Ch.38Manufacture (2)

“Greetings to you all. Before we get into the details, I’d like to express my gratitude to all of you for coming here.”

Before gathering workers for the factory, I had also summoned master craftsmen from various fields that would be part of my manufacturing operation.

Potters, furniture makers, tailors, carriage makers, carpet weavers, glassblowers, brewmasters, and various other artisans stood before me looking puzzled as I greeted them warmly.

“…It is an honor to be in your presence, Duke Burgon.”

“Oh no, please don’t. I didn’t summon you all here to receive such formal greetings.”

I hastily stopped several craftsmen who were attempting to greet me with proper etiquette, their faces filled with apprehension.

Craftsmen typically take immense pride in their work, which means they’re highly likely to harbor negative feelings toward manufactories that mass-produce items of merely adequate quality.

However, to establish a manufactory, cooperation from master craftsmen in relevant fields is essential, so I need to accommodate them and keep them in good spirits. It would be problematic if such a tense atmosphere developed from the start.

Even though I may know more than the average person, I’m no match for these artisans who have dedicated their entire lives to mastering a single craft.

“Ahem, the reason I’ve gathered you all here is for a business venture.”

“A business… venture, you say?”

“Yes, a business that produces many products at once.”

My answer caused confusion to cloud the craftsmen’s eyes.

That’s only natural. From the perspective of artisans who pour considerable time into creating a single product, making many items simultaneously implies inferior quality. It’s an absurd notion to a craftsman.

“I’d like you to lend your expertise to this venture. As for compensation, I can offer money if that’s what you desire, or something else if you prefer.”

“That…”

“Go ahead, speak.”

“Could you elaborate on this business? For example, what exactly it entails, how it would operate…”

“Ah, of course.”

Several craftsmen raised their hands with determined expressions and asked reasonable questions.

Of course they’d be reluctant if I asked for their cooperation without explaining the manufactory system in detail. I should have started with that.

“The business I’m envisioning is called a manufactory, where each worker is responsible for only one part of the production process. This dramatically increases production speed, allowing us to mass-produce goods. Naturally, it’s easier to master one aspect of production rather than becoming proficient in every step.”

“Hmm… I see.”

After those words, silence fell over the room. Both the frightened craftsmen and the confused ones simply held their breath, shifting their eyes around cautiously.

As expected, they don’t seem too pleased.

All the craftsmen here were trained through the apprenticeship system, and they themselves train the next generation the same way. For an apprentice to develop into a proper artisan who creates quality goods requires countless hours and immense effort. From their perspective, what I’m proposing probably seems like a shortcut that produces fools who only know one thing.

Honestly, they’re not wrong. If creating an item requires ten steps, I’m suggesting assigning one person to each step, having them do only that one task.

It takes ten people to properly create an item, which from a craftsman’s perspective means it takes ten fools to do the work of one proper artisan.

“…Sigh.”

Just then, an elderly craftsman with a somewhat cantankerous demeanor looked around, sighed, and stepped forward.

“What is it?”

“Your Grace, I’ve spent my entire life as a brewer. May I ask you one question?”

“Of course. Not just one—ask as many as you’d like.”

At my response, the brewer cleared his throat a few times before continuing.

“Not just myself, but all craftsmen value their trade secrets above all else.”

“Trade secrets?”

“Yes, indeed. These are crucial elements that differentiate us from others in similar trades. That’s why craftsmen are extremely careful when taking on new apprentices. If the apprentice turns out to be a spy or a fool who carelessly reveals secrets, centuries of tradition could end up common knowledge on the streets.”

When the craftsman used the harsh word “fool” in my presence, the knights and soldiers stirred slightly, but they quieted down after I signaled them.

“If we participate in this manufactory system, wouldn’t the secrets we’ve preserved for creating quality goods be released to the world? If so, no amount of money would make it worth participating. Setting aside the issue of creating many workers who only know one task, we cannot betray our predecessors who have maintained these traditions for hundreds of years.”

“…I see.”

When confronted like this, I find myself at a loss for words.

Certainly, from the craftsmen’s perspective, this could be seen as an act of betrayal—selling out centuries of tradition.

…I should say something rather than just standing here.

“First of all, there’s no risk of technology leakage. As I mentioned earlier, the manufactory system focuses on training people who specialize in just one area. This means workers know nothing about areas outside their specific task.”

“…Indeed, that makes sense.”

As I finished speaking, the craftsmen began nodding slightly.

Being well aware of how many processes go into creating even seemingly simple items, they quickly realized that someone who knows only one aspect poses little risk of leaking trade secrets.

In fact, this is why manufactories historically experienced few instances of secret leakage. Kidnapping or bribing a single worker would be of little value since they only know their specific task.

“But we’d still be sharing our techniques, wouldn’t we?”

“Hmm… I’m approaching you because I need your expertise, so that’s unavoidable. However, I think what you consider ‘technique’ and what I’m asking for are somewhat different.”

“What do you mean by that?”

The craftsmen’s expressions gradually softened as I continued explaining.

Until just moments ago, their faces said “What nonsense is this?” but now they seemed to be saying “Let’s hear him out.” Good, just a little more persuasion should do it.

“The most important thing is that I’m not asking for any special secrets. You said it yourself earlier—trade secrets are what differentiate you from others in similar trades.”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

“Doesn’t that mean craftsmen in similar trades follow similar processes to create items, but then add their own inspiration or special methods to create unique works?”

“Hmm… that’s true.”

So craftsmen follow many similar processes when creating their works.

That’s only natural. For example, even if you brew beer in a unique way using special fermentation barrels or temperature control, you’re still using malt, hops, and water for fermentation.

“The workers in the factory don’t need to know your unique traditions. Our goal is simply to produce many items of adequate quality. Just advise on the aspects that all craftsmen already know.”

“Only the aspects everyone knows… you say.”

The craftsmen’s expressions softened considerably.

I was slightly worried that my words might be interpreted as “Aren’t all your techniques basically the same anyway?” but they didn’t seem to mind since they all knew it was true.

“I want to make products of reasonable quality available to everyone at affordable prices. I’m not trying to eliminate your livelihoods by mass-producing high-quality items. I’m targeting those who struggle to afford goods, while you target the upper and upper-middle classes. Moreover, if factory-made goods become widespread, people will likely seek out your items even more.”

“Why would that be?”

“It’s human nature to want unique items made specifically for oneself rather than using the same things everyone else has.”

The craftsmen nodded in agreement. They understood this well, as they themselves didn’t want to create the same products as others.

Good, they’re coming around.

“Will you all cooperate? I ask this of you.”

“Well… I suppose sharing what everyone already knows would be acceptable.”

“I’m fine with it as well.”

“If it helps those too poor to afford goods, then that’s a good cause.”

After my persistent persuasion, the craftsmen finally agreed to supervise the factory’s work processes. A few still tilted their heads skeptically, but they reluctantly agreed when I, a duke, humbled myself to make this request.

‘You may be cursed by future generations of apprentices… but isn’t your current life what matters? I’ll pay you handsomely.’

Over time, manufactories accumulated expertise and developed to mass-produce quality goods, which, combined with the Industrial Revolution, led to the decimation of craftsmen.

Only then, feeling their livelihoods threatened, did craftsmen try everything from the Luddite movement to various other means to eliminate factories, but by then the times had already changed significantly.

The craftsmen accepting my proposal now might bear the resentment of future generations of artisans, but they’ll all be dead by then anyway, so it hardly matters.