Lord Harland.

Chapter 148 Territory Development Part [-]
In the spring of next year, the first batch of indentured slaves will resume their status as freedmen.

In order to deal with the shock, Li Cha decided to call the managers of the civil affairs system to hold a meeting.

The meeting focused on several aspects, in addition to next year's budget, there is also this year's financial summary.

Those who participated in the meeting included Richard, Sophia, Powell, Wendy, Adrian, Tang En and other members of the Harland family, as well as Gibson, Rooney, Bobby, Thomas Webber, Tony, Bernard, Ihaki Er and other territorial civil servants.

Gibson is the housekeeper of the Harland family and also William's cousin. After the Harland family made a fortune, Gibson brought his relatives to join William.

These distant branches of the Harland family basically settled in Black River Fort with William.Or run a small business under the protection of the Harland family, or participate in the management of Mrs. Ola's property.

Richard pointed to Gibson, indicating that he would start the explanation.

In recent years, Mrs. Ola's business in Black River Fort was basically in charge of Gibson and Liliana.

Gibson opened an account book, coughed lightly, and said, "By October this year, the hotel's income was average, and it earned 36 gold coins after deducting expenses. The rent income this year is less, and it adds up to [-] gold coins."

96 gold coins is of course a lot of money for ordinary people, and it takes 25 years for one person to work.But for the Harland family, it is better than nothing.Now the family's annual expenses, even if they save a little, cost more than two hundred gold coins.

"The income of the taverns is very good. The net profit of the six taverns has reached [-] gold coins."

Hearing the net profit of [-] gold coins, Li Cha nodded in satisfaction, and asked, "Can you open the tavern to places like Wright Castle and Flame Castle?"

"I'm afraid it will be difficult. We don't have enough strength in these two places to deal with all kinds of troubles."

Li Cha knew in his heart that the main relationship of the Harland family was in Heihe Castle.

Both his father and third uncle were officers in the Northern Army Corps, and they had a great influence in Black River Fort. Naturally, the competitors in the tavern did not dare to make trouble.

Even if the business of the six taverns is booming, the income is considerable.Relying on the reputation of William and Bernie, they can easily block the coveting and prying of all kinds of ghosts and monsters.

Originally, the Harland family had connections in Fort Black River and Fort Grizzly, but Roland and Soros did not develop smoothly in the Wild Lion and Grizzly Bear Legions. For the benefit of a few hundred gold coins, the past friendship may not be able to solve the trouble.

Even if those local snakes don't kill people, if they throw a few poisonous snakes in the tavern every day to make trouble for you, the tavern will not be able to operate.

At that time, only dark means can be used.

Behind the competitors are nobles, and their strength is not weak. Li Cha thinks it is uneconomical to spend the power of the family in such a place.

The territory of Harland develops rapidly in new industries every year, and it can completely use its strength to open up new markets.

It is far easier to obtain profits in the incremental market than in the stock market.

In addition to pubs, hotels, and renting businesses, Mrs. Ola also runs a bakery, clothing store, and shoe store in Heihebao.

These small businesses may seem inconspicuous, but they add up to considerable income.

Because the people hired are serfs, the cost is very low, as long as they are given food, the work can be done.

The lower the labor cost, the lower the price, and the business is often very good, adding up to two hundred gold coins in net income.

Coupled with the generous salaries of William and Bernie, the net income of Black River Fort exceeded [-] gold coins.

The expenses of the two were about [-] gold coins last year. Even if it was more this year, the income would be considerable.

Hearing the benefits of Heihe Fort, Li Cha has a bottom line in his mind.I feel that Mrs. Ola should have saved a sum of money in recent years, and this money can be borrowed first.

"How about the income of brown sugar?"

Ihakil, who is in charge of managing the brown sugar industrial park, does not need to look through the ledger, as these data have already been recorded in his heart.

"The output of brown sugar this year is 3.3 tons, with an output value of 275 gold coins. Nine hundred kilograms of brown sugar were consumed for the distribution of benefits in the territory, and the gold coin income was only 200. The brown sugar industry is developing very fast. Next year, the output will exceed six tons, and the output value will reach [-] gold."

Li Cha knows that although the brown sugar industry has great development prospects, it will not be able to earn a lot of gold coins in a short period of time.

Five hundred gold coins is not a small gain for a baron.

It is necessary to cultivate [-] mu of paddy fields and collect a heavy tax of [-]% in exchange for this money.

It is equivalent to a serf village with thousands of people, the tax collected for one year.

Even though a baron in northern Xinjiang relied on growing food, he could still receive several thousand gold coins.

But the baron needs to buy weapons and equipment, and needs to pay the soldiers. The annual cost of raising a squadron is about [-] gold coins.

In order to protect the security of the territory, the lords in the northern border area have to pay more for raising troops.

Usually a squadron costs [-] gold coins per year.

In the event of a war, military spending will increase.

In addition to military expenses, the lords also have to enjoy, socialize, cultivate relationships, give gifts, plus purchase medicines and resources for their own cultivation, so they can't save much money at all.

"What about the income of the brick kiln factory?" Li Cha turned his head and asked Rooney, the director of the brick kiln factory.

"The brick kiln factory has very few external orders this year. Only Baron Dirham ordered some city bricks to repair the damaged city walls. The total cost is only 120 gold coins. As for the bricks used inside the territory, this year is not worth the money."

"Next year, many of your workers should become free citizens, right?"

"Yes, most of the brick kiln workers are the first batch of indentured slaves, and the contract will be full next year."

"The worker's contract is over, what are your plans?"

"I'm going to turn it into an employment contract and pay them wages."

"Has the wages been fixed?"

"The current plan is to calculate on a daily basis, four copper coins per day."

"Working 30 days a month, the salary is only four silver coins, which is a little lower. The labor intensity of the brick kiln factory is very high, and I think it should be increased."

Hearing Li Cha's opinion, Rooney felt a little disapproving.

"Your lord is too merciful. The workers in the brick kiln factory are all divided into five acres of farmland on average, and a family of six is ​​thirty acres of land. The tax revenue of the territory is only [-]%, and these people rely on land income. After paying taxes and excluding food rations, the annual net income is about two gold coins. During the slack season, you can also go to the brick kiln factory to make money.

As long as they become free citizens, their living standards will immediately improve, far surpassing the citizens of Black River Fort.What are they dissatisfied with?
Human desires have no bottom line. I should persuade the lord that the salary cannot be increased. "

(End of this chapter)