CHAPTER 553: CHAPTER 494: AUDIENCE AND REPORTING (4300)_2

"General Galliot, please take a seat."

As a Guardian Knight, he is naturally much closer than foreign ministers. And as a senior officer who has rendered great services to the Kingdom, he certainly has the privilege of being invited to sit by Her Majesty the Queen.

However, contrary to the plan, after exchanging a few words with Aiven, Her Majesty shifted the topic to the two advisors and their respective positions.

In fact, this is something Isabella also cares about. Every decree issued from the throne could potentially decide the future destiny of the country and countless citizens, necessitating caution.

After understanding the crux of the dispute between the two advisors and the decision the Queen faces, Aiven already has a plan in mind.

"In the development of future economies, which should lead, the market or technology? And how much should the Kingdom intervene in the market?"

Speaking of practical combat, he might not compare to these experienced old gentlemen, but when it comes to theoretical debates... In this world, he fears no one!

Thus, Aiven straightens up, glances at several individuals in the study, and gives a slight smile.

His inner monologue was: Stand back, I’m about to show off.

"Mr. Francis’s proposal for steam industrialization must proceed, and Mr. Kirkcaldy’s advocacy of a free market must as well. The key issue is how to implement them?

In my view, the perspectives of the two advisors are not contradictory.

Because the currently nascent ’Steam Industrial Revolution’ is both a revolution of production technology and a revolution of social relations.

With the steady development of the steam industry, I have coined a term for the societal process that the Kingdom and the entire Tulip will soon enter, called ’Capitalized Economy.’

Its prerequisites consist of two conditions:

First, a large number of wage laborers with personal freedom but no means of production, such as landless farmers;

Second, concentrating large amounts of means of production and monetary wealth into the hands of a few, and transforming them into capital.

The process of creating these two conditions is the process of primitive capital accumulation!"

By this point, everyone in the study was already sitting upright like attentive students, as the two informed advisors, one King, and one heir had eyes shining almost with brilliance.

Originally, they just wanted to hear the insights of the author of "Overlord Disqualification Plan," unexpectedly discovering that he had thoroughly penetrated the somewhat crude concepts of the two chief advisors, constructing a comprehensive theory unifying both sides.

No one in the Kingdom was more acutely aware of the essential role of a complete guiding ideology than the people in this room.

The land enclosure movement, colonial plunder, domestic implementation of national debt policies, establishment of banks and joint-stock companies, and a rigorous tax system, pursued by the Kingdom for two hundred years, were unwittingly advancing the process of primitive capital accumulation, were they not?

The steam engine, assembly line, and factories in the steam industry are the so-called "capital" capable of continuously generating wealth, aren’t they?

"Is a free market economy, which thoroughly harnesses the enthusiasm of every individual, beneficial? Without a doubt, it’s excellent..."

Kirkcaldy had just begun to smile when Aiven’s tone suddenly shifted:

"However, we can’t ignore an issue.

The establishment of a capitalized economy is a prerequisite for furthering the steam industrial revolution, while future victories of the steam industrial revolution will consolidate the capitalized economy, inevitably reinforcing this class’s economic and... political power!"

When Aiven reached this point, all four individuals furrowed their brows simultaneously. Kirkcaldy, who advocated for a completely free market economy, habitually struggled to rebut, but found the theory impeccable.

Adhering to his proposal could indeed very likely lead to that scenario. Even as the nation thrives, it would simultaneously foster numerous fearsome enemies rivaling national wealth?

What would become of the queen and those noble gentlemen then?

A furtive glance at Her Majesty, whose expression had suddenly turned impassive, sent shivers down his spine.

"You should understand what kind of power lies behind a class possessing extensive means of production and monetary wealth in society?

Even wielding the nation’s supreme force, making the Kingdom turbulent remains trivially easy for them. They could even undermine the survival foundation of ordinary citizens, leading to a state collapse, which is not inconceivable.

Since human nature is inherently selfish, for their gain, they might even destroy a nation and leave countless people displaced, would they not?

Let’s not forget the cautionary example of our neighbor, the Ilya Kingdom!"

Aiven seized every opportunity to instill his biases in them, going above and beyond for the "feudal ruling class" to which he naturally belonged.

His final words struck like a thunderclap, causing the group to instantly feel a chill in their hearts.

Originally, they presumed the key to Ilya’s decline from its peak lay in the Kingdom Guardian issue, but now, with Aiven’s theory as a backing, they perceived the essence.

It was the emergent bourgeoisie holding capital that was seizing power, declaring war on the existing rulers!

Though with the rise of new aristocrats, such situations existed in every country more or less, it was merely the lack of peak extraordinary power in Ilya that made these conflicts erupt exceptionally fiercely.

The Queen initially intended to jot down notes bit by bit, but quickly found herself wholly engrossed in listening, feeling a surge within, inadvertently releasing Combat Qi Flame which shattered the feather pen clenched tightly in hand.