"This is the agency contract I drew up yesterday, if there is no problem, I can sign it and put my fingerprint on it."
Owen immediately took out a copy of the agency deed and handed it over, and instructed the servant to bring the necessary tools.Taking the contract, Kuros examined it carefully.The contract made it clear that the owner of the Eastrising Fortress was still Owen, and that it would be managed by Kuros.During the agency period, Dongsheng Fortress needs to pay 30% of the monthly tax to the border town, as well as various required materials, such as iron ingots."
Huh?"
When he saw this material, Kuros looked confused, looked up and asked, "Owen, isn't your border town rich in iron ore?"
Still need to ask for iron ingots from the Dongsheng Fortress?
”"Alas-" Owen sighed, and explained helplessly, "it's not enough at all, the amount of iron ingots handed in in this contract every month is only a drop in the bucket, and I plan to import it from places with high ore production in the west." ”Although steam engines have been used in the mining area to increase ore production, they are still unable to meet the growing demand, especially after the steam engine plant and military factory began to be put into operation, and the rate of iron consumption has increased rapidly.Today's border town seems to be like an iron-eating beast, which can swallow as many iron ingots as it comes."
So exaggerated?"
Surprised, Kuros leaned in and whispered, "Did you use them to make the strange weapons in the hands of the guards at the gate?"
”As he entered the castle, he noticed the weapons in the hands of the soldiers.To be honest, he couldn't imagine at all how Duke Eddie's army had lost to the group of soldiers armed with short sticks."
Not all of them, but it does consume a lot of iron ore."
In addition to muskets and steam engines, Owen also had blacksmiths build relatively advanced agricultural iron tools and rent them to farmers to cultivate more land."
Oh, I see."
Without further questioning, Kuros continued to check the contract in his hand.After confirming that there was no problem, the two parties signed an agency contract in this way, and the Dongsheng Fortress was managed by the Yum family.Putting away the contract and list, Kuros asked another question before leaving."
Owen, when Duke Eddie gathered his army, the group of nobles from the border town who came to take refuge responded positively, I heard that you confiscated all their territories, so will you suddenly take away the territory of the nobles of the Dongsheng Fortress?""
That's because they did it themselves, and they actually abandoned the lord and ran away without permission."
Owen said in disgust.After a pause, he continued: "Regarding the matter of the territory, you can rest assured, I will not attack the nobles of the Dongsheng Fortress at this time. ”"...... at the moment," Owen said clearly, and of course Kuros understood the meaning behind it."
In other words, sooner or later, you will still take the land from the nobles, right?""
That's right.""
To the north of Frontier Town is a large desert, surrounded by mountains or forests, and the habitable area is not large, so it is not difficult to govern.However, the Dongsheng Fortress and its surrounding vast land are inhabited, how do you manage such a large area?
”"The common practice is to divide the surplus land among the nobles and let them govern it," Kuros questioned.It is the existence of nobles everywhere that has maintained the Dawnlight Kingdom for hundreds of years. ”If Owen hadn't met Winster, he would have been very much in favor of Cullows.Now, Owen is not optimistic about this feudal aristocracy that has been in operation for hundreds of years."
I really can't manage it, but I can leave the land to someone who can take care of it.""
What's the difference between that and giving it to a nobleman?"
Kuros asked with a frown."
It's a big difference."
Owen took a sip of tea, "You listen to me slowly......
"Land is generally divided into close brothers, and the relationship between the territories is indeed like siblings at the beginning.However, due to the existence of the hereditary system, pushing the passage of time, the descendants of the nobles of the two places may not be able to maintain this relationship.In fact, the Morninglight Kingdom also had large and small civil wars hundreds of years ago, and there were several times when the kingdom was almost successfully split.The confiscation of land was almost equivalent to the taking away of the privileges of the nobility, the most important of which was the abolition of the hereditary system of land.Later generations of nobles may not have the ability to manage the inherited territories, and the development of different territories is uneven due to various factors, and the nobles generally only focus on their own territories, after all, it is their own small cake, and they almost don't care about other territories.As a result, many of the resources of the land are not fully utilized and are very wasteful.Therefore, Owen wants to implement centralized power, integrate all the land, send capable people to govern, fully mobilize the resources of various places and operate, and make the cake bigger, so that more people can benefit from it.“…… Therefore, when I take away the territory, it is actually a blow to the group of waste nobles who have no ability but occupy a large area of land, and I will definitely reuse the capable nobles, who can get more benefits from the bigger cake than before. ”Listening to what Owen said so much, Kuros fell into deep thought.After a long while, he looked up at Owen: "Do you want to abolish the hereditary system of nobility that has been practiced in the kingdom for hundreds of years and introduce a new system?"
”"Yes."
Owen nodded."
It's a daunting task."
Kuros looked serious and continued to analyze."
Although the big cake you are talking about sounds beautiful, it can't grow big right away, and the nobles may not believe you.Many aristocrats are content with the little cake they are now, and your actions will definitely provoke fierce resistance from them. ”"Therefore, I will not attack them for the time being, but continue to accumulate strength and attract like-minded partners."
Owen's face was calm, and he said slowly: "When I have enough strength to defeat them, I will not hesitate to take action and wipe out all the opposition forces." ”"Is that good?
You've told me, a nobleman, what you think. ”Kuros said coldly."
Don't forget, I'm also a nobleman."
Owen looked unconcerned, "Moreover, after you heard what I said, you didn't immediately raise an objection, doesn't that just show that you are interested in the new system I am talking about?"
”"Hahaha."
Hearing this, Kuros smiled, and then said, "Indeed, as you said, Owen, I am very interested in the big cake you mentioned, you might as well count me in." ”"Then prove your ability to me, and manage the Dongsheng Fortress well.""
I'll show you what I'm capable of."
Kuros said confidently.Owen was relieved that his friend had chosen to be on his side.Of course, if Koros were like the other short-sighted nobles, then Owen might not be friends with him.After the conversation, Kuros went back to gather the people and livestock that had ransomed his father, and sent someone to inform the families of the other captured nobles that they could raise the necessary "ransom" on their own.This lord is backed by a tech tycoon