「......で、その銀行ってのはなんだ?」
何やらぐったりと疲れた様子のエレンさんが手鏡を器用に使って、頭皮の様子を気にしながらそんな事を聞いてきます......頭に何かあるのですかね?
まぁ今は脇に置いておいて、せっかく聞いてくれているんですから、ちゃんと説明を致しましょう。
「簡単に説明するならば、個人や組織が管理するには多額のお金を預ける場所を作りましょうって事ですね」
「......絶対にそれだけじゃねぇだろ」
「ふふっ、流石エレンさんですね? よくお分かりで」
「......試しやがったのか」
胡乱な目でコチラを覗き見てくる彼に向かって指を四本立てて見せます。
さらに疑問の表情を深めたエレンさんに薄く微笑みながら、改めて説明してあげましょう。
「銀行に求めている役割は四つです」
「......四つだぁ?」
一つ目は貨幣の安定的な供給と物価調整です。
現在の『バーレンス連合王国』では、度重なる戦勝や新たな領土獲得などで物価上昇が続き、緩やかなインフレが発生しているのが先ほどエレンさんから説明される時に使用された資料から読み取れます。
これはつまり経済が上向きに成長しつつあるという事ではありますが、しかし一歩間違えれば物価の高騰を招き、民衆の生活を圧迫しかねないものです。
「貨幣の数量を効果的に調整するためには、銀行の存在が必要不可欠だと言えるでしょう」
もう一つは富の再分配ですね、基本的にお金というものはお金のあるところに集まる傾向がありますので、お金持ちはさらにお金持ちに、そして豊かな地域はさらに豊かになります。
まあつまり、現在の『バーレンス連合王国』では人や物、お金が首都である『始まりの街』に急速に流れ込んでいるという事ですね。
この流れは決して悪いことではないのですが......行き過ぎれば地方の窮乏を招きかねず、それは安全保障上とても望ましい事とは言えません。
ですがそこで銀行の存在が役に立ちます......『始まりの街』の富裕層、中流層などから預金を募り、これを地方へと投資するのです。
そうすることで中央に集まった貨幣を、再び地方へと再分配する事ができます。
『バーレンス連合王国』の経済全体の還流を作り出すことで、持続的に好景気を維持するのが目的の一つですね。
「要は国を安定化させましょうという事です」
『バーレンス連合王国』は多少なりとも借金を抱えています。
いくら戦争に勝利し、多額の賠償金を得たり『メッフィー商業立国』を呑み込んだとはいえ、度重なる戦費と、新たに得た領土に統治機構を設置する為の資金は幾らあっても足りず、それなりの借金がある様で、その全てを返済することはいくら何でもすぐには無理です。
少額とはいえ、国家を運営するのに必要な額ともなればそれなりのモノになりますから。
「なのでこれらの借金を銀行に肩代わりさせることで整理し、返済先を一本化させましょう」
最後の一つは戦費の確保のためです。
絶対不可侵領域のエルさんと楽しい総力戦を始めますからね、その戦費の確保の為に銀行が必要なのです。
「まぁ、他にも色々な目的の為にも使えますがね」
「......その銀行とやらを設立すればその全てが達成されるとでも?」
「成功したらの話ですが、概ねはその通りです」
「ふむ......」
地球の概念を持ち込んでいるプレイヤーの方々はよく散見されますし、まぁ大丈夫なのではないでしょうか。
上手くいかなくともその時はその時です......私の能力が至らなかったと反省しましょう。
「まず一番最初に作る銀行は『バーレンス国立銀行』......国が管理運営する銀行であり、主に国債の発行、それから貨幣の安定的な供給と物価調整をして貰います」
一番重要な施設であり、まず一番最初に作るべき施設であるこの銀行には初めに貨幣、というか紙幣の発行をやって貰います。
データ化出来る渡り人達と違って、このゲーム世界のNPC達は生真面目に金貨や銀貨なんかをジャラジャラと持ち歩いていますからね。
そんなのを持ち運ぶのも、保管するのも場所を取って嵩張ります。
それをまず便利にしますよ、同額の金と交換出来ますよ、と謳いながら『バーレンス銀行券』という名の紙幣を発行し、国中の金貨を掻き集めるのが目的ですね。
もちろん複数同じ銀行を国中に......最低でも主要都市には必ず置きます。
「それで金貨を掻き集めようってか? 一度きりの詐欺にしかならんぞ?」
「いいえ、詐欺ではありませんよ。次第に皆さん自分達が持っている物がただの紙だという事を忘れますから」
その掻き集めた金貨なども国庫に入れる事は出来ますが、別にそれはあくまでも副次的なものでしかありません。
国がその価値を担保し続ける限り紙で物資が交換でき、物資と交換できる限りは国民の資産は何も変わらずそのままです。
そのうち『お金』という言葉通り、自分の持っている紙が金貨だと思い込む様になるでしょう。
「......その紙に価値を与えてどうする? ただ便利になるだけじゃないのか? そんなんで普及できるかね?」
「資産を銀行に預けておくと金利が得られる......要は資産が増えますよって言えば良いんですよ」
「......なるほど、国民から金を借りるのか」
「理解が早くて助かります」
個人個人が持っている資産は少額でも、それを国中から掻き集める事が出来ればそれなりに大きな額になります。
要は塵に等しい国民一人一人の資産を合わせる事で、一つの巨大な資本とする事が目的です......まさに塵も積もれば山となる、ですね。
国を運営するには少しばかり足りない金額かも知れませんが、これをしないと銀行を設立する意味がありません。
「なので国民には勿論のこと、冒険者や商業等のギルドや貴族家にも銀行を利用して貰わなければ話になりません。彼らの持つ多額の財産も預金して貰わねば困ります」
「......なるほどね」
「次に私達以外の組織にも銀行を作って貰います」
「あん? せっかく気に入らねぇ組織の資産を差し押さえられる特権を手放すと?」
おや、流石エレンさんですね、もう資産の差し押さえにまで考えが至っていましたか。
「もちろん私達が管理下に置く『バーレンス銀行』の管理下に置いて貰いますが......そうですね、この機会に株式も導入してしまいましょう」
「また訳の分からん言葉が......」
「まぁ株式については後で説明するとして、国が『バーレンス銀行』の株を五十一%以上、さらに『バーレンス銀行』がその他の銀行の株を五十一%以上保有する様にして下さいね」
「......メモっとけ」
「へ、へい!」
疲れた表情で眉間を揉みほぐしながら、エレンさんに指示された部下の方が慌ててメモを取っているのを確認してから、改めて『バーレンス銀行』以外の銀行を作る利点を説明します。
というか、これこそが銀行を作る上での最大の利点と呼べるのではないでしょうか?
「私達以外に銀行を作って貰う理由ですが──『信用創造』をする為ですね」
「なんだそりゃ......」
「そうですね、簡単に説明するならば......」
まずAさんという方が居ます。
このAさんという方は五千万の資産を持っており、その五千万を銀行Xへと預けました。
すると今度はその銀行XはBさんへと、五千万のうち四千万を貸しました。
そしてそのBさんが今度は銀行Yへと借りた四千万を預け、その銀行YはCさんへと三千万を貸し与える。
さらにそのCさんが銀行Zへと三千万を預けるとしましょう。
「なんとビックリ、元々は個人の五千万が書類上では銀行Xに五千万、銀行Yに四千万、銀行Zに三千万の合計一億二千万に増えるという訳です」
「......詐欺じゃねぇか!」
「違います、信用創造です。これにより国内にある、国が国民から借りる事の出来る資産が増えるのです」
近代以前の国家の財政というのは、どうしても税収に左右されますからね......税収、つまり収入を超える予算を組むことはできません。
借金をすることもできますが、気軽に行うことはできないのです。
しかし銀行ができれば話は変わります......自由にお金の貸し借りができる様になり、財政の自由度が上がるのです。
......まぁもっとも、逆に言えば際限無く借金が膨れ上がる可能性も残ってはいますがね。
「はぁ......まぁ、概要は分かったが、そう簡単に受け入れてくれるかね?」
「受け入れてくれるか、ではありません。受け入れさせるのです」
何のために私が中央集権化と分割統治をエレンさんに教えたと思ってるんですか? 多少のリスクはあれど、こういう大規模な改革をする時に強権でもって愚者を黙らせる為です。
それに、彼は国王業が板についたせいで忘れている様ですね......それ自体は喜ばしい事ではありますが、自らが持つ最大の力を忘れて貰っては困ります。
「学の無い国民に関しては何とかするしかありませんが......エレンさん、貴方は──国王である前に裏社会の若頭でしょう?」
「......あぁ、そうだった。書類仕事が続いたせいで少しばかり忘れていたらしい」
口角を吊り上げ、ニヒルに笑いながらボヤいた彼が煙管に火を付ける。
話し合いによる説得
は任せろ」
「ふふ、頼もしいですね」
周囲から一斉に生唾を飲み込む様な音が聞こえた気がしますが、それよりも思いの外上手く事が進みそうで何よりです。
やはり彼を仲間に引き込んで正解でしたね、ここまで有能な人材は現実の世界にも中々居ませんよ。
「で? 教会はどうする? 貴族家やギルドと違って完全に国から独立した組織であり、さらに言えば大陸中央部に総本山がある所が資産を差し押さえられる銀行なんぞに預金なんてしてくれねぇぞ? 第一お前は司教を殺してるじゃねぇか」
尤もな疑問を口にするエレンさんに対して、予め用意しておいた言葉を口にします。
「──では、お次は宗教改革と産業革命ですね」
私の答えを聞いたエレンさんが一度大きく紫煙を吸い、吐き出してから応える。
「......もう許して」
その言葉の意味が分からず、首を傾げながらも次の説明へと入ります。
"...Before anything else, what's a bank?"
Eren-san, who seemed exhausted, asked such a question while skillfully using a hand mirror.
Well, putting that aside for now, since he had gone to the trouble of listening, let me explain.
"To put it simply, let's establish a place where individuals and organizations can deposit a large amount of money."
"...It's definitely not just that."
"Fufu, as expected of Eren-san. How sharp-witted."
"...Did you test me?"
Towards him, who looked at me with questionable eyes, I held out four fingers.
While grinning ever so slightly at the skeptical Eren-san, I explained once again.
"There are four roles I want the bank to play."
"...Four?"
The first was the stable supply of money and price adjustments.
In the current United Kingdom of Barrens, repeated victories and acquisition of new territories had caused prices to continue to rise. As such, moderate inflations could be seen from the document presented by Eren-san earlier.
While the economy was growing upwards, if there was a slightest mistake, it could lead to soaring prices and put pressure on people's lives.
"I'd say that the existence of a bank is essential to effectively regulate the amount of money."
The other was the redistribution of wealth. Fundamentally, money tended to gather where there was money--therefore, making the rich became even richer.
In other words, in the current United Kingdom of Barrens; people, goods, and money were rapidly flowing into the capital--The City of Beginnings.
That trend was by no means a bad thing... but if it went too far, it could lead to poverty in rural areas. From a security point of view, it was a least desirable situation.
Hence, the existence of a bank would prove to be useful. Upon soliciting deposits from the wealthy and the middle class of the City of Beginnings, we could invest in rural areas.
By doing so, the money collected in the center could be redistributed to the entire region once again.
One of the objectives was to sustainably maintain a booming economy by creating a circulation for the entire economy of the United Kingdom of Barrens.
The purpose is to stabilize the country--while the other was for debt consolidation.
The United Kingdom of Barrens wasn't free of debts.
No matter how many wars we had won, we had a large number of reparations to do. Moreover, we had just claimed the 'Meffy Commercial State'. As such, no matter how much money we had, it wouldn't be enough to set up a new government structure in the newly acquired territory. Inherently, we already had a certain amount of debt, which couldn't be repaid immediately.
"Even if it's only a little, if it's the amount needed to run the country, then let's do it."
Therefore, let's sort out these debts by having the bank take over and unify the repayment destination.
The last one was to secure war expenses.
Since I was going to start an enjoyable all-out war against El-san from the Absolutely Inviolable Area, I'd need a bank to secure the war costs.
"Well, it can be used for various other purposes, as well."
"...If we were to set up that bank or whatever, all of that would be achieved?"
"It's another story about whether or not it'll succeed, but in general that's how it usually is."
Fumu..."
Players who'd bring in the concept of the real world were often seen here and there, so I thought that it'd be okay.
If it didn't... Well, I'd worry about it when it happens and reflect on my lack of ability.
"The first bank to be created is the 'Barrens National Bank'... a bank managed and operated by the government, mainly issuing government bonds and then having a stable supply of money and price adjustments."
That was the most important facility, as such, it had to be prioritized. Then, I'd have said first bank issues money, or rather banknotes.
Unlike migratory people who could be converted into data, the NPCs in this game world carried around gold and silver coins like a normal person would.
As such, it must've required a lot of space to carry and store such things.
The first step would be to issue banknotes called 'Barrens Banknotes', claiming that they'd be more convenient and could be exchanged for the same amount of gold, with the aim of collecting gold coins all over the country.
As a matter of course, multiple identical banks would be spread all over the country--mostly in major cities.
"So, you want to collect gold coins?"
"No, it's not such a scam. Gradually, everyone will forget that what they have is just a paper."
While it may be possible to put all the collected gold coins into the national treasury, I'd table that for the time being.
As long as the country continued to secure its value, goods could be exchanged with paper, and so was the otherwise. Thus, the assets of the people would remain unchanged.
Soon, they'd come to believe that the paper they were holding was an equivalent of a gold coin, as the word 'money' suggested.
"...Then, what are you going to do with such a paper? Is it just for convenient purposes? Will that idea hold water?"
"We'll tell them that if they keep their assets in the bank, they can earn interest. In short, their assets will increase."
"...I see, so you're borrowing money from the people?"
"Well, aren't you quick to understand? How helpful."
Even if the amount of assets held per individual was small, if I were to collect the assets of an entire country, it'd be a large amount.
By amassing the assets of each and every citizen, which were equivalent to dust, my end goal would be to create a single, huge, capital...
While the amount may be slightly insufficient to run the country, that wasn't the reason not to establish a bank.
"Not only the people, the adventurers, the commerce guilds, and noble families would also be using the bank. I'll ask them to deposit the large amount of property they have."
"...I see."
"Next, we'll ask the other organizations to establish banks."
"Huh? Are you going to let go of the privilege of seizing the assets of an organization you dislike?"
As expected of Eren-san, has he already thought about seizing someone else's assets?
"Of course, we'll place them under the management of the Bank of Barrens, which we manage... Oh, that's right. Let's take this opportunity to introduce stocks, as well."
"Yet another word I don't understand..."
"Well, I'll explain about the stocks later, but please make sure that the government holds 51% or more of the stocks of Barrens Bank, and that Barrens Bank holds 51% or more of the stocks of other banks."
"...Take a note."
"U, understood!"
While rubbing his eyebrows with a tired expression, Eren-san instructed his subordinate to take a note. Then, I explained the advantages of creating a bank other than the Barrens Bank.
--Or rather, wasn't that the biggest advantage of creating a bank?
"As for the reason why I want others to establish a bank, it's for the sake of
"What is that...?"
"Well, if I were to put it simply..."
For example, there was Mr. A.
Mr. A had assets of 50 million yen, and deposited them in Bank X.
Then, Bank X lent Mr. B 40 million out of the 50 million.
Later, Mr. B deposited the 40 million yen he borrowed from Bank Y, and Bank Y lent 30 million yen to Mr. C.
Let's also assume that Mr. C deposited 30 million yen in Bank Z.
"The amount that is originally 50 million yen will increase on paper to 50 million for Bank X, 40 million for Bank Y, and 30 million for Bank Z, with a total of 120 million."
"...Isn't this just a scam!?"
"No, it's called credit creation. This increases the assets in the country that the government can borrow from the public."
Before the modern era, national finances were inevitably influenced by tax revenues... As a result, creating a budget that exceeded tax revenues was an impossibility.
While loans could be taken out, not everyone could do it.
However, if a bank was established, it'd be a different story. To borrow and lend money freely and increase the degree of financial problems would no longer be an impossibility.
...Although, conversely, there was still the possibility that debt would swell without limit.
Oh, well. I understand the outline, but will people accept it so easily?"
"It's not about whether they'll accept or not, but
Otherwise, why would I teach Eren-san about centralization and divide-and-conquer? Even if there were some risks, when implementing such a large-scale reform, they were effective in silencing fools with authority.
Also, it seemed that Eren-san had forgotten his authority as royalty. That might be fortunate in a sense, but I didn't want him to forget his greatest power.
"We have no choice but to do something about the uneducated citizens... Eren-san, previously, you were the young master of the underworld, right?"
"...Oh, right. Because of the mountain of paperwork, I kind of forgot about that."
Eren-san smirked, before lighting up a pipe. While inhaling and exhaling purple smoke, he showed me a ghost of a smile.
making
them accept it."
"Fufu, how dependable."
I felt sure that my surroundings had gulped all at once. More importantly, it seemed that things would go better than I expected.
As I thought, it was the right decision to bring him into the team, since there weren't many people in the real world who were this talented.
"--Then, what about the church? Unlike nobles and guilds, it's an organization that is entirely independent from the country. Furthermore, the main headquarters in the central part of the continent certainly won't be eager to deposit money in a bank. After all, there's a risk that their assets will be confiscated. Besides, didn't you kill the bishop?"
In response to Eren-san's sensible question, I said the words I had prepared in advance.
"--If so, we shall begin the reformation and the industrial revolution."
After hearing my answer, Eren-san took a deep puff of purple smoke, and exhaled it before replying.
"...Spare me already."
Unable to comprehend what he was saying, I moved on to the next explanation while tilting my head.
Genocide Online ~Playtime Diary of an Evil Young Girl~
ジェノサイド・オンライン 〜極悪令嬢のプレイ日記〜
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/genocide-online-playtime-diary-of-an-evil-young-girl/
Action Adventure Fantasy Psychological
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Assassins Beautiful Female Lead Cold Protagonist Cruel Characters Dark Depictions of Cruelty Evil Organizations Evil Protagonist Famous Protagonist Fearless Protagonist Female Protagonist Gamers Gods Gore Lack of Common Sense Level System MMORPG Modern Day Murders Overpowered Protagonist Psychopaths R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Wars
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7796fc/
たけのこ