Calipers and Northwest Industry
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Although Alden and Byerldine do not have enough blacksmiths, there are plenty in other territories.
For instance, the blacksmiths in Earl Pryce Parker's domain are renowned throughout the Northwest Bay for their skill in crafting weapons and armor. Besides the many skilled blacksmiths in the local area, the Earl himself operates a large weapon workshop.
This is also the reason why the old Earl is bold enough to organize an alliance against the Kent family.
Thus, Paul invited the allies to Alden Town and proposed a joint venture to manufacture and sell weapons—he would provide the raw materials, and the blacksmiths from various territories would process them into weapons, which would then be sold, with the profits shared.
"Alden and Byerldine can produce a large amount of iron, whether pig iron or wrought iron. Whatever quantity you need, we can supply it."
Paul's bold claim left the lords astonished.
"Can you provide an approximate number? For instance, how many tons of pig iron can you produce in a year?"
Earl Parker asked on behalf of the lords.
"Uh…"
What number should he give? Would revealing the true figure make him seem like he's boasting?
Before Paul could consider it, Hansel raised four fingers:
"By the end of this year, our combined output will reach 400 tons annually."
He gave Paul a knowing look—whether or not they could actually achieve this, it was best to exaggerate a bit for now since they wouldn't need that much.
Wow, that's really pushing it. Increasing production isn't just about building a few more blast furnaces and reflection furnaces; it also involves increasing iron ore and coal production, coke refining, and, most importantly, training workers for these industries.
Forget about that for now; let's boost demand first. Paul slammed the table and continued in line with Hansel's claim:
"Exactly! If you need more, we can increase production even further!"
Indeed, their grandiose claims impressed the lords, who looked at each other in surprise.
Grayman must have either been blessed by the gods or made a deal with the devil—if it weren't for the magical inventions like firearms and cannons they had seen in the previous joint military campaign, they would have thought so.
"Ahem! If what you say is true, Earl, it's excellent news. Not only can we sell to other regions, but we can also equip our own troops, which will be advantageous in our battles against Malts Kent's forces."
"Exactly, Lord Viscount. To be honest, I'm planning to equip every soldier with a breastplate."
Paul smiled at Viscount Johnston, who nervously shrugged. A year ago, he had sent spies to Alden to steal papermaking technology. He wondered if Grayman held a grudge. Who could have predicted Alden would develop into a powerhouse with 2,000 elite soldiers and a 400-ton annual iron output? Thankfully, he was now on the same side as Earl Grayman.
Earl Melken asked, "But once the weapons are made, how will we transport them in large quantities to the south? They're quite heavy."
Paul answered, "Simple, by sea. It not only has a large cargo capacity but also avoids tariffs from various territories along the southbound route. By excluding taxes from the selling price, our products will be even more competitive."
Sea transport? That was indeed a novel idea. The lords had heard that Alden's shipyard was building a new type of ship, powered entirely by wind and with a massive cargo capacity.
"I heard you eradicated the pirates in Northwest Bay to pave the way for large-scale sea transport?" Earl Parker asked while stroking his beard.
"Yes, I had this plan in mind."
"And you have already sent an expedition to Angle Bay?"
"That's right. Angle Bay will be a key trade target for me in the future."
"Well, speaking of eradicating pirates, we coastal lords owe you a thank you."
Earl Parker's words reminded everyone of how, during the pirate uprising last year, they had been reluctant to help Grayman, making them feel somewhat embarrassed.
"Haha! It was a small matter, not worth mentioning!"
Although he had some complaints, Paul was pleased that his achievements were being acknowledged.
With both raw materials and transportation solutions sorted, everyone agreed to join the plan for joint weapon manufacturing and sales. After all, no one is against money.
Paul further suggested, "To improve production efficiency, I recommend using your lordship powers to consolidate the blacksmiths into larger workshops, merging small workshops, and encouraging blacksmiths to share techniques and improve their skills."
"And since this is a joint production, I strongly suggest we standardize the weapons produced in each territory, branding them with a prefix of 'Northwest' or 'Bay' to create a brand effect. Rest assured, this world is unstable, with frequent wars. We must not focus only on the southern rebellion. Once we unite, there will be no disparity where some benefit greatly while others only get a meager share."
Derrick Heller agreed, "Indeed, I've heard that the Gabella Empire is preparing for war with its eastern neighbors. Such large-scale wars require massive amounts of weapons and equipment."
Earl Pryce Parker nodded, "Standardization is indeed a good idea. I agree with this."
Following his lead, the other lords also consented.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the standardization I speak of means not just making weapons and armor in the same shape, but ensuring that dimensions are identical, with tolerances within millimeters."
"Paul, isn't that a bit demanding?"
"No, I believe quality is the key to establishing our reputation. Remember this word—standardization!"
"Standardization?"
"Yes, standardization. I've arranged something to achieve this goal. Bring out the calipers!"
Several servants entered the hall and placed a strange object on each lord's table.
The lords picked up the object and examined it closely. As Paul had described, it was a type of ruler with scales, but its construction was quite complex.
"I call this device a caliper. It can accurately measure the dimensions of objects, and the specific usage methods are included in the instruction manual. With it, we can work towards standardization."
The caliper's precision wasn't yet comparable to its Earth counterpart, but it was sufficient for the current production needs.
The lords were intrigued by the calipers, and some even thought Paul was a bit eccentric.
...
After a whole day of discussions, the lords decided to establish the so-called "company" that Paul had mentioned. The company was named "Northwest Industry," specializing in the production and sale of weaponry.
They allocated shares, with Paul, being the initiator and nearly monopolizing raw materials and transportation, holding the largest share. Next were Earl Pryce Parker and Malon Ganard, followed by the other lords.
This arrangement wasn't fixed and would be adjusted periodically through shareholder meetings based on contributions.
Finally, they drafted the general bylaws and appointed Earl of Byerldine Malon Ganard to handle the daily operations of Northwest Industry, as his territory was now managed by the Alden Town administration, making him the idlest.
"Quality! Quality! And more quality! I won't ship any products that are not up to standard!" Paul emphasized at the end.
(End of the Chapter)
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