Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

When thinking about this problem, we also need to take into account the location of Riga. After all, it is a port.

The grain trade in the Baltic Sea has long been controlled by the Hanseatic League. In essence, a series of land and naval battles between Sweden and Russia in the eastern Baltic Sea revolved around the dominance of the Baltic Sea trade.

The development of Sweden and Russia has a lot to do with their dominance in grain trade.

This is why Prussia has always coveted the territory of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania. In the end, it used Russia's false power and forced Austria to give up.

Although "the cousin also did it", Prussia, the villain, does not seem to have any responsibility because of the huge Russia. It can only be said that it has no Poland.

But after Napoleon entered the scene, it was obvious that overseas trade would also be greatly affected.

In addition to the manor, Pierre's property in Riga also has the resources of the Riga Chamber of Commerce left by his father.

Speaking of which, if it had been anyone else who had acquired the identity of an earl and a huge family property as an illegitimate child, he would have been dead long ago.

But Pierre, who seems fat and homely, is always somewhat motivated and determined to make changes.

Such quality is indeed very valuable.

If compared, those people in the Kuragin family...

"Here, Pierre, if you do export-oriented trade, it depends on which side, France and Britain, has the upper hand. If a peace treaty can be finally concluded this year, you will operate a trade of exporting grain and raw materials to France and Prussia. If the country of Prussia could still exist, the entire country would have been plundered by the French, and There is indeed a need for revival. If you import grain to Prussia at this time and help the King of Prussia stabilize grain prices, although His Majesty King Frederick William is only good here, I can say that he is somewhat incompetent. The Queen is very knowledgeable, and I frequently visited this beautiful and respectable lady in Jelgava.”

Of course, it is impossible to go further. The person he has been having an affair with recently is Maria, and Queen Louise now seems to be very loyal to her marriage and has a good relationship with her husband.

"But they are all living in our country now, and the war with France is continuing."

"I prefer to win. If that's the case, maybe I, the chief of staff of the East Prussian Army, can directly help you. Although we are all in the palace, your position as chamberlain is nominal, but I am The two teachers of His Highness the Grand Duke are still in a real position."

"Of course. When I arrived in Petersburg, I heard at the palace that His Highness Nicholas has made great progress in his studies recently."

Pierre comes from Petersburg to bring Nikolai's latest performance

"This does not live up to my painstaking efforts in arranging homework for him. Having said that, Pierre, if this war ends in failure, or is a kind of peace. In this environment, Russia's biggest loss , probably Napoleon’s continental blockade policy, which will harm the interests of those who rely on trade with Britain.”

"In the Riga Chamber of Commerce, there is indeed this opinion. On one hand, they are leaning towards France, and on the other hand, they are leaning towards Britain."

"Businessmen are always two-faced, but those of us in the fourteenth-level officialdom always have to have our own position. Pierre, if possible, you can consider starting a timber and grain business in the next few years. , This is originally a traditional export business. In addition, it is to build factories, and it is best to form an industrial chain of processing industries in Riga.”

"What is an industrial chain?"

"It's like a river, divided into upstream, midstream and downstream. This kind of industrial chain, raw materials and some basic processing are here. A certain degree of finishing is here. And those places downstream."

However, Solovyov used a river as a metaphor, which is somewhat different from the actual upstream and downstream supply.

But Pierre could also understand it. After all, the years he spent in Paris were not free of charge for attending salons and banquets held by banker's wives.

With his character, it's not like the French would go there.

But Solovyov did it, even though Mrs. Rekamir had moved to Petersburg on her own.

"If that's the case, our exit will always be. Pierre, I think you should answer this time."

"You mean me?"

"Yes, after all, you are asked to invest so that you can make money, not to make you trade at a loss."

As friends, Pierre and Andre may be more close to each other, but in terms of interests, Solovyov, who comes from a family of profiteers, can help him more.

"Well, I can try Misha. Can I say that if we just export raw materials, the profit is actually not very much. But if we are processing semi-finished products or even finished products. I think that's it, Russia will also You really can’t always be a raw material exporter for others.”

"The strange thing is that Britain had a harmonious relationship with us during the Queen's period, but we have no place in the international trade system dominated by the British. For Russia, we have almost all kinds of raw materials, but the British always have These things can be obtained elsewhere. They can even exclude us from this system if they want. Essentially, we still need to have good relations with the German princes. This is also the trade chain we need."

Such a seemingly plausible explanation to Pierre may lead to some deviations in understanding, but Pierre is a good listener and even an obedient executor.

He also respects his friend's opinions. He keeps nodding as Soloviev continues to speak.

"It's just that the war with France always makes people see no hope. In other words, if the French are willing, what they are doing in Italy and Germany can also be extended to other places."

"In order to compete, Napoleon not only wants to weaken the British and carry out a continental blockade. He also wants to take this opportunity to weaken those competitors in Europe. Although this is a big loss for himself, killing one thousand enemies and losing eight hundred of his own, and even in the short term, it is not worth the loss, and it will also condone smuggling trade, but it can also achieve his goal. If Napoleon's ambition is not too inflated, we can even help him."

When Soloviev said this, he did not consider that Napoleon was his uncle and the child's second uncle. It was just a conversation between Pierre's friend, a Russian general and a top Russian tycoon.

Of course, Solovyov actually wanted to make a small contribution, such as the army was not allowed to do business.

Although there was a bit of double standards in this regard, Solovyov himself tried not to move. He let his father run the business, and he only came up with inventions and ideas, and obtained some franchises.

In Riga, it is closer to the Russian border and more suitable for export-oriented industries.

However, considering Sweden and Denmark at the door, when the relationship with France is good, Denmark can be convenient.

When the relationship with Britain is good, Sweden is also an optional channel.

In short, Russia's diplomacy and trade should be more flexible. What's more, there is an alternative northern route.

Although Solovyov has always claimed to be a Ryazan, his family moved from Arkhangelsk, where his family made their fortune, and there are many relatives in his hometown.

But it is undeniable that there is such a King Gustav in Sweden, and it is hard to say what will happen.

Without Bernadotte's preferential treatment of prisoners, the Swedes should not have changed the royal family, right?

For the sake of Louisa, Sweden may be beaten, but it cannot be beaten to death and let outsiders get away with it.

Therefore, Solovyov still has a lot of considerations.

And the most unstable factor on the Baltic side is probably this guy.

However, so far, due to the face of relatives, Alexander will not do anything to him, even if it makes his wife and sister very embarrassed.

It's just that he wants to die, and no one can stop him at that time.

Gustav of Sweden seems to be born to oppose Russia. If the peace brought by defeat is brought about by this big one, it is inevitable.

As for the future.

"But you think of these, it's just foreign trade, we haven't mentioned factories yet."

"On the one hand, it's food processing, and there are also local stores. It's just this supply method."

First of all, what Solovyov wants to deny the most is to open supermarkets in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

He thinks more of department stores like Qiulin Company.

Although the origin of this company is already as high as possible, its operation is still very instructive.

Locally established factories for local supply are the norm for early department stores.

Russia is so large that from the time of Kievan Rus to a series of principalities such as Novgorod and Moscow, there have been serious supply problems.

The problem is that when Vasily went to get food, he did not get a wagon, and transportation and storage were very difficult.

Moreover, with Russia's always backward productivity, inferior products are often produced in the end.

Therefore, to promote it, farmers need to have certain knowledge so that they can improve the products.

Otherwise, there would not be a self-taught master like Michurin, but his theory, after being carried forward by later generations, has become the "Old Ivan next door" doctrine, which is completely on the wrong path.

Solovyov also knew that he had some talent in military affairs. If he ran a business in peacetime, it would be no problem to pull relationships or operate the business with the thinking of the staff.

However, with the financial resources of their "nouveau riche" family, it is indeed not enough.

The most valuable thing about Pierre is his heart of gold, but what people are most familiar with him as in social occasions is

a rich and kind fat man!

However, this suggestion to Pierre can only be made in Russia, where the economy is relatively developed and the citizens have certain consumption and purchasing power.

Before 1812, don't consider operating too many industries in Moscow.

But the Baltic coast is very suitable.

Especially in these places, the Baltic Germans and locals always have a certain consumption power, which is very different from the situation in the inland of Russia.

If Pierre is willing, he can operate slowly, Riga and St. Petersburg can be a start, and then this system can be promoted to Russia, and even moved abroad.

After all, his asset level is still very resistant to damage in this era when logistics is not yet developed.

Even if a daughter-in-law like Helen cheated him of a large sum of money, it would not shake his position as the richest man in Moscow.

In addition to this consideration, Solovyov also wanted Pierre's assets to be transferred out of Moscow, at least not on the popular route chosen by Napoleon and the mustache.

Wait until everything is over, and then choose to return to Moscow, and in this way, the business model of the department store can be brought to Moscow.

Let's not talk about other places first, St. Petersburg and Moscow, these two places are not short of rich masters, in addition to a large number of citizens.

From the low end to the high end, the chain is still very clear.

"As for the whole plan. Pierre, I will probably help you plan the establishment of a department store after I return from the battlefield. But before that, you still need to try to control the local supply chain. Riga is just the first step."

"Yes, I understand what you mean."

"But I am just telling you this idea. When you really want to put it into practice, you still need reliable people. If you have business problems, Andrei and his family are now in Tongshan, Smolensk. Maybe he can help you manage internal affairs. As for hiring a manager, don't hire someone who cheats the owner but enriches himself. Even Prince Potemkin's family has encountered such people."

He said this, and Pierre knew it in his heart. After all, what he lacks the least here is such people.

At the same time, because of his personal character, he has a lot of friends around him. If you remove those bad friends in the past, there are still some real friends.

Even that Dolokhov is a bit absurd.

And Pierre's assets in Riga and the huge industries left by his father in various parts of Russia are indeed enviable.

Someone will always inherit these properties. This was often discussed in the salon when Count Bezukhov was dying.

Compared with the Kuragin family squandering them, Pierre was willing to do something that would put this huge property on the right track, both for him personally and for future careers.

Of course, Solovyov would not have thought that what he told Pierre was just the beginning of an industrial plan.

What Pierre could do in the future was beyond his imagination.