A hunchbacked creature stood before Jan. Its head twitched and its whiskers shivered alongside it. Its paws grasped each other tightly, and it struggled to stand up on its hind legs. Its tail swayed from side to side.
It was the first time he met up close with this world's rat people. All images he saw were mere depictions in books. But here, an alive specimen stood proud telling all its viewers that it was alive. As the creature placed its paws back on the ground, Jan pointed at a nearby seat in his office. It took the seat and slouched as chairs were not designed for these rat people.
"Ratfrica's Mining Co at your service. I heard you're looking for land to be surveyed for potential minerals. I and the boys helped found the Cape's first few iron mines, but the banks won't tell you that as we signed a contract keeping us mum. So, keep it a secret between us?" The rat spoke with an Austrian accent, and Jan had to stop himself from laughing us out. It was truly an absurd situation.
"We're looking into conducting land surveys in Zululand soon. But for now, stick around this domain."
"How will you pay us? Got an advance fee? Or by commission?"
"Commission."
The rat's whiskers curled up upon hearing his words.
"50% for whatever we find. Bring us to the table for any future negotiations with mining companies, we will get you the best deal."
Jan pouted.
"50% is too much. And you're not the only mining company in Elfrica. 10%, after your survey, you get free money going your way."
"There are many newbies in this business. I have formal certification from Banská Štiavnica in Austria or English, Mining Academy. Here's a reproduction," The Austrian rat unfurled a document that had words decorated in incomprehensible German. Luckily, Elfrikaans inherited some words from German, so he recognises some without batting an eye.
"Anyone can reproduce such a document. I have not seen certification from such a school before. What can I compare it with?"
The rat scowled if the way it turned its nose upright seemed.
"I have not heard of South African College. Must be some no-name school."
Jan's eyebrows raised, and the rat proudly kept his certification.
"30%. I'll let you off the hook for insulting the university I hail from." The Austrian rat took out a compass in his hands and observed its readings.
"20%. Much of this land is unexplored. You can have the first mover's advantage and exploit much of the land's mineral deposits. Which other Commando can offer you such a deal?"
"Without the port, constructing mines would be inane due to the horrendous location. With the port, I can go and meet with other Commandoes and negotiate a more favourable deal. Who would refuse free money?"
Jan snickered.
"All of those deposits have to go through this port. Extract too much wealth, and the big corporations jump in, so you can't ship them to Port Natal. What's stopping me to apply tariffs on your minerals?"
"You're not the one in charge. The Zulus next door have similar powers. I can negotiate a deal with them."
"You can bring them through the land. But most of the port's affairs by sea are handed by us Boers. You can't escape me through such backdoor strategies. I'll give you 25% of the cut. But you better help us negotiate good deals with mining companies, your bottom line is at stake."
The rat took out a pocket watch and watched the minute hand pass by the hour hand. Its tail thumped against the ground. Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Just for you, I'll accept this deal, but I do hope for the surveys in the Zulu Kingdom. It would be most profitable if a deal is hashed out."
The influx of various goods has depressed the prices of many goods in the local markets. Most important of all were agricultural foodstuffs. Many subsistence farmers went to the markets to only see they bring home less and less day by day. This only caused mass dumping of agricultural goods once they are harvested onto the markets, depressing their prices, even more, and causing a massive glut. The farmers were angry with the status quo in Port Mpande and sent a representative to Jan's office.
Here is the transcription written by a bureaucrat jotting down the meeting's proceedings in English.
"Oh? A rather young man our dear Commando is. I'm sure you will do your best in managing the town, but I worry for its future due to your lack of experience." The farmers' representative was a white man in his forties. When they shook hands, Jan could feel his calloused hands prickling against his skin.
The representative frowned upon feeling the smoothness of his scholarly hands.
"We all know why you're here, Mr…"
"Harrie Victorie, just call me Harrie."
Jan nodded and noted it in his head.
Harrie Victorie calmly explained the farmer's case. This was all due to the Zulus who only also had agricultural products to trade. If their supply was cut off from the markets, then prices would stabilize.
There was another way as Harrie elaborated, that was to find new markets to export the farmer's crops, which Jan frowned at. Harrie nodded in silence, knowing that it was practically impossible. There was little to sell food to. Even if they desired essentials like food, what could they trade for it?
"Your first suggestion would only aggravate tensions between the Zulus and the Boers. This port is built by the two groups' combined efforts. Excluding the Zulu would bring the end to this port."
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"That's why my suggestion is to add tariffs on their goods. Make it more expensive for them to sell their goods in our districts. Even if they retaliate with tariffs on our goods, trading volume is little since few would pay much for cattle and maize."
"There's the leopard skin."
"That's not an essential good, sir. A normal farmer like me could only get a bare strip based on what they're charging their prices on."
"Last time I checked. They also had ivory goods trade."
"But such luxury goods are for foreigners. One of these help solves the current problem in the markets. That is why, sir. I hope you will exclude Zulus from our markets. But I understand your predicament, that's why I hope tariffs on Zulu goods will be enacted."
'Smart farmer,' Jan thought to himself. He supposed there were a few intelligent people who lacked the chance to shine in the sun without the knowledge of reading and writing. The confusion Harrie's eyes looked over his papers as he placed various documents on the table said a lot.
"I'll take your words into account. I'll solve this issue soon."
Harrie stood up and left the room. But before he could put a foot out of Jan's office, Jan called up.
"Wait."
Harrie stopped.
"I need a capable man to be my Veldkornet. You seemed like someone who can manage a district well."
The farmer scratched the back of his head, surprise was written all over his face.
"My apologies, I cannot read and write."
Harrie's eyes scanned the various documents around Jan's office.
"There is no need to do so. Some of these men and women around me can help do the reading and writing for you as your assistant. All you have to do is to ensure your fellow men live well."
"I'll think about it."
Harrie replied similarly to Jan's reply to him about solving the agricultural issue. Jan's lips curled down, disappointed that he could not buy him over so easily.
It is a troublesome issue. Most of the Boer farmers made up most of his power base. Overwhelmingly, the Boers supported him because he was a Boer like them, and he brought some amount of foreign capital into the Port, enriching them somewhat. These urban dwellers benefited the most and abandoned their ways of subsistence farming. But the vast majority still ran farms, so it wasn't like he could throw their concerns to the side. If the issue was resolved properly, he was likely to be deposed.
The easy solution will be to do as the farmer said, levy tariffs on Zulu goods. But he knew what the long-term ramifications were. Starting a trade war spat on the trust he was trying to form with the two groups.
He picked up one of the various accounts the bureaucrats made and flipped through it. Specifically, he focused on the trades that he could affect, the few arms sales to the Zulu. At first, all he got in return was food, used to enable a small urban class of people to live by the Port. But that trade grew over time and now the market had too much food. It might be time to renegotiate such deals. But even if he did so, it would be a drop in the bucket.
Zulus were selling their food too cheap. Maize and cattle were too common, and they were devaluing the price of food in the market. Farmers could spend some time diversifying their crops, but their families will be starving for some months.
Taking in a deep breath, he decided to focus on the things he can change, which is a renegotiated trade deal.
Calling out to an elven bureaucrat, " Umzuzu, could you get Nokuthula, I have some affairs to discuss with her."
The elf left his office.
"You want to rediscuss the arms trade? I've already prepared this month's batch of cattle. Such changes would have to be applied in place next month."
Nokuthula groaned. Coming into Jan's office always meant trouble, more work and trouble were always brought her way. That man would make sudden changes, forcing others to work harder to apply the changes. But then more changes would come, giving others more work.
Jan waved his hand to the side.
"That's fine. But I don't need some much cattle and grain. I want ivory, I want leopard skin."
Nokuthula bit her lip.
"You should understand they are not easy to obtain. Bringing down a leopard is not easy, and it could take multiple days. Let's not even talk about elephants."
"But you have firearms. Your job is much easier."
The elf chieftess shook her head.
"There are many procedures before pulling the trigger. One must trek down a leopard or an elephant. That involves following their treks. That can take days. One will either find one or fail to do so. Most fail. And even if we found one, we have to carefully get into position. Once we're found out, we won't be able to bring it down. Especially if we agitate an elephant, it can be fatal."
Jan slanted his eyebrows.
"Firearms are not easy to make too. They are rather expensive. Most of their components must be imported from foreign merchants. I cannot grow them, nor can I fish them from the sea. I do not wish for any more food that I do not desire. If you are unwilling to renegotiate the deal, then I'll block the supply of firearms."
Nokuthula growled.
"Don't think you are your firearms are so great. If my people are so inclined, we will swarm this town and have every one of your Boers' heads on our spears."
The two stared at each other, each engaging in a power play. Each represented the various groups they serve, and they could not back down to be seen as weak.
"Still, we are engaged in trade. We exchange things I don't want for things I want. I hope you understand that. If I was unable to get the things I want, then I won't engage in this in the first place."
"I do not mind trading away leopard skin or ivory. But these are incredibly hard to obtain. I expect fair compensation."
"You can negotiate it with the bureaucrats."
Jan sighed, a little intimidated by her threat. It was no bluff, push them too hard and he might end up dead along with the rest of the Boers.
He held a meeting with the bureaucrats, most notably of the men in the meeting, who all lacked pointy ears. This was a meeting concerning Boer affairs, and he didn't want the Zulus in here to undermine it. Ally or foe could not be determined, but he was sure they would seek Boer, indirectly his influence to decrease with the current crisis in the markets.
Russell Corbyn, the English bureaucrat passed out papers that contained rudimentary maps of their surrounding geographical location.
"There is too much food in the markets. A way to intervene would be to buy up all the food and burn them." A bureaucrat proposed.
"This all began with a mismatch of priorities. Urban dwellers want cheap food. Farmers want expensive food. Since there's a mismatch of priorities, perhaps splintering the markets would be the best."
"What do you mean by that?"
"If farmers want high prices, then they should sell their goods to specific markets willing to pay high prices for such goods. We should decouple the links to the urban markets of Port Mpande."
The bureaucrat explained to the room, and the rest nodded their heads in understanding.
"What kind of markets would be willing to pay high prices for food?"
"The easiest would be the foreign markets. But we will need to can our food to preserve it so it can last during the shipping routes. As of now, due to the lack of can factories, we can only make do with shipping it to our neighbours. The Elfrican tribes have no wish for our food as they are self-sustaining. But our neighbours in the Republic?"
"The other Commandoes and Veldkornets? Why will they pay high food prices? They all engage in subsistence farming," Jan queried.
"There's always the urban dwellers in Pietermaritzburg, lots of trekkers pass by that location. We can drive exports there. Also, many new Commandoes who settle new lands will need some time for their farms to establish themselves. Our farmers can charge them high prices as they establish themselves."
"So, are you saying we should give them credit? They have little to trade with. Unless you mean the farmers will sell at a base price for their crops, but they can collect interest over time from their future harvests." Russell interjected.
"I never thought about a full-fledged monetary system. But it is possible, as their martial might would be petty compared to ours with the artillery we have. We can easily enforce any deals between the men."
Ideas began sinking in as their minds branched out to further dimensions.
"Some seed capital to encourage the men to grow cash crops would be good. Food is cheap and plentiful thanks to the Zulu supply. So, growing more sugarcane would be wise. However, it would be unwise to completely focus on growing cash crops in case of a crisis. I don't this policy should be pushed too hard."
"Creating a futures market? Farmers will be more assured with fixed prices of their crops in the future. It would help them determine the best crops to grow to obtain the best profit."
"Who would enter this futures market? Who would require a stable price of food?"
"Restaurants! Inns! But most important of all would be companies! For example, future mining companies would be establishing their mines in rather isolated places. A fixed supply of food is most necessary to keep them all fed."
"Who will organize all of this? Us?"
"Of course! There's little financial activity established yet, so we will have to pick up the slack. Think of it, it will be like the Amsterdam Stock Exchange when it is first established. We will help facilitate securities exchange for traders so their ease of doing business would be easier."
Jan began to have a headache as they began talking about securities. But the conversation suddenly stopped and they all looked towards him.
"What?"
"Please hire more men, sir. All of these ideas are excellent on paper and can be easily established. But we number in few. We are already busy enough managing the Port, managing all these would be too much."
Jan grabbed some books off the shelf and leafed through them. The seed capital he received from the various Boers helped fund most of his expenditures. But they will naturally expect the port to be self-sufficient soon. Not anytime soon, but they might come a time when he might have to levy taxes on the residents.
"Very well. I can increase the budget on manpower."