Ch.37Manufacture (1)

“Mmm…”

“What’s wrong?”

Chloe tilts her head curiously after hearing my contemplative sound.

She’s wondering why I’m so troubled when the currency unification to imperial coins is progressing smoothly, and there’s no more work to handle today.

“Chloe, we designated the Holy Empire’s currency as our main currency to make trading with the Empire easier, right?”

“Yes.”

“…But what should we sell?”

“Ah.”

Hearing this, Chloe opens her mouth slightly in understanding.

The Empire is vast, and befitting its size, it has an enormous population.

This means it has a huge market with great potential, but it also means many types of goods are already circulating.

They have agricultural products in abundance, more minerals than us, and incomparably more forest resources. They even have more artisans.

We could sell sugar once the sugar beet cultivation and extraction work progresses smoothly, but as I mentioned before, the quantity is limited for security reasons.

No matter how expensive it is, with such limited quantity and only being used by the upper class, it’s not suitable as a main export item.

“Um… grapes, fruits or… wine?”

Thinking about what Burgon products might appeal to the Empire’s people, Chloe recalls the grapes and fruits she’s always loved.

“That’s good too.”

It’s no coincidence that Chloe likes grape juice.

Burgon Duchy’s fertile soil can sustain fruits that deplete soil nutrients even with underdeveloped farming methods, and the warm temperature with appropriate rainfall allows for delicious cultivation of grapes and many other fruits.

In fact, Burgon’s fruits are popular in neighboring countries, and most foreign merchants visiting Burgon purchase fruits or their processed products.

“But since those are already being sold in large quantities, we need to think of something else.”

“I suppose you’re right…”

To grow more fruit when we’re already selling plenty would mean plowing under existing farmland—fields currently growing wheat and barley.

No matter how profitable fruits might be, we shouldn’t hastily make such changes.

After all, food that sustains life is the most important thing for humans, both past and future. Especially in medieval times without proper fertilizers.

Hmm… Maybe I should look for hints from the coastal regions and the newly acquired Bar region instead of inland areas?

Coastal region… coast means sea… things we can get from the sea…

“Fish?”

Fish are easily obtainable products with very high demand.

However, to transport fish inland without refrigeration, salt preservation is essential, and the cost of salt means selling fish doesn’t yield much profit.

Even using sea salt wouldn’t make it cheaper. Unlike rock salt that just needs to be mined, sea salt requires all sorts of processes.

Still, since we can make some profit, it could work as a main export item, but…

“…As expected, with insufficient industrial development, there are limits to what we can sell.”

All activities like turning metal into weapons, wood into furniture, leather and wool into clothes, barley into beer, sand into glass, and milk into butter and cheese can be considered industry.

Even without special local products, developed industry can more than make up for it.

First, we need to develop industry.

Not just to create products to sell, but also to increase the nation’s power itself.

“I need to post a public notice in the city.”

……….

“What’s going on?”

After being fired from the workshop, I was looking for work when I noticed people gathering and murmuring.

When people gather, nine times out of ten it’s to watch a fight, but there’s no noise, so that can’t be it.

“What’s happening?”

“The Duke is calling for people who want to become as skilled as master craftsmen.”

“Master craftsmen? What kind?”

Just saying “craftsmen” is too vague.

Pottery craftsmen, furniture craftsmen, clothing craftsmen, wine craftsmen—there are so many types!

“Well? The notice doesn’t specify what kind of craftsmen, it just says ‘craftsmen.'”

“Really…? Why is he looking for them?”

“Seeing is faster than asking. Look at that.”

Where the man pointed was a public notice made of pure white paper.

The letters were so large that I could read the content clearly even from this distance.

[Those who wish to become as skilled as master craftsmen, come to Dijon Castle. As long as you are a healthy adult, gender doesn’t matter. I will give you money and skills.]

……….

“…Too many people showed up.”

“That’s only natural, Your Grace. You didn’t specify exactly who you were looking for, and you posted a notice that would appeal to everyone.”

Leclerc, standing beside me, responds incredulously to my dismay at the enormous crowd.

I understand, but I couldn’t make the conditions too strict either.

People who meet strict conditions are likely already satisfied with their lives and wouldn’t even glance at such notices.

“Well, can’t be helped. Get ready.”

“Yes, Your Highness. EVERYONE, QUIET!!!”

The soldier who received my order gives a quick salute, then turns around and shouts loudly toward the crowd.

The murmuring people look around wondering what’s happening, then gradually fall silent as they see me climbing onto the platform.

“Ahem, greetings everyone. I am Claude of Burgon.”

Countless eyes turn to me as I stand on the platform.

It’s always a terrifying scene, but thankfully I’ve gotten somewhat used to it.

“The reason I called you all here today is simple: I need people to work in a factory.”

It’s a factory, but not the kind that spews acrid smoke.

What I’m referring to is a manufacturing workshop—a manufactory.

Workers continuously make only one part, and later all those parts are assembled to create products.

“A factory is similar to a workshop but different. A workshop aims to create items of perfect quality one by one, but a factory focuses on producing as many items of adequate quality as possible.”

The concept of a factory doesn’t seem familiar in this world yet.

Most people tilt their heads in confusion, not understanding what a factory is. Only after I explain in more detail do a few people begin to nod.

“Let me explain using pottery making as an example. You there.”

“Y-yes!?”

“You worked in a pottery workshop, correct?”

“Y-yes, I did…”

The man I suddenly pointed to flinches greatly, then answers while trembling.

Those who worked in workshops were told to come forward for something good, but he never expected the Duke himself would address him.

“When you worked in the workshop making pottery, what did you do?”

“W-well… I… I would d-dig up red clay… mix it with water to make mud… dry it in the sun… fire it slightly… and then—”

“That’s enough, that will do.”

He’s trembling too much and seems terribly frightened.

Hmm… I feel a bit sorry for him, so I should stop here.

“Not just in pottery, but in most workshops, the craftsman does all these processes alone. Of course, they might have others gather materials like clay.”

The expressions of the people listening to me can be summarized as “So what?”

In a world where cottage industry is predominant, it’s natural for craftsmen to be involved in the entire process of making something, so nothing seems unusual to them.

“In the factory I’m creating, it won’t be like that. If we were to establish a pottery factory, every step—digging quality clay, making mud, drying it in the sun, firing it slightly, shaping the pottery, and finally kiln-firing it to complete the piece—all these processes would be divided. That means the person who digs clay will only dig clay, the person who shapes the pottery will only shape pottery, and the person who fires the pottery will only do the firing.”

“Hmm…”

The response is not encouraging.

After promising to make them as skilled as master craftsmen, it must seem strange to only repeat one task, and division of labor doesn’t appear particularly appealing due to people’s instinctive dislike of unfamiliar things.

I can almost hear the unspoken question: “Why complicate things by doing tasks separately when a craftsman can do everything from start to finish?”

“Those who don’t wish to participate may leave now.”

As I finish speaking, people who came hoping to become craftsmen glance around hesitantly before turning to leave.

There’s no point in keeping such people; they wouldn’t work properly anyway, so it’s better to let them go.

As people leave from the densely packed crowd, it starts to look like a balding scalp.

“…Good, quite a few remain. I welcome you all.”

Most of those who stayed appear to have very unstable livelihoods.

This isn’t bad either. Unstable livelihoods mean they’ll depend more on a factory that pays them.

I’ll make sure you don’t regret staying.