Chapter 300

The carriage drove slowly and steadily on the streets of Fulan Port. The skilled driver controlled the horse. The carriage drove very steadily with only a little bump.

Bennett Todd sat in the carriage and closed his eyes to rest. He secretly admired that it was indeed a carriage produced by the Huxin Town Machinery Factory. After the installation of the amazing shock absorber, it was comfortable and his butt was not uncomfortable at all.

I heard that the shock absorber was personally developed by the director of the machinery factory, Mr. Guy Burns. After all, he was a senior strange machine master poached by the lord from Jingyao, the capital of the king.

After leisurely experiencing the new car for a while, Bennett turned his thoughts to his recent business.

With the support of the government affairs council's policy of supporting industry and commerce, Bennett did not rush to invest in various emerging industries advocated by Count Paul Graman like other businessmen, but continued to operate his old business - shipping industry.

No matter what industry you are in, the things you produce have to be sold. The Northwest Bay has always been poor. Although the lord is committed to improving people's livelihood, this is not a matter of one or two years. At this stage, ordinary people do not have much spare money to buy non-essentials. Due to the numerous land transportation checkpoints in this era, sea transportation will become the only choice for long-distance large-scale transportation. As long as you focus on your old business, you will not worry about not making money.

Sure enough, the State Council soon announced that the Fulan Port Shipyard will launch a civilian sailing ship, and the Todd family was overjoyed. Since there is already a trip to the South Bay of the Quick Shipyard, Bennett is still very confident in the full sailing ship.

However, the price given by the shipyard is also frighteningly high. A sloop costs 3,000 silver coins, and a ketch is as high as 5,000 silver coins. If you want to install anti-pirate crossbows, the price will be even higher.

At that time, the stock exchange had not officially started, and it was very inconvenient to raise funds. Just when Mr. Todd was discouraged by such a high price, under the care of Earl Graman, the shipyard introduced a convenient measure for the cash-strapped ship merchants - installment payment.

The money does not need to be paid in full at one time. After signing the contract, you can pay a down payment first, and the remaining money can be paid off in several installments.

This measure is so convenient that Mr. Bennett rekindled his hope. The Todd family quickly raised a sum of money and placed an order with the shipyard before other peers. The Todd family is the largest local ship merchant. With their family's leading role, other peers followed suit.

In the first half of this year, Bennett finally got a sloop and a ketch, and immediately invested in his business. Civilian ships have increased the capacity of the cabin and are slightly less flexible than warships, but are more suitable for carrying cargo (in Paul's eyes, this type of ship is very similar to the carrack in the history of the earth). If the shipyard's director Rubin is not bragging, the load capacity of a ketch can reach 60 to 70 tons.

Oh my god, this is incredible. Yes, some large galleys are better than these full-wind sailing ships, but they still need hundreds or even thousands of oarsmen, while this new ship only needs to rely on the wind.

The actual performance of these two ships in their own business proved that buying them was an absolutely cost-effective deal. Bennett loved them so much that he personally took the larger two-masted sailing ship to the Horn Bay and saw the prosperity of the south with his own eyes. It was really a vast world that could only exist in imagination before.

Bennett also visited the Foster family with a letter of introduction issued by the Lord's Mansion and confirmed the business cooperation between the two parties, which was unthinkable before.

He has planned to continue to order more sailing ships to replace the family's existing galleys.

"Master, we are here."

The driver's words interrupted Bennett's beautiful imagination of the future.

"So soon?" He opened his eyes, got off the carriage, and told the driver, "I'll get off first. You don't have to wait for me outside. Just come and pick me up at the agreed time."

What came into view was a tavern. After the driver drove the carriage away, Bennett walked in.

He explained his identity and was led by the waiter to a room where many people were already sitting. They were all leading figures in various industries nearby, including papermaking, porcelain firing, and canned food production. Among them, the salt merchant Godwin was the one he was most familiar with.

These people have one thing in common - their family property has increased several times under the policy of supporting industry and commerce and technology sharing under the State Council. Well, Bennett himself is actually one of them.

"Ha, Bennett, you're finally here, everyone is waiting for you!"

Godwin stood up and welcomed him to the table.

Bennett looked apologetic, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, my ship just brought back a batch of oriental spices from Jiaowan, I have to go and check it out in person."

Damn, oriental spices! Everyone was spitting acid in their hearts, invisible pretense is the most deadly.

After everyone exchanged pleasantries, they finally got to the topic of this gathering - discussing the war bonds issued by the State Council.

Godwin raised his voice and asked: "What do you think about war bonds?"

"This..."

No one responded directly, but they discussed in groups of three or two. The people at the gathering gradually split into two groups. One group was inclined to buy bonds - of course, within their means, and the other group thought it was best not to get involved in this matter.

An older businessman twisted his graying beard, shook his head and said: "In theory, it is the duty of our people to help the lord solve the dilemma, but... but..."

A person next to him continued, "But we are also small and profitable, and we really have the will but not the power."

The two people's words resonated with many people: "Yes, we are just a mere businessman, how can we participate in the dispute of noble lords."

Their views were immediately refuted, "Humph, you are really ungrateful."

"What? How can you say that?"

"Think about what kind of life you lived before, and look at it now, sitting in luxurious carriages and wearing exquisite clothes. Small capital and thin profits? I'm afraid it will make people laugh. Everyone knows that we have made a fortune under the favor of the earl."

The two factions held their own opinions and argued endlessly. Why do we have to gather to discuss this matter?

Many people who oppose buying bonds think like this: What if the earl loses after buying bonds? Wouldn't the money spent be wasted? It's still safer to do business honestly. But if I don't buy it, and others buy it, the earl will only make things difficult for me, so it's better for everyone not to buy it.

People who support buying bonds think like this: If the earl loses, I can't let my money go down the drain, it's better for everyone to lose money.

In short, most people tried to convince each other with the idea that I should not be the only one to suffer in extreme cases.

"Ahem, everyone!" Godwin stood up and spoke.

No mistake, one post, one content, one 6, one 9, one book, one bar!

He was inclined to buy bonds, "Everyone should take a long-term view."

Everyone looked at him.

"Looking at the Northwest Bay, which noble territory can be as friendly to merchants as Alda."

This is true, everyone nodded secretly, not only in the Northwest Bay, but also in the merchants of the Kingdom of Aldo, who are fat sheep in the eyes of the authorities.

"What if the Earl loses - may God forgive me for being so disrespectful - and the Kent family gains power, will we still have the good life we ​​have now?"

A chill surged in everyone's heart, Maltz Kent is a master of pulling skin and tendons.

"If Earl Graman can keep his territory, it's fine. We just share some war reparations. But if the worst happens, the earl's territory is taken away and replaced by a new lord, do you still want to go back to the days of endless taxes and endless darkness?"

A blow from the soul, many people present have begun to shake their heads subconsciously. After Paul Graman took the throne, he gradually cancelled all kinds of messy taxes and levies. After more than a year of comfortable good life, it seems that life should be like this. In fact, if you compare vertically, everyone pays more taxes than before, but the premise is that they earn more.

Bennett looked at Godwin who was trying hard to persuade everyone without saying a word. He was very surprised that his old friend had always been a character who didn't take the lead in everything. Why did he become so active today?

Thinking about it, Bennett's mind flashed with a flash of inspiration and thought of a possibility.

Haha, it seems that someone has gotten ahead of me, so I have to act quickly.

Besides, he also thought that Godwin's words made sense. Since he went to Horn Bay in person, Bennett's horizons have broadened a lot. While envying the prosperity of the south, he always has a sense of inferiority in his heart. But he believes that he can also achieve achievements comparable to those giants in Horn Bay, but this requires a suitable environment.

Seedlings can only grow into big trees in the right environment, and this environment cannot be destroyed.

Bennett, who has made up his mind, stood up.

"Everyone! Please listen to me!"

...