Chapter 606: Getting Rich Together
Late at Night.
Demville was fortunate enough to be assigned to the "incoming goods" team, meaning he could rest for the night in a small church in town.
After unloading, the Leisure wouldn't return empty. It would load up wool, timber, leather, and even tea procured in Norfolk and sail back. Most of the goods would be offloaded in Calais, France, with some continuing to Le Havre.
However, the Purcell Gang required strict compliance with customs regulations for goods unloaded in France, including paying duties. While this cut return-trip profits to nearly nothing, the Purcell Gang's "agents" onboard made sure the captains didn't dare act otherwise.
These British raw materials were still cheaper to procure locally than through official exports to France, making the marginal profits tolerable. After all, the outbound journey to Britain had already been incredibly lucrative.
Having spent half the night moving dried oak planks, Demville let out a long yawn, preparing to catch some sleep before the next shipment might arrive at dawn. Though the pay was good, the job was undeniably exhausting.
The church's pastor kindly brought blankets for the sailors.
As a devout Catholic, Demville hesitated for several seconds before accepting the blanket from the smiling Protestant pastor—sleeping on the cold church floor was simply unbearable.
Just as he was dreaming of clearing his debts, a broad smile spread across his face in his sleep—only to be rudely awakened by a sharp kick and a low growl:
"Trouble's brewing. Get up!"
Jacques Barouin, the Purcell Gang's overseer for the area, roused everyone and led them to a second-floor window to assess the situation.
Someone had thrust a gun into Demville's hand. Nervously creeping toward the window, he spotted five or six horses galloping toward the church under the morning sun. They clearly weren't delivering goods.
Madenot joined them upstairs, anxiously asking Barouin, "Sir, could they be British customs officers?"
"Unclear," Barouin replied, frowning.
The Special Trade Association had informants near customs offices and police stations throughout Norfolk. Any unusual activity would trigger an immediate warning. In all the past months, there had been no slip-ups.
A pastor went out to greet the riders, spoke with them briefly, then returned to the second floor to inform Barouin:
"They're not customs or police."
Barouin exhaled in relief. "Then who are they?"
"Uh… You'd better ask them yourself."
Barouin tucked his pistol into his waistband and headed to the church door with a puzzled look.
The well-groomed middle-aged man leading the group smiled and asked, "Are you in charge here?"
"I am. And you are?"
The man gestured calmly. "I know this church conducts certain… special business."
Barouin's hand instinctively moved toward his weapon as he cautiously asked, "What do you want?"
"Relax, my friend," the man said, making a downward gesture with his hands. "My employer believes your current operations are… ah, less than efficient.
"If you're interested, he would like to 'represent' your Norfolk goods and distribute them more effectively."
Barouin froze in surprise.
"How did you find us? And who is your employer?"
The man glanced around before answering, "When such high-quality, affordable goods flood the market, those paying attention will trace their source. Rest assured, we can help you close this gap.
"As for my employer, I'm sure you've heard of him: Lord George Hume."
Paris.
In the office of the Minister of Trade at Versailles, Minister Bailly couldn't hide his smile as he reviewed the latest reports from the Special Trade Association.
"George Hume, Lord of Norfolk," he said, handing a report to Major Gallard, head of the Intelligence Bureau's Trade Investigation Department.
"A veteran of Norfolk's elite, connected to the local trade guild, mayor, tax officials, and several MPs. He promises to use the guild to distribute our goods through legitimate channels, doubling sales in no time. He also offers police protection for our operations.
"However, he wants a 20% profit share and control over pricing in Norfolk."
Gallard glanced at the report, then at the growing stack of files on Bailly's desk, his expression tinged with awe.
Previously, the Intelligence Bureau had anticipated that finding "partners" in Britain and its colonies would be their toughest challenge, dedicating half of the Trade Investigation Department's manpower and 300,000 francs to the task.
Unexpectedly, British elites actively sought collaboration, with their demands far lower than the Bureau's initial projections.
"Ha! I'm starting to admire these British gentlemen," Bailly said, handing over another report. "This one's from Hampshire: Mr. David Havers. Conveniently, his uncle is the deputy commander of the Southern Coast Anti-Smuggling Unit. Though his appetite is larger—he wants exclusive control from Plymouth to Portsmouth."
"Ah, you won't believe this!" Bailly added, his grin widening. "Henry Graves, the Earl of Graves, also wants to partner with us."
"The Earl of Graves? You mean the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland?"
"Exactly." Bailly beamed. "He even offered to send ships to a remote Atlantic island to pick up goods, fly the British flag, and transport them to Canada."
At the time, "Canada" was a loose geographical term, with most British colonists concentrated near the Great Lakes. Newfoundland, often used as shorthand for all British North American colonies, underscored the Governor's influence.
"Could this be a British trap?" Gallard asked cautiously.
"Unlikely," Bailly replied, pointing to a note in the report. "The Earl personally purchased over 60% of the first shipment to Canada—350,000 francs worth of wine and textiles."
"I'll send someone to verify…"
In just one month, the Special Trade Association secured partnerships with seven influential British and colonial figures, establishing robust distribution networks with their help.
Some, like the Earl of Graves, even invested their own ships in the operation.
As for Brazil, Portugal's colony, the Creole elite—perpetually agitating for independence and free trade—enthusiastically embraced French goods.
Brazilian independence leader José Xavier himself contacted the smugglers, helping distribute goods and even ordering military supplies like tents and medicine.
On the Indian subcontinent, the French found a reliable distributor in Mysore. Smuggled goods entering India were impossible to track along Mysore's extensive borders with neighboring states.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/johanssen10