Expanding Sugar Production

Although Rabik still felt that a major expansion of the territory's sugar production might not find the market the Marquis expected, an order from the Marquis was an order. He could only carry it out.

Fortunately, with the Marquis's approval, neither manpower nor resources would be a problem. All he had to do was build everything step by step.

Rabik scratched his head, felt his increasingly thin hair, and sighed. The Commerce Department's caravans had not grown in number for a long time. For the past two years, everyone in the department had poured their energy into sugar production and trade. He had thought that work was finally winding down, but it seemed they would be busy for a long while yet.

Victor noticed Rabik's lack of enthusiasm. "You've seen how the Telegraph Merchants' Guild operates. I plan to establish a merchants' guild specializing in sugar products under your Commerce Department. Each year, we'll take a portion of its profits and distribute it as bonuses to everyone in the department, though it probably won't exceed ten percent of total profits. What do you think?"

Rabik was stunned by Victor's generosity. Based on this year's projected sugar output and prices, net profit would be at least 50,000 gold coins. Even ten percent of that was over 5,000 gold coins. The Commerce Department had just over thirty people; even counting the existing caravans and supply-and-marketing cooperatives, there were only 250. That worked out to nearly twenty gold coins each—an astonishingly generous sum.

Rabik hurriedly refused. "My Lord, my entire annual income is only thirty gold coins. At ten percent of the profits, each person would receive twenty gold coins. That's far too much. The other departments in the territory would resent us."

Victor smiled. "You're only counting the Commerce Department and caravan