stjorthotic Chapter 72 The Goodwill of Haijiang City
Chapter 72 The Goodwill of Haijiang City
The wind direction changed completely last night.
Autumn in the Blue Fork Valley is short; the damp, cold air, carrying the scent of earth, lasts for less than half a month before being replaced by dry, hard, cold winds blowing from the north.
The wind swirled fine ice particles, which pelted against the grayish-white rammed earth wall, producing a soft sound similar to sand being stirred in an iron pot.
Otto sat behind a long table on the first floor of the stone tower.
Pollifer stood by the table, holding the autumn harvest bill he had just checked, the bald charcoal stick slowly turning between his fingers.
"Sir, after cutting off those two miles to the south, the three charcoal kilns in that birch forest also disappeared."
Pollifer's eyes were fixed on the deficit.
"The shortage of heating supplies and fuel for the blacksmith's shop has increased by at least 30% since winter began. If we still have to continue training those thirty people..."
"Knock, knock."
Two steady, unhurried knocks interrupted Pollifer's report.
The two guards in fish-scale armor who were standing outside the door pushed open the heavy oak door.
A cold wind, carrying the chill of ice and snow, rushed into the stone chamber, causing the oil lamp on the table to shake violently.
An old knight walked in.
He wore a slightly faded but excellent quality dark blue robe, with a silver eagle with outstretched wings embroidered on the chest. Although his hair and beard were completely white, his steps were still steady, and the sound of his iron boots on the stone slabs was heavy and rhythmic.
Sir Desmond.
Lord Jason Mellist's most trusted old retainer in Seafront City.
Otto did not rise to greet him, but merely raised his chin slightly, gesturing for Pollif to step aside.
His current status is Baron of Bluefork River, directly under the Duke of Tully. In name, he is now on par with the city of Seafront and no longer needs to kneel on one knee like the impoverished knight he once was.
"Sir Desmond. The last snow of the long summer has blown you from Seafront to this mudflat."
Otto's voice was steady, without any discernible emotional fluctuation.
Baron Hohenzollern.
The old knight bowed slightly, his manners impeccable.
"Lord Jason was deeply pleased to hear of your heroic deeds in the corridors of Pike City. The Earl said that you have not disgraced the oath to fight to the death that you initially swore in the main hall of Seafront City."
Otto didn't reply, but just looked at him quietly, waiting for him to continue.
The old knight took out a letter sealed with purple lacquer and silver eagle wax from his pocket. He didn't rush to hand it over, but held it in his hand, his tone becoming somewhat earnest.
"Your Excellency, you have rendered meritorious service in Pike and received a charter from the King, which is a great honor in the Riverlands. But this honor has also brought some... trouble."
Desmond looked into Otto's eyes.
"Your trial in Fair City was an unforgivable blasphemy in the eyes of the Old Gods devotees of the Blackwood family. The Earl of Tetos intended to impose even harsher sanctions on the Duke of Tully, and even to strip you of your mining rights."
The old knight paused, letting the weight of that threat settle in the cold stone chamber.
"It is Earl Jason."
Desmond raised his voice slightly.
"In Flowing City, the Earl, in the name of Sea Frontier City and with our long-standing friendship, did his utmost to negotiate on your behalf. Only then did the Duke reduce the punishment to a mere two miles of mudflats to the south. The Earl went to great lengths to shield you from the wrath of the Old Gods."
Upon hearing this from behind, Pollifer's fingers tightened around the charcoal stick, and a suppressed anger flashed in his eyes.
This is simply turning black into white.
It was clearly the Duke of Tully and the Blackwood family who joined forces to provoke and seize territory, but now it has become the case that Seafront City is "fighting to the death to protect" Blue Fork River.
In his mind, he calmly rearranged the timeline and the actions of those important figures.
His first step was to use the Trial of the Seven in Fair City to kill the knight of Blackwood. Lord Jason, then his direct lord, saw the report but remained silent, tacitly approving of this action that could have sparked religious conflict.
In his second move, Otto obtained the king's charter in Pike City and used the profits from the White Salt to acquire the title of Baron of Tully, thus successfully breaking free from the jurisdiction of Seafront City.
Third, the Blackwood family launched an attack and seized the southern territory.
Fourth, Count Jason's messenger now stands here and tells him: It was I who protected you.
Jason Mellist knew all along that the Old Gods cult was a ticking time bomb. His failure to warn Otto was a calculated move, a wait-and-see approach.
As long as Otto makes a mistake and offends Blackwood to the south, he will forever be a lone ruler in this Riverlands.
Now, Oto is nominally independent. Jason can no longer command him with directives, so he uses "favor" and "protection" to rein him in.
"Please convey my deepest gratitude to Earl Jason."
Otto looked at Desmond, his grey-blue eyes devoid of any emotion, only a deathly stillness that came from knowing the cards were laid bare.
"Without the protection of the Earl, the territory of Hohenzollern would probably not have survived even the first snow of this winter."
A satisfied smile finally appeared on Desmond's wrinkled face.
He placed the letter scroll on the table.
"The Earl knows you are a grateful person."
The old knight's tone became lighter.
"Since both the waterways and land routes to the south have become dangerous due to Blackwood's hostility, Your Excellency is very concerned about the safety of the silver mines within your territory."
"To ensure that your property is not plundered by bandits or disgruntled neighbors, the Earl proposes that all silver and important goods transported from the Hohenzollern territory to the outside world be 'fully handled' by the official caravan of the Sea Frontier City."
Desmond placed his hands together in front of him.
"Sea Frontier City will provide the most secure fleet and escorts, loading cargo directly at your docks. You will not bear any transportation risks; you can simply collect your share of the profits within your territory. Sea Frontier City will only take a very small cut."
Only the howling of the wind squeezing in through the cracks in the windows remained in the stone chamber.
Pollyver's breathing became rapid.
Otto sat there, his fingers lightly tracing the rough surface of the table. He didn't look at Pollifer, nor at the letter sealed with sealing wax.
His current forces can hold off the Ironborn's charge, but they are absolutely no match for the Seafront City's trade route blockade and the pressure from Blackwood at the same time.
He must bow his head, but not completely.
"The Earl's considerations are indeed the safest option at present."
Otto raised his head and calmly met Desmond's gaze.
"The silver mine's output is quite eye-catching. If my poorly trained militia were to escort it, it would easily cause trouble. Starting next month, all the output of the Blue Fork River silver mine will be entirely entrusted to the caravans of Sea Frontier City. As for the profit sharing, according to the previous agreement with the Earl, there will be no shortage."
Desmond's smile deepened.
"Your Excellency is wise."
"But, Sir."
Otto suddenly changed the subject, his voice not loud, but with an undeniable firmness.
"The silver can be escorted by Haijiang City. But the coarse salt produced in the earthen kilns of the territory is a life-saving resource for more than four hundred people to pickle dead fish and prevent meat from rotting during the winter. The output is meager, barely enough for the internal circulation of the territory, and there is really no extra amount to trouble the caravan of Haijiang City."
"You needn't trouble yourself with that, Your Excellency."
Desmond frowned slightly.
Before he arrived, he learned that the salt kilns here produced a kind of extremely white fine salt. But then he thought that salt was not a hard currency like silver. Since he had already gained absolute control of the silver mine, there was no need to strain the relationship over a few jars of salted fish.
"Since it is a necessity for the territory to get through the winter, the Earl will naturally not force anyone to do it."
The old knight nodded, having completed his mission.
Desmond left with the signed document.
The door closed again.
Pollifer strode to the table, lowered his voice, and spoke with urgency.
"My lord! Handing over the transportation rights to the silver mine is tantamount to giving Haijiang City a stranglehold! They can easily tamper with the weight or price, and our profits will be completely drained!"
"I know."
Otto stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the gray sky and the earthen kilns that were still emitting white smoke in the cold wind.
"He deliberately didn't remind me of the Old Gods' rules, just waiting for this day. He used Blackwood's knife to force me to hand over the trade routes."
Otto's voice was cold and devoid of any warmth.
"I made a mistake, and this is the price I have to pay."
He turned around and looked at Pollifer.
"But Jason miscalculated. He thought that by controlling the money, he controlled Hohenzollern."
Otto walked towards the door.
"Go and call Maria to my study."
study.
Maria Frey, wearing a dark windproof cloak with a heavy bunch of brass keys hanging from her belt, stood quietly in front of Otto.
"grown ups."
Otto pushed a parchment scroll covered with double-headed black eagle wax, along with a small, fine steel dagger for self-defense, to the edge of the table.
"Seafront has cut off our route north, and Blackwood has blocked the river to the south. They want to trap me here this winter."
Otto looked at her, his eyes deep.
"Take two carts, fill them with our finest white salt. Avoid the main road, take the mountain path that the hunters have taken to the east, and head south. Go to Baron Piper, or go directly to Stoneholde to find Earl Brecken."
Maria glanced at the trade authorization letter but did not immediately reach for the dagger.
She reached out and pushed the dagger aside, picking up only the roll of parchment and carefully stuffing it into the moisture-proof pocket inside her cloak.
"They won't try to lower the price, sir."
Maria's voice was soft, but it carried a certain certainty honed in the Frey family's large and cruel dining table.
"Brightwood is blocked by the waterway, and the meat stored in the cellars of those families to the south will rot and spoil by the twelfth lunar month. I will tell Baron Piper that Hohenzollern's white salt is only for grain and safe trade routes. If he doesn't want it, Earl Brecken of Stonehedge, that madman who dreams of seeing Brightwood suffer, will be happy to buy all our salt and, incidentally, take over the Piper family's meat business as well."
She raised her head, and her eyes, which always held a calculating quality, were now filled with a cold, clear-headed ruthlessness.
"Nobles are never afraid of others being richer than themselves, sir. They are only afraid that their enemies will get the clean salt before they do."
Otto looked at her and nodded slightly.
"Go and prepare. We'll set off after dark."
Maria turned and left. Her steps were steady, and the bunch of brass keys at her waist made a very light, metallic clinking sound.
Otto walked to the stone window and looked down at the laborers who were loading jars of snow-white refined salt onto carts.
Pollifer stood to one side, holding a charcoal stick, recording the silver mine share handed over that day into a special ledger.
Write it down.
Otto looked at the white salt shakers, his voice carrying far on the wind.
"This is the tuition I paid for not understanding the teachings of the Old Gods. It's also the last time we'll use someone else's ship to transport our own lives."