The Cruz Islands assigned to Lawrence this time are one of the islands closest to New Saul Island. Its main island, Cruz Island, has an area of about 180 square kilometers. The rest add up to about 180 square kilometers.
More than fifty small islands covering an area of about 100 square kilometers are distributed in a sea that is 55 nautical miles long and 30 nautical miles wide.
According to the results of Lawrence's last visit to the island, the island only developed a few sugar cane plantations on the main island and developed some simple offshore fisheries.
It’s just that last time Lawrence went there and talked with the baron, he used a sum of money to buy out the citizenship status of the fishermen on the island and made them employees of his fishing company. So there should be no fishermen on that archipelago now.
Already.
Although the island is able to grow sugar cane and produce some sugar due to its abundant rainfall, it can only produce cheap brown sugar through some handicraft workshops because of its small scale. Therefore, it is relatively lacking in competitiveness in the market.
It is brought back to the local area for ordinary people to eat.
Although the Carlos Island that Lawrence used for exchange is also mainly for planting sugar cane and producing sugar, because it is a larger island, the sugar cane planting area is larger, and because it is close to the mainland and can obtain enough fuel, that island
There is a sugar factory that can produce more and better sugar.
Although Lawrence seems to be at a disadvantage in this way, for him, a piece of land that is too far away from New Saul Island is really not conducive to the overall planning. Not to mention that the land allocated to Lawrence is only the land, and does not include the people above. And the cultivation of sugar cane and pressing
The large number of manpower required for sugar is simply not available on Lawrence's side.
So after comprehensive consideration, Lawrence finally made this decision that seemed to be a bit disadvantageous. After all, compared to the question of the wealth gained from the new territory or the size of the territory, the overall interests of the entire territory were Lawrence's.
Something that a lord should consider.
According to the diplomat, the empire will send a small mission in more than a week to hold a ceremony for Lawrence to be crowned Baron Cruz. In Lawrence's opinion, this should be the empire's way of expressing its respect for Earl Sauer.
A very clear manifestation of jurisdiction.
A week later, a small delegation headed by a royal official came in a hurry from the empire by speedboat, and then held a very simple canonization ceremony for Lawrence on the island. When they completed these tasks
After that, everyone boarded the speedboat and rushed towards the Cruz Islands.
At first, Lawrence thought that the baron might be a little reluctant or attached to his territory, but in fact he was not. After discovering the arrival of Lawrence and the others, the baron immediately accompanied by two imperial officials.
The last territory exchange document was signed under witness.
When the last document is signed, the territory exchange is theoretically over. However, according to tradition, the formal territory exchange should be carried out after this season's crops are harvested. So after chatting with the baron,
, Lawrence once again boarded the clipper and headed to Carlos Island to prepare to receive the population assigned to himself.
"I really didn't expect that fat man to be so impatient to change territory." After the ship left the port, no one around Nora noticed, and they started to complain about the previous baron again. "If we hadn't had an overall plan this time
If necessary, I won’t let that guy get such a bargain like now.”
"There is no other way. The party that takes the initiative to exchange territory will always suffer. Otherwise, why would anyone else exchange territory with you?" Lawrence shrugged.
"Besides, the Erysion Empire obviously also knew that they had a big advantage in his deal, so they also negotiated with several surrounding countries of intelligent underwater races, allowing us to own a large territorial sea.
and a larger area of special interest.”
Like human countries, those underwater civilized countries also have territorial awareness. For example, in some places they classify as their own territory, human ships must report in advance and follow designated waterways if they want to pass through the sea.
Mining or fishing in those places must also obtain a permit. Otherwise, you may be warned, fined, or even attacked.
Fortunately, the civilized countries owned by intelligent underwater creatures are still very small compared to the size of the ocean, so they can maintain harmonious coexistence with most land creatures. Even the owners of ocean-going ships on the routes connecting the oceans
Every year, a sum of money is spent as tolls to allow our ships to pass through these safe seas.
There are not many sea countries like this in the Sea of Stars region. After all, the climate and water depth here are very conducive to the growth of various underwater creatures. However, there is no such country in the sea area around New Saul Island. So in Elyssi
After the Ang Empire came forward to negotiate, those maritime countries expressed that they would respect the territorial waters rights of the land people's maritime vassals.
"Yes, this is also thanks to the group of Loka fish people we accepted." After hearing what Nora said, Lawrence nodded and said that he accepted the group of Loka fish people out of hope.
Developing the marine economy, on the other hand, is based on the inner compassion that comes from having the ability.
After all, if he was only seeking profit at that time, he could have treated the radical Loka fishmen as slaves instead of taking in this group of moderate Loka fishmen who had lost all their strength and were like refugees.
But what he didn't expect was that this kind of kindness would bring him so many benefits in the future.
Because it was not until the end of the negotiation that Lawrence learned that the gods of those civilized races had signed a contract. That is, the territory of each race must be mainly based on the environment in which the race can survive for a long time.
In other words, if Lawrence only had land creatures under his command, he would not be able to obtain more ocean territory except a very small territorial sea.
The reason why Lawrence didn't know such a rule is very simple, because this rule itself is a very partial rule. Only the upper echelons of each country and some lords and officials who rely on the seaside know this. People like him became a monk halfway.
It is perfectly normal for nobles not to know.
After Lawrence took in the Loka fish people and gave them the same equal status and partial autonomy as non-human creatures, those maritime countries naturally believed that these Loka fish people belonged to Lawrence in the traditional sense.
As the subjects of the lord, it is natural that they should get a piece of ocean territory.
As for the size of the territorial sea, it may be because the area of this world itself is larger than Lawrence's previous world, plus considering that aquatic intelligent creatures themselves need a larger territory than terrestrial intelligent creatures to support themselves.
Therefore, in addition to the territorial waters given to Lawrence extending 30 nautical miles outward instead of the traditional 20 nautical miles, there are also several scattered sea areas that are also classified as territorial waters.
Moreover, what Lawrence obtained in this land transaction was not only the territorial sea. It also included part of the territorial extension and the huge ocean between the two islands, which was directly designated as a special interest area owned by Lawrence, which is similar to the previous life.
Exclusive Economic Zone. And this sea area just covers the fishing ground that Lawrence has been developing before.
In short, Lawrence's territorial exchange may only be slightly balanced or even a bit of a loss to those island owners who have only grown things on the island all their lives, but for Lawrence, who has received knowledge from two worlds, knowing the ocean
With development potential, he naturally knows how fertile this ocean is for him.
So on the way to the Carlos Island where he was exchanged to receive the citizens, Lawrence was in a good mood. Until two days later, the clipper docked at the dock of Carlos Island.