Chapter 109: Winning over the People's Hearts and Minds (Please Subscribe!)

The New Zealand colonial government prepared a grand welcome ceremony for Arthur. It was also at the port, but the welcoming crowd was all New Zealanders.

Although they were called New Zealanders, they were actually mostly British, like Australians. After living in New Zealand for dozens or hundreds of years, they regarded this land as their home.

It was precisely because of this that they would not resist a ruler like Arthur who came from the British royal family and had the same skin and language.

When Arthur came with the relief committee, they would immediately welcome him.

Here, Arthur also successfully met General Pierce Anthony, the commander of the New Zealand garrison, and the New Zealand officials who had participated in the Australian National Day event before.

When they saw Arthur again, the New Zealand officials seemed very enthusiastic, and they came forward one by one to salute and greet Arthur.

After waiting for these people to salute, Arthur formally met General Pierce, the commander of the New Zealand garrison.

As one of the commanders of the British Empire's colonial garrisons, General Pierce has a very impressive resume. He graduated from a famous British military academy and has been trained in the local army, the guards army, and the colonial army for more than ten years before being appointed as the garrison commander of New Zealand.

Although he only commanded a garrison of 3,000 people in New Zealand, when General Pierce returned to Britain, he would definitely be promoted to a position above the division commander.

Arthur still had some good feelings for General Pierce. After all, it was General Pierce's 3,000 garrisons that kept New Zealand's security situation very good.

"Dear Duke of Australia, His Royal Highness the Governor-General of New Zealand, welcome to New Zealand!" General Pierce stepped forward and said respectfully to Arthur with a smile on his face.

Although he was the colonial commander who held military power, General Pierce still understood the gap between his status and Arthur's.

If the New Zealand garrison could still compete with the colonial government before, then after Arthur's arrival, the New Zealand colonial government was no longer something that his 3,000-man garrison could compete with.

Even if he dared to disobey orders, Arthur might be able to change his position as the New Zealand commander at any time.

You know, these New Zealand garrisons are all composed of New Zealanders. Although there are some British officers, Arthur is also from the British royal family.

Once Arthur gains the trust and recognition of the New Zealanders, it is a question whether his 3,000-man army will listen to his command.

After meeting with all the officials, Arthur did not go directly to the government building where the New Zealand colonial government was located, but stayed directly at the port, letting the guards vacate an open space and began to give a speech on the spot.

Since he was determined to eat up the land of New Zealand, it was necessary to first gain the hearts and trust of the New Zealanders.

For a person with a prominent aristocratic status and the legitimate ruler of a certain area, it is really easy to win the hearts of the people.

Just imagine, the ruler of a country, the nobles with prominent status, will definitely have more trust in people's assurances and speeches than those politicians!

After all, the monarchy is also the mainstream in this era. Any monarch and ruler cherishes their reputation very much and basically will not do the kind of behavior of breaking their promises in public.

After all, the reputation and prestige of the monarch determine the credibility of the royal family. Once the credibility of the royal family is insufficient, people no longer believe and trust the royal family, then the royal family and the monarch may lose their ruling status.

After all, the liberal trend in Europe is still very scary. Even as a powerful country, France has undergone several changes, from a monarchy to a republic, right?

Compared with those politicians who paint big cakes during the election and do nothing after taking office, most monarchs at least know how to be considerate of their people.

"People of New Zealand, I am Connor Arthur, the Duke of Australia and the Governor of New Zealand. It is an honor to be your ruler temporarily and manage this prosperous area for twenty years. In my opinion, all New Zealanders, like Australians, are a new nation evolved from European immigrants. Even our origins are the same, and our goals are the same." Arthur opened his mouth and said to all the people.

"Australia, like New Zealand, is a land located in Oceania. Whether Australians or New Zealanders, our goals are essentially the same, and we all want to protect this great land and make it prosperous."

"Now, Australia has completed the first step, raising the per capita income level of all Australians, building industrial zones, and planning to build a huge railway running through Australia. At this important moment, I think it is time to push the wave of development to New Zealand, so that New Zealand can rise and prosper with Australia." Arthur said with a smile.

"Your Highness, Your Highness! Will you also build industrial zones and railways for New Zealand? Will you also increase the per capita income of New Zealanders?" The New Zealanders asked impatiently.

They were once part of Australia, and New Zealand was once developed in a similar way to Australia.

As colonies of the British Empire, New Zealanders and Australians both had relatively low incomes.

But since Arthur was crowned the Duke of Australia, Australia's development has undergone tremendous changes.

Industrial areas, ports, railways, roads, hospitals, schools, universities, nursing homes, orphanages.

Buildings have been erected one after another, which has not only greatly improved the living standards and basic conditions of Australians, but also left a deep impression on New Zealanders.

The reason why Australia has undergone such a huge change in just over two years is because they have an extra monarch, right?

It has transformed Australia from a colony into an independent principality, and has also greatly reduced taxes for Australians.

Compared with all the happy Australians, the treatment of New Zealanders is much worse.

As a colony, the New Zealand government has to pay a large amount of income to the British Empire every year, and many of these incomes are squeezed from New Zealanders.

Looking at Australia, which can be said to be a fellow brother, which has gradually developed and prospered, and then looking at themselves, who not only have to face harsh taxes, but are not even an independent country, the New Zealanders can't stop crying with envy.

"It is inevitable to improve the income of all New Zealanders. As your governor-general, I can't watch a large number of New Zealanders still in poverty. At least I should guarantee that no New Zealander will worry about hunger." Arthur nodded as a matter of course.

"But the construction of industrial zones and railways requires the consultation of all officials of the colonial government. And New Zealand probably doesn't have a lot of money to build these facilities. However, if the New Zealand colonial government agrees to build in New Zealand, I, as the Duke of Australia and the Governor of New Zealand, am willing to provide New Zealand with sufficient development funds in the form of loans." Arthur looked at the New Zealanders who were already impatient and answered with a smile.

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