On August 31st, Lorist disembarked from Dawn's Flying Fish, and Bodfinger and Chief Hansk greeted him on the pier.
"This time the harvest is good. Seventeen ships, five large ocean-going merchant ships, and twelve medium-sized armed sea ships are all fleets of the slave owners of the Kingdom of Haneyabad. One fleet transports luxury goods. Manager Hansk, take it over. There are more than a thousand slaves on the two fleets, all of which were purchased from several countries on the southern golden coastline. Let them work on the island for a while, and wait for us to go out. Set them free when you come back..."
"Yes, my lord." Hanske replied.
"There are more than 200 members of the slave team on board, Bodfinger, you send someone to interrogate, and then hang those slave traders and slave team prisoners to me. The same goes for the other sailors. After the interrogation Don’t let anyone who does evil, and those who belong to the Haneyabada Kingdom, understand?” Lorist didn’t care about his few words at all, and the fate of hundreds of people was decided.
Some time ago, Lorist stayed anxiously on the island, and couldn't stand the boredom, so he boarded a boat and went to the Sad Ocean to prepare to requisition ships with Injerek and the others. It's just that I didn't expect that Sad Ocean would be empty for a long time, and sometimes I didn't see a ship for a day. Thinking about it, the ships along this section of the coast are not unlimited after all, almost all of those smuggled ships fell into Lorist's hands after two requisitions by Lorist. Already...
In desperation, Lorist simply took Dawn's Flying Fish and Storm to wait on the maritime trade route from the Kingdom of Haneyabada to the Golden Bay, and the rewards were extraordinary. Almost all of the big slave-owner nobles of the Kingdom of Haneyabada have their own private fleets, seven or eight ships more, two or three smaller ships, and as many as forty ships were captured in less than half a month. Multiple ships. As long as Chen Xi's Flying Fish approached and Lorist was around, the ship basically had no chance of running away. The Tempest finally proved its bombardment power, and seven or eight ships were sunk due to escape...
"Yes, my lord." Bodfinger turned around and gave a few brief orders, and soon several families of silver knights led a large group of soldiers to the captured ships.
"My lord, all the remaining expedition troops in the family territory have all arrived on the island." Bodfinger said.
"Well, I knew they had arrived when I saw the family's fleet of ships covering the beach," Lorist said.
"But my lord, I found that most of the soldiers who disembarked were depressed. They were not used to floating on the sea for a long time, and many of them were seasick." Bodfinger said the bad news.
"That can't be helped, ask the pharmacist to refine more potions for seasickness, and let everyone have a bottle when they go out." Lorist could only come up with a not-so-good idea: "Is there anything else?"
"My lord, the fourteen ships lent to us by the Peterson Chamber of Commerce have also arrived. Chairman Peterson also wrote you a letter, and Knight Rummard also sent a message about the end of the war in the Trimble Kingdom and the two His Royal Highness's battle report in the Kingdom of Ridley." Hanske said and handed over a letter.
While opening the letter, Lorist asked, "What did the battle report say?"
"The Kingdom of Trimble is gone, and the Commercial Alliance has won a big victory. The other Second Highness suffered a big defeat in Magik Province." Bodfinger replied: "I put the battle report in your big tent, my lord."
"Oh." Lorist put the battle report aside, opened President Peterson's letter and read it.
President Peterson's letter is a brief introduction to the current situation of the business alliance and the next dynamic changes in addition to saying hello. The most important thing is to explain a very serious fact in the letter. The month-long glass war has seriously damaged the vitality of the business alliance. Even the Petersen Chamber of Commerce, one of the seven giants, has suffered huge losses. Whether it is business or the strength of the chamber of commerce, it is currently in the most difficult period .
Unlike the previous commercial alliances when they resisted the invasion of the former Krissen Empire, the commercial alliances at that time were supported by all parties in trouble. Those kingdoms and duchies around all know that once the business alliance falls, they will be the countries that will be unlucky next, so they spared no effort to support the business alliance at that time, and everyone's relationship is in a mess. Even if the business alliance suffered heavy losses every time it resisted the invasion of the former Krissen Empire, it would make up for it through trade with surrounding countries in the next few years.
But this time the Glass War is different. The Emotional and Reasonable Business Alliances are both victims, but it happened to be Trimble VII who has only one nerve in his head. Having such an enemy is bad luck for the Business Alliance After being messed around by him, the business alliance has successfully transformed from the role of the victim to a big villain who is aggressive and bullying.
In the eyes of those countries in Zhoubian, this is clearly the beginning of the business alliance, after losing the strong enemy in the north, to use its powerful strength to bully and annex the small countries in Zhoubian. Just like the glass war with Trimble Kingdom, it must be a war started by the business alliance looking for excuses because they are envious of Trimble Kingdom's glass monopoly business.
The truth of the matter is not important, what is important is the fact that happened in front of you, the army of the business alliance came to the Fayes King City of the Trimble Kingdom, and vowed to destroy the Trimble Kingdom. In the eyes of the surrounding countries, Trimble VII may be absurd, but it is too much for the business alliance to destroy the Trimble Kingdom. Therefore, the eleven countries that sent reinforcements to the Kingdom of Trimble may be for the gold coins of Trimble VII, but they are more guarded against and vigilant against the ambitions of the business alliance.
It’s just that no one expected the ending of this glass war, just like those military experts and war scholars who compiled the history of continental warfare felt at a loss when they summed up this glass war. There was no battle, field battle, offensive and defensive battle, except marching, Robbery, assassination and anti-assassination The two armies have been in a sit-in for more than six months, and then inexplicably ended with the destruction of seven countries.
This is an extremely absurd war, full of despicable plots, deals, and coercion. Assassination, surrender and betrayal. This is what a military expert commented. The facts are not much different from what he commented. At the end of the war, two second-rate chambers of commerce conspired to kidnap the family members of a senior military general of a small country, forcing the military leader of that country to turn around and return to the country to arrest the king. And surrendered to the business alliance, which saved the lives of his family...
President Peterson said very bluntly in his letter that although the Glass War Business Alliance has won a big victory, the impact is still continuing. The good thing is that the Business Alliance has successfully implemented the Lordship System, annexing seven neighboring countries, which not only jumped to become the third largest country on the Gelinthian continent, but also had enough land to award knights.
But the bad thing is that the rest of the surrounding countries have stepped up their defenses against business alliances, which not only affected the expansion of the Peterson Chamber of Commerce's business routes in the surrounding countries, but some countries also introduced restrictions or expulsion of the Chamber of Commerce in other countries. Domestic trade points impose heavy taxes on caravans passing through their territory...
Under such circumstances, President Peterson admitted that the chamber of commerce has encountered great difficulties. Although they have obtained the territory of the chamber of commerce, their expenditures have increased greatly at the same time. They need to open up new business routes, re-integrate the trade layout of the chamber of commerce, and appease the new territories. people, to develop and build the territory, and to establish a chamber of commerce in the territory, etc...
Therefore, Chairman Peterson hoped to delay the delivery of the trade payment with the Norton family for a year and a half, and even wanted to pay on credit for the 10,000 sets of standard equipment that the Chamber of Commerce planned to order from the Norton family. In the letter, Chairman Peterson also stated that the originally prepared method of bartering could not be carried out now. The eight-month-long war cut off half of the trade routes of the Commercial Alliance, and the price of goods soared. As far as the food that the Norton family needed, the price had quadrupled compared to before the war, it was no longer profitable.
"How much does the Peterson Chamber of Commerce owe us?" Lorist asked.
"My lord, last time the Petersen Chamber of Commerce owed us 320,000 Goldfords in the trade of the furs of the monsters. It was originally planned to use food and other materials to pay for it, but last time they sent a letter saying that because of the war with Trimble Kingdom, so It will take a while. It just so happened that we also had an attack on Shilovas Island here, so we agreed to their request. In addition to the 10,000 sets of refined iron equipment they planned to order from our family, the total will be Around 1.54 million kamford."
Because he is one of the people who dealt with it, Manager Hansk knows the transaction bill like the palm of his hand: "My lord, what does the Peterson Chamber of Commerce say? When are they going to pay?"
"Look for yourself..." Lorist handed President Peterson's handwritten letter to him for him to read.
Manager Hansk quickly turned pale with fright: "My lord, no, I can't agree to the request of the Peterson Chamber of Commerce. If they want to delay payment for a year and a half, our family will have no money. Manager Speer has already made it very clear. According to the established budget, our family's reserves will be spent by May and June next year. Now we are counting on the money from the transaction with the Peterson Chamber of Commerce to arrive in the account so that we can persist until we complete all the development and construction projects in the family territory. Otherwise, there will be big troubles in the family territory..."
Lorist nodded: "Okay, I know what's in my mind, I'll write a letter to President Peterson to reply. Chief Hanske, the materials and belongings on the captured ships should add up to a hundred thousand Goldford, you go first Accept the registration, now you can earn a little bit."
Supervisor Hansk left in a hurry.
Bodfinger was not calm at the side: "My lord, is the family really encountering this financial difficulty?"
"That's right, if it wasn't for the release of those captive laborers this year and the attack on Xilovas Island, our family would still be able to get by. Even launching those new products would allow us to make a small profit." Lorist With a wry smile, he said: "I didn't expect so many captive laborers to join our family's armed forces after they were released. The Chicod Chamber of Commerce has the idea of Hilovas Island, and it is imperative to expand arms and prepare for war.
With these tens of thousands more horses, they have to be equipped and trained, and military expenditures are almost rolling upwards. Especially the expenditure of the Marine Corps and Sailor Training Camp, which is the bulk of it. Among other things, the total cost of the Light Storm, its supporting bronze cannons, and the training of gunners was almost thirty thousand gold fords.
To add insult to injury, our family's Shilovas Island territory was also attacked by slave traders and slave catchers from the Kingdom of Haneyabada, which caused great losses to our family, and the cost of the aftermath and pensions was countless. In addition, we want to retaliate and assemble the family armed forces to attack the Kingdom of Haneyabada, and the military expenditure has increased by hundreds of thousands. Manager Speer's budget is correct. If there is no major income in May or June next year, the family will go bankrupt. "
"My lord, is there no other way?" Baldofinger became anxious.
"Hmm..." Lorist waved the letter from President Peterson in his hand: "At first, I wanted to get the business from the chambers of commerce that had acquired territory in the commercial alliance, and they needed standard equipment for establishing chambers of commerce. But Now it seems that this glass war has dragged on for too long, and the vitality of the business alliance has also been greatly damaged. You see, even the Peterson Chamber of Commerce, one of the seven giants, is having a hard time, let alone the second- and third-rate chambers of commerce below. It seems that this business will have to wait for two or three years, until those chambers of commerce recover their vitality."
"Ah..." Bodfinger is a pure soldier, he can only sigh up to the sky, worried about the family's financial crisis.
"Borg, I want to ask you a question, do you know what makes the fastest money in this world?" Lorist asked Bodfinger an unexpected question.
"Well..." Bodfinger thought for a long time before replying hesitantly: "Are you in the business of military equipment? I used to hear Knight Schrader say that the business of military equipment is huge profits. When we organized a convoy to go north, we transported It’s military equipment…”
"No..." Lorist shook his head: "The most profitable is robbery, robbing those nobles in the territory. You still remember that after we defeated Count Kobili in the Kingdom of Ridleys and occupied his city, I will go back first. After leaving the family territory, Shredder stayed with you for three months, and did military equipment business with those nobles in the territory for three months. The team's funds did not exceed one million goldfords.
Next, you led the convoy to the Antinac Kingdom. Although you were used by the Second Highness, you still swept the entire Antinac Kingdom with the powerful armed forces of the convoy. Almost two-thirds of the nobles in the territory were hanged by you. From the manors and castles of the nobles who were hanged by you, the value of the property you obtained exceeded two million goldfords...
When we arrived in the Northland, we defeated Duke Lukins, looted the Grand Duchy, and obtained more than one million worth of property. When they returned to the family territory, the total property was nearly five million gold dollars. If we do nothing, then this huge sum of money is enough for me and you family knights to live a few lives in luxury.
We put all these funds into the development and construction of the family territory, established a strong family armed force, wiped out the tide of monsters that ravaged the family territory for more than 200 years, and gave stability to the families of the refugees and soldiers who followed our convoy to the Northland happy living environment. We have also established many industrial and mining workshops, established towns and villages, and built elementary schools for children to read and write, and then we will establish a formal college...
We found the mouth of the sea at the end of the Blade's Edge Mountains, built a harbor city, and turned the once dangerous black mud swamp into fertile land. The family has been investing huge sums of money to have the prosperous and vibrant family territory today. Seriously, the family spends more than one million gold fords on investment every year, and even the profits earned from doing business are invested, such as the more than two million gold fords earned from trading standard equipment with three allies...
If there were no slave traders and slave catchers attacking Hilovas Island, maybe I would lead you to attack the Principality of Madras, because there is nothing else in our northern land except that the Duke of Madras looks richer. The objects are ready for us to loot. My original plan was to land on the Platinum Beach in West Degrad Province, raid the old lair of the Grand Duke of Madras, plunder his accumulated property and evacuate from the sea, and use the funds obtained from the robbery to solve our family's urgent needs. "
"Don't look at me like that, Borg, you are my confidant knight, and I don't mind telling you the truth. The purpose of making this plan is to give our family a chance for actual combat. You must know that elite soldiers are not trained, but endured. The second is that the Principality of Madras is in an enemy relationship with us, so it is justifiable to use him as a knife, and the third is to take the opportunity to make money for the Grand Duke of Madras." Lorist laughed.
"Now the Kingdom of Haneyabada is coming to your door, so I can let the Grand Duke of Madras go first. Anyway, his old nest is in West Degrad province, and he won't grow wings to fly away. He can leave it for later. The opportunity comes again. Just like I am not worried about the family's upcoming financial crisis at all, I believe that the Kingdom of Haneyabada must be much richer than the Principality of Madras. Those slave owners, nobles and slave traders must have Made a lot of dirty money, I think I will be happy to collect their ill-gotten wealth and put it to good use... "
A ferocious smile appeared on Lorist's face: "Bodfinger..."
Baldfinger was shocked: "My lord, I am here."
"Remember, the first priority of this expedition to the Kingdom of Haneyabada is to save those of us who have fallen into the hands of slave owners and slave traders, and the second priority is to search for the wealth of the Kingdom of Haneyabada to solve our family's funds Difficult. As for our family soldiers, we have to publicize that we embarked on the journey to avenge the tragic death of the residents of Hilovas Island, and to liberate the slaves in the Kingdom of Haneyabada, so that our family soldiers firmly believe that we It is the side of justice, so that our family's armed forces can become a powerful military force and not a gang of robbers, do you understand?"
"My lord, I understand. As you said, those who commit crimes against Norton will be punished even if they are far away! We are going to punish those slave owners and slave traders. Seizing property is only incidental, and we can do it or not..."
"Very good, Borg, now you can tell me what was said in the battle report sent by Rummard, how did the Second Highness suffer such a big defeat?"
"Well, the Glass War is over. Trimble VII committed suicide in a bachelor's way, and the Trimble Kingdom is gone. Several countries that sent reinforcements to support the Trimble Kingdom were annexed, and two of them are still the leaders of those reinforcements. He defected, but he didn't know whether he was bought or something. He led his troops back to the country and captured his king and surrendered to the commercial alliance. Now the commercial alliance has become the third largest country in terms of territory, which has also aroused doubts and precautions in the surrounding countries.
Rummard said that the prices in Morente City are very high now, and the ale at the Red Crow Tavern has increased from two coppers to ten coppers a glass. He also asked for an increase in his salary, otherwise he would not be able to support seven wives and so many many children...
About His Royal Highness’s defeat in the Majik Province of the Kingdom of Ridleys, he only knew about it after reading the publication in the Morente Daily. It was called Zituram or something. He used His Highness's carelessness to lead His Highness's 70,000 troops to a low-lying area, and then dug the pre-built embankment, and washed away His Highness's army with flood water. It is said that although the Second Highness escaped with his life, there are not many 70,000 troops left under his command. His Second Highness vomited blood and vowed not to kill Zithuram..."
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