"Northern Foreign Trade Company?"
Hearing such a new term from Ke Lin's mouth, the merchants were immediately confused and looked at each other in blank dismay.
Arnold, who was stared at by Colin, suddenly felt an inexplicable panic.
"Didn't you complain before that the preferential tax and fee policy I reached with the Troll Empire has not been extended to the entire northern border?"
Faced with Ke Lin's questioning, a group of businessmen immediately shook their heads like rattles, expressing that they had absolutely no complaints.
Ke Lin smiled lightly, and did not intend to pursue the matter, but continued:
"So, I plan to set up a foreign trade company to be responsible for the foreign trade in the northern border. From now on, except for this company, no individual or chamber of commerce in the northern border will be allowed to engage in foreign trade!"
Ke Lin's words were like stabbing a hornet's nest, and the whole venue became restless.
"My lord, are you joking?"
"My lord, you can't do this!"
"Master Earl, you will ruin the business world in the northern border!"
…
At this time, businessmen no longer wanted to take into account the gap in status, and expressed their opposition to this proposal.
After all, the profits of foreign trade are so lucrative, how can merchants give up, for these interests, they are willing to go to the gallows, let alone resist Ke Lin.
Colin calmly stretched out his hands and pressed down, signaling the merchants to be calm.
After everyone calmed down for a while, Ke Lin continued: "Don't get excited, I'm not trying to cut off your money, but I want to unite everyone's strength to make the foreign trade in the northern border develop better.
This trading company is not that I want to eat alone, but that everyone can contribute and participate. At the end of each year, the company will distribute the profits based on the proportion of everyone's investment. "
This is actually a joint-stock company, but it is still a new thing in this world.
When the businessmen heard that they could at least share the profits of foreign trade, they stopped resisting and asked Ke Lin some details.
Colin also patiently gave answers.
"Master Earl, may I ask who will control this company?"
"The ownership of the company is of course the Saint Hilde family, and His Excellency the Duke will appoint a management team to manage the company on his behalf.
In addition, every businessman who contributes will become a director of the company, and all directors form the board of directors.
You can understand this board of directors as an institution similar to the Senate. According to the proportion of capital contribution, each director has a different right to speak.
The board of directors cannot interfere with the company's daily operations, but some major decisions of the company, such as the change of core personnel of the company's management team, the execution of large-scale trade, and accounting audits, etc., all need to be approved by the board of directors... "
Ke Lin plans to firmly hold the company's personnel management rights in his hands, but other powers, such as supervision rights and advice rights, can be distributed to the businessmen who invest.
This is necessary, otherwise, no businessman is willing to hand over his money to an organization that is completely out of his control, and the "Alien East India Company", which Colin placed high hopes on, would not even be able to grow.
That's right, in fact, the Northern Foreign Trade Company established by Ke Lin was based on the East India Company on Earth.
The magical effect of this company will be gradually reflected in the future.
"... From now on, all your goods will be sold to the Northern Foreign Trade Company, which will then sell them overseas. If you want to buy overseas goods, you can also go to the company to place an order, and the company will go overseas to purchase.
In this way, the business community in the northern border is a whole when conducting foreign trade. We advance together and retreat together, and we have greater bargaining power in foreign trade. Are you right? "
After the businessmen heard this, their faces were full of yearning, and they also began to realize that this novel company would become a giant in the northern business world, and every businessman would be under the protection of this giant's wings. It is bound to be much stronger than fighting alone.
Ke Lin felt complacent when he saw the changes in everyone's faces.
In fact, he set up this company mainly because he wanted to control the company to complete the integration and control of the northern business community.
For the Northern Merchants Association that Arnold wants to form, this is actually a tactic to draw salary from the bottom.
Arnold seemed to want to understand this, and his face became extremely pale at this time.
He knew that there was no need to establish the Northern Merchants Association that he had been planning for a long time.
Even if it is established, it is just an empty shell. In the foreseeable future, it will be the Northern Foreign Trade Company that will truly control the business community in the North.
Arnold suddenly felt disheartened. He didn't understand why a young nobleman like Colin could have such a style and skill.
In front of him, he seemed to be just a clown jumping around.
"Mr. Arnold." Colin suddenly called Arnold's name.
"Yes, Lord Earl!" Arnold shuddered and stood up quickly.
"What do you think of this foreign trade company?"
What can I do
Can I say no
Arnold yelled in his heart, but on the surface he had an expression of astonishment, and praised exaggeratedly:
"Lord Earl, I think this is a genius initiative! As long as you have no objection, the North Wind Chamber of Commerce is willing to contribute 1.8 million gold coins to join the Northern Foreign Trade Company!"
Colin frowned, admiring Arnold's decisiveness.
This is a smart person who understands current affairs. He knows that he can't fight against it, so he joins decisively, and once he makes up his mind, he will be generous.
The participating businessmen were also surprised by Arnold's boldness, and the businessmen who had some doubts immediately expressed their willingness to contribute and join, as if they were afraid that if they were too late, they would lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In fact, if you think about it, you will know that this new company will monopolize all foreign trade in the northern border. If any businessman does not join in, he will gradually be marginalized by the northern business community in the future.
"Very good! I am amazed by everyone's enthusiasm. Presumably this upcoming Northern Foreign Trade Company will achieve great success!" Colin clapped his hands and smiled at Arnold, "Okay, what I want to say That's all, I'm sorry to interrupt your party, I'm leaving now, you can continue."
After finishing speaking, Colin strode out without delay, but gave the Oliver brothers a look on the way.
Brother Oliver understood immediately, got up to say goodbye to everyone, and ran out of the tavern following Colin's back.
Only the envious businessmen were left behind. They knew very well that the Oliver brothers would definitely hold important positions in the Northern Foreign Trade Company.
Many people have already begun to secretly plan to have a good relationship with Brother Oliver, and maybe they can get some positions in the company in the future.
Arnold looked at the absent-minded businessmen, and suddenly felt a sense of loss of interest.
He stood foolishly in front of the stage, but no one looked at him at all, let alone asked if the Northern Merchants Association planned before was still established.
Arnold downed all the red wine in the glass, let out a long sigh, lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking.
(end of this chapter)