King
Chapter 789 - 789 55 Sky Pit_2

789: Chapter 55, Sky Pit_2 789: Chapter 55, Sky Pit_2 Even if a noble was willing to reassign his slaves or sell his serfs occasionally, the prices were sky-high, yielding a pitifully low cost-benefit ratio.

Left with no choice, Hudson turned his focus overseas.

After a joint inquiry was issued by both countries, he deduced that Columbia was in a precarious situation.

Taking advantage of the moment before anyone could react, Hudson sent people to buy serfs early on.

He had originally thought he could get cheap goods due to panic, but the nobles of Columbia had different ideas.

“If the nobles of Columbia don’t wish to trade, we won’t force them.

The Black Forest Kingdom won’t just stand by and do nothing.

There will be a time when they will cry about it.

First, bring these people back and scatter them for settlement.

The continental situation will be unstable in the future, and there will be plenty of such opportunities.”

It was another prescient prophecy, which was no longer surprising to anyone.

In the past, Master Hudson’s judgment on major trends had never been wrong.

“Count, after several attempts, we have preliminarily mastered the salt-making technique.

Currently, we rely mainly on boiling salt.

Due to location constraints, the technique of salt sun-drying can’t yet be widely adopted.

The daily salt production in our territory is now about eight hundred pounds, and we are in the process of increasing production.

The Government Affairs Department plans to raise the daily salt production to eight thousand pounds within the year, thoroughly solving the salt issue in our territory,”

Jacob excitedly reported.

Salt is the largest expenditure in our territory at present.

If this issue is solved, the main goods of the Mountain Domain will be self-sufficient.

In everyone’s view, a daily production of eight hundred pounds of salt was already a considerable number, but for Hudson, neither eight hundred or eight thousand pounds a day could make him bat an eye.

Such low salt production was clearly akin to a small rural workshop.

Any saltworks would use tons as their unit of measurement.

“You’re doing well.

Don’t rush with the sun-drying method.

Our current demand for salt is not too high.

As long as we can meet our own consumption, that’s enough.

Now is not a good time to destabilize the Southeastern Province, so let’s not touch the Dalton Family’s cheese for the time being.

Once the situation becomes clearer, I will decide whether to take action.

How far has the shipyard’s relocation progressed?”

Hudson inquired.

Sun-drying salt required more than just a large, flat area, it also required a natural climate with little rainfall and high evaporation.

Given the high rainfall and low evaporation of the Mountain Domain, the currently popular method of boiling salt was more practical.

“Count, the relocation of the shipyard has just begun.

Currently, we have only completed the selection of the port and shipyard.

We anticipate construction will take about a year.

Once supporting infrastructure construction is completed, the full relocation plan can proceed.

Taking into account the developmental needs of the territory, we plan to transfer some production capacity here first, specifically for the production of canal transport ships and fishing boats, which do not require specialized docks.

The production of large ships will temporarily remain at the original location.

I have spoken with members of the Royal Family, they have agreed to continue lending us land for use for two more years out of respect for you, Count.

Currently, those being resettled are mainly family members, some machinery needing early installation, and shipbuilding materials which require long-term storage.”

Jose’s response pleased Hudson.

There were many challenges in the process of relocating the shipyard, but these had all been addressed, rather than pushed onto Hudson himself.

Of course, this was not to say that other subordinates lacked responsibility.

It was primarily because of their limited experience; many things were beyond their capabilities, leaving them with no choice but to report up.

In reality, the administrative capability of the Mountain Domain’s management had improved significantly compared to before.

Years ago, any large projects in the territory would have required Hudson’s direct supervision, and only once the project was on track could the team beneath him take over.

Regardless of these improvements, there was the continuous need to dig deeper into the specifics.

Cultivating personnel talent required a minimum of ten years, twenty years was seeing them just right, and thirty was when they would truly flourish.

In reality, within the political system of the Continent of Aslante, very few had the privilege of receiving an education, and whether top talents could be nurtured was a matter of luck.

The Koslow Family was considered fortunate, due to its flourishing population, and under Hudson’s influence, family education had flourished in recent years.

However, to take it a step further would be a challenge to the established rule.

Let alone universal education, Hudson had tried several times to recruit the sons of minor nobles, but due to significant resistance, he had to abandon these efforts.

On the one hand, educational resources were too scarce to provide education for many people; on the other hand, there were too few positions in the ruling group, and the vested interest groups opposed outside individuals joining.

Looking at the continent as a whole, it’s currently experiencing a surplus of basic talents with many outward flows.

The increasing number of noble children seeking opportunities elsewhere each year indicated just how intense the struggle within the Noble Consortium was.

Even many members of the major noble families were being forced to leave their clans and seek opportunities elsewhere.

That was the central reason why Hudson’s plan to expand the clan’s school enrollment was unanimously opposed by everyone.

Being in such a situation, Hudson, as the strong head of the family, had to carefully consider the collective will of his clansmen and family servants.