Claude didn't return to his residence until eight o'clock in the evening. This was the Admiral's Mansion located in the inner city of Port Corbichus. It was now Claude's temporary official residence. Sergeant Kester came over. He was also a veteran who was about to retire. The last time Claude was attacked by the Gray Tower Mage, he was one of the two guards who survived the serious injury. Now that he has recovered from his injuries and is facing retirement, because of his loyalty and honesty, and because his family is no longer alone, Claude is ready to keep him by his side as a personal attendant, that is, a retainer of a noble family.
Sergeant Kuster reported to Claude, who was about to take a bath and relax: "General, Viscount Goodich is here to visit you. He has been waiting for you for nearly an hour."
The name Viscount Gudic was somewhat impressive, but Claude still couldn't remember who this nobleman was. Sergeant Buster reminded: "General, Viscount Gooditch is the branch director of the National Bank..."
It turned out to be him, Claude immediately remembered. The Kingdom of Ovilas has established branches of the National Bank in the overseas territories directly under its jurisdiction to carry out commercial, trade and financial transactions, administrative and military expenditures, local tax collection, and private savings and loans in various overseas territories. It can be said that the Kookmin Bank in overseas territories is the only financial monopoly, and all large expenditures and commercial transactions rely on the Kookmin Bank.
However, the National Bank of the Overseas Territory of Nubicia does not have the right to issue minted coins. The required gold, silver, and copper coins are all shipped from the Kingdom. Due to the Kingdom's restrictions on the amount of currency for large transactions in the Overseas Territory, the Overseas Territory's The scale of commercial transactions cannot be expanded because even if the transaction is concluded, there is not enough cash in the National Bank to pay. This has a great negative impact on the economic development of overseas territories.
Each of the kingdom's eight overseas territories has a branch of the National Bank. The Dreadnought Fleet's eastbound route originally ended at Port Patres, and the branch there became the branch of the National Bank on the mainland of Nubisia, which has jurisdiction over the other territories. of branches. Later, a new route was opened in White Deer City, and the terminal seaport became the Port of Copicius, so the branch of the Port of Patres was also moved to the Port of Copicius, mainly to facilitate the transportation of coins and the settlement of transoceanic trade.
When Claude took over the Tiersim Direct Territory, he had an idea of establishing a National Bank branch here. Unfortunately, he could not find the person in charge of the branch, Viscount Goodich. On the oath of allegiance to Prince Hansback signed and issued by the governors and admirals of the three direct territories, well-known people from the three direct territories, with some wealth and influence, all signed it, but this ancient man could not be found. The name of Viscount Dickey...
Claude could only give up the idea of attacking the National Bank. If Viscount Gudic signed his name, Claude could arrest him as a traitor and identify the reserve funds in the bank as being prepared for Han. The rebellious military expenses of Prince Spark were confiscated. But Viscount Goodich did not give him this opportunity. He even ordered his subordinates to cooperate when inspecting the bank accounts of the governor and admirals, as well as those administrative officials and local people who signed the affidavit. Otherwise, Claude would never be able to collect the huge sum of more than one million gold crowns.
But why did Viscount Goodich come to visit so late? Claude thought for a moment and told Sergeant Kuster: "Take Viscount Goodich to the study and ask him to wait a while. I'll wash it first." Just take a shower and go see him."
Claude casually washed himself, put on his nightgown, and then walked to the study. When he entered the door, he saw the forty-year-old Viscount Gudicchi leaning on the sofa. He was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice Claude came in.
Claude had no choice but to cough twice.
Viscount Gudic came to his senses and quickly stood up and bowed slightly to greet him: "General Claude, I take the liberty of disturbing you so late."
Claude waved his hand: "It's okay. I welcome you. Viscount Gudic. Thank you very much for your cooperation last time in checking the assets of the rebels in the bank. This has a great impact on our military expenditure in the war zone." Help. By the way, what kind of fruit wine do you want to drink? Can the blueberry one be okay?"
Viscount Gudic was not polite either. He knew very well that the Admiral's mansion was just Claude's temporary residence, and the wine in the study was the collection of the original Admiral. He stood up and went to the wine cabinet to look at it and said, "I personally think the blue sky is good. It's pure and sweet, with a long aftertaste. I drank it once and I still haven't forgotten the taste."
Sky Blue Claude thought for a while and seemed to have heard someone say that this was the best blueberry fruit wine. The wine was light blue and crystal clear. It looked like a blue sky, so it was named Sky Blue. I didn't expect that the captured admiral actually had such good wine in his collection, but now he gave it to Claude at a cheap price.
"Okay, let's taste the sky blue." Claude took out the sky blue from the wine cabinet and took out two crystal cups. After opening the wine and taking out the cork, pour the wine into the cup. Under the bright candlelight, the wine looks like a pool of clear sea water.
Claude raised the cup and poured some into his mouth. It tasted really good, with a faint blueberry fragrance and sweetness. The two of them didn't speak, just slowly drank the wine in the crystal glass in small sips.
"Not bad, it is indeed the best blueberry fruit wine." Claude praised it and poured another glass for Viscount Goodich and himself. But this time Claude stopped drinking. He took the cup and asked, "Let's get straight to the point. Viscount Goodich, what's the purpose of your visit tonight?"
"That's right, General Claude, I want to ask if this thing was made in your war zone." Viscount Goodich put down the cup, picked up a black leather bag he was carrying on the sofa, and took out a few denominations from it. Different vouchers come.
"Yes, it was issued by our war zone. Immigrants flocked to the war zone some time ago, and the war zone was extremely short of development and construction funds directly under the jurisdiction. We had no choice but to issue vouchers as remuneration for the immigrants' labor. These vouchers can allow immigrants to wait according to the face value Depending on the value, you can buy various daily necessities from various commercial banks in the war zone, and the commercial banks can use these vouchers to exchange for real money and silver from the logistics department of the war zone. There is no way, the overseas direct-administered territories are short of cash now, we asked Anfeisi The person in charge of the branch of the National Bank of Dundee Territory said that the branch could not provide so many gold, silver and copper coins, so the war zone had no choice but to issue such vouchers."
Claude first explained the process and reasons for the issuance of this voucher. He was wondering whether the issuance of this voucher would also hinder the National Bank. Did Viscount Gudic come to investigate at night
"I can only say that it is a genius idea for you to issue this voucher." To Claude's surprise, Viscount Goodich praised loudly: "General, you don't know, at the end of last year and the first half of the year, from the front of the kingdom, The immigrants came in an endless stream, and the scale alarmed the people in the entire territory. The governor and the admiral even made a bet on when your war zone would collapse, because in their view, you were just asking for trouble by recruiting so many immigrants in the past. Judging from the military expenditures in the war zone, you simply cannot accommodate so many immigrants...
I once calculated that if more than two million immigrants want to be resettled, it will cost them at least three million gold crowns. The total value of all the kingdom's currencies circulating in overseas territories is only so much. I can't think of how your war zone will solve this problem. As a result, you disappointed many people, but surprised me.
What surprised me most is that you issued this voucher, which perfectly solved the problem of lack of funds for resettlement. I have studied this voucher and think it can replace gold and silver coins in many cases. Just how much to issue requires careful estimation and having enough gold and silver as collateral. Under the current situation, perhaps the war zone can promote this voucher to solve the economic development dilemma caused by the lack of cash in the entire overseas territories... "
Claude was stunned. Viscount Goodich's words were obviously a gesture of goodwill to the war zone. This honorary viscount is really a sensible person. He knows very well that despite being cut off from the mainland of the kingdom, the war zone has become the dominant overseas territory. Anything related to the development prospects of overseas territories cannot bypass the war zone, not even the National Bank.
"You mean, the National Bank is willing to issue this voucher for the war zone?" Claude asked with a smile.
Viscount Goodich shook his head: "I'm sorry, the branches of the National Bank in overseas territories do not have this authority. But I think the war zone can organize its own bank to issue this voucher. For example, the gold and silver coins can be matched one to two in kind. One gold krona can be used to issue two vouchers of the same value, while copper coins can be completely replaced by vouchers, which is more convenient to carry around."
"You can open a bank in the war zone yourself?" Claude asked in surprise. He had never thought that in the Kingdom of Overas, other banks could be opened besides the National Bank.
Viscount Goodich nodded: "Of course, you can apply for a new bank as long as it does not overlap with the main business of the National Bank. There are four private banks in the royal capital, and they handle inter-regional fund exchange, commercial loans, and mortgage pawns respectively. And business such as attracting investment, even members of the royal family have invested in it.
The main business of the Kingdom’s branches of the National Bank in overseas territories is the commercial settlement of cross-oceanic trade between the two continents. Now that trade between the overseas territories and the Kingdom is cut off, it can be said that the Kookmin Bank branch has lost its main business. Before the two princes from the kingdom decide the winner, the branch will no longer be able to receive support from the kingdom's head office and deliver coins, and it has lost its role in supporting the economic development of the overseas territories.
In addition, the Kingdom's local head office has great restrictions on the authority of overseas branches directly under the jurisdiction, making it impossible for the branches to provide effective economic and financial support for the future development of the war zone. Under such circumstances, I personally believe that the war zone should set up its own bank so that every penny of funds can be utilized to the highest efficiency. Only in this way can it bring more help to the economic development of the war zone and directly-governed territories... . ..”
Claude raised the cup in his hand to his mouth and took a slow sip. After putting down the cup, Claude stared at Viscount Goodich and asked: "I have a question, Viscount Goodich, I want to I know, as the director of the Kookmin Bank’s overseas branches directly under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China, for what purpose did you propose that the war zone set up its own bank? I hope you can give an honest and open answer..."
Viscount Goodich smiled bitterly, and drank all the wine in the glass in one gulp: "General Claude, I am dissatisfied with you, if you know the reason why I came to the overseas territory to become the head of the branch, then maybe you can understand me. Why is it suggested that the war zone should set up its own bank? To be honest, I have been the director of an overseas direct-controlled branch for eighteen years. If nothing else happens, I may continue to be the director of this branch until retirement.
When I was eighteen years old, I graduated from Royal High School No. 1 in liberal arts and became a civilian employee of Royal National Bank. For the next eight years, I worked conscientiously without slacking off, and my position was promoted step by step, becoming the youngest deputy director of a branch in Wangdu. At that time, I thought my life was perfect, and the hard work and dedication I put in were worthy of everything I got.
What follows is the beginning of my misfortune. As the deputy director of the branch, I have the authority to monitor the abnormal flow of funds in the bank. Sometimes I regret why I was so perceptive. I found some unreasonable signs in a series of fund flow orders allocated by the Kookmin Bank for the construction of local public facilities in the royal capital, and then I started to investigate. This was the stupidest thing about me. Being young and energetic, I thought this was a good opportunity to stand out. I didn’t tell anyone, but hired an investigator privately...
In the end, I succeeded. I lifted the veil on the major corruption case in the construction of local public facilities in the royal capital. Eight Kookmin Bank officials were implicated in this case, and they all had higher positions than me. Because of this case More than 30 local officials have been arrested in this case. The late King Stirling X issued a severe punishment, but I saved the kingdom from a financial loss of up to one million gold crowns and was awarded the title of Honorary Viscount of the kingdom.
I thought that I would be able to start my career from then on, but I didn't expect that two months later I would receive an appointment to serve as branch manager in the Overseas Territory of Nubisia Continent. I remember that the president of the head office told me very sincerely that I was a rising star in the National Bank and that he wanted me to serve as a branch supervisor in an overseas territory to train and train me. So I am very happy to come and take office,
After arriving here, I discovered that my authority as a branch manager is not as great as that of a branch manager in a local town in the Kingdom. It is purely a decoration. Then I have been the branch manager here for eighteen years... "
Claude could only smile and shake his head. To be honest, Viscount Gudic was already very lucky. A major corruption case involving millions of gold crowns was obviously not something that could be solved by just eight senior officials of the National Bank. It might involve a higher level, and these eight senior officials were just pushed out as scapegoats. Just cut off the connection with the higher-ups.
If Sterling X had not bestowed an honorary viscount title on Goodich, who reported this major corruption case, the branch manager might have died a long time ago. That is to say, the honorary title saved his life. In the kingdom, if a civilian or even a citizen is murdered, the person behind the murder may still be able to escape.
But the murder of a noble has become a major case in the kingdom, just like poking a hornet's nest. All the nobles will put pressure on the case to find out the truth and severely punish all suspects involved. Comparatively, all the nobles are worried that they will be the next victims, so they will not let go of any murderer who dares to murder the nobles.
Perhaps it was based on this consideration that the senior officials of the National Bank Headquarters exiled Viscount Goodich to an overseas territory as a branch supervisor, so that he could be out of sight but out of mind. As Viscount Goodich himself said, it was impossible for him to return to the royal capital until he retired.
"So I don't want to spend my whole life in the position of branch manager, and I don't want the knowledge I have learned to be useless. I am only forty-five years old this year, and there are still fifteen years until retirement. I hope I can find a place where I can use my talents, and I also want to take revenge on the National Bank. Now is a good opportunity for me and the war zone to take advantage of the chaotic period of the two kings fighting for the throne in the kingdom to establish an overseas territory that is sufficient. A bank that rivals the National Bank..." said Viscount Gooditch.
Claude poured the remaining wine in the bottle evenly into two crystal glasses: "Viscount Goodich, I think we will have lunch together at noon tomorrow, and I will introduce General Scree to you. , maybe he is also interested in setting up a bank..."