schroeder, I need the staff... No, it's my own will, which can directly affect the company and platoon."