Chapter 318 Worry
Chapter 318: Worry
The launch was still in full swing.
Unlike the warm atmosphere in the square, it was very quiet in the lord’s office inside the castle. Holding a cup of coffee, Paul stood motionless in front of the window facing the direction of the square, watching the various scenes of the launch with satisfaction.
A gentle voice sounded behind him, ”Why don’t you personally go to the venue to take a look? All the things displayed inside are your creations, aren’t they?”
What Lardy Sertia called “your ideas” made Paul sweat for a moment, and he turned around and whispered, “Uh …… I don’t think so.”
Paul wasn’t used to crowded places, and would feel uncomfortable going over there. Yes, especially since the crowd knew that the display was from his design, and a bunch of strangers would surely focus their eyes on him and rush over to ask questions. Oh, my God! That’s a scary thought.
As a lord and commander of the army, Paul had to appear in public many times, such as the public trial of pirates, such as after the war victory commendation meeting. But when it was unnecessary, he avoided it when he could.
Ms. Counselor can see what is in Paul’s mind, can not help but a little helpless, what is called, the Count himself said. Oh yes, is called “social phobia”.
She changed the topic, “Actually, I have a question in mind that I would like to ask you.”
Paul wondered, “What question?”
Lardy walked over to a table in a corner of the chamber and picked up a drawing, “According to Supervisor Burns, what’s on here has actually been realized, hasn’t it?”
The drawing in the female advisor’s hand had the design of some sort of machine drawn on it, and it was obvious to see that it was also a spinning machine, and unlike the Jenny Spinning Machine that was being demonstrated at the launch, it was driven by force.
The Arkwright Spinning Machine, another major invention on the eve of the Industrial Revolution, was faster than the Jenny Spinning Machine and used no human labor.
Paul nodded to Lardy to confirm, “Yes, the prototype has been built and the experiments are going well.”
The female counselor voiced the question in her mind, “Then why don’t you introduce this more efficient machine?”
“Well, that’s a good question.” Paul said, “That’s what I thought at first, if there’s something better, why can’t we do it in one step?”
“But the Salt People’s Riots a few months ago reminded me that rushing to roll out new technology can have unintended consequences.”
“Salt people riots?” With a brief thought, Lardy realized what Paul was worried about.
“Are you worried that the highly efficient spinning machines will affect the income of those who earn their living with traditional spinning skills?”
The female consultant knew that it was under Paul’s new technical support that salt merchants invested in the construction of a large number of salt tanning farms, and the price of salt on the market had come down, but it had also cut off the livelihood of those who had made a living by cooking salt for generations.
“You are right, I am worried about this very thing.” Paul replied, “With the cost of the Arkley …… uh, with the cost of the water-powered spinning machine, I estimate that only a very small number of workshop owners or wealthy family workshops will be able to afford to buy it, and after they buy the new machine, they will quickly eliminate those who are still using hand spinning wagons, and will have to smash a large number of people’s rice bowls again, and even …… cause another riot. I’d hate to have the weapons of Arda’s soldiers stained with the blood of their folks again.”
“Therefore, I will first launch the relatively inexpensive Jenny Spinning Machine, so that as many people as possible can afford to buy it. Strive to reduce some of the social tragedies.”
Paul’s concern was not unreasonable; similar cases had happened many times in British history.
The appearance of the Jenny spinning machine caused panic among the large number of hand spinners at the time, and they stormed into the home of the inventor, Hargreaves, and destroyed his machine.
Arkwright’s creation of the water-powered spinning machine also caused panic among the locals, so his factory was smashed to pieces.
Weaver John Kaye invented the flying shuttle which was adopted by many factories, then fled to France amidst the scorn of the weavers, and eventually died in poverty. Later made more advanced spinning machine mule machine Clompton, the same did not have a good end.
But were the workers who destroyed the machines wrong? The right to live is the most basic human right.
The industrial revolution is also a revolution, but all the word “revolution” is not a warm and fuzzy thing. Although the results of the revolution benefited the majority of the people, its process was cold and cruel and irresistible, and no matter whether it was the good-hearted or the vicious, as long as they could not keep up with the times, they would be mercilessly swallowed up by the revolution.
Paul shivered as he recalled the tragedies described in the book. When he had been a spectator of history, he had merely sighed at these things, but when he had incarnated himself as the main driver who had made this process possible, it was as if he felt a thousand burdens weighing on his shoulders.
He shook his head, “No, even with the Jenny Spinner, there needs to be a buffer. Lardy, I’d like to change my plans.”
The female counselor’s beautiful eyes looked to Paul, “What do you wish, Lord Earl?”
“Hold off on the sale of the Jenny Spinning Machine. The reason, let’s just say that some technical defects have been discovered temporarily, which will seriously affect the service life of the machine. But the flying shuttle loom will still be promoted to the public according to the original plan.”
“What’s the point of doing that?”
“I’ve had people do a survey, most of the spinners here are retailers, while weaving is relatively concentrated in some large workshops, and those workshops have the ability to purchase the flying shuttle loom for technological upgrades. Flying shuttle weaving speed is very fast, but the production of yarn can not be raised, will certainly lead to the demand exceeds supply, will inevitably make the price of yarn rise, which can also let those spinning households a small fortune. After a few years, when they have a certain amount of savings, we will launch the spinning machine, and then they will have the strength to buy it. As for whether they want to, it’s up to them, that’s all I can do.”
The female counselor didn’t would have to speak, she stared at Paul as if she was pondering the scenario.
Paul rubbed his chin in embarrassment, “I don’t know much about economics, and I don’t know if the above reasoning is correct or not, so I just thought to take it slow and steady.”
He had no external competitive pressures, and it was always good to allow more room for error.
“Some may criticize me for being indecisive, but I don’t care, those criticisms are nothing compared to avoiding a possible tragedy.”
Listening to Paul’s words, Lardy suddenly guffawed, and Paul was actually a little surprised due to her normally unsmiling demeanor.
Well, it’s nice to smile …… No, it’s even better.
The female counselor bowed slightly before looking back at Paul, her eyes shining brightly.
“Lord Graiman, I support you in this decision.”
The expression and look in the counselor lady’s eyes made Paul blush a little, and he lowered his voice in an uneasy voice and said, “Laddie, from now on, in private, you can call me by my first name, just like …… just like …… just like among friends. ”
Lardy: “Yes, Lord Gladman.”
Paul: “……”
……
Just as Paul and Lardy were talking, the launch in the square moved to the next stage, this time it was a demonstration of agricultural machinery, threshing machines, guillotine cutters, root cutters, and mills that had the eyes of manor owners all over the place wide open, these landowners were loudly admiring, talking, and asking questions, bringing the launch to a new climax.
(End of chapter)