Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Chapter 707 707 41 Salt and Iron_4

?Chapter 707: Chapter 41 Salt and Iron_4 Chapter 707: Chapter 41 Salt and Iron_4 Winters said something surprising, speaking lightly, “In fact, regarding the salt issue, I’m really not that worried. I had already resolved it before seeking you out.”

Mason, Andre, and Moritz all looked at Winters, faces a mix of shock and awe.

“I had a chat with Little Lion,” Winters didn’t keep them in suspense, “Andre, senior, do you remember those rock salts on the western shore of The Styx… licked by the cattle and sheep?”

Last year, when the war was raging, as soon as the Paratu Expeditionary Force crossed The Styx, the Paratu Shepherds rushed their herds to the western shores, because there was rock salt there.

Winters played with a small knife, his demeanor refreshing as he spoke, “When I talked to the Revodan salt merchants, they told me that, aside from buying military salt from Mont Blanc County, there was also a smuggling route for rock salt coming from the Hurd wilderness in the past.

“Caravans would take their goods to trade in the wilderness, then carry back salt. Later, when the Parlatu Army cracked down hard and blockaded the various Hurd tribes, that route too was cut off.”

Thanks to Mayor Priskin’s efforts, otherwise the salt merchants would never have disclosed these hidden secrets to Winters.

“It turns out that speaking with a smile really works,” Winters summarized, forcing out a grin, “One must smile more.”

“Rock salt?” Andre was stupefied, “Cattle and sheep can lick it. Can people eat it?”

“The Herders eat rock salt, Little Lion said so,” Winters stated matter-of-factly, “If the Herders can eat it, so can we. Salt bricks are even a form of ‘currency’ among the Hurd tribes.”

Andre took a deep breath, feeling relieved that he wouldn’t have to give up the horses whatever the cost.

“The Red River Tribe will give us rock salt for free?” Mason narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Of course not,” Winters sighed, putting on a wry smile, “We trade iron for it.”

Mason’s expression turned grave and he asked in a deep voice, “Isn’t that just like giving the lion steel teeth? The Herders are not on our side. Having occupied Tie Feng Mountain for decades, how could they possibly not know about Iron Peak Mine? But did Little Lion ever mention it to you?”

“I understand, senior. It’s like two cups of poison before me, one kills immediately upon drinking, the other kills slowly,” Winters shook his head gently, “We still have to drink the slow poison, for only in living might there be a chance.”

Mason also couldn’t help but sigh heavily, “Yes, survival gives us a chance.”

“Actually, Mr. Poltan, the old blacksmith, has a good idea,” Winters said, somewhat embarrassedly, “He mentioned that the iron from Iron Peak Mine is of poor quality, brittle, and difficult to forge into weapons, but it’s just right for casting into pots. There’s no need to sell steel to the Herders, just pots would do.”

“Would the Red River Tribe agree to that?” Mason almost laughed in disbelief.

“When it comes to business, negotiations must be had,” Winters shrugged, speaking teasingly, “If their rock salt isn’t sold to us, there’s no other buyer. We ourselves don’t have steel, where would we get steel for the Red River Tribe? That’s the offer, take it or leave it. If we can’t strike a deal, then we may as well go raid Mont Blanc County.”

“We should have just gone on a raid right away!” Andre perked up with enthusiasm.

“Did you tell Little Lion?” Mason asked Winters about the pots, “about this matter.”

“Not yet, I just told him we would trade iron with him. He seemed quite pleased anyway,” Winters let out a long sigh, “In the end, we still need to smelt iron. Without iron, we might as well change our name to the Iron Peak Tribe, paint our faces, and go looking for baldies to fight in Mont Blanc County.”

Mason also sighed deeply, “Yes, in the end, we still need a mainstay industry.”

“Don’t worry, don’t fret,” Winters revealed a smile, “Aren’t we much better off now than when we had only five or six towns? There’s nothing to worry about.”

With the issues of salt and iron resolved, they should have adjourned the meeting, but Winters wouldn’t let Andre and Moritz leave, insisting on continuing the meeting.

“Weren’t you the one who used to hate meetings the most?” Andre couldn’t help asking Winters.

“Let’s endure it a bit longer,” Winters put on a serious tone, “I feel… that the salt incident has exposed two issues, issues that must be resolved.”

“What issues?” Andre retorted, “Isn’t the problem simply the lack of salt?”

“The first issue,” Winters said slowly and deliberately, “is that at present, Iron Peak County cannot survive independently without external support; many things still need to be imported from outside. The New Reclamation Legion has already started to blockade us, it’s just that it’s been too short a time to show its power.”

Mason sat up straight, his expression turning serious. He thought Winters just wanted to chat casually but hadn’t expected these topics to come up. Andre also stopped clamoring to leave. Even Moritz opened his eyes, listening curiously.

“For all kinds of goods that Iron Peak County needs, if it is possible to produce them ourselves, we should find a way to do so. For those we cannot produce on our own, then we resort to trade, smuggling, or raiding.”

“A living person can’t be allowed to die from holding in their pee.” Andre smacked his lips, “That’s all there is to it.”

“The second issue.” Winters gently brushed the blade, “Our military government doesn’t know what the common people need. Salt prices are rising, but it wasn’t until the enemy reminded me that I realized it. This shows that our eyes and ears are blocked. We need to open them, or even if we solve the salt problem, other issues will emerge.”

“How do we open them?” Mason asked.

“I have a rough idea—gather the merchants from Revodan and the farmers from all the towns to listen to their needs. In the past, when the lords were particularly lascivious and brutal, the common people would petition for a grievance meeting; we could hold one too,” Winters said with a smile: “But a grievance meeting doesn’t sound too pleasant, how about we call it a negotiation meeting?”

“Isn’t that just a county council then?”

“Not exactly, a county council has power. But I don’t want to delegate power right now. Let’s vote on it.”

As usual, there was one abstention, and three votes in favor.

“It’s not only about listening to what the common people say.” Winters stroked his chin, “We also need to tell the common people what we want to say. Andre, remember the gazette from Deerhorn Town?”

“Isn’t the racetrack something we saw in the gazette?” Andre replied.

“I’m thinking of starting a gazette in Revodan… It doesn’t necessarily have to be called a gazette, just a regular set of announcements, posted to every village and town. Sea Blue has a group of information peddlers who specialize in selling hand-copied ‘Sea Blue Bulletins’; we could do something similar.”

Winters laughed heartily, “We must not only achieve victory but also let more people know about our victories. They need to understand that we are fighting for their interests.”

Andre frantically waved his hands, “Suit yourself, just don’t make me write it, suit yourself.”

“Upperclassman.” Winters grabbed Mason’s hand, “I know, you are the most reliable person.”

Mason calmly pulled his hand away, “I’m no good with writing and paper work either…”

“Lieutenant Colonel?”

Moritz had already fallen asleep.

“All of you?” Winters slammed the table, infuriated, “I’m going to find Bard!”

“Bard has enough on his plate, and he’s so far away—he can’t be bothered with Revodan.” Mason patted Winters on the shoulder, “You’d better do it yourself.”

…

Little Lion quickly got Winters’s offer.

“Little Lion, do you want a cast iron pot?” Winters pulled Little Lion’s hand eagerly, “I’ll add money, and I can also get you an iron stove!”

…

Baratz Yussas from Mont Blanc County also quickly got a response from Winters.

Clutching a saddle, Winters tearfully informed the upperclassman, “You’re right, without salt, it’s indeed hard to raise good horses. So, with a heavy heart, I ordered all the horses to be slaughtered. Take this saddle back for remembrance… oh no, for Colonel Gaisa to keep as a memento.”

…

A day later, the bald man who had been anxiously waiting on the East Bank of the Anya River finally saw the returning messenger.

“How are my horses?” Colonel Gaisa asked Baratz impatiently, “Does he agree or not?”

Baratz took out a saddle, with a cry and a laugh, “That kid spouted nonsense, but he just wouldn’t agree.”

“I tried to barter and negotiate with him, but he wouldn’t agree.” Gaisa was frustrated, “Does he want to force me to take them by force?”

“That’s not it either.” Baratz smacked his lips, “The kid asked if you had something else in mind to trade, tobacco, sugar beet, hemp oil, stock is limited, bulk orders preferred.”

Baratz added at the end, “Secret agreement.”