SWDnovel Chapter 133 London Property Boom
Chapter 133 London Property Boom
Chapter 133 London Property Boom
"—Chris, Reverend Leon, Eric, Captain Sanders, Captain Walker, Captain Henderson—"
Dressed in a gentleman's tailcoat, Chen Wenbin stood on the deck of the Mississippi merchant ship, looked at the crowd in front of him, and slowly said: "Our era is an era of geographical discovery, and also an era that belongs to the brave!"
The brave may receive the sweetest reward, or they may be swallowed by the sea and their souls returned to heaven.
Therefore, in addition to this mission, I hope to have a brave captain and a group of brave sailors who will abandon the mission of trade and immigration and instead explore the established shipping route from the Far East across the Pacific Ocean, then around the South American continent, to Fort George in North America!
As a reward, in addition to the original bonus, fifty percent of the ship's trade profits will also belong to these brave people!
Of course, you can also abandon this task entirely, which will not affect your income.
Chen Wenbin's proposal piqued the interest of the three captains.
Captain Henderson, whose chin was shaved clean and who only had a mustache, asked first: "Sir, the Spanish have already explored a well-established shipping route from Manila to the Americas. Why do you still want us to explore it?"
If you were to go around Cape Horn in South America to North America, the total distance would be roughly the same as the Indian Ocean-Atlantic route, but there are no stable supply points in the Pacific Ocean, making it unsuitable for immigration and trade—the risks are too great!
Captain Walker, with his bushy beard, agreed: "That's right, Sir. The established routes through the Indian and Atlantic Oceans allow for resupply along the way. The Pacific Ocean is too vast, practically a desert at sea, and we have to pass through the harsh equatorial doldrums, so it's not the most suitable route."
Chen Wenbin was somewhat disappointed, but he also knew that the two captains were right. Only a very few people would do such a risky thing.
"Captain Sanders, what are your thoughts?" He looked at the last captain who was considering, and also the youngest captain, John Sanders, who was only thirty-one years old.
"I think I can give it a try!"
Sanders looked up and said, "Sir, I want you to grant me the freedom to choose my crew, as well as the authority to control a portion of the funds and supplies—and you won't make this request without a reason; I need to know your true purpose."
Chen Wenbin laughed and nodded, saying, "My goal is very simple: to find unclaimed islands in the Pacific Ocean that can serve as transit points for trade."
Especially the vast sea areas north and northeast of the southern mainland, which the Dutch describe as such, should have many such islands—Captain Sanders, if you'd like, you can take on this task; I'll give you the necessary authorization.”
"I need time to think about it," Sanders hesitated. "I need to discuss it with my first mate and the others."
Chen Wenbin smiled and nodded, "Of course, you can take your time to consider it on the way. This is just my suggestion, not a mandatory task. The other four captains can also consider it, and the sailors must also volunteer completely."
After saying that, he went to Chris, Reverend Leon, Eric, and Lieutenant Hansen, the leader of the mercenaries on board, and gave them his final instructions.
The first three were in charge of immigration work. Eric was responsible for bribing Qing officials to obtain immigrants, Reverend Leon was responsible for literacy and education, Chris was responsible for taking care of the immigrants' lives on the ship, and Lieutenant Hansen and the Hersean mercenaries he commanded followed the orders of the three. When there was a disagreement, the minority would obey the majority.
Chen Wenbin's task for them was to transport 1000 young and middle-aged immigrants to Georgeburg by August of next year, and they would be rewarded if they achieved the target.
Apart from Chris, the families of the other three have already traveled by boat to Robintown in North America, so they can be fully trusted.
Not only them, but also the captains, first mates, navigators, gunners, and more than two-thirds of the crew members, sailors, and mercenaries of the seven ships that set sail this time have applied to send their families to North America.
The tactic of exploiting weaknesses is a highly effective control method in any era, and family and children are always the best stabilizers.
In mid-July 1764, amidst the sweltering heat of summer, the first modern residential community developed by Robin Construction in South London was successfully completed, and move-in services began for homebuyers.
This batch of houses consists of 54 buildings. Apart from 12 separate townhouses, each of the rest is a three-story building.
The building is divided into three apartment buildings, and each building is equipped with a piston water pump, honeycomb coal stove, flush toilet and sewage pipes.
After moving in, people no longer need to go downstairs to fetch water every day, nor do they need to empty the toilet every day. The living experience has been revolutionized.
Therefore, these new-style apartment buildings, known as "Robin House" or "Jazz House," sold out quickly even before they were built!
In addition to the middle and senior management of the Robin Group, the buyers also include many newly rich and middle-class people who have just arrived in London.
Before the Robin Building was developed, housing prices in London were consistently high, and many houses were located near slums. There were no professional property security personnel, and the quality of the houses was generally poor. Some of them had even been the site of many deaths.
But the new communities developed by Robin Construction are not only enclosed garden-style, but also equipped with professional security patrols, and even have their own community kindergarten, community hospital and community commercial street, which is almost a complete knockout from those old London houses!
Aside from not being able to maintain a dozen or so servants like in aristocratic mansions, this new type of community fulfilled most of the emerging bourgeoisie and middle class's fantasies about housing.
Naturally, the prices of high-quality houses that are sought after by the market will also increase accordingly. Even with only a 50-year right to reside, it cannot stop the rapid upward trend. The price almost doubled in just half a month!
Seeing this, a small number of ordinary employees of the Robin Group who bought houses at welfare prices resold their house contracts and made almost double the profit!
Once word got out about the huge profits, all of London went crazy for it!
Wealthy individuals who had been observing the market waved their Bank of England notes and flocked to Robin Construction's sales offices to snap up homes in the unfinished new community.
More than 400 apartments were sold within half a month, and Robin Construction Firm quickly surpassed Robin Pharmaceutical Group to become the most profitable company under Boss Chen's name!
Based on an average apartment price of £380, the sales of a typical apartment exceeded £150,000.
If we include the nearly £50,000 in sales of high-end townhouses and detached garden villas, Robin Construction Company generated £200,000 in revenue in just one month!
Having witnessed firsthand the British people's frenzied pursuit of houses, Boss Chen had to admire them; the real estate scythe is indeed far more powerful than medicine!