I'm not a lord

Chapter 158: Talk, anything is possible!

Under Lynn's supervision and guidance, the most populous Heswamp Territory has already gotten back on track in agricultural production.

According to the reports sent in by various territories, the situation in Cang Lu Territory, Chi Xi Territory, Lu Hu Territory and Qian Tan Territory is also quite encouraging.

The talents that Lin En cultivated in White Bear Territory last year are flourishing everywhere.

These people will spread his ideas and techniques, and by the way, make the serfs remember the name of the new master.

In addition to the great strides made in the agricultural sector, handicraft reforms in various territories were also progressing steadily.

Lynn plans to build at least one water-powered blacksmith workshop in each territory to provide the most solid and powerful support for agricultural production in each territory.

The water wheels were uniformly manufactured by Tolima, the chief carpenter of the White Bear Territory, and transported to various territories by ships. The workshops could recruit local serfs to build them.

The ownership of the new workshop naturally belongs to Lin En. The blacksmiths only need to pay a small rent every year to use the most advanced hydraulic forging hammer.

Lin En also plans to relocate the armor workshop in White Bear Territory.

This workshop is currently managed by the blacksmith Eric. As long as the water does not freeze, it can stably provide four sets of plate armor and a dozen sets of plate armor suits every month.

The White Bear Territory is located too far north, which will take up a lot of transportation resources in the territory, so it must be moved south.

If iron ore could really be discovered in Chixi Territory, Lin En would naturally move the armor workshop to Chixi Territory.

He had always wanted to go to Chixi Territory for a field investigation, but he just couldn't spare the time.

The main Three Rivers city council kept sending representatives to harass him, always demanding more of the cheap materials.

Look, the city council’s boat just left Heze Territory yesterday, and another one arrived today.

However, this time the representative did not come to ask for materials, but to issue an ultimatum.

If Lin En is still unwilling to expand the supply of raw materials, Sanhe City will terminate all trade with him, block the river, and strictly prohibit any merchant ships from entering or leaving Baihe Territory.

Warn me?
Then Lynn has a reason to say it.

It was obviously you from Sanhe City who were the bad guys first, selling goods at high prices and purchasing raw materials at low prices. Your eating habits are even uglier than a bear that just came out of hibernation!

Why should I, the dignified Lord of Baihe, endure your bullying in vain?

"Please tell Mayor Jurgen that I have always been sincere in my business dealings with Sanhe City. However, you have gone too far. The goods you sell me are far above market value, while you are purchasing my grain, sheepskins, and other goods at prices far below market value. As the distinguished Earl of Baihe, I will never accept such unfair trade terms!"

Lin En first occupied the moral high ground, and then issued a similar ultimatum to Sanhe City.

"My request is very simple. I will set up a tax checkpoint in Hezhao Territory. All merchant ships leaving Baihe Territory must pay 10% of the value of the goods as customs duties.

Secondly, the price of Baihe Territory’s goods must be negotiated by both parties. I cannot tolerate Sanhe City’s unwarranted exploitation of Baihe Territory.

Finally, only designated merchants approved by me have the right to purchase goods from Baihe Territory. You in Sanhe City are not allowed to deliberately make things difficult for my trading partners, nor can you increase tariffs on goods without my permission.

Otherwise, I have the right to interrupt trade with Sanhe City at any time!"

Lin En asked for three privileges at the outset: the right to collect taxes, the right to set prices, and the right to nominate.

Each one directly targets the core interests of Sanhe City.

In the past, no one in the Baihe River Basin dared to impose tariffs on merchant ships from Sanhe City, and no one dared to stop merchant ships flying the Sanhe City flag.

The barons lacked the power to oppose Sanhe City and could only allow the city's merchants to act recklessly.

But Lin En doesn't buy into Sanhe City's account.

By appearing weak to the enemy, he had secured a large quantity of iron ingots and cloth in advance, eager for Sanhe City to turn against him first. That evening, Mayor Jurgen received Lin's offer, and his face instantly turned a pale purple.

"How dare you, a mere rebel?"

Jurgen, who was always calm, could no longer suppress his anger.

In a rage, he swung his right hand vigorously, acting as a desktop cleaning master, sweeping most of the documents and debris on the desk to the ground.

After suppressing his anger, he quickly convened an emergency meeting and called in city councilors to discuss countermeasures.

At the round table in the conference room, the portly president of the Food Guild slammed his hand on the table and shouted:

"We must not agree to his terms! Even the Duke of the Moor wouldn't dare demand these privileges from us, let alone a mere Earl."

The burly Blacksmith Guild Master immediately retorted, "No, he's not even an earl. He's just a rebel leader who stole the territory!"

The black-robed middle-aged priest from the Three Saints Church couldn't help but speak out: "Yes, a rebel leader, what right do you have to make demands on us? Veto, every one of them must be vetoed!"

Just as everyone was getting excited, the Brewing Guild President, who looked like a wine barrel, said quietly, "Have you ever considered the consequences? If we really cut off trade with the Baihe Territory."

The middle-aged priest asked, "Consequences? What consequences could there be?"

Guildmaster Jiutong asked, "The Baihe Territory controls over half of Sanhe City's grain, timber, honey, and sheepskin supplies. Without these things, how many of the guilds here can function normally?"

The conference hall suddenly fell silent, and all the members were carefully thinking about this serious issue.

In the end, it was Jurgen who spoke first: "The trade embargo will undoubtedly have an impact on the city, but we cannot accept Lin En's harsh conditions."

The Wine Barrel Guild leader immediately responded, "Of course we can't accept everything, but we can negotiate. Earl Jingtie in the south has the right to impose tariffs on us. Should we also impose a trade blockade on him?"

As one of the three major guilds in Sanhe City, the Brewing Guild's influence in the city is self-evident.

Without the cheap ale provided by the Brewing Guild, the entire city would face a drinking water crisis.

Precisely because beer is cheap, this guild is also the most sensitive to food prices.

The western region of the Dukedom of the Swamp had just suffered harassment from the two dukes last year, and grain production had been severely reduced.

Many manors in the western suburbs of Sanhe City were also destroyed by refugee rebels during the same period.

Right now, the Brewing Guild is in urgent need of low-priced grain from Baihe Territory to fill the huge food gap.

In the opinion of President Wine Barrel, nothing is off-limits.

Although Lin En was only a rebel leader, he actually controlled the Baihe Territory and his power was comparable to that of an earl, making him eligible to enjoy some of the earl's privileges.

The parliamentarians immediately engaged in a heated debate, and finally reached a reluctant consensus, deciding to send another representative to talk to Lynn.

The tariff issue is easy to discuss, it’s only 10%, just pay it.

The pricing power and naming power are the bottom line of Sanhe City and will never be given to Lin En.

But when the city council representatives arrived at Hehuan Territory, they were told that the lord was not in the territory.

Lin En has now arrived in the Heron Territory. On the one hand, he wants to personally inspect the agricultural production in the territory, and on the other hand, he also wants to test the temper of Sanhe City.

The initiative is in his hands.

Want to negotiate? It depends on his mood!

(End of this chapter)