I made a huge amount of money from the tulip scam, but I can't just sit here and enjoy the comforts of life.
My own ambitions drive me to grow even more; I have a strong desire to advance further rather than remain in my current position. But I also have to rise higher to avoid falling into the clutches of those wicked people who seek to devour the Rothschild baronial family and seize its fortune.
To survive, for my family, I cannot stop my actions in the Great Empire. How cruel the gods are.
"So, where should I put my hands this time? Should I lay the foundation for the industrial revolution?"
When I first arrived here, honestly, I thought all I could do was lay the groundwork for the second industrial revolution. But after witnessing the pace at which the guild system was abolished and commerce progressed, I now believe that with just a little push...
I could definitely aim for an industrial revolution.
Of course, to cause an industrial revolution, there are many institutional changes that need to be made. The most important one being the creation of steam engines.
But objectively speaking, it seems entirely possible.
"Sebastian, is it alright to come in?"
"Come in."
As soon as Sebastian saw me, he immediately handed over the documents.
"There's no significant issue with the Rothschild trading house or the estate, but there are frequent problems related to stocks here and there. And they're quite large in scale."
There's no such thing as a world without problems, especially when it comes to money.
Fraud, embezzlement, murder, robbery, and so on—crimes, of course, but the number one culprit in ruining relationships between people is money.
Moreover, when it comes to stocks, where vast amounts of money are flowing, it's only natural that problems will arise.
"The problem is the scale of these failures."
"All sorts of stock-related frauds are rampant right now."
"Have you figured out the specific forms of fraud?"
There are all sorts of stock-related scams happening, but it’s not directly related to me.
Because I've never once dealt with a stock scam myself.
Someone might accuse me of lying if I say this, but all I've done is take advantage of the ignorance of the medieval land folks and their obsession with tulip speculation to make a profit.
I've never once issued stocks and then refused to pay, or harassed shareholders with things like asset divestitures.
"Using neighborly ties or connections from the same guild, issuing stocks as an excuse to raise money for their workshops and then running off with the money. Or using high dividends as bait to gather people and then fleeing. These things happen frequently."
The people of the Middle Ages aren't any dumber than modern folks; they’re just less informed. They're as smart and wise as anyone else.
This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.
I only introduced the stock system a little less than a year ago, and already there are scams with people fleeing using dividends as bait?
It just proves that the conscience of the Great Empire is always lurking in their hearts.
"This is a very basic method, and now even merchants are getting involved in such scams."
I can’t really criticize, but merchants from the Albanian continent are the kind of people who leave their conscience and pride at home when they go to work.
So, when it becomes profitable, they sell serfs who can't repay their debts to pagans or, if necessary, whip 10-year-old kids.
Conscience, pride, and other important aspects of living as a human being are detachable, like rabbits' organs left out for display.
And you expect such people not to commit stock fraud?
They think it’s not a crime as long as they don’t get caught.
"Manipulating business plans to attract people is just the basics. Some even receive huge investments to create workshops or guilds and then deliberately go bankrupt, or they falsify the accounting books to make it look like they're losing money even though they’re making huge profits."
Why is accounting such a well-established profession?
It’s not like lawyers, judges, or prosecutors, who deal with criminals' lives, or doctors who save lives.
The reason is right here.
Catching the bastards who commit fraud with accounting books is just as important as saving lives.
"Manipulating accounting books, huh. That’s a serious loss."
"There are talks in the Ministry of Finance and the Commercial Law Department about abolishing the stock system. Though, it’s just personal opinions from bureaucrats at the department level for now..."
The Ministry of Finance and the Commercial Law Department are the agencies that oversee the Empire’s finances.
If the heads of these departments are speaking out, it’s safe to say that if things are left as they are, the stock system could be abolished.
If the stock system is abolished, I’ll lose a way to quickly gather funds when I needed capital early on.
The Tuscany Empire's industrial and commercial development will slow down.
"It means there will be fewer opportunities for me to profit."
"If this is just coming from some low-level clerks, we can ignore it, but the fact that directors of these departments are speaking up means there’s a real risk that the stock system might be brought up in the Imperial Assembly."
If the stock system gets abolished in the Imperial Assembly, there won’t be any similar systems for at least the next decade.
"I need to bribe the Ministry of Finance and the Commercial Law Department."
"I’ll prepare it."
Even if I bribe them, it’ll only be a temporary measure to buy time until the Ministry of Finance pressures the Emperor to 'abolish the stock system.'
If I leave it as it is, it’s only a matter of time before the stock system is abolished.
"And I’ll need to train experts who can write and audit accounting books. They’ll be in charge of tax-related tasks. Let’s call them accountants."
"You’re thinking of creating a completely new profession?"
The people of the Tuscany Empire may have the same traits as medieval Europeans, but they’re not stupid.
Even though the profession of accountants doesn’t exist, a skilled or competent merchant can certainly write a ledger and, by looking at someone else’s books, spot where money is being skimmed off.
Even Chris could probably spot a lot of corruption just by looking at another family's ledgers.
So, it’s not about creating an accountant profession, but rather about finding someone who specializes in auditing ledgers and detecting corruption.
"The times and situations have changed."
"Even Chris or Sebastian could look at accounting books and tell how much has been embezzled, right?"
"Yes, that’s right. If you can’t do that, you’re failing as a merchant."
By the way, I can read and write accounting books, but I’m not good enough to catch hidden fraud inside them.
That’s probably why I feel a little guilty hearing that.
"So, there’s no need for a profession that only specializes in writing and auditing books. But now that people are deliberately manipulating books, we need someone who specializes in detecting corruption and fraud."
Professions are created and disappear according to necessity.
Up until the early 1900s, there were people selling water, and in the 1980s, there were telephone operators.
"As you said, Baron, how do you plan to introduce this new profession to the people?"
I’ll use various methods.
I’ll ask the Emperor to use the accountants I recommend to assist the officials in the Ministry of Finance, or I’ll directly hire accountants to expose and imprison stock manipulators.
Perhaps I could issue certificates guaranteeing their reliability from the Rothschild Trading House, now that we’re at the level of a merchant tycoon.
I’ll have to make sure people think accountants are trustworthy.
That way, they’ll earn their worth in society.
"Only by having accountants do their jobs properly can we protect the stock market."
"I’m thinking of creating a university for that."
"A university, you say?"
Normally, anyone from a lowly baronial family like mine who tries to create a university would be quite unusual.
Universities are money-hungry monsters.
You must have theology, law, and medical faculties, and it takes a vast amount of land, equipment, and labor costs.
"If you wish, my lord, it would be easy to establish a university... But why are you so set on creating one?"
"I’ll nurture accountants at the university. A four-year program like law or theology, and later even master’s and doctorate courses."
Of course, just having a bachelor’s degree in accounting won't guarantee them a 'pass' in the exams.
But after seeing how we educate them, people will think:
"Ah, accountants trained at the Rothschild University are the ones who hold power."
That perception alone is enough.
And if we study accounting more meticulously and skillfully manipulate the Rothschild family's books...
"We could drastically reduce taxes."
"Truly, my lord, your thoughts are truly different."
"Thanks. Also, arrange an audience with His Majesty. I’ll personally convince him that abolishing the stock system is absolutely not an option."