I'm not a lord

Chapter 153 Trade Embargo (Seeking monthly tickets at the end of the month)

"Are you going to proactively cut off all trade with Sanhe City?!"

Leon was shocked by Lynn's bold plan.

It is common in the North for cities to use their trade privileges to lower the prices of raw materials from rural territories.

Businessmen, especially the top wealthy ones, are always pursuing monopolies.

It is not just about monopolizing certain commodities, but about monopolizing all trade in a certain region.

This way they can completely control the pricing of goods.

When selling, they keep raising the price, and when buying, they frantically lower the price to maximize profits.

In the past, Sanhe City's main trading partners in the local area mainly included the areas around the city, the Baihe River Basin in the north, and the Earldom of Jingtie in the south.

These areas all have serious product imbalances. The areas around cities and the Baihe River Basin mainly produce primary agricultural products such as grain, honey, timber, and fur.

Jingtieling mainly produces iron ingots and a small amount of ironware, and relies on foreign imports of grain, charcoal, alcohol and other commodities.

Sanhe City is located in the middle, making a lot of money by reselling goods from both sides and processing them.

If Linn stopped exporting raw materials to the city and cut off the city's financial resources, he would inevitably be met with crazy retaliation from the city.

This includes but is not limited to blocking rivers and roads, prohibiting any goods from entering or leaving the Baihe River Basin, and even sending troops to invade the territory.

"That's right. You're only allowing cities to blockade me, but you're not allowing me to blockade cities? To be more precise, it should be a trade embargo."

Lynn had long harbored the idea of ​​imposing an embargo on Three Rivers.

Since June last year, both the Dukedom of the Marsh and the Crown Territory have suffered from severe war, resulting in a large number of serfs being displaced and food prices rising accordingly.

Originally, Sanhe City relied on the farmland outside the city, which was basically able to meet the city's consumption.

But the refugee rebellion last autumn severely affected the autumn harvest in the area.

Today in Sanhe City, the market price of grains such as rye and oats is three times higher than in normal years, and there is still unlimited room for growth.

After occupying the four territories, Lin En checked the account books of the previous year and found that these territories had sold almost no grain in the previous year.

The warehouses in Green Lake Territory, Red Creek Territory, Heron Territory and River Swamp Territory were all filled with last year's surplus grain. It was obvious that the barons wanted to hoard it, and in the end, it all benefited Lin En.

Without the cheap food and raw materials from the Baihe River Basin, the food prices in Sanhe City will undoubtedly continue to soar, and the various handicraft guilds will also face the crisis of raw material shortages.

Leon said worriedly, "But you must be in great need of ironware and iron ingots right now. Moreover, if the embargo is lifted, I won't be able to transport the contraband salt back to Sanhe City."

Once a trade war breaks out, it will lead to mutual blockades and embargoes, and trade will be completely cut off.

Leon could no longer transport illegal salt into the docks of Sanhe City.

Lin En was well prepared. He spread out a precise map of the area surrounding Sanhe City and explained it to Leon:

“I bet Sanhe City will collapse first! The territory can be self-sufficient for a few years without goods, but the city can’t grow food.

And who says salt can only be transported by water? There are two roads southwest of Hezhao Territory that lead to the western suburbs of Sanhe City. I will use a boat to transport the salt from Baixiong Territory to Hezhao Territory, and then transport the salt by land to the north bank of Jinghe River. You can sail over to receive it."

Lin En’s current identity is the Lord of Baihe, and the resources of the six territories are under his control.

As long as he blocks the surface of the White River in the River Swamp Territory, the entire river will become his exclusive canal.

He could easily make the salt transportation route bypass Sanhe City, but it would require a slight transfer over land, which would slightly increase the transportation cost.

But for the lucrative private salt trade, this cost is a drop in the bucket.

Leon frowned and stared at the map. "Jurgen will definitely block these two roads."

"He said blockade, can we block it? Have you forgotten what I used to do?" Lin En grinned. Leon hesitated for a moment, then suddenly realized: "You used to be a bandit!" Oh, right, I almost forgot, you used to be a bandit!

It’s because Lin En is becoming more and more powerful, and he no longer looks like a bandit leader.

Lin En smiled and pointed to the western suburbs of Sanhe City on the map:
"The Three Rivers City defense militia is almost entirely composed of infantry, and the mercenaries active around the city are now with the Duke of the Swamp. Do you think Jurgen will block me, or I will block him?
In the north, I will impose an embargo on him, and in the west, I will send troops to cut off his land routes and prevent him from transporting food from the suburbs into the city!"

War horses needed vast pastures to move freely and eat, which was naturally contrary to the cities at that time.

Due to the limited urban area, the militia and mercenaries in the city are generally composed mainly of infantry.

As far as Lin En knew, the militia of Sanhe City always maintained a size of 300 people. Except for a few officers, almost no soldiers were equipped with war horses.

In the vast farmland areas, the mobility of cavalry is far beyond that of infantry.

After unifying the Baihe River Basin, Lin En was able to assemble a cavalry unit of more than a hundred people.

He planned to let his second son take this cavalry to resume his old business and plunder the manors, monasteries and transport convoys in the western suburbs of Sanhe City.

With the trade embargo and land looting, Sanhe City will only be able to retain waterways in the east and south directions.

But where is the food from these two directions that can support Sanhe City?
To the east is the Crown Territory which is still ravaged by war, and to the south is the Mirror Iron Territory which is mainly engaged in mining and metallurgy.

The Earldom of Jingtie itself needs to import food from outside and has no surplus food for export.

In addition, nobles from all over the country are hoarding food, so even if someone is willing to provide food to Sanhe City, the price will be sky-high.

As for the iron ingots and ironware that Lin En urgently needs, he certainly has a way to solve it.

First, he could import through smuggling and use it to divide the blacksmith guild in Sanhe City.

Secondly, he can also tap into potential within the team.

It is said that there are several red streams deep in the dense forests in the west of Chixi Territory. Based on the mineral knowledge provided by [Collection], Lin En believes that there is a high probability of iron ore in Chixi Territory.

And it is high-quality limonite.

However, this iron mine is far away from the core area of ​​the territory, and it is difficult to transport the ore. Mining, transportation, and iron smelting will also take up a lot of labor.

But Lynn will soon have no shortage of labor.

By April, the Gaoya tribe of the wasteland people will move south from the wasteland.

A tribe of 8,000 people can provide at least 2,000 young and middle-aged laborers.

Lin En planned so much with the purpose of completely messing up Sanhe City!
When the city becomes chaotic, he will have the opportunity to take advantage of the situation and completely seize this waterway hub.

He also wanted Mayor Jurgen to recognize his identity and status.

Far water cannot quench immediate thirst, and the Duke of the Swamp can no longer protect you.

The Baihe River Basin is no longer the fat meat you can slaughter at will.

If you want to eat hot oatmeal porridge, you must lower your head and be a human being!

Still writing threatening letters? Can't distinguish between big and small kings.

Leon used the map to chew over Lynn's plan, and finally exclaimed in admiration:
"Excellent strategy! I can already imagine Jurgen's ugly, pig-faced face."

Then he couldn't wait to ask, "When are you going to start? In March?"

Lin En calmly replied, "No rush. First, take the letter I just wrote back to him. Let him mistakenly think I'm weak. Then you can transport the salt we've accumulated over the past year back to Sanhe City."

(End of this chapter)