Chapter 600 Paul’s advice
Chapter 600 Paul’s Advice
The conversation with the new king lasted nearly three hours, and Rodney XVIII vainly asked for advice on every aspect of what Paul was doing to change the Northwest Gulf.
Paul didn’t hold back, giving him a rundown of his many initiatives in agriculture, industry, commerce, and even a customs union with other lords.
Of course, there were also some discordant elements, such as the attacks he had encountered from the Kent family and the rebellion he had suffered not long ago.
“I can imagine that it has been quite a journey for you.”
Rodney XVIII lamented in a sighing tone.
But what Paul saw in his somewhat furrowed brow was more of a concern.
While Rodney XVIII was talking to Paul and the others, Princess Catherine mostly just quietly listened and thought, occasionally interjecting with a few questions.
At the end of the day, Rodney XVIII asked sincerely; “If I were to replicate your achievements in the Northwest Gulf, what do you think I should do?”
“Huh? Well ……,” Paul was a little unsure of how to answer.
All reforms in history had always touched the old powers, and the man in front of him was, as a rule, the general representative of the old powers.
“Your Majesty!” He carefully organized his words, “Forgive me for not being able to answer your question directly. The situation in the King’s Domain is far too different from that of the Northwest Bay, the population alone is several times that of the Northwest Bay, so the problems you are experiencing may be several times that of the problems I am experiencing as well.”
There were some things he couldn’t say to his face, his own Arda could be called a blank slate compared to the royal domains, and could be freely portrayed by Paul. The Greiman family could not divide their vassals because of their previous status as sinners, but it also allowed Paul to ascend to the throne without too many constraints, within the territory, his words were the only law, the opposition he faced was just a group of countryside landowners with no noble status.
But what about in the royal domain? What about in Jingyao?
All the great families of the kingdom since its founding were entrenched here, each one of them was a great noble who had a supreme status in the law, they had big roots, and their branches were flourishing, they both fought with each other and linked with each other, weaving a big and impermeable net, which was both the bearer of the king’s power and the cage of the king’s power.
Every decision the king had to make had to take into account the problems that could come from many directions and had to balance the interests of the various factions that could be involved.
In fact, Paul had some advice he wanted to give.
“Your Majesty, if you really want to promote the development of the times, why don’t you come back to the Northwest Bay with me, and we’ll start from there to re-fight the whole territory of Aldo again, and if we come across anyone who doesn’t have the eyes to see, we’ll just kill him, from a certain point of view, the founding of the country is much simpler than the reforms, and the Aldo that has turned into a piece of blank paper is not still open to us to be rubbed and pinched. Alda’s cannons with the king’s name, simply a match made in heaven ah, but …… you have to listen to me.”
Paul, of course, did not have the courage to say his own Cao thief ambition in front of the king, he only said:
“Your Majesty, only the feet know if the shoe fits, and some things can’t be applied rigidly, so I suggest that you leave plenty of room for trial and error, so why don’t you open up a test field first.”
Rodney XVIII asked, “Trial and error space? A test field?”
Paul nodded and said, “Yes. Before planting new seeds on a large scale, wouldn’t you pick a plot of land first to try out what fruits it can produce? Perhaps, you can first set aside an area in the royal territory first, one that is absolutely loyal to you, one that is able to carry out your orders freely, implement your new policies in this area, observe the effects that these policies bring, and if the policies are problematic, then make corrections and changes until they are able to both adapt to the real situation and achieve your goals.”
Rodney XVIII and his sister Catherine looked at each other and then back at Paul.
“Interesting.” The king reached out, “Please continue.”
Paul cleared his throat and continued, “This area, perhaps we can call it a [Special Economic Zone], if one of your policies is effective within the Special Economic Zone, and can bring great benefits to the kingdom, then you can block the mouths of those who may be in opposition, so that more people will support your reforms, and then you can push those successful policies to the rest of the kingdom with much less resistance. If your policies are harmful – and I mean if – then they can be kept small, affecting only that small area of the Special Economic Zone.”
“Count Greiman, your advice is indeed refreshing.” Princess Catherine said.
At that moment, she looked at Paul, and Paul, who heard her voice, instinctively looked at her as well.
“A little immature advice.” He a little shyly averted his eyes immediately.
“It would be an idea worth trying, wouldn’t it, Your Majesty.”
Catherine asked her kingly cousin.
“Well ……,” the king rubbed his chin as if he was still savoring what Paul had just said, “I should give it some thought.”
—
Three hours later, Rodney XVIII and Catherine stood in the doorway of the parlor, seeing off Paul and his party. Rodney XVIII looked to Catherine, “What do you think? My dear sister.”
Catherine asked curiously, “You mean what the Count just suggested? Didn’t I say it was? It’s worth a try.”
“Oh, no, no, I mean …… what do you think of Count Greiman as a person?”
Hearing her cousin ask about it, Catherine thought for a moment and said, “He seems a bit shy and introverted, not very talkative, and doesn’t say much when he can in conversation.”
Rodney XVIII nodded, “Oh? Shy and introverted? Yes, I thought so too, I asked around when I was in the Northwest Bay and everyone said the Earl was a socially inept person, what else?”
In Rodney XVIII’s opinion, not to mention the fact that Paul was indeed introverted, his own sister was known to him, and every young nobleman who met her was full of expression and gabbing, and Paul was even more of a man of few words in comparison.
Catherine frowned and said with some displeasure, “I don’t know why, when he looks at me, his gaze is always evasive, as if I am so vicious.”
“Ahahahaha ……,” Rodney XVIII laughed somewhat playfully.
“Your Majesty, don’t you think that’s rude?”
“It is somewhat rude, especially in the face of our Princess Highness. Oh yes, what do you think of his looks?”
“Above middle man, I guess, all in all, not obnoxious.” Catherine mused, “Geez, in front of our valiant king’s majesty, any man would pale in comparison.”
Catherine, who had been somewhat melancholy since her father’s death, made a rare joke, as if she was in a good mood now.
“Catherine, I know that your gaze is always accurate, so I take it seriously.”
Rodney XVIII smiled and took his sister’s joke.
“Alas, let us talk of something else.” The king digressed as he asked, “Catherine, you do know what’s going on in the kingdom right now, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Catherine’s expression turned serious as she sneered and said, “That guy Giles is still hoping that the two of us, brother and sister, will fight internally.”
The king looked at her and asked, “I want to know how far you are willing to dedicate yourself to the kingdom?”
“I have sworn before my father, my brother! My answer is – all of it!”
“All?”
“Yes, all.” Catherine said with unmistakable confirmation.
Rodney XVIII said with great relief, “All right. Now we must be united and not let outsiders make jokes.”
“Then let’s start with the moment, and thank you for your confidence, I would like to return to the barracks immediately to take care of military business.”
“You go and get busy.”
Looking at his sister’s departing figure, Rodney XVIII’s eyes were a bit complicated.
“Catherine, I hope you won’t hate me when the time comes.”
(End of chapter)