Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World-Chapter 600: Paul’s Suggestion
Chapter 600: Paul’s Suggestion
TL: Rui88
The conversation with the new king lasted for nearly three hours. Rodney XVIII humbly asked Paul about all the aspects of the changes he had made in the Northwest Bay.
Paul didn’t hold back either. He told him about his various measures in agriculture, industry, and commerce, and even the customs union he had established with other lords.
Of course, this also included some less harmonious content, such as the attack he had suffered from the Kent family and the rebellion he had recently faced.
“I can imagine that your journey has not been easy.”
Rodney XVIII said with a sigh.
However, what Paul saw in his slightly furrowed brows was more worry than anything else.
While Rodney XVIII and Paul were talking, Princess Catherine mostly listened quietly, thinking, and occasionally interjecting with a few questions.
At the end, Rodney XVIII asked sincerely, “If I want to replicate your achievements in the Northwest Bay, what do you think I should do?”
“Ah? Well…” Paul was a little unsure how to answer.
Historically, any reform would inevitably touch upon the old powers, and the person before him was, by all rights, the chief representative of those old powers.
“Your Majesty!” He carefully chose his words. “Forgive me, but I cannot answer your question directly. The situation in the royal domain is too different from that of the Northwest Bay. In terms of population alone, it is several times larger than the Northwest Bay. Therefore, the problems you might encounter could also be several times greater than the problems I encountered.”
There were some things he couldn’t say to his face. Compared to the royal domain, his own Alda could be considered a blank slate, allowing Paul to paint freely. The Grayman family’s previous status as criminals had prevented them from enfeoffing their own vassals, but it also meant that Paul faced fewer constraints after taking power. Within his territory, his word was the only law, and the opponents he faced were nothing more than a group of country landlords without noble status.
But what about in the royal domain? In Crystal Shrine?
The great families that had existed since the founding of the kingdom were entrenched here, each a great noble with a transcendent legal status. They had deep roots and sprawling branches, fighting amongst themselves yet also interconnected, weaving a dense and impenetrable net. This net was both the support of the king’s power and its cage.
Every decision the king had to make required him to consider potential problems from multiple sides and to balance the interests of the various factions that might be involved.
In fact, Paul had a suggestion he really wanted to give.
“Your Majesty, if you truly want to advance the times, why not come back with me to the Northwest Bay? The two of us could start from there and conquer all of Ordo again. If we run into anyone who doesn’t know what’s good for them, we’ll just get rid of them. From a certain perspective, founding a country is much simpler than reforming one. A blank-slate Ordo would be ours to shape as we please. Alda’s cannons paired with the king’s name would be a match made in heaven. But… you’d have to listen to me.”
Of course, Paul didn’t have the courage to voice his inner Cao Cao-like ambitions in front of the king. He simply said:
“Your Majesty, only the foot knows if the shoe fits. Some things cannot be blindly copied. Therefore, I suggest you leave ample room for trial and error. Perhaps you could start by opening up a test field.”
Rodney XVIII asked, “Room for trial and error? A test field?”
Paul nodded and said, “Yes, before planting new seeds on a large scale, wouldn’t you first pick a plot of land to test what kind of fruit it will bear? Perhaps you could first designate an area within the royal domain, one that is absolutely loyal to you and where your orders can be carried out smoothly. In this area, you could implement your new policies and observe their effects. If a policy has problems, then correct it, change it, until it both adapts to the real situation and achieves your goals.”
Rodney XVIII and his sister Catherine exchanged a glance, then looked back at Paul.
“Interesting.” The king gestured with his hand. “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 in the Special Economic Zone and can bring great benefits to the kingdom, then you can silence those potential opponents and get more people to support your reforms. Then you can roll out those successful policies to other parts of the kingdom with much less resistance. If your policy is harmful…I’m speaking hypothetically…then you can also control the damage within a small scope, affecting only that small area of the Special Economic Zone.”
“Count Grayman, your suggestion is truly refreshing,” Princess Catherine said.
At this moment, she was looking at Paul, and Paul, hearing her voice, instinctively looked at her.
“Just some amateur suggestions,” he said, somewhat shyly, and quickly averted his gaze.
“This should be an idea worth trying, right, Your Majesty?”
Catherine asked her cousin, the king.
“Hmm…” The king stroked his chin, seeming to still be mulling over Paul’s words. “I should give this some serious thought.”
…
Three hours later, Rodney XVIII and Catherine stood at the entrance of the reception hall, seeing Paul and his party off.
Rodney XVIII looked at Catherine. “What do you think? My dear sister.”
Catherine asked strangely, “Are you talking about the count’s suggestion just now? Didn’t I already say? It’s worth a try.”
“Oh, no, no, I mean… what do you think of Count Grayman as a person?”
Hearing her cousin ask this, Catherine thought for a moment and said, “He seems a bit shy and introverted, not very talkative. He doesn’t say a word more than necessary during conversation.”
Rodney XVIII nodded. “Oh? Shy, introverted? Yes, I think so too. I asked around when I was in the Northwest Bay, and everyone said the count is not good at socializing. What else?”
In Rodney XVIII’s view, not only was Paul indeed introverted, but he also knew his sister. Every young nobleman who met her was full of a desire to show off, talking endlessly. In comparison, Paul seemed even more taciturn.
Catherine frowned and said with some displeasure, “I don’t know why, but when he looks at me, his gaze is always evasive, as if I’m some kind of fierce beast.”
“Ahahaha…” Rodney XVIII laughed playfully.
“Your Majesty, don’t you think that’s rather rude?”
“It is a bit rude, especially towards our princess. Oh, by the way, what do you think of his looks?”
“Above average, I suppose. In short, not unpleasant.” Catherine mused. “Alas, in the presence of our heroic king, any man would pale in comparison.”
Catherine, who had been somewhat melancholic since her father’s passing, rarely made a joke. It seemed she was in a good mood now.
“Catherine, I know your judgment has always been accurate, so I’m taking that seriously.”
Rodney XVIII accepted his sister’s joke with a smile.
“Sigh, let’s talk about something else.” The king changed the subject. He asked, “Catherine, you know the current situation of the kingdom, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Catherine’s expression turned serious. She sneered and said, “That fellow Jars is still hoping that we two will fight amongst ourselves.”
The king looked at her and asked, “I want to know to what extent you are willing to dedicate yourself to the kingdom.”
“I have already sworn an oath before Father, my brother! My answer is…everything!”
“Everything?”
“Yes, everything,” Catherine said with absolute certainty.
Rodney XVIII said with great satisfaction, “Alright, I understand. We must be united now and not let outsiders laugh at us.”
“Then let’s start from now. Thank you for your trust. I want to return to the barracks immediately to deal with military affairs.”
“Go on, then.”
Watching his sister’s departing figure, Rodney XVIII’s expression was a little complicated.
“Catherine, I hope you won’t hate me then.”
Chapter 600: Paul’s Suggestion
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