King-Chapter 1401 - 274: Crossroads_2

To be frank, Princess Marisol, who ascended to the throne, is not a direct descendant of the Royal Family.

Tracing her lineage, Princess Marisol is the daughter of Henry V’s uncle, several generations removed. Under normal circumstances, she would have no claim to the succession whatsoever.

Official records suggest that her rise to the throne was entirely the result of the compromise among the three major clans.

As a ruler, Hudson would not view it in such simplistic terms. If it were merely about installing a puppet, there are plenty of other collateral Royal Family members in the Purple Gold Flower Dynasty.

Some of these members even have closer ties by blood than Princess Marisol.

A simple power transition is not worth discussing—the key lies in what came after Marisol’s ascension: the immediate issuance of the "Reform Charter."

Reforms are nothing new. With civil war already breaking out, it’s clear how severe the deep-rooted issues in the Falcon Kingdom had become.

Routine provisions, like reducing redundant personnel and improving administrative efficiency, were so mundane that Hudson didn’t even bother reviewing them.

What truly caught his attention was:

Article Seven: Encourage the development of industry and commerce...

Article Thirteen: Promote the growth of maritime trade...

Article Eighteen: Abolish internal tariffs...

Although the specifics are quite immature, and many detailed issues remain unaddressed, the framework alone is strikingly audacious.

As a maritime trading power, the Falcon Kingdom’s forward-thinking nature and receptiveness to industry and commerce are comprehensible to Hudson.

But introducing laws to actively encourage these ventures marks a significant shift in character.

Even though the main beneficiaries of these reforms are the three major clans, the residual benefits spilling beyond them are enough to foster the emergence of a new interest group.

To be sure, this round of reforms remains incomplete, as they have yet to fundamentally dismantle the feudal serfdom system. freewebnσvel.cøm

Nonetheless, as industry and commerce begin taking root, the older Nobles will inevitably realize that traditional serf-based economies generate wealth far too slowly.

The profits from exploiting serfs are simply no match for those gained by taxing free citizens. Once that realization sinks in, emancipating serfs will follow as a natural progression.

Of course, this transition might be fraught with obstacles. Nobles who are slow to adapt to modern times are likely to become the so-called "reactionaries" resisting progress.

However, the Extraodinary World does have one advantage: families that have persisted through seven or eight generations might still have their ancestral elders alive at the helm.

For these antiquated yet influential figures, all descendants and branches of their lineage ultimately belong to their family, making it easier for them to accept whichever faction gains prominence.

When conflicts escalate to irreconcilable levels, these venerable elders can step in to mediate the disputes. The abrupt cessation of the Falcon Kingdom’s civil war was a direct result of such interventions.

Reflecting on the early advantages of reform, Hudson once considered following their lead, but ultimately reason won out.

One should only eat as much as one’s stomach can hold. Attempting to consume decades’ worth of provisions right away will only lead to choking.

The Falcon Kingdom can afford to play such games because its foundation is already substantial—it possesses an internal economic circle robust enough to sustain itself.

This kind of infrastructure is clearly lacking in both the Mountain Domain and Snow Moon Territory.

Without a base market supported by tens of millions of people, any attempt to shift toward industry and commerce would collapse under overproduction within a year, leading to widespread economic decay.

...

"What do you think of the Falcon Kingdom’s reform measures? Are there any provisions we can adopt?"

Hudson convened his advisory team and asked.

Reform has never been a process of leaps and bounds. To avoid implementing premature measures that harm more than they help, gathering feedback from the local administrative leadership is essential.

If even one’s own people cannot be convinced, forcibly pushing through reforms will most likely end in failure.

Rules, in essence, exist to serve people. If everyone resists a rule, no matter how noble its intentions, it only proves the rule is flawed.

"Duke, the operating models for a territory and a nation are fundamentally different.

The reforms currently being introduced in the Falcon Kingdom are largely tailored to their particular conditions.

Post-civil war, the Falcon Kingdom’s power structure is entirely controlled by the three major clans—as long as the clans maintain unity, reforms can be effectively implemented.

Furthermore, they are an isolated island nation. As long as their naval forces remain sufficiently strong, external interference can be avoided.

With the Falcon Kingdom now reunified, it happens to hold the necessary strength. Their navy is among the top-ranked across the Continent.

Coupled with the advantages of maritime logistics, they can significantly reduce transportation costs, thus facilitating commercial development.

These inherent strengths are ones we simply do not possess."

Jacob cautiously advised.

As a Government Officer, nothing is more fearsome than a Lord indulging in reckless ventures.

The Snow Moon Territory has already stretched its resources thin—the actual controlled regions have nearly doubled compared to the original feudal land granted by the Kingdom.

Factoring in the anticipated new territories, the domain’s actual governed area will soon surpass one million square kilometers—it’s merely a question of time.

Such vast expanses exceed those of many duchies, yet the population remains pitiably sparse, numbering under three million.

In Jacob’s view, any reform undertaken now pales in importance compared to increasing the population.

In recent times, apart from preparing for territorial development, the primary focus of the Government Affairs Department has been purchasing people and overseeing migration efforts.

The domain’s economic structure revolves around two key aspects: export trade—Magic Potions; and import trade—grain and population.

As for other industrial and commercial goods in import-export trade, their proportion barely reaches 10% of the total trade volume.

Although the territory’s commercial performance is relatively ahead of its peers, its overall industrial structure remains that of a typical self-sufficient feudal economy led by Lords.

Compared to the reforms underway in the Falcon Kingdom, this feudal system is undeniably outdated, but its advantage lies in its efficiency.

Especially during land development efforts, unified teams organized and financed by the Manor House have far greater risk resistance than the small-scale farming families engaged in agricultural production.

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