South Central Region, Central City, Chuta's House.
A week later.
Knock, knock… Knock, knock, knock.
"Young Chuta, don't forget you have a meeting with the Minister of Commerce and the leaders of the Suaza Chamber of Commerce," Fiba informed me from outside my bedroom door.
"Is it today?"
"Yes, it's in an hour," she entered the room after hearing me reply.
"Ugh… I'm so sleepy, I thought I scheduled it for tomorrow."
"No, yesterday you said, and I quote: 'It's better not to put off until tomorrow what you can do today.' Although I suspect you said it to impress the young ladies," she commented, adding a touch of sarcasm to her usual serious tone.
"Hahaha… I probably did," I said with a hint of embarrassment. "Ugh… I'm exhausted, it seems long journeys are not for me."
An hour later, the meeting room of the Government House.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Young Chuta!"
"It's good to see everyone is well… I'll get straight to the point."
Everyone remained silent, waiting for me to speak.
"As the General of the Southwest Zone Navy, now de facto General of both military zones, informed you, new business opportunities have arisen with the new towns that will join the kingdom this year and with the Aztec Kingdom. In both scenarios, commercial exchange will require the use of large boats or ships, so the navy will have to act as an intermediary in this form of maritime trade."
"Young Chuta, is it essential to trade with them? Do they possess any unique resource like that rubber you sent for from the Eastern Forests?" inquired one of the leaders of the Chamber of Commerce.
"Mmmm… Chewa, why do you think it's not essential to trade with them?" I asked back, quite surprised by his question.
"Young Chuta, our people are very prosperous, and I'm not talking about prosperity measured in coins, but about the resources each family has, health, education, and also opportunities… Young Chuta, thanks to you, I, who was an ordinary person, studied, worked hard, and you gave me the chance to offer those same opportunities to more individuals with the means I can employ now and in the future. However, I'm not referring to our new island brothers, I'm just asking about this trade agreement with the Aztecs," Chewa replied with a proud and emotional tone.
Chewa was one of the individuals who, years ago, trained with the first group of students instructed by the priests. He later joined the development office I established, dedicating himself to the study of manufacturing higher quality and larger capacity boats.
With my support and the initial formation of the navy, he founded his own transport company using the ships built in the army's boat workshops. Additionally, simultaneously, he employed several people and designed boats on his own initiative.
He is one of the pioneers in the kingdom's business sector, and his rise was due to his innate ability to identify business opportunities. However, unlike his future counterparts, this entrepreneur was extremely selfless.
The profits he obtains are reinvested in agricultural fields that are cultivated, and the resources obtained are donated to individuals at the Home of Honor or the Royal Orphanage. Likewise, he offers employment to people who cannot perform heavy tasks, allocates funds for the construction of homes, and supports new commercial initiatives.
The only negative aspect of Chewa is that he is excessively nationalistic and somewhat conformist. However, both characteristics, in a restrictive economy like the one the Kingdom had until recently, were quite valued.
"You are right in your analysis, Chewa, but you must remember the teachings of the gods," I reminded him with a serious expression.
"Are you referring to us helping all people, even if they don't belong to our kingdom?" he inquired with a thoughtful air.
"You have once again shown me your wisdom, Chewa, that is precisely what I mean… We have progressed so much that, as you rightly say, it is superfluous to seek more resources. With the means we possess, we will be able to nourish an increasing number of individuals. We have almost eradicated deaths from starvation," I expressed, casting a serious gaze at everyone in the room.
"The new populations and ethnic groups joining the kingdom appreciate the opportunity to raise their children healthy. However, there are many communities outside that continue to suffer, children dying of starvation, mothers perishing in childbirth, and people sleeping outdoors. Although they are not our family, not yet, we can assist them indirectly by bringing surplus food as a method of exchange to those places," I continued, speaking with a powerful and deep voice.
"I deeply regret not having been aware of this situation, Young Chuta. You have my absolute support in this trade agreement," Chewa expressed with a guilty air.
"No problem, Chewa, I understand your concern for our people… And just as I told you years ago, remember that we learn much more from our mistakes than from our successes. I know you have always had successes, and I trust that this small mistake can help you progress even further," I expressed, my jovial smile upon hearing his support was evident.
"I will learn from this mistake. Do not doubt it."
With Chewa's participation, many were impressed by my words and the direction I was giving to this trade agreement with the Aztecs.
Afterwards, we discussed the resources that could be traded, the establishment of a business center in the city under construction north of the Aztec territory, and the formation of the Inland Sea Trading Company.
This trading company, unlike the Suaza Chamber of Commerce, would allow the inclusion of external members, provided they complied with the company's regulations.
The company would establish particular commercial agreements with the Suaza Chamber of Commerce, in addition to direct negotiations with the Kingdom. Likewise, the rules of coexistence, the supervisory bodies, and the tariffs that the Kingdom would implement were set.
"Does anyone have any questions?" I asked.
"Young Chuta, will the trading company be located at the mouth of the Suaza River?" inquired one of the members.
"That's something all members need to discuss, but my proposal would be to locate it on an island protected by the navy and establish several offices in the Northwest region, the Central Islands, and the city near the Aztec territory."
"That's a good idea," noted the member who had asked earlier.
"I agree," everyone began to support this provision.
"Young Chuta, I have another concern."
"Tell me."
"In the trade agreement between the Kingdom and the Aztecs, you requested that payments be made with slaves. Will the Suaza Chamber of Commerce and the Trading Company also participate in this trade?" asked another member with some displeasure.
"That's an excellent question… We haven't yet established laws regarding prohibited trade items, but I will outline some rules that will be implemented soon," I replied.
Everyone calmly awaited the announcement, as it directly affected them. It was the first time in the kingdom that commercial restrictions were discussed. Even the Minister of Commerce, who had not participated much in the discussion until then, pulled out a small notebook to jot down what I would say.
"First, I will list the strictly prohibited items for trade: Free individuals, state secrets, protected technologies, military-grade weapons, military-grade armor, iron tools, and protected raw materials."
"Commercial items with restrictions: Indebted persons, these will be sold to the Kingdom. Slaves, they will be sold to the Kingdom. Bronze weapons, quantity limitations. Bronze tools, quantity limitations."
"In addition to the above, I want to clarify a special case. Exotic animals are a restricted commercial item, but the guidelines for their exchange vary slightly. They can only be traded if it is proven that you have contributed to the development of the animal's offspring, or if said animal or the resources derived from it come from a specimen that has reached 80% of its estimated lifespan."
"Young Chuta, is this similar to the reforestation applied to tree trade some years ago?" inquired one of the chamber members.
"Exactly. I must remind everyone that the gods and spirits cherish all living beings, including animals. We kill them for sustenance, just as they do among themselves, but if we kill them solely for profit, the gods and spirits could punish us. Furthermore, this helps to increase the number of animals in our region," I replied with a serious tone.
"We understand," everyone said in unison.
Beliefs in deities were deeply rooted in all the cultures that made up the kingdom. Many might assume that this amalgamation of cultures and creeds could fracture religion, but as more cultures integrated, faith only grew stronger.
Thanks to the support of the priests originating from these cultures, we have achieved mutual understanding and a shared doctrine that applies to all spheres of the kingdom, including aspects like trade. For example, Chewa possesses a cooperative and unambitious mindset, primarily due to his character, but also because of the doctrines that the priests now disseminate.
"Finally, the Chamber of Commerce and the Trading Company will have the authority to build towns and cities in the discovered territories. This is a plan that the Minister of Commerce and the Director of the Foreign Relations Department will inform you about, called Controlled Expansion by Concession," I declared, concluding the meeting.
"However, I want to remind you that these discovered territories will be governed by the same laws and beliefs of the kingdom, therefore, if it is discovered that you are occupying these territories improperly, the kingdom will intervene with all its might… And believe me, no one has witnessed the full extent of the kingdom's power," I warned everyone with a firm tone.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
Things are starting to get serious.
Chuta is making crucial decisions for the future of the Kingdom, but they seem to be a mix of liberal trade and extreme control. What will be the final approach?
Unnecessary Fact of the Day: The Mayans in the 15th century were going through their Post-Classic period, where the ancient forms of government were under discussion and were the main source of decline for this great civilization. But, even with this disadvantage, many years passed before the Spanish were able to conquer them.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future.
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis from Visions of Future Saga.
You can find them on my profile.]