"Hahaha …" Fatty Shi sat on the sofa and laughed. He was overjoyed when he heard from Laurist that the Trade Alliance's declaration of war was true. This was too funny, and he believed that this strange reply would leave a glorious mark in history.
Nearly two thousand years after the Age of Chaos, in the history of the Galinthea Continent, even during the Thousand Years of Darkness, the diplomatic exchanges between the two hostile forces had countless unexpected results. But no matter what, it was not as funny as the Trade Alliance's reply. One had to know that Laurist had proposed peace talks, but the reply was a declaration of war.
Normally, even if two nobles were to fight each other to the death, they would still treat each other's messengers and requests very politely. If one party proposed peace talks, the other party would politely refuse even if they didn't agree and explain the reason why they did so. This could also be considered a hypocrisy in the traditional etiquette of nobles. However, for thousands of years, all the nobles had followed the traditional customs of war. It was unheard of for the Trade Alliance to directly respond with a declaration of war. That was because Laurist had suggested a peaceful negotiation and not a war with the Trade Alliance.
"A bunch of ungrateful people." Laurist snorted. When he thought of Vice President Carter, who had finished reciting the official reply, pretending to be a martyr in the face of death, Laurist felt disgusted. Did they really think he was an idiot? Did they think he would be angered?
After laughing for a long time, Fatty Shi said seriously, "It seems like they're purposely trying to anger you."
"I know, so I didn't fall for their trick." Laurist nodded. "I just don't understand where the Trade Alliance gets the courage to fight us to the end …"
Fatty Shi muttered, "Perhaps the millions of citizens of Morent City are the Trade Alliance's bargaining chip. They must think that we can't do anything about Morent City's predicament. Therefore, if we anger you, you will vent your anger on the citizens of Morent City. As long as we incite the resistance of more than a million citizens, our family's armed forces will fall into this big quagmire and be unable to get out. In two or three years, the strength of our armed forces will be exhausted in Morent City, and that will be the time for the Trade Alliance to launch a large-scale counterattack. "
"Haha, in their dreams." Laurist laughed. "Perhaps we will make them regret it. By the way, how's the meeting you're hosting going? "
"Your Highness, I came here today to report to you." Fatty Shi said, "There's no problem with Ledos taking the lead in the organization. After all, they're closely connected with the 24 communities in the outer city. Without the pressure from the Chamber of Commerce, they feel much more relaxed. They're very happy to be the new generation of managers of Moront City. Even if it's just a short period of time, it means that they'll have more profits, so they're very cooperative.
The response from the Divine Hall District was also very good. The priests of the 27 Divine Halls couldn't contain their joy when we gave them the invitation. In the past few years, the rationing system of food and daily necessities implemented by the Commerce Union in Moronte City had harmed the Temples the most. The loss of believers and the decrease of donations had filled the Temples with resentment towards the ruling of the Commerce Union. Therefore, they hoped to get a bigger share in the new distribution of power in Moronte City.
The ones with the coldest reactions were the two remaining academies in the academy district. One was St. William Knight Academy, and the other was St. Molinka Comprehensive Academy. These two academies were only able to survive because of the support from the large Chamber of Commerce. Back then, Moronte City had a total of 28 academies. Now, there were only two left in the large academy district. It's truly lamentable. Since the students of these two academies are mostly the children of the Chamber of Commerce and have a close relationship with the Commerce Union, they ignored our invitation and refused to participate in the autonomous committee … … "
"Hehe … … Since they don't want the face we gave them, then we'll just kick them out. However, the academy district still needs a quota. How about this, let Tagger investigate the people in charge of the 20 or so closed academies and see if there are any who are willing to reopen the academy. If there are, we'll open two academies in the name of the autonomous committee. One will be a knight academy, and the other will be a comprehensive academy. Moronte City has a million residents, and there are at least a few thousand students of suitable age who can enroll. It's enough to support the two academies. As for the tuition fees, we can give them a loan and sign an agreement with them. After they succeed in their studies, we'll slowly repay them. "Laurist quickly came up with a countermeasure based on the student loans from his previous life.
"That's a good idea, Your Highness." Fatty Shi's eyes brightened. Back then, there were 28 academies in the academy district. It was because of the open, tolerant, and educational policy that Moronte City became the famous holy land of learning on the continent, the famous capital of academies. Now, there were only two academies left, but they had become the reserve training bases for the Chamber of Commerce in the Commerce Union. Although they also recruited the children of the city residents who weren't family members of the Chamber of Commerce, almost all the economic industries in Moronte City were monopolized by the Chamber of Commerce. The children of the city residents simply didn't have the money to study in the academies.
"I believe that after the economic situation of Moronte City gradually improves, the residents of Moronte City will pay attention to the education of their children. Back then, when we were at Dawn Academy, there were 28 academies in the academy district, and there were nearly 200,000 students. At that time, the population of Moronte City was less than 800,000. Do you still remember that our academy district was the busiest area in Moronte City? I went with you to investigate, and we found a few pairs of old students who entered the dormitory six or seven years ago. Some of them even had children and started their own families in the dormitory … "Laurist recalled with great emotion.
"Yes. At that time, learning a specialized subject required six gold fords. For the average Moronte City resident, this was a huge sum. However, there were still many city residents who scrimped to provide for their children to go to the academy. At that time, even if they didn't have the tuition fees, they could still work for a while. There were many ways to earn money. Until the Glass War broke out between the Commerce Union and the Telimbo Kingdom. The Commerce Union and the central and southern countries became enemies, causing a large number of foreign students to stop their studies and return home. After losing this group of students with the most financial resources, the 28 academies in the Academy District gradually became desolate and deserted. In the end, all of them closed down one by one, "Fatty Shi explained." This is what Elder Levins told me. "
"Even if I sponsor 10,000 students to study, it will only cost a few hundred thousand gold fords. I will pay this money out of my own pocket. Consider it as a souvenir for my ten years of schooling. It's decided, "Laurist said.
"This time, the Commerce Union has given us an official reply. They ignored our sincerity in proposing peace talks, so we don't have to worry about them anymore. Hurry up and set up an autonomous committee. We will take over all the commercial activities and administrative affairs in Moronte City. Maybe this autonomous committee can be changed into a parliament in the future. It will become the highest authority in Moronte City and the Mana Hill Plains. Let them do their jobs well, "Laurist ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness. I believe they will be very happy to hear the news of setting up a parliament," Fatty Shi said.
"Then let's do it. Also, tell Ledos that he can let go of some of his authority. This will give others hope. He only needs to grasp the two city defense corps that we are currently training. In this chaotic world, there is power only if you have soldiers, "Laurist added.
Fatty Shi nodded, "Your Highness, I believe Ledos will understand your painstaking efforts."
Genolio knocked on the door and came in. "Your Highness, Director Spear and Lord Tagger are here to report for duty."
"Let them in," Laurist said.
Soon, Director Spear and Tagger appeared in front of Laurist.
"This is the main reason why I called you two here. Yesterday, the envoy of the Commerce Union, Earl Kate, came. He is the vice president of the Petersen Merchant Group and has dealt with our family a few times. He has been to Sirovas Island a few times and is in charge of signing a few purchase agreements between our family and the Petersen Merchant Group. This time, the Commerce Union has officially rejected our good intentions and is not willing to hold peace talks with us. However, Earl Kate has another request. They want to ransom the captives that have surrendered, including the 100,000 residents living in the inner city. I agree. "Lollister explained the reason why the two of them had come.
"But my Lord, the 100,000 residents of the inner city all have a considerable amount of private property. Just the tavern in the prison camp alone has a daily turnover of 50,000 to 60,000 gold coins. It would be a pity to let them go," Director Spear said regretfully.
"I know. Don't worry, I won't let these 100,000 residents leave with their property so easily," Laurist said confidently. Laurist said confidently, "In order to prevent Earl Kate from discovering the changes in the city, I've arranged for them to stay in the barracks outside the east gate and forbid them from coming into contact with the citizens of Morent City. Baron Shredder, you will be in charge of negotiating the ransom with Baron Cate. We will start with the ransom of the Master Swordsmen, Gold-tier swordsmen, executives of the Chamber of Commerce, and nobles of the Alliance. Also, make a list of their expenses during this period and multiply it by ten. Let the Commerce Union settle the accounts before we can proceed with the ransom negotiations. "
"Alright, Your Highness, I will do my best," Fatty Shi said with a sigh.
"Not your best, but definitely. The Commerce Union knows the situation of Moronte City very well, so they won't be suspicious if we do this. Instead, they will think that we are in a precarious situation. After all, they know that we are responsible for the daily expenses of more than a million residents in Moronte City. Providing these surrendered captives with such luxuries means that we have done our best. It is natural that the price is high, and they won't be offended. "
After saying this, Laurist turned to Tagger and said, "Tagger, tell me about the situation in the prison camp at the docks."
"Yes, Your Highness." Tagger stood at attention. "There have been 17 fights and robberies in the prison camp in the past few days. The reason is that some armed guards of the Merchant Group who have spent all their money in the tavern have set their sights on their companions. They often form a group to rob other or enemy members of the Merchant Group so that they can eat and drink to their heart's content. As long as they don't kill anyone or cause trouble in front of our patrols, we usually turn a blind eye and pretend not to see anything. We even encourage them to do so. After all, they will only spend their money when they have it in their hands, unlike those misers who will hold onto their gold coins even if they starve to death.
This is also the reason why the trade volume in the taverns in the prison camp has increased. Although two bowls of porridge a day won't starve people to death, it can make them feel weak and powerless. Therefore, in order to protect their private property from being robbed, more people have no choice but to take out gold coins to buy bread to fill their stomachs. I believe that in a few days, the trade volume in the taverns will increase to more than a hundred thousand gold coins … "
Laurist shook his head. "That's too slow. Who knows how long it will take to rely on a tavern to obtain the private property of a hundred thousand captives. How about this, Tagger. Open a few more taverns in the four corners of the prison camp, as well as gambling houses and brothels. Also, open two more pawn shops. Those captives didn't just bring gold into the prison camp, they also brought many valuable trinkets and treasures, exotic beast furs, and so on. We have to give them a place to exchange these things for gold coins, and then let them spend the gold coins … "
Tagger praised in admiration. "Your Highness, you really are a genius. You can even think of such an idea."
Laurist rolled his eyes at him. "Scram, don't let anyone know that I came up with these ideas. I just want the hundred thousand captives in the prison camp to be able to treat this leisurely period of time as a beautiful holiday memory. That's why I thought of providing them with thoughtful and considerate service. Although it's a bit expensive to reclaim them, they have to understand that Morent City is currently short on supplies. Our family has tried many ways to provide them with such quality service.
That's right, Tagger, when you go back, let Paciko set up another camp at the docks. This camp will be for the captives who don't have money to live in, and food will be provided as usual. The captives in this camp can negotiate with Earl Cate and be allowed to be redeemed. As for the captives in the camp with gold coins, it's very simple to deal with them. When they run out of money, they can go to the camp next door and wait for repatriation to be redeemed by the Trade Alliance.
Tagger, do you understand what I mean? No matter what means you use, you have to get those captives out of the prison camp, but you can't use it at the cost of losing the order of the prison camp. Some things can be done in secret, but on the surface, you have to fulfill the promise I made when I first surrendered to them. Do you understand? "
Tagger puffed out his chest. "Your Highness, I understand. Let the captives leave all their belongings behind and let the Trade Alliance redeem them empty-handed. Don't worry, I know what to do. "
… …
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