"Hahaha! Councilor Morris, don't be so anxious.
The several tycoons spoke very directly and frankly; I just heard some offering shares, some offering things, and some wanting to give money directly.
I like all of these, but I'm sorry, I cannot accept them," Charles said with a hearty laugh.
He cursed those people inwardly, calling them bumpkins and savages for openly bribing an official in front of another.
Fortunately, such bribery wasn't regulated by any special agency at the moment, and he was completely using his intelligence to acquire wealth, so no one should think he was taking advantage.
He continued, "However, to thank you for your enthusiasm, I've decided to tell you another way to get rich.
This time it's also a large one-time investment, but you can choose to withdraw it at any time."
At this, the tycoons immediately quieted down, watching Charles without blinking, waiting to hear what other money-making method this young Councilor could propose.
Charles looked around, very satisfied with the tycoons' reactions, and couldn't help but feel a little smug.
He never imagined he would have a day where such important figures treated him with such respect.
Fortunately, he had always been a pragmatic person and didn't let it go to his head; a moment of pride was enough, and he maintained a very sincere expression as he said, "Currently, Pittsburgh's land prices, while having appreciated considerably due to the discovery of coal mines, are still limited in their appreciation because the coal cannot be transported to the prosperous East.
Thus, compared to its actual value, it is far too cheap.
And the Continental Congress and Pennsylvania, in order to raise military funds for the Continental army, are very willing to sell some uncultivated lands in the West (as understood in 1776).
So now is a good time to buy land.
However, cheap land is based on the premise that the East and West are not connected.
Once news of our plan to build the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Canal gets out, land prices will immediately return to normal.
Moreover, people will certainly realize that Pittsburgh's coal and iron industries will flourish.
At that time, people will flock to Pittsburgh, and land prices will rise steadily.
If you're lucky enough to buy land with coal or iron mines underneath, then congratulations, your land will appreciate dozens of times over!"
"Whew…" Everyone couldn't help but gasp.
Charles' words were clear: rush to buy land in Pittsburgh before news of the canal construction leaks.
Once the canal is built, whether they choose to develop it themselves or sell it to others, there will be enormous profits.
In any era, there are people who can foresee the appreciation of land value brought by development, but at this time, there were certainly no clear theoretical concepts.
In fact, even if Charles hadn't said anything, a few people might have thought of this, gone to the state government to buy a piece of land in advance, and made good use of it.
But now that Charles had stated it so clearly, the outcome was completely different.
Guidance from others, clearly understood, would certainly have a greater impact than one's own casual thoughts.
Moreover, now everyone might buy land together, and with more people, things naturally feel more secure and audacious.
These people were no longer just thinking of buying one piece, but were preparing to buy as much land as possible, without affecting their other affairs.
In fact, if such land speculation were merely individual behavior, the land value wouldn't be driven too high.
After all, the land was in the government's hands, and it was unlikely that it would be impossible to buy, nor would the government arbitrarily raise prices to affect urban development.
But now that Charles had proposed it, and everyone would act together to hoard land, the effect would be significant.
Charles could fully predict that the price of land in Pittsburgh would then be decided by the few people in the room today.
However, a problem also arose.
Previously, for Charles' generosity in contributing the idea of building the canal, they could show their gratitude through gifts, money, or shares.
But now, with Charles' new idea, they suddenly felt somewhat unable to express their gratitude for his generosity.
Not showing gratitude was not an option.
Charles' partner, Biddle, was watching, and his own official status was also evident.
He was also the planner of the scheme, and it involved the future friendship of their alliance.
These people couldn't just take benefits without doing anything.
Since he was willing to put forward such a profitable plan, he must have some demands.
If the return here was slightly less, it could have a negative impact on the cooperation.
"Councilor Charles, since you've given us two such profitable plans, you certainly wouldn't give us benefits for nothing.
What kind of return do you need? Please just say it directly."
The wealthy tycoons, unable to figure out what Charles needed in return, finally chose to ask him directly.
Charles mused, thinking, "I originally just wanted to attract your investment, but since you wouldn't come without profit, I told you the whole plan.
Now that there's profit, you're still worried that I'm giving it away for free with ill intentions.
I really don't know whether to call you stupid or to accuse you of judging a gentleman by your own petty standards."
"I think giving Councilor Charles a portion of the shares is most appropriate.
Councilor Charles is busy with matters of the Continental Congress and the Pennsylvania Assembly, so he must have given us this benefit because he cannot participate personally.
Giving His Excellency a portion of the shares should be most in line with Councilor Charles' interests," Eunice and Lionel discussed, thinking themselves clever.
In reality, they felt that they should now focus all their energy on buying land in Pittsburgh and were reluctant to give away readily liquidable cash gifts.
Among the tycoons invited this time, they had the least wealth, but if their share after the appreciation of their two mines in Pittsburgh was included, they could already compete with the others.
Precisely because they already owned mines in Pittsburgh and had given gifts to Charles, and their relationship with Charles was relatively closer, Charles had invited the two of them.
This was to avoid a future joint venture being entirely composed of friends of the Biddle family, which would effectively sideline him.
Charles saw the expressions of the tycoons and, now understanding their characters, simply stated his demands directly: "I don't want your shares, nor do I want your cash returns.
Regarding the matter of building the canal, all I ask is that you allow my directly-owned vessels to pass through for free in the future.
As for buying land, I hope to organize everyone to establish a Pittsburgh Coal Syndicate Company to jointly market the coal produced in Pittsburgh, with voting rights allocated according to each household's approximate coal reserves."
"How can we accept that?" The tycoons still felt that Charles' return this time was insufficient.
"Of course, you can have free passage through the canal, but the coal syndicate is also something that benefits all of us; it can't be considered remuneration, can it?"
"Haha! Then let's just say you owe me a favor.
When I need your help in the future, please don't decline," Charles said with a hearty laugh.
These tycoons, having been in business for a long time, feared matters that couldn't be clarified immediately the most.
However, they couldn't think of a way to repay the favor immediately, so they simply raised their hands and swore they would not decline.
Although Charles didn't trust their promises, he didn't care.
After all, speculating on land would benefit the appreciation of his own land, and he also had a temporary land acquisition plan, which he could quickly resell at a high price.
Establishing a coal syndicate would also benefit the pricing of his coal.
Even if these people didn't want to do it, he would force them to.
If Charles were still not content after appreciating his own industry and gaining a favor for free, then he would be struck by lightning.
Roughly based on the contract drafted by James and incorporating the opinions of the Philadelphia tycoons, after both parties signed the formal agreement, Charles redirected his attention to the steam engine.
He already had real estate and the canal as two means of making money, so his need for quick cash wasn't as great.
However, the steam engine was not only a means of generating income but also a magic weapon to secure his position.
Science and technology are productive forces; similarly, backwardness leads to being beaten.
With the steam engine, representing the most advanced technology of this era, he could further secure his interests.
Just as those workers had been unemployed for several days and were all eagerly hoping for new jobs, now that Charles was willing to hire them at their original wage level, they only packed for one night.
The next day, they rushed to find Charles, hoping to go to Pittsburgh as soon as possible and start work.
Charles had a sudden idea and asked William to draw the steam engine they used before.
"What! This is the steam engine you drew?" Charles held up the drawing in his hand, dumbfounded.
"Are you sure your drawing skills are not an issue?"
This was not the steam engine he remembered, or rather, imagined.
The most prominent features on the drawing were two egg-shaped objects standing side by side, along with a combustion chamber.
Other than that, there were just some pipes and such; it didn't even have the most representative pushing lever found on steam locomotive engines.
"Yes, sir, the steam engine is like that.
I drew it several times, and this one is the most accurate," poor William thought Charles was genuinely scolding him for his poor drawing.
"Then, Mr. William, can you tell me what these two eggs, this steam engine, are used for?" Charles even suspected that perhaps William's concept of a steam engine was not the same as the one he was talking about.