After hastily dismissing the grieving peasants, the young nobles washed their cheeks with clean water and then put on neat clothes.

After living in the town for a few days, they were surprised to find that although these northerners lived poorly, they loved cleanliness, and in order to better integrate into it, several young people began to follow the example of northerners and began to dress up.

To make it easier to clean his hair, Montgomery also shaved off half of his hair, which made it easier for him to clean his hair, even though it made him look bald.

After a brief wash, the group walked out into the streets of the town, their leather boots on their feet, making a slight noise on the frozen pavement of the town. They wore a fine cloth lining on their upper bodies and a delicate dagger hanging from their waists. They wore cloaks made of animal skins, and for warmth, they wore fur hats that exposed their fur on their heads.

Combining the Northlands and Abbasquians, the outfit is instantly recognizable on the streets, with a mixture of envy and fear from the townspeople. They can be called swagger, but they have the capital to swagger. Many years later, some of the town's young people are still proud to dress up like this.

They went straight to the door of Hams's house, and opened the door to them by a young man of about twenty years of age, who was second only to Montgomery in the group, and who still had a kind of courteous smile on his face.

"My father is still taking care of some business, so let's invite a few people to sit in the house. ”

Mitchelson nodded, and a few pairs of leather shoes stepped into the small courtyard of the Hams family with neat steps, and they hurried through the porch, the flower bed in front of the courtyard, and finally stopped at a very delicate square table that had been polished.

Several people sat on chairs covered with animal skins one after another, and the young man just now placed a few glasses of pale yellow liquid in front of them, and there were faint bubbles in the liquid.

Would you like to try it? This is a fresh beer brewed by my father, and it tastes very refreshing. ”

Mitchelson picked up the glass of wine in front of him and sniffed it, it did smell like a wheat kernel, but he put it down anyway.

Your hospitality is decent. Mitchelson took off the hat he wore on his head and complimented.

"My father told me that as long as you come, you will be entertained. The young man replied casually.

Several aristocratic youths took off their hats in a learned manner, and Montgomery was also attracted by the beer in front of him, but he swallowed his saliva firmly, and pressed his hands on his knees.

Amy picked up the beer and sniffed it in the same way as Mitchelson, it wasn't a taste that interested him very much, he put the beer down and asked in a low voice

"I haven't asked your name yet. ”

The young man froze for a moment, then scratched his head embarrassedly.

"I forgot to tell you that my name is William. ”

Before these nobles came, Hams had already introduced their information to him one by one, so it was still very easy for William to identify these people, so he subconsciously forgot to introduce himself.

Amy nodded with some respect, he had heard the name in the church, a brave and generous young man, who had done something out of the ordinary, but could not hide his contribution to the town.

The gap between young people is always shallow, and a few minutes together is enough for them to become friends with each other.

But now everyone has their own calculations in their hearts, so naturally there is no way to completely communicate with each other, only Amy is an exception, he came here today just to accompany friends, so he can have a casual chat with William.

Amy spoke to William about the tall and majestic churches of the South, the solemn and holy Mass. William, on the other hand, recounted some of his experiences with the Wiegand people.

"That's it, we're at peace with the Wiegand now. I mean, at least some tribes do, so people want to come to us because they feel like it's a safe haven......"

William gushed about his recent experiences, while several young nobles pricked up their ears to listen, hoping to hear some useful information for them.

A middle-aged man in a deerskin coat hurriedly walked in from outside the door, and he interrupted William's words with a gust of cold wind, and also made a few aristocratic young men who had just relaxed a little straightened up.

Although he was only a merchant, he was by far the most powerful man in the city, and even Amy's had straightened his shoulders, and he had heard the bishop of the place say that Lord Hams was the greatest patron of the church here.

Hams glanced at a few nobles, if you don't count the children who haven't grown up yet, these young men from the south are indeed a talent, and they can basically meet the requirements of their hearts.

He was not surprised by the visits of these noble boys, and would be disappointed if they did not.

Although everyone treated him with great respect, and the messenger from the Empire had promised him the position of mayor of the Free City of Valuno, he was constantly reminding himself that he was just a lucky ordinary man, and that without the support of the largest number of people, his ambitions would not be possible, and that he would now have to reach some compromise with the true masters of these empires for the sake of his position and the future of the town.

Now, a smile appeared on his face, which was the best expression he had ever shown when facing his juniors, like a kind patriarch. He greeted him cordially, with a warm breath in his mouth.

"It seems that I have a few distinguished guests in my house, and I should have gone to see you a long time ago. However, the town is not big, but the affairs are really busy, and I am not as talented as you young people, and I can't help me much. If there is any neglect, please feel free to mention it, this side is not as good as the rules of your hometown, and everyone likes how to be comfortable and how to come. ”

After listening to William and Hams's words, Mitchelson probably had a clear attitude towards the mayor, and he was secretly happy in his heart, and he tentatively spoke

"Your Lord, even a duke can't fault your hospitality, what a beautiful house, and I will be glad if I can let my descendants live in such a house. ”

Except for Hams, several people present could not hear the twists and turns of Mitchelson's words, even Hams, only barely guessed the general meaning from his words when he was clear about Mitchellson's appeal, but this did not prevent him from accepting Mitchelson's compliments, especially the words that the mayor told him to listen very comfortably, which fully showed that this young man was very clear about his situation, and he also needed to cooperate with smart people, and only one of them needed to understand things, and he could announce that this would be a smooth negotiation。

"Haha, it's just a pile of wood. Sardinia always favors those who are hardworking, and as long as your heart remains the same, that day will come soon. Say yes, Priest. ”

Amy stood up a little flattered, he thought about it for a moment, and then said respectfully

"May Sardinia always protect your soul and at the same time lend your good words. Sardinia does not appreciate acts of greed, but he is also not averse to man living a worldly happy life through his own efforts. ”

Montgomery listened to them for a long time, and finally heard two words that he could understand. "Industrious. Montgomery silently thought in his heart that when it came to hard work, who could be better than a mountain man. He took a deep breath and slapped the table.

"Speaking of hard work, we mountain people are definitely not afraid of hardship. ”

He thought that he had said something very appropriate and was a little proud, but unexpectedly, everyone fell into a little embarrassment because of his interruption.

Mitchelson hurriedly came out to play the round, and he tried to turn the conversation back on track.

"Yes, we are all hardworking. Although your hospitality made us stay in a comfortable room, and you invited us to drink such a new drink, ** good food, this is not our original intention, we are here to help you share the business. ”

Conan didn't know what to say on this point, so he nodded his head again and again, indicating his approval.

Hams knew that was probably the purpose of their trip. From Yubang, he had already received more accurate information, although these people were ostensibly holding positions such as imperial clerks and imperial knights, but in fact, they were all here to be lords. Even the youngest child had ambition in his eyes.

"It's true that the descendants of those people were born to eat meat. Hams admired in his heart, but the expression on his face became serious again, he knew that everyone felt that negotiation was a good thing, and the next step was the distribution of specific benefits, his bottom line was that everyone could cooperate, but he would never allow those nobles to have too many rights, so big that they would give themselves up. Although the Great Purus people do not have the legend of the dove occupying the magpie's nest, the story of the anti-guest is not very uncommon, for example, Valuno used to have a chief, but now when it is time to appoint the mayor, although they are still prosperous, they obviously have no chance to occupy the position of mayor, and can only give it to an outsider like themselves.

"What a hero's descendant. There are a lot of jobs in the city, so what do you want?"

"That's right, Lord Mayor. As you mentioned earlier, this city has a large population, and it is a foreign population. Mitchelson said as he looked into Hams' eyes, and after making sure he had no objections, Mitchelson continued.

"I'm afraid that these immigrants are already exceeding the carrying capacity of the city. I don't mean to offend you, but at the rate at which the outcasts are growing now, I'm afraid you wouldn't have had more than three months of food if it weren't for the constant flow of caravans. ”

Hams nodded quietly, acquiescing to Mitchelson's statement, the city does lack food, but this is definitely not the main factor restricting the development of the city.

"There were also my farmers among these homeless people, and I felt that I had an obligation to take care of them as a lord. What do you think if we are willing to help you attract some immigrants and then apply for a batch of loans with you?"

Speaking of this, Mitchelson only felt that his heart was about to be suspended, and he knew that success or failure was here.

"Loans, it seems that you have hit my warehouse with the idea, and there is no way to do it, who made us businessmen penniless except money. Hams smiled a little self-deprecatingly, he thought he could lead the partition, but it was obvious that this aristocratic young man just wanted to ask him for money.

"Listen, young sir, I can lend a batch of farm tools, seeds, tents, planks...... There are even more materials for the construction of the village than you think. ”

"That's great!, my lord, I'm willing to use the output of my future territory as collateral......"

"No, I don't need these things. Hams unceremoniously interrupted him from his amiable appearance, and he stretched out his hand and shook it.

"If I expect to invest this money, how many years will it take me to recoup my money? Don't ask me what I want from you, you just have to set your terms. ”

Montgomery swallowed with difficulty as he looked at the man whose aura suddenly hardened, he turned his face to look at his brother, fiddled with the saber at his waist, and opened his mouth in as thick a voice as he could

"My lord, there are ~three of us, and you should prepare at least 100 or so young people for each of us. ”

"I can give you a total of 600 people, and you will divide them among yourself. There were no young or old in it, but young men and women in the prime of life. Hams offered his price almost nonchalantly. "Any other requirements?"

Several young men were stunned, they swallowed their saliva, even though they knew that it was a piece of fat with a hook, it was difficult to resist the desire not to swallow it, after all, as long as they agreed to the mayor's request, they had a chance to become a real lord.

They shook their heads almost numbly, except for Amy, who was still a little composure, and he asked tentatively leaning forward

"The terms you have offered to my brethren are generous, but what are the conditions?"

Hams took a map out of his arms, stepped forward, and laid it flat on the table.

"It's a map of the neighborhood of the city of Valuno, with the locations of villages, forests, and canyons. ”

In order to see the map clearly, Conan jumped directly into his chair, and after a brief look at the map, he first nodded, then shook his head, and he moved his gaze from the table to Hams's face;

"My lord, I'm afraid your map is not very accurate, if the villages on the map really existed, then we would have passed by at least two when we came, but I don't remember seeing anything other than a pile of snowflakes over there. ”

Hams didn't speak, he just took a carbon bar from his pocket and drew it on the map himself.