Chapter 490: White Sugar

Advanced chapter at pateron.com/caleredhair

“Is this your white sugar?”

“Yes, this is the specialty of Ryukyu Island.”

In front of the workshop, Xiao Ming showed a look of surprise, while Claire wore an expression of pride.

This white sugar process was the most advanced sugar-making technique in Europe today, something they took great pride in.

Xiao Ming frowned deeply. He picked up a handful of white sugar. Overall, the sugar met the white sugar standard; the granules were as fine as sand. The only flaw was that the color was not pure enough—some brown impurities remained in the granules.

One or two grains might not be noticeable, but in large amounts, it was clearly heavier.

“This white sugar quality is somewhat poor,” Xiao Ming said, rubbing the sugar between his fingers. His hopes were dashed. He had thought he could just eat ready-made sugar but now had to get involved himself.

“Poor?” Claire looked at Xiao Ming with shocked eyes and emphasized, “Your Highness, this white sugar is made with the most advanced Dutch sugar-making process. It is very popular in Wokou territory, and it is a hundred times better than your Great Yu Empire’s bitter brown sugar.”

Xiao Ming sneered, “It was poor to begin with. The white sugar I want is crystal clear, like white snow from afar.”

“That’s impossible. There is no such sugar,” Claire said firmly. “Your Highness, forgive me, but even Great Yu Empire doesn’t have such sugar. The refining process for white sugar is not something anyone can master.”

Xiao Ming coldly laughed and looked at another pile of white powder beside the workshop. He said, “Count Claire, if I’m not mistaken, your method uses the lime purification process, right?”

Upon hearing this, Claire was immediately shocked and speechless.

Xiao Ming continued, “Actually, making white sugar is simple. It just involves cutting and shredding sugarcane to fully break it up, then multiple pressing and soaking steps to extract the sugar. After pressing, the cane juice and residue are transported separately. The mixed cane juice is a dark green muddy liquid. Then it is boiled and purified. The purification process determines how pure the white sugar is.”

By the time Xiao Ming finished explaining, Claire’s shock turned to disbelief.

To him, Great Yu’s elites only mastered political scheming and paid no attention to such crafts. Now, Xiao Ming, a prince, could detail the sugar-making process.

Most importantly, sugar-making techniques were closely guarded trade secrets in Europe. That Xiao Ming knew them shattered Claire’s plan to sell the sugar-making technology for profit.

But from Xiao Ming’s tone, Claire sensed he might know an even more advanced refining method. Claire casually asked, “Your Highness, can you make this white sugar as white as snow?”

“Of course,” Xiao Ming said openly. Though the workshop’s white sugar didn’t meet his standards, it already mastered part of the sugar-making process.

Moreover, the Dutch had provided sugar-making equipment to the workshop, saving him much trouble.

“So, what is that method?” Claire smiled warmly, looking very friendly.

Xiao Ming laughed loudly, “Count Claire, that is a secret. But I can promise you can sell the white sugar in Europe.”

Claire’s face fell. If he could master that technology, he was confident he could make a fortune in Europe. After all, the European demand for white sugar was huge.

They needed white sugar for bread, desserts, and so on.

Ignoring Claire, Xiao Ming went straight into the workshop. Inside, he observed the sugar-making process. Since he already understood the process, Claire had no reason to stop him and followed with a defeated look.

“Very sweet.”

While Xiao Ming observed, Lu Fei grabbed some sugar and popped it into his mouth, tasting the flavor. “Your Highness, this is much sweeter than maltose. If sold in Great Yu Empire, this would make a lot of silver.”

Lu Fei’s thoughts matched Xiao Ming’s. He had invested a lot in seizing Ryukyu and had to make this war profitable.

Now he had to find ways to make money from the sea.

“Selling it is certain, but we will sell better sugar,” Xiao Ming said confidently.

Currently, three main sugar-making methods existed: lime, sulfite, and carbonate methods. The lime and carbonate methods were unsatisfactory, and only the sulfite method could produce modern edible white sugar.

This sugar was called sulfited sugar. Xiao Ming had already produced sulfuric acid two years ago. Though not in large scale, small-scale production existed.

The processes for making sulfite and sulfuric acid were basically similar. So this time, Xiao Ming planned to have Lu Tong produce sulfite to establish the sugar industry. The fifty thousand mu of sugarcane on Ryukyu could be fully utilized.

After visiting the sugar workshop, Xiao Ming inspected the grain warehouses on the island. However, there wasn’t much grain stored; most had been sold. Xiao Ming didn’t mind; he wanted the land itself. The rest was secondary.

Having officially taken over the Dutch industry on Ryukyu Island, Xiao Ming and Claire returned to Michira Castle.

Now Claire looked forward to cooperating more with Xiao Ming. To him, this Prince Qi might bring miracles. The current losses could surely be recovered.

Back at the castle, Claire suddenly spoke up, “Your Highness, the Wokou suffered a great defeat. Many wokou pirates fled north of Ryukyu Island. That area used to be a Wokou hiding place, since we never developed it. Now that Your Highness occupies Ryukyu main island, you should consider completely eliminating their influence there.”

Xiao Ming nodded. The Dutch only controlled a small area in southern Ryukyu. Most of the island was still undeveloped.

To Xiao Ming, he planned to build two bases on Ryukyu: Michira Castle and a northern base. After all, the north had a world-class deepwater port—an excellent place to establish a naval base.

That way, he could control northern Ryukyu and prevent Wokou from sailing south along the island’s eastern route.

“Thanks for the reminder, Count. I’m considering this issue. But before that, let’s talk about the upcoming trade matters,” Xiao Ming said with the look of a sly wolf.

The moment to monopolize maritime trade was coming. He planned to convert Great Yu Empire’s goods into vast amounts of silver, since Europe was getting huge silver from America at this time.