Chapter 610: Crawley

"Here we must have a clear understanding: poor digestion in the human body leads to many kinds of diseases, and this point is especially critical for the nobility who consume large amounts of meat!"

"Tea aids digestion, which means it can indirectly treat some common digestive ailments. Yes — although our promotion focuses on tea's refreshing and digestion-aiding properties, we can absolutely attach some 'unremarkable' medicinal effects at the same time. I have here a document on tea's indications — you will memorize it thoroughly after class."

In the Ministry of Commerce conference room arranged with circular desktops, Mr. Crawley and his team were listening intently to the teacher's lecture.

Over a week had passed since he became the Ministry of Commerce's designated agent for Chinese black tea.

During this time, Crawley had been frantically busy.

First, he needed to visit various departments to register a proper foreign trade Company and handle other formalities, in order to interface with the import-export company under the Ministry of Commerce. Acting as an agent for tea sales was a business-to-business matter; Crawley could not deal with Chinese companies as a private individual.

Thus, with the Ministry of Commerce expediting matters, "Britain Downton Food Limited Liability Company" and Downton Company's proprietary tea brand "Downton" were registered in just a single week.

As for this brand name, it was without a doubt a "private suggestion" from the Ministry of Commerce's big shot Li Hao. As for Crawley's thoughts — he had no idea about the cultural background anyway. Whether it was called Lipton or Downton, it didn't matter to him.

After Downton Company, which held the general agency rights for all of Europe, was established, the second step was forming the company's founding team.

Such an important and large-scale commercial undertaking was naturally not something one British fellow could handle alone. On this point, since Mr. Crawley currently had no commercial connections or subordinates in East Asia, after consultation between both sides, the Ministry of Commerce took care of it on his behalf, providing him with a simple startup team.

The team was composed of several individuals from different backgrounds. First among them was a young man in his twenties with a face full of heroic spirit, called Sima Jishi.

Sima Jishi was from Fuzhou in Fujian, born into a middle-class family of certified students. Well-nourished from childhood and tall in stature, he was a business elite personally recruited and trained by the Ministry of Commerce. Such a prized talent would not have been urgently released for work had the tea export mission not been so significant.

Previously, Sima Jishi had taken French as his elective, so he could communicate with Crawley in French — in the seventeenth century, French was the prestigious continental lingua franca of Europe; English was truly used only by plebeians.

The twenty-five-year-old Sima Jishi joined Mr. Crawley's startup team this time wearing multiple hats. He was to serve not only as Translator but also as the team's Deputy Factory Manager. Moreover, he actually also represented the will of the Earl of the East, making him an authorized official figure.

Besides Sima Jishi, the team also included a middle-aged Shopkeeper. This unremarkable-looking but smooth and worldly figure, though also dispatched by the Ministry of Commerce, had his true background in the Intelligence Department.

There was no helping it — when the Intelligence Department wanted to insert someone, even the Ministry of Commerce could not block it.

Apart from these two core Deputy Factory Managers, the team also included the two Portuguese girls from before who were skilled in the full tea ceremony.

The girls had been trained by the Ministry of Commerce from the start; they were no simple maidservants. They not only knew the tea ceremony but were also well-versed in various Eastern and Western court etiquettes. In addition, they had also received some instruction in marketing concepts.

Once they returned to Europe, they would be Downton Company's social butterflies and senior beverage representatives.

This position was also very important. The initial market would certainly have to be opened through the upper classes, and according to historical patterns, the high-ranking female market within the rear palaces of Europe's royal houses was of paramount importance.

Under such circumstances, Crawley as a male would find it inconvenient to appear at afternoon tea gatherings crowded with royal women, so the company needed female sales guides.

Besides the four core staff members above, Crawley had also temporarily hired two attendants as his own private retinue.

Of the two attendants, one was the young accountant from the Jacob's Wife, a British man. Out of consideration for him being a fellow countryman who could do arithmetic, Crawley offered him a decent wage and hired him.

As for the second attendant, it was that boy servant of Crawley's from the Shang Hall.

At present, Mr. Crawley was already a successful merchant, so naturally he needed Chang Sui and companions at his side. This was still in the East; once he returned to Europe, even just for the sake of the company's image, even more personal attendants would appear around him.

The above was Downton Company's startup team. Though rudimentary, it was vibrant and full of life, and he believed it would surely stir up a storm of blood and wind in Europe in the future.

Of course, before that, the entrepreneurs still had to undergo a large company's standard procedure: systematic training.

For this purpose, the Ministry of Commerce specially allocated a conference room as a classroom and sent teachers in rotation to give lessons to the startup team.

Those who came to conduct the training were basically all Transmigrators who could speak English. The teachers came from all trades and professions, mostly invited here, who would take a bit of spare time to come give a lecture and then disappear.

But this was already sufficient. In any case, with the Ministry of Commerce's training syllabus in place, there was no fear of the teachers lecturing haphazardly — seventeenth-century business rules were still vastly different from those of later generations; although the underlying principles remained unchanged, one could not mechanically apply the business warfare experience of later generations.

Today's session was relatively important, because the lecturer was none other than Li Hao, the very instigator who had single-handedly pushed forward the export of black tea.

Li Hao had finally made time to train Downton Company's staff, so he lectured meticulously. At the end, he also assigned a homework task on tea indications and required the students to work hard on it.

With the homework assigned, today's training was considered over. The students, differing in age, nationality, and skin color, rose one after another, packed up their things, and left.

But everyone knew that today's real homework was only just beginning: every time Li Hao himself graced them with his presence, Crawley would certainly have a private talk with the Deputy Minister, who handled countless affairs daily.

Crawley himself was also very anxiously awaiting this opportunity.

After so much preparatory work, the British fellow was now very clearly aware of the heavy responsibility he bore.

This encompassed not only the Ministry of Commerce's enormous investment. Even the tedious and meticulous preparatory work in the early stages had made the British fellow feel immense pressure amid his shock.

By comparison, Crawley's own modest investment, as well as his personal career ambitions, seemed somewhat insignificant.

Crawley realized he had boarded a heavy war chariot that was already in motion; there was no turning back. Either he succeeded, or he would be crushed to pieces.

All of this weighed on him like a mountain.

So now, he would seize every opportunity to communicate with Li Hao. Crawley was very clear that at this point, only Li Hao could sincerely help him. He and Li Hao were already deeply bound together; whether the tea enterprise succeeded or failed would have an enormous impact on both their futures.

Thus, after the others had walked out of the conference room, Crawley, who remained behind, immediately asked urgently: "My dear Li, regarding what the various instructors have repeatedly emphasized — 'swiftly opening the markets of each country' — I think it is somewhat too rushed. After all, I am merely the second son of a country Baron; to gain entry into the gardens of Dukes and royalty requires a great deal of time and money."

Hearing Crawley's undisguisedly blunt question, Li Hao was not particularly surprised.

He did not answer Crawley's question, but first flipped through the lecture notes in his hand, then said: "Mm, according to the syllabus, the early-stage market sales training segment basically concludes today."

"You are very clever; you've already realized the crux of the problem." Li Hao put away his lecture notes and expertly patted Crawley on the shoulder: "Come with me. It's time to take you to solve some real problems."

Leading the British fellow, Li Hao went all the way out of the Ministry of Commerce, boarded a magnificent four-wheeled official carriage, and headed straight for the New District First Hospital.

At the sprawling First Hospital, Crawley was ultimately brought to the "Special Medicine Warehouse" guarded by sentries. In a room here, Crawley saw some medicines Li Hao had long since prepared.

"For a noble of the lowest rank to worm his way into high society, under normal circumstances, it requires years of effort and the cultivation of connections. If you want to accelerate this process, then the traditional method can only be throwing money around — in other words, being a nouveau riche."

"But if you rely on paving the way with gold coins to promote tea, not only does it run counter to our original intent, but you'll also very easily be seen as a 'mark.' This kind of situation is very dangerous; not only will you fail to gain respect, you might even attract many greedy gazes fixed on the gold coins in your pocket."

"For this, I have long been prepared."

At this point, Li Hao used his thumb and forefinger to pick up a glass medicine bottle on the table that was only the size of a fingertip: "Crawley, do you know what this is?"

Crawley's eyes were already alight with excitement; he had anticipated what the other party was about to say: "Is this the legendary specific remedy for beriberi?"

"Kings and queens don't go on long sea voyages; what would they need Vitamin Pills for?"

Li Hao made a dismissive "Tch" sound: "This is the Smallpox Vaccine. Mm, what you call leprosy!"

"Ah! My God, is this that miraculous remedy I've been thinking of?"

"YES!"

"So the rumors among merchants are true — none of your children here contract leprosy! Oh, my God!"

"Alright, stop calling on God. In the East, the old man above has the final say."

"My dear Li, I think that with this medicine, I can set off on my journey. I am now full of confidence in the future."

Seeing Mr. Crawley, who had originally been weighed down with cares, now brimming with heroic spirit as if injected with chicken blood, Li Hao knew the British fellow had grasped the value of the pharmaceuticals: "Yes, nothing is more important than life. I will provide you with a batch of medicines. This includes not only the Smallpox Vaccine, but also treatments for the pox — mm, I know that European noble circles have always been rather loose, and illnesses from group activities are very common — you understand my meaning, right? There are specific remedies."

"Crawley assures you, they will be put to proper use."

Li Hao nodded, then added finally: "Next, I will arrange for someone to give you private training, so you can learn the usage techniques and taboos of these medicines. Take note — without my permission, you are not to spread this knowledge to anyone. Otherwise, destruction is what awaits you! Do not think I cannot find you just because you are in Britain."

Crawley bent his waist sincerely: "I swear upon the glory of the Crowley family — not a shred of the knowledge I learn here shall ever be spread to anyone!"

Seeing the British man was on the right track, Li Hao finally nodded: "Once you have mastered the methods of using the medicines, you may set sail and return home. Furthermore, a personal suggestion — the first stop for opening up your market would be best to begin with Spain. Prince Asturias is only three years old this year and has always been frail and sickly. If you can help the sole heir to the Kingdom of Spain avoid the ravages of leprosy, just imagine what Philip IV would bestow upon you!"

"My dear Li, the Crowley family will remember for all generations, and never forget your generosity and kindness!"