"I will now go through the materials and talk about the 'Special Frontier Freedom Trade Agreement'."
When I confirmed that the materials were in the hands of King Elias and them, I smiled and began to explain.
The 'Special Frontier Freedom Trade Agreement' is based on the famous 'Free Trade Agreement' from the memories of the previous life, which aims to liberalise and facilitate the movement of 'people, goods and money', and to strengthen and develop economic relations.
In the Empire and the Renarte, it is still difficult to make a deal on 'money', but it is still possible to make a deal on 'people and goods'.
In terms of normal trade, 'tariffs' are set in detail for each 'commodity' in each country.
This is to protect the value of their own products.
For example, if a rice-producing country imports rice from another country, the rice from that country is cheaper and tastes the same as the rice produced in its own country.
If this happens, the country will naturally buy rice from other countries where it is cheaper.
In the short term, this may be a good news if only because rice can be bought at a lower price.
However, in the long run, when a country's own production capacity declines and it can no longer import rice from other nations, there is a danger that the country will run out of rice.
To prevent this, tariffs are applied to inexpensive rice from other countries to adjust the amount (value) and the volume of imports.
This is just one example of the complex and varied mechanisms involved in trade, including the adjustment of annual import volumes.
The Renalute and Magnolia empires are also different countries, so tariffs and tolls are established.
But because of the quantity of goods, it is not yet as detailed as in the world I remember from my previous life.
And fortunately, because of the various cultural differences between Bardia and Renalute, there is little overlap in the goods that are traded.
For example, the staple food of the Magnolia Empire is wheat, but the staple food of the Lenalute is rice.
To be honest, the Renalute is a treasure trove of raw materials for me, and I would like to increase the volume of trade significantly using the 'charcoal truck'.
The problem then becomes 'tariffs'.
In the meantime, my father has been pulling out some pretty good terms and conditions after the last 'Norris' incident.
In this context, the proposal I am making is almost the abolition of tariffs.
After some explanation of the outline, King Elias, the mountain father, gave a difficult look.
'I see...... however, my son-in-law. The only thing that will happen with the abolition of customs duties is that our country's revenue from taxes will fall. And if it were the Magnolia Empire as a whole, our country would lose too much.'
Yes. That is why, as the name 'Special Frontier Free Trade Agreement' suggests, this favourable treatment applies only to the Bardia territory and the Renalute. And ...... sooner or later, the central nobles of the Imperial City will eventually approach us about abolishing tariffs."
I nodded at King Elias' words, smiled and shifted my gaze to my father.
King Elias and they looked at my father, frowning at my words.
King Elias then asks his father quizzically.
'Lord Rainer, what did your son-in-law mean by his words?'
'As he said, Your Majesty Elias. As for the movements of the central nobility in the imperial capital, there is talk of changing or eliminating the tariffs between the Renalute and Magnolia empires in favour of the empire. Perhaps there will be some movement from around the time the Pharaohess came to Bardia territory."
Othros's voice grew sharp as he looked at his father's calm answer.
'Changing or eliminating tariffs in favour of the Empire,...... is such a ridiculous story,...... and besides,...... even if the Empire's moves were true, your talk would be 'threats' rather than 'negotiations'. ‼."
But it was I, not my father, who answered Ortlos's words in a nonchalant manner, with a smile on my face.
'I understand your feelings, Lord Ortlos. However, your country is unfortunately in a position where it cannot defy the Empire. Besides, this talk is not a 'threat'. We are talking about a 'choice' between Renalute following the central nobles of the Imperial City or joining forces with the House of Bardia."
'...... choice?'
He hears my words and has a dubious expression on his face.
Soon after, King Elias turned his piercing gaze on me.
'My son-in-law. Does that mean that we should conclude an agreement with the Bardia territory before the central nobles of the Imperial Capital impose their unreasonable demands on us?'
'It is as you say, Father."
I dared to give a big smile to King Elias's words.
Then I begin to explain the current situation and the future.
I have long felt that the central nobility of the Imperial City underestimated the value of Lenalute.
So I decided to take advantage of their underestimation.
I told my father in the Imperial Capital that I wanted to make a special trade agreement between the Bardia family and Renalute in connection with the marriage of me and the Farrah princess, and that I wanted him to approach me at the last moment.
As a result, the central nobles decided, as expected, that 'the countrymen can do as they please with each other'.
The emperor has already been informed by my father.
Of course, the central nobles are not aware of the existence of the charcoal wagons and the Second Order of Bardia in Bardia territory.
That's why, if the Bardia territory and Renalute conclude an 'agreement' here, they will be able to outwit the central nobles in the imperial capital.
Looking straight at King Elias, I speak strongly.
'Of course, that's not all. When your country and Bardia conclude an agreement, and tariffs are eliminated or eased, the coal wagons will create an incomparable logistical flow and tourism will flourish. And the raw material purchased in Renalute will be processed into a variety of products in the Bardia territory. We are also thinking of selling them within the empire."
I found myself feeling everyone's eyes on me as I spoke passionately but nonchalantly.
I continued to speak with the same vigour.
The agreement will no doubt lead to the development of the Bardia territory and Renalute. And I will never do anything to neglect the homeland of my wife Fara. Please, I ask you to sign the 'Special Frontier Free Trade Agreement'."
After my explanation, there is a moment of silence in the room.
After a while, King Elias murmured softly.
'...... the development of charcoal trucks and pocket watches, and the training of human resources. And a 'special frontier freedom trade agreement'? The son-in-law's ideas are truly 'unconventional'. But that's why it's interesting. Fine, we'll have to work out the details, but I'll think about it too, on the assumption that we conclude an agreement with the Bardia territory."
'Thank you, Your Majesty Elias, ...... ‼.'
When I bowed involuntarily to King Elias's words, he chuckled.
'Not His Majesty Elias, but your father. But still, I look forward to the future of my dauther and son-in-law.'
After he had finished, he then broke out into a hearty laugh.
"I will now go through the materials and talk about the 'Special Frontier Freedom Trade Agreement'."
When I confirmed that the materials were in the hands of King Elias and them, I smiled and began to explain.
The 'Special Frontier Freedom Trade Agreement' is based on the famous 'Free Trade Agreement' from the memories of the previous life, which aims to liberalise and facilitate the movement of 'people, goods and money', and to strengthen and develop economic relations.
In the Empire and the Renarte, it is still difficult to make a deal on 'money', but it is still possible to make a deal on 'people and goods'.
In terms of normal trade, 'tariffs' are set in detail for each 'commodity' in each country.
This is to protect the value of their own products.
For example, if a rice-producing country imports rice from another country, the rice from that country is cheaper and tastes the same as the rice produced in its own country.
If this happens, the country will naturally buy rice from other countries where it is cheaper.
In the short term, this may be a good news if only because rice can be bought at a lower price.
However, in the long run, when a country's own production capacity declines and it can no longer import rice from other nations, there is a danger that the country will run out of rice.
To prevent this, tariffs are applied to inexpensive rice from other countries to adjust the amount (value) and the volume of imports.
This is just one example of the complex and varied mechanisms involved in trade, including the adjustment of annual import volumes.
The Renalute and Magnolia empires are also different countries, so tariffs and tolls are established.
But because of the quantity of goods, it is not yet as detailed as in the world I remember from my previous life.
And fortunately, because of the various cultural differences between Bardia and Renalute, there is little overlap in the goods that are traded.
For example, the staple food of the Magnolia Empire is wheat, but the staple food of the Lenalute is rice.
To be honest, the Renalute is a treasure trove of raw materials for me, and I would like to increase the volume of trade significantly using the 'charcoal truck'.
The problem then becomes 'tariffs'.
In the meantime, my father has been pulling out some pretty good terms and conditions after the last 'Norris' incident.
In this context, the proposal I am making is almost the abolition of tariffs.
After some explanation of the outline, King Elias, the mountain father, gave a difficult look.
'I see...... however, my son-in-law. The only thing that will happen with the abolition of customs duties is that our country's revenue from taxes will fall. And if it were the Magnolia Empire as a whole, our country would lose too much.'
Yes. That is why, as the name 'Special Frontier Free Trade Agreement' suggests, this favourable treatment applies only to the Bardia territory and the Renalute. And ...... sooner or later, the central nobles of the Imperial City will eventually approach us about abolishing tariffs."
I nodded at King Elias' words, smiled and shifted my gaze to my father.
King Elias and they looked at my father, frowning at my words.
King Elias then asks his father quizzically.
'Lord Rainer, what did your son-in-law mean by his words?'
'As he said, Your Majesty Elias. As for the movements of the central nobility in the imperial capital, there is talk of changing or eliminating the tariffs between the Renalute and Magnolia empires in favour of the empire. Perhaps there will be some movement from around the time the Pharaohess came to Bardia territory."
Othros's voice grew sharp as he looked at his father's calm answer.
'Changing or eliminating tariffs in favour of the Empire,...... is such a ridiculous story,...... and besides,...... even if the Empire's moves were true, your talk would be 'threats' rather than 'negotiations'. ‼."
But it was I, not my father, who answered Ortlos's words in a nonchalant manner, with a smile on my face.
'I understand your feelings, Lord Ortlos. However, your country is unfortunately in a position where it cannot defy the Empire. Besides, this talk is not a 'threat'. We are talking about a 'choice' between Renalute following the central nobles of the Imperial City or joining forces with the House of Bardia."
'...... choice?'
He hears my words and has a dubious expression on his face.
Soon after, King Elias turned his piercing gaze on me.
'My son-in-law. Does that mean that we should conclude an agreement with the Bardia territory before the central nobles of the Imperial Capital impose their unreasonable demands on us?'
'It is as you say, Father."
I dared to give a big smile to King Elias's words.
Then I begin to explain the current situation and the future.
I have long felt that the central nobility of the Imperial City underestimated the value of Lenalute.
So I decided to take advantage of their underestimation.
I told my father in the Imperial Capital that I wanted to make a special trade agreement between the Bardia family and Renalute in connection with the marriage of me and the Farrah princess, and that I wanted him to approach me at the last moment.
As a result, the central nobles decided, as expected, that 'the countrymen can do as they please with each other'.
The emperor has already been informed by my father.
Of course, the central nobles are not aware of the existence of the charcoal wagons and the Second Order of Bardia in Bardia territory.
That's why, if the Bardia territory and Renalute conclude an 'agreement' here, they will be able to outwit the central nobles in the imperial capital.
Looking straight at King Elias, I speak strongly.
'Of course, that's not all. When your country and Bardia conclude an agreement, and tariffs are eliminated or eased, the coal wagons will create an incomparable logistical flow and tourism will flourish. And the raw material purchased in Renalute will be processed into a variety of products in the Bardia territory. We are also thinking of selling them within the empire."
I found myself feeling everyone's eyes on me as I spoke passionately but nonchalantly.
I continued to speak with the same vigour.
The agreement will no doubt lead to the development of the Bardia territory and Renalute. And I will never do anything to neglect the homeland of my wife Fara. Please, I ask you to sign the 'Special Frontier Free Trade Agreement'."
After my explanation, there is a moment of silence in the room.
After a while, King Elias murmured softly.
'...... the development of charcoal trucks and pocket watches, and the training of human resources. And a 'special frontier freedom trade agreement'? The son-in-law's ideas are truly 'unconventional'. But that's why it's interesting. Fine, we'll have to work out the details, but I'll think about it too, on the assumption that we conclude an agreement with the Bardia territory."
'Thank you, Your Majesty Elias, ...... ‼.'
When I bowed involuntarily to King Elias's words, he chuckled.
'Not His Majesty Elias, but your father. But still, I look forward to the future of my dauther and son-in-law.'
After he had finished, he then broke out into a hearty laugh.
