Muttering to himself, the banquet still had to be eaten. (Product #……Net)
The atmosphere at the dinner was fairly harmonious. The Fourth Prince didn't mention the ore, and he didn't feel it appropriate to say much either.
When the Prince instructed the maid to bring out dessert, Pero tentatively brought up the matter. "Your Highness, according to past practice, today should be the day for ore delivery, but I haven't seen any ore piled up at the dockyard."
Roland put down the small wooden stick in his hand and nodded. "Unfortunately, there was a cave-in at the North Slope mine a while ago, and my people have been trying to resume production for the past month. However, the rubble at the collapse site has not yet been cleared. At this rate, I'm afraid mining operations will have to be delayed until next year."
Cave-in? Pero was stunned for a moment. What a coincidence? But he quickly realized that the other party had no reason to lie to him. Otherwise, a trip to North Slope would make it clear. Telling such an obvious lie was the same as slapping himself in the face.
"Then... what about the past two months?"
"Not much. As usual, that little bit of stone can't support my people." Roland emphasized the words "as usual." "Ambassador, you should remember the Months of Demons two years ago, right?"
Of course Pero remembered. The severe cold that lasted for four months caused nearly two gren of people in Border Town to starve to death, because the municipal official Fereno was greedy and insatiable. There were dissenting voices within the nobility, and some even demanded that Fereno be punished afterward. But in the end, the incident fizzled out, simply because he was the husband of the Duke's second daughter.
Now that the Prince brought up this matter, Pero felt a sense of foreboding.
"This time is even worse," Roland sighed. "If we deliver in the previous way, I'm afraid we can only exchange for two months' worth of wheat. My people won't survive the winter. Sir, the past trading methods must be abolished."
Pero opened his mouth, but didn't know how to refute. He wasn't a professional diplomat. Faced with such adequate reasons, he couldn't find any fault and had to delay, saying, "Your Highness, I express my regret over this matter. This time, the tragedy will never be repeated. I will have the six houses jointly lend a month's worth of grain, and your people can slowly repay it after production resumes next year."
"If I sell to Willow Town, there's no need for any slow repayment."
"But..."
"There's no but," Roland interrupted. "They are willing to use gold royals to buy stones, and sell wheat, cheese, bread, honey at market prices... everything that can be bought with gold royals, they will sell. To put it another way, Ambassador, even if you are willing to lend a month's worth of grain, will the other five houses agree to your decision? As far as I know, Duke Ryan is not so easy to reach an agreement with."
Pero was silent. The Fourth Prince was right. Not only the other five houses, but he wasn't even sure he could persuade his own father. If he wanted to maintain the monopoly, he had to revise the trading plan, but he didn't have the power to make a final decision. He was called an ambassador, but in reality he was just a mouthpiece. Perhaps the Duke simply didn't want anyone to reach any private agreements with Border Town? Regardless of whether the target was the previous lord or the Fourth Prince. So he appointed different people every year and every season, and these people were never the family's decision-makers.
No matter what the result, he had to try. Thinking of this, Pero revealed his final trump card. "Thirty percent," he held up three fingers. "The fortress will buy ore and rough gemstones at 30% below market prices. I think this price should be higher than what Willow Town is offering, Your Highness."
Roland spread his hands. "It is indeed higher, but it's the same old problem. Can you guarantee that your words will become a unanimous decision by the six houses?"
"I will set off for Longsong Stronghold tomorrow. After reaching an agreement, I will come with a new contract."
"But my people can't wait that long. You should know that it usually takes a lot of time for nobles to reach an agreement."
"Your Highness, cooperation with the fortress is a better choice for you and your people. Willow Town is too far away. Although you can also avoid the Months of Demons there," Pero felt a bit of dryness in his throat as he said this, "the road is easy to... be dangerous."
Oh God, gods above, what am I doing? His heart was pounding. Am I threatening a prince?
"Hahahaha," unexpectedly, Roland didn't explode with rage, but laughed loudly. "Ambassador, you seem to have misunderstood something. I never thought of going to Willow Town."
"You mean..."
"Of course, I don't plan to go to Longsong Stronghold either," Roland stared at the ambassador with a playful look. "I'm not going anywhere."
Pero doubted whether his ears had deceived him.
Fortunately, the Prince didn't let the eerie silence continue. He went on to explain, "This winter, I will stay in Border Town. Border Town will become the new border line of the Kingdom of Graycastle. Don't be so surprised, my friend, this is not nonsense. I can take you to see the newly built wall later, at the foot of North Slope."
"The... wall?"
"Yes, connecting North Slope and Redwater River, a stone wall twelve chi high and four chi wide. With this, we can defeat the demons in Border Town."
Pero felt that his mind was a bit overwhelmed. The previous ambassador didn't mention any walls when he returned last season. No, at that time, the lord of Border Town was still someone from the stronghold. How could he possibly send the limited manpower to build this? In other words, the Fourth Prince started building the wall as soon as he arrived here? Even so, it's only been three months now. What could be built in such a short time?
Wait... what did His Highness just say? Twelve chi high, four chi wide, and connecting North Slope and Redwater River? Pero estimated in his mind that it would be impossible to complete a wall of this scale in several years. First of all, he didn't have so many stonemasons to cut and grind the stones! Border Town was not Graycastle. Most of the people living here could only do hard labor.
Before he could digest this news, Roland's next sentence shocked him even more.
"As for ore sales, starting next year, I am willing to reduce the price to 50%, sir, but not all of it will be sold to Longsong Stronghold. Because you may not need that much ore. I think you would prefer some finished metal products over low-profit raw ore, such as iron shovels, iron spades, and so on." At this point, he paused for a moment, seemingly waiting for Pero to understand the meaning of his words. "As for rough gemstones, they will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Although I would like to wait until the gemstones are cut before selling them at a good price, unfortunately, Border Town does not currently have such capabilities."
Then do you have the ability to build a city wall in a few months! Pero roared in his heart. And what does it mean not needing so much ore? With an output of only a thousand gold royals a year, even if production increases, it would only double at most! Two thousand gold royals are too much for the stronghold to handle? That's too arrogant!
He suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart and tried his best to maintain his final courtesy. "I have noted everything you said, Your Highness. I will negotiate with the six houses immediately after I return. However, the wall you mentioned... I would like to see it."
"Of course," Roland smiled. "But there's no need to rush. It's not too late to enjoy these royal capital-style pastries before setting off, right? Ambassador."
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