Chapter 268: Chapter 253 The Coat Prince_1
When Yan Xing took over the order for 200,000 sets of clothing and bedding from Lady Karol, he boasted confidently that he would deliver within a month.
Only after consulting with the garment processing factory did he realize he might have spoken too arrogantly.
The styles of clothing and quilts Lady Karol provided were very different from those in the real world, so cutting and tailoring would take much longer than usual.
Wanting to complete an order of 200,000 sets within a month... required additional fees!
An extra rush fee of 50 per set.
That equated to ten million for 200,000 sets.
Yan Xing had originally thought a rush fee of a few million would suffice, not expecting to have to fork out so much more.
He felt some regret for his boastful behavior.
However, the garment processing factory came up with a solution.
The style of cotton clothing Yan Xing provided was clearly not high-end fashion, but rather the traditional garments of some country. Yan Xing had ordered this batch of garments under the guise of charity, claiming they were for refugees. Since they were for refugees, the style didn’t matter much, as long as the clothes provided warmth.
Older military greatcoats were no longer commonly worn, yet some garment factories had a surplus of unsold stock. If Yan Xing wanted, they could sell it to him cheaply, even below cost.
The same went for cotton trousers. As the military upgraded its uniforms and people’s living standards improved, many old-style cotton trousers had become dead stock. Refugees didn’t need to care about looks – being warm was enough.
And then there were the quilts.
Being military issue and designed for easy carrying on marches, the Silvermane Principality’s military quilts weren’t thick. Furthermore, soldiers usually slept in their clothes during winter, so these military quilts were made with considerable compromises to cut costs.
Upon seeing the style of these quilts, the garment factory knew the refugees’ main source of warmth would be from the cotton clothing. They suggested to Yan Xing that instead of using these quilts, it would be better to use thicker wool blankets.
Blankets currently on the market were all pure cotton or pure wool, but there was a surplus of older synthetic fiber blankets from past production. The style might be a bit outdated, but they were thick enough. Not only were they warm, but they were also easy to wash. They could be used as covers, spread out on the ground, or used as padding, making them more practical than quilts.
And most importantly, they were cheap.
What Yan Xing valued was their cheapness.
So, when it came time to submit samples, Yan Xing brought two sets. One was in the style specified by Lady Karol; the other consisted of an old-style military greatcoat, cotton trousers, and a thick wool blanket.
Lady Karol, without much thought, chose the second option.
At a glance, one could tell which type was more cost-effective, warmer, and more appealing to Elves.
Thus, Prince Elrado saw the military greatcoats and wool blankets, while Lady Karol kept the cotton trousers for herself. The quality of these cotton trousers was bound to be liked by the nobility and gentry; by selling this batch, she might even earn back the entire cost of the 200,000 sets of clothing and bedding.
Prince Elrado carefully inspected the military greatcoat.
The fabric was grass green, obviously dyed especially for the Elves.
Prince Elrado also very much liked the style of the coat. It had to be thick and large to withstand the piercing cold winds of the north. Although it was unclear what animal’s fur made up the collar, its softness indicated it must have come from the finest part of an animal’s pelt.
And this fabric... its weaving craftsmanship was unlike anything the Elf Prince had ever seen. Even the royal weavers of the Elf King couldn’t produce cloth so evenly and densely woven.
The tailoring of the clothes as well... what masterful garment makers could produce such precise stitching!
The value of this coat was inestimable.
Prince Elrado felt the military greatcoat all over again, from top to bottom, noting the extremely firm cotton filling. Far from skimping on material, it was as if they had stuffed the cotton in as though it cost nothing. It was even quilted with needle and thread, section by section, to prevent the cotton inside from shifting with movement and ensure the coat’s uniform padding.
If this had been a piece of clothing specially made for a human noble, Prince Elrado might just have been surprised and felt no anxiety. But Lady Karol had just told him that they were going to provide the Snow Elves with 200,000 sets of such coats. Two hundred thousand sets exactly like this coat?
With a grave expression, Prince Elrado put on the coat and felt the warmth instantly envelop him.
The coat fit him perfectly.
And although it was heavy, once he put it on, the weight was well-distributed across his shoulders, causing no feeling of imbalance or burden.
He stood the collar up around his neck and cheeks, and it was even more comfortable.
Then, Prince Elrado picked up the blanket that was on the table.
Heavy... it signified ample material, certainly warm.
He examined it closely.
Prince Elrado discovered that the blanket was not made of coarse linen, but of a type of woolen fiber he had never seen before.
The blanket was thick, even thicker than the ones used in the Elf Royal Family.
It was very soft, and the breathability was excellent.
So exquisite that the Elf Prince felt a touch of envy.
The power represented by these items made Prince Elrado deeply wary of the capabilities of the Silvermane Principality.
"Lady Karol..." Prince Elrado set the blanket back on the table, yet reluctant to take off the coat, he asked Karol, "Has the Silvermane Principality really agreed to provide the Snow Elves with two hundred thousand sets of clothing and bedding, all exactly like these two items?"
As Prince Elrado spoke, he buttoned up the coat. He discovered it even had double-breasted buttons... The Silvermane Principality was very sincere indeed!
Lady Karol truly did not wish to give such fine items to the Elves, but within the given time frame, it was difficult for her to produce 200,000 sets of presentable clothing and bedding for the Elves.
She could only use Yan Xing’s reply to respond to Prince Elrado, "Of course... merely two hundred thousand sets of such garments. If you need more, you can still buy them from me.
"As much as you want."
As she spoke, Lady Karol spread the blanket on the table.
The originally decrepit table instantly looked upscale.
Prince Elrado felt that the Snow Elves must reassess the strength of the Silvermane Principality and redefine their strategy towards the Principality.
"My lady, I am astonished by the strength of the Silvermane Principality. The assistance of these supplies can indeed help many Elves survive the winter safely. But if you expect us to assist you after making such a significant sacrifice, there must be something that can appease the Elves’ wrath."
Lady Karol asked, "What else do you desire?"
Prince Elrado said, "The Silvermane Principality promises to dismantle all military fortresses in the Wildwind Highlands.
"The Wildwind Highlands Legion shall not exceed 50,000 troops.
"Everything within the initial Orc control zone, including the Orc’s Highland City, shall belong to the Elves.
"The Silvermane Principality shall provide us annually with a gift identical to this one.
"I have heard that Duke Silvermane’s youngest daughter is exceptionally beautiful and virtuous, and she is unmarried. I, too, am without a wife. If our two nations could become closer through this, it would benefit us all."
Lady Karol had not expected that after she offered such a grand gift, Prince Elrado would dare to make such audacious demands.
"Your Highness... the Silvermane Principality has not been defeated, and you are not in a position to make demands as if you were a victorious nation."