Volume 1: The Rise of Elanhill Chapter 0003 How to Spend All the Money
He was dressed in aristocratic clothes, sat on the ground without caring about his image, and began to piece together the world's first manual machine tool.
Because he had the blueprint in his mind, he installed it very quickly, three times faster than an experienced worker with outstanding skills.
Under everyone's shocked gazes, Chris assembled the parts one by one, explaining the principles of assembly to the people around him, and soon assembled a machine tool.
This is a manual machine tool that operates in a similar principle to a sewing machine. This machine can polish wood ten or even a hundred times faster than manual polishing.
Then he simply demonstrated the operation, causing everyone to gasp in shock .
“By stepping on this pedal, a balanced rotational force can be generated... In this way, cylindrical products can be processed!” Chris made way for an apprentice and motioned for him to come up and operate the machine. The apprentice quickly got the machine tool turning.
"If you improve it a little, you can make patterns composed of many concentric circles - it's very simple, just give it a try." While giving instructions, he explained how to carve the patterns.
Soon, a cylindrical wooden stick in the shape of a gourd that was thick at both ends and thin in the middle appeared evenly in front of everyone, and it took less than a minute.
"This is a miracle!" An old craftsman looked at the machine tool that was so easy to operate and the complex cylindrical wooden stick cut by the saw blade on it, and exclaimed: "It is definitely a miracle."
"Indeed, I have received God's will." Chris pointed to his head with a smile while assembling the second identical device.
Under the admiring gazes of the master craftsmen, Chris threw aside a substandard part and selected another replacement part and stuffed it into the gear set.
The scrap rate of purely handmade parts is actually very high. The fact that most of the parts can be pieced together and used is already great news for Chris.
The second machine tool was soon assembled and added to the production line. Chris began to have people assemble the third device, and he guided them and pointed out some important steps.
The number of wood-cutting machines began to increase, and several carpentry apprentices operated the machines and soon made several exquisite stool legs. Even with the most discerning eyes, these products are definitely considered to be fine products.
Because the cutting speed was so fast, there was even a shortage of stock soon. While Chris was still assembling the fourth woodworking machine, several carpenters had completed the first chair produced by the machine.
"Although this thing is fast, identical chairs will soon become worthless." An old carpenter stroked the three identical chairs in front of him and said worriedly to his colleagues beside him.
"Yes, such a chair will soon lose its charm. It...it lacks the soul that the craftsman gave it..." Another master carpenter was also dissatisfied with the things produced by the apprentices.
“Aesthetics will also be destroyed by uniformity, which is absolutely a disaster for art.” The leading old craftsman shook his head and denied the “mass-produced goods” produced by this production model.
In their view, even a set of seats requires matching and variation. Having exactly the same things is simply a blasphemy to the spirit of craftsmanship.
Unfortunately, Chris didn't think so. He put down the parts in his hand and walked over to the chairs.
He was used to mass-produced products and didn't think there was anything wrong with these identical chairs. He patted the back of one of the chairs and smiled with satisfaction: "There's nothing wrong with this."
"Your chairs are sold to nobles." He looked at the old craftsmen and said, then pointed to the chairs beside him and said, "These products are sold to civilians."
"Think about it. Your chairs are sold for 20 or even 30 silver coins each. No matter how much demand there is in the market, how many can you sell?" At this point, Chris smiled and pointed at the chairs produced by the apprentices: "I dare to sell such chairs for 1 silver coin. Guess who makes more money?"
A master can make a chair that sells for 300,000 yuan, but while he is making this chair, almost 300,000 chairs worth 30 yuan are also produced in factories all over the world.
What Chris hopes is to earn 9 million, rather than waiting for the illusory 300,000 - this is the cruelty of modern industrial civilization, a naked contempt for art.
During this time of conversation, the apprentices who had been working non-stop had already made two more identical chairs.
Now there are five chairs with exactly the same specifications in the woodworking workshop. In the past, it was not easy to see chairs that were exactly the same, but everyone here today has opened their eyes.
What's even more terrifying is that as some of the wood was processed and sent to them, the apprentices with the raw materials had new toys and produced five more such chairs in one go.
In Chris's view, all this is just the beginning. He still has beautiful printing and dyeing formulas, looms, the killer of the Industrial Revolution, and power devices such as steam engines...
In short, once he takes the first step towards industrial civilization, everything will no longer be a problem. He can quickly accumulate the wealth around him into his own pocket at the speed of robbing money.
"With this equipment, we can produce chairs and tables continuously. Assuming a set of chairs costs 5 silver coins, we can earn 1 gold coin a day!" During dinner, Strid said to Deans in a lively manner.
Deans was also very interested in the machine tools and equipment developed by Chris. According to Strid's calculations, they could earn about 300 more gold coins a year, which was definitely a huge sum of money.
If the scale of production is expanded and the output is doubled, the territory can earn twice the profit each year, which is enough to pay the increased gold coin tax.
"Unfortunately, if we keep selling woodworking products at such a low price, the price will soon drop... We can sell them for about 5 silver coins these few months, but in a few months we will only be able to sell them for 3 silver coins." Chris poured a bucket of cold water on everyone when they were all very happy.
He is well aware of the market rules and is very familiar with this dumping model. Once the product begins to flow into the market in large quantities, the price will inevitably continue to fall.
"Yes, we are still too optimistic. However, even if the income is only 100 gold coins, it is not a small amount for us." Deans began to comfort Chris, making Chris feel a little amused.
"In fact, I have started to ask our craftsmen to build more sophisticated equipment. With these equipment, a few people can complete the production of tables, chairs and cabinets - the cost can be further reduced." Chris said to Deans after taking a bite of chicken.
"By that time, we can reduce the cost of producing identical chairs to 20 copper coins or even lower." When he said this, his tone was full of pride.
The power of industry is reflected in the cost, which is intuitive and effective. Once mass production is formed, it will only overwhelm all small workshops and occupy the broadest market.
Chris couldn't even imagine how much the cost of furniture of this era could be reduced to if high-density boards were developed in later generations - perhaps a set of tables, chairs and benches could be purchased with just a few copper coins.
“So we only make a small amount of money by selling woodworking products!” Chris continued to talk about his plan with a smile. His words at this moment were as fascinating as alchemy that turned stone into gold: “The real money is made by selling machines!”
"We sell this kind of woodworking machine! 15 gold coins each! How much do you think we can earn?" Chris held up a finger, and the smile on his face became even bigger: "In less than half a year, our equipment will be all over the surrounding area and squeeze out all the handicraft workshops!"
"Gods above... I can't believe it, this must be a kind of magic that makes money." Deans exclaimed.
A rough calculation shows that this is a big business with more than 3,000 gold coins a year. Even in the Alante Empire, such a business can be considered a big deal. Those nobles who can earn thousands of gold coins a year are definitely rare in the surrounding areas.
Strid, who was listening to the news, became even more excited. This meant that the production and economy under his charge would soar into the sky in the next few months.
This is definitely good news, good news that makes him very excited: "In this way, Lord Chris, we don't have to raise the toll."
"Of course not! Dear Strid! Not only will we not raise the tolls, we will also lower them!" Chris stated his plan with a smile.
"Why?" Strid looked at his city lord with some confusion, and for a moment his mind was a little confused.
"We export woodworking products on such a large scale that transportation itself is a big problem. How can we sell so many products if we don't encourage more merchants to come here?" Chris answered directly without keeping the question in suspense.
"Not only do we need to lower tolls, we also need to repair roads! We need to transfer 500 guards to repair the roads so that more carriages can come to Seris City!" When Chris said this, he looked at Wagron.
"No problem, sir! I will mobilize the troops tomorrow." Wagron agreed immediately with great vigor.
"Gentlemen! We are no longer the same as before! We will be richer in the future, and your task will be more difficult now." Chris picked up his glass and toasted his three men with the inferior wine in it: "You have to think about how to spend all this money."
When they heard this, the three of them laughed. Strid might have understood it better than Wageron. He seemed to have seen the light of the gold coins. Those lights were in his arms, supporting the upward arc of his face, so he laughed even more brightly.
Wagron knew the value of money to the army, but he couldn't immediately connect the chairs in front of him with the killing on the battlefield. He always subconsciously thought of the chair legs as overly thick axe handles, which looked awkward, so his smile was rather stiff. Fortunately, he had been given a relatively simple job assignment, which was to build roads.
Chris observed the two with a half-smile. After taking a sip of wine, he suddenly became serious: "You know what? I have no interest in furniture at all. Fortunately, I didn't see any laughter on your faces about my selling chairs, otherwise I would be more serious."
"What do you mean, Lord Mayor?...What do you want to say?" Strid and Wageron were confused again.
"Just think of it as the prelude to a war. I need both of you to prepare according to this standard, okay?" Chris looked seriously at the two people he depended on. "Just like preparing for war, it requires planning, preparation, execution and adjustment. Okay? This is a beginning. It is very important to me and the future. I need you."
"Of course, sir, all at your command," the three men answered in unison.
"Once our mass-produced products start to gain a reputation in the surrounding areas, the surrounding lords will set their sights on us. In the past, everyone lived in peace because everyone was poor... But if we become rich first, the situation will be different!" Chris continued.
"So, before we have means of self-protection, let's accumulate some woodworking machinery little by little, improve our equipment, and reserve some talents!" Chris planned to slow down the speed of exposing his own strength. He felt that he should develop some means of self-protection before making plans.
So according to Chris's plan, the manufacture of wood machine tools was first rolled out to the entire city, and ten new wood processing plants were set up. However, all processing plants had to adhere to one rule in the first two months, which was that they were only allowed to manufacture and test machine tools, and not to mass-produce wood products. Many craftsmen and apprentices were attracted by the high salaries of these processing plants, and they manufactured and tried to improve these complex large tools, enjoying their leisure time before waiting for the second order.
Chris and his right-hand men were not idle. For development, waiting was a helpless move. Before Seris City began to sell its wooden products, it had to wait for another thing to be guaranteed. Paint? Of course not. It was a cannon that Chris had carefully drawn the blueprint for the night after crossing over.
To conduct smelting experiments with steel and find raw materials for black powder , this was not just a matter of cutting chair legs physically. Chris and Strid worked almost non-stop on the development of the artillery in the six months after they toasted. For the sake of efficiency and confidentiality, Chris divided steel smelting, parts casting, gunpowder configuration, and shell manufacturing into four independent processes. It was not until the fifth month that they were secretly assembled and tested successfully.
Of course, the carpenters did not have five months of idle time. They received orders in the third month to start mass-producing various wooden furniture. Although everyone was very busy, they never stopped admiring the production speed and quality. The biggest contradiction and confusion in their minds was the price of these furniture, because another abnormal order has continued to this day, which is to only produce and store, without bargaining or selling.
"Where's Wagron?!" Chris shouted.
"He was just about to see you," Strid replied. "He has been building the road for five months and it was basically completed yesterday," Strid added.
"It's time for him to take over," Chris breathed a sigh of relief. "Let's hand over the assembly and testing of all artillery pieces to the military. Keep it strictly confidential. Can you estimate how many artillery pieces we have?"
"It is estimated that there will be 20 guns and 200 shells," Strid replied.
"Do you think it's enough?" Chris asked casually.
"I don't know, sir." Strid was asked a little innocently, and he continued: "But our finances can no longer sustain. We have spent all the money on road construction, processing plants, and artillery, as you said."
"Well, it's better than being robbed," Chris said. "It's the worst thing to make money but not be able to spend it. A more direct way to make money than brains, skills, or even luck is to rob. I can think of this, and those damn robbers can think of it too, so I have to be ready to let all those who covet our wealth die."
"Yes, sir," Strid said, nodding.
"By the way, you just said that the finances can't hold out... Can you think of another way to hold on for a while? I need to give Gvalon some time to train the soldiers to use artillery." Chris said with some embarrassment.
"Then can I fire those apprentices in the processing plant who have been eating my meals for a week?" Strid asked somewhat unwillingly.
"Forget it. We can start selling the chairs right away and make sure they are ready to work at any time. I'll think of a way to train them!" Chris had to change his idea of saving money.
"I can guarantee that. My nephew is planning to become an apprentice there," said Street.
