Chapter 528: There's Nothing Money Can't Solve—If There Is, Use More Money!
The vineyard owner, Marier, lit up upon hearing this.
For weeks, he had been troubled by the inability to sell his wine. Champagne was flooded with wineries producing immense quantities, far beyond what the local market could consume. Most of the wine had to be sold to German regions, but the ongoing trade disruptions had left his stock piling up.
Now, out of the blue, a trade caravan had come to solve his problem—and on better terms than previous traders. In the past, many caravans deducted a "sour wine discount" of 5% even before payment, citing faulty products.
But this Mr. Bonat assured him that such losses could now be covered by "property insurance," all without costing Marier a penny.
This alone would save him nearly 1,000 francs annually.
Intrigued, Marier asked, "Mr. Bonat, how did you secure such a favorable insurance agreement?"
"That's a trade secret," Bonat replied with a shake of his head, before leaning in conspiratorially. "But since we're friends, I can share a little.
"Our caravan is part of the French Trade Alliance, which has a master agreement with the Royal Insurance Company. The policy covers up to nearly a million francs, ensuring compensation for losses from robberies or accidental damage to goods.
"Ordinary caravans could never get terms this advantageous."
Marier nodded, his face alight with understanding. A sly smile crept across his lips as he proposed, "If that's the case, we could cooperate to take advantage of the insurance. For example, we could label some high-quality wine as faulty, claim the insurance payout, and then resell it…"
"That's out of the question!" Bonat interrupted firmly. "The caravan includes insurance company representatives who monitor all goods closely."
After all, both the Trade Alliance and the Royal Insurance Company were under the same ultimate authority—the Prince. There was no way they'd allow anyone to exploit the system and "shear the sheep."
Marier sighed in disappointment but relented, nodding. "Then we'll go with your terms—310 francs per barrel for this shipment."
He gestured toward the towering stacks of oak barrels, their rich aroma filling the air. "There are 121 barrels in total. But…"
He hesitated before continuing, "I'd like the full 20,000 francs upfront. Please understand, we've never worked with your caravan before…"
Typically, caravans only paid 30% of the invoice upfront, rarely exceeding 40%, with the remainder paid after the goods were sold. Marier's demand of over 50% was unusual.
His reasoning, however, wasn't entirely honest. Both the Minister of Trade and the Governor of Champagne had vouched for the Trade Alliance's credibility, leaving little cause for concern. The real issue was Marier's cash flow; with so much unsold stock, his funds were nearly depleted.
He doubted Bonat would agree to his terms but figured there was no harm in asking. To his surprise, Bonat hesitated only briefly before nodding. "As a gesture of goodwill for our first collaboration, I'll agree. But for future transactions, the advance payment will return to the standard 30%."
"Yes, yes, 30% from now on. You are truly a generous gentleman," Marier replied, elated. Wasting no time, he ushered Bonat into his office to finalize the agreement.
Bonat smiled in satisfaction. This marked the third deal he had sealed that day.
His directive from his boss was clear: "Restore trade in Champagne as quickly as possible." With near-limitless funds at his disposal, he had an undeniable edge in negotiations.
In fact, these deals were highly profitable for the Trade Alliance. High-end Champagne wines like those from Marier's estate typically sold for at least 330 francs per barrel. Due to the trade disruptions, many vineyard owners had been forced to lower their prices. By entering the market at this time, the Alliance was reaping substantial gains.
A Week Later
A convoy of the French Trade Alliance, led by the Picard-Brown Caravan in Champagne, set off toward Strasbourg with a fleet of over a dozen wagons. From there, they would cross into Baden and spend the next month selling goods across German territories.
Meanwhile, in a villa east of Champagne City, François Revnet stood by the window, his expression dark as he watched the caravan disappear into the distance.
Revnet was the owner of "Credit and Quality," Champagne's largest trading caravan, responsible for nearly 40% of the region's commerce.
At the behest of the caravan's largest shareholder, Viscount Fould, he had suspended all operations. Fould had paid him 10,000 francs in compensation for the disruption.
Initially, Revnet believed he had struck gold. Without his caravan, local vineyards and workshops would have no way to sell their goods. He figured that after a few months, business would inevitably return to him, with desperate sellers offering their products at heavily discounted rates.
Indeed, the first signs of this had already emerged. But then, the Picard-Brown Caravan appeared out of nowhere, sweeping up nearly all the surplus stock in Champagne. Today, they had departed for Germany, fully loaded.
Revnet was baffled. How could a small caravan, with assets barely exceeding 30,000 francs, suddenly afford to purchase goods worth at least 400,000 francs?
Just then, his son burst into the room with a report.
"Father, I've found out. Picard joined an organization called the French Trade Alliance, which provided them with a huge investment."
Revnet's eyes widened in shock. "400,000 francs? That much?"
"It seems so," his son replied.
Revnet slumped into his chair, overwhelmed by frustration. If this was true, then Picard-Brown was now the dominant player in Champagne's trade.
Furthermore, by halting his operations, Revnet had severely damaged his reputation among vineyards and workshops. He could already foresee his future struggles in competing against Picard-Brown.
"Damn you, Fould!" he cursed through clenched teeth. "You've ruined me!"
The 10,000 francs he had earned from Fould now seemed like a pittance compared to the 50,000 francs in profits he stood to lose this year.
His son, realizing the situation, hesitated before asking, "Father, should we resume operations?"
Revnet fell silent, torn. Resuming operations would undoubtedly anger Fould, his largest shareholder.
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