"Salt?" Stone recalled, "if I'm not mistaken, the village of Hydra pays 30,000 pounds of coarse salt every year. There is no shortage of firewood, but there is a shortage of manpower, so you can expand production?"

"It's 30,000 pounds of salt, indeed. Griffith was not surprised that Stone could immediately remember such a thing, his father was not the kind of person who would leave the territory alone.

"Because the grain production is so low, the tax in Hydra village has always been deducted with salt and salted fish, and the annual tax amount is 30,000 pounds of coarse salt, 2,000 pounds of salted fish, and 1,000 pounds of salted meat. As for the yield, don't worry, Father, I'm going to use the salt drying method. Griffith finally threw out the plan he had been planning for a long time.

The vast majority of Titania's sea salt production still uses the backward method of boiling salt.

A typical example is the village of Hydra, where there are several cauldrons on the edge of the lumber yard on the south bank of the Chishui River, and the villagers who serve as laborers cook salt in shifts during the off-season, producing about 40,000 pounds of coarse salt in a year.

In addition to most of the salt to be handed over to Fort Carolin, most of the remaining salt in Hydra is used to make salted fish and meat. Because of the long shelf life and the wide market for pickled products, William, the head of Hydra Village, was able to ensure that no one starved to death in the village by selling salted fish and meat to passing merchant ships.

The Ilya Peninsula is coastal on both sides and does not lack salt. In the territories of most nobles, salt is basically self-sufficient. The Carolingian Barony, for example, relies on the 30,000 pounds of coarse salt handed over annually by the village of Hydra, which is enough to meet the needs of almost all civilians in the territory.

As for the nobles and professionals, most of them ate mineral or pool salt, which was of higher quality and much more expensive.

According to Griffith's investigation, the current price of coarse salt in the Ilia Peninsula is about 1 pound of 2 silver wolves, which is not expensive, but it is not cheap, and it is a promising industry.

"Salt?" Stone has a similar habit to Griffith, and likes to touch his chin when he thinks, "Sounds like a good idea, but are you sure it works?"

"It should be fine. Griffith didn't dare to say too much, but he was still confident: "I asked the village chief, William, and he said that in Hydra Village, there is very little rain every summer to early autumn for four or five months, and if it weren't for the Chishui River, it would be even more difficult to grow crops. ”

Seeing that Stone was a little undecided, Griffith took the initiative to promise: "Father, no matter whether the salt drying method is successful or not, I guarantee that the 30,000 pounds of coarse salt handed over will not be less, so you should be relieved, right?"

30,000 pounds of coarse salt, the market price is about 3,000 gold dragons. Although Griffith felt that the chances of the salt method failing were extremely low, he could afford to lose it anyway.

"It seems that you prepared with your heart, and that's good. Baron Stone stood up, put his hand on Griffith's shoulder, and said, "The annual coarse salt is increased to 50,000 pounds, and if Andrew does not object, the village of Hydra will be yours." ”

"No problem. Griffith patted his chest in agreement.

It seems that Stone did not really recognize the revolutionary progress of the salt drying method, otherwise Griffith would not hesitate to agree even if he asked for 100,000 pounds of coarse salt a year.

For the next two days, Griffith had a leisurely time.

The Carolingburg was preparing for the upcoming succession ceremony, and basically no one had time to talk to Griffith.

On the third day, the group that had gone to Green Vine to meet Philip Griffin had finally returned.

Griffith followed Baron Stone and waited outside the city gate early.

Except for the guards on duty and the servants in the castle who were preparing for the banquet, everyone else came out without missing a beat. Baron Stone's adopted daughter, Lily, stood behind Griffith, and several of Griffith's men were much further back.

"Is the uncle next to Andrew's brother Sir Philip?" asked Lily whispering to Griffith's ear as she saw the group from afar. The little girl's breath, warm, blew into Griffith's ears, a little itchy.

"It should be. Before the team arrived, Griffith secretly used a level 2 magic "Owl Insight" on himself.

The first two knights were Anna's two half-brothers, Larry and Barry, who carried flags representing the Griffin and Carolingian families, respectively. Among them, the griffin flag of the Griffin family, the pattern is a griffin standing sideways, holding a sword in one hand and a golden apple in the other. The coat of arms of the Carolingian family is a shield with a golden lion painted on it.

Behind the twins, who were acting as guide attendants, a slender middle-aged man was walking side by side with Andrew. Judging from Andrew's slightly behind moves, this person should be Philip, the eldest son of the Marquis of Griffin.

Behind Philip and Andrew, there were almost a hundred people in the entourage, about half of whom Griffith knew, and the rest should be people brought by Philip.

"Welcome, Sir Philip. If you miss the distance, you hope to forgive your sins. Dozens of meters away, Stone took a big step forward and bent down to salute.

Griffith and the others saluted, and then shouted the welcome, as they had rehearsed earlier: "Welcome, Sir Philip." ”

Philip quickly jumped off his horse, walked up to Stone in three steps and two steps, took his hand and said, "Baron Stone, you are too polite. ”

Seeing this, everyone behind Philip hurriedly dismounted.

The two bigwigs chatted a few words familiarly, and Philip suddenly glanced at Griffith and asked, "Could this talented young man be your second son, Griffith, who captured Kyle Osborne?"

"It's the dog. Stone said lightly, and didn't make much excuses.

"Sir, you've won the prize, and it was the advisor Mr. Sean who captured Kyle Osborne alive, and I just happened to be there, and I made a small contribution, and I really don't dare to take credit. ”

"Young people know modesty, it's good. Philip Griffin patted Griffith on the shoulder with satisfaction. Obviously, he didn't think that Griffith, a level 1 magician, would be able to play much role in battle. The praise just now is completely polite and undeserved.

Of course, Griffith wouldn't care about the fame.

"I heard you're still a councilor of Thousand Sails, Master Gerald's apprentice?" asked Philip casually.

"Yes. Griffith replied respectfully, "The kid had the privilege of studying magic with Mentor Gerald, but his qualifications were dull, and he was only promoted to level 2 not long ago. ”

Griffiths didn't intend to hide the promotion. He's going to sell scrolls in the future, and that's something that can't be kept secret anyway.

And Philip is the eldest son of the Marquis of Griffin, the future lord of the Carolingian family, and it is a good thing for Griffith himself and the entire family to make a good impression in front of him.

"Oh-is it already level 2?" Philip had obviously prepared before he came, knowing that Griffithska had been at level 1 for two or three years. Now hearing that Griffith has successfully qualified, I can't help but pay a little attention to this young man.

"Work hard, and when you reach level 4, I recommend you to join the Spell Alliance. Philip said it with a smile, and his words were a bit informative.

If Griffith remembered correctly, this Master Philip was supposed to be a mid-level ranger, not a magician.

But since Philip dared to say in front of so many people that he could recommend Griffith to enter the Spell Alliance, it was naturally impossible for him to say anything.

Could it be that this eldest son of the Marquis of Griffin still has allies in the Sorcery Alliance?

This is noteworthy information.