Free 1632: Essen Steel by Eric Flint

surrounded it is by other territories. With all three areas you would control a continuous strip of land along the Ruhr River giving access to the Rhine and a number of coal and iron mines."
    Louis nodded. It made sense. "What will your involvement be?"
    Colette smiled. "Our role, Uncle, will be to expedite the transfer of knowledge so that your industrial complex can start operation as quickly as possible. We will hire the teachers and craftsmen to train your workers and engineers in modern techniques and modern chemistry. We will act as consultants and managers for your Grantville-based industries. In addition, we will constantly be looking for businesses that will leverage your capital or that will enhance the Essen industrial complex. For example, given the chemicals that can be distilled from coal tar gases when making coke, a chemical company might be very profitable."
    "So, how do you propose we go about doing this?"
    "We were thinking," Colette said, "that you would obtain investors to form a company similar to the United East India Company. Let us say we call it the Essen Steel Company. Naturally you would want to form the company only after obtaining the rights and lands we have already outlined."
    Louis de Geer looked down at his fingers. "And your share of this company would be … "
    Colette smiled again. The negotiations were beginning. "Five percent. Each."
    Louis de Geer's nostrils flared. "Preposterous! You may be my niece, young woman, but do not attempt to take advantage of an old man with a bad heart! Three percent for the both of you combined."
    Colette forced tears into her eyes. "Uncle, how could you think such a thing! Haven't I always been your favorite niece? Did I ask for a single guilder for all the hours I spent recruiting the Walloon ironworkers you needed in Sweden? I worked my fingers to the bone for you! Four percent each and twenty thousand guilders in an interest free loan for a new crucible steel plant."
    As the two continued, Josh Modi and Steven Gerard looked at each other and smiled. Clearly the love of haggling had been passed on from uncle to niece in some way.
    * * *
    The negotiations lasted for several days. Eventually Colette settled for four percent of the Essen Steel Company shares. The White Diamond Steel Corporation received a forty thousand guilder interest free loan to expand their crucible steel business while taking on the obligation to train sixty Dutch workers in the crucible steel making process over the next two years. In addition, Josh and Colette were to establish a partnership with Louis de Geer in a company called Advanced Technologies Incorporated which would invest in steam engine companies and other businesses as well as train workers and engineers Louis would send to Grantville.
    The day before his departure, Colette and Josh each gave a gift to Louis de Geer. Colette's gift was a cipher system based on matrix algebra so that they could have a form of secure communications.
    Josh's gift was an up-time rifle, the BM-59 his grandfather had left him. Along with two hundred rounds of ammunition and two box magazines. "This might help convince some of the investors you talk to that there really is a Grantville."
    They spent a bit of time test-firing the weapon.
    The next day Louis de Geer left Grantville. With his son, Jan de Vries and the Trips, he headed in the direction of Mainz and Axel Oxenstierna. Dirck Graswinckel and Steven Gerard headed northeast towards Brandenburg.
    * * *
    "You realize, of course," Dirck Graswinckel said, "that this is absolutely hopeless." He and Steven Gerard were walking along the streets of Berlin toward the palace of the Prince of Brandenburg. "Even if we do get in to talk to the elector, there is no chance that he will make a decision."
    The Elector of Brandenburg, George William, often seemed more interested in hunting wild game than in directing the affairs of state.
    Steven glanced over at Graswinckel and shook his head. He had been