A month had passed since Arthur had successfully persuaded his father to lift certain export restrictions on specific machines and products. During this time, he worked closely with the Ministry of Trade to determine the details of the goods that would be exempt from the ban. As a result of these efforts, steam-powered machinery used in light industries such as textiles, along with related equipment, were now permitted for export starting from the new year. This decision opened up new opportunities for foreign trade and strengthened the country's industrial influence abroad.
Simultaneously, Arthur had been overseeing the establishment of the necessary facilities for printing paper money. Alongside William, he ensured the production of the required printing machines and completed the setup of the facility. Once operational, Arthur facilitated the transition of the facility's management to the relevant government institutions, streamlining the process for smooth operation. With the onset of the new year, not only would the newly permitted exports commence, but paper money would also officially enter circulation.
Arthur understood that introducing paper money to a society accustomed to gold and silver coins would be a challenging process. Many people believed that only tangible metals held real value, as gold and silver had intrinsic worth and had been used for centuries in trade. Paper money, by contrast, was viewed with suspicion, as its value depended on government backing rather than a physical commodity. There was also concern over counterfeiting and inflation, fears that Arthur knew had to be addressed to gain public trust. To counter skepticism, he devoted significant effort over the past month to promoting and normalizing the concept among the public. Almost every day, newspapers carried articles about paper money, emphasizing its reliability. These articles reassured the populace that the new currency would be backed by gold reserves securely held in the central bank. Citizens would always have the option to exchange their paper notes for gold, ensuring public confidence in the new system.
In addition to media campaigns, Arthur implemented policies that encouraged the use of paper money, such as mandating that taxes be paid in the new currency starting the following year. He also conducted personal meetings with influential businessmen and aristocrats, explaining the benefits of the transition to paper money. By gaining the support of the elite, he ensured a smoother acceptance process for the general population. The past month had been exhausting, and with the arrival of the year's final day, Arthur decided to take a well-deserved break. He allowed himself the luxury of sleeping in, not rising from bed until noon.
Upon waking, he called for his servant and requested breakfast along with a cup of coffee. Back in his previous life, Arthur had been something of a caffeine addict, and he had investigated whether coffee existed in this world. Remembering that coffee originally spread from Ethiopia through Arab merchants, he discovered that the beverage was indeed consumed in Nefara and the Usman Empire. Without hesitation, he arranged for a merchant to procure a personal supply. Over time, Arthur's fondness for coffee sparked a trend among the elite of Pendralis, leading to the emergence of coffeehouses. Entrepreneurs seized the opportunity, importing coffee from the Usman region, and soon, coffee became a fashionable indulgence.
As his servant left to fetch his meal, Arthur pulled himself out of bed. Still feeling sluggish, he decided to take a shower to fully wake up. Once refreshed, he donned comfortable attire and settled at his table just as his servant returned with breakfast. After finishing his meal, he sipped another cup of coffee while reviewing the reports that had been delivered to him. He first examined a report from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, detailing the country's growing trade relations with Nefara. The recently signed agreement had enabled Pendralis to sell vast quantities of agricultural equipment, irrigation tools, and construction materials to Nefara, facilitating improvements in its agricultural infrastructure. Additionally, a railway project had commenced to connect Nefara's agricultural lands to its main port, ensuring smoother transportation of goods.
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Arthur had effectively set in motion a process that would make Nefara increasingly dependent on Pendralis. This economic dependence extended beyond just controlling the cotton trade; it positioned Pendralis as the primary supplier of industrial goods, construction materials, and financial loans, ensuring a steady outflow of wealth from Nefara back into Pendralis's economy. Furthermore, with Pendralis providing technological expertise and infrastructure development, Nefara's industries would remain reliant on foreign engineers and advisors, further embedding Pendralis's influence in both economic and administrative matters. The generous loans provided to Nefara were strategically funneled back into Pendralis's economy, as they were used to purchase agricultural machinery, steel, and railway equipment exclusively from Pendralis companies. Moreover, the development of railways, ports, and infrastructure was geared towards facilitating the export of Nefara's cotton—a single cash crop that would tie its economy to Pendralis's textile industry. Over time, this economic structure would ensure Nefara's reliance on Pendralis as both a buyer of its raw materials and a supplier of manufactured goods.
Arthur knew that convincing every farmer to abandon food crops like wheat in favor of cotton would be difficult. However, this was merely the beginning. Once Pendralis gained political and military control over Nefara, policies could be implemented to pressure farmers into growing cotton exclusively. Any shortfall in wheat production could be addressed by importing grain from cheaper sources, such as the Svyatoslav Kingdom or the Usman Empire. This strategy would gradually cement Nefara's complete economic dependence on Pendralis.
Shifting his focus, Arthur turned to government spending reports, particularly those concerning major public works and military investments. While reviewing the expenditures, he noted a stark contrast between wasteful projects and successful investments. One particularly effective project was the expansion of a major port city, which had significantly boosted trade and increased revenue from tariffs. The well-planned development of warehouses and dock facilities had streamlined exports and imports, making Pendralis a key trading hub in the region. However, as he sifted through the documents, he also noticed numerous wasteful expenditures that undermined financial efficiency. As he sifted through the documents, he immediately noticed numerous wasteful expenditures. For instance, in one region, after the completion of a perfectly adequate steel bridge, approval had inexplicably been granted for the construction of another bridge just twenty kilometers away. Such redundancies plagued multiple civil projects.
The military budget was no better. The logistics department had ordered far more transport wagons than required, and despite the navy's transition to steel ships, funds were still being allocated for the maintenance of obsolete sailing vessels. Frustration mounted as Arthur continued reading. The reports painted a grim picture of a bloated bureaucracy riddled with inefficiency and self-serving interests. Many government officials, driven by personal gain rather than national prosperity, had approved projects that benefited a select few while draining the public treasury. Corrupt administrators funneled funds into redundant infrastructure, awarding lucrative contracts to allies and family members rather than prioritizing essential developments. The culture of unchecked spending had allowed officials to disguise personal enrichment as progress, burying wasteful projects under layers of bureaucratic justification. He was reminded of the inefficiencies of governments in his previous world, where tax revenues were squandered on unnecessary projects. He now had to devise a solution to prevent such waste and corruption.
He recalled that in his past life, the British government had established institutions to oversee public spending. The National Audit Office (NAO) was responsible for independently auditing public expenditures and ensuring government departments spent funds efficiently. Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) analyzed these audits and held officials accountable by questioning them on spending decisions. These institutions conducted feasibility analyses of government projects, ensuring transparency and accountability. Reports were submitted to parliament at regular intervals, enabling legislators to scrutinize expenditures and question officials responsible for financial decisions. This system served as a check against wastefulness and corruption.
Inspired by this, Arthur decided to implement a similar framework. He planned to establish two oversight institutions—one technical and one parliamentary—to monitor government spending. The technical institution, mirroring the NAO, would be composed of financial experts who would audit expenditures and assess the efficiency of government projects. The parliamentary body, akin to the PAC, would review these audits, summon officials for questioning, and ensure accountability in government finances. Together, these institutions would function as a balance mechanism, preventing excessive and imprudent spending while fostering transparency within the administration.
Arthur also recognized the need for a similar oversight system in the military. However, he understood that implementing such a system would not be without challenges. Military officials, particularly high-ranking officers, might resist external scrutiny, viewing it as interference in their decision-making. There was also the risk of bureaucratic delays if officers had to seek approval for every expenditure. To address these concerns, Arthur planned to introduce the oversight gradually, starting with audits on large procurement projects before extending to broader spending reviews. By ensuring that military leadership had a role in shaping the system, he aimed to minimize opposition while increasing financial accountability within the armed forces. Drawing inspiration from institutions like the UK's Defence Committee and the National Audit Office's military expenditure oversight, he decided to establish a military audit office tasked with assessing defense spending and ensuring that procurement projects were justified and efficient. Alongside this, a parliamentary defense oversight committee would be formed to scrutinize military expenditures, question senior officers, and prevent unnecessary spending on outdated equipment. By implementing these checks, Arthur aimed to curb waste in military procurement, ensure that resources were allocated effectively, and maintain a well-equipped yet financially responsible armed force.
While drafting his financial oversight plans, Arthur also realized that bureaucratic inefficiencies were slowing down administrative processes. Reports were painstakingly handwritten, making document preparation and communication sluggish. A solution came to him—typewriters. If typewriters were introduced, they would revolutionize office work, significantly speeding up paperwork and improving efficiency.
To complement this innovation, Arthur also considered the use of carbon paper. He recognized that bureaucratic processes were often delayed due to the manual copying of documents, a tedious and error-prone task. Carbon paper offered a practical solution by allowing multiple copies to be produced simultaneously, reducing the workload on clerks and ensuring consistency across official records. This innovation would not only save time but also improve administrative efficiency by enabling faster document distribution within government offices. Remembering that carbon paper had been developed in the early 20th century to allow multiple copies of documents to be made simultaneously, he saw its potential in streamlining government operations. By combining typewriters with carbon paper, officials could produce duplicate reports quickly, facilitating better communication between departments.
Arthur sketched out preliminary designs for a typewriter based on early 1900s models, incorporating a sturdy metal frame for durability. He paid particular attention to the ink ribbon system, ensuring it could be easily replaced and re-inked to prolong the device's lifespan. He also included a platen roller made of hardened rubber to hold the paper in place, preventing slippage and ensuring uniform text alignment.
One of the most innovative aspects of Arthur's design was the incorporation of a typebar mechanism that could adjust type pressure. This feature ensured that whether an official was typing a single document or using carbon paper for multiple copies, the impressions remained clear and legible. To further enhance efficiency, he designed a carriage return lever that allowed typists to move to the next line seamlessly without manually adjusting the paper's position.
Additionally, Arthur outlined the production of carbon paper, ensuring the materials and techniques required for its manufacture were feasible. He proposed using wax-coated sheets infused with high-quality ink to create durable and long-lasting copies. By implementing these advancements, he sought to modernize bureaucratic processes and drastically reduce the time required for document production and distribution.
After finalizing his plans, Arthur organized his documents and packed them into a leather satchel. Tonight, he would have dinner with his family, but before that, he intended to discuss his ideas with his father. Assuming his father was still occupied with work, Arthur left his room and made his way towards the office his father used for state affairs, ready to lay out his vision for the future.