The slander returns to the slander, the banquet is still to be eaten.
The atmosphere of the dinner was quite harmonious, and the Fourth Prince didn't talk about ore, so it was inconvenient for him to say anything more.
When the prince instructed the maid to change to dessert after dinner, Pei Luo tentatively mentioned, "His Royal Highness, according to past practice, today should be the day to deliver the ore, but I didn't see any ore in the dock yard."
Roland put down the small wooden stick in his hand and nodded, "Unfortunately, there was a collapse in the north slope mine a while ago, and my people have been trying to resume production this month. However, the gravel at the collapse has not been cleaned up, click here The progress of the mining area is likely to be delayed until next year.”
collapse? Pei Luo was stunned for a moment, what a coincidence? But he soon realized that there was no need for the other party to lie to him. Otherwise, if you go to the North Slope and turn around once, it will be clear that telling such an obvious lie is like slapping yourself in the face.
"Then... two months ago?"
"Not too much, according to the usual practice, then a stone can't support my subjects." Roland emphasized the word "routine", "Mr. Ambassador, you should remember the Devil's Moon two years ago, right?"
Peiro certainly remembered that nearly 20% of the people in Border Town starved to death due to the severe cold that lasted for four months. There was not no voice of opposition among the nobles, and some even demanded that Fei Renuo be punished afterwards. But in the end, the incident came to nothing, just because he was the husband of the duke's second daughter.
Now that the prince mentioned this matter, Pei Luo felt a bad feeling in his heart.
"This time it's even worse," Roland sighed. "If it is delivered in the previous way, I'm afraid it will only be able to exchange for two months' worth of wheat. My people can't survive the winter, sir, the old trade method must be abolished."
Pei Luo opened his mouth, but did not know how to refute. He is not a professional diplomat. Faced with such a good reason, he really can't pick a problem, so he can only delay, "His Royal Highness, I regret this matter, this time will never repeat the previous tragedy, I will Let the six families jointly lend out a month's worth of food, and your people can slowly repay it after production resumes in the coming year."
"If I sell it to Liuye Town, I can repay it slowly."
"but… "
"Nothing good but," Roland interrupted, "they are willing to use golden dragons to buy stones, and at the same time sell wheat, cheese, bread, honey at market prices... whatever they can buy with golden dragons, they sell. Stepping back, Mr. Ambassador, even if you are willing to lend food for a month, will the other five companies agree with your decision? As far as I know, Duke Ryan is not an easy person to reach an agreement."
Pei Luo was silent, the fourth prince was right, not only the other five families, but even his own father was not sure of persuading him. If he wants to maintain his monopoly, he must revise the transaction plan, but he has no right to make a final decision. Said to be an ambassador, in fact, is nothing more than a microphone. Maybe the duke doesn't want anyone to reach any agreement with Border Town privately? No matter if the target is the previous lord or the fourth prince. That's why he assigns different people every season and every year, and these people are never in power in the family.
No matter what the result was, he had to give it a try. Thinking of this, Pelor showed his last trump card, "Thirty percent," he stretched out three fingers, "the fortress bought ore and rough gemstones at thirty percent lower than the market price. I think this The price should be higher than that of Liuye Town, Your Highness."
Roland spread his hands and said, "It is indeed higher, but it is still an old question. Can what you said become a unanimous decision of the six families?"
"I will leave for Changsong Fortress 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 is usually time-consuming to reach agreement among nobles."
"His Royal Highness, it is a better choice for you and your people to cooperate with the fortress. Willow Leaf Town is too far away, although you can avoid the Moon of Demons there," Pei Luo felt a little bit in his throat when he said this. Dry, "But the road is easy... dangerous."
My God, what the hell am I doing, his heart is pounding, am I threatening a prince
"Hahaha," Unexpectedly, Roland didn't burst into a rage, but laughed loudly, "Mr. Ambassador, you seem to have made a mistake, I never thought about going to Liuye Town."
"what do you mean… "
"Of course, I didn't plan to go to Longsong Fortress either," Roland looked at the ambassador with a playful expression, "I'm not going anywhere."
Peyro wondered for a moment whether his ears had heard it wrong.
Fortunately, the prince did not let the strange silence continue, and he continued, "This winter, I will stay in Frontier Town, and Frontier Town will become the new frontier of the Kingdom of Greycastle. Don't be so surprised, my friend, this is I'm not talking nonsense, I can take you to visit the newly built city wall later, just at the foot of the North Slope Mountain."
"City... walls?"
"Yes, connecting the north slope and Chishui River, a stone city wall twelve feet high and four feet wide. With this, we can defeat the evil beasts in Border Town."
Pei Luo felt that his brain was not enough. When the ambassador went back last season, he didn't mention any city walls. No, at that time, the lord of Border Town was still a fortress. How could he have sent a limited number of people to build this. In other words, the fourth prince started building the city wall as soon as he arrived here? Even so, it's only been three months now. What can be cultivated in such a short time
Wait... What did His Highness just say? Twelve feet high, four feet wide, and connecting the North Slope and Chishui River? Pei Luo estimated in his heart that a city wall of this scale could not be completed within a few years. First of all, he did not have so many masons to cut and grind stones! Border Town is not a Greycastle, and most of the people who live here only sell coolies.
Before he could digest the news, Roland's next sentence also shocked him.
"As for ore sales, starting next year, I'm willing to lower the price to 50%, sir, but not all of it to Longsong Fortress. Because you don't necessarily need that many ore. I think compared to the low-profit raw ore, you will I prefer some metal products, such as shovels, shovels, etc.” He paused for a moment, as if waiting for Peiro to understand the meaning of his words, “As for the rough gemstones, it will be auctioned in the form of the highest bidder. Although I would also like to buy a good price after the gem is cut, unfortunately, Border Town does not have such ability at present.”
Then you have the ability to build a city wall in a few months! Pei Luo roared in his heart, and what do you mean by not needing so many ores, the output of only 1,000 golden dragons a year, even if the output will increase, it will be doubled if you die! Two thousand Golden Dragon Fortresses can't be eaten? Too arrogant!
He resisted the resentment in his heart and tried his best to maintain his final etiquette, "I have written down everything you said, Your Highness. I will consult with the Six Families immediately after I go back. It's just that the city wall you mentioned... I want to see it. Look."
"Of course," Roland smiled, "but don't be in a hurry, it's not too late to set off after enjoying these royal capital-style pastries, right? Mr. Ambassador."