industrial lord

Chapter 634: Smart People Are Everywhere

"came back?"

"came back."

Psyche pointed to the refrigerator and said, "Get your own drinks."

Frederick opened the refrigerator and found a lot of beverage prototypes that were not yet on the market. He took a bottle of grape-flavored Powdered Drink and started drinking it.

"It tastes good." He was very satisfied with the new drink. "What's the latest news?"

He left in the summer of 1036 and returned in the spring of 1037. A lot of things must have happened during that time that he didn't know about, so he went to Psyche's office as soon as he returned.

Psyche leaned back in her chair, brushed a strand of brown hair by her ear to the back of her head, and stared at him seriously with her light brown eyes. She said, "Starting this year, the Principality of Mainz and the Principality of Bavaria promulgated a policy of self-redemption of serfs. A large number of nobles followed suit, and more than half of the serfs became free citizens after paying the freedom money."

"This means that you are now the boulder rolling down from the top of the mountain. There is no turning back."

Frederick was prepared for this news, but the number was greater than he expected.

"More than half?" He was a little surprised. "Where did those serfs get the money?"

He knew about the living conditions of the serfs. Not only did they have no extra money, some of them didn't even have much firewood, and the whole family would freeze to death in the winter.

This was also taken into consideration when discussing this matter with the Grand Duke of Mainz and the Grand Duke of Bavaria in the south, and it was believed that only a few people would be able to redeem their freedom at the beginning.

Now more than half of the people have this problem. Where do they get the money?

Psyche said seriously: "Of course it's your money."

Frederick was confused and asked, "I have never approved such a sum of money. Has anyone found a bill of exchange?"

The principality and he himself have a budget every year. Although it is not in the country, the overall items basically do not change. If additional money is to be added, he must sign.

Of course, Psyche can also sign on your behalf.

Psyche spread her hands and said, "I didn't approve the money for you."

"Also, don't underestimate the heroes of the world."

Frederick was puzzled and waited for her explanation.

Psyche told him a story that she had recently learned from someone she had sent to conduct research.

There is a privileged group in the Principality of Wessen - veterans.

During these years of wars everywhere, Frederick improved their treatment in all aspects, otherwise no one would be willing to help you fight.

One advantage they have is that their loan amount is higher than others.

These veterans had their own taverns where they gathered, and the redemption of serfs became a hot topic after it began.

Many of them were former Black Forest mercenaries. As soon as they grew up, they followed their fathers and brothers to become mercenaries, and later joined the Wesson Army.

Lütpold is in his twenties. He has traveled to many places with his father's mercenary team since he was a child. Later, his father joined the Wessen Army. He came to Wessenburg to study. After graduation, he also joined the army. Not long after, he participated in the battle to recover Constantine.

During that war, his left leg was severely burned while attacking the position in Galini, and his lower leg had to be amputated. After retiring, he worked as an elevator operator in a luxury hotel. He often boasted that Fatih, the emperor of the Ghazi Empire, had treated him to drinks and had very beautiful maids serve him.

He was discussing the topic of serf redemption with someone the other day, and after a few beers he suddenly said, "I think pulling people out of the Black Forest to fight is about the same as pulling them into factories to work."

The people around just laughed, they really did look alike.

At first, Lütpold also laughed.

After the pub closed, he walked on the street and the cold wind sobered him up.

He didn't sleep well that night. He tossed and turned in bed, his mind full of the words he had just said unintentionally.

As a new day arrived, Lütpold put on his prosthesis, got dressed, combed his short hair, took a deep breath, and went to the hotel where he worked.

A few days later, he showed up at a chicken farm. Spike and Lütpold met by chance outside the football field.

At that time, fans of the two teams were fighting. Lütpold took off his prosthetic leg and used it as a weapon to fight against the crowd alone, which stunned everyone around him, including the police who came to maintain order.

However, this did not stop the police from arresting him and locking him up for a night, as Spike was locked up with him for the same reason.

As soon as Spike finished his work, he came to the reception room to wait for him and asked, "Don't you have to work today? Why do you have time to come here?"

“I resigned yesterday,” Lütpold said.

Spike asked in surprise, "You hit someone with your legs again?"

Lütpold waved his hand and said, "No, I resigned on my own initiative."

Spike nodded and asked, "Did you find some money or are you being kept by some noble lady?"

Rüitpold made a move to tear his legs apart, and Spike pretended to dodge backwards.

"No kidding." Lütpold said, "I found a new business opportunity and decided to make a big one. Can you give me some ideas?"

Spike got serious and waited for his next words.

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Lütpold asked him, "Have you heard about the redemption of the serfs?"

Spike nodded.

Lütpold continued: "I know what those serfs are like. They basically have no money to redeem themselves."

"Didn't you say before that you wanted to open a new chicken farm? But it's hard to find space in the Principality of Wessen, and it's hard to find manpower outside."

Spike understood what he meant and said, "You mean, I pay the serfs to redeem themselves and then make them work for me?"

"But I can't afford that much money. Building facilities requires a lot of money, and I don't have any money to give to their lords."

Lütpold shook his head and said, "I will pay for the redemption of the serfs. At the same time, I will sign a contract with the redeemed serfs. They will work for me and I will pay them wages."

"I will introduce you to the lord to invest in a chicken farm there, but you have to sign an employment contract with me. The wages will be paid directly to me and I will pay the workers."

Spike understood and said, "You are just like the gangsters at the docks. The gangsters asked the porters to work, took the captain's money, and gave it to the porters after keeping a portion."

Lütpold did not respond and continued, "I have a lot to do. It is impossible for those serfs to work in the factory right away, so I have to train them so that you will be willing to use them, right?"

Spike understood exactly what he meant, thought for a moment, and said, "If you can provide qualified workers, I don't mind recruiting from you."

“But you also have the risk that not everyone can become a worker.”

In recent years, many people have come to the Principality of Weshen wanting to work in factories, but for various reasons, some people are unable to become workers and can only do other jobs.

Lütpold nodded. “That’s true. That’s one of the risks.”

"I plan to start from the Black Forest. In recent years, a vocational education school has been built to encourage young people there to work in the Principality of Wessen. My father knows people there."

Spike remembered something and said, "I remember hearing you say there was a military academy over there and your father worked there."

Lütpold nodded. The Black Forest was one of the sources of soldiers for the Wessen Army, but his father was just a dormitory manager, so there was no need to talk about such things.

He continued, "So I plan to send the redeemed serfs there first, so that they can acquire the appropriate skills, and then negotiate with the factory."

After listening to this, Spike thought for a while and said with some concern: "You have to pay the freedom money, support the people first, and help them pay their tuition."

"If you want to gather enough workers, you need a large base, which means higher start-up capital."

Lütpold nodded and said, "Yes, we have to continue to think of a way."

"I want to ask you for a favor. Don't you have a salon for small factory owners? Can you take me there next time?"

(End of this chapter)