Chapter 1099: 381: Hongmen, Seizing the Opportunity to Showcase, Allies and the New Nine Towns, Dominant Great Xia, Showing Disrespect to Kindness
Chapter 1099: Chapter 381: Hongmen, Seizing the Opportunity to Showcase, Allies and the New Nine Towns, Dominant Great Xia, Showing Disrespect to Kindness
The Alchemy Pavilion and Artifact Refining Pavilion now both have identification functions. Whenever new materials are sent to Xia City, Mu Dong promptly leads the Craftsmen Department in researching their use. In such circumstances, Great Xia is almost constantly bursting with new creations, with productivity surging alongside territorial exploration and expansion.
The Nine Towns have been established at the South Slope of Moao Mountain for basically over a hundred years, yet their productivity still lags behind the rising Great Xia which has existed for less than ten years. This evidently shows how terrifying the camp system’s assistance to Great Xia is.
If Great Xia’s productivity surpasses that of the Nine Towns, then Great Xia can accomplish many things.
The most crucial one is naturally trade.
A banquet tonight invites the Eight Town Lords with the primary purpose of making Great Xia fully visible to everyone on the southern slope of Moao Mountain, while also serving as Xia Hong’s deliberate display of Great Xia’s productivity.
The two items brought out today are considered the most iconic. As long as the Eight Town Lords aren’t fools, they will try every method to purchase them from Great Xia.
Moreover, what they want from Great Xia is far more than just these two things.
Possessing advanced production, utilizing trade to capture the Nine Towns’ resources, this is the true purpose of Xia Hong hosting the banquet tonight.
Thoughts ran rampant in Xia Hong’s mind as he observed the astonished expressions on the faces of the Eight Town Lords, his spirits gradually growing excited.
However, the most excited person tonight was not Xia Hong, but Qiu Peng, standing behind him as the Camp Supply Department Director.
Qiu Peng was the first to discern Xia Hong’s intention of hosting a banquet for the Eight Town Lords.
If faced with a rival that cannot be easily overwhelmed by strength, and their territory can’t be seized in the short term, then advanced production can be utilized, through unequal trade, to indirectly make other camps provide resources for Great Xia!
Qiu Peng’s mind suddenly recalled a discussion from seven years ago, when Great Xia expanded to the Five Ape Mountain territory, between him and Xia Chuan. The description of this scenario fits perfectly for Great Xia and the Eight Towns now.
As the Camp Supply Department Director, all future trades with the Eight Towns will undoubtedly be his responsibility. In his eyes, the expressions of the Eight Town Lords after tasting the delicacies implied that in the future, silver and various precious materials would continuously flow into Xia City. How could he not be excited as the one who oversees the camp’s finances?
Of course, Qiu Peng’s excitement was brimming, but in this occasion, he dared not show it at all, merely maintaining a calm demeanor while watching Xia Hong, continuing to introduce the wines to the Eight Town Lords.
“Gentlemen, do try these three bottles of summer wine: the red bottle is Phoenix Yang Drunk; the blue one is Jade Dragon’s Saliva; the name of the yellow bottle is most intriguing, called Overturned Ferocious Tiger…”
After Xia Hong finished speaking, he paused. Seeing everyone opening the bottles, each revealing a look of intoxication, he continued with a smile: “I have long heard of the Monkey Alcohol from Beishuo and the Ape Fragrance Liquid from Jin Mountain, but alas, I have yet to taste them. Please, gentlemen, first savor our Great Xia’s three types of wine and see if they can compare to Monkey Alcohol and Ape Fragrance Liquid.”
As he finished speaking, the Eight Town Lords raised their glasses and began to taste the three kinds of summer wine.
For the Eight Town Lords, who have long engaged in battles with Cold Beast and Deceitful Monster, bracing the wind and rain, the allure of fine wine is far greater than gourmet food.
As the Eight Town Lords opened the wine bottles, the people behind them immediately sniffed and their eyes lit up as they stared at the bottles.
“Tsk…”
The least burdened Xiahou Zhang’s eyes brightened sharply after drinking, his face full of enjoyment and intoxication. Even after swallowing the wine, he continued to smack his lips with relish.
He poured a glass each of the three types of wine in front of him, savoring all three, then closed his eyes for a long moment before opening them, bowing to Xia Hong in admiration: “I never thought such fine wine existed in the world. Xiahou Zhang has lived in vain for nearly a century, and thanks to Lord Xia Hong, Xiahou Zhang is deeply grateful!”
“This wine’s effects are similar to Monkey Alcohol and Ape Fragrance Liquid, but it tastes much better than either, simply delectable.”
“Great Xia can produce such marvelous wine!”
“I’m afraid that’s not all. Didn’t Lord Xia Hong just mention these are merely three of numerous types he has brought out?”
“Excellent wine.”
“Indeed remarkable.”
“This wine surpasses Monkey Alcohol and Ape Fragrance Liquid!”
……….
The Eight Town Lords’ reactions clearly demonstrated the situation.
Not to mention Xiahou Zhang and Murong Chui, who couldn’t praise the wine enough; Cao Qianyang and Long Mingyuan generously offered words of praise; Yang Zhun and Shangguan Yang’s expressions weren’t pleasant, yet still remarked the wine as good and decent; Qin Feng directly stated it was superior to Monkey Alcohol and Ape Fragrance Liquid;
Even Duan Hong, who had the hardest expression, remained silent after drinking.
“Haha, it seems the Eight Towns appreciate fine wine. Not to hide from you all, I have been a lifelong lover of wine. I presumptuously toast you all a cup as a gesture for Great Xia stepping out of Xing River North Bank, formally establishing ties with the Eight Towns. Would the lords grant me this small courtesy?”
Xia Hong already raised his glass, but upon his words, six town lords immediately set their glasses down quietly.
“Thanks to Lord Xia Hong’s hospitality, Murong Chui leads a toast as a sign of respect!”
Murong Chui, although the first to raise his glass and speak, was not the first to drink. Xiahou Zhang to his right said nothing and directly raised his glass, drinking it down in one go.
The other six town lords saw the two men’s actions, and their expressions turned a shade grimmer.
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