CH 26

This is the third time that Boris and Vincent have been to the castle of Desinia.

Boris came with a decided answer.

He said, “I agree with the second cooperation plan, and the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce can meet the three requirements you put forward.”

“However, Nagabi salt must be sold in other places where rose salt is available. For this, Lord Earl has no right to interfere.” 

The Nagabi Chamber of Commerce is a well-known chamber of commerce that has been established a long time ago.

The reformed Nagabi salt will only sell better than Rose salt.

Xia Zuoyi, “Of course, other places compete by their ability.”

He turned around and exchanged his reputation value for several books on marketing strategies and methods, as well as merchandise sales thinking.

In the plan to rebuild Wissas and Fort Comoy, sufficient manpower and funds are the two most important key conditions.

The reason why Xia Zuoyi proposed that Nagabi salt should withdraw from Gadaat permanently is to ensure that most of the market share of Rose salt will not be recaptured by the refined Nagabi salt using the sun drying method…

This would lead to the reduction and lack of funds for the Thorns Chamber of Commerce, and the inability to carry out the reconstruction plan smoothly.

As for the manpower issue.

He will solve it now.

Xia Zuoyi, “Mr. Abel, let’s talk about what the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce can use to purchase the formula of plant medicine.”

Boris grasped the key words in his words.

“With what? Does Lord Earl want to barter?”

Bartering is a special way of buying and selling between chambers of commerce. It doesn’t require money for transactions but is a method of settlement with goods of the same value.

Xia Zuoyi nodded, “Yes, I want a shipment from the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce.”

Boris Abel needs time to consider before giving an answer.

During this time.

The news that Xia Zuoyi had ordered someone to investigate the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce also came back.

As the largest chamber of commerce in the Anas Empire, the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce not only sells salt, various daily necessities, weapons, and armor manufacturing, and so on but also owns the largest slave market in the Anas Empire.

On the Western Continent, slaves are also goods.

The Nagabi Chamber of Commerce sold slaves.

Although the Anas Empire and the Saint Airo Empire confronted each other and maintained a relatively stable situation, they were not always at peace and without disputes.

Turmoil and friction often occur between the two empires.

The small countries of the vassal empires, or the countries established around them, will be repeatedly harassed and invaded.

Especially the Anas Empire.

The king will turn all the captured people into slaves of the empire, put heavy shackles on them, mark them with an indelible and obvious brand, and they will no longer be free.

Usually, these slaves captured by the imperial war will all be sent to the slave market of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce, and they will wait for the chamber of commerce to be auctioned or be sold in large quantities.

Xia Zuoyi sent people to inquire about a recent battle in the Anas Empire.

—The Trak Kingdom was destroyed.

Almost all the people of the kingdom were captured by the Anas Empire.

Now they are all held in the slave market of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce and have not been bought by the nobles for the time being.

When Xia Zuoyi flipped through the news, Fernandi and Walker were also with him.

He asked, “Why was the kingdom of Trak destroyed so quickly?”

“It’s only been two months since the invasion of Anas Empire. Is the empire so powerful?”

Fernandi said, “We have heard about it.”

“The Trak Kingdom is a small country with only three cities. It has always been located in the most remote northern region, backed by Mount Ama, and is very far away from the Anas Empire and the Saint Airo Empire.”

“Because the climate in the north is too cold and the environment is very harsh, there is no country around Trak.”

“But later, the Trak people found a small iron ore in Mount Ama, which caused a dispute within the country.”

“Someone wanted to use this iron ore to win the position of crown prince of Trak Kingdom, so they borrowed troops from the Anas Empire. Who knows, it attracted a group of malicious “wolves”.”

“In just over two months, the Anas Empire wiped out the Trak Kingdom. And all the people of the country, whether aristocrats, civilians, or slaves, were captured.”

Xia Zuoyi thought that borrowing troops from the Anas Empire is no different from seeking a tiger’s skin1. It was too bold but they’re too weak.

Walker continued, “Because the people of Trak have lived in the cold and harsh north for many years, both men and women are tall.”

“In their country, I heard that women can also fight.”

“In particular, the knights of Trak are not inferior to the knights of Anas Empire in terms of combat ability, and even stronger.”

Walker felt it’s a pity, “It’s just that the number of people in the Trak Kingdom is too small, and they’re caught off guard by the Anas Empire, so it was defeated at a very fast speed.”

Xia Zuoyi said, “How many Trak people were captured?”

Walker, “I heard it was more than a thousand people, and the rest of them fled and died.”

“However, in the end, the number of captives may be even less. After all, some people are seriously injured and cannot get effective treatment. It is very likely that they will die on the way or in the Anas Empire.”

Fernandi said, “I remember that the total number of people in the two cities of Trak is less than 3,000.” 

Xia Zuoyi, “So few?!”

Fernandi nodded.

Udit saw his thoughtful little appearance and asked, “My lord, do you have any thoughts on this?”

Xia Zuoyi bent his eyes and nodded, “Yes.”

…

At this moment .

Xia Zuoyi said to Boris, “I want you to exchange all the captives of the Trak Kingdom for the recipe of the plant medicine.”

Vincent frowned upon hearing this, “Lord Earl, are you sure you want the slaves of the Trak Kingdom?”

“Yes.”

“But…”

Vincent looked at Boris hesitantly, embarrassed.

Udit, “It’s just slaves. Doesn’t the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce want to use this in exchange?”

“I don’t think slaves are worth as much as gold.”

Boris, “The goods that Lord Earl wants are indeed somewhat inconvenient.”

“I might as well tell Lord Earl that Duke Bass Richards of Gadaat also wanted to buy some of the slaves of Trak Kingdom.”

Xia Zuoyi couldn’t help but glance at Udit with a subtle expression. 

In this case, it must be robbed even more 

He said, “Has Mr. Abel already reached a cooperation with Duke Richards?”

Boris, “There’s no cooperation yet.”

After all, as soon as he got out of the boat, he came to Wissas.

Xia Zuoyi pursed his lips, bent his eyes, and gave Boris a friendly smile.

“If Duke Richards only buys a part of the slaves, then the remaining part is of no use to me. I want all of it.”

Boris raised an eyebrow, “But, if I agree to the deal with Lord Earl, it will definitely break the trust of Duke Richards, and this will inevitably cause the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce to lose a sum of money…” 

Xia Zuoyi, “But I think it’s in the best interests of both sides to exchange all the slaves of Trak for the formula of plant medicine, isn’t it?”

“The Nagabi Chamber of Commerce should not take the money for selling slaves in its eyes.”

He thought a little, “Well, as long as our two sides have reached a deal, I can give Mr. Abel an extra compensation, how about it?”

Boris asked, slightly interested, “What compensation?”

Xia Zuoyi, “A book on how to cultivate herbal plants and their precautions.”

Boris, “…”

Xia Zuoyi said calmly, “Most of the herbs covered in the formula are difficult to grow, and the initial investment and consumption are the greatest.”

“But if experienced people, such as me, tell you how to plant, it will not only improve the survival rate of herbal medicine but also greatly shorten the sale time.”

“In this way, the plant medicine can be produced as soon as possible and sell it in the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce.”

In the Western Continent, there are no chemical fertilizers, pesticides, etc.

The civilians and slaves did not know how to keep plants warm, expel insects, and know-how to sow and when to sow… The low survival rate of herbal plants is a certain thing.

However, the compensation given by Xia Zuoyi was a collateral item that was originally to be traded together with the medicine formula.

After all, he also wants to make the medicine that can treat cough and fever popular as soon as possible.

As far as the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce is concerned, as long as the herbal medicine is successfully planted and the quantity is in place, it can be sold in a wide range.

But he didn’t say it before.

Boris Abel would never know that the so-called compensation was originally a gift…

Xia Zuoyi: I really have a smart little head.

The transaction was finally concluded.

The two parties drew up a detailed agreement on parchment.

First, all the bottles and jars containing plant medicine will be engraved with the emblem of the Desinian family.

Second, the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce shall not intervene and suppress any commodities sold in the Thorns Chamber of Commerce, including Rose salt.

Third, the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce promised that Nagabi salt would permanently withdraw from the Kingdom of Gadaat.

…

After both parties signed their names, they pressed their palm prints on the parchment.

Xia Zuoyi said, “When all the slaves of Trak Kingdom were sent, the formula of the herbal medicine would be given to the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce.”

“I believe in the trustworthiness of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce.” 

Boris, “Of course, I also believe in the credibility of Lord Earl. Happy cooperation.”

“Happy cooperation.”

Before sending Boris and Vincent out of the castle, Xia Zuoyi specially explained that when the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce ships came to Gadaat again, they could stop at the port of Gaya along the Volley River.

This is also the port in the city closest to Fort Comoy.

Boris said there were no problems.

They returned to the port of Niramo, boarded the ship, and set out to return to the Anas Empire.

…

And Bass Richards waited and waited for the people of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce to come.

After he sent his servants to the branch in the city to inquire, he learned that the people from Anas Empire had already left Niramo.

Bass Richards was half dead with anger, but could do nothing.

More than half a month later.

Bass Richards heard that there were five boats carrying Trak slaves on the Volley River.

Seven days later, the five ships skirted Niramo, and after another period of sailing, they docked at the port of Gaya.

Then, Desinia sent knights to take away all the Trak slaves.

“…”

Where did Bass Richards not understand what happened before, so that the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce did not trade with him?

It turned out to be a “good thing” done by this little bastard Desinia!

Bass Richards gritted his teeth angrily, “…It’s him again!” 

The butler said beside him, “Your Grace, Desinia has repeatedly angered you and taken away Fort Comoy. Do you want to…”

Bass Richards’ eyes flickered for a moment, “Don’t pay attention to him for the time being. At present, the most important thing is… It’s not too late to clean up Desinia in the future.”

As for the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce.

Just by watching Boris leave Niramo without a word of greeting, it should be known that Bass Richards can’t afford to offend the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce.

Despite this decision, Bass Richards was still pissed for several days, so that two blisters formed on his mouth.

At the same time.

Fernandi and Walker personally led the soldiers to bring the Trak nationals back to Fort Comoy.

Translator’s Note: