I'm not a lord

Chapter 75 Huge Profits and Military Expansion

It has been more than three months since they arrived in White Bear Territory, and the bandits under Lin En finally saw the dawn of making big money.

The wholesale price of 5000 kilograms of salt sold to Leon is 250 silver coins, equivalent to about 12 gold coins.

Just last year, the total output of Bai Xiong's 18,000 acres of public land could only be converted into about 500 gold coins.

This amount of money is not enough to support a baron's family, five knight's families, and more than a dozen knight's squires.

Today, Bai Xiongling can earn this huge sum of money just by selling salt in a little over a month.

Five thousand kilograms of salt is only the minimum amount sent by the lowland tribes. Since the official mining, the salt mine's production capacity has been increasing every day.

After Lin En returned to the White Bear Territory, he lent a large number of pottery pots and basins to the lowland tribes for a fee, greatly improving the refining efficiency of the barbarians.

In less than a week, the amount of salt transported by the inhabitants to the White Bear Territory had risen to about 6,000 kilograms, and there was still room for further increase.

They pushed wheelbarrows and tirelessly transported salt to trading posts, then happily returned to the salt mines with grain, pottery, cloth, and new mattocks.

The hoe is actually a consumable item.

The Savage Tribe had no technology to repair iron tools, so they could only send their scrapped hoes back to the White Bear Territory and then buy them back at a price several times higher than the market price.

Little Albert would strictly calculate the supplies that the barbarians could get to ensure that they could barely maintain a standard of food and clothing and were willing to mine and hand over salt.

Every evening, he would personally drive the carriage to transport the salt received that day back to the riverside castle.

And the food and other supplies were transported back to the trading post the next morning.

Lin En ordered the serfs to build a warehouse specifically for storing salt next to the dock. The walls were built with bluestone, and the stones were reinforced with primitive cement. The ground was also covered with several layers of gravel, and then covered with wooden boards and straw to ensure that the salt would not get damp.

During this period, a series of dam-related projects were also progressing in an orderly manner.

Before we knew it, it was the last week of June.

Before the rainy season arrived in July, Leon personally escorted a batch of goods and people to the White Bear Territory Pier.

Lynn led two teams of soldiers waiting at the dock.

"Oh, my dearest friend, the mere sight of you fills me with joy."

As soon as Leon stepped off the ship's side, he couldn't wait to give Lynn a big hug.

The two are now close comrades in the same boat and have become relatives. Their relationship is even stronger than lips and teeth.

Seeing Leon's loyalty of 92 points, Lin En patted his elastic, thick shoulders and said, "White Bear Territory will always be your safe haven."

After the greetings, Leon cast his gaze upon the salt piled on the dock, weighing over 60,000 kilograms, his eyes filled with surprise and satisfaction.
"My friend, you have created a true miracle in White Bear Territory. The time it took to put this salt mine into operation and its output far exceeded my imagination!"

"Leon, this is impossible without your support." Lynn's words were indeed sincere.

White Bear Leader’s current development speed is inseparable from Leon’s angel investment.

Before the salt mine was mined, he provided more than a hundred tons of food and a large number of iron ingots free of charge, helped White Bear to transport more than two hundred strong laborers, and even paid a shield tax of one hundred gold coins for Lin En.

The arrogant Duke's tax collector said he would come to White Bear Territory again in May, but he has not shown up yet. It is obvious that Leon has silenced him with gold coins.

Leon's capital is actually not that much. He is just the boss of the underground market in Sanhe City, and his assets are at most one or two thousand gold coins.

Investing in White Bear Collar was definitely the biggest gamble in his life.

As it turned out, he won the gamble, and won a huge victory. Not only did he win Lin En, a reliable ally, but he also had the exclusive right to sell the salt in the White Bear Territory.

Now he has already set up sales channels for private salt in advance.

In just one or two months, he can recover all his initial investment, and the rest of the time it will be pure profit.

Leon let go of Lin En and glanced at the two rows of soldiers standing in neat formation on the dock. He praised: "These people seem to be strangers? Are they your newly recruited soldiers? Their momentum is no less than that of the Three Rivers City militia!"

"Yes, I plan to recruit another one hundred to two hundred soldiers within this year."

Lin En did not hide his recruitment plan.

As food, gold coins and supplies gradually became abundant, he naturally had to recruit more soldiers to protect his territory and private salt interests.

The smuggling of salt could not be concealed from the Duke of Swamp for too long. Perhaps next year, he would completely break off relations with the Duke.

Power and the army cannot be separated from the nourishment of money, and he needs Leon's assistance.

Lin En waved his hand, and the soldiers immediately came forward and began to carry salt.

He and Leon walked side by side on the dock, discussing the future in depth.

"I've brought you five tons of iron ingots and fifty male runaway slaves. They're all in good health and can be put to work after a few days of nursing. As for food, as you know, the price of food in Sanhe City has risen very high recently. You'll have to find your own way to get food."

"You don't have to worry about food anymore. There will be no shortage of food in White Bear Territory. What I need most now are weapons and armor. Or you can help me find some excellent blacksmiths." Lin En said bluntly.

Leon then asked, "How much salt can your salt mine produce stably every month?"

"After it stabilizes, it will be at least 200 tons per month."

"Two hundred tons would be five hundred gold coins. The White River is still navigable for about four months from now until November. That would be two thousand gold coins."

Leon counted on his fingers for a moment before replying, "Weapons and armor have also gone up in price recently. I'll try to procure you some second-hand goods. They're cheap and the quality isn't too bad. As for excellent blacksmiths, they're in short supply everywhere. I'll do my best to find one for you, but don't get your hopes up too much."

Although the North has high-quality iron ore, its forging technology is far inferior to that of the South.

In this era, the flow of talent and knowledge is too slow, and the spread of advanced technology often takes dozens or even hundreds of years.

Lin En asked, "Has the war already begun?"

Leon nodded. "Yes, the Duke of Swamp's army passed through Three Rivers City ten days ago, and the vanguard should have already entered the Crown Territory. By the way, didn't you use the name 'Cold Wind'? It is said that Earl Cold Wind has defected to the Duke."

"That's good news." Lynn finally smiled.

He is currently still wearing the vest of the second son of Earl of Cold Wind. As long as he does not do anything too out of line, the Duke of Swamp will most likely turn a blind eye.

This is the role of united front values.

Of course, this vest can only protect him temporarily, not forever, and it will be exposed sooner or later.

The retaliation that will come then will definitely be more severe.

But Lynn had already grown up.

Duke?

Just go head-on and attack!

(End of this chapter)