"You want me to negotiate with a bunch of barbarians?"

In the cosy and ornate hall of Baker City, Davis, a city councillor in a gold-trimmed shirt, sat in the ivory chair and questioned his minister in an angry tone.

Elton served as Baker City's treasurer for many years and was well aware of the city's trade imports and exports. He knew that Baker Port would import a large number of ice peppers from Kislev every year, and due to the regional particularity, the import of ice peppers from the northern town of Blackhammer Castle accounted for nearly half of the share. Ice pepper is the main ingredient for making an antidote to rat fever, and with the support of Blackhammer Keep, it is possible to create a large number of potions that can cure a large number of patients.

However, Davis had a holiday with the Lord of Blackhammer in his early years, and to the young mayor, Kislev was the place where barbarians lived, and to the north of Kislev, it was an uncivilized barbarian. He really didn't want to go to a place like that, to negotiate with a barbarian leader.

"Whether they're barbarians or not, my lord, we need their Ice Peppers. As you know, that's an important raw material, and only with it can the pharmaceutical factory formulate enough antidote to stop the spread of this plague. Now, Blackhammer has ceased all trade with us, and all ships have stopped showing up in Baker Harbor a month ago. ”

Elton, the treasurer, had been the city's treasurer for nearly two decades. His grandfather was the General Customs Office of Port Baker, and his father was also the market manager of Baker City. The Elector of Oster had thought of balancing the power of the Elton family, but he thought that if he wanted to move this family, he would inevitably have to make a big move, which would be very detrimental to the stability of Baker Harbor. In the absence of a suitable opportunity, he simply obtained an alliance of interests with the Elton family, and Davis went to Baker City to take up the post, half of which was assisted by Elton, otherwise, this young noble son would not have known what would become of the entire city.

"There's always another way. ”

Davis rested one foot on the table, grimaced. He remembered what the barbarians had done in his villa four years ago, and his heart was filled with resplendence.

"What else can you do? unless you're willing to spend a lot of money and buy raw materials from somewhere else, thousands of miles away. But then, our finances will not be able to turn around. ”

Elton said with a bitter face.

"Then leave it alone! Anyway, rat fever can't kill people, and after a long time, those fart people will get better themselves. We don't have to worry about it. ”

Davis yelled indignantly. At this moment, he was irritable and just wanted to go back to the villa, take a hot bath, and let the servants massage him.

"Rat-fever is not very fatal, but it can cause people to suffer for a short period of time, lose their work, and if these people are not treated, it will cause a large-scale shortage of work. When the time comes, no one farms, no one goes to work in the factory, and the city will be paralyzed. Plus, without food, civilians quickly turn into mobs. In order to compete for limited food and resources, they will go crazy to unimaginable levels. Even if the situation is not so serious, the city is affected by the plague and the government is doing nothing, and it is easy for the people to rebel. So, this issue can't be ignored, my lord. ”

Elton said with a sad face, in fact, as a member of the aristocratic class, he didn't really care about the lives of the commoners, but the operation of the city needed these civilians. Although the nobles have absolute wealth and power, if there are no commoners working for the nobles, where will the wealth of the nobles come from? Elton also did not want to go to Blackhammer Castle, but as an old nobleman who had worked in the financial position for many years, he knew the stakes.

"They'll take this opportunity to laugh at me!"

But Davis was still reluctant. He just wondered why there were so many things? Since he came to power, all kinds of big and small things have been going on. Sometimes, halfway through the bath, you have to worry about whether something bad will happen. He is even nostalgic for his days in Wolfenburg. At that time, his father would help him settle all the mess. But here, he always has to take care of all kinds of things on his own. Sometimes it's really annoying.

"Being ridiculed is only temporary, and when we get the ice peppers, there will be a way to solve the plague. And there will never be a next time. ”

Elton admonished bitterly. Jiangsu Literature Network

"Let me think again. ”

After Davis finished speaking, he shook his hand very unhappily and left the office.

......

In the summer, Rhodes stood on the banks of the Dongquan River, watching the smoke rising from several large garbage disposal sites. The cessation of trade with Osterland has had a significant impact on Blackhammer's burgeoning economy. But again it had to be done. The plague spread, and if nothing is done, Blackhammer is also at risk of contracting the plague.

Alves has been busy communicating with various merchants for nearly a month, and now he has almost dealt with it. It's just that this incident reminded Rhodes that in the future, he can't concentrate all his trade in the Oster Territory next door. There were also many provinces within the empire, and further west was the Kingdom of Bretonnia. These should all be Blackhammer's trading partners. All eggs should not be put in one basket, and if the plague is not lifted in time, the losses will be greater. After all, there are some goods that are not in high demand in Dulong City and elsewhere in Kislev, but production cannot be reduced, and in the event of an oversupply, the price of natural export commodities will fall.

"Alves. ”

"Huh?"

"I wonder if it's time for us to open up new trade channels?"

Looking at the endless Winter Spring River, Rod said with a heavy heart.

"It's long overdue. However, it is not easy to get in touch with other imperial provinces or Bretonnia and establish trade agreements. First of all, it is unknown whether the rest of the empire knows about our existence. Kislev was a backcountry in the eyes of the Empire's nobility. Many of them still have a contempt for Kislev. Not to mention that we're just a small town in the north. ”

"So the first step is for the outside world to know about us, to understand us?"

Rod asked.

"That's right. Establish diplomatic relations first, and first impressions matter. We can send emissaries or delegations to get in touch with the officials of these provinces. Geographically, in addition to the Oster Territory, the one closest to us is the Nord Territory. Start here, and then slowly get in touch with the Imperial Central Province. ”

Alves replied.

"Then who do you think should be assigned to this task, as the head of the delegation to the Nord Consulate?"

Rod then asked.

"Virgil, I have the best opinion for him. I've thought about this question before, let's put it this way, the whole of Blackhammer seems to be full of talent right now. However, this is only what we seem, and the outside world does not necessarily recognize us as ministers. First of all, the person who sent the Nord Collar couldn't be a dwarf like me. Just because I have authority at Blackhammer doesn't mean I have authority elsewhere. Sending a dwarf to another country is seen by some as contempt and disrespect for them. Secondly, the delegation represents the Black Hammer Castle, so the dwarves and Norskians cannot be allowed to serve as the representatives. In this way, Bogur and Celta can be excluded. And you are the lord, and during the special period of the plague outbreak, you can't go out in person. Ms. Caroline could not leave in the same way. In the end, it is better for the nobles to be the head of the delegation, the words of the commoners only have a status in the Black Hammer Castle, and out of the Black Hammer Castle, no one will recognize the status of the commoners. So, Yeskovich was excluded again. Then, only Virgil and Quarella were left to choose. I don't think I need to say you know who these two choose, Virgil must be chosen. The young and handsome knight is loyal to you and to Blackhammer, and Virgil has never betrayed you even when the Beastmen invaded and Blackhammer was in danger. And you know what kind of person Quarellara is. ”

Standing beside Rod, Alves analyzed in an orderly manner. For a while, a main line had been sorted out by him.