Start with Island Lord

At noon half a month later.

Crescent Castle, back room.

The Rosen family is enjoying lunch.

The main course is a stewed turtle soup.

A turtle weighing more than 30 kilograms was cut open, the thickest and tenderest parts of the meat were removed, mixed with ham, potatoes, vegetables, and various spices, and stewed into a pot of fresh soup as thick as milk.

Of course, the rest of the turtle was not wasted, and all were given to the servants as rewards.

Anna sipped the delicious soup and said, "I received a reply from my brother today. He said that he contacted the earls of the Northern County, and everyone agreed to my proposal."

"It is estimated that more than 50,000 mountain people will be transported to the island one after another, and the average price of each one is 10 to 25 Ogg."

Rosen made a slight estimate: "This is really a huge expense, but fortunately it can be paid with magic tools."

If it is paid in cash, all the cash on the island combined is estimated to be far from enough to pay.

After a pause, he was somewhat relieved: "Fortunately, we have reached a deal with the deep-sea banshees, otherwise there would not be enough food on the island."

Although the trade with the deep-sea banshees has just begun, the banshees are very enthusiastic about trade.

They not only need sun warriors, but also clay knives. They are very interested in everything on land.

In just ten days, at least 200 tons of various seafood have been brought to the island.

But Rosen still thinks that the trade volume is too small.

If he controls this triangular sea area, he will immediately start various seawater aquaculture, which can not only ensure the food for the entire island, but also export a large amount.

Of course, this is just his idea for the time being.

Anna talked about the second news.

"I have received responses to the letters I wrote to various magic schools and famous mages."

"Among them, the response from the northern schools was very positive. They all said that they would add the option of the White Sturgeon Island to the students' graduation recommendation list, and most of them would add it to the first page."

Rosen and Selena toasted to celebrate and said with a smile: "This is really good."

Anna spread her hands: "It is indeed good, which shows that the White Sturgeon Island has made a name for itself in the north."

She changed the subject: "But there are not many responses from the south, and they are even reluctant to pay attention to me. Even if they pay attention, they will politely refuse."

"I summarized the reasons and found that there are many aspects."

Rosen heard this and said: "Is it mainly political or economic reasons?"

"Half and half."

"The south is all mainland faction, and we have offended Aaron."

"The south is rich, and formal mages have many career options and high salaries after graduation. At the same time, they look down on us in the north from the bottom of their hearts."

"But to be honest, even if the southern mages are willing to come, I am afraid we can't afford their salaries."

Rosen and Selena both nodded in agreement.

The Southern County is much richer than the Northern County, and the salary level of formal mages is more than doubled, just like a small town in the west of the earth going to Shanghai to work, the gap is huge.

But Rosen is unwilling to miss any opportunity to expand his power.

"Maybe some of the informal mages in the south will come."

The salary of informal mages is only one-fifth or even one-tenth of that of formal mages. These people are seriously exploited.

It's about the same as 3,000 for a college student.

Anna smiled slightly: "Of course I know what you think, so I also asked someone to ask about the situation of informal mages."

"The situation is, it's also difficult."

"Because most of them look down on the White Sturgeon Island and feel that there is no hope for the future. Most people are willing to take risks on the White Sturgeon Island even if they work hard to make a career in the big cities in the south."

Mrs. Saxon spread her hands when she heard it.

"It's the same idea as when I was young, I just want to stay in the prosperous Xialin City for the rest of my life. When Ted took me back to the island, I was still reluctant."

In other words, even with the princess's halo, the influence of the White Sturgeon Island is still far from enough to cause a siphon effect on ordinary mages in the south.

To reverse this impression, the White Sturgeon Island must do another big thing to prove its strength.

Of course, it's still early now, and the White Sturgeon Island is not ready yet.

But there are a few things that must be done now.

Rosen swallowed a mouthful of tender turtle meat and said: "Recently, more and more people have entered the island, not only to find opportunities, but also to make money."

"With the nearly 80,000 island residents, the permanent population is almost 90,000, and the island market has begun to take shape."

Because of Rosen's strong intervention, the island is rapidly changing from a natural economic model of barter to a commodity economic model.

The scale of the private free market is expanding rapidly.

As the market grows, ordinary people pay more and more attention to currency, because more and more things can be bought with money.

The good news is that the market is developed, and the speed of goods circulation is getting faster and faster, which can greatly stimulate the development of island productivity.

The bad news is that the island market is still too small.

A small market will be fragile and have poor risk resistance. A large influx or withdrawal of materials and currency in the market will cause huge turbulence in the market.

This will make the lives of island citizens as exciting as a roller coaster. Today, one kilogram can buy 5 kilograms of flour, tomorrow it may only buy 1 kilogram, and the day after tomorrow it can buy 10 kilograms.

That's fine, but I'm afraid of encountering bad-intentioned foreign merchants who secretly manipulate the market and plunder the wealth in the pockets of the people.

Then life will be unbearable.

As a lord, if you want to maintain the foundation of your rule, you must help your people keep their money bags tight and not let outsiders pick their pockets easily.

Selena asked, "So what are you going to do?"

Rosen snapped his fingers: "Two things."

"First, set up an island price balancing bureau."

Selena didn't understand something: "Huh?"

Rosen began to explain in detail.

"Through this bureau, the prices of various commodities necessary for daily life on the island, especially food, can be maintained in a relatively stable area and will not fluctuate suddenly."

"I will declare it illegal for private individuals to hoard critical supplies, and they can only be legally stockpiled by the island's official warehouses."

The market cannot be completely free, especially in food, otherwise an oligarchy will quickly form.

This would greatly weaken the lord's control over the territory.

Therefore, the only legal oligarchs could only belong to the lords.

Rosen continued to introduce the operation of the balancing bureau.

"For example, when the market price of food rises rapidly, it means there is a shortage of food in the market. The grain depot will distribute food to the market to ensure that ordinary citizens can always buy cheap food."

"On the contrary, when the price of grain is low, it means there is a lot of surplus grain in the market, and the grain depot will collect grain at a slightly higher market price to protect those grain suppliers from going bankrupt."

Anna listened carefully for a while and said: "It can also prevent someone from maliciously interfering with market food prices and causing chaos on the island."

"That's right."

"At present, the island is small and there are not many people. It is surrounded by the sea on all sides, and there is no rapid import and export of goods. Therefore, the price balance bureau does not need many people to do a good job."

"But when the scale becomes large in the future, this balancing act will be very important, and may even be the key to maintaining the lifeline of the country."

Selena and Anna naturally understand the word 'big scale'.

Rosen continued: “Second, it’s time for the Island Citizens Bank to be officially established.”

The Price Balance Bureau regulates the supply side of materials.

Banks were established to control the amount of money circulating in the market.

This is also important.

If this matter is not done well, not to mention the ordinary people, the lords will be pocketed.

In the future, Rosen will need a group of professional banking talents to fight currency wars with enemy countries.

Anna frowned and reminded seriously: "Rosen, local lords cannot freely open banks. They must have the Duke's approval."

The Duke usually agrees, because when a local bank opens a bank, management fees must be paid to him.

However, in order to prevent local lords from messing around, auditors will be sent from members of the Adrian clan to conduct strict supervision.

These auditors are collateral members of Adrian's family. Except for himself, the whole family is in Dawn City, so it is extremely difficult to bribe them.

The matter of the bank can be big or small. If it is small, it is a matter of money. If it is big, it is an issue of coinage, which involves the basis of the Duke's rule.

Once you go too far, you will definitely be declared a traitor by the Duke, and then the army will be sent to suppress it.

Rosen was prepared.

He smiled slightly: "Other lords can't, but we can, and the Duke can't control it even if he wants to."

As he said that, he turned to look at Selena.

Selena was stunned and didn't react for a moment.

Rosen reminded softly: "My dear madam, as a direct member of Adrian's family, have you forgotten the legitimate rights you should enjoy?"

Selena finally remembered: "Oh~~I remembered, I do have the right to open a bank, and Ryder does have no control over me."

"Um?"

Anna still didn't understand.

Selena smiled and said: "Article 7 of the Weilan Clan Decree, members of the Adri family have the right to open a private bank affiliated with Morningside Bank."

"If you are a direct member, as long as you ensure that the bank capital is less than 1 million OG, you can operate independently and are not subject to the supervision of the Duke."

"To put it simply, this is used to lend money to clan members to earn pocket money."

"The maker of this royal decree is the first duchess, Saint Willan."

"Lyder can't see any reason to repeal this law because many members of the clan are running private banks."

"Of course, because they are a side branch, the maximum amount of funds cannot exceed 200,000 Oggs."

But even if it is a direct capital scale of 1 million Oggs, it is only a small bank in a Weilan capital like Dawn City, but if it is placed on the current Paddlefish Island, it is quite sufficient.

Rosen smiled and said: "I propose to call this bank "Morning Princess Bank". When others hear it, they will know that it is opened by Princess Selena, and their credit will be established immediately."

"Okay, let's call it this name."

Now that there are professional guardians on the supply side and the currency side, there should be no major problems in the island market.

As for the Duke's seigniorage, don't worry too much.

Because credit currency has not yet become popular, what is circulating in the market is gold and silver currency that is basically full value, and the seigniorage tax is not high.

Moreover, even if the Duke wanted to add adulteration to the gold coins and charge more seigniorage, he would still have to ask the earls of each county if they would agree.

So, two big things were settled at the dinner table.

There will definitely be many stumbling blocks in the actual implementation, but it doesn't matter. The island is small and has the natural barrier of the sea. If nothing serious happens, just be a trainer.

After lunch, Rosen went to the underground magic laboratory to study magic.

After a while, Anna joined in.

She was very interested in the laboratory's lightning assembly line.

It just so happened that Rosen also needed a helper in the magic factory, and Anna had been staying in the castle all the time, feeling bored every day.

So Rosen carefully taught the relevant knowledge.

As for government affairs, there were puppets in charge.

I thought nothing big would happen this afternoon, but soon, his chief intelligence officer Stonard came.

"Lord, there is a 'Sun Warrior' named Frodo who kidnapped a witch wife from the sea."

"The other party voluntarily went ashore with him, and she was unwilling to go back to the sea.

Rosen was very happy: "Aha~~ There is a defector so soon. "

Now you have a complete understanding of the deep sea situation?

Then why doesn't he worry about being discovered by the other party?

Because he can see at a glance that the islands and land have a high civilization advantage over the deep-sea banshees. If the other party can find out everything at will, they will yearn for the islands rather than the sea.

Of course, it is not enough to rely on Frodo alone. The "Sun Warrior Plan" must continue to work hard to bring as many banshees as possible ashore.

After passing this order to Stonard, he asked, "Any other news?"

Stonard nodded.

"Because of the obstruction of trade routes, our smuggling trade with the Northern County has encountered obstacles. The smuggling efficiency has dropped a lot compared to the past, and some have even been blocked by the Earl of Shire County. "

Rosen knew that Count Robert's interception was just a show, for the people in the Shire County Government Department to see.

After all, whether to intercept or not is a matter of attitude, and how much to intercept is a matter of ability, and the former is much more serious than the latter.

But this incident also reminded him to find a new route quickly.

Fortunately, Rosen never puts all his eggs in one basket.

He has been preparing for this matter since he started trading with the smuggler Aji, or even earlier.

Recently, these preparations should have taken shape.