Volume 6 Chapter 67 - Opening The Base
While Eitro carefully looked over the contract on the off road transport Magic Cars, the other two began talking to Xu Yi.
It was different from the request Eitro had. These two from the intelligence department and the operations department expressed their willingness to work with the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, but they needed to inspect the Frestech Chamber of Commerce before deciding the specifics.
But Baron Moff from the operations department gave the specific thoughts of the army headquarters, which was that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce could release more materials related to the military magic machines, so the operations department could review them.
“To put it simply, the army headquarters wants to know the specific uses of the military magic machines from your company. They want to know how strong they are, how easy they are to use, and how easy it is to maintain them…..as well as other things. As long as they know this, the army headquarters can decide whether to officially introduce these military magic machines or not…..as well as how many. Chairman Xu, do you understand what I mean?”
Xu Yi nodded with a faint smile, “Of course, inspecting the goods is necessary and very normal. How about this, I have two suggestions. One is to send some professionals to our Frestech Chamber of Commerce for an inspection and to see how useful the military magic machines are. After all, reading the research isn’t as good as directly using them, right?”
“Un, that was also our initial plan. What is the other suggestion?”
“The other suggestion…...It’s even more direct than your thoughts. I can pull a group from the Frestech Chamber of Commerce guard and directly display the use of some military magic machines. I think that it’ll give you more of a feel this way.”
Hearing Xu Yi’s words, Baron Moff and the person from the intelligence department couldn’t help raising their brows as they had surprised looks.
This suggestion was very good, but those two could hear the slight disdain in Xu Yi’s voice, which made them feel a bit uncomfortable.
Baron Moff paused for a bit before saying, “How about this, the first suggestion came from the army headquarters and since the Frestech Chamber of Commerce is taking the initiative, we can consider this an initial agreement. We’ll discuss the details later on. As for the second suggestion…..I can’t reply right now. When I go back to report, I’ll let my superiors make a decision. What does chairman Xu think about that?”
“Of course I have no problem, this is only just a suggestion and the decision making power is in your hands.” Xu Yi gave a shrug as he said this with a relaxed look.
Baron Moff had reached an agreement with Xu Yi. Next the officers from the intelligence department surprised Xu Yi by not discussing with him. After Baron Moff finished talking to Xu Yi, he stood up and pulled on Viscount Eitro who was studying the material on the side, giving a gesture that they were leaving.
Viscount Eitro was immersed in this data and suddenly being interrupted, he looked a bit impatient.
But when he reacted, he noticed the movements of the two and came back to his senses.
But he wasn’t in a rush to leave, rather he pointed at the material in his hand and asked Xu Yi, “Chairman Xu, this off road Magic Car that can even easily go up mountains, when will you be able to make them?”
“With the current research progress, I can’t tell you the specific time. But if your n.o.ble side is in need of this Magic Car, we can take some time to develop it ahead of time.”
Although Xu Yi didn’t say it clearly, the meaning in his words were clear.
Of course the Frestech Chamber of Commerce could develop this kind of Magic Car, but whether it was fast or slow depended on if they could make money off it or not.
This idea wasn’t unreasonable. Eitro gave a nod to show he understood before pointing at the material in his hand and at himself as he looked at Xu Yi.
Xu Yi spread his hands with a smile, “This material is naturally prepared for your n.o.ble side.”
Eitro put the material away without any hesitation before turning to bid farewell to Marquis Southgate.
“Chairman Xu, how long are you planning to stay this time?” Before leaving, Baron Moff asked Xu Yi this.
“Un, it should be around a week.”
“Good, I hope that you can let the Lord Marquis contact you at any time because we should come looking for you very soon.”
“You’re always welcome.” Xu Yi said with a smile.
After the three left, Marquis Southgate didn’t discuss the military magic machines with Xu Yi at all, rather he brought him to the magic machine industry base on his territory.
This base already had four factories in operation, which was a steel mill that belonged to the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, a component factory that belonged to the Ireland Chamber of Commerce, a cement factory that belonged to the Amrit Chamber of Commerce, and a household magic machine a.s.sembly factory that belonged to some company in the Lampuri Kingdom.
Other than the small company’s household magic machine factory, the other three factories were in charge of providing supplies to the Amrit Chamber of Commerce laying down roads in the Marlow Empire.
Because the Marlow Empire wasn’t committed to building large numbers of roads, a part of the products from the factories were being used by the Amrit Chamber of Commerce to build some high rise apartments in Marquis Southgate’s territory.
When Marquis Southgate had been in the Lampuri Kingdom and the Stantine Duchy, he had seen many of these high rise apartments built by the Amrit Chamber of Commerce in many cities and had liked them very much.
So while inviting the Amrit Chamber of Commerce to build that road in the southwest province, he also invited the Amrit Chamber of Commerce to build some apartments in his territory.
It should be said construction was the main business of the Amrit Chamber of Commerce, building roads was considered a side business.
So after accepting the order to build apartments in Marquis Southgate’s territory, in less than a year, they had already finished six apartments that were six floors each.
According to the plan, these six apartments could hold two hundred and eighteen families.
Marquis Southgate had granted these apartments to his loyal subordinates which they all welcomed.
For those people who could only live in normal wood houses before, now that they were able to live in such a high place with such a luxurious and beautiful room, it was like living in another world.
Because of how well received the apartments were, Marquis Southgate ordered another twenty from the Amrit Chamber of Commerce. At the same time, he also accepted the proposal of the Amrit Chamber of Commerce to build a villa neighbourhood by a river in his territory.
The cement, alloys, and other products made by these factories were all being used at the construction site of the Amrit Chamber of Commerce.
As for the final household magic machine a.s.sembly plant, it could be considered a cooperation between the Frestech Chamber of Commerce and the Lampuri Kingdom.
This factory belonged to a small magic machine company in the Lampuri Kingdom in name, but actually this factory was controlled by her majesty Seveni.
This factory could make all the magic machines that magic machine companies in the Lampuri Kingdom could make, but when they were making them, the components came from the various companies of the Lampuri Kingdom and the final product would have their logo on it.
To put it simply, those companies had moved their production line here and created a large a.s.sembly plant together, which could produce large amounts of household magic machines at the same time.
The first benefit of this was that every kind of household magic machine could be quickly a.s.sembled here, making it easier for the magic machine companies of the Lampuri Kingdom to enter the Marlow Empire market.
The second benefit was that they just needed to a.s.semble it here. They only needed to bring the components over from the Lampuri Kingdom, so when they were paying tariffs, it would be much less expensive than those of complete magic machines, which saved them quite a bit.
As for the household magic machines produced by the Frestech Chamber of Commerce?
Xu Yi wasn’t worried because the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s products’ quality and performance were still better than the other brands, so there was no need to worry about them stealing the high end market that belonged to them.
Not to mention that he had already signed a contract with Marquis Southgate and ten other large n.o.bles of the Marlow Empire to import three hundred thousand units of Frestech Brand household magic machines, for a total value of over a million gold coins. It was far from what this factory that was still taking form could compare to.
Marquis Southgate brought Xu Yi here this time in hopes of Xu Yi accepting his proposal to build a household magic machine factory that belonged to the Frestech Chamber of Commerce on his territory.
Because the Frestech Brand household magic machines he had ordered before were very popular among the n.o.bles of the Marlow Empire, allowing him to earn one hundred and thirty thousand gold coins at once.
Marquis Southgate was very clear that once Xu Yi came to the Marlow Empire, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce wouldn’t just let him continue representing them, so he hoped that they would build a factory on his land.
Because according to the tax laws in the Marlow Empire, all businesses in the territory of the n.o.ble needed to pay taxes to the n.o.ble.
If the Frestech Chamber of Commerce could build a factory here, it would mean a large amount of taxes for Marquis Southgate.
“Look, chairman Xu, if you build a factory here, the empire will not levy any additional taxes from you and I as the lord will only take the minimal taxes from your Frestech Chamber of Commerce. What do you think?” Marquis Southgate pointed at the empty land in front of him with an inviting tone in his voice.
Xu Yi revealed a smile and didn’t reply.
Of course he knew what Marquis Southgate was thinking and he agreed with Marquis Southgate that setting up a factory here would save them quite a bit of taxes.
But there was a reason why he was still worried.
If he built a factory here, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce would have a very close relationship with Marquis Southgate.
It was a good thing for the Frestech Chamber of Commerce when they first entered the Marlow Empire, but it wasn’t a good thing for the current Frestech Chamber of Commerce.
The reason was very simple, Marquis Southgate’s territory was just too small in the end.