Yes, I think the trenches are dug to see who gets most of the tranches.

trench c.1386, "track cut through a wood," later "long, narrow ditch" (1489), from O.Fr. trenche "a slice, ditch" (1288), from trenchier "to cut," possibly from V.L. *trincare, from L. truncare "to cut or lop off"

tranche(AWAD)
MEANING:noun: A portion, especially of money, investment, etc.
ETYMOLOGY:From French tranche (slice), from trancher (to cut).