Chapter 402 – Formation of the League and the Statistical Committee

Chapter 402: The Formation of the Alliance and the Statistics Committee
When the directors of the Northwest Industry (that is, the gang of lords), after learning that a big deal of millions of silver coins was going to hit their heads, they were simply going crazy with joy.

When Paul proposed the establishment of the Northwest Industry, the lords began to hold a little extra money to play with the mindset to participate in, who did not expect today has become an important source of income for them.

They have from their respective territories to drive to the lake town, scrambling to see the generous mysterious customer.

It turned out to be from the Horned Bay Alliance, or the eldest son of the Foster family, which was a big deal.

In the past few years, due to Alda leading the trend of foreign trade, the originally closed Northwest Bay also began to gradually contact all aspects of the outside world, and the lords knew that the Foster family’s position in the Horned Bay Alliance.

The lords know the Foster family’s position in the Horned Bay Alliance, and the lords have held rounds and rounds of banquets to entertain the Foster Brothers, with the warmth and hospitality of the lords.

In Earl Price Parker’s newly built mansion in Lake Town, a lively dinner party had just ended. After the guests had dispersed, the mansion was quiet.

In the bridge room on the second floor, there were still a few people playing cards around the table while talking in low voices.

They were Paul Gleimanber, Earl of Alda Collar, Myron Garnard, Earl of Baldin Collar, Winifred Heller, Earl of Portree Collar, Henry Ferdinand, Duke of the Northwest, and Earl of Larnaca Collar, that is, Earl of the mansion’s owner, Price Parker.

These five, too, were five of the most influential directors in Northwest Industries.

Another person in the room was Derek Heller, the son of Earl Heller, but he did not come up to the table to play, but stood aside to serve his leggy father.

Paul said as he straightened the poker in his hand, “Gentlemen, as foreign trade continues to increase, I don’t think plans for a customs union can remain on paper alone …… haha, I have a good hand tonight.”

He threw out several consecutive cards at once.

“I think so too!” Myron chimed in after him, but of course everyone knew he and Paul wore the same pants.

The others had different expressions on their faces.

“Heh heh! I agree.”

Duke Henry Ferdinand said with a smirk, “It’s long overdue.”

Ferdinand family’s direct territory is Manda, the advantageous products are all kinds of agricultural products, while Alda and Bairdin’s advantageous products are all kinds of manufacturing products, the two sides are not conflicting with each other, while Alda produces cheap salt and cheap iron agricultural tools and Manda such inland and agricultural territory of the large demand, without the large and small territories along the way of the amount of a road toll, sold to Manda of these things will be cheaper. Of course, if each other cancel tariffs, to their own territory can not be collected tolls, think about it is also really quite painful, but there must be a loss, look at the long term.

Seriously speaking, now Henry in the Northwest Bay in the circle of nobles position is a little embarrassing, according to tradition, Ferdinand family should be the Northwest Bay Lords of the head, but in the war of the usurper even let their own vassal control the last but also lost, the current head of the family or rely on the support of outsiders to ascend to the position of the Duke, which makes the family prestige suffered a considerable blow to the Duke’s sign is not so bright.

The fastest rise in status in these years is the previously unknown Paul Gleiman, not to mention the powerful force shown in the war of troglodytes, alone dominated the establishment of the Northwest Industry after the war, so that those involved in it have made a fortune, has made a lot of people have a good feeling about him. Prestige is something that can’t be built up with just a stick and no carrot.

Coupled with the fact that his rise to power is mainly by the power of Alda’s army, Henry feels strange in his heart every time he and Paul are on the same occasion. The good thing is that Paul is very give him face, every time we meet will certainly respectfully salute first, what good things also call on their own, such as the Customs Union, such a big action will also be in advance and their air. So Henry is also happy to use the family’s remaining prestige with Paul act.

On the contrary, Earl Parker and Earl Heller, they looked at each other, the expression on their faces is difficult to say.

The two previously promised to support the establishment of the Customs Union, but the concrete operation encountered great resistance.

Paul looked at them with an I understand look.

“I know what you’re worried about, all come together and listen to me for a few minutes.”

The five men stood up, their heads coming together in a circle on top of the tiny card table.

“Ah, this way? Is it okay?”

“What’s the holdup, if those rednecks don’t know what’s good for them, they’ll all click.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

……

“Okay then, let’s do it, we’re all in it together.”

After deliberating, the five lords resumed their seats.

Parker hesitantly said, “That …… Earl Malcolm has not been interested in our plan, should we persuade him again, there are many people.”

Paul and Henry Ferdinand’s faces were ugly, and they did not say anything.

Morley Earl of Malcolm, one of the initiators of the opposition to the Kent family at that time. To say who got the most credit in the war of the usurpers at that time, everyone might not be able to convince anyone, but to say who jumped the most after the war, it would be this Earl of Malcolm.

And most let Paul intolerable is, Malcolm earl in front of him is always in the posture of seniors …… “mention” him.

In short, in some unidentified people listen to, Paul now can have such achievements thanks to the elders of Malcolm’s promotion.

And for the current Northwest Duke Henry Ferdinand, Malcolm quite a bit of disrespect.

The others had not yet spoken, Derek, who had been standing silently behind his father, first expressed his opposition. “Dragging that Malcolm fellow into this is absolutely misguided? That’s a greedy, mean-spirited guy.”

Earl Heller’s face darkened as he reprimanded his son, “Shut up, where is your place to speak here and talk about others, stand aside.”

Derek was unconvinced: “I didn’t talk about others, since Malcolm joined the Northwest Industry and saw that it was profitable, he used all kinds of tactics to take advantage of the people, and now all of the large and small blacksmith stores and iron mines in his territory are surnamed Malcolm.”

“Alas!” Earl Parker shook his head, he had also heard something about Malcolm.

It was better not to get in touch with Malcolm for now, the lords silently made this decision.

Next old is the most crucial, for the distribution of external tariffs.

The so-called customs union, in the circle of their own alliance each other free of tolls, but for the outside of the alliance of goods in and out of the charge, that is not a penny less.

However, because of geographical reasons, some territories can collect a lot of external tariffs, such as Alda, which has an outlet to the sea, while some territories cannot.

Therefore, under Paul’s suggestion, the tax collected from external commodities will be used as the public treasury of the alliance, and will be used for the expenses of the alliance’s public affairs, such as paying the salaries of the staff, or supporting the construction of the infrastructure of the backward areas in transportation, and if there is still a surplus, then it will be distributed according to the proportion of the population of each member’s collar – and then the respective If there is any surplus, it will be distributed according to the population ratio of each member’s territory – and then the respective lords will decide how to use it.

Whose territory consists of how many people can’t just open their mouths.

But except for Paul’s rough count in his own jurisdiction, the lords of this era only had a rough estimate of the number of their own subjects.

So again, at Paul’s suggestion, the Customs Union needed to set up a statistical committee.

The duty of the statistics committee is not only to count the population and provide the basis for the distribution of the public treasury, but also to count the economic and trade data of the alliance, such as the quantity and value of imported and exported goods, etc., so that the alliance can provide the basis for the formulation of trade policy.

In the future, it may take on additional statistical responsibilities.

Who will be responsible for managing this statistics committee?
“I propose that Elder Brother Cameron be the chairman of the committee.”

Henry Ferdinand offered his opinion in a loud voice.

“This …… is better for everyone to discuss.” Myron stood up and humbled himself in succession, with an embarrassed look on his face.

“McLoon old brother is fair, rigorous, and serious, the committee will have no problem in his hands.”

Lord Duke insisted on his opinion.

“I second the motion!”

Paul also took a stand.

Then Henry, Paul, and Myron stared at the remaining two together.

“I …… I …… I have no objection in principle.” Count Heller whispered with some hesitation.

“That …… well, I also believe Count Garnard.”

Count Parker also had to agree.

Anyway, no matter who would lead the committee, the collars would arrange for their own people to go in to serve as mutual supervision.

In this way, the long-drawn-out Customs Union was finally formalized.

(End of chapter)