I was the Founding Father of the United States

Chapter 26 The Ironworks Act of 1750

Chen Wenbin and Anthony rode side by side, while the rest followed on horseback.

Seeing several horse-drawn cargo wagons parked at the factory gate, Chen Wenbin turned and asked, "...Anthony, how are the factory orders going? How many have been delivered today?"

Anthony took off his cavalry cap, scratched his head, and said apologetically, "...Sir, I only know how to train militia, not how to manage factories. You should ask Andrew about that!"

I heard he didn't sleep a wink last night, staying up all night discussing with the craftsmen how to speed up production!

"Is that so?"

Chen Wenbin raised an eyebrow. Andrew was indeed talented at learning, and he was the one who trusted him the most among the five. When Chen Wenbin was working on the spinning machine project, Andrew kept pestering him to learn mechanical knowledge. It was because of this enthusiasm for learning that Chen Wenbin decided to entrust the management of the spinning machine manufacturing plant to him.

Soon, the group dismounted and walked into the wooden fence surrounding the factory. The workers who were moving spinning machines outside the factory saw Chen Wenbin and bowed to greet him. Those wearing hats removed their hats in greeting.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Robin!"

"Dr. Robin! Wishing you continued happiness and good health!"

In this factory with more than 120 employees, Boss Chen is the king!

As for these ordinary workers, Chen Wenbin simply nodded slightly without saying anything, and he didn't even smile... He understood that in this hierarchical society, it was necessary to show kindness to the lower classes in order to gain their loyalty, but he must never lose his authority, otherwise not only would their loyalty be greatly diminished, but it might even incite human greed.

Stepping into the assembly plant, a wave of heat, a mixture of coal, sawdust, and paint fumes, hits you!

Seventy or eighty workers in overalls were divided into five groups, and under the transmission of pulleys, they were assembling, testing and moving the spinning machines.

Although the overall efficiency was not very high, and most of the workers were apprentices who were not skilled in the operation, with the management system set up by Chen Wenbin and the guidance of veteran craftsmen, it looked quite decent at first glance.

The group arrived at the testing area near the entrance and found an elderly German craftsman directing apprentices in testing spinning machines. Chen Wenbin asked, "Mr. Hoffmann, are there any problems with production? Can you produce ten Jenna machines per day as planned?"

"...Lord Robin!"

Old Hoffman, whose hair and beard were already white, turned around and saw Boss Chen. He immediately bowed in respect and then confidently replied, "We shipped out 6 Chena machines this morning! All of them are 20-spindle machines! We also shipped out 3 this afternoon. I estimate that we will definitely be able to complete more than 12 orders today!"

As for the question…”

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Sir, this morning an inspector came from Newport. He said our forging workshop is in violation of the Ironworks Act of 1750 and that we must stop producing gears..."

"……Um?"

Chen Wenbin was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter in anger!

Of course he knew about this bullshit regulation. In the past, in order to limit the development of the colonies, the British only allowed North America to produce pig iron and iron bars, and prohibited the manufacture of complex ironware... But now there are so many blacksmith shops and blast furnaces in North America, and there are several musket factories in Pennsylvania, but the British have not come out to say a word!

Now they've actually found their way to me!

Is this someone deliberately bullying me, or is there some ulterior motive behind it?

Chen Wenbin instinctively felt this was a conspiracy against him. Suppressing his anger, he immediately asked, "Where is that guy now?"

"They left this morning, saying they were going to the city hall to have someone seal off our forging workshop..."

After old Hoffman finished speaking, he suggested, "Sir, how about John and I, along with the apprentices, move the forging workshop to the suburbs?"

"……No!"

Chen Wenbin thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "You don't need to worry about this. I don't think it's much of a problem."

That damn inspector actually went to City Hall... but Governor Hopkins didn't mention it to him at all!

There are only two possibilities. One is that the governor wants to use this incident to threaten him, but that's impossible. Jenna's spinning machine factory is also the governor's own business. Would he be out of his mind to throw money away?

Secondly, the governor simply dismissed the inspector because the whole thing was completely absurd!

No one in North America obeyed the Ironworks Ordinance of 1750. The so-called inspector was probably just trying to get something out of the woodworks after hearing rumors, but he didn't do his research properly and ran into the governor's wrath.

Having figured out the crux of the matter, Chen Wenbin let out a breath and coldly said to Coleman, who was following behind him, "Coleman! Tell Anthony to get over here to see me right now!"

"...Yes!" Coleman saw that the boss looked grim and quickly went to find Anthony.

Soon, Anthony, pressing his cavalry hat to his head, came galloping over, somewhat bewildered, and asked, "...Sir, you were looking for me?"

Chen Wenbin didn't speak immediately, but stared into his eyes for more than ten seconds, until cold sweat broke out on his forehead, before slowly speaking, "...What did I tell you when I made you the security captain?"

"Protect the factory's property and the safety of the workers; don't let anyone in..."

Anthony stood at attention and answered instinctively, but when he saw old Hoffman beside him, his face turned pale, and he immediately realized what mistake he had made.

"...Sir! I was wrong! I shouldn't have let that bastard in!"

He didn't try to argue; he just lowered his head in shame.

Not only did Mr. Chen save his life on the Jenna, but he also brought his parents and four younger siblings to Robin Farm.

Now his father works as a foreman on the farm, managing the farm's employees, and his four younger siblings study for free at the school founded by Boss Chen... It can be said that Chen Wenbin completely changed the fate of his entire family, and he actually feared the power of that Englishman and let him into the factory!

"...Knowing you're wrong doesn't mean you're beyond redemption!" Chen Wenbin snorted, his original intention to make an example of someone faded.

Unlike the other four, Anthony was of Hispanic descent, had served as a sergeant in the Rhode Island militia, and came from a relatively poor family.

Anthony was relatively isolated on the Jenna and was very close to Chen Wenbin. It was because of this that Chen Wenbin made him the security captain of the factory. Unexpectedly, he was intimidated by a mere British inspector!

Is a security captain who can't protect his property still usable?

"You can quit your job as security captain! Come back to me!"

Chen Wenbin thought for a moment, then dismissed Anthony and said to his bodyguard Coleman, "Coleman, you will replace Anthony as the factory's security captain, in charge of 12 team members... Do you know your responsibilities?"

Coleman stood at attention, glanced at the distraught Anthony, and said sternly, "I know! No one is allowed near the factory without your permission!"