When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 687 Armistice Agreement
Wiping the sweat from his neck with a handkerchief, Gigannon, the trade representative of Thousand Valley, once again led Slada into the spacious and cool negotiation room.

The ice blocks frozen in advance by the wizards emitted a chilling cold air, but it still failed to dispel Slada's irritability.

When he saw Mitternich smiling and making coffee at the black wooden negotiating table, he became even more furious.

Two weeks had passed since he arrived at Sola Castle in late April, and now it was already early May, but the armistice agreement between the two sides had still not been signed.

It’s not that Slada didn’t work hard, but the Holy Axis’s requirements were too harsh.

"Oh, Mr. Gigannon, Mr. Slada." Mittenyi put down the copper coffee pot in his hand and showed his signature smile. "It's really hard for you two to come here in such hot weather. Why don't you drink two cups of our Black Snake Bay specialty blue coffee to refresh yourself?"

"No thanks." Slada waved his head and said, "I'm not used to drinking this kind of stuff... Do you have any wine?"

"Of course." Mitternich snapped his fingers and called the servant outside the door, "Bring in a bottle of fruit wine, and make sure it's chilled."

As he spoke, he used a knife to chisel off two pieces of ice and threw them into the tilted ceramic cup. He took a sip of the fruity coffee and smiled at Slada, "Sir Slada, today is the deadline for you to report to the lord. How have you considered the war reparations and ransom?"

"We are willing to pay the ransom of 10 gold pounds in one lump sum, but isn't the compensation of 35 gold pounds a bit too much?" Slada spread his hands. "Mr. Mitternich, you know that this war has exhausted the financial resources of the Lilac Corridor. 35 gold pounds is really an unbearable burden."

In fact, the total compensation of 45 gold pounds was not an exorbitant demand from Horn.

Among the captured knights, there were about 2000 who held the title of knight. According to the market price, the ransom was 50 gold pounds for each knight. Horn rounded off the number and directly asked for 10 gold pounds.

On this point, the nobles of Lilac Corridor were still very happy because they were indeed following the rules.

But the war reparations of 35 gold pounds were beyond the knights' expectations.

"You earn hundreds of thousands of pounds from the spice trade every year, but now you tell me that you can't come up with 35 pounds?" Mitternich frowned and shook his head. "You have exploited Black Snake Bay for decades, and I only ask you to pay this little money just for the sake of His Majesty the King."

"That's 35 gold pounds, which is almost equivalent to 10 tons of gold. Where can we find 10 tons of gold for you?" Slada's forehead veins were throbbing. "The lord's family doesn't have that much gold left."

Mitternich lowered his head and gently stirred his coffee. "But isn't there still an alternative clause? Needless to say, you can see how much concession the Holy Axis has made."

The so-called alternative terms are that the Thousand Valley Fran Royal Trading Company, the Holy Scythe Monastery and the Witch Council will establish a united spice company, and the Lilac Corridor will spend 2 gold pounds every year for five years to purchase the company's shares, but will not have the right to operate it.

Moreover, before the war reparations were paid, all its dividends were used for the development of the United Spice Company.

If this is the case, then the remaining 25 pounds can be reduced by 5, and then paid off within five years at an annual interest rate of 5%.

In this way, except for the 16 gold pounds they have to pay in the first year, they only need to pay 6 gold pounds in compensation every year thereafter, of which 10 gold pounds may become return money.

"But your United Spice Company is monopolizing sales and purchases, and our income is already going to drop significantly. You are also going to increase the wholesale price of spices. In this case, we would rather let these soldiers starve to death, die outside, or jump into the river from the shore than accept any of your conditions."

Although they were defeated, the Lilac Corridor did not have complete control over Horn, because the Fran royal family was behind them.

If the nobles of Lilac Corridor were forced into a corner, they would simply abandon their bottom line and completely side with the king. Their monopoly privileges would be gone anyway.

Then Horn's goal of spreading trade risks through the Lilac Corridor and Red Leaf Hill would not be achieved.

Even weakening them too much would not be a good idea, as it would also lead to these nobles having their power usurped by the Fran royal family.

Faced with the threat, Mitternich just looked at him calmly: "The United Spice Company is to maintain market order, not to monopolize the market.

Otherwise, once the spice trade in Black Snake Bay was liberalized, local plantation owners would certainly sell off large quantities of pepper, causing the price of pepper to drop drastically, while United Spice could control the output and price of spices through the right of first refusal.

If the market order collapses due to the selling of spices, this is not what you want to see, right? "

Slada looked grim: "Then we ask for a fixed share of spices every year." After thinking for a moment, Mitternich nodded: "We can make concessions on this point. We can sell 30% of the annual export volume to the Lilac Corridor at the average market price.

As for the remaining shares, they will be auctioned in batches in Tiannv City according to the plantations..."

After hearing this, Slada's expression improved a lot. Although it was less than half of the original share, at least it was not completely lost.

Moreover, without those secret parties blocking the way, they can transport the goods by themselves and save some money. In addition, with the auction in Tiannv City, it is still feasible to obtain about 50% of the share.

As for the lost 30%, one can only say that they accepted defeat. Although they knew that the Lilac Corridor's monopoly on spices would not last long, they did not expect that it would be taken over by the royal family so quickly.

As for the five-year compensation, Slada thought it would actually take two years at most, and the maximum compensation would be 22 gold pounds. By the time the new king of Leia was free next year or the year after, Thousand River Valley would be half-dead if not dead.

If we take action at that time, maybe we can even swallow up Black Snake Bay.

"Okay..." Slada breathed a sigh of relief, "We will send 10 gold pounds to Dragonfly Bay before the rainy season arrives in exchange for 2055 knights."

"Great, we finally made some progress." Mitternich smiled and walked to the door. He took the bottle from the servant and poured three glasses of fruit wine without alcohol. "How about we toast in advance to celebrate peace?"

With the quick writing of several clerks, a summary version of the Spice War Armistice Agreement was freshly produced.

“First, Lilac Corridor and Black Snake Bay agreed to stop the war immediately and accept the mediation of the Holy Monarchy of Thousand Valleys and the Fran Royal Family, and declare to the outside world that they were not defeated.

Second, the nobles of the Lilac Corridor were granted a certain share of preemptive purchase rights, but they had to give up their monopoly rights.

Third, merchant ships departing from Dragonfly Port must not be hindered from entering the Lilac Corridor.

Fourth, Dragonfly Port is the only trading port from the Lilac Corridor to the Black Snake Bay, and trade is not allowed outside of this area. Both sides regard it as smuggling.

Fifth, this year the spices will be purchased and sold by the Holy Hoe Monastery, and Black Snake Bay will ensure that there will be no sudden and drastic increase or decrease in spice production to avoid market chaos.

Sixth, Lilac Corridor needs to pay 10 gold pounds to redeem the captured extraordinary knights and soldiers.

Seventh, Lilac Corridor shall pay a total of 30 gold pounds in war reparations to Black Snake Bay to compensate for the losses, and the compensation shall be paid in installments of 2 gold pounds in stocks and 4 gold pounds in war reparations per year, with an annual interest rate of 5%.

Eighth, Black Snake Bay is willing to accept exiles and refugees from the Lilac Corridor. "

After taking a sip of neutral fruit wine and looking at the armistice agreement that had been debated for two weeks, Slada felt mixed emotions.

Although he had tried his best to obtain the best conditions for the Lilac Corridor, at present the Lilac Corridor had only suffered some bleeding and was not seriously injured.

But as long as the great nobles above him do not agree, his efforts will be in vain.

The most feared thing is not that the Black Snake Bay lions will open their mouths wide, but that the stubborn old men are unwilling to admit defeat, drag their feet, and refuse to fight or make peace.

If that day really comes and he comes to this negotiation room for the second time, I'm afraid the conditions will not be the same as they are now.

"We will send the treaty to Orange County by clipper within five days." Gigannon picked up the armistice agreement and said happily.

Anyway, he had no losses. He got a 10% share of the spice trade for free within one year of taking office. Naturally, he was grinning from ear to ear.

"We will be able to give you an answer in at least one month."

"No hurry, no hurry." Mitternich sipped the fruit wine gracefully. "But I remind you that the rainy season is coming, so it's better to hurry up."

(End of this chapter)