"… Count Miledas is representing Grand Duke Peterson to Moronte City. He said that Grand Duke Peterson is willing to break away from the Trade Union and establish his own country, but he wants us to send troops to the Chalbuco province of the Peterson Chamber of Commerce before February. After Grand Duke Peterson announces his departure from the Trade Union, our family's armed forces must attack the Cuyadero province and build a defensive line between the Trade Union and the Peterson Chamber of Commerce to prevent the war from spreading to the Chalbuco province."
Fatty Shi pointed at the map and continued to report to Laurist, "This time, there are three provinces preparing to leave the Trade Union: Jerodanna, Chalbuco, and Aligomar. The Chalbuco province is directly under the jurisdiction of the Peterson Chamber of Commerce, and the Jerodanna province is under the jurisdiction of the Peterson Chamber of Commerce. As for the Aligomar province, it is the province where Count Midales's Chamber of Commerce territory is located. This is why they are willing to follow Grand Duke Peterson in leaving the Trade Union.
The Aligomar province is the territory of the Duchy of Delia, which was annexed by the Trade Union during the Glass War. When the city gate is on fire, the fish in the moat suffer. Because they coveted the sky-high bounty of Delia, two great swordsmen from the Duchy of Delia assassinated one of the Trade Union's great swordsmen. In the end, after the Glass War, the Trade Union used this as an excuse. They sent troops to attack the Duchy of Delia and destroyed this small country.
After the Duchy of Delia was annexed by the Trade Union, the original five counties were also divided into two provinces, the Aligomar province and the Toskao province. The Reverse River, which originates from the Sunset Mountains, is the border between the two provinces. Therefore, after leaving the Trade Union, there is no need to worry about the Trade Union's armed forces attacking the Aligomar province. The terrain there is not conducive for the movement of the army. The focus of our attention is the Chalbuco province of the Peterson Chamber of Commerce. It is connected to the Cuyadero province and is a flat land. If the Trade Union wants to retaliate against Grand Duke Peterson, they will definitely attack the Chalbuco province from here.
Count Midales has made three requests on behalf of Grand Duke Peterson. The first is that our family's armed forces enter the Peterson Chamber of Commerce's territory to help Grand Duke Peterson defend against the Trade Union's armed forces, or attack the Cuyadero province and set up defensive positions there. The second was to help the Petersen Kingdom, which had left the Commerce Alliance, join the twenty-one countries in the central and southern part of the Galinthea Continent, becoming the twenty-second country. Thirdly, they hope that our family can provide them with some military assistance and help them build up an armed force that can protect their territory.
If we agree to their demands, Grand Duke Peterson will hold a New Year's celebration and gather the nobles in his territory to discuss leaving the Trade Union. He will also take measures to suppress the nobles who are loyal to the Trade Union. Earl Midales will take the same action in Aligomar. After the rainy season next year, Grand Duke Peterson would announce his independence from the Trade Union and establish his own country, declaring himself king. He believed that Grand Duke Peterson's actions would bring fatal damage to the Trade Alliance.
By the way, Your Highness, Count Miledas also revealed a very important piece of information. The Trade Union lacks enough salt. At present, there are no rock salt mines in the seven provinces of the Trade Union. The Petersen Chamber of Commerce had plundered a large amount of rock salt from the salt-producing Wayago Kingdom a few years ago, enough to sustain the current Trade Union for three or four years. Count Miledas had always suspected that Grand Duke Cambert's proposal to merge the Chamber of Commerce's territories at the November meeting of the Trade Union was for the sake of this rock salt. The funny thing was that Grand Duke Peterson did not understand the importance of this rock salt to the Trade Union and still voted in favor of it.
Therefore, Count Miledas hopes that we can make a decision as soon as possible and deploy our family's armed forces to the Petersen Chamber of Commerce's territory before the rainy season next year. Because in April next year, the Trade Union will begin to implement the resolution to merge the Chamber of Commerce's territories. Count Miledas is worried that Cambert will send his trusted men to the Petersen Chamber of Commerce's territory to take control of the rock salt warehouse. If we agree to their three demands, then the Trade Union won't be able to last more than half a year without this rock salt when Grand Duke Peterson announces his independence next year. "
Loriste did not answer immediately. He just tapped the table with his index finger. They are all wily old foxes. No wonder they are one of the giants of the Trade Union's seven major Chambers of Commerce. At this time, Grand Duke Peterson is still playing tricks with me. It's very simple. I've given Grand Duke Peterson a difficult choice and see which path he is prepared to take. Now, Grand Duke Peterson has given me a difficult choice. This is related to how long the war with the Trade Union will last.
The crux of the problem lies in the amount of military assistance that the Norton family will provide to the Petersen Chamber of Commerce. In fact, Fatty Shi's report had clearly explained this problem. Count Miledas' three demands. The first two are fine, but the third, although only briefly mentioned, is the most critical. He wants us to provide them with military assistance. This concerns the rock salt that Grand Duke Peterson controls. Now that the Trade Union is short of salt, if this rock salt falls into the hands of the Trade Union, then the Trade Union can continue this war for three or four years. Without this rock salt, the Trade Union won't be able to last more than six months.
Loriste snorted unhappily. Grand Duke Peterson wants the Norton family to fight the Trade Union to the death on the frontlines, while he takes the military assistance that Loriste provides and comfortably hides in his territory to train the Trade Union's armed forces. What wishful thinking. This is very different from Loriste's imagination of Grand Duke Peterson declaring independence from the Trade Union and being attacked by the Trade Union in retaliation. If he doesn't make Grand Duke Peterson and the Trade Union completely fall out, Loriste can't rest assured that the family's armed forces will be located in the Petersen Chamber of Commerce's territory.
"This Count Miledas' name sounds familiar. Have you found out about his background?" Loriste asked.
Fatty Shi nodded. "Lord Tagger has already given us detailed information. Speaking of which, this Count Miledas should be considered an acquaintance of ours. Do you still remember the Dothleger Hotel? That's the property of this Count's family. Speaking of the Miledas Trade Union, we should be familiar with this trade union that specializes in hotels and taverns … "
"Oh, so it's him. No wonder the name sounds familiar." Loriste slapped his forehead. Fatty Shi was right. This Miledas Trade Union was no stranger to Loriste. In fact, they'd even interacted with each other many times.
The Miledas Trade Union specialized in hotels and taverns. Other than the Dothleger Hotel, they also opened Adventurer's Homes in various countries and regions in the central and southern parts of the continent during their heyday. These were specially provided for adventuring mercenaries from the Trade Union to stay and rest. Because the price was moderate, the service was attentive, and the information network was well-informed and guaranteed safety, they could provide great help to mercenaries. Thus, they were very popular among adventuring mercenaries. Back then, when Fatty Shi and Loriste formed a group of mercenaries to go on adventures in Moronte City, their favorite place to stay was this Adventurer's Homes.
"According to the investigation information, this Count Miledas is the staunchest anti-war and pro-peace faction in the Trade Union …" Fatty Shi pulled out a document from the folder and smiled after taking a look. "It's no wonder. The Trade Union and the countries in the central and southern parts of the continent have become hostile, and the biggest loss is this Count Miledas' family's trade union. Nearly a hundred of his hotels and taverns have been shut down by those countries in the central and southern parts of the continent. His family members have been expelled, and the losses are no less than three million gold fords.
This Count Miledas did not resent those countries in the central and southern parts of the continent. After losing nearly half of his family's assets, he became the staunchest opponent of Grand Duke Camberlet. He spoke publicly many times, saying that the current Trade Union had gone against the original purpose of establishing peace, and had embarked on the wrong path of militarism. Moreover, he was the only trade union in the Trade Union that refused to join the armed forces of the Trade Union. Therefore, when he was conferred the title of count by the Trade Union, his territory was given to the somewhat desolate province of Ali Gomer.
Seriously speaking, this Miledas family was of noble origin. Two hundred years ago, the ancestor of the Miledas family was a baron of the Romon Empire, and had a very good relationship with the crown prince at that time. Later, several princes of the Romon Empire fought for the throne and framed the crown prince. This baron of the Miledas family died bravely while protecting the crown prince. After the death of the crown prince, the Miledas family was liquidated, and the members of the family had to escape to the newly established Trade Union. They ran hotels in Moronte City for a living, and gradually developed and expanded.
Yes, this Count Miledas and Grand Duke Peterson were relatives. Hehe, it was said that when Grand Duke Peterson's father stayed in the Adventurer's Homes when he was young, he fell in love with Count Miledas's aunt at first sight. At that time, Grand Duke Peterson's father was already married, and Count Miledas's aunt was also engaged. This kind of thing happened, and the two trade unions couldn't be reconciled. The Miledas family refused to let the count's aunt become a concubine. In the end, the count's aunt eloped with Grand Duke Peterson's father and gave birth to Grand Duke Peterson.
Later, the official wife of Grand Duke Peterson's father died in childbirth, and Count Miledas's aunt was promoted. Only then did the relationship between the two trade unions return to normal. Grand Duke Peterson grew up together with Count Miledas, and the two were like brothers. As a pro-peace and anti-war supporter, Count Miledas offended Grand Duke Camberlet and the other giants of the Commercial Alliance. It was Grand Duke Peterson who intervened and protected the Miledas family from the criticism of the other Chambers of Commerce … "
Buckingham nodded, "It seems that Grand Duke Peterson's decision to leave the Trade Union is true. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent Count Miledas to discuss this with us. How about this, Baron Shredder, you represent me to discuss with Count Miledas how much military aid they need. If it's not too much, we can agree to Grand Duke Peterson's request. But let's not talk about aid first. Even if it's a loan, the period can be longer, and a portion of it can be paid off every year.
It's not that we don't want to provide them with free military aid, but what if the Freedom Alliance and the four newly restored countries also ask us for military aid? Our family's armed forces are here to restore peace in this region, not to spread our wealth. After all, our family's territory is in the north, and we can't represent the Andenac Kingdom. "
Buckingham's words were a little harsh, but they were the truth. The Norton family's expedition this time to become enemies with the Trade Union was said to restore peace and negotiate a truce, but their goal was not for profit. Initially, they were worried that the Trade Union would defeat the second prince and sweep through the Andenac Kingdom to surround the north. Later, they defeated the Invincible Fleet and landed at Hidden Gold Bay to attack Moronte City. This was all for the family's commercial interests and the golden sea route to the south.
Finally, the establishment of the Freedom Alliance and the decisive battle of the Trade Union in Brevia City was no longer to force the Trade Union to negotiate, but for pure commercial interests. Using Moronte City as the circulation center and wholesale market for the products produced in the family's territory, and dumping them in the central and southern parts of the Galinte Continent was a strategy that everyone in the upper echelons of the family understood. Anyone who wanted to stop the Norton family from implementing this strategy would become a mortal enemy of the Norton family's armed forces. At this time, the Trade Union was no longer in the Norton family's eyes.
In June, the invasion of the four provinces and the restoration of the following four countries, as well as the signing of the alliance agreement with the countries in the central and southern regions, were, to put it bluntly, using the Commerce Alliance as a warning to others. First, it was to promote the reputation of the Norton family's armed forces. Second, it was to show the countries in the central and southern parts that the Norton family did not have the ambition to occupy these territories. Instead, they were kind enough to help the four countries restore their countries. Third, it was to divide the Trade Union and force the Cheekend Chamber of Commerce to break away from the Trade Union and establish an independent country. Of course, the independence of the Mayflower Chamber of Commerce was a pleasant surprise.
Most importantly, they were actually using force to directly snatch the market from the countries in the central and southern parts of the continent that were originally occupied by the Trade Union. Using the private ship owners to smuggle the products produced in the Norton family's territory to the markets of the countries in the central and southern parts of the continent was too slow. The Trade Union might even find out and take some underhanded measures to deal with it. Therefore, it was better to directly use force to snatch the market.
They fought the Trade Union to a corner, separated the northern and southern provinces, restored the four countries that were annexed by the Trade Union, befriended the various countries in the central and southern parts of the continent, and signed the agreement with the twenty-one countries in the central and southern parts of the continent. It seemed like the Norton family was doing a good deed, but they did not get any benefits. In reality, the Norton family had too much of an advantage. Not to mention, the fact that the countries in the central and southern parts of the continent sent their troops to defend the Tenerig and Seruniga provinces was equivalent to tearing up the trade agreement they had signed with the Trade Union two years ago and sealing off the Trade Union's borders and trade routes. Unless the Trade Union recognized these four countries, their products would never reach the markets of the countries in the central and southern parts of the continent.
Would the Trade Union be willing to recognize these four countries that were once annexed by them? No, because if they did, they would lose the legitimacy of the territories they once owned. In the trade agreement with the countries in the central and southern parts of the continent, those countries had vaguely recognized the 36 provinces that the Trade Union occupied as the Trade Union's territory. Although they only had seven provinces left, the signed trade agreement was proof of their legitimacy.
But in the end, the one with the bigger fist was the one in the right. The Trade Union had already been beaten by the armed forces of the Norton family to the point of swallowing their anger. They were holed up in their territory, trying to recover their strength before fighting again. The armed forces of the Norton family had already achieved their goal of sending out their troops. The Freedom Alliance had already been recognized by the countries in the central and southern parts of the continent. In the future, the goods produced by the Norton family's territory could be directly transported to the markets of the countries in the central and southern parts of the continent. To the Norton family, this was a market worth millions or even tens of millions of gold coins. They could not give up on it.
As for the Trade Union's seven provinces that were like porcupines, the Norton family had no intention of attacking them. However, Laurist was still interested in forcing Grand Duke Peterson to break away from the Trade Union and establish an independent country. It would be best if the Peterson Kingdom and the Trade Union fought each other fiercely after independence. Laurist would be happy to watch from the side. But now that Grand Duke Peterson had asked the Norton family's armed forces to personally send out military aid, Laurist was not happy. Why? Are you trying to threaten me? There's no free aid, only loans.
"But Your Highness, Count Miledas said that the Peterson Chamber of Commerce has already exhausted its reserves due to the many years of war. I'm afraid they can't even afford a loan," Fatty Shi said.
Laurist laughed sinisterly. "They can afford it. Doesn't Grand Duke Peterson still have a batch of rock salt in his hands? I can agree to him smuggling the rock salt to the Trade Union at a high price. Of course, the quantity will be controlled by us. As for the price, it will be up to them. I believe that the rock salt will allow Grand Duke Peterson to easily repay the loan and make a fortune for his kingdom. "
…
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
