This is a huge expense.
But it's worth it.
Victoria carefully looked at the one-handed sword in her hand. It was a gift from Gawain after the contract was formally signed. This sword was almost exactly the same as every sword she saw on Cecil Warrior. The difference is that Cecil's family crest has been erased from the hilt and replaced with the clan crest of the Wilder family in the North.
It is very sophisticated, with rigid lines and meticulous patterns, and almost no flaws can be seen on the surface. As a piece of mass-produced equipment, it is even more sophisticated than the weapons in the hands of the Royal Knights, and there are thousands of them here. The weapons that are exactly the same as it are, and there is no difference between them.
This sense of uniformity made Victoria feel a kind of "strength".
This must not be Cecil's best quality weapon, because no one would be foolish enough to take out the armament at the bottom of the box to exchange for money except when there is no other choice, but it is at least better than the weapon that the Royal Army currently has, and that's enough.
Looking at the Duchess of the North who was thinking about holding a one-handed sword in front of him, Gawain couldn't help but recall the memory from Gawain Cecil. He thought of the former first generation Grand Duke Snow? Wilder, that powerful mage had a long talk with Gawain Cecil all night when he visited the southern border for the last time.
At that time, the Duke system of the Four Realms had been established, and the Middle Kingdom and the four principalities were working together to build Ansu, but the Duke of the North asked a question that seemed strange at that time: If one day, the biggest threat to the kingdom is no longer outside What should I do if it is the guardian of the four realms, the Duke himself
Snow Wilder is keen on studying history, especially the history of the nobility of the Gondor Empire. He may have seen some hidden dangers from the four-land duke system that he had to do at that time. Unfortunately, Gawain Cecil did not After failing to give him any answer, Gawain Cecil died on the battlefield three days later.
Gawain came back to his senses, looked at Victoria, and asked a question seemingly casually: "Do you think Anzu's crisis will end with the end of the civil war?"
"If we win, then we will," Victoria raised her head, and said in a tone as if stating the facts, "Wales Moen is the orthodox heir to the royal family. As long as the Royal Army can defeat the rebels in the east, then the Ansu nobles will inevitably As long as the nobles are united again, Anzu will become a whole again, and the crisis will naturally be resolved."
"... I understand," Gawain nodded, "Then let's go back to the city first."
Victoria blinked, a trace of confusion was hidden under her calm face. She vaguely sensed a hint of disappointment from Gawain's subtle expression, but then felt that it might be an illusion. She saw that the other party had already stepped away, so she didn't After further questioning, he walked two steps to the side of the magic car, pointed to the car and asked, "Duke Cecil, do you also sell this kind of thing called magic car?"
Gao Wen stopped, looked at Victoria in surprise, and then showed a smile: "Sooner or later, it will be sold, but not now, we can't make so many, at least half a year. And if you want to buy magic If you want to guide the car, it’s best to repair the Kingdom Avenue first after you go back.”
Victoria bowed her head deeply: "I will. Roads are the lifeblood of the kingdom. When the snow melts, my first thing to do is to rebuild the Kingdom Avenue."
After returning to the Lord's Mansion, Victoria quickly bid farewell and left. She wanted to return to the Autumn Palace to calculate how much money the Royal Army could spend to buy armaments. However, Gawain did not stop at the Lord's Mansion. He boarded the magical car waiting at the door, and ordered the attendants driving to the merchant area.
Mechanical vibrations came from the chassis of the car. Sitting in this magical car that was slightly out of date, Gawain exhaled softly, and a shadow suddenly appeared on the seat beside him. Amber's figure emerged from the shadows.
"That duchess seems to be in pain," Amber blinked. Although she didn't know where she was secretly observing, this guy had obviously been wandering around Gawain, "I'm afraid she used the preparation as a dowry." The money is all posted in.”
"That's a lot of money. Even if half of it can be converted into materials, it's beyond the capacity of San Sunil's treasury. Victoria still chooses to accept it. It seems that she really hopes that this civil war can end as soon as possible, and that the Royal Army can Win as soon as possible."
"I didn't see you being soft-hearted when you cheated money." Amber opened her mouth and said, "It's really good, that's more or less your junior, and as a nobleman, he is also a good person, but you didn't even get a discount. No fight."
Gao Wen glanced at Amber, and said slowly, "...the Royal Army can't save Ansu."
In the hands of the Royal Army, those gold coins can only be slowly used to fill the battlefield on the Holy Spirit Plain. Rather than let them be wasted uselessly, it is better to let them become the gears and levers of the magic industry.
Amber blinked, then stroked her chin: "Then what are you going to do now?"
"Go and meet another group of people who also couldn't save Ansu."
The magic vehicle passed through the administrative area of Cecil City, crossed the ring road, and soon came to the merchant district on the west side of the city. It didn't take long before it stopped in front of a tall and brand new building
Cecil's merchant guild hall is specially used to receive giant merchants and distinguished guests.
Behind a window on the second floor of the building, a young nobleman with short brown hair quietly watched the movement on the street. After seeing the magic vehicle approaching, he took a step back and left the window.
There are several other people in the room, all wearing exquisite silk or velvet clothes, wearing brooches or mechanical pocket watches, they all look like businessmen, but judging from their extremely vigilant and sharp eyes and the momentum of their gestures, It can be judged that these people are not just businessmen.
One of them saw the young man with brown hair leave the window, stood up and asked, "Master, what's going on outside?"
"Don't worry, he is here," the brown-haired young man nodded, and said in a deep voice, "With only one follower, he should come up soon."
The few people in the room relaxed slightly, and then came to the door with the brunette young man, waiting quietly.
A moment later, footsteps came...
In the room of the Merchant Guild, Gawain met those special guests.
In the past three days, he let Victoria and other visitors from the royal capital visit the market, visit the streets of the city, and visit all the arranged places, and he himself is not idle. What he is doing is to get in touch with these special guests .
The door closed behind him, Gawain looked at the brown-haired young man in front of him, and nodded slightly: "Marquis Belk, it seems that you have followed my advice and did not run around."
The brown-haired young man, the eldest son of Silas Lauren, the Duke of the Eastern Region, Belk Lauren, bent down and saluted Gao Wen as a junior, and the others also saluted. The young man who has reached the middle level at the age of 10 can't help but say: "Staying in the room is not comfortable."
"Leaving the room will be more troublesome." Gawain took Amber and sat down on the sofa in the center of the room, looking at Belk Lauren who was also sitting in front of him, and said, "The heir of the Duke of the East has appeared in the city of Cecil. That's not a good sign, and I'm sure Victoria would be happy to take this opportunity to make Silas Loren lose her son. You can't beat her."
Belke moved his body a little awkwardly. Although he wanted to control his expression, he was obviously not as proficient in this aspect as Victoria: "You received the envoy sent by the king's capital in the lord's mansion, but let We are hiding among the merchants, does this... express your attitude?"
Gawain couldn't help laughing. He looked at the young man in front of him, Belk. He was a nice young man, polite, talented, and very smart, but he was obviously too reckless and inexperienced. He was not very good at negotiating with people, but Considering his age, there is no way to compare him with the Duchess of the Northern Territory: "Frankly speaking, the so-called Kingdom Army and the Eastern Territory Army are the same in my opinion. There is no need for the younger generation to call out the parents to comment on it." Wrong, but considering the geographical location, the connection between the southern border and the Holy Spirit Plain is obviously much stronger than that with the eastern border, and their visit has been made public a long time ago."
Speaking of this, he paused, and then continued: "As for you... I have limited trust in you, and this is only because of Anthony Lauren's affection."
"Forgive me for going overboard, but you will see sooner or later that we really want to save this kingdom," Belk said with a serious face, "The nobles of the kingdom who are indulging in peace in the Holy Spirit Plain are not aware of the crisis at all, they They can't see the changes of Typhon, nor the changes of the world. They only know about feasting all night and looting the last copper coins from commoners' homes, but we know
"Typhon is reforming the land system, promoting education, developing technology, reorganizing the army, and opening up new lands. Their civilians can already eat meat once a week, and our people don't even have enough black bread in winter. Even Ansu Now it is very difficult to catch up with Typhon. Our only way out is to quickly concentrate the power of Ansu in the hands of a powerful new king, so that Typhon will be afraid, even if it is only ten years, or even five years. There is still a chance... ”
Gawain interrupted the enthusiastic young man: "Is Edmund the 'powerful new king' you call?"
"Prince Edmund has farsightedness and charisma," Belk Lauren said very seriously, with admiration in his tone, "The Plowing and War Reward Act, Road Construction Act, Commercial Act and Farmland Reclamation System that he tried out in the Eastern Territory It has already produced effects, as long as the Holy Spirit Plains is willing to send a nobleman who is not blind to take a look, they will also realize who is the qualified king, but they obviously dare not."
It seems that the young Marquis still doesn't know the connection between Prince Edmund and the Death of All Things, and he doesn't know the truth about Francis II's death. Maybe he pretended not to know because of his superb acting skills
Gao Wen didn't care about what Belk knew or didn't know. He waited patiently for the other party to finish speaking, and then nodded: "I probably know something too. It is because I know this that I am willing to try to give you some trust. Only then did the merchants of the Principality be allowed to establish trade routes in the east. You know, I have been lying in my grave for seven hundred years, and those people I know and trust are basically gone. For any person and force in this era, even I have to get to know the descendants of my former friends again."
Belk was sitting on the sofa, rubbing his index finger knuckles unconsciously, which seemed to be a subconscious movement when he organized vocabulary: "Yes, my father and I understand this...Mr. I am deeply impressed, the medicine he brought is exactly what we need urgently, and my father sent me here to talk to you about this matter... "
"We were discussing this issue two days ago," Gawain nodded, "I know what you mean, you have a huge potion shortage, so not only do you want to order a large amount of alchemy potions, but you also want to buy a factory Equipment, and I want Cecil to help you train a group of people to operate the machines... To be honest, you have asked for quite a lot.”
"We have no choice." Belk Rollen said.
The young Marquis knew that what he was asking for was sensitive "technical fundamentals", something that Duke Cecil could hardly agree to. However, before setting off, Prince Edmund explained to him the necessity of all these alchemy potions. Things that are critical to the survival of the army cannot always be controlled by others. Only by making the eastern border capable of production can one day ensure that the southern border will not fall into a too passive situation after the sudden interruption of the supply of medicines.
The negotiations two days ago were deadlocked on this issue, but today Duke Cecil is here again, which means that there may still be talks on this issue.
Gao Wen thought about it quietly and seemed to be tangled and hesitant, while Amber next to him couldn't help but say, "Our machine was researched at a huge price. It's knowledge, and money can't buy it... "
Gao Wen secretly gave Amber a thumbs up, his face was full of seriousness: "But the Eastern Realm is still a part of Ansu."
"But what if we help them build a factory, and they learn the technology directly, not only produce it themselves, but also don't allow our medicine to enter the country?"
Belk immediately said: "I swear by the blood of the family that the Eastern Territory will not do such a thing that violates the spirit of chivalry. Prince Edmund explained before I set off that we built our own factory just for emergencies. We still It needs the alchemy potion from the south."
Gao Wen didn't believe Edmund's promise at all, but he nodded with a face of trust: "I am willing to believe you."
Then he changed the subject again: "But I want to protect the interests of the southern border and the interests of the merchants who are loyal to me, so if I want to build a pharmaceutical factory in the eastern border, I have a condition: the merchants I designate must cooperate with you. Build a factory."
"Jointly build a factory?"
"Yes, each pays half of the cost, jointly establishes and manages the factory, and the benefits are also divided equally. The business representatives in the southern border will protect the core technology from leakage during this process, and will also provide technical guidance to you. This is my goal. That's the biggest concession you can take."
Belk pondered for a while, then got up and discussed with several people around him in a low voice and quickly.
After a while, he returned to his seat: "... I agree that I can represent the will of my father and Prince Edmund in this matter."
Gao Wen smiled: "Very well, then we have to recalculate the price..."
When the final price was estimated, the young Marquis fell into consternation.
"so much?!"
"Isn't this normal?" Gawain spread his hands, "If it was easy to build an alchemy factory, I wouldn't have to hesitate on this matter until today. And I'm going to help you build more than one factory, The quantity of the first batch of alchemy potions you want to buy is equivalent to the sum of the traditional alchemy potions produced in the whole of Ansu in the past three years. Think about the price of traditional alchemy potions, and you will find that the current price is nothing at all gone."
"This...it is true," Belk rubbed his knuckles again, with a embarrassed look on his face again, "but...frankly speaking, the price is a bit beyond our expectations."
Gao Wen said indifferently: "This is because you have made requests that were not planned."
Then he proposed the method he had told Victoria before: use materials to offset half of the cash.
However, this time, Belk still showed a very embarrassed look.
After all, the Eastern Territory is only the Eastern Territory. Although the army is strong and the proportion of extraordinary people in the army is much higher than that of the Kingdom Army, judging from the territory area, population and resource output, it is impossible for it to occupy the Holy Spirit Plain and have the "Western Territory" -Compared to the Kingdom Army supported by the Ogure Tribal State's trade line.
Obviously, their "ability to pay" is a problem.
The negotiation seemed to be at an impasse, but Gao Wen suddenly broke the silence: "There is another plan."
The young Belk immediately raised his head: "What plan do you have?"
"Is there an area called 'White Sand Hills' near the triangular intersection between the South Border and the Dark Mountains in the southwestern region of the East Border?" Gawain said unhurriedly, "It is said that iron and copper are produced there. There are a small amount of magic crystal veins."
"You want the White Sand Hills?" Belk opened his eyes wide, then shook his head immediately, "Forgive me for refusing, it is impossible. Although that area has not yet been developed, it is a long-term mine in the East, and it is also The precious territory in the east. It is too expensive to exchange a piece of permanent land for temporary alchemy potions and factories."
"I don't intend to take it," Gawain interrupted Belk, "I will only mine it for a period of five years, and the southern border will be mined in the White Sand Hills for five years, and then it will still be yours. According to the current situation, this civil war will end in five years." It should be over after the next year, when all the dust settles and we can just start to enter a new period."
Looking at the serious expression on Gawain's face, the future successor of the Eastern Realm, the young Marquis of Belk, hesitated for a moment.
five years...
He got up again, and quickly discussed with the accompanying advisers and subordinates.
A few minutes later, he returned to Gao Wen again.
It should not be mined much.
"We agree."