Chapter 81: Core Industry 1
TL: Etude
Mr. Bennett Todd, residing in Port Fran, is a wealthy man in his prime, owning five cargo ships.
Bennetts grandfather was originally a land-based merchant who accumulated a fortune over the years of traveling across the land. In his fathers generation, the family shifted their focus to maritime endeavors.
Amidst the puzzlement of relatives, his father used the money left by his grandfather to buy the Todd familys first oar-and-sail ship, recruiting a sufficient crew to start a maritime transport business in the Northwestern Bay.
By the time Bennett took over, the Todd family already owned five cargo ships.
The presence of pirates did not overly affect the merchants business. Paying an annual protection fee was indeed painful, but ever since the rise of the great pirate Edward, the pirates understood the concept of not killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Only by fattening the goose could they get more golden eggs.
Only the unfortunate hard-headed ones were plundered clean by the pirates.
Moreover, even if not paid to the pirates as protection money, this amount would have to be paid as taxes to the lord.
Indeed, the only real losers were the lords of the coastal territories. On a broader scale, if the pirates collected more protection money, the lords received less in taxes. After all, one cannot skin a sheep twice.
However, this year, the Northwestern Bay saw dramatic changes.
Edward, the leader of the pirates, and his main fleet suddenly vanished, leaving the scattered pirate groups without restraint and recklessly breaking the old rules.
This caused significant losses for the sea merchants.
Then, several pirate groups began raiding on land. A group led by a pirate called Shark even occupied Port Fran and refused to leave. Shockingly, they ambushed and killed Lord Grayman of Alda.
Local businessmen, including Bennett, were extorted a large sum of money by the pirates.
However, the pirates good days did not last long. The new lord, Paul Grayman, quickly recruited troops and fought back against the pirates. Shark and his gang, after enjoying a few months of glory, were hanged in the public square of Port Fran.
Initially, Mr. Todd viewed the young Lord Grayman as ambitious, perhaps overly so.
After reclaiming Port Fran, he gathered the businessmen to propose the establishment of an Overseas Trading Company, inviting everyone to participate.
In his vision, the merchants business would not be limited to the Northwestern Bay but would expand to farther places like the western coast of the kingdom, the southern Horn Bay, and even beyond Horn Bay to the east.
At that time, everyone thought the lord was either deluded by his victory over the pirates or trying to scheme money from them. The distance was too great for sea travel.
However, recent events involving the lord made Mr. Todd and some of his merchant friends believe that he was not boasting or deceiving them back then.
Count Grayman did not force the investment in the company as everyone had speculated. Instead, he introduced several highly popular novelties: inexpensive new paper, exquisite porcelain, and harvesters that attracted many landlords orders, all originating from this young lord.
Therefore, the invention of a vessel capable of ocean voyaging by him seemed plausible.
Still, what could the remote Northwest offer as goods to interest the affluent regions in the South?
Oh, right! The items created by Count Grayman himself could be sold there. No wonder he wanted to establish an Overseas Trading Company.
Now, Lord Grayman has once again arrived at Port Fran, summoning the businessmen to a meeting at the administrative hall.
Bennett arrived at the appointed time. The building, once a church, had been transformed into a place for officials like the mayor to handle daily administrative affairs.
Entering the former main chapel, now converted into a meeting room with ready-made tables and chairs, he found many familiar faces already seated. The attendees were not just businessmen; they greeted Bennett upon his arrival.
The lord had not yet arrived, and everyone was abuzz with speculation about what the Count had planned this time.
Count Grayman has arrived!
The loud announcement by the guard at the door immediately silenced everyone.
They saw Lord Grayman enter with Theodore, the mayor of Port Fran, and old Peter, the mayors advisor, through a side door.
After the three sat down, Count Grayman got straight to the point.
Gentlemen, the purpose of gathering you here today is to discuss a profitable opportunity for you.
A profitable opportunity? The businessmen exchanged glances. Werent nobles known for treating them as cash cows, ready to be milked whenever money was needed?
You making profits means I can collect more taxes! the Count said unabashedly.
So, it was about fattening the sheep before slaughtering it. However, at least there would be more meat left on their own bones. This thought started to stir interest among the merchants.
The lord continued, As you all know, there is a war in the south. What does war mean? It means opportunities to make money!
Despite their internal criticisms about the Counts seemingly insensitive comment, given the kings predicament, they all agreed with the prospect of profit.
I mentioned overseas trade earlier. We arent ready for that yet, but my shipyard is building vessels suitable for ocean voyaging, and I trust well see results soon. I will need your support then!
Hearing this, Bennett thought, It seems Count Grayman is indeed prepared.
If vessels suitable for ocean voyages were indeed built, the Todd family, as shipowners, couldnt afford to fall behind.
Of course, Bennett wasnt the only one in the room with such thoughts.
The lord added, While sea transport isnt feasible yet, we can still use land routes, despite the numerous tolls along the way. Theres still profit to be made.
The businessmen were skeptical. They had tried what the lord suggested before, but mostly at great losses.
The Northwestern Bay region had few unique products. Most of what they produced was also available elsewhere, and the long journeys, coupled with the tolls at each territory, made it impossible to set low prices at the destination without incurring losses.
Due to high prices, their goods couldnt compete with local products, often resulting in financial losses.
Hence, the local merchants either sold their products locally or traded foreign specialties in the Northwestern Bay.
The trade deficit and outflow of wealth were significant reasons for the economic stagnation in the Northwestern Bay region. If not for the little food and few specialties they had, the situation would be unimaginable.
I know what youre all thinking, so Ive decided to develop several key industries for our Alda, the lord announced.
Key industries? This new term from the lord piqued the interest of the merchants.
Like the recent new paper, porcelain, and harvesters. We can manufacture what others cant, or we can produce better quality, in larger quantities, and at cheaper prices.
The merchants realized that these recent innovations could indeed be considered unique products of the Northwestern Bay area.
These products were exclusive to the world, with the Grayman family being the sole producer.
Many in the room had already bought paper and porcelain from the Counts factory to sell elsewhere.
Only the harvesters were strictly regulated by the lords office, allowing direct sales only to native customers in Alda and Baylding.
However, the production of these items was still too limited to be called an industry.
A somewhat absurd idea began to form in many minds:
Could it be
Perhaps
Was Count Grayman planning to share the manufacturing techniques of these items with them to increase their production?
Read latest chapters at f(r)eewebnov𝒆l Only