America was developed too late; at this time, the prosperous areas were mainly concentrated along the coast. Whether they were immigrants or British nobles who had been enfeoffed, they all liked to build their mansions in the large cities of the East.
When they made money in America, they naturally wanted to enjoy it thoroughly, and the first step in enjoyment was to build grand mansions.
These mansions not only adopted British architectural styles, but even the materials used were often traditional European goods.
The lack of high-end materials in America was one aspect, and the Godfreyering nostalgia for their homeland was another major factor.
Of course, the prices of European luxury goods were already very high, and coupled with the long journey across the ocean to America, for many items, the shipping cost alone already exceeded their intrinsic value.
This was even before the American Revolutionary war. Later, during the gold rush period, some mansions were even directly designed by Europeans, then the materials were assembled according to the blueprints and shipped one by one from Europe, to be assembled by engineers in America.
The nouveau riche claimed that even the stones of their houses were European-made.
The overall value of such a house could no longer be measured by the actual value of its constituent parts.
Fortunately, the golden tobacco continuously produced in America was like an inexhaustible gold mine, bringing generous profits to the colonists and nobles.
Data shows that a hundred years before the American Revolutionary war, the Colonies, with only a little over a million people, already had a per capita income far exceeding that of mainland Britain.
This was truly a coveted, fertile land, which subsequently continuously attracted bankrupt and poor people, risking their lives to cross the ocean by boat to America to make their fortunes.
Powerful plantation owners not only had vast tracts of land but also their own seaports, small fleets, and a territory that was almost like an independent kingdom.
At that time, the strongest and wealthiest nobles in Britain all owned territories in America, and the vast majority of newly enfeoffed nobles preferred to accept a large piece of barren land in America rather than a small piece of fertile land in their home country.
During this American Revolutionary war, many British enfeoffed nobles and pro-British elements, fearing persecution by the Independence Party, rushed to Boston.
However, they were reluctant to part with this fertile land and did not believe they would be unable to return, so many left their homes behind.
But with General Howe's retreat from Boston, they realized that it was unlikely they would ever return to America, so they began to consider selling their land and properties.
This was the first wave of capital withdrawal from America after the war of Independence truly broke out. (There had also been a previous evacuation before the war began).
The Biddle family was both a prominent family in Philadelphia and a traditional financial services family, with long-term business dealings with those evacuating noble and wealthy families.
Naturally, they accepted commissions to handle real estate and properties. Biddle actually had several such estates and castles for sale at this time.
These houses were not unfinished homes from the 21st century; their original owners had been continuously using them, and even when they left, they only took the most portable gold, silver, and valuables, leaving many precious items behind.
Expensive European horses were left in the stables, over a decade of aged wine was stored in the cellars, and costly works by European artists hung in the rooms.
Coupled with the luxurious decorations, it was definitely not just a simple castle.
Several people spent several days touring Philadelphia. Finally, with Biddle' mediation, Charles bought a two-story stone house fully equipped with various appliances near the State Hall for only two thousand pounds.
This was also a property left behind and handled after a pro-British element fled. It had a total of twelve rooms of various sizes, directly facing the street with a short front lawn, but a relatively large garden in the back.
It could only be considered a standard residence for an ordinary wealthy family.
It was fully equipped with various household items; after moving in, one only needed to buy a few things to use it, and Charles even kept the original owner's servants.
The only drawback was that the number of rooms was small and the area was relatively not large enough. If it weren't for the prosperous location, it wouldn't have cost such a high price.
It's not that there weren't better houses, but those houses were too expensive. Philadelphia had now become a standard big city, and housing prices were definitely incomparable to Pittsburgh.
A standard, fully equipped manor-style mansion was priced at around nearly ten thousand pounds, while a more luxurious palace-style castle would cost tens of thousands of pounds, though there were truly only a few such houses in all of Philadelphia.
Charles only had a total of fifty thousand pounds. If he bought a castle in Philadelphia, there would be no funds left for construction in Pittsburgh, so he could only buy a temporary residence.
This house also had another advantage: Charles felt that in the future, when he had more money and Philadelphia was more developed, he could completely renovate this house, convert the front into a street-facing shop, build a warehouse in the back, and it could become a very good large store.
With so many wealthy individuals and politicians in Philadelphia, it would be very difficult for Charles, a "young man from rural Pittsburgh," to make a name for himself in Philadelphia.
That so-called noble status might earn some respect from conservatives in Britain, but most influential figures in America were descendants of fallen nobles who, after becoming rich, valued personal talent more and did not care about noble status.
To gain their respect, one must have sufficient strength and influence.
Charles' series of actions in Philadelphia, such as speculating on land, proposing the construction of canals, and announcing war news to the common people, had already gained considerable influence among the populace and the upper class.
However, his foundation was not solid. As a newcomer, his influence had not yet deeply permeated people's hearts, and influence without strength as a backing could be eliminated by opponents using tricks at any time.
Just like when Adams wanted to investigate his integrity last time, it was very dangerous.
Therefore, Charles' current development focus was still on Pittsburgh; Philadelphia was currently just a necessary place to operate.
Only when his power in Pittsburgh developed could he influence the superstructure through the grassroots foundation.
With strong power, opponents would have to think twice before using any underhanded tactics.
After resolving the housing issue, and with no major matters pending at the Continental Congress, Charles felt he had been away for a long time.
He was a little worried about his hundred thousand acres of land back home and also concerned that the wealthy families of Philadelphia might play tricks in his absence.
After requesting leave from President Hancock, he decided to leave James to look after things and keep an eye on the medicine, while Charles himself returned to Pittsburgh with the others.
May 1st, this day would later become Labor Day, but now it was just an ordinary day.
The workers and farmers of Pittsburgh had no awareness of such human rights; they only knew how to make money, and as long as they weren't unemployed, they were willing to do even the most tiring and difficult work.
Charles Godfrey had left Pittsburgh in less than March, and after more than two months, he finally returned to Pittsburgh.
Still far outside the town, Charles saw several short, thick chimneys, with thick smoke billowing out like gushing springs.
And the people in the town completely ignored the increasingly dense smoke and dust above the town, walking below, sweating and laughing.
"Charles! You are truly the pride of our Pittsburgh, having become a representative to the Continental Congress. On behalf of all townspeople, I welcome your return!"
"Councilor Charles, welcome back to Pittsburgh!"
"Sir! Welcome home!"
Patrick, the elected town mayor of Pittsburgh, Antoine, the self-defense force commander, Greenspan, the head of the Li family in Pittsburgh, and a large group of prominent figures and workers from Pittsburgh gathered at the town entrance to welcome Charles.
"Thank you, everyone!"
When Charles first saw the large welcoming crowd, he thought Patrick was deliberately putting on a show.
But as he got closer, he found that most of these people were very familiar.
The original Pittsburgh residents went without saying, and many of the new faces he had also mostly seen before.
Several well-dressed and refined individuals were representatives and managers sent by several wealthy Philadelphia businessmen to Pittsburgh.
They were currently mainly responsible for the initial development of those barren lands and mineral resources.
The Pittsburgh Coal Joint Company had not yet been established, but some of these individuals were already designated representatives by the wealthy businessmen and would certainly participate in the work of the Coal Joint Company in the future.
So, when Charles returned this time, they came to greet him as if he were their own sir.
The other people were basically the result of Charles' continuous promotion of Pittsburgh.
On his way to Philadelphia, he constantly advertised Pittsburgh, promoting it as a paradise, which naturally attracted many people's attention.
The effect was so great that at the time, Pittsburgh's houses and job opportunities could not accommodate everyone at once.
However, it was precisely at that time that the wealthy Philadelphia businessmen who came to Pittsburgh to inspect land at Charles Godfrey's suggestion arrived.
They hired a large number of people for surveying and exploration, and after purchasing land, they undertook large-scale construction, building houses and excavating minerals.
Coupled with the plan to build canals, this not only solved the employment problem for these people but also attracted more people to come.
In fact, the newly relocated people were mainly workers for the canal construction, but they were simply working for a living and basically did not know Charles, nor did they feel particularly grateful to him, so they did not appear in the welcoming crowd.
And Pittsburgh, after several waves of population influx, was no longer the small fortress it once was.
At this time, Pittsburgh was already a real small town.
According to Mayor Patrick, she was even the "largest town in the West."