Chapter 7: He Was A Genius? (2)
Chapter 7: He Was A Genius? (2)
Marcus was confident in his decision to buy and sell wheat in bulk for a substantial profit. However, to influence others, he needed to first build trust through demonstrated performance.
Who would take Marcus seriously if he proposed buying wheat in advance based solely on his belief that prices would rise?
If he acted too prominently from the start, he might raise suspicions. For now, he decided it was better to establish himself as a promising newcomer with fresh ideas.
'Building a reputation is crucial. I need to start by proving my worth here.' As he examined the workplace, Marcus noticed a broken water wheel. "Septimus, why is that water wheel being repaired?"
"They said its teeth were twisted. It happens quite frequently."
"It happens often? Is the material used for the teeth subpar?"
"I don't think so. However, strangely, the teeth often become extremely worn out. It seems that the overall structure frequently gets damaged."
Marcus felt a surge of satisfaction. This was a problem that could be addressed with basic knowledge, even with just ancient mathematical concepts.
Feigning ignorance, Marcus asked, "Do you know why this happens?"
"Unfortunately, I don't."
"There's always a reason behind any phenomenon. If some of the teeth are fine while others are severely worn, there must be an underlying cause." Marcus carefully examined the wheel, contemplating its condition. "Could it be that the worn-out teeth deteriorate quickly because they always mesh with each other? Conversely, the healthy teeth have fewer meshing points?"
"Perhaps... That seems plausible. It would make sense to test this theory."
"Then wouldn’t the durability improve if all the teeth were evenly meshed during design?"
"Theoretically, yes. But the challenge lies in designing it that way."
"Indeed. But I believe I recently came across something relevant in a geometry book..."
Septimus's eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn’t believe Marcus, who had previously avoided studying, had read a book on geometry.
Noticing Septimus’s astonished gaze, Marcus offered an explanation. "To run a business effectively, a solid understanding of mathematics is essential."
"That’s a good attitude. It seems you’ve matured."
"Yes. Anyway, if I apply the Euclidean algorithm I learned recently, it might resolve the issue. Would you like to see if it makes sense?"
Marcus’s insight surprised Septimus, who was impressed by Marcus's understanding of mathematics.
'Many modern people underestimate ancient intellectual achievements. However, the intellectual rigor of the ancients was substantial. Euclid's theories remained foundational in mathematics until the 19th century.'
Even just examining Euclid's algorithm reveals a detailed method for finding the greatest common divisor and an understanding of coprimality.
The best way to prevent damage to the teeth of a water wheel is to ensure that the number of teeth on each cog is offset from each other.
If the common divisor of the number of teeth is 1, the cogs are disjoint. When the number of meshing teeth is relatively small, each tooth engages with an equal number of counterparts, which leads to even wear and optimized meshing.
Marcus was adept at solving such problems due to his habit of spending time in the library solving issues out of necessity.
'In fact, this principle was likely known in places like Rhodes, where mathematics was highly advanced. However, knowledge and skills varied even within the same region. Given that Rhodes and Rome were about a year apart in terms of the spread of knowledge and technology, it’s probable that few in Rome today fully understand this mathematical principle or use it in designing waterwheels.'
Regardless, Marcus's explanation sounded plausible to Septimus. He instructed the engineer who made the water wheel to conduct an experiment.
"If this really improves the durability of the water wheel, it could have significant benefits. The cost of regular repairs would be greatly reduced."
"True, but even with proven results, it might be best to use this improvement only in our own operations for now."
"Hmm? Why?" Septimus asked.
"While it’s beneficial for us, if others use it, they’ll benefit as well, and the craftsmen who repair these wheels will lose income."
Rome, where wheat was a staple, had numerous mills throughout the country. Since the invention of the cogwheel by Vitruvius, few mills had not employed it. Improving durability would benefit users but reduce profits for repair craftsmen.
Septimus quickly understood Marcus's intentions. "I see. Using the improved design only in our operations does indeed maximize our profits."
"Eventually, others will learn the principle of the sawtooth. When that happens, we can make up for the loss to artisans by adjusting our contracts."
"I didn’t realize you had such knowledge. You truly are a Crassus."
"I'm not just good at creating trouble. Hahaha." Marcus’s light-hearted joke elicited a laugh from Septimus.
Marcus's contributions didn’t end there. He also introduced Septimus to the concept of labor division, which was not yet formalized in ancient Rome.
At that time, labor division referred more to the distribution of industries rather than the division of labor processes. Large farms grew crops for export, while city crafts focused on luxury goods.
Marcus aimed to apply a more systematic approach to labor division, akin to what Adam Smith would later formalize in "The Wealth of Nations."
"It's about breaking down the labor process into various tasks and having individuals or groups perform and collaborate on these tasks. What do you think?"
"How did you come up with this idea?"
"Because I was tired of studying."
"Really?"
"Yes. It seemed that studying multiple subjects at once was inefficient. Repetition and specialization might make things easier."
Septimus was amazed by Marcus’s insight.
Crassus began to question if the so-called "idiot" who had struggled with studies and caused problems might actually be a genius.
"In my judgment, the young master's ideas are worth experimenting with. Let's start with the artisans who make chariots and wagons."
"It could turn out to be just a silly idea, so don't get your hopes up too high."
"No, I have a good feeling about this. I believe production will increase significantly."
**
A few days later, Septimus praised Marcus in front of Crassus.
"He must have exceptional talent in commerce. If he continues to learn and develop, he could double our family's wealth."
"...Are you sure this isn't some new trend in jokes?"
"No, I’m serious. Even though I’ve only observed him for a short time, his talent seems to be at a genius level. He has key insights into the business."
Crassus looked at Septimus as if he had been served an unpleasant surprise.
While it was unlikely for a father to be offended by praise of his child, this praise seemed unrealistic.
"Are you sure you’re not overestimating him just because he’s shown you only one side of himself so far?"
"Absolutely not. I anticipated you’d question this, so I brought the data."
Septimus unfolded a wax woodblock he used as a notebook and showed it to Crassus.
"I tested the sawtooth design based on his idea. The results showed that all the wheels meshed evenly. According to the craftsman, this design will significantly extend the lifespan of the sawtooth."
"Really? Did he achieve this much?"
"Yes, and his concept of labor division is also proving very effective. Although he claimed to have come up with this idea out of frustration with studying, it works remarkably well."
"Really? How does it differ specifically from existing methods?"
Septimus paused for dramatic effect and then whispered the surprising figures to Crassus.
"In terms of simple work speed, there’s a several-fold improvement. This is from an experiment with artisans who are still unfamiliar with this method. Surprisingly, the defect rate also dropped."
Even Crassus was genuinely astonished.
He had not anticipated such a significant increase in productivity simply from dividing and collaborating tasks.
"Impressive... I never imagined he had such talent."
"Indeed. It’s not just a brilliant idea. He also foresaw that even with improved gears, the profit from repairs would decline."
"Intuition for identifying profit opportunities is crucial in commerce. Given that he’s my son, it’s not surprising he has this ability."
"Exactly. Everyone has areas where they excel and others where they do not. It seems that traditional studies didn’t suit him as well."
Crassus, listening to Septimus’s report, couldn’t help but smile.
It was common for a child who struggled with academics to show talent elsewhere. However, Crassus did not expect this would apply to his own son.
That expectation had been spectacularly wrong, but it was a welcome mistake because he could now see his son's true potential.
"If he has talent, we should nurture it. Ensure that you stay close to him and support his development."
"Understood."
After Septimus left, Crassus muttered to himself. "If both sons continue to excel, there’s no reason I should be outmatched by Pompey."
He envisioned an ideal scenario where his second son, Publius, garnered the support of the citizens, while Marcus managed the family’s wealth.
"All that remains is to achieve military success comparable to Pompey’s... But there’s no suitable opportunity at the moment."
—-------
With Septimus’s praise, Marcus’s opportunities widened considerably. Crassus’s personal commitment to developing Marcus’s talents meant that expensive experiments could now proceed with justification.
After catching his breath, Marcus visited Danae. She had changed significantly over the past few days. Her complexion was now healthy, her frizzy hair neatly braided, and her previously malnourished body had gained some weight.
She was still quite slender, but time would address that. With her refined features, she seemed poised to become a charming young woman once she achieved a healthier weight.
"How are things here? Is everything acceptable?"
"Yes, it's much better than before. People treat me kindly, and I'm really enjoying learning. I want to absorb as much knowledge as I can."
"That’s great to hear. I actually think it would be beneficial for you to start learning about the trade as well. I’ll speak to Septimus about it, so you should spend some time with me for now. Is that alright?"
Although women's rights in Rome were limited compared to modern standards, they were relatively advanced for ancient times. The authority of the head of the household was significant, but the role of women in the family could not be disregarded.
A notable example was the repeal of the law against women’s extravagance, which demonstrated that even the head of the family could not fully control the strong opinions of women.
In Rome, upper-class women were key customers in the luxury goods market. They didn’t just buy products; their social networks and political influence were crucial in shaping opinions and trends.
Marcus planned to exploit this area strategically, but he knew there were limits to what he could delegate to men. Once Danae was sufficiently developed, he intended to assign her this role.
Danae’s enthusiasm was evident as she clenched her fists.
"I will do my best with whatever you entrust to me."
"Haha, you’re already doing well. It will be some time before you take on direct responsibilities. For now, keep up the good work."
"I’ll give it my all. I need to be much more capable to serve you well."
Marcus thought Danae’s eagerness might be a bit excessive, but he saw no harm in her dedication and decided to let it be.
"Let’s not worry too much about future tasks for now. By the way, I’m heading to Capua tomorrow. If you have anything to prepare, you should do it in advance."
"We’re going to Capua? Is it for business?"
"No, it’s to visit some friends. I need to maintain my personal connections and shouldn’t neglect them. If any opportunities for profit arise, I’ll handle them."
Many of Marcus’s associates were from prominent senatorial families. Even if he moved away from his previous extravagant lifestyle, he couldn’t ignore potential future VIP clients.
Moreover, Capua was an area Marcus was particularly interested in.
"Will there be any festivals or events in Capua?"
"I’m going to see a gladiatorial match. Capua’s gladiators are the talk of the town these days. There are rumors that their skill level is exceptional."
"Ah, a gladiator match sounds like a festival of its own."
"Yes, especially since the champion of the Capua gladiators is renowned for his impressive prowess." Marcus mentioned a name he was familiar with. "Spartacus."