Different From the Start
The United States is home to many famous people.
For a nation with a history of barely 200 years, it was overflowing with names that even those with no interest in history would have heard at least once. Perhaps that is why it became the world's greatest superpower, but anyway.
My knowledge was limited to the realm of general education rather than that of a historian, but there were names I knew for certain.
Rockefeller, Carnegie, JP Morgan.
I had heard somewhere that the titans representing the United States during the transition from the modern to the contemporary era were active during overlapping periods.
Come to think of it, didn't they say the reason they were able to expand their businesses so easily was because of the money they made during the Civil War?
If that were the case, it would mean that not only Rockefeller, but all of them were promising young men dreaming of massive success right now... Isn't this a "buy the dip" opportunity that won't come again?
Of course, that's just talk; if I were to really sit idly by, there's a high possibility I'd be stabbed in the back, have my entire fortune sucked dry, and then be discarded.
Still, I couldn't let go of prey that had walked right into my mouth.
I requested that Hewitt & Turtle send a representative, as I wanted to review their proposal positively. In the meantime, I happily kept the cotton production running and steadily grew my wealth.
A short while later, I had a fateful encounter.
"Are you John Davison Rockefeller?"
"Yes. I am Rockefeller, a clerk representing Hewitt & Turtle. It is an honor to meet the new Cotton Prince of Mississippi."
"Oh, don't mention it. I was just lucky enough to inherit a large fortune. More than that, it's important to keep growing it from here on out."
We shook hands lightly and went inside.
"By the way, you look very young. How old are you this year?"
"I will be eighteen next year."
Being three years younger than me is at a level where it wouldn't be strange to hear that he's not just young, but a child. They say people with extraordinary talent are different from a young age, but does the current Rockefeller have the qualifications to match his fame?
If it were true that Rockefeller himself wrote the proposal I received, one could say that someone destined for greatness is indeed different, but honestly, I wasn't convinced.
I didn't want to carelessly touch something here and end up causing a bad butterfly effect in history.
I first showed him his proposal and the current agricultural distribution structure of Natchez, then asked:
"What do you think? Besides your proposal, are there any other improvements that could be applied? If there are, I might be willing to sign an additional contract."
"Mr. Sett, if you don't mind, could I take a look at the waybills and cost ledgers of the companies you currently trade with? I can give you a more accurate answer if I look at the actual numbers rather than theories."
An ordinary merchant would have been busy listing only the merits of the goods they brought. But this kid was saying without hesitation that he needed to see the weaknesses to find improvements.
Intrigued, I had Leo bring over a few documents. Rockefeller began to scan the ledgers spread out on the desk, his eyes darting rapidly across the paper filled with numbers.
"As I thought. Mr. Sett, you are only paying for the southbound freight from Cincinnati to Natchez."
"Isn't that natural?"
"That may be so, but if you collaborate with us, we can dramatically improve the costs."
Rockefeller pulled a small notebook and pen from his pocket and scribbled down some numbers.
"The southbound freight rate is 0.9 cents per pound at list price. However, most of the northbound ships returning from Natchez to Cincinnati cannot even fill half their cargo space. If we fill that empty space with return cargo like salt or hardware, the shipping company has nothing to lose, so we can adjust the round-trip freight to an average of 0.7 cents."
[Annual cost reduction of $11,760 possible with 5 shipments per month]
"Oh...!"
"We at Hewitt & Turtle will take responsibility for arranging that northbound cargo. Mr. Sett, you can sit back and save over ten thousand dollars a year."
As expected, even though he's still young, the devil of capitalism is something else. The most important ability in this society. He smells money incredibly well, doesn't he?
"...Excellent. We shall proceed as you proposed."
I signed the contract on the spot. But if his potential is this certain, wouldn't it be better to attempt a collaboration or a scout right now?
Keeping him as an employee under me is stable, but if he holds the title of my subordinate, it might hinder business expansion later on.
"Rockefeller, a talent like you must be a gem even at Hewitt & Turtle, right? You must be receiving treatment befitting that."
At my attempt to probe, a faint shadow crossed Rockefeller's face for the first time.
"...They are fair employers. However, they are satisfied with their current profits. They consider new attempts a risk. And they also view salary increases for employees negatively."
He's still young, indeed. He can't hide his emotions as soon as a topic related to him being treated unfairly comes up. If I poke this side gently, I might find an easy way to win him over.
"Ambition is never a flaw, Rockefeller. A person who recognizes a talented individual will surely appear someday."
His eyes sparkled for a moment, as if he understood what I meant. Digging any deeper would be too obvious, so I naturally changed the subject to investment.
"Speaking of investment, a shrewd person like you must have a unique eye for promising investment opportunities. In an era like this, where do you think one should focus to make money?"
"For starters, the railroad sector is always promising. The Western railroad will surely become a goose that lays golden eggs. Conversely, I honestly think the Western mining sector is quite bubbly. Are you planning to invest in these areas as well, Mr. Sett?"
"I am interested in the Western railroad as well. I'm currently looking into the agricultural sector as an addition."
"Agricultural products...?"
Rockefeller, who had been tilting his head, opened his eyes wide and asked cautiously:
"Is this... insurance for when the relationship between the North and the South deteriorates?"
He thought of that possibility just by hearing this? It seems a human born to become a true billionaire really does exist.
"Such a thing should never happen, but if such a tragedy were to occur, I must respond. It's better to be prepared in advance."
"I agree entirely."
The South cannot achieve food self-sufficiency. This is because they were literally betting their entire vast land on cash crops like cotton and tobacco. To put it simply, half of the current total U.S. corn production, four-fifths of wheat, and seven-eighths of oats were being produced in the North.
If a war breaks out here, the South will inevitably fall into a food crisis, and if I just put in a little effort, my status will soar to the heavens. Of course, even Rockefeller wouldn't be able to foresee that far, so I'd need to add a more plausible explanation.
"Even if an extreme situation doesn't break out, the South's food self-sufficiency rate is too low. Someday the North might use this as a weapon to pressure the South, so if I create insurance in advance, an opportunity to make big money will come."
"Mr. Sett, if you are thinking that far ahead, aren't you already realizing the plan?"
"No. I've had a lot to deal with recently, so it's still in the planning stage. And while the plan is grand, I don't know much about agricultural products, and even less about the medical field."
However, because I know better than anyone how much despair and helplessness a hopeless patient feels, I also have a desire to run a hospital properly once.
And fortunately, if it's about agricultural products, don't I have an expert here?
Rockefeller, who met my gaze, blinked a couple of times, took a short breath, and said:
"Are you... perhaps in need of a capable experienced hire?"
"I'd welcome it. However, it doesn't look good to poach talent directly from a business partner, so it would be better if you went in the form of becoming independent. I will provide the capital, and you will effectively become the representative of a subsidiary of the Sett Plantation."
"...I see. That seems best."
If I bounce a cushion like this once, I can effectively extract money even in fields where I can't touch directly under Rockefeller's name. For example, things like supplying military goods. Doing it directly would be bad for my image, but the expected profits were too large to give up.
"But, Mr. Sett. May I ask you one favor as well?"
"Speak."
"I would like to follow you around for a few months and see how you manage things."
"Are you saying you want to gauge whether this is a place worth nesting in?"
Rockefeller flinched for a moment, as if that were the correct answer. Well, no matter how much he recognizes the future potential and is tempted by money, from the outside, I'm just a silver-spoon kid who was born to good parents and runs a cotton farm well. He probably needs time to judge whether to just take the easy pickings and leave, or trust and follow me as a partner until the end.
"...To be honest, I don't think the prospects for cotton plantations are bright. Leaving aside my personal belief that the slave system is not right."
Although he is one of the synonymous names for a "black company" owner, Rockefeller was actually a devout Christian and an abolitionist. This must be the inevitable limitation of the 19th-century era. So, I want him even more.
"Then we think alike. Why don't you watch from the side how I am preparing for the future and give me objective feedback?"
"Yes? Is that really alright?"
"Of course. I am certain that we will get along quite well."
No matter how much fragmented future knowledge I have, my range of movement is too limited on my own. Above all, aren't you curious how a figure who will be recorded as one of the richest people in America will evaluate 21st-century management methods?
"Then... I will stay by your side for the time being to finalize the contract procedures."
Rockefeller immediately opened his notebook, saying he would do his work thoroughly. The short-term goal is for the Sett family to become the South's largest food supplier before the war breaks out. Others wouldn't even dream of it, but I have a reliable brain, future knowledge, and above all, overwhelming capital.
As expected.
A person must have a lot of money.
I am confident that the food side will succeed if I involve Rockefeller, but in fact, I had one more trick up my sleeve.
This is something Rockefeller cannot help with, and it is a task I must push forward entirely on my own, so I cannot guarantee I can meet the deadline. Therefore, once I've made up my mind, I must act as quickly as possible.
I immediately went to find Kate and John, and the two welcomed me warmly. In particular, John, who had run all the way to my plantation due to a ridiculous misunderstanding last time, could not hide his apologetic expression.
"I'm really sorry, brother-in-law. At that time, I was really... oh, just thinking about it makes my face burn."
"Haha, it's alright. Rather, thanks to you doing that, the situation has improved even more."
"Still, a misunderstanding is a misunderstanding. If you ever need my help later, just let me know anytime."
If he says it like that, I'm never going to decline. He's the one who said to speak up first, right?
"Actually, there was an incident recently where a worker was injured on the farm, so I called a doctor."
As we chatted about this and that, the atmosphere became harmonious, and I quietly brought up the main reason I came here.
"Brother-in-law, sister, how do you handle it when your slaves get sick or hurt?"
"We're about the same as you, brother-in-law. We have them taken to a hospital or call a doctor if it seems serious."
Since slaves are valuable human assets, it's not very strange to have them receive medical treatment if they are sick. If so, wouldn't it be fine to just build a hospital?
The two, who heard my plan, blinked blankly, as if it were a method they had never imagined.
"...You want to build a medical facility to take care of the slaves?"
"If the slaves get sick or hurt anyway, don't you call a doctor or take them to a hospital? If that's the case, it's better to operate a hospital that takes care of our family's slaves. We already have a contract with a personal physician, don't we? If we give them a little more money and ask them to take care of the slaves as well, it would actually be cheaper."
"That... it certainly sounds plausible, but..."
If you combine the slaves of mine, Kate, and the Minor family, the number of slaves alone is nearly 1,500. Furthermore, since I am still buying slaves, this number will exceed 1,700, 1,800, and eventually 2,000.
If it's this much, there are more than enough reasons to operate a medical facility exclusively, and it will actually be a great help in improving the health of the slaves.
"I looked into it, and the Mississippi State Medical Association (MSMA) was founded this year. It would be good to link up with them and grow the medical business even more."
"Then what about the medical staff?"
"We can bring doctors and key assistants from the MSMA, and for nurses, we can use the female slaves who have a lot of experience."
If we also provide medical treatment to poor white men at a low price here, this will be seen as the Sett family's volunteer work for the local residents.
"But brother-in-law, why are you suddenly trying to build something like a hospital? And on such a large scale, too."
"That is..."
A civil war like a nightmare that will cover the entire United States five years from now. The Civil War was the war in which the most Americans died in history, but it was also a family feud where they had to live under one roof.
"Because it seems like it will be profitable for me."
Whether they are Black or white, if they are patients. Whether they are Confederate soldiers or Union soldiers, if they are soldiers suffering in the war. I will melt money to bring in benefits that money can never buy.
This investment will be a massive hit. Absolutely.