Iron Powder and Spellcasters Chapter 359

   Chapter 359 Trading (Part 2)

   Hearing the white lion's new title, Winters suddenly became interested: "Isn't the white lion a self-proclaimed legislator? When did he become a king?"

   "It's always been!" The stranger arrow answered righteously.

   Winters smiled: "How do I call you?"

   "This is [Tuha], the messenger of the White Lion King." The unfamiliar archer first introduced another archer before introducing himself: "As for me, Your Excellency Batu can call me [Skylark]."

  Winterstein looked at the lark calmly: medium stature, about fifty years old; white temples, sunken eye sockets; skin wrinkled due to loss of elasticity, withered body completely unable to support a large Heard-style robe;

   The knuckles of the ten knuckles are uniform in thickness, which is completely different from that of another archer - Tuha's knuckles have been swollen and twisted due to the high-intensity use of bows and knives all year round.

   This is the first time he has seen the "Alliance" as the archer of the Chihe Department. In addition to being curious, he is somewhat uncomfortable: "Listen to the accent, you are from Monta? How long have you served the White Lion?"

  Old Skylark smiled: "I am the man of the White Lion King. Since the White Lion King accepted me, I have served him."

   Looking at the other party's posture, Winters knew that there was no valuable information, and he didn't bother to ask any more.

   He yawned and poured himself a bowl of mare's milk: "If White Lion's men are as smart as you, it will be troublesome to deal with."

"If the people of Palatu are as smart and friendly as Your Excellency Batu, it would be much easier for the Chihe Department to deal with Palatu." Yunque's response was neither humble nor arrogant: "Your Excellency, you might as well get back to the business. Consider the proposal of the White Lion King. How's it going?"

  Skylark got a casual reply: "I'm still thinking about it."

  Captives, trade, and iron ore—Three purposes of Winters' visit to the Chihe Department. Among them, Winters cared most about captives, while White Lion cared most about trade.

   On the bright side, the Republic of Palatu imposed a severe blockade on the Heder tribes, which made the small and medium Heder tribes so poor that they could not even use iron arrows.

   However, the chaos that Winters witnessed alone is enough to prove that there has always been a secret exchange of goods between the wasteland and Plato, and some people have made a fortune.

   "Why did you let me go in the first place?" Winters never asked the white lion.

   He believed that the reason why the white lion didn't kill him at the beginning was more because he didn't want to hurt the feelings of Erlun and the little lion, rather than considering any long-term interests.

   As for letting him go unconditionally, judging from the details revealed in the white lion's words, Father Reid made a lot of effort.

   But when he took control of Tiefeng County, he had to put his interests first.

  White Lion wants Tiefeng County to become a window for the Chihe Department to exchange material with the outside world, and he has even made preliminary preparations:

  The little lion has traveled between the territory of Chihe Department and Tiefeng County many times, and a route has long been determined;

   It was an attempt by the Chihe Department to return the "slaves". If the vehicles transporting the "slaves" were able to pass, the carriages full of goods would be able to pass in the future.

   But even if the hard conditions are met, the white lion still needs to solve the problem of two "people".

   First, Teltown people.

The territory of the   Terdun Department spans between Tiefeng County and the Chihe Department. No matter what, it cannot be bypassed, and it is a fierce tiger blocking the road. So if the white lion and winters want to do business, they have to nod their heads first.

   Will the fire roaster raise his hand?

   did not know, because he died.

  Terrtown's problem solved...but not completely.

  Although the tiger was dead, a group of vultures was born from the corpse of the tiger.

   Vultures are out of control and eat everything. The Teltowns lost their recognized leader, as well as the bridle that bound them.

   The sporadic envoys may be able to pass through secretly. However, once a fixed trade route is formed, sooner or later, a large number of hungry vultures will be attracted.

   In addition to the hidden dangers of the Teltown people, the White Lion also needs to obtain the consent of another person - Winters, the champion of Plato, the tribune of Iron Peak County, Montagne.

   At the end of the day, buying and selling is always consensual...at least most of the time.

   Tiefeng County needs funds, horses, and ironware buyers. It is reasonable to say that trading with the Chihe Department is a good thing of mutual benefit.

   Winters dragged on and did not reply, because of the conditions put forward by the Akagawa Department.

  The White Lion did not personally participate in the negotiations, but appointed several archers to negotiate with Winters.

   And because of the lack of "office officers" who are both knowledgeable and able to show up in Iron Peak County, Winters can only go into battle shirtless.

  The archers of the Chihe Department only offered two general conditions:

   First of all, the white lion only trades with "Badu", and Batu only trades with the white lion;

  Secondly, the white lion can send troops to protect the caravan from looting, and Tiefeng County needs to pay a part of the goods as tribute.

   As long as Winters nods, the Chihe Department will send the first caravan to Tiefeng County before the beginning of spring.

"The king of the white lion specially ordered." Skylark stood respectfully at the Winters table: "The first batch of goods carried by the caravan, he does not want any equivalent, all as a reward for you to protect the little lion prince and the forehead in Qingqiu. Princess Erlen's thank you gift. In addition to this, the White Lion King has selected a thousand good horses - also as a thank you gift."

   "Oh?" Winters asked with great interest: "If I don't agree, will the thank you be gone?"

   "Of course not." Skylark did not change his face: "Regardless of whether a consensus can be reached, the White Lion King will not take back his gift."

Winters gestured for the two archers to take their seats, and said with a smile: "The Hurds swear by the oath that 'the words spoken by the warriors are like arrows shot', and they will never go back and seldom agree on the items in great detail. Tower people, on the contrary, like to explain all the details in advance..."

  [Time dial back to the night before Qingqiu hunting]

"The first condition is easy to understand." Anna showed half of her face from behind the drawing board: "You can't bypass the white lion and sell directly to the civilians in the Chihe Department. In exchange, the white lion will not pass over you and Tiefeng. County merchants do business."

   Winters secretly moved his sore legs.

"To put it bluntly, the white lion wants to become a monopoly importer and exporter and monopolize the profits of the trade. In exchange, he also supports you to obtain the monopoly." Anna found Winters' little move and said angrily: "Don't mess around. !"

   "Like you provided me with valuable advice, and I modeled for you?" Winters whispered: "But where can I get the money to eat the goods from the Chihe Department?"

   "It's very simple. If other people need it, you can sell it."

   Winters asked back: "What if other people don't need it?"

   "Isn't it enough to not import it?" Anna replied with a smile.

   Winters thought: The lion's goods, it is not that you can not want it.

Anna's graphite bars rustled on the paper: "Monopoly means power, but the source of power is not to gain profits, but to distribute profits. Assuming you monopolize the supply, then you can demand deposits from all buyers, or even advance payments payment."

   Winters thoughtfully: "Distribute profits? Distribute spoils? Monopoly also means power to the White Lion."

  Ana continued: "Mom always said that the reason why the Veneta people have a bad reputation outside is because the Veneta people always want to seize monopoly power, and for this reason, they will spare no effort to bribe, violence, malicious price reduction...anything they can do."

   Winters protests: "You too are Veneta."

   "Only half." Anna blinked.

   Winters asked, "Can you promise them the first rule?"

   "It's not over yet." Anna put down the graphite bar: "The terms are too broad, and there are many details that need to be clarified. Is the exclusive right of the White Lion limited to the Chihe Department or the entire Heard Wasteland.

Anna walked up to Winters: "The first article also contains an invisible clause. If you promise to guarantee the monopoly of the White Lion, you will also undertake the responsibility of 'inspecting smuggling'. The iron peak county businessman bypasses you. And the white lion secretly sells goods to the people of the Chihe Department, what are you going to do? Have you made up your mind?"

   Winters was lost in thought.

   "There is one more crucial question." Anna put her hands on Winters' shoulders: "Who can guarantee the coercive force of the treaty?"

  [time dial back to now]

   Hearing Winters say to "identify the details in advance", Lark's cheeks twitched slightly.

   The more ambiguous the terms of the contract, the better it is for the stronger party. In the Chihe Department and Tiefeng County, it is obvious that the Chihe Department is a stronger and more powerful existence.

   Skylark calmly took a sip of milk wine, ready to hear what tricks the hairy boy in front of him could say.

  Then... he saw the other party solemnly take out a parchment full of writing from his arms.

  The heated debate lasted from afternoon to late night, and it was only the first article of the agreement.

   "Representative of Chihe Department" Hibari and "Representative of Winters" Winters fully exchanged opinions, and reached a useful consensus on [delivery location], [bargaining method], [tax payment] and other contents.

   There are some more critical points, for example, the two sides made it clear that "monopoly trade" is limited to the area actually controlled by Winters.

   Winters argued that he also reserved the right to sell goods to the Hed tribe outside the Chihe Department.

   Finally, when the treaty was written, Winters said with a smile: "I believe it will be a mutually beneficial agreement."

  The dry mouth and exhausted Skylark sipped the ice water and murmured incessantly.

   There is no coercive force that can ensure that both parties to the agreement perform the contract, and whoever feels a loss can directly overturn the table, of course, mutual benefit.

   "Now, there's only one thing left to do." Winters said lightly: "Who's going to keep the route safe."

   Skylark couldn't hold it anymore, his eyelids were fighting, and he couldn't concentrate. He is over half a hundred years old, and his energy in the competition is really not as good as that of the other party: "Your Excellency Batu. It's too late, how about we talk about it tomorrow?"

   Winters poured a glass of wine for the lark, and sincerely encouraged: "It's not too late, it's today before dawn. Don't leave today's affairs to be solved tomorrow."

"That's good..." Skylark braced herself and prepared to pull back a round: "You know, according to the current route, the chariots and horses will definitely pass through the pastures of the Teltown Department. The Teltown people are as cunning as wolves and like vultures. Greedy, never let go of the meat in the mouth."

  Skylark cleared his throat: "So the only thing that can protect the safety of people passing by is force. The only person who can provide this kind of force is the White Lion King!"

   After saying that, Skylark stared at Winters closely, for fear of missing any subtle changes in the other party's expressions.

The threat of the   Telden people is real, and the Iron Peak County rebels lack the power of the Hurd light cavalry to come and go, even if they are willing to protect the trade route by themselves, they are unable to put it into practice.

  The inability to ensure the safety of trade routes is the weakness of the Iron Peak Rebels. Skylark firmly believes: to grasp this, is equivalent to grasping the opponent's ball.

   "In the end, force decides everything. If you don't pay tribute, you will bleed." Yunque thought, he looked at the young man in front of him with admiration and regret: "No matter how much interests you fight in front of you, you can't escape the 'blood tribute' in the end."

   Winters pondered: "The tribute... it's a bit ugly."

   "Remuneration and security deposit are fine." Skylark said generously: "If you don't mind, it can also be called tax - security tax."

   Winters: "What if I still can't guarantee safety after paying this fee?"

  Skylark: "Any caravan that pays the security tax is looted, the Chihe Department will be responsible for recovering it. If it can't be recovered, it will be compensated according to the price."

  Winters: "What if someone dies?"

  Skylark: "The same compensation, we can agree on an amount in advance. How much is the compensation for the death of a person, how much is the compensation for the death of a horse, and how much is the compensation for the loss of a cart."

  Lark has already prepared detailed plans, including compensation plans, location of the inn, how to deter Telton people, and so on. He patiently explained to Batu, trying his best to reassure the other party.

   Winters listened and took notes, occasionally asking questions.

   After hearing the other party's overall plan, Winters tapped his knees lightly: "Having said so much, how much goods are you going to receive as a reward?"

  Skylark cleared his throat, stretched out three fingers, and put down one: "One third."

   Winters raised his eyebrows: "One-third? Why don't you!"

   "If there is no one to protect." Lark said calmly: "I am afraid not only one-third, but half of the caravans will not be able to return."

   Winters smiled kindly: "Are you threatening me?"

   "Just stating the facts." Yunque bowed slightly: "Badu."

   "Looks like you've decided on me, don't you?" Winters sighed helplessly.

  Lark did not show the slightest pride: "Mutual benefit."

"But there is a problem here." Winters held his chin and asked calmly: "The white lion's men not only protect my caravan, but also the caravan of the Chihe Department. Even if I don't pay the reward, the white Like a lion, it will send troops."

   Skylark was already prepared.

   I saw him frown slightly, as if thinking hard. After a while, he asked tentatively: "Batu is right. How about this - for the carriages traveling between Tiefeng County and the Chihe Department, each White Lion King only receives a quarter of the tribute. The tribute. We'll give you another quarter of the profit. What do you think?"

   Winters smiled: "Mutual benefit?"

   "Yes." Skylark bent down: "Mutual benefit."

   Winters rubbed his palms and laughed, and Lark laughed with him.

   "Your proposal is very good." Winters suddenly put away his smile and took out a piece of parchment from his arms: "But I have a more mutually beneficial proposal."

   On the parchment is a map, and with a few strokes, the Jhinliu River, the Jinding Mountains, and the Shading Mountains are drawn. The Chihe Department is marked on the north bank of the Jhinliu River, and Tiefeng County is at the bottom of the map, next to the Jinding Mountains.

Winters pointed at the map and made a swipe: "Jinliujiang is in charge of the white lions, and I will take care of the south of Jinliujiang, and everyone will take care of half. Let's speak frankly, Mr. Lark. Let the Chihe Department send troops to protect the merchants. In five years, I am afraid that the old town of Teltown will belong to you. If the white lion really wants to grab the territory, he will send troops to fight. The plan of borrowing the wind boat... Forgive me for not willing to help for free."

   Skylark felt the blood rush to the top of his head in an instant, and asked in a shrill voice: "South of the Jinliujiang? Where did you come from to ensure the safety of the commercial road south of the Jinliujiang?"

"It doesn't bother King White Lion." Of course Winters wouldn't tell Skylark about his secret agreement with Tai Chi, he put the notes he just transcribed on the table: "If there is any accident, we will also take care of it. Compensate for the price—the price you just set."

   Tired and angry, the skylark stood up abruptly, his eyes suddenly darkened, and before he fainted, he had one last thought: "Damn Veneta!"

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   (end of this chapter)

Chapter end