Chapter 240: The Count’s Urging
Faced with the Count’s question, Duane didn’t hide anything and explained the specific situation.
"Currently, Black Forest Island has received the more than three thousand laborers you sent. While that’s a considerable number of people, my first priority has been to solve their living situation. Building roads, houses, and so on has taken up more than half of the workforce."
Kais grunted in acknowledgment. These were all practical problems, and he had naturally anticipated them. However, he was more concerned with the progress of the Mountain Tea Garden’s cultivation.
"Don’t tell me you haven’t made any progress at all yet!"
Kais said sternly, "I’ve already contacted several major buyers and promised them a batch of goods by the end of the year after next. Don’t you dare make me break my word on our very first deal!"
’With Count Kais handling the negotiations, there would certainly be no shortage of clients. But this also meant the pressure to plant was immense,’ Duane thought.
"We’ve currently reclaimed over two hundred mu of new tea gardens, and all of them have been planted with tea saplings via cuttings."
"Based on an average yield of 80 jin of fresh tea leaves per mu, which produces 15 jin of dried tea, we could harvest about 3,750 jin of dried tea. However, in the year the tea plants mature, the year after next, they can only be harvested once, so we’ll have to cut that figure in half."
Count Kais calculated the potential profit.
At a price of 250 Silver Coins per jin of dried tea, 1,900 jin would sell for 4,750 Gold Coins.
According to their established profit-sharing agreement, he would receive 2,470 Gold Coins.
Although the profit seemed substantial, he would have no income for the first two years.
Furthermore, they still had to deduct expenses for transportation, labor, and packaging during the sale period.
All things considered, it was clear they wouldn’t make much money from the first few batches of tea.
"It’s too little, Duane, far too little!"
Count Kais frowned deeply. "Stop focusing so much on the laborers’ living conditions. As long as you don’t let them starve and give them a place to sleep out of the wind and rain, that’s enough!"
"And don’t worry, even if they’re worked to death, I won’t hold you responsible or make you pay any compensation. Your job this year is to expand the tea gardens to at least two thousand mu!"
"If you don’t expand to two thousand mu this year, we won’t be able to produce enough tea for those merchants by the end of the year after next!"
Duane mentally calculated the timeline.
Hot Spring Mountain Tea could be harvested twice a year: the spring tea from late March to early May, and the autumn tea from late September to early November.
’This meant that to harvest the first batch by the end of the year after next, he had to complete the goal of expanding to two thousand mu of tea gardens by the end of October at the latest.’
’He had four months left.’
’Based on the current rate of 500 people clearing 450 mu per month, four months would be tight.’
"I will write a letter to my General Affairs Consultant shortly and have him increase the manpower investment to ensure the expansion reaches two thousand mu before the end of October this year!"
Count Kais added, "I’ll have Baron Jick hurry up and send the rest of the laborers to you. Also, regarding the three thousand Slaves promised from the last negotiation, I will demand them from the other nobles and try to have them all delivered to you in the second half of the year."
Duane was a little confused. "Weren’t you providing the three thousand Slaves yourself?"
"The Hughes Clan, the Smith Clan, and the Hassa Clan all got a share of the benefits from the Secret Realm, yet they’re not willing to contribute a single thing for you. They expect me to foot the whole bill? How is that possible!"
He shook his head as he spoke. "You don’t need to worry about this. I’ll go discuss it with them."
Clearly, Count Kais was unwilling to suffer this silent loss.
Since the Count had said as much, Duane didn’t ask any more questions about the Slaves.
Based on their past few interactions, Count Kais’s credibility was solid.
"Then thank you so much!"
He stood and bowed in gratitude. After sitting back down, the topic returned to the tea gardens.
"However, Count, such a high rate of reclamation can’t be maintained indefinitely."
"Why not?"
Duane explained, "After the tea gardens are cleared and planted, daily maintenance requires 100 people per thousand mu. When it comes to the harvesting and processing stages, I estimate we’ll need 1,000 people working simultaneously for every thousand mu."
"So you’re saying that the six thousand people I’m providing can support the operation of a six-thousand-mu tea garden?"
Duane shook his head. "That’s the ideal scenario. In reality, cultivating and processing Hot Spring Mountain Tea are new industries. In the early stages, we won’t have many skilled workers, so the labor investment will likely have to be even higher."
"Moreover, the tools and facilities for tea processing haven’t been built yet, which also requires a large number of hands."
"If we just blindly expand, it would be a terrible waste if the harvested tea leaves ended up rotting because we couldn’t process them."
Count Kais stroked his chin, his brow furrowed. "Then according to your estimate, how many mu of tea gardens can we actually develop?"
Duane held up three fingers. "Three thousand mu."
Kais fell silent.
Three thousand mu. Under ideal conditions, that would be an annual yield of 45,000 jin of dried tea, with a gross profit of 78,000 Gold Coins.
Even with a net profit margin of 70%, Count Kais could still earn an income of 40,000 Gold Coins.
Compared to grains, winemaking, and wool textiles, planting and selling tea was absurdly profitable!
"Then how many mu of tea gardens do you estimate Black Forest Island can support in total?"
Duane replied, "The Hot Spring Mountain Range is vast. In theory, over ten thousand mu shouldn’t be a problem. Of course, that’s assuming we have enough manpower and can train experienced ground-level personnel."
Count Kais gave Duane a long, hard look.
He felt that the young Baron before him had already planned everything out for the future.
"Your thinking is very clear. Let’s follow your plan for now. Ensure the expansion reaches two thousand mu this year, then slow the pace next year to ensure we have three thousand mu of tea gardens by year’s end."
"No problem!"
Duane breathed a sigh of relief. ’Thankfully, the Count didn’t press for details and didn’t know he had diverted some of the workers to the construction of Dawn Town.’
’Still, he had to ask for what he needed.’
"Count, about the food supply for all these people..."
Duane’s tone was hesitant, as if he was embarrassed to bring it up.
"Over six thousand laborers... their annual food consumption will be at least a thousand Gold Coins. If that all falls on me, I won’t be able to bear it."
Kais shot Duane a look. "You greedy little brat! Anyone with eyes can see it would be difficult to get these people I sent you back. Since they’re now your subjects, aren’t you going to solve their food problem?"
Hearing this, Duane felt a wave of awkwardness. ’So he saw through it after all,’ he thought.
’But seeing that the Count had no intention of pursuing the matter, it was clear he had tacitly accepted the transfer of these six thousand people.’
He could only laugh it off. "Of course I can solve their food problem. But that would require diverting some people to help with farming, and wouldn’t that affect the progress of clearing the tea gardens?"
"Working with you is the worst luck I’ve ever had!"
Count Kais raised his voice. "Moer, tell George to gather the grain for Black Forest Island and ship it over as soon as possible!"
"Remember, I’m only sponsoring your food for two years. After that, you’re on your own!"
Duane said with delight, "Getting through these two most difficult years is more than enough!"
Count Kais no longer felt like relaxing in the courtyard and got up to leave.
Just as he was about to leave, he remembered something else and turned back to ask, "About this martial arts tournament..."
Duane gave him a look that said ’leave it to me.’ "It’s in the bag!"
Receiving this answer, Count Kais finally turned and left.
Once out of Duane’s sight, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
In truth, Duane had also wanted to discuss producing Chrysanthemum Fire Soup with Count Kais on this visit.
’Although cooperating with Count Kais would mean leaking the recipe for the improved version of Fire Source Beast Bone Soup... a thing like this had no value just sitting in his hands. Only by releasing it could he gain greater benefits.’
’First, it would bring Duane more income.’
’Second, having Count Kais handle the acquisition of Fire-attribute Demon Beast Meat to produce the Chrysanthemum Fire Soup would solve Black Forest Island’s shortage of it.’
’Of course, Duane only planned to provide the Chrysanthemum Fire Soup recipe for now. He wasn’t prepared to reveal the more advanced Red Sun Soup—at least, not yet.’
’Forget it. I’ll bring this up with the Count after I’ve secured the Territory.’
As an improved version of the Fire Source Beast Bone Soup, Chrysanthemum Fire Soup was not only effective for ordinary people but could also benefit Basic-level Warriors who consumed it.
Once Chrysanthemum Fire Soup was released, it was bound to affect the Calvin Clan’s business, which would instigate a struggle between the two families over profits.
The Kennedy and Calvin clans were competitors in Grant Province.
In the past, due to their disadvantage regarding the Secret Realm, the Kennedy Clan had been on the verge of being jointly suppressed.
Now, with Hot Spring Mountain Tea and Chrysanthemum Fire Soup, they might be able to even the score.
Therefore, Duane believed that even if launching Chrysanthemum Fire Soup would cause trouble for the Kennedy Clan, Count Kais would still choose to cooperate with him.