plumnovel #741 - The foundation of clockwork industrialization
#741 - The foundation of clockwork industrialization
Surrounded by the constabulary knights, three carriages slowly departed from outside the exchange, heading towards the Uffizi Palace.
Looking at the canal sides filled with sunlight around noon, people wearing hooded short cloaks and robe shirts came and went.
Several black swallows perched on the eaves in the spring.
Next to their built love nest, one could still see a brick stained with scorched marks.
To commemorate the Battle of Rapid Falls, and those who died in that battle, newly built houses in the city often used a brick with black smoke marks.
"Catherine?" Horn suddenly spoke from inside the carriage.
"Hmm?"
"Interested in getting out and walking with me?" Horn glanced at the street scene outside. "Get off at the next intersection, we can walk along the canal for ten minutes, and we'll be at the Uffizi Palace."
"What is it?" Catherine coughed, seemingly thinking of something. "Why suddenly get out of the car?"
"I just want the two of us to go for a walk alone."
Catherine looked down at her knee-high riding boots: "What about the senior partners?"
Horn didn't care: "Then let them wait a while, it won't take long."
"Since you said so, then okay."
Soon the carriage stopped at the intersection. Under the security of countless guards and the Cheka, Horn and Catherine walked into the willow-lined canal sidewalk.
Catherine wore a veil that covered her face, and white lace gloves held Horn's arm.
Stepping on the stone slabs beside the river, the two walked along the river like a newly married couple.
For a while, the two were speechless. Catherine spoke first: "Milson, what are you going to do?"
"I remember his name."
In this vote, Horn did not give the main player Milson enough reward, but instead gave Duarte's most important assets to Goang Qi.
The reason is very simple. Most of Duarte's assets are in the banking and housing industries, and Milson, as a shipping tycoon, has neither the experience nor the interest.
Horn has other uses for Milson's talents.
"Milson has a straightforward personality, and is often rude and careless when doing trivial things, but he has a firm will and is suitable for positions that don't require ability but require a clear stance." Catherine naturally said a few good words for this old friend.
"Well, I remember it."
The two continued to walk forward along the noisy river for two steps before Catherine said quietly: "How many years of life does my Megede Chamber of Commerce have left?"
After all, the Megede Chamber of Commerce is Catherine's long-term effort, and it is inevitable that she will feel resentful when Horn dismantles it.
"The Megede Chamber of Commerce may go bankrupt, but I will never allow it to deteriorate." Horn said to Catherine with a slight apology, "The Megede Chamber of Commerce can exist, but a large number of its commercial territories must be split up."
This is inevitable. Industrial and commercial sectors such as dyes, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, and textiles can be given to these people.
However, industries such as transportation, banking, and peat must be controlled by the Holy Union and monopolized by the Holy Union government.
Of all the profits from monopoly industries, 30% is turned over, 30% is retained as operating reserve funds, 20% is given to management (shareholders, shipowners, managers), and 20% is distributed as employee bonuses.
"It's good to be able to keep the name Megede." Catherine shrugged. "Originally, my dual roles as the head of the Megede Chamber of Commerce and the president of the Holy Maiden Bank have been criticized by many people.
It's good that you dismantled the Megede Chamber of Commerce, so I don't have this problem... Can I ask, how are you going to dismantle it?"
"It's very simple. First, we will integrate key industry associations such as transportation and banking, either merge them or cut them down.
The integrated chambers of commerce will be transformed into Holy-owned monasteries, and franchise rights will be issued, and the Holy Machinery Court will monopolize key industries.
As for those small workshop owners and scattered small handicraft workers in towns and villages, industrial and commercial guilds will be established for joint labor."
Accurately speaking, Horn's arrangement was to establish industrial and commercial guilds in the Priest towns to bring together the previously scattered small handicraft workers.
Improve efficiency and production capacity through mutual assistance and advanced machinery, thereby increasing profits and the economy.
This is in preparation for expanding production and promoting consumption in the future.
Next year is 1449.
In Horn's plan, the first four years were just laying the foundation. From 1449, the era of industrialization truly began.
Currently, the raw material production area in Black Serpent Bay in the south is available.
The big market of the Kingdom of France is available.
The canal network and the transportation revolution caused by four years of investment in 200,000 pounds of infrastructure construction are available.
The technical innovations brought about by bronze-steel engines and alchemical revolution are available.
The hundred-household district system and the four-field agricultural revolution have brought about increased food production and surplus labor.
Financing methods brought about by stocks, bonds, and exchanges are available.
The surge in the number of commodities and the budding consumer culture brought about by the ideological innovation of the Holy Path Sect are available.
The printing press and paper and ink have brought about a huge change in the publishing industry, and public schools and apprenticeship systems have brought about innovation in the education system and knowledge dissemination.
The most ⊥ new ⊥ small ⊥ said ⊥ is ⊥ at ⊥ six ⊥ 9 ⊥⊥ book ⊥⊥ bar ⊥⊥ first ⊥ post!
In addition to the new army protecting these achievements, Horn has managed to put together the chain of industrialization and most of the basic conditions.
The price is a lot of bloodshed and sacrifice, countless complicated tasks, the political situation of embroidering on tightropes, and the hidden dangers of internal division in the Thousand River Valley.
Of course, there is also most of Horn's personal life.
The whole year is high-intensity work and tightly arranged schedules, not to mention the time spent fighting abroad.
Jeanne is training new soldiers and presiding over the operation of the army, Catherine is running around in Rapid Falls, Hilov is doing research in the Holy Machinery Court, and Melia is presiding over the overall situation in Summer Green City.
Everyone is very busy and can hardly find time.
The people Horn has the most contact with throughout the year are Armand, Pettier, René, and Sisi.
But in any case, the previous efforts have finally paid off.
Currently, Horn only has three problems in front of him: the technical breakthrough of the Lightning Furnace (steel), the Imperial market's doubts about the Holy Union's investment (capital), and the destruction of the results by the invasion of the Leia Kingdom (politics).
As long as these three problems are solved, a positive feedback chain of clockwork industrialization will appear—
Technological breakthroughs increase productivity, so profits are reinvested to expand production, infrastructure is built to reduce transaction costs, and finally the market size expands to further stimulate technological innovation.
Among these three problems, the first one cannot be rushed. The existing technology can still be used to make do. The latter two can be solved by defeating the Leia Kingdom.
"It's just Melia... sigh." Horn's head hurts when he thinks about this. "I really don't know if her decision is right or wrong."
Catherine also smiled wryly: "Melia has a stubborn personality, and nine cows can't pull back what she has decided.
The good thing is that she never wavers. You can absolutely trust her when she is in the same direction.
But the bad thing is that once she gets into a dead end, she won't give up until she dies."
Horn remained silent until the Uffizi Palace was close in front of him before speaking again: "At the end of this month, I will set off to North Munde County to talk to her face-to-face again."
"You can't persuade her."
"At least let her not be so extreme and use too many troops."
Time moved forward quickly, and soon it came to May.
Horn inspected Jeanne d'Arc Fortress, Long Dike City, and the Holy Machinery Court according to the scheduled schedule.
He was about to go north along the newly built Tiber River to South Munde County to meet Melia in North Munde County when he heard news from North Munde County.
"Her Highness Melia, in the name of revenge and fighting for the title of Duke for her vassal Baron Moraganger, has gathered troops in Radanburg, threatening the Duke of Winghive City to hand over Salt Beach!"