flstandardbreds Chapter 255 Negotiated
Chapter 255 Negotiated
In a tavern in the afternoon, many workers and stonemasons were drinking to relieve their sorrow because they had missed a project that could have supported them for several months.
Just then, a man dressed in stonemason's clothes broke into the bar, and everyone looked at him, as if expecting something.
The man at the door saw everyone's gaze, held onto the door frame and panted while saying:
"Why are you looking at me? We have hired enough people and don't want anyone else."
Hearing this, everyone in the hotel groaned, and a stonemason complained:
"Why don't you use the local construction guild to do the work, Governor? Instead, why do you have to look for construction guilds from other places? Logically speaking, wouldn't the local construction guilds have more advantages?"
"You're right, maybe construction guilds from other places have more advantages than ours." At this moment, a stonemason nearby suddenly said something that puzzled others.
"How do you say this?"
"You still think so? It must be a price issue. I've inquired about it. The construction guild above us quoted the governor two or three times the normal price. The construction fee, material fee and other fees given by the construction guild over there are the same as our normal price. The governor is not a fool. Of course he knows how to choose."
"What's more..." the stonemason whispered:
"I heard that this construction guild is quite powerful and has the support of the army."
"The army? The city defense army?"
"What city defense army? It's the standing army of Midland! Who among the rich and powerful in Mondemarsan doesn't have a relationship with the city defense army? Their standing army is much stronger than the city defense army of Mondemarsan. If you leave Mondemarsan and go to other places, who will they recognize?"
"Oh, I see." A stonemason patted his desk:
"That is to say, our construction guild's backing is not as strong as that of the foreign guild. Because those shareholders were too greedy, they failed to reach an agreement with the governor on the price, so the governor doesn't want to look for the local construction guild anymore."
As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately resonated with the people around. After all, any normal person who wanted to build a house would first look for the local big city construction guild that has the best local craftsmen and channels. Unless there is no other way, they would not spend time looking for other construction guilds elsewhere.
At this time, someone suddenly whispered:
"Then tell me, if the Governor has any engineering projects in the future, will he not let our guild do it?"
This immediately made the already impetuous crowd explode, and they began to curse their own and other local construction guilds.
"If we do that, we won't be able to find work when winter comes."
"We are not like those shareholders who receive monthly dividends. We make a living from projects. If we don't have projects, we will be worse than beggars begging on the street in winter."
"This is outrageous. Sweetheart, let's go and ask the shareholders and the president of the guild about this. There's not much work to do right now, and the projects we had in hand have all gone. Do they still want to open the construction guild?"
Almost at the same time, protesting workers and stonemasons gathered from various construction guilds in Mont-de-Marsan. These people might slack off at work, but when it came to their own interests, even the mayor of Mont-de-Marsan would be of no use.
John, who was far away in the embassy, naturally received the news. His purpose in doing so was to make those construction guilds use their brains and not take advantage of themselves. It was not realistic to not cooperate with the local construction guilds directly. No matter how efficient Pav's construction guild was, it was impossible for one team to do three or four orders at the same time.
"My Lord, the iced blueberry cream you requested is here."
At this moment, the servants brought a bowl of cream mixed with blueberries to John. John scooped a little cream with a spoon and put it into his mouth. He immediately felt the feeling of eating ice cream in his previous life.
"It's OK, moderately sweet and cool. I have to admit that it's really hot in the south. It's already autumn and the air is still so stuffy when I go out for a walk. If I were in the north, I would have to wear a plush coat."
"Sir, the general manager of construction requests a meeting." When John saw the guard coming to report, he knew that the construction guilds were probably getting a little anxious, so they sent their representative in the city council to negotiate.
"Let him in."
Following John's order, two soldiers brought the building manager into the room.
"Construction Manager, you come to see me in the middle of the day. You must not have eaten yet. Otherwise, sit down and have lunch first?" John asked politely. At the same time, he also wanted to see whether the Construction Guild took this matter seriously.
"Let's not eat yet, Governor. I came to see you mainly because of the construction project." The construction manager politely declined John's invitation. Although he seemed calm, his slightly fast speaking speed made John understand that if the economic situation in Mondemarsan after the plague was not resolved, some construction guilds with poor financial conditions might not survive until next spring.
"Ah, Lord General, you've put me in a difficult position. I wrote to them right away, but the price they quoted was too high. You know, I'm bringing more than 10,000 soldiers with me this time. They've all been on the battlefield with me. If I really pay them the price listed above, it will be difficult for my men to even have food."
When the construction manager heard that John did not refuse but instead focused on the price, he knew there was something to negotiate.
"You don't have to worry about the price. I'm here to solve your problem. After learning about your needs, the presidents of the construction guilds immediately changed some prices, which will definitely satisfy you."
As he spoke, the construction manager handed several contracts to John. John picked one up and took a look. Wow, he thought it was a clearance sale. The price was directly reduced to one third to one half of the previous contract.
"Well, it's okay, but the work here has been handed over to another construction guild..." John said casually, but the construction manager's heart was already in his throat.
"But actually I still have some trivial tasks that need to be done, such as housing for soldiers or drainage facilities. I wonder if they are willing to do it?"
"Of course I will. I'll go talk to them right away!"
After the construction manager left, John lay back on the sofa and relaxed. If he wanted those guilds to sincerely help him, he first had to have a long-term community of interests, so the method of giving them a beating and then sweetening their treats was very effective.
"Governor, urgent news from the border!"
Suddenly, a loud shout from outside the door startled John, and when he took the letter, his brows gradually furrowed.
In a town on the southwestern border, the peaceful life of the past is no longer there, replaced by flames and billowing smoke in the city.
On a hillside outside the town, Griffith was looking back at his hometown breathlessly with a slightly terrified look. His clothes were now covered with dust and traces of fire. It was obvious that he had just escaped from the town. Even his originally white face was blackened by the smoke.
At this moment, Griffith felt someone behind him. When he turned around, he ran into several soldiers in black armor.
"I know this kid. He's from Midland. Take him to the refugee car."
After the leading officer finished speaking, the soldier next to him picked up Griffith with one hand and loaded him onto the almost crowded refugee carriage at the foot of the mountain. The soldiers did not stay for long and soon left the fallen town with the convoy.