Chapter 82： fist industry two

Could it be that Earl Greyman wants to share the technology of making paper and porcelain with everyone?

This thought popped into the minds of many people present.

But... is it possible?

Think about it in another way, if you have the only technology in the world, the things you produce can bring you huge profits, and as a feudal noble, you have enough power in your hands to scare off those who secretly attack the little ones. thoughtful person.

Will I foolishly take it out and share it with others?

"Earl Greyman probably just wants us to sell those things further afield for him, right? Although the production is small now, there will definitely be more and more in the future."

"Perhaps, what the Earl meant was to give local merchants a lower ex-factory price, so as to support commercial activities in his territory."

"Well... that's not bad. You should be able to make a lot of money from the difference between the buying and selling prices."

Bennett and other merchants who have not been in contact with the business of paper and porcelain think so.

Then they heard the following sentence:

"Some of you guessed it right. I will take out certain technologies and crafts and authorize them for your use at the right time, and use everyone's strength to expand the output in the territory."

As soon as the lord said this, the people below were in an uproar.

Everyone couldn't care less about being cautious, they whispered and talked in twos and threes, and the meeting hall began to be noisy.

…

Paul took advantage of the discussion among the audience below and drank a sip of water to moisten his throat.

Technology diffusion and business support are things he has been thinking about for a long time. Although the invention and sales of papermaking, porcelain, and harvesting machines have doubled the fiscal revenue of the Lord's Mansion, the corresponding expenses have also doubled.

The daily consumption of the army, the manufacture and maintenance of weapons, the salaries of officials at all levels and various workers, and the construction of water conservancy in vast rural areas all require massive expenses. The development of follow-up plans.

He had thought about raising the prices of the things he sold, but those things were not necessities of life. If they were too expensive, everyone would just stop buying them and live their lives as they wanted in the future.

For example, porcelain, if you can’t afford it, there are pottery, everyone can still drink water and eat, hasn’t it been like this for thousands of years.

There is also something like paper with small profits but quick turnover. There is no need to keep it in your hands. Others can imitate it after a lot of thinking.

After some consideration, he took aim at the power of the people and decided to support a group of powerful "private enterprises" in Arda and Berding, and then the Lord's Mansion could collect more taxes.

However, some industries still need to be restricted, such as machinery manufacturing such as harvesters, and steelmaking and ironmaking in the future, such "heavy industries", in order to prevent technology leakage, allow more powerful potential opponents to pick peaches. At the current stage, it still needs to be firmly placed under the direct control of the Lord's Mansion.

For example, the harvester, not to mention the release of manufacturing, even the purchase is restricted, and now only customers in Arda and Bairdin are allowed to buy it, unless the market in these two places is saturated or the agricultural upgrade has been completed. Foreign customers are allowed to purchase.

Of course, if there are capable people from other places to get a few sets and imitate them by some means, then I have no good way, anyway, I can stop it a little bit.

Some things, you have to wait until you have established an absolute advantage before letting go.

But such "light industries" as papermaking, porcelain firing, and the planned salt making, food processing, and textiles don't need to be too cautious. They can be opened up to the private sector now to increase tax revenue on the territory.

The scope of the spread still needs to be controlled, and it can only be in Arda and Bairdin, otherwise, wouldn't it be cheaper for other lords.

After deliberation by the Government Council, the Lord's Mansion will control the above-mentioned industries through technology authorization.

Authorized private factories or workshops will be sent by the Lord's Palace to send skilled craftsmen to guide production and train apprentices, but they must also be supervised by confidential personnel stationed by the Lord's Palace to prevent the production process and technology from being stolen.

As the number of workers mastering new technologies and techniques increases, it becomes more and more difficult and inhumane to centralize them for closed management as before.

Therefore, the Government Administration Council is studying new management methods. The existing ideas are as follows:

It is strictly forbidden for skilled workers to immigrate to other places, and offenders will be fined or jailed;

Improve the treatment of workers, formulate minimum wages for workers, whether it is government-run or private-run must abide by, and keep talents in the local area;

The Bureau of Secrecy has classified sensitive technologies as confidential matters, and strictly prohibits them from leaking out. Workers or operators who have mastered these technologies are classified as confidential personnel, and their control is strengthened.

Paul hopes that through the above measures, the emergence of characters like "Samuel Slater" can be delayed.

In addition to complying with the obligation of confidentiality, private operators also have to pay a technology usage fee to the Lord's Mansion every year. Such a good thing cannot be given for nothing.

Of course, if they develop new technologies and processes by themselves, they don't need to pay this fee.

Paul hoped that there would be a wave of inventions and creations in his own territory. For this reason, he also used the patent system of his previous life as a template to urge the Government Affairs Council to formulate a "Patent Act" to protect the interests of inventors. It is believed that it will be perfected and promulgated soon.

Although the patent system in the previous life had various drawbacks and was criticized a lot, for example, it weakened the role of market regulation to a certain extent, UU Kanshu restricted competition, hindered technological progress and invention The widespread use of invention may even lead to the emergence of some patent speculators.

However, the overall advantages of the patent system outweigh the disadvantages. It uses legal and economic means to encourage people to invent and create, so as to promote scientific and technological progress and economic development. This is also an important factor that promoted the British Industrial Revolution.

…

After everyone discussed for a while, Paul outlined the content of technology authorization, including the obligations to be observed by the authorized party and the confidentiality regulations for sensitive technologies.

Everyone has no objection to this.

On the one hand, being able to obtain the exclusive technology of the Lord's Mansion is already a good thing, if there is no corresponding payment, they will suspect that it is a trap.

On the other hand, no one wants too many competitors to appear, and the lord asked to prevent the outflow of technology, and everyone is naturally happy to hear it.

"Do you have any comments to make?"

He had been talking all the time just now, and now Paul wanted to hear the opinions of the audience.

After a while of silence, someone finally raised his hand boldly.

Paul held out his hand to the man as a gesture of invitation.

"Master Graham..."

It was Bennett who raised his hand. He was a little nervous. After all, it was the first time he had a one-on-one conversation with the ruler of this land.

But he still mustered up the courage to continue: "If we invest in the industry you want to open up, we need to buy venues, purchase equipment, and hire workers. These are not small expenses, so can you..."

He paused, and finished the following words in a low voice: "...Can you reduce some taxes in the early stage?"

As soon as this remark came out, there was silence in the lobby.