of the state to consolidate his own power and that of the Empire,

巩固自己统治的工具
and that is to undercut the residual influence of the nobility.

并且用此来削弱贵族所残留的影响
If you wanted something,

如果你想要什么东西
and this is still true in France today,

这在今天的法国仍然是事实
it doesn't do any good to go to the local notable,

去当地的贵族那里绝无收获
like you did in the eighteenth century and say,

就像是你在十八世纪的时候说
"hey,monsieur,the little guy,

"嘿小子
it would be great if we had a school."

如果我有一所学校就再好不过了"
It doesn't do any good at all,and he realizes that.

这样并没有什么好处他意识到了
And,so,the patronage of the Empire is that he can provide railroads,

帝国的资助者可以提供铁路
he can provide money for things,

也可以为一些事情提供钱
and that further centralizes the state.

这些东西更加集中于国家