Chapter 191: Technical Partnership
“I’m so sorry, but Bianshu Town is currently short on manpower. I plan to keep the cement steamship for my own use and have no plans to sell it for the time being.”
The main reason was that Owen wanted to set up a fleet affiliated with Bianshu town as soon as possible and purchase a large amount of raw materials from outside.
“I see.”
Garden’s face was filled with regret, but he still refused to give up. He said…
“If Marquis Eisen ever decides to sell it, please notify the Gemini Chamber of Commerce immediately.”
“I will.”
Owen nodded.
He wondered if he needed to build another shed on the bank of the Weishui River to build cement boats.
At this moment, Andy’s eyes rolled, and he smiled and said.
“Marquis Eisen, I do have a proposal.”
“What proposal?”
Not only Owen, but everyone present turned to look over.
“Since Marquis Eisen said that Bianshu town is short of manpower, then I will provide you with enough manpower.”
Andy slowly laid out his proposal.
“Whatever kind of craftsmen you need, I can provide them. I’ll have them work for you and pay their wages. All you have to do is sell the ships they build to the Gorge Island Chamber of Commerce. What do you think, Marquis Eisen?”
“Andy Gena, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
As soon as the other party finished speaking, Garden quickly pointed out.
“You want to use other people’s tricks to secretly learn the manufacturing methods of steam engines, cement, and ships, and then use them for your own benefit.”
To be honest, Owen is not very opposed to this proposal.
I remember Winston mentioned a business cooperation model – technology partnership, where one party provides technology and earns the most profit.
As long as we ensure that the technology provider has the more advanced technology, we don’t have to worry too much about the other party learning the backward technology.
“Garden Daniel, what are you talking about! How could I possibly have such an idea?”
Andy glared at Garden, then looked at Owen and continued.
“Ten years, Marquis Eisen, I am willing to send them to Bianshu Town to work for you for ten years. You only need to provide food and accommodation, and you will have a group of skilled craftsmen.”
After a pause, he offered another temptation.
“Marquis Eisen, I also heard that you purchased a large amount of goods such as iron ingots from other places. If you still need them, I am willing to supply you with the goods you need at a preferential price.”
“How can I let you take all the benefits for yourself?”
Garden couldn’t help it, so he stood up from his seat and invited Owen to cooperate.
“Marquis Aisen, I can also provide manpower and have them work for you for fifteen years! I can also sell you the goods you need at a low price. I hope you can consider our Gemini Chamber of Commerce.”
Wow! The working years have been increased to fifteen years. These two large chambers of commerce are really at loggerheads, neither giving in.
“Okay, okay, both of you stop arguing.”
Owen had to stop the two people arguing. If they continued, they would not be able to have lunch.
“I will carefully consider your proposal. Let’s have lunch first. In the afternoon, I will show you the actual product, and we can discuss this in detail then.”
“Fufu.”
Heinte covered her mouth and chuckled a few times, saying enviously.
“The products in Bianshu Town are really popular.”
Other businessmen also smiled and said, they knew that their financial resources were far less than those of the Gorge Island Chamber of Commerce or the Gemini Chamber of Commerce, otherwise they would also like to get involved in the purchase of the cement ship.
After lunch, Owen ordered the merchandise for display to be brought in, and Clive explained the details to the merchants present.
Items previously sold were also brought out again: two qualities of paper, cement powder, and pencils.
The difference is that the pencil uses a new manufacturing process, and the outer layer of the pencil lead is wrapped with wood. The tip of the pencil can be sharpened with a knife or a new product pencil sharpener.
Erasers came into being after pencils. Merchants who were planning to purchase pencils went to try the product and found that it was very effective in erasing handwriting. They immediately decided to include this product in their purchasing catalog.
The appearance of glass products (mainly cups of various shapes) made everyone’s eyes light up. They did not expect that Bianshu Town could also produce glass, and all of it was transparent and colorless, with very high quality.
In addition to experimental equipment, Owen also asked Rob to try making other things.
All the pieces he sold this time were his practice works, so the quantity is not that large.
Not long ago, Owen asked Rob to start recruiting apprentices in preparation for expanding the scale of the glass industry. It will take some time to increase production.
However, thanks to this, most of the glass products were bought at high prices by the Gemini Chamber of Commerce and the Gorge Island Chamber of Commerce.
These two people are very generous when it comes to buying things they like, and other businessmen are basically not qualified to participate.
The appearance of the telescope almost caused Andy and Garden to fight.
Because it is troublesome and time-consuming to make a qualified optical lens purely by hand, Rob does not make many, so the number of telescopes is even smaller.
For this reason, Owem had to intervene and limit each person to only one pair.
He had originally planned to sell Heinte a pair of telescopes to thank her for bringing the luxurious caravan here.
If the two major chambers of commerce, Gorge Island and Gemini Chamber of Commerce, were allowed to compete with each other, it would probably be difficult for Heinte to purchase.
However, the two major chambers of commerce later placed pre-orders and paid a huge deposit to order the next batch of telescopes.
It looks like Rob will have a lot to do in the future.
In addition, other commodities were also sold out one after another.
All these purchases and pre-orders were negotiated by Clive and the apprentices he brought with him. Owen had long realized that he was not good at doing business, so he left it entirely to Clive.
As it turns out, this is correct.
Clive was even able to bargain with the two presidents, Andy and Garden, and sold the goods at a good price.
After the product launch, Owen led everyone to see how steam engines pumped water, transported ore, and even cement steamships.
Not only the mining businessman Sharp, but everyone was stunned when they saw the steam engine running continuously and the mine carts being pulled out one after another.
Sharp owned several mines and wanted to equip all the mines and shafts with steam engines to increase mining production.
After negotiations, he won ten steam engines and five rail mining systems, which were delivered in batches.
If Sharp only had miners under his command, he would actually want to send craftsmen to work here to shorten the time of delivering goods.
The cement steamship involves a lot of things, and the two major chambers of commerce will also send craftsmen over, and there are many details that need to be discussed in detail.
So Clive negotiated with the two presidents for two days.
In the end, Owen signed a twelve-year contract with the two major chambers of commerce, Gorge Island and Gemini.
The next time the fleet comes, the two major chambers of commerce will each bring two hundred craftsmen, mainly blacksmiths and carpenters.
They will stay in Bianshu town and work for up to twelve years, their salaries paid by the two major chambers of commerce, and Owen will only provide food and accommodation.
During their work, the steam engines and ships manufactured by these people will be sold first to the two major chambers of commerce.