"You want me to negotiate with a bunch of savages?"
In the comfortable and gorgeous lobby of Baker City's city hall, Alderman Davis, who was wearing a gold-trimmed shirt, was sitting on the ivory chair, questioning his ministers in an angry tone.
Elton has served as Baker City's financial officer for many years and is very familiar with the city's trade import and export situation. He knows that Baker Port imports a large amount of ice peppers from Kislev every year. Due to its geographical specificity, the important northern town of Blackhammer Fort
Ice pepper imports account for nearly half of the share. Ice pepper is the most important raw material for making antidotes for rat fever. If you can get the support of Blackhammer Castle, you can produce a large number of medicines to cure a large number of patients.
However, Davis had an issue with the Lord of Blackhammer Castle in his early years. To the young alderman, Kislev was a place where barbarians lived, and the north of Kislev was a group of uncivilized barbarians.
.He really didn’t want to go to a place like that to negotiate with a barbarian leader.
"Whether they are barbarians or not, sir, we all need their ice peppers. You know, that is an important medicinal raw material. Only with it can pharmaceutical companies prepare enough antidotes to stop this plague.
Spread. And now, Blackhammer Fort has stopped all trade with us, and all ships stopped appearing in Baker Port a month ago."
Finance Officer Elton persuaded with earnest words. He has been the finance officer of this city for nearly twenty years. His grandfather was the Customs Administration of Baker Port, and his father was also the market manager of Baker City.
A generation ago, the family has not yet declined, and can be said to be a senior senator. The Elector of Osterland once thought about checking and balancing the power of the Elton family, but thought that if he wanted to touch this family, he would have to go to war. For Baker Port,
Stability is very unfavorable. Without a suitable opportunity, he simply made an alliance of interests with the Elton family, and Davis went to Baker City to take up a job, half of which was assisted by Elton. Otherwise, this young aristocratic kid would have long ago not known what the future would be like.
What has the whole city become?
"There's always another way."
Davis put one foot on the table with a sullen look on his face. He thought about what those barbarians did in his villa four years ago, and he felt very unhappy.
"What else can you do? Unless you are willing to spend a lot of money to purchase raw materials from other places and thousands of miles away. But in that case, our financial turnover will be difficult to open."
Elton said with a grimace.
"Then just ignore it! Rat fever can't kill anyone anyway, and those bastards will get better on their own as time goes by. We don't need to worry about it."
Davis yelled angrily. At this moment, he was so irritated that he just wanted to go back to the villa, take a nice hot bath, and let the servants massage him.
"Rat fever is not easily fatal, but it will cause people to suffer unbearably in a short period of time and cause them to lose their labor force. If these people cannot be treated, it will cause a large-scale shortage of work. By then, no one will be farming and no one will be here.
If you work in a factory, the city will be paralyzed. In addition, without food, civilians will quickly turn into mobs. In order to compete for limited food and resources, they will go crazy to unimaginable levels. Even if the situation is not that
Seriously, the city is affected by the plague, but the government does nothing, which can easily cause people to have a rebellious mentality. Therefore, this problem cannot be ignored, my lord."
Elton said with a frown. In fact, as a member of the aristocratic class, he does not really care about the life and death of civilians, but the operation of the city requires these civilians. Although the nobles have absolute wealth and power, if
Without civilians working for the nobles, where would the wealth of the nobles come from? Elton also didn't want to go to Blackhammer Castle, but as an old nobleman who had worked in financial positions for many years, he knew the powerful relationship.
"They'll take this opportunity to laugh at me!"
But Davis is still unwilling. He just thinks why are there always so many things? Since he took office, all kinds of big and small things have happened constantly. Sometimes while taking a bath, he has to worry about whether something bad will happen again. He even misses being there.
In the days of Wolfenberg, his father would help him sort out all the troubles. But here, he always has to deal with all kinds of affairs by himself. It's really annoying sometimes.
"Being laughed at is only temporary. When we get ice peppers in exchange, we will have a way to solve the plague. And there will never be a next time."
Elton gave his earnest advice.
"Let me think about it again."
After Davis finished speaking, he shook his hands and left the office very unhappy.
…
In the summer, Rhodes stood on the bank of the Winter Spring River, watching the thick smoke rising from several large garbage disposal sites, with mixed feelings. The cessation of trade with Osterland has indeed had a negative impact on the emerging economy of Blackhammer Castle.
It has a huge impact. But it has to be done. The plague spreads, and if no measures are taken, Blackhammer Castle will also be at risk of contracting the plague.
Alves has been busy communicating with various merchants for the past month, and now he has almost solved the problem. But this incident has reminded Rhodes that in the future, all trade cannot be concentrated in the Oster Territory next door.
There are many provinces in the empire, and there is also the Kingdom of Bretonnia to the west. These should all become Blackhammer Castle's trading partners. You should not put all your eggs in one basket. If the plague is not lifted in time, the losses will be huge.
Getting bigger and bigger. After all, the demand for some goods in Dulong City and other places in Kislev is not large, but the output cannot drop. When supply exceeds demand, the price of exported goods will naturally drop.
"Alves."
"Um?"
"I'm wondering if we should expand new trade channels?"
Looking at the endlessly flowing Dongquan River, Rhodes said with deep thoughts.
"It should have been like this a long time ago. It's just that it's not easy to get in touch with other imperial provinces or Bretonnia and establish trade agreements. First of all, it's still unknown whether other parts of the empire know about our existence.
"In the eyes of the great nobles of the empire, Kislev is a remote place. Many of them still despise Kislev, not to mention that we are just a small city in the north."
"So the first step is to let the outside world know about us and understand us?"
Rhodes asked.
"Yes. Establish diplomatic relations first. First impression is very important. We can send envoys or delegations to get in touch with officials in these provinces. From a geographical point of view, apart from the Oster Territory, the one closest to us is Nuo
De Ling. Let’s start here first, and then slowly get in touch with the central province of the empire.”
Alves replied.
"Then who do you think should be asked to carry out this task and serve as the head of the delegation to Nordland?"
Rhodes asked next.
"Virgil, my opinion is that he is the most suitable. In fact, I have thought about this issue before. Let's put it this way, the entire Blackhammer Castle seems to be full of talents. However, this is only our opinion, and it may not necessarily look like it to the outside world.
Recognize us affairs officers. First of all, the person who goes on an envoy to the Nordland cannot be a dwarf like me. My prestige in Blackhammer Castle does not mean that I have prestige in other places. Letting a dwarf go on an envoy to another country, in the eyes of some people
It shows contempt and disrespect for them. Secondly, the delegation represents Blackhammer Castle, so the dwarves and Norscans cannot be used to serve. In this way, Bogul and Celta can be excluded.
.And you are a lord, and you cannot go out in person during the special period of the plague. Ms. Caroline cannot leave for the same reason. Finally, it is best for a noble to serve as the leader of the delegation. If you are a commoner, you will only be in Black Hammer.
The castle has status. Outside Blackhammer Castle, no one will recognize the status of civilians. Therefore, Yeskovitch is also excluded. Then, only Virgil and Quareara are left to choose.
I don’t need to tell you who to choose between these two. You must choose Vergil. The young and handsome knight is loyal to you and to Blackhammer Castle. Even when the beastmen invaded in large numbers and Blackhammer Castle was in crisis,
Virgil has never betrayed you. And you also know what kind of person Quareara is."
Standing next to Rhodes, Alves analyzed it in an orderly manner. In a moment, he had sorted out a main line.