Novel Full Chapter 165: Return of the Natural Salt Mine
Manid came from a noble family of merchants in Nord’s mainland.
As a member of the wealthy class, he had naturally studied the noble etiquette. After all, his elegant speech and vast knowledge could help these merchants win the trust of unfamiliar nobles and business partners.
Thus, Manid paid more attention to etiquette.
He could maintain his elegant posture while swallowing down his food.
After filling his stomach, he exhaled in satisfaction. However, looking at the lord who was waiting for him to finish his food, he immediately picked up a towel and wiped the corner of his mouth. He said with an apologetic tone, “If I have offended you, please forgive me for my rudeness.”
“No,” Kant replied with a smile. “You did well.”
“Thank you very much.”Manid was relieved.
The peasant woman next to him walked over and quickly cleaned up the empty wooden bowls and plates on the table. At the same time, she wiped the table clean with a wet towel and a dry towel, making the long table clean again. There was no trace of oil or food residue.
Next was the time when Kant and Manid talked.
This was business.
After chatting for a while, the topic of their conversation also turned to natural salt mines.
Manid, who had just returned, reported first, “On this trip to the salt mines, 30 one-humped camels brought back a total of 180 bags of crude salt. After our processing and refining, we will get 120 bags of the purest refined white salt.”
“Well, 120 bags of white salt.”, Kant nodded and smiled with satisfaction. “Not bad.”
Just simply looked at this world.
From the Oasis Lookout to the natural salt mine, the round trip cost was less than two great silver coins.
Even if the salt was processed and purified, and then transported to the Stone Pass where Baron Dylan was located, with the cavalry acting as the guards of the trade caravan to escort it, the total costs would not exceed 10 great silver coins.
And according to the contract with Baron Dylan, he would receive 50 great silver coins for each bag of white salt.
120 bags of white salt would be 6,000 great silver coins.
It was an extremely terrifying number.
It was also an extremely terrifying profit.
In Kant’s hands, the natural coarse salt, which was originally in the alkali soil deep in the desert, was equivalent to a free gift. After a little processing and purification, its value had increased by hundreds or thousands of times. The word ‘terrifying’ was extremely appropriate!
“Make preparations today.”
Kant opened his mouth and pondered for a moment. Then, he instructed Manid, “Tomorrow, we will set off for the Stone Pass.”
“Understood.”, Manid nodded.
This was a planned arrangement. He would know when he went to the natural salt mine.
The profit from this white salt was extremely huge.
To be able to have such a huge profit, it could not be separated from the shiny and cute valuable great silver coin. Otherwise, if these salt was simply saw as condiments and luxury goods, it could only be considered a little thing that could stimulate the tongue that was would circulate in the noble’s kitchen at most. It was not a valuable precious item that could move anyone’s heart!
At the very least, from the perspective of Baron Dylan from Stone Pass, he already tasted this profit that he could not refuse. It was obviously impossible for him to directly reject all of Kant’s requests.
He bought it at the price of 50 great silver coins per bag and sold it for 300 great silver coins.
He roughly earned a profit of 250 great silver coins.
If he excluded the commerce’s own operating costs, the expenses for the many lords, and the payment to some local bandits, the net profit of 150 great silver coins per bag of white salt would reach Baron Dylan in the end!
For the northern county of the Dukedom of Leo, which already had a harsh environment, the desertification of Stone Pass was extremely severed.
Several arcs of barren field, no matter how hard the serfs and farmers worked for a whole year, they would not be able to earn 50 great silver coins!
If this place was really rich and the land was fertile.
He would not had the chance to be in charge, he was a noble warrior with a sensitive identity after all.
Kant was certain.
The cooperation between the two sides would become closer and closer.
Before they completely fell out with each other, Baron Dylan would be easy to talk to and protect Kant to the death. He would guard his Stone Pass, and control the most important and the only passage in the Senwaya Range. He would completely monopolize the table salt trade with huge profits in his hands.
No one would give up such a huge and endless amount of long-term profits. Even if the two sides had a blood feud for generations, they were still able to fake a smile and sat down to negotiate while secretly stabbing each other.
Moreover, Kant and Baron Dylan did not have any enmity to begin with.
In a short period of time, with the support of such a huge amount of profits, the relationship between the two sides could only get better and better. And it would not get worse and worse.
Kant had been a person for two lifetimes. In this life, he was still a noble. He had seen many honeymoon periods with entanglement of profits. Or rather, Baron Dylan already treated Kant’s Oasis Lookout and the natural salt mines as his own family property. As long as his strength grew stronger, he would be able to take over Kant’s property after certain “accident”.
It was a popular trick among the noble families, carrying the naked killing intent and greed. Even the fake smile on his face could not cover up the fragile balance line during this honeymoon period.
But the honeymoon period had not passed.
There was no need to worry about the two sides falling out. After all, if Baron Dylan wanted to develop to the point where he could conquer the Oasis Lookout, Kant’s troops would have destroyed the Dukedom of Leo before that.
With the system’s blessing, Kant was not afraid of fighting for his future!
Miscellaneous matters were finished for today.
The salt workshop also lit up firewood and began to boil salt. Using the Sarrandian method to purify it, they obtained the most expensive refined white salt. In one night, they could complete it all.
For this, Manid also arranged for 20 peasant women and 10 citizens to be in charge.
These townsfolks who came from the cities were obviously much smarter than the peasants who came from the countryside as refugees. Moreover, they all knew how to read and write, so they were qualified technical talents.
Night fell.
Oasis Lookout was sprinkled with soft muslin.
However, in the crafts area, the sugar workshop and the salt workshop were still busy.
The sweet smell of sugar and the sour smell of salt brine mixed together, and the smell was quite strange.
Anyone who walked past here were subconsciously cover their mouth and nose.
The doors and windows of the houses near the residential area were tightly closed, and the gaps were even clogged with linen. They were afraid that these two different smells would drift into the rooms, disturb their sleep, and affect their work tomorrow.
A lot of houses in the residential area had been built now.
During these three weeks, the Oasis Lookout had been greatly built.
As a house that could live and attract people, 50 houses were not enough to accommodate thousands of civilians.
So while Kant was building barracks, weapons workshops, and cells, he built 150 houses, and completely filled the residential area inside the city wall, forming five main streets and more alleys.
The 200 houses could accommodate 2,000 people.
If all of them were converted into overcrowded bunk beds, even 5,000 people could sleep.
Of course, Kant did not have to worry at the moment.
Now that there were enough houses, five people could be allocated one house, and there were additional public living rooms and toilets for people to use. Even if they got married and had a wife and children, five rooms in a house and 15 people living in it would not be a problem.
Good planning in advance could often be beneficial for the subsequent development.
Council hall.
With Kant as the leader, Firentis, Manid, and James were having dinner together. At the same time, they were chatting about some topics, telling jokes to each other, as well as the secret things that they heard. The atmosphere seemed to be harmonious.
There was no oppressive atmosphere at all.
And the food was also very fragrant, sweet, and delicious, which made people’s appetite soar.
Until the end of the dinner.
“Burp…”he burped lightly.
Kant wiped the grease at the corner of his mouth with a napkin in satisfaction and said with a smile, “The chef’s skills have been strengthened. This fried lamb chop tastes very good, especially the honey and date palm, as well as the sweet and spicy sauce made with spices. I like it very much.”
“It comes from the skills of the citizens.”
Manid answered with a smile, “Among them, there are tailors, blacksmiths, and chefs.”
“They are much better than ordinary peasants.”, Firenstis nodded and praised. “I have to admit that technical work is more suitable for the citizens to sit up, while peasant work is more suitable for the farmland.”
James was older and more mature. He did not speak, but he nodded in agreement.
Kant also understood this point.
Just like the continent of Caradia, the development of handicrafts was often driven by the citizens.
As for the peasant, they were mostly in charge of agriculture in the countryside.
These literate citizens had their own specialized professions. When they received technical instruction, they could often accept it quickly and complete the task perfectly. Just like now, the sugar and salt workshops were taken over by these immigrant citizens.
The peasants were in charge of the agricultural area and the animal husbandry area.
“Tomorrow, Manid and I will head to the Rock Pass. We will be back at the end of the month.”
Kant opened his mouth and brought the topic back.
Looking at Firentis and James, his commander and doctor said, “When the two of us leave, you will be in charge of the Oasis Lookout. If there are any problems, it is best to handle them carefully.”
“Understood.”, the two nodded.
The four of them talked about the work arrangements that they were going to do next.
“That’s it.”, Kant turned his head and saw that the sky had completely darkened, so he walked towards the stairs.
He needed a good rest tonight.
They would set off at dawn tomorrow morning. After at least three days of trekking, they would arrive at the Stone Pass.
This journey was not short.
“The dinner was delicious.”, Manid also left, but he did not go to sleep. Instead, he inspected the salt workshop and sugar workshop to ensure that there were no problems before returning to his room on the second floor of the council hall to sleep.
They weren’t going to the pass to travel.
They were going to trade.
As the fully-authorized merchant of Oasis Lookout, Manid naturally couldn’t be careless.
At the same time, he was already calculating in his heart what he should buy when he arrived at the Stone Pass to meet Baron Dylan and his trade caravan to to ensure the replenishment of supplies for Oasis Lookout.
Although he was a merchant, he was Kant’s subordinate.
Everything had to be done for sake of Drondheim.