Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence

Chapter 559: Chapter 22: Financial Review · Meeting Adjourned

Under this immense pressure, the territory’s finances could be said to be struggling, completely supported by war reparations and attracting loans.

Should another large war break out, the already unbearable financial pressure would directly lead to bankruptcy.

However, fortunately, such enormous pressure also means vigorous motivation.

So much financial expenditure, aside from the military sector, can all be considered investment and production.

As long as there is peace and stability without major disruptions, these investments will convert into vast wealth and profits, slowly evening out the current staggering fiscal deficit, possibly even achieving a fiscal surplus in the following year.

Even if the Empire’s assessors were to see such financial statements, they could not criticize them, as the initial financial situation of the Border Development Territory is always like this. Without large-scale investment and development, how can a remote, desolate, and thorny land transform into a fertile and prosperous territory?

Su Li asked with concern, ”Then, my minister, could you proceed to talk about this year’s financial expenditure?”

Oliver immediately bowed slightly and said, ”The main sources of our territory’s income can be divided into several major sections: agricultural income, mining revenue, industrial revenue, trade revenue, war revenue, and tax revenue!”

”Lord Vandar has already talked about agricultural revenue, and when we include exports as well as trade within the territory, the total income is 6,800 Golden Crowns. Most of the agricultural output has been prioritized to meet the needs of our own military, slaves, and attendants.”

”Mining revenue includes the ores, gemstones, wood, etc., from our territory. As a Border Prince’s Territory occupying the resource-rich, fertile foothills of the Hesse Mountains, our land is abundant in the unique specialties of the Border Prince’s Territories, including various precious gemstones, pearls, Blood Pine Wood, silver, Mithril, crystals, Uros Bulls, Horned Horses, etc. In this respect, our total income is 7,000 Golden Crowns. Similar to agricultural revenue, most of the harvest in this section is actually for our own use, but if the military expansion slows next year, this revenue could significantly increase, potentially by more than 50%. If the population increases significantly, doubling the revenue is also possible.”

”Industrial revenue is the main source of income for our territory, from Dwarf-made equipment, to the potions made by various monasteries, to Dwarf jewelry, Half-Elf agricultural machinery, religious holy images by various churches, as well as leather products, wool products, wooden products, etc. Last year, our revenue surpassed 50,000 Golden Crowns.”

”Taxes are the major chunk of our territory’s income, as we collected over 20,000 Golden Crowns from various knights, farm owners, autonomous territories, and major manor lords. This part includes the income from the sale of farmland and manors. For example, Bishop Uther of the Sun Goddess Church directly bought the Green Manor on the eastern side of Silver Spring Valley, and this single transaction brought us as much as 375 Golden Crowns!”

Regarding the territory’s tax revenue, Su Li had an impression, and had even personally given it considerable attention.

Even though the territory’s population is small, if each resident were to pay 1 Golden Crown in taxes, that would still amount to over 7,000 Golden Crowns in tax revenue.

In fact, the tax revenue is far from just that amount. Although the farmers are poor, the migrant manor lords, knights, and priests are not poor at all.

Take Bishop Uther, for example; he is a high-ranking and powerful priest of the Sun Goddess Church, stationed in the Knight Order church in Silver Spring Valley, responsible for spreading the teachings of the Sun Goddess.

The manor he purchased is located at a river junction in the southeast of Silver Spring Valley, backed by a forest with natural defensive advantages.

Do not think that his manor is just a small farm. In this world, manors are not just places of residence but also symbols of the Empire’s power, wealth, and culture.

The layout includes a main castle and surrounding artisan workshops, stables, warehouses, and breweries, all distributed around the main castle.

Then there are fields and pastures outside to ensure self-sufficiency. Further out are forests and lakes, which act as natural barriers and resource sources.

To protect such a manor, the manor lord would build castle walls with large stones and erect tall spire towers for observation and defense.

If conditions permit (enough slaves), a wide moat would be constructed around the main castle, filled with sharp stone spires on the bottom, and connected to the outer area by a drawbridge, with arrow towers distributed throughout the castle walls for long-range defense.

Once this complete set of facilities is built, even if a roaring beast herd of one or two hundred beastmen launches a night raid on this manor, they would not be able to breach the moat and attack into the castle.

As a Border Prince’s Territory, the manor can also keep giant eagles, wolfhounds, and other guardian creatures to ensure safety and establish external communication.

And for such a manor, the upfront purchase cost alone would require a farmer to work for 375 years without eating or drinking to save up. In other words, a village with around 400 people is needed to support the output of such a manor.

To maintain the rule and authority of the nobility, many nobles and high-tier priests purchase villages and farms along with their manors.

Therefore, the economic development model of the Hesse Territory can be considered ingenious. By selling land and supporting facilities to capable manor lords, it not only garnered substantial economic returns but also laid a solid foundation for the rapid expansion of the territory. Each manor lord is a key player in the development process of the Hesse Territory, serving as both investor and builder.