By the pier, more than a dozen sailboats were lined up. The tops of the masts and the interlaced hemp ropes had been wrapped in snowflakes into white silver threads. The refugees streamed out of the cabins and rushed to the open space in front of the pier.
This was not the first time Border Town had accepted refugees from all over Greycastle, and the whole process seemed orderly. Four iron railings divide the crowd into two slender columns, which can not only control the flow of people, but also avoid trampling. On both sides of the railing are police patrolling with short sticks, and anyone who pushes or tries to climb over the railing will be hit with a stick. There are punishments and rewards. In order to appease the people who have gone through hardships to arrive here, refugees who pass through the railings can get a bowl of steaming porridge. In any case, filling your stomach first can effectively reduce the panic and discomfort of refugees in unfamiliar territory.
This time, in addition to the police, First Army, and city hall officials, Nightingale and Sylvie also participated in the inspection, in order to find out those drug addicts that Tifeko had planted in the crowd. Under the scrutiny of the magic eye, there is nowhere to hide whether it is pills or snow powder.
"Thank you for everything you've done for the West Territory," Roland looked back and said to Margery next to him, "If it wasn't for your fleet, these people would probably have to spend the winter in the slums of other cities."
"It's rare that His Highness asks me for help in such an urgent tone, so I naturally have to do my best," she smiled, "but many crew members are reluctant to set sail in heavy snow, so we can only gather such thirteen ships."
"Better than none at all," Roland breathed out. After learning that there were still a large number of refugees stranded in Yinguang City, Chishui City and Liuye Town, he sent a letter of help to the Margery Chamber of Commerce, hoping that the other party could recruit a fleet to help him transport the refugees.
Although thirteen boats are a little less, but two more trips can always bring people back. According to a sailboat with 100 people, it takes two weeks for a round-trip, and it takes about one 3,000 stranded population. half month. The golden dragons carried by the First Army team could not support until that time, so this trip had to carry food and cold-resistant clothing. Roland didn't want refugees to board the ship with hope, but ultimately could not reach their destination.
Thanks to Lightning, Margaery ended up setting the shipping cost twice as high as usual. For other businessmen, they must think that this is a stupid transaction. The shipping cost alone exceeds the value of the goods themselves. The average shipping cost for every two people is a golden dragon. According to the current market price, you can buy several able-bodied people. Quality slaves too. Margery also asked him questions, but Roland still insisted on bringing these people back to the West.
From the moment they set foot on the sailboat with the messenger group, they were already regarded as the subjects of the Western Region, and it was their responsibility to provide them with shelter. Moreover, in Roland's eyes, the value of these refugees is far beyond that of slaves. After education, training and reemployment, the wealth they create in new positions will be immeasurable.
Back in the living room of the castle, Roland instructed the kitchen to serve Margery a thick soup to ward off the cold, "Drink this, and your hands and feet will be much warmer."
"Thank you for your kindness," the businesswoman scooped up a spoonful and smelled it. "There seems to be liquor in it?"
"Indeed," he laughed, "in addition to that, there are peppercorns and honey, and the base is chicken soup." High alcohol is an excellent drink to ward off the cold at any time, and heating it with chicken soup also enhances the taste. More fragrant and mellow, coupled with seasonings that cover up its pungent taste, the whole bowl of soup is fragrant and slightly spicy, and people who don't drink often can easily eat it.
After Margery drank the thick soup slowly, she let out a long breath, "It's really good, every time I come to your place, I always look forward to it, I don't know what new things you will come up with, but unfortunately I don't think I can do it next year. Frequent visits to your territory."
"Are you referring to trading opportunities?" Roland keenly captured the meaning of her words.
The businesswoman nodded, "Tifeke has issued an order prohibiting the trade of saltpeter. Now not only the royal capital, but also the saltpeter of Yinguang City and Chishui City is not allowed to be sold. Except for supplying it to the Alchemy Association at a low price, only It can be sold to nobles in the city."
Roland frowned.
"And according to the information I heard from the city hall, he seems to be planning to completely block the western border. I am afraid that not only saltpeter, but even merchants will be blocked in the front line of Chishui City. At that time, it will not only be Border Town, Changge Fortress, Liuye Town. It will also be affected. Although many nobles have expressed their opposition, Tifek should not withdraw the order." She shook her head helplessly, "When next year, not only will I not be able to transport saltpeter and ore bars here, I will Even the steam engine deal may be suspended."
It seems that he is pressing him, otherwise he will not bring out this kind of will that is also very harmful to the royal family. Roland can't help but think that rashly interfering with the trade actions of other territories without completing the centralization of power is likely to stimulate Raise the resistance of lords and great nobles. Even if Tifeko sent his own troops to defend the land and river, it would be easy to be eradicated by the local lord from behind as long as he enforced this policy for a year and a half.
But Naihe trade is the dead end of Border Town, let alone a year or even half a year. Saltpeter is the raw material for large-scale acid production, and its importance cannot be replaced until the artificial synthesis of ammonia is not solved. Once the supply is stopped, the 152mm artillery will become a display, and the replacement of the new burst gun will be delayed a lot.
However, compared with weapons, what is even worse is that the steam engine trade does not have many golden dragons in the treasury of the city hall. Some of the money that makes money is used for infrastructure construction, and the number of jobs is continuously increased, and the other part is paid to the townspeople as salary, and then through the Food, convenience goods and housing transactions are recycled to form a cycle. This economic model needs to continuously inject golden dragons into the market, at least equal to the wealth created by the people.
Today, Frontier Town is still in a state of primitive accumulation, and no credit currency is issued. Once the trade income of steam engines is missing, it is easy for the finances to fall into a dry state where no salary can be paid, and then the economy will collapse completely.
In any event, a funding interruption is an absolutely unacceptable situation.
"This situation won't last long," Roland said, spreading his hands. "I believe you will soon be able to visit this western town again. By then, you should see a brand new city."
Margery was slightly surprised, "Are you planning to build a city here?"
"Just after the Devil's Moon ends," he laughed, "in addition, I plan to open a trade route directly connected to the fjord, not through Haifeng County or Clear Water Port, but directly from the western border to the fjord islands. .I wonder if you are interested in participating?"
.
...