King-Chapter 1417 - 269: Reform_3

If we consider the IOUs issued by the Kingdom Government, the domestic major nobles are essentially the government’s largest creditors, holding more than sixty percent of the total debt.

If not for the fact that their own purses were involved, the resistance to resolving the government’s fiscal bankruptcy wouldn’t be as strong.

During wartime, fully supporting the Kingdom Government was inevitable, but now in times of peace, King Caesar IV doesn’t dare to continue gambling.

In the first place, the Royal Family’s cash flow is already insufficient. If something were to go wrong in the transportation of bulk goods acquired, the losses would be significant.

"Gentlemen, the issues plaguing the Kingdom Government are accumulating more and more. If we continue dragging this out, sooner or later, a major disaster will occur.

Perhaps the time has come to consider reform!

While being a major power on the continent, the Kingdom’s economy has never truly thrived.

In terms of territorial size, we are not far behind the Iberia Kingdom. The disparity in actual population between the two countries is, at most, less than twenty percent.

Yet, our total fiscal income is merely a quarter of theirs!

Compared to the Frank Empire, this gap is even larger.

Even those few declining kingdoms have total fiscal revenues not much worse than ours. The core problem lies in the system.

Serfdom guarantees the high-efficiency operation of the Kingdom’s administration, but it also hinders our economic growth.

Of course, bringing this issue up now is not to abolish serfdom, but rather, within the existing system, we must increase the proportion of free citizens to enhance the government’s fiscal revenues.

For example: expanding the government-controlled prefectures, introducing policies to encourage free citizens to cultivate new lands, and ultimately increasing taxation for the Kingdom Government.

..."

Prime Minister Duke Delgado spoke with a solemn expression.

These reform measures had been weighing on his mind for a long time. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Initially, he merely wanted to reform the fiscal taxation model, but later realized that the resistance was too strong. After much contemplation, he finally chose an incremental compromise.

For the sake of the Kingdom’s stability, the current political system cannot be touched, at least not for now.

The existing structure cannot be disrupted, so the only option is to develop new growth.

Free citizens can generate more wealth, so increasing their proportion becomes necessary. Just as the King had previously shown interest in expanding the government-controlled prefectures, this can absorb a significant number of free citizens.

"Prime Minister, drawing from the experience of developing the Near East. Border regions often encounter Orcs, with some noble territories completely wiped out. How are free citizens supposed to defend themselves?

If we’re entirely reliant on stationed troops, military expenditures would drastically increase.

Or are you suggesting placing the government-controlled prefactures in the rear, while assigning all frontline areas adjacent to the Orcs to noble lords?"

King Caesar IV asked uncertainly.

All the benefits go to the government while the risks are entirely borne by the noble lords—how could there be such a good deal!

If the nobles refuse to cooperate or secretly undermine the plan, the free citizens moving into the newly cultivated areas might not survive long.

"Yes, Your Majesty!

Any reform inevitably involves the redistribution of benefits, and there’s bound to be someone whose interests are harmed.

This is the best option at the moment and the one most likely to be accepted. Trying this out on the newly acquired territories is far preferable to directly affecting the core homeland.

After all, in this recent war, most of the nobles did not achieve significant military accomplishments. Granting them lands in advance and setting some conditions is only fair.

As long as we can persuade the major nobles domestically, this reform will have taken its critical first step. Once initial results appear, we can draft follow-up measures based on the outcomes.

On this matter, I have already discussed with Duke Hudson, Duke Zuell, Count Albert, Earl Doug, and over ten major nobles, and they expressed no opposition."

Marquis Delgado answered firmly.

Not opposing is equivalent to supporting!

Reform naturally touches upon vested interests. For those benefitting from the status quo, refraining from opposition itself is a political statement.

However, the expressions of those present did not lighten. Referencing case studies from various nations across the continent, everyone supports reforms at the beginning, but halfway through, they often transform into opposition.

Unless interests remain untouched throughout, resistance from the conservative faction is sure to emerge sooner or later.

After hesitating for a moment, King Caesar IV slowly said, "If that’s the case, then let the reforms begin!

From this moment, establish the Reform Committee, led by the Prime Minister. Ministers from each department and Governors from the provinces will all serve as committee members."

Such a seemingly simple appointment is, in fact, full of helplessness.

In a semi-federal kingdom, any royal decree requires the support of the major nobles at the provincial level to be effectively implemented.

At present, most provincial governors are in the Papal State. Launching reforms at this moment actually minimizes resistance.

Unless these figures willingly give up their massive profits in the Papal State to return home, conservative factions currently lack a cohesive leader in the provinces.

By initiating changes without touching core interests, achieving established facts through reform will likely force most stakeholders to grudgingly accept.

...

In the Snow Moon Territory, word of the reforms initiated by the Kingdom Government spread, and Hudson was once again thrust into the spotlight.

As the military’s leader and the head of the Emerging Aristocratic Camp, Hudson became the focal point of contention between reformists and conservatives.

Whichever faction he allied himself with would tip the scales of power in the Kingdom’s political landscape.

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