industrial lord

Chapter 800 A Series of Good News
The early winter sun shone through the tall glass windows, casting dappled light on local guests and those who had come from all over.

The usually somber council hall of the Budevis City Hall was filled with an unusually enthusiastic atmosphere today due to the arrival of the investment delegation from the Principality of Wesen.

A signing ceremony concerning the future industrial development of the city is about to be held here.

The long table was made of heavy, dark wood, and its surface was covered with brand-new, deep red velvet. Neatly arranged on it were contracts awaiting signature, inkwells, and seals symbolizing the authority of each party.

Mayor Holleček, municipal official Delnets, and other local officials sat on either side of the Weisen businessmen, led by councilor Hojenproz. Their expressions were serious and earnest, but their eyes shone with anticipation for a shared future.

Holleček was extremely excited. He had made so many preparations, managed to handle several unexpected situations, and spent the past few days of investigation and negotiation without any major incidents. Finally, this moment had arrived.

He rose to deliver a speech, his booming voice echoing through the hall: "Gentlemen, we are gathered here today not only for a contract, but also to sow the seeds of hope and usher in a new chapter for the city of Budevis."

"We promise to ensure your investments here are smooth and unimpeded with the utmost sincerity and the highest efficiency, and to immediately launch the 'fast-track mode' for the construction of the park."

In his subsequent remarks, he emphasized that the city hall had assigned a dedicated service officer to the project, opened up a convenient channel, and vowed to clear all obstacles to ensure the project proceeds without resistance.

Next, Hojenproz spoke as a representative of the investors.

He elaborated on the grand vision for the industrial park: “Our planned ‘Budvis Food and Tinder Clothing Industrial Park’ is by no means a simple collection of isolated factories.”

"It will be an interconnected and collaborative industrial ecosystem."

He then introduced the core plan to the local officials, chamber of commerce representatives, and guests from the surrounding area who had come after hearing the news:

Spike will establish several modern chicken farms that follow Wesson standards and provide comprehensive technical support to duck farmers in the surrounding area.

Mrs. Rhea will build a factory to produce high-quality "enriched flour" and specialized chicken and duck feed using local aquatic plants as feed.

Hojenproz himself will directly invest in the construction of a centralized slaughter and canning plant, a tinder processing plant, and a tinder product manufacturing plant.

Hoffman will establish a branch factory here to provide reliable parts support and equipment maintenance for all the aforementioned companies.

Hollechk and others also joined in. At Jori's suggestion, they jointly invested in establishing a textile printing and dyeing factory to supply tinder products and develop their own industry at the same time.

For a time, everyone was happy.

“We chose Boudeville,” Hojenproz concluded, “because of its accumulated strength, its rapid rise, and the efficient and pragmatic style of the city hall.”

"Both sides will work together to challenge the limits of project implementation speed, and strive to achieve the goal of 'signing in winter, starting construction in spring, working hard in summer, and putting into production in autumn'!"

After the speeches by the representatives of both sides, the representatives solemnly stood up and, one by one, used a quill pen dipped in special ink to sign their names and affix the sealing wax seal to the multiple thick contracts laid out.

When the last stamp was placed, enthusiastic applause erupted in the hall.

The waiters promptly brought out crystal glasses filled with amber-colored beer, and the guests and hosts raised their glasses in celebration. The crisp clinking of glasses mingled with the cheerful conversation, as they jointly wished that this soon-to-be-established industrial park would become a new pillar driving the city's high-quality economic development and bringing prosperity and vitality to this land.

Before the excitement at the signing ceremony had fully subsided, Holleček announced the next project.

Thomas made his entrance amidst the lingering smell of beer.

His presence was not very prominent before. Many people, including some local officials, only knew that he was a senior figure in the Duchy of Weisen, but knew nothing about the details.

But at this moment, as he stood up and walked steadily towards the front of the hall, a calm aura, different from the shrewdness of a businessman and the enthusiasm of a politician, quietly spread out.

He straightened his seemingly ordinary but actually well-tailored official coat, a standard design for government officials in the Principality of Wessen, and his calm yet authoritative gaze swept across the room.

The once noisy hall quickly quieted down, and all eyes, filled with a mixture of doubt and anticipation, focused on the middle-aged man who had suddenly stepped onto the stage.

A strange look flashed in Pavel's eyes as he realized that Thomas was completely different from the person he had been with recently.

"Your Excellency Mayor Holleček, friends of Budvis City, and friends of the Principality of Wessen," Thomas's voice was not loud, but it clearly resonated throughout the hall, "Please allow me, at this moment, on this occasion symbolizing cooperation and rebirth, to announce another plan concerning the livelihood and development of Budvis City and the surrounding area."

He paused briefly, as if giving everyone time to process his change in status.

"I have been dispatched by the government of the Duchy of Weisen to your esteemed territory to oversee this year's food aid efforts to the southwest of Bohemia." "Mr. Thomas..." Delnets almost cried out, his mind flashing back to the scene in the tavern where he had listened to the other man's discussion, only to find that the man claimed to be a newcomer from out of town. He was momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information.

Holleček also showed surprise, then turned to pay even more serious attention.

They had been notified about the food aid not long ago. During the meeting, some people thought that Thomas was there to pave the way, but no one expected that he would actually hold such an important position.

Traditionally, those responsible for overseeing the work were the lord's most trusted confidants.

This work was spearheaded at the Duchy of Wessen level, meaning that Thomas was a confidant of the Grand Duke of Wessen.

Many people thought of the words on the thermos that Thomas was holding that day, and quickly understood. He had received an award more than ten years ago, so it was not surprising that he had become a trusted confidant.

Ignoring the slight commotion below, Thomas continued in a clear tone, announcing: "Based on the assessment of the expected reduction in grain production in your territory this year due to abnormal weather, and in order to maximize the effectiveness of the aid, the Duchy of Wessen has decided that the specific implementation method for this year's aid plan will be work relief."

His gaze swept over the local officials and gentry representatives present, whose faces were clearly grave at the mention of the reduced grain production.

Everyone wore an expression that said, "I knew this would happen," as the fact that Grand Duke Wessen liked to use work as a form of relief was already deeply ingrained in people's minds.

Thomas continued, "Starting this month, we will use food from the aid program as the primary means of payment for the project, supplemented by a small amount of Versen dollars as currency."

"We will use this grain to launch ahead of schedule and carry out large-scale expansion of the Bohemian region, especially the construction and repair of roads connecting the city of Budvis with the surrounding grain-producing areas, as well as the border of the southern Duchy of Wessen."

Thomas raised his voice slightly and said, "We will use food to hire laborers who are idle due to the off-season. This means that we will not only help you get through the current food shortage, but also use this food to exchange for solid, flat roads that can withstand harsh weather and accelerate the flow of goods!"

A suppressed murmur arose in the hall.

Hollechk and the others looked at Jori, who was familiar with the way the Duchy of Wessen operated, and wanted to confirm how true it was.

Jori nodded heavily.

Thomas raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, then said succinctly and forcefully: "This plan aims to achieve three goals: First, through work relief, it avoids the dependency that may result from simple aid, allowing those with the ability to work to obtain food through their own efforts and maintain their dignity and livelihood; second, by seizing the off-season for farming, it concentrates efforts on improving the vital transportation arteries that are crucial to your future development, which is itself the best investment to combat future risks and enhance the resilience of the regional economy; third, it accelerates the connection efficiency between the road network in the Bohemian region and the main roads of the Principality of Wessen, providing more convenient and lower-cost logistics support for projects like the industrial park that Councilor Hojenproz just signed, allowing products from Budvis City to reach a wider market more quickly!"

He looked around at everyone and finally said, "This road construction plan will be carried out simultaneously with the construction of the industrial park, and they will support each other."

"Roads provide lifeblood for industry, and industry gives value to roads."

"The Duchy of Wesen hopes that what we bring is not only food to get through the winter, but also a road to spring."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell into a brief silence, followed by applause that was even more enthusiastic and longer than during the previous signing ceremony!

This time, the applause came not only from the Weisen people, but also from all the Budevis people who understood the deeper meaning of the plan.

The local gentry and their representatives, in particular, had eyes full of excitement and hope.

They know best what a good road means to the land.

Pavel stood in the crowd, looking at the composed figure in front of him, his heart surging with emotion.

He once again felt the foresight and strategic planning ability of the Grand Duke of Wessen.

Thomas reveals a forward-looking plan for regional collaboration and infrastructure development that goes beyond specific industries.

Delnets then understood perfectly why the conversation in the tavern had been so insightful.

He looked at Thomas, his doubts completely gone, replaced by a profound sense of awe and admiration.

Food and roads, survival and development, were so skillfully woven together in the hands of this Weisen official.

The celebratory atmosphere of the signing ceremony, together with the announcement of this sudden, pragmatic, and ambitious aid plan, forms a more complete picture of development.

This winter in Budvis is destined to be different because of the double injection of the food industry.

(End of this chapter)