Grand Duke Peterson was in a terrible predicament. The decision he had to make now was related to the survival of the Peterson Merchant Group. He had never thought that he would be forced into such a situation by a young instructor from the School of Dawn that he had once interacted with. This young instructor from the School of Dawn had now become the Grand Duke of the Northern Lands, a new Sword Saint. Although they had been friendly in the past, Grand Duke Peterson had shown more of an amiable and approachable demeanor. Who would have thought that this young instructor from the School of Dawn had now become an important figure that even Grand Duke Peterson had to look up to …
Looking at the letter that the young instructor from the School of Dawn had just sent him, there was only one short line on the letter: You're next.
Sweat dripped down Grand Duke Peterson's forehead. This was a letter written to him by a Sword Saint. This short sentence conveyed a lot of meaning. Grand Duke Peterson knew very well that he either had to break away from the Trade Union like the Chikder Merchant Group and the Mayflower Merchant Group, or he would soon have to face the Norton Family's armed forces. Even though the Peterson Merchant Group's territory now had castles, countless trenches, and countless defensive positions everywhere, Grand Duke Peterson still had no confidence. Grand Duke Peterson still did not have any confidence. The reputation of the Norton Family's armed forces being invincible and invincible was not just for show. Just a cannon alone was enough to make people feel helpless and have a headache.
Grand Duke Peterson was filled with regret. If he had been more proactive and diligent when he was released last year, and if he had made a bigger impact, perhaps Laurist wouldn't have sent him this letter to urge him to die. It was precisely because the Commerce Alliance had persisted in the war and refused to concede defeat even after suffering a crushing defeat in the decisive battle at Brewia City that Laurist had dispatched troops in June of this year. They occupied four provinces in one go and severed the connection between the Commerce Alliance's northern and southern provinces, forcing the Mayflower Chamber of Commerce to move south and break away from the Commerce Alliance to establish an independent nation.
Laurist's letter to Grand Duke Peterson also meant that the Peterson Merchant Group had to make a choice. Whether it lived or died depended on which path Grand Duke Peterson chose to take. If he refused and continued to be tied to the Twin Dragon Merchant Guild, it would mean becoming the enemy of the Lorist and Norton families. Grand Duke Peterson had no confidence in resisting the Norton family's attack on the Merchant Guild's territory, and the Peterson Merchant Guild would soon face destruction.
However, if they wanted to break away from the trade union and establish their own country like the Chikder Merchant Association and the Mayflower Merchant Association, they should not forget that the Peterson Merchant Association's territory and the Double-headed Dragon Merchant Association's territory were very close. Grand Duke Peterson could guarantee that the president of the Double-headed Dragon Merchant Association, Grand Duke Camberlet, the highest official of the Trade Union, would definitely vent his anger on the Peterson Merchant Association. Then, the Merchant Association's territory would clearly become the buffer zone between the Freedom Alliance and the Trade Union. Grand Duke Laurist could sit back and watch as the Trade Union and Peterson Merchant Association fought. It would be more exciting than watching a show …
Since when did the Peterson Merchant Association become a chess piece in the eyes of others … But there was no other way. The Norton family's armed forces withdrew from the Tenerig and Seruniga provinces in November, handing over the defense of these two provinces to the newly arrived garrison troops from the South-Central Kingdom. Then, most of the troops were withdrawn to the Mawei Fulin province around the Mana Hill Plain. Although this province had already belonged to the recently restored Kabi Grand Duchy, thanks to the Norton family's armed forces, this province was still a piece of empty land. However, the gathering of the Norton family's armed forces posed a great threat and pressure to the Peterson Merchant Association.
The Mawei Fulin province was originally the territory of the Trymber Kingdom. After the Trade Union annexed the Trymber Kingdom, the country's fifteen counties were divided into five provinces. In addition to the Mawei Fulin province, there were also the provinces of Jerodana, Chalbuco, Cuyadero, and Riorga. The province of Chalbuco had already become the territory of the Peterson Chamber of Commerce, and the territory of the Double-Headed Dragon Chamber of Commerce was in the province of Leolica because there was a huge Quartz Mountain there, which was the best raw material base for the production of glass, so the Double-Headed Dragon Chamber of Commerce took a fancy to it.
Ever since the Mawei Fulin province was completely wiped out by the Norton family's armed forces, the Trade Union had entrusted the Jerodana province to the Peterson Merchant Association. This was because if the Norton family's armed forces were to invade again, behind the Jerodana province was the Peterson Merchant Association's territory, Chalbuco province. Duke Camberlet hoped that the Peterson Merchant Association could take on the responsibility of defending this direction. Now that the Norton family's armed forces were stationed in the Mawei Fulin province, even a fool would know who their next target would be …
Duke Peterson could not give up. If they did not leave the Trade Union, the Norton family's armed forces would definitely launch an attack after the New Year. The problem now was that the Trade Union no longer had the power to fight back. They could only rely on defending to delay the war until the Norton family's armed forces could no longer hold out. They didn't care about the heavy casualties and sacrifices they would have to make. As long as they could make the Norton Family feel the determination of the Trade Federation, it would be a great victory for the Norton Family if they could make the Norton Family stop attacking the remaining seven provinces of the Trade Federation.
However, Duke Peterson doubted whether the Trade Union's strategy would work. After all, his own Merchant Association was the first to bear the brunt of the attack. Ever since he came into contact with the Norton family, Duke Peterson had seen with his own eyes how the Trade Union's armed forces had suffered many losses at the hands of the Norton family's armed forces. To put it bluntly, it was the Norton family's armed forces that defeated and destroyed the entire Trade Union's armed forces, which was why the Trade Union was in such a state.
Perhaps the Trade Union's strategy would work. The seven provinces had a population of nearly 4.5 million, which was a huge advantage in manpower. Even if ten of them fought against one, it would be enough to destroy the Norton family's armed forces of more than 100,000. However, Duke Peterson also knew that when that time came, the Gerodanna and Chalbuco provinces would also be finished.
Chalbuco province was the territory of the Trade Union. The Peterson Trade Union had invested almost all of the trade union's accumulated funds in the past ten years to develop and build the province. If they refused to leave the Trade Union, the Norton family's armed forces would definitely attack without mercy. Even if they managed to defend the two provinces, they would be ruined beyond recognition. The Peterson Trade Union's efforts over the past ten years would all go to waste. By then, the Peterson Trade Union would no longer have a chance to rise again.
Duke Peterson's biggest dilemma was that the Peterson Trade Union would not have a good ending if they refused to leave the Trade Union. However, if they left the Trade Union and established an independent country, they would not gain much. Why was the Trade Union still clenching their teeth and refusing to negotiate? There was no other reason. If they negotiated, the Trade Union would lose too many benefits. First, the trade unions that had lost their territories, such as the Ford Trade Union, Livord Trade Union, and Visia Trade Union, would not give up. Second, the Trade Union's lost territories would be a foregone conclusion, and they would never be able to get them back. Third, the Freedom Alliance that the Norton family had helped to establish had become a thorn in the Trade Union's side. They were sworn enemies, and the Trade Union could not bear the humiliation of negotiating with the Freedom Alliance.
If the Peterson Trade Union betrayed the Trade Union and declared independence, then the Trade Union would definitely vent its anger on the Peterson Trade Union. Their territories were adjacent to each other. Duke Camberlet could not deal with Laurist, but it was more than enough to deal with Duke Peterson. Duke Peterson could not be sure that the Norton family's armed forces would not send troops to help. However, even if Laurist was willing to send troops to help, the Peterson Trade Union's territory would still be finished. The Trade Union's armed forces had been fully displayed in the war with the Southern Kingdom's allied forces. They would definitely not be polite to the territory of a traitor.
It looked like it was a dead end! Duke Peterson let out a long sigh. Just then, there was a knock on the door, and a servant came in to report, "Your Highness, Count Miledas is here."
"Oh, please come in."
The Miledas family was considered a famous family in the Trade Union. Their family's main business was to open large hotels. They were also one of the few pro-peace and anti-war factions in the Trade Union, because once war broke out, the Miledas Trade Union would lose a lot of money. Just like the Dothleger Hotel in Moronte City. Back then, business was booming, and guests gathered. However, after the Trade Union became hostile with the countries in the central and southern regions, the Dothleger Hotel became deserted. In the end, it became a warehouse and raw material processing plant. For a Chamber of Commerce like the Miledas Family that operated in a single industry, war was the most abhorrent thing to them.
Count Miledas stormed into the study angrily. "Check, why didn't you oppose Duke Camberlet's proposal to merge the trade union's territory? It's obvious that the old man has bad intentions. He's reaping the fruits of others' labor and putting the consequences and costs of defeat on our heads! Are you willing to share the trade union's territory that you've worked so hard to develop with the vampires? "
Check was Duke Peterson's nickname. He and Count Miledas had grown up together, and the two families were also related in a roundabout way.
"Sigh, why are you still so hot-tempered?" Duke Peterson advised helplessly. "Miledas, actually, Duke Camberlet's proposal to merge the trade union's territory is also for the sake of our war with the Norton family. Right now, the Trade Union only has seven provinces left, and the situation is grim. That's why Duke Camberlet is planning to remove all the nobles' fiefs in the seven provinces, and unify them to allocate and use their resources. This is also to better defeat the Norton family's armed forces, and to prepare for the final counterattack … "
"Who are you kidding? Final counterattack?" Count Miledas snorted, revealing the cruel truth with a sneer. "Do we still have the power to fight back? Our territory is getting smaller and smaller. We've shrunk from 36 provinces to seven, but we're still so stubborn. We've lost all the southern provinces, the Chikder and Mayflower Merchant Associations have betrayed us, and the ten newly established garrison troops and two field armies have been wiped out. Now you're hiding in your territory like turtles, and you're still talking about counterattack? Can you still be tough? "
Duke Peterson smiled bitterly. "Miledas, people should always have some hope. Even if it's all empty talk, we should at least keep some hope in our hearts. Besides, I still have an armed army of the Merchant Associations, and I'm also building two garrison troops. As long as we get through this difficult period, it's not impossible for us to fight back. Just like Duke Camberlet said, if we persevere, no matter how long the night is, dawn will come. We've persevered for 167 years, using our hard work and sacrifice to witness the collapse of the vicious Northern Empire. If we persevere now, we might be able to rise from the ashes and rebuild the glory of the Trade Union again … "
"Do you believe the nonsense of that old man Camberlet?" Count Miledas mocked mercilessly. "The title of the strongest country on the Galinthea continent has been on the back for two or three years, and the strongest army in the central and south has been destroyed. Now, the old man only has his mouth to show off! It sounds nice, but haven't you seen the map? What did the Trade Union rely on to resist the invasion of the Crisen Empire in the north for 167 years? It's the support and commercial trade profits of all the countries in the central and south of the continent. It's the dedication of the people in the Mana Hill Plains and Morent City who sacrificed their lives for freedom!
What do we have left now? The countries in the central and south of the continent have already torn up the trade agreement signed with us, and re-sent coalition forces to block our borders and trade routes. The Norton Family's armed troops are stationed in Weifulin province, and in fact, they don't even need to attack. Just a blockade is enough to make us collapse. We still have seven provinces left, and if we hold them, we can be self-sufficient. But let me ask you a question. Where are you going to get enough salt? "
"Uh …" Grand Duke Peterson was stunned. He hadn't expected this. The Commerce Alliance's territory wasn't near the sea. In the past, salt had been a neglected resource in the Commerce Alliance. Those who had money would buy high-quality rock salt from the outside, which was sold by every merchant association. Those who had no money would take a bucket to Cangjin Bay and boil it in seawater. Although it was a little bitter, it wouldn't kill them. Seriously speaking, salt was the only daily necessities in the Trade Union that weren't monopolized by any trade union.
"Don't think that you can let your guard down just because you have rock salt in your warehouse. I think that old man Camberlet is more vigilant than you are. His proposal to merge the trade union's territory is likely to be based on the rock salt in your warehouse. Everyone knows that your armed forces cleaned out the rock salt warehouse in the Kingdom of Wayago. Didn't they laugh at your trade union for not even letting go of the worthless rock salt? That amount of rock salt is enough for hundreds of thousands of people in your trade union's territory to eat for more than ten years. Who would have thought that your rock salt would become a scarce resource in the Trade Union … "
Grand Duke Peterson was a little stunned. He knew about the rock salt warehouse back then, but the Kingdom of Wayago was rich in rock salt. Apart from rock salt, there was nothing else valuable. The Peterson Trade Union's fleet had to return to the territory after delivering provisions, and most of the carriages were empty. So the steward ordered all the rock salt in the warehouse to be moved back. This was indeed laughed at by the other trade unions for a while, but they didn't expect that the value of the rock salt would increase by a hundred times.
"I don't understand why you agreed to the old man's proposal to merge the territory! Aren't you worried that the investment in the trade union's territory will go to waste? "Count Miledas roared angrily.
Ever since the Trade Union lost the southern provinces and the Chikder and Mayflower trade unions, they left the Trade Union to establish their own country. In addition, the central and southern countries signed a mutual aid agreement with the Freedom Alliance to station troops in Seruniga and Tenerig provinces. This was tantamount to tearing up the trade agreement with the Trade Union and sealing the borders and trade routes again. The morale of the big and small trade unions in the Trade Union plummeted. They no longer had any hope of victory. At this time, Grand Duke Cambert proposed to abolish the trade union's territory. He wanted to unify the seven provinces under the Trade Union's jurisdiction so that all kinds of resources could be gathered to deal with the attack of the Norton family's armed forces. They were prepared to fight a long war of resistance. The Trade Union would never bow down and admit defeat!
To the trade unions that had lost their trade union's territory, Grand Duke Cambert's proposal was exactly what they wanted, so they firmly supported it. But to the trade unions that had trade union territories in the seven provinces, this proposal was detrimental to their interests. But Grand Duke Cambert had already decided to give these trade unions a hundred and fifty percent compensation. Finally, the proposal was reluctantly passed. Grand Duke Peterson also voted in favor of it.
But there were also some trade unions that firmly opposed this proposal. The Miledas Trade Union was the most resolute one. Losing the hotel business had a huge impact on the Miledas family. They could only invest their energy into the development of the trade union's territory. It was not easy for them to make a profit, but now the Trade Union wanted to merge again. How could Count Miledas not be furious?
"Look at the map. The Norton family's armed forces are almost at the city gates. They can't protect the trade union's territory anyway, so I don't care whether the territory is merged or not. It's better to get compensation than to be ruined by war …" Grand Duke Peterson revealed his difficulties.
"Compensation?" Count Miledas snorted. "You still believe that old man Cambert's words? Didn't you hear him? This time, we can only give twenty percent compensation at most. The rest can only be paid after we win the war. Because the urgent task now is to defend against the Norton family's armed forces … "
"Is there something wrong with your brain? Or did you get caught in the door? Can we win this war? A hundred years? Two hundred years? Is it possible to win? " Count Miledas angrily slammed the map on the table. Then, the letter that Buckingham had written to Grand Duke Peterson was swept away by the wind. "Hey, what's this? You're next. What does this mean? Who wrote this … Lollister … Sanguinar … "
"I can't even take care of myself, and I'm about to face a calamity …" Grand Duke Peterson helplessly recounted his interactions with the Norton Family and Laurist. "Look, this is a letter from the Blood Blade Saint to me …"
Count Miledas laughed heartily. "This is a heaven-sent opportunity. This is great. We can leave the Trade Union!"
…
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