The Rise Of Australasia
Chapter 459 The Upcoming Rise of the New Nobility and Military Merit Granting Land

Before the representatives of various countries arrived in London for the peace talks, they methodically counted their own casualties and war consumption.

Compared to the somewhat chaotic Russia, the other European countries were the fastest to tally the figures.

The Allies mobilized a total of 29.14 million troops, with 14.21 million casualties and 5.11 million deaths. A total of 15.15 million civilian casualties and 4.11 million civilian deaths were recorded.

The Central Powers mobilized a total of 15.32 million troops, with 9.4 million casualties and more than 4.1 million deaths. There were 9.75 million civilian casualties, including 2.32 million deaths.

Although there must be some discrepancy between the figures reported by each country and the actual numbers, given the severity of World War I, the differences are likely not significant.

The data also shows that the military suffered the most casualties, but the impact on civilians was also significant.

Moreover, most countries didn't record the number of citizens who died from starvation, as such a thing would not look good for the governments.

After all, who would care about non-combat civilian deaths during wartime after victory has been achieved?

Based on the casualty statistics from various countries, France was the most severely affected during World War I, with over 1.2 million soldiers killed and more than 4 million injured. It could be said that there were hardly any uninjured French soldiers left.

French civilian casualties were estimated between 600,000 and 700,000, as large areas of French territory were occupied during the war and German soldiers' attitude towards French civilians was not friendly.

Russia was the nation with the second-highest casualties, with over 1.8 million soldiers killed and more than 5 million injured. Civilian casualties were estimated to be between 2 and 3 million.

It is worth mentioning that more than one million Russian soldiers were captured, but these were not included in the casualty figures. Russia's statistics were rather chaotic, with numerous casualties among soldiers and civilians not accounted for, which is why France emerged as the country with the heaviest losses.

According to the real data, Russia's casualties far exceeded those of France, and even the number of people who starved to death was well over a million.

Germany and Austro-Hungarian Empire were the nations that suffered the next-most casualties, with each losing more than 5 million people.

In Germany, over 2.2 million soldiers were killed and 4.5 million were injured. German civilian casualties were smaller compared to France and Russia, as the war only reached the German mainland in the final months.

German civilian casualties amounted to around 150,000, with over 100,000 of these injured or killed on the Eastern Front.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire did not suffer much fewer casualties than Germany. After all, the empire was severely beaten in the early stages of the war, with several army groups defeated and wiped out.

More than 1.35 million Austro-Hungarian soldiers died, and 4 million were injured. Nearly all soldiers were wounded. Civilian casualties in the Austro-Hungarian Empire ranged between 800,000 and 1 million, making it the second-highest civilian casualty nation after Russia.

Next were the British Empire, with approximately over 1 million soldier deaths and around 1.9 million injuries. Civilian casualties were minimal since the war did not reach the British mainland.

Australasia ranked sixth in casualties, followed by Italy in seventh place, with over 300,000 soldier deaths and more than 600,000 injured, trailing Australasia by 20,000.

Besides the five Great Powers of the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Australia, and Italy, the casualties of the remaining Allied nations including the United States were not very high.

Balkan states' average casualties were around 100,000, and Belgium's casualties also exceeded 100,000.

Other than these, the casualties of other countries did not exceed 100,000, which also meant that they would not receive many benefits.

The casualty list was preliminarily compiled by each country, originally intended for external verification, but later used at the negotiating table for peace talks to secure more benefits.

However, in reality, there were many on the casualty list that each government did not emphasize, such as the native armies of Australasia, which would not benefit from the pension policy of Australasia.

Nevertheless, Arthur would fulfill his promise to send these soldiers and their families to other regions and provide them with a certain amount of resettlement costs.

The resettlement fee ranged from about 50 to 200 Australasian dollars, which was enough for them to settle and establish a stable life in their new homes.

Those who were truly able to enjoy the compensation policy were the 0.8 million soldiers who died in regular Australasian forces and the 1.7 million injured soldiers, who would also receive corresponding compensation and rewards.

From the casualty figures of the regular Australasian army, it could be seen that the native soldiers bore the brunt of the war's misery for Australasia.

In addition to Australasia, the situation of the British Empire was similar. More than half of the casualties were native soldiers, and the actual number of casualties of the British main force was less than one-third of the total.

Based on Australasia's compensation system, the total casualty figure of 25,000 would require a government and royal expenditure of nearly 7 million Australasian dollars in compensation.

Of this amount, the government and the royal family each contributed half, about 3.5 million Australasian dollars. The expenditure is not significant for their finances, and both can easily afford it.

Although most soldiers have not yet returned home safely, Arthur ordered the government and the royal financial group to urgently prepare this pension fund and distribute it to all soldiers as soon as possible.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense also provided certain subsidies to all soldiers who participated in the war. The average subsidy per person was about 50 to 60 Australasian dollars, an expenditure amounting to five to six million Australasian dollars.

Of course, the rewards from the government and the royal family are far more than that. Soldiers who have made meritorious contributions will also receive more rewards such as land, titles, medals, etc. This can be regarded as the Australasian version of military merit land grants.

After all, the native land of Australasia and its major colonies possess vast amounts of undeveloped land. These vacant lands are wasted if not utilized, so it was decided to give them to meritorious soldiers for development.

These people will also serve as the military merit beneficiary class under the nobility, similar to the knights of medieval Europe, indirectly safeguarding the royal family and noble classes.

To allow soldiers to choose more freely, the pensions and rewards given to the soldiers can also be flexibly exchanged.

For example, the rewarded land can be exchanged for funds equivalent to the land, and the funds can be exchanged for land of equal value.

And military merits are cumulative because this time the rewards are cleared. As long as the cumulative military merits reach a certain level, a noble title will be granted.

According to the military merit land grant program set forth by the government and the Ministry of Defense, each soldier can receive about 3 acres of land, which is just over 1.2 hectares.

This is just a reward for participating soldiers. After achieving various military merits, the land area rewarded will increase significantly.

When the accumulated land reaches approximately 150 to 200 hectares, one can be awarded the title of Sir. For 1000 to 1500 hectares, one would be granted a Baron title. 8000 to 10,000 hectares can reach the title of Viscount, 30,000 to 50,000 hectares for the Earl title and 100,000 hectares for the Duke.

A duke is basically the highest aristocratic level that an ordinary soldier with cumulative military merits can achieve. In theory, higher levels such as being a prince, can only be obtained by the royal family.

In fact, 100,000 hectares is not a small area at all, equivalent to 1,000 square kilometers, similar to a smaller county area. Discover stories at empire

Moreover, the land acquired through military merits is permanent. A nobleman who becomes a duke through military merits can entirely rely on his land to become a millionaire.

Although honorary nobles like Sirs cannot be hereditary, the land is permanent. This is Arthur's reward for all those who have contributed to the country and the royal family.

Since this is a reward, military merit land grants have great flexibility. The government and the royal family generally choose a large area to be collectively enfeoffed, ensuring that soldiers' lands are connected to each other, avoiding the awkward situation of scattered patches of land.

Theoretically, those who receive land rewards can apply to the government every 15 years for a change of land, pooling their property together.

Of course, one can only exchange for land of the same price and area, avoiding some people exploiting the government's loophole.

In order to better cultivate the new nobility of Australasia, after the enfeoffment of the soldiers, Arthur will establish noble schools to provide proper education for the descendants of the new nobility, turning them into pillars of the country and the royal family, rather than pleasure-seeking wastes.

Noble schools can also unite the descendants of the new nobility, forming a complex network of relationships among nobles, with all new aristocrats attached to the royal rule, becoming a powerful class that obeys the royal family.

In order to enhance the rights and status of the new nobility, Arthur specifically stipulated that, except for treason and crimes that harm the interests of the royal family, any other crime can only apply to the noble person, not the noble title itself.

In other words, except for these two crimes, all other crimes can only be punished for the nobility who has committed the crime, and cannot directly cancel their title.

This also means that as long as the national and royal interest is not harmed, even if a new nobleman violates the law, his title can still be inherited by his descendants, rather than being cancelled due to criminal charges.

However, if a crime of treason or harming the royal family's interests has been committed, Arthur will not hesitate to revoke the new noble's title, as the interests of the country and the royal family are always paramount.

Under normal circumstances, these new nobles would not be foolish enough to violate the interests of the royal family. After all, all their rights and status come from the royal family, so who would be willing to destroy their foundation?

Moreover, as the King of Australasia, it is quite simple for Arthur to dispose of the new nobility he has granted.

After all, the crimes of treason and harming the interests of the royal family are just a title that can be attached to any noble at any time, as long as Arthur is willing.

This can also be regarded as a means employed by Arthur to control new nobles. After all, there can be all sorts of people in a big forest, and there must always be a final card to deal with the fools.