Now, while working behind the scenes on his marriage policy with Scheherazade and Nia, ......
　Hercule had another policy in the works.

　"Somehow, it looks like it will be ready by the end of the year. You've done a great job so far, Antonio, Shylock.

　Hercule thanked his two advisors for working behind the scenes on the project.
　Antonio and Shylock smiled happily.

　In a week, we will issue a proclamation. We'll be able to implement it in ...... two months?　At any rate, it looks like we won't have any trouble raising money for the war effort.

　said Hercule in a good mood.
　The document that Hercule is holding in his hand is titled ......

　"Establishment of the Bank of Lemuria".

　Bank.


　Bank.
　It is the heart of money circulation.

　Originally, there were plans to establish a bank, and Antonio and Shylock had been ordered to conduct various surveys.
　Finally, the plan took shape.

　There are four roles that Hercule is seeking for the Bank of Lemuria.

　One is the stable supply of money and price adjustment.
　Currently, the Lemurian Empire is experiencing a continuous rise in prices ...... and moderate inflation.
　This means that the economy is growing in an upward direction.

　However, one wrong move could cause prices to soar, putting pressure on the people's livelihood.
　Banks are essential to effectively regulate the quantity of money.

　The other is the redistribution of wealth.
　Basically, money tends to gather where there is money.
　The rich get richer, and the richer areas get richer.
　Well, in other words, people, goods, and money are currently flowing rapidly into Nova Lemuria in the Lemurian Empire.

　This flow is not a bad thing.
　But if it goes too far, it could lead to the impoverishment of the provinces.

　That's not a good thing for security.

　That's where the banks come in.
　We can collect deposits from the wealthy and middle class of Nova Lemuria and invest them in the regions. ......
　In this way, the money gathered in the center will be redistributed to the regions again. 　

　Hercule's goal was to stabilize the country by maintaining a sustained economic boom by creating a reflux throughout the Lemurian economy.

　The other purpose is to clear debts.

　The Lemurian Empire still had a lot of debts.
　The debts accumulated since the time of the previous emperor Hadrian are enormous, and it is impossible to repay them all in a decade or so.

　By asking the banks to shoulder these debts, Hercule hoped to consolidate the debts and consolidate the sources of repayment.


　The last one was to secure war funds.
　In fact, Hercule had a war coming up ...... and was planning to use the bank to raise money for the war.
　The reason why he accelerated his plan to establish the bank was to be able to do so in time. 　

　
　There are also other purposes, such as working with trading companies and providing loans to the Seventy-six Holy Families. ......
　There are various purposes.


　The wedding has put a bit of a squeeze on the war funds we had set aside for it. A bank would make it much easier.

　In the pre-modern era, a country's finances were inevitably dependent on tax revenue.
　You can't budget more than your tax revenue, or income.
　It is possible to borrow money, but it is not easy to do so.

　However, if a bank is established, the story will be a little different.
　We can borrow and lend money freely.

　In other words, financial freedom is increased.
　However, ...... there is still the possibility that the debt will grow without limit.

　But ...... the question is whether the banks will accept it.

　The problem is whether the banks can accept it.
　This is because of the profits from the previous coinage reform and the goods confiscated from the royal palace of the Kingdom of Bulgalon.

　But that is not enough for the bank to function.
　Someone has to lend money to the bank, or deposit it.

　We have already received the cooperation and understanding of many lenders. ......
　"Many of the guilds have already decided to transfer their assets to the bank. I'm sure they'll be fine.

　Shylock and Antonio have already briefed the financiers and guilds, the people and organizations that have the most money, in advance.

　The biggest concern is that the financiers who already exist will think that a powerful rival has appeared. ......
　The Bank of Lemuria has explained that it will not provide loans to individuals.

　"What I'm worried about is private investment, or 'deposits'.

　You deposit money in a bank.
　This may make you feel as if the bank is a vault.

　But the reality is that you are lending money to the bank.

　It is difficult to say how many of the subjects of the Lemurian Empire will understand this feeling, which is difficult even for modern Japanese to understand.

　In the Lemurian Empire, there are safe-deposit boxes, but there is always a fee to use them.
　It is common knowledge in the Lemurian Empire, or rather in this world, that if you deposit money in a safe deposit box, you will be charged a certain amount of money.

　However, in the case of the Bank of Lemuria, interest is paid on the amount of money deposited, or in other words, the amount of money lent.
　Rather than taking money from you, they give you money in return.

　Most of the subjects will feel that this does not make sense.

　Furthermore, the "Bank of Lemuria" lends money to the Imperial government using the money deposited by the subjects.
　"That's our money, why are you lending it to us? What are you doing with our money?

　The people may wonder, "Isn't this a big scam by the government? In fact, Shylock and Antonio were the first to do so.
　In fact, Shylock, Antonio, and others took great pains to explain the banking system.

　Even the economic experts, financiers and merchants, needed time to be convinced.
　It is doubtful how many of our illiterate subjects will be able to understand it.

　However, in order to maximize the benefits of banking, deposits from the majority of subjects are absolutely essential.

　To begin with, there is no need to go through a bank to borrow money from ...... lenders or guilds.


　The reason is that they have enough capital on their own.
　On their own, they have enough money to influence the national budget.

　The important thing is to gather up the small, dusty capital of the subjects and make it into a powerful capital.
　If you can't do that, there is no point in having a bank established.

　...... Isn't that the only way to get people to understand, little by little?　
　Well, yes, .......

　I'm not sure what to make of that.






　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure you'll do fine.
　You're right, Cecilia, you're very quick with your words.

　In the event that you have any questions regarding where and how to use the internet, please do not hesitate to contact us.

　Hmm.
　"No?　I'm just going to lend you the money.

　When Hercule asked, Cecilia let out a sigh.

　It depends on how independent the Bank of Lemuria is from the Imperial government, from the Emperor of Lemuria, Lord Hercule. As you can imagine, the church cannot operate without money. Depositing such important funds in the Bank of Lemuria is a matter that concerns the autonomy and independence of the church.

　In other words, Cecilia was saying that she didn't want Hercule to be able to seize the church's assets.
　Hercule clicks his tongue inwardly.

　...... I was thinking of threatening her with that when the time came.

　Yes, ...... well, not all of it is possible, but a certain amount is possible. And ...... in return, if you accumulate the know-how, can you let us know?　In addition to the Church of the Messiah, I would like to create a bank for it.

　"What?　I'm sure you're not the only one.

　Hercule frowns.
　The Church of Messiah has taken a negative stance on lending and borrowing money.

　The Church of the Messiah has a negative stance on lending and borrowing money, "The current interpretation is that it is wrong to charge 'high interest' but not wrong to charge 'interest'. And I don't want to be in the financial business for profit. I'm like Hercule, I want to be able to freely manage my budget.

　"I see. Well, that's fine. I'll give you a loan from my bank when it's ready. We want to create credit.

　...... So Mr. Hercule is his own bank after all.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm going to try.
　It's a good thing that the number of banks is increasing, though.

　It's a good thing that the number of banks is increasing, although it's assumed that the Bank of Lemuria will be the largest and most central.

　"By the way, what is credit creation?
　"I deposit 1,000 gold coins in the Bank of Lemuria. Then the Bank of Lemuria lends 900 gold coins to Cecilia, and Cecilia deposits 900 gold coins in the Bank of Cecilia. Now the Bank of Cecilia lends Nia 800 gold coins, and Nia deposits 800 gold coins in the Bank of Nia. This is the alchemy of ......, which increases the number of coins you have on paper to a total of 2,700: 1,000 from Lemuria Bank, 900 from Cecilia Bank, and 800 from Nia Bank.
　What's with the scam-like tactics?
　It's called salvation for the faithful.
　Please don't blaspheme the Lord.

　Cecilia furrowed her brow in disapproval.

　And I'm not sure if my ...... subjects will deposit their money properly. Did I say that?
　You might think it's a ...... scam, right?
　Yes, it is. Well, it's certainly puzzling at first glance. When you deposit money, the amount you deposit increases.

　It is a system that is somewhat difficult to understand, even for those who are familiar with it.
　It will be hard to make people who have never thought about economics or finance in their lives understand this.

　Why don't you just stop trying to make them understand ......?
　What do you mean?
　What do you mean? - I mean, convince them that if they leave it with you, you'll understand. No matter how many words you say to a doubter, it will only make him doubt even more. In fact, the more details you give, the more suspicious they may become.

　Even now, Cecilia regularly goes down to the streets to preach.
　This is because she feels that such grassroots activities are important.

　Through such activities, Cecilia feels that ......
　The more words you use, the harder it is to be understood.

　When people are given long explanations and jargon, they stop thinking. So, rather than explaining the banking system in detail, you should go to ...... and say, 'I will be saved if you deposit your money. If you deposit money, I will pay you money in return. The more you save, the less you waste, and the more you kill two birds with one stone! It might be better to ask sincerely like that. The Lemurian Empire's subjects trust Erkur-sama.

　"I see. ......

　Hercule has the strong support of his subjects.
　He does not need to explain himself to his subjects, as they already trust him.

　Trust me, that's the only thing that will make them trust him.

　You're right, you're right. You're right. ...... By the way, you'll help us out, won't you?
　"Well, we've added the doctrine that saving is a shortcut to heaven. Well, we've added the doctrine that saving is a shortcut to heaven, and it fits in with our policies and principles. But ......, what shall we do?

　Cecilia said deliberately, looking up.
　Hercule sensed what Cecilia was looking for and stood up and ......


　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that.