The personnel problem still becomes the main problem during the banquet. We can't just recruit anyone that we do not know the background clearly as the personnel that serves the dish during the banquet. If the people who want to harm Earl Stamfort use this opportunity to sneak into our castle, which will be a disaster for us. Earl Stamfort is an important figure in the kingdom that governs southern area, which including Harvard territory, the other three Earls each one is governing the northern, eastern and western area of the kingdom. Earl Easton, who his third son engaged with my sister, governs the east area of the kingdom.
To make the welcoming party successful despite the lack of personnel that we have, I try to resolve the lack of quantity by increasing the quality. If one maid only can carry one tray contain two-three plates, I want one maid can carry more than six plates. And to do that, I really need Charles expertise in making things from wood. I go to see him after my business in the kitchen finished.
"Charles, I need you to make this thing. At least fifteen of this"
I handed him the sketch on the paper to Charles.
"Young master, this is some kind of pushcart?"
"Yes, I know you will understand it. But the size different from those push cart that used by the street peddler. It's smaller and simpler. It's only to deliver dishes from kitchen to dining hall. You know, some dishes are better when served warm, so if using the maid to deliver the dish using a tray, it would need many maids. With this push cart, one maid can deliver many dishes at once from kitchen to dining hall"
"I understand, young master. But this will need some money to make it"
"Don't worry, I will cover the expenses to make this push cart, but you need to finish it within two days"
"That…that will need many artisans to make it, young master"
"The cost will pay by me. Or do you need some money to buy the material first?"
"Ah, if possible, that will be better, young master"
"Hahaha…. Don't be reluctant to say that you need money to make it, Charles. This is not the salt camp, of course, you need to buy wood to make it here. Is this enough?"
I give Charles ten silver coins for down payment.
"Yes, it's more than enough to buy materials, young master"
"Tell me if you need more. Oh right, where do you stay in here?"
"I stay in soldier barrack for a while young master"
"Good, so it's not hard to find you if I need something again from you, because I still have many things that I want you to make it"
"What is it, young master? Can we know what is that things?"
"Not now guys, but it needs your expertise in wood and metal processing"
"Please leave a clue for us, young master"
"Why don't you make a guess?"
"Is that something like that board games, young master?"(Joe)
"Is that something like this pushcart?" (Charles)
"Hmm…what if I say both?"
"Both?" Joe and Charles look at each other but they can't come up with ideas what I want to make later.
"Hahaha… Don't think it too much, guys. It's not something that can be made in one or two days. By the way, how the board games doing in the camp?"
"It's going well, young master. Now people in the camp have other mean to spend the time besides go fishing. Everyone asks to carpenter site for their own board games. Can be said, everyone now has their own board games. There's no single day without playing five streaks young master"
"Charles, what do you think if I let you mass produce that board games here, and sell it to the town people? If this board game can be popular in salt camp, it could become popular too in here"
"Me? May I do that young master?"
"Of course, if you agree you can start doing that. Make this board game as a business. Of course, you must put some sign on those board games as the sign that board game is officially used in the Harvard castle. You can use Harvard insignia if necessary"
"Really young master?"
"I'm not in the joke right? If you need some capital to start the business I can lend some to you"
"But I'm still working in the camp, young master"
"You can make it there, besides, wood is free in there right? Send the finished product here, ask one of your family or friend to manage the selling in town, open a shop if necessary in commerce area. You can work on it when you off duty in the camp"
"This…this really a promising offer young master…can I also take other carpenters in the camp as the co-worker?"
"Sure, you can't do this alone right? As long as there's clear agreement about the money, I guess there's no problem about that. And you should hurry because my father already orders some carpenter in town to make the same board for our honored guest entertainment, but of course, he not tell them the rules of this board game to the carpenter. Can you imagine? If people in Stamfort territory also like to play this game…how much profit we can get from there?"
Charles thought for a while before answering
"Young master, people in Stamfort territory are tripled or maybe more from our population. If half of them buy this board game for one silver, that would be ten thousand or more silver coins"
"Correct. And do you willing to let that chance escape?"
"No! I believe this board game will not stop only in Harvard or Stamfort territory only. Young master! You really have good sense in business"
"Haha… So, can I appoint you for the chief of this business company? We split the profit equally"
"50-50, young master?"
Charles looks at me with disbelief eyes
"Why? It that not enough for you?"
"No no…no at all, instead it's too much for me. Actually, I'm thinking will get 25% from the profit at most"
"How could be? Am I that stingy?"
"No, young master Henry is the most generous person I ever know. It just other nobles who make business with common people like me, they didn't give a big share for the common people. Mostly around 25% utmost"
"Hmmm, I see…or let's make this way. You get 40% and I get 40% too…the 20% left will be used to expand the company. Of course, I receive net profit from the sales after deducted from operational expenses"
"Yes! That is a much better way, young master. You already thinking how to expand the company and how to finance it, incredible"
"Haha…this is still a plan. There's still a long way to make it real, Charles. But the important thing, we already make an agreement about it, that's a good start"
I stretch my hand to Charles and we make shake hands as a sign for the cooperation between us in the future. With this cooperation, at least I already established one of my source of income in the future.