When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 783 - 736: The Foundation of Spring Industrialization

Under the escort of the Military Police Knights, three carriages slowly set off from outside the exchange, heading towards Uffizi Palace.

As noon approached, the sun bathed both sides of the canal, people wearing hooded short capes and robe shirts came and went.

A few black swallows perched on the eaves of springtime houses.

Next to the nests they built, a brick with scorch marks was visible.

In memory of the Battle of Rapids City and those who perished, new buildings in the city often used bricks with black smoke stains.

"Catherine?" Horn suddenly spoke inside the carriage.

"Hmm?"

"Are you interested in getting off and taking a walk with me?" Horn glanced at the street scene outside, "Let's get off at the next intersection; we can walk along the canal for ten minutes and reach Uffizi Palace."

"Why?" Catherine coughed as if something had crossed her mind, "Why suddenly get off?"

"I just want us to go for a walk alone."

Catherine looked down at her knee-high boots: "What about the senior partners?"

Horn was indifferent: "Let them wait a bit; it won't take long."

"Since you insist, alright then."

Quickly, the carriage stopped at the street corner, and under the protection of numerous guards and Cheka's security, Horn and Catherine stepped onto the willow-lined pedestrian path by the canal.

Catherine wore a veiled hat that covered her face, and white lace gloves as she linked arms with Horn.

Stepping on the stone slabs by the riverside, the two looked like a newlywed couple strolling along the canal.

The two were silent for a while until Catherine broke the silence: "Melson, what do you plan to do?"

"I've remembered his name."

In this vote, Horn didn't give Melson, his main force, the proper reward. Instead, he handed Duterte's main assets to Ge Angqi.

The reason was simple: most of Duterte's assets were in the banking and real estate sectors, and as a shipping tycoon, Melson had neither the experience nor the interest.

Horn had a different use for Melson's talents.

"Melson's character is straightforward; he tends to be rough with trivial matters, but he is determined and suitable for positions that value stance over ability." For this old friend, Catherine naturally spoke well of him.

"Hm, I've noted that."

The two walked a few more steps along the noisy river path before Catherine said softly, "How many more years does my Meigedi Commerce Association have?"

After all, the Meigedi Commerce Association was Catherine's long-held labor, and it was hard to avoid feeling displeased about it being dismantled by Horn.

"The Meigedi Commerce Association might collapse, but I absolutely won't allow it to deteriorate," Horn said to Catherine with a hint of apology, "The Meigedi Commerce Association can exist, but many of its commercial territories must be divided."

This was inevitable; industries like dyes, potions, leather, and textiles could be handed to others.

But industries like transportation, banking, and peat had to be controlled by the Holy Alliance, monopolized by the Holy Alliance Government.

Profits from all monopolized industries were set to be 30% handed over, 30% for operational reserves, 20% to the management (shareholders, shipowners, managers), and 20% as dividends to workers.

"It's good enough to keep the name Meigedi," Catherine shrugged, "Originally, my role as the head of the Meigedi Commerce Association and the president of Saintess Bank drew criticism from many.

Now that you've dismantled the Meigedi Commerce Association, I won't have issues in this regard... Can I ask how you plan to dismantle it?"

"It's quite simple, starting with integrating key sectors like transportation and banking commerce associations, either merging or abolishing them.

The integrated associations will transform into the Saintly Monastery, with licenses granted to monopolize key sectors through the Ry Court Barracks.

As for those small workshop masters and scattered small craftsmen among the townships, they will form a common labor industrial monastery."

To be precise, Horn's arrangement was to establish the industrial monastery in Priest Town, gathering previously scattered small craftsmen together.

By enhancing efficiency and productivity through mutual assistance and advanced machinery, profits and economic growth could be achieved.

This was to prepare for future production expansion and consumption promotion.

Next year would be 1449.

In Horn's plan, the first four years were just laying the foundation. Starting from 1449, it truly entered the ignition era of industrialization.

The southern raw material source from Black Snake Bay was already in place.

The large market of Falan Kingdom was established.

The transportation revolution resulting from the canal network and the four-year infrastructure investment of 200,000 pounds was accomplished.

The technological innovations brought by the mountain copper engine and the alchemical revolution were evident.

The Hundred Households District transformation and the four-field agricultural revolution brought food surplus and excess labor.

The financing methods brought by stocks, bonds, and exchanges were organized.

The burgeoning of consumption culture originated from the rapid increase in commodity numbers and the ideological revolution of the Holy Path was sprouting.

The vast changes in the publishing industry brought by the printing press and ink, and the educational system reforms and knowledge dissemination innovations from public schools and apprenticeships were prepared.

Along with the new army safeguarding these achievements, Horn managed to piece together the industrialization chain and most basic conditions.

The cost was significant bloodshed, countless complex tasks, walking the tightrope of political situations like embroidering on wire, and the internal divisive risks within the Thousand River Valley.

Of course, it also came at the expense of most of Horn's personal life.

Every single day was filled with high-intensity work and tightly packed schedules, not to mention the time spent battling outside.

Jeanne was training new soldiers and overseeing military operations, Catherine was running around Rapids City, Hilov was conducting research in the Ry Court Barracks, and Moliat was overseeing the overall situation in Xia Lvcheng.

Everyone was busy, and it was hard to find time.

The people Horn interacted with most throughout the year were actually Armand, Petier, René, Qianqian, and their group.

But regardless, the previous efforts finally paid off.

Currently, Horn faced only three major problems: the technical breakthrough of the Flash Furnace (steel), the Empire's skepticism towards Holy Alliance investments (capital), and the destruction of achievements by Leia Kingdom's invasion (politics).

Once these three issues were resolved, the positive feedback loop of Spring Industry's industrialization would appear —

Technical breakthroughs enhance productivity, profits are reinvested to expand production, infrastructure is built to lower transaction costs, and finally, market scale enlargement further stimulates technological innovation.

Among these three issues, the first couldn't be rushed, being manageable with existing technology, while the latter two could be resolved by defeating Leia Kingdom.

"It's just Moliat... alas." Horn pondered this issue with a headache, "I really don't know if her decision is right or wrong."

Catherine also smiled wryly: "Moliat has a stubborn personality, a decision she makes can't be swayed by nine oxen."

The good thing is she never wavers, you can absolutely trust her when headed in the same direction.

But the bad thing is, once she's in a stubborn rut, she won't give up until she's dead."

Horn remained silent until Uffizi Palace was in sight before speaking again: "By the end of this month, I'll set off to North Mande County to meet her in person once more."

"You won't be able to persuade her."

"At least I want her to be less extreme, not to deploy too much military force."

Time marched forward, and it quickly approached May.

Horn, according to the schedule, toured Joan of Arc Castle, Long Embankment City, and Ry Court Barracks.

He was just about to head north along the newly built Tai Bo River to South Mande County, to meet Moliat in North Mande County, when he received a piece of new news from North Mande County.

"Her Highness Moliat, in the name of revenge and fighting for the Duke title for her vassal Baron Moragenge, has gathered an army at Ladan Castle and threatened the Duke of Wing Nest City to surrender the Salt Flats Collection!"