In the private room of the tavern.
Arnold, who was still discussing with Earl Evan about how to dig a hole for the St. Hilde family, now respectfully helped Colin pour the wine, and at the same time smiled obsequiously:
"Lord Earl, I am a Northerner after all, so of course my heart is towards the North! That Evan St. Pross wants to encourage me to betray the North, it's ridiculous!"
Colin looked at the upright northern businessman in front of him with a half-smile, as if he had forgotten that he had secretly contacted Earl Evan in the Butter Tavern.
Obviously, if Colin hadn't caught him, how could Arnold suddenly become a staunch and unyielding northerner
Colin will never forget that these businessmen can sell anything for profit.
But fortunately, I can give them greater benefits, as long as they are obedient.
Similarly, if they are disobedient, they can take everything away from them.
"Mr. Arnold, you are really a role model for northern businessmen!"
"Lord Earl, you are flattering! In my heart, you are the model of knights in the Northern Territory, the best among nobles!"
The two complimented each other sincerely, and then raised their wine glasses to toast this friendship.
After drinking the wine in the glass, Arnold put down the glass, looked at Colin's face quietly, and then said tentatively:
"My lord, there is something I don't know whether I should ask..."
Ke Lin glanced at the other party casually, and said lightly: "Don't worry, I will never go back on what I promised you. Don't you still believe in my credibility?"
"No, no, no." Arnold waved his hands again and again, "My lord, you have misunderstood. Of course I believe that you will not treat your loyal subordinates badly. I just can't figure out why you gave the Eastern Territory such a chance to make a fortune?"
"Get rich?" Colin sneered, "You also think that is a good opportunity to get rich?"
Arnold was apprehensive, but he still plucked up the courage to say: "My lord, are you really planning to renege on those bonds? With all due respect, this may seriously damage the reputation of the St. Hilde family."
Colin joked with a smile: "You are very good, you are starting to think about the St. Hilde family."
"Of course, the great St. Hilde family has a lofty status in the hearts of every northerner!" Arnold said devoutly, as if worshiping his own beliefs.
Colin ignored Arnold's loyalty, but said lightly: "Don't worry, the St. Hilde family will not destroy their reputation. No matter who comes to Lion's Roar Castle with those due bonds, we will pay them. Even people from the East are the same.
However, you said that people in the east can make a fortune by hoarding bonds and manipulating food prices, hehe, that's too much for granted. "
Arnold looked puzzled and asked, "My lord, please forgive me for being stupid, I don't quite understand what you mean."
In fact, the hole Colin dug for Earl Evan was, to put it bluntly, a simple operation similar to futures.
At this time, Earl Evan was buying grain at a low price in the eastern border, and exchanged it for bonds in the northern border. These bonds can be regarded as futures contracts.
On the delivery date in the future, that is, when the bond expires, as long as the price of food in the northern border is higher than the current price in the eastern border, then Earl Evan can make a lot of money by relying on the price difference, even making it difficult for the St. Hilde family to take it. Pay enough money to buy the corresponding food, resulting in credit default.
But there is a key problem here - the price of grain at the time of delivery must be higher than it is now.
Otherwise, the East Territory will lose its pants...
The reason why Arnold and Earl Evan were fooled was because of the limited thinking of this era.
In this era of insufficient productivity, food has always been in a state of insufficient food, so it is very easy to increase food prices, random wars, or even a few big chambers of commerce jointly hoarding can make food prices skyrocket go.
This is also the source of Earl Evan's confidence.
In his opinion, it would not be difficult to manipulate food prices soaring all the way in the future, and it would definitely make the St. Hilde family swallow the bitter fruit.
But he didn't know that Colin was determined to let Bachelor Sonny implement a new farming and animal husbandry system in the northern border.
And Ke Lin is also confident that with the popularization of this new farming and animal husbandry system, the food in the northern border will become more and more abundant in the future, and the price of food will definitely decline all the way.
This is the general trend determined by the relationship between supply and demand. If the Eastern Territory wants to reverse this general trend, hehe, just prepare to be crushed and swept by this torrent.
Of course, Colin didn't intend to explain this point to Arnold clearly. After all, he still couldn't fully trust the businessman, so he just said lightly:
"Then you should pay close attention to the future trend of food prices, and see if the Eastern Territory can really make a lot of money, and even use it to blackmail the St. Hilde family?"
Arnold nodded in confusion, but did not dare to ask further questions.
Colin gave Arnold a few more words to let him do this promising undercover job with peace of mind, and then left.
…
Three days later, the Northern Foreign Trade Company, which Ke Lin placed high hopes on, was finally formally established.
More than 500 northern businessmen, large and small, gathered in the banquet hall of Lion's Roar Castle to witness this historic moment.
Since Earl Evan's attention was diverted by Colin to the bonds, without the secret intervention of the Eastern Territory, Colin managed to occupy nearly 60% of the new company's shares without much effort.
Of course, such a large sum of money would definitely not be available to the shallow Angelet family, even if all the troll empire's war reparations were put into it, it would not be enough.
Fortunately, with the help of the St. Hilde family, the Uman family, the Schulz family, and the Miller family of the half-elf kingdom, Colin successfully took control of the board of directors and became the number one member of the Northern Foreign Trade Company. as chairman.
Oliver also got his wish and was appointed by Vera as the company's first general manager. Moreover, the company's management team members, especially those in charge of the two most important departments of personnel and finance, were the backbone of the original Tulip Chamber of Commerce.
At this point, a Northern Foreign Trade Company completely controlled by Ke Lin was finally established.
In Ke Lin's conception, it will become a sharp weapon for him to integrate and control the business circles in the north, and carry out economic invasion abroad.
At the same time, the Northern Charity Foundation was also announced.
Compared with the Northern Foreign Trade Supply Company, the establishment of this foundation is very low-key.
Moreover, except for Colin, no one has yet realized its huge potential and real role.
After dealing with the problems in the business world, Colin began to prepare for going to the Half-Elf Kingdom.
In fact, the hidden dangers in the northern border have not been completely eliminated, such as Mr. Li, Prince Leahy, and the Morrison family. However, these problems are also difficult for Colin to deal with for a while.
Fortunately, he has already reached an agreement with Mr. Xie. Although this Colin has doubts about the reliability of this agreement, in a short time, I believe that Mr. Xie will not cause too much trouble in the northern border. Some areas do have a basis for cooperation.
What's more, there is still Prince Lexi staring at this terrifying mage.
Ke Lin could only temporarily put aside these hidden dangers and deal with a more important and urgent issue - food.
Queen Aisha has already sent a letter. Compared to being unprepared last time, the half-elven grain merchants have united this time. They don't want to be forced by Colin to buy a large amount of grain at a low price like last year. Moreover, Behind them, there seems to be the support of the East Territory.
Therefore, Colin is going to take the blood cavalry army to Silvermoon City this time, and teach those half-elf merchants who want money but not life a profound lesson.
After more than half a year of development, the current Blood Cavalry Army has expanded to a scale of nearly 20,000 people. Although there is still a big gap compared with the Black Cavalry Army at its peak, it can already be called a rather terrifying military force. up.
At least in the half-elf kingdom, there is no force that can threaten it.
Unless the eastern border sends a large-scale army to enter the half-elf kingdom.
In that case, perhaps it would be a good thing for Colin.
Because this means that the Eastern Territory has given up its greatest geographical advantage - the Nushui River.
Colin is very happy to form a coalition army in the north, and compete with the army in the east in the half-elf kingdom.
However, this is just Colin's own thinking. As long as the Duke of St. Pross is not stupid, he will not do this.
In late September, after bidding farewell to Vera, Colin personally led the Blood Cavalry Army to leave Cold Winter City and march towards Silvermoon City.
(end of this chapter)