Chapter 151 Poor army headquarters
“This…..” Major MacConley’s mouth opened before he finally gave a long sigh. He said with a bitter smile, “Chairman Xu, this price…..it’s just too expensive…..”
“Expensive?” Xu Yi shook his head, “Major, I think that after you saw the blueprint, you should understand how powerful the Magic Trebuchet is. With this kind of power, do you think that the Magic Trebuchet would be cheap?”
“I know this, but…..” Major MacConley had a helpless smile, “This price is still too high. I won’t hide it from you, our logistics department’s yearly budget is no more than three hundred thousand gold coins and we use less than a hundred thousand one equipment. If it wasn’t because we made a weapon factory with your Frestech Chamber of Commerce, decreasing our costs by several times, I might not even be able to take out a single copper coin.”
Xu Yi couldn’t help shaking his head. The Lampuri Kingdom really was poor, their annual income was less than two million and the military expenses were only three hundred thousand, it really was pitiful. 𝒷ℯ𝓭𝓷ℴ𝓋𝓮𝓵.𝒸ℴ𝓶
It was already a stretch to maintain the army with this bit of money, it was no wonder major MacConley kept complaining when he saw him.
But sympathy was just sympathy, this price was one that Xu Yi wasn’t willing to bend by even a single copper coin.
“Major, although I also want to help you, the cost of the Magic Trebuchet is just too high. Not mentioning anything else, it takes over three tons of steel just to make a single Magic Trebuchet. As for this new kind of steel, our company is selling it at a hundred gold coins per ton. Other than the materials, the labour costs are also quite high and the most important part is the research cost. In order to develop this Magic Trebuchet, our Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s magicians, including Great Magician Camilla spent two whole months working on this, forgetting to eat, losing sleep, and even working overtime. You think…..that a thousand gold coins per unit is too high?”
“Indeed it’s not high.” Major MacConley nodded before giving a sigh, “But chairman Xu, the problem is that our army headquarters can’t take out that much money. There’s not much left in this year’s budget and our army headquarters being able to buy three units is already good enough.”
“If you want to buy, it doesn’t mean you have to spend gold coins…..” Xu Yi softly said.
Major MacConley looked at Xu Yi with a complicated gaze.
After thinking for a bit, he waved his hand, “Let’s not talk about this for now. Even if I want to buy it, let’s wait until your company makes the thing and see if it moves the hearts of the people above me. It’s still too early for us to discuss other things right now.”
Major MacConley didn’t plan on discussing it, so Xu Yi could only stop here.
Of course, other than this topic, Xu Yi hadn’t mentioned his other important goal. Seeing major MacConley carefully putting away the blueprint, Xu Yi directly reached out his hand.
“Major, I’ve already accomplished what I promised you, what about the people you promised?”
“Come with me.”
Major MacConley waved his hand to Xu Yi and brought him out of the office to the training field outside. He reached out to wave at a large man who had been standing there the whole time.
This large man jogged over and gave a clean military salute to major MacConley. He kept looking at major MacConley, not even sparing a glance for Xu Yi.
Seeing his strong figure, his straight back, and his resolute expression, along with the scars that he had, this should be a veteran with quite a bit of experience.
“Come, chairman Xu, let me introduce you. He is Hart, he is a veteran who retired this year. Since Hart joined the army, he has been someone who has been fighting with the Sack Kingdom bastards up north, so he has rich fighting experience. The most important thing is that he used to be an instructor with the northern army and he has a group of brothers under him. He is definitely the most suited person if you’re looking for a guard leader for your company.” Major MacConley pointed at the large man as he gave his introduction.
Hearing major MacConley say this, Hart turned to look at Xu Yi.
The two locked gazes and Xu Yi felt his scalp itch. There was a killing intent that came over him and instantly covered his body in goosebumps.
Xu Yi narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath, calming himself down before facing Hart straight on.
Hart’s eyes were bright and seeing that Xu Yi didn’t evade his gaze, he seemed to be a bit surprised. There was a smile of praise that flashed on his face.
“You are the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s chairman Xu?” Hart took the initiative to reach out his hand, “You seem much better than I imagined.”
Xu Yi reached out his hand to take his hand and asked with a smile, “What kind of person am I in your imagination?”
“In my imagination, merchants are all trash with money in their eyes!” Hart said without any courtesy, “If it wasn’t the major who came looking for me and promised that chairman Xu is different from other merchants, I wouldn’t have come to see you.”
Major MacConley said with an awkward smile, “Chairman Xu, Hart has this kind of personality, but don’t mind him.”
Xu Yi laughed, “It’s fine, I like this kind of frank person. For a soldier like Hart, if he can be the leader of my company’s guards, I believe that no one will dare offend my company.”
Since Xu Yi and Hart were both satisfied, this first meeting was considered a success.
With major MacConley as a witness, Xu Yi and Hart signed a contract to hire Hart as the leader of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s guards.
Other than Hart, major MacConley had also recruited two hundred retired veterans who were on the same level as Hart.
These veterans were elite soldiers who had fought many battles, becoming the biggest targets for the Lampuri Kingdom’s companies after retiring.
If he didn’t have a connection through major MacConley, if Xu Yi wanted to recruit two hundred veterans like this, it was not something possible.
Of course, compared to the current cooperation between the army headquarters and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, this request was just a small price that the army headquarters paid,
After this matter was taken care of, Xu Yi left the army headquarters and went to see Marquis Jole.
When he came to Anvilmar City last year, Xu Yi and Marquis Jole had discussed the matter of mining non-ferrous metals in the Lampuri Kingdom.
Now that several months had passed, the preparations for both sides had been finished and they had explored a non-ferrous metal vein outside Cramer City with the Norma Tribe dwarves, so they decided to start mining it.
According to the previous agreement between the two, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce and the Jole Family would be setting up a steel mill together near Cramer City.
Now that they had discovered this non-ferrous metal vein, Xu Yi directly expanded this steel mill to be able to make all the steel needed for the army’s equipment, while also being able to use the non-ferrous metals.
Like this, the size of this steel mill in the beginning could even match the steel mill at the Falling Rain Valley.
Even for the Jole Family, this steel mill opening had a very important significance. So when Xu Yi came for a visit, Marquis Jole was very sincere in his treatment.
The discussions between the two went very smoothly.
Marquis Jole didn’t reveal much of his intentions, but for an important person of the Lampuri Kingdom like him, as long as he didn’t show an opposition, it meant that he supported this in his heart.
Xu Yi didn’t expect him to bargain with him like chairman Morgan did, just being able to understand his basic intentions had already accomplished his goal.
The only surprise was that when Xu Yi was planning to leave the Jole Manor, he bumped into Vincent who came home.
The instant he saw Xu Yi, Vincent’s face became very splendid.
Last time he had been scolded by his father in front of Xu Yi and was forced to apologize to him, even though Vincent’s heart was filled with unwillingness and rage, he knew that Xu Yi was not someone he could match. No matter how much he envied and hated Xu Yi, he didn’t dare do anything in front of him.
So Vincent only glared at Xu Yi before walking past him like he hadn’t seen him at all.
Xu Yi naturally wouldn’t argue with this kind of fellow, he just smiled as he left the manor.
For his trip to Anvilmar City this time, Xu Yi was only staying for three days. After meeting major MacConley and Marquis Jole, he also went to meet Great Magician Eisenkel.
Other than his important deal with major MacConley, as well as checking in on his previous deals with Marquis Jole and Great Magician Eisenkel, so he had to come meet them since he was in Anvilmar City.
Xu Yi also wanted to meet her highness Seveni. He could only ask the king, but he was told that her highness was inspecting the northern border and it was unknown when she would be back.
In short, other than Xu Yi coming to Anvilmar City to solve his biggest problem of taking care of the company guards, he didn’t accomplish much else.
But based on the response from major MacConley, Xu Yi was certain that as long as the Frestech Chamber of Commerce produced the Magic Trebuchet and showed the brass of the army headquarters the power of the Magic Trebuchet, this thing would definitely be sold.
Although Xu Yi had told the truth about how high the cost of the Magic Trebuchet was, he had exaggerated it a bit still.
According to the data, after adding in the cost of research, a single Magic Trebuchet should cost around six to seven hundred gold coins.
The research cost only existed before it was mass produced. Once this was developed, they could quickly produce large amounts and the research cost wouldn’t be a large percentage anymore.
According to this, as long as the Frestech Chamber of Commerce sold a Magic Trebuchet, they could earn a large profit of two to three hundred gold coins.
The only hindrance was that the army headquarters didn’t have money…..
But to Xu Yik, this wasn’t that big of a problem.
Money, it wasn’t like Xu Yi and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce lacked that.
Comparatively, the things that couldn’t be bought with money were more important.
Chapter 152 Object of union
In the same season, the scenery in different places were completely different.
In early February, the Stantine Duchy was covered in green with warm sunshine and soft breezes, and although it was no longer snowing in Banta City, it was still cold.
But in the northern border of the Lampuri Kingdom, the sky was filled with snow and it was still ice cold winter.
On a day that had heavy snow, Seveni was meeting Viscount Leslie in a northern army guard house watching the border.
When she first saw Viscount Leslie, Seveni almost couldn’t recognize him.
Whether it was compared to when she met him back in Anvilmar City or after when she met him in Banta City, Viscount Leslie seemed completely different.
The current Viscount Leslie had an unruly stubble and his face was much darker, being no different from the men that Seveni had seen on her inspection of the northern army. He didn’t have the same natural charm of a noble young master from before.
“Viscount Leslie, it seems like your days here are quite hard.” Seveni couldn’t help saying.
Viscount Leslie revealed a faint smile.
Compared to before, the only thing that didn’t change was his smile.
Although he seemed much rougher, once he revealed a smile, he had the same unique and calm feeling of a noble young master from before.
“It wasn’t that hard, my life here is just the life of a normal soldier. Moreover, I received special treatment in the end and comparatively, my situation is much better than most of the other brothers in the army.”
Seveni fell silent and only gave a sigh after a while.
“Actually my royal father and I both know that the condition for soldiers in the army is bad and needs to be improved, but you should know how bad the kingdom’s finances are right now. Even if royal father is anxious, he can’t take out any money to change this situation right now.”
“I’m very clear on this, so I wasn’t complaining for my brothers, rather I was just stating a fact.” Viscount Leslie said with a serious look, “Your highness, I have to tell you, the situation of the north is very grim. Before winter began, the Sack Kingdom’s brats launched a fierce assault and they haven’t stopped even now. The northern army has been fighting with all their might for this long and has already been seriously damaged. If it wasn’t for the army headquarters sending large amounts of equipment, we wouldn’t have been able to hold on.”
After saying this, Viscount Leslie paused and his expression became a bit strange.
“Your highness, I’ve always had a question. Since the army headquarters didn’t have enough money, what conditions did it give to satisfy that greedy fellow Xu Yi?”
Hearing the name “Xu Yi”, Seveni revealed a sincere smile and said while shaking her head, “Chairman Xu isn’t a greedy person. He has always said to me that he wants to develop the magic machine industry, so he needs a stable environment. The environment of the Lampuri Kingdom is not ideal, so he needs to support the kingdom until it is stable and strong. This time the Frestech Chamber of Commerce worked with the army headquarters to make a weapons factory and he paid quite a bit, never asking for anything in return.”
“No, I understand him, it is impossible for him not to ask for anything in return. Only the things he wants you can’t give right now, so it’s just a debt right now. When he asks for those things in the future, I feel you won’t be able to afford it.”
“I don’t agree.” Seveni shook her head, “Actually I’ve had more contact with him compared to you, so I understand him better than you. Although he keeps emphasizing that he is a merchant who regards his own benefit as the most important thing, the benefits that he wants are different from other merchants. The most important thing for other merchants is how to obtain gold coins, but the most important thing for Xu Yi is returns that are greater than other merchants and other people can imagine. Even if he wants me to repay them in the future, I think I would be willing to accept it.”
Viscount Leslie looked at Seveni’s determined gaze with a bit of surprise. After thinking for a bit, he suddenly asked, “What if he asks for you?”
Seveni was stunned before she knit her brows, “You mean having me marry him? No, that is impossible. Xu Yi has a deep love with Still and he doesn’t give anyone else a chance, so it is impossible for him to request this.”
“That is not certain.” Viscount Leslie slowly shook his head, “Your highness, if you succeed the throne and become our Lampuri Kingdom’s queen, if Xu Yi marries you, he will have the most powerful backing in this kingdom. Like this, it would be of great help in accomplishing his ideas. If he really is a merchant, this deal is something he can accept.”
“I’ve already said it, Xu Yi is not like the other greedy merchants.” Seveni looked at Viscount Leslie with a serious gaze and said, “Viscount Leslie, Xu Yi has always told me that you helped him the most when the Frestech Chamber of Commerce was established and you understood his thoughts the best, so he always treated you as a friend. Since you are his friend, I hope that you won’t slander him like this.”
Viscount Leslie revealed a faint smile, “This isn’t slandering, this is just a rational guess. Other than that…..your highness, you didn’t deny the possibility of marrying him, right? Could it be that you also have this intention?”
A blush covered Seveni’s face. She immediately calmed down and calmly looked at Viscount Leslie as she asked back, “Are you seriously asking this question?”
Viscount Leslie nodded, “I am serious. Since Xu Yi treats me as his friend, then as his friend, I should help him clarify this very important question.”
Seveni looked at Viscount Leslie for a while before letting out a sigh. She replied with a calm look, “Then I’ll answer you, yes. Although according to royal father’s ideas, he hopes that I can marry the heir of a large noble to strengthen the royal family. Among the people chosen, the number one candidate considered by royla father is you, Viscount Leslie.”
Viscount Leslie revealed a faint smile, “That is my honour.”
“But I don’t agree to royal father’s ideas.” Seveni shook her head, “Of the nobles of the kingdom, including your Stagg Family, each family has their own ideas. They wouldn’t really just support the royal family because their heir married me, isn’t that right? Viscount Leslie?”
“Very correct.” Viscount Leslie gave soft applause to show his praise, “Your highness, I have to say, you really have thought this through. The large nobles have their own family, so the highest priority is their family’s interests. Even for the royal family, they are just the strongest noble family in the kingdom. If your highness married someone, it would just be a symbolic marriage and wouldn’t really mean anything. For two families to truly work together, it would forever depend on the common interests of those families.”
“So that means my marriage cannot decide anything. So compared to marrying the heir of a great noble, it is better to marry a normal person who is more important to me.”
“For example, Xu Yi?” Viscount Leslie immediately asked.
Seveni couldn’t help closing her eyes and taking a breath. Only then did she open her eyes and calmly give a nod.
“Yes. Although Xu Yi is only a baron right now and there isn’t anyone who is treating him as a noble, with his status being around the same as a normal person, his Frestech Chamber of Commerce isn’t normal at all. I can even guarantee that if the Frestech Chamber of Commerce can steadily develop like this, it might really change the Sines Continent like he said.”
“I also firmly believe in this.” Viscount Leslie nodded in approval.
“If I could marry him and let the royal family use the power of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, it would be more helpful to the royal family than any other family. Compared to everything, this is the better choice.”
Viscount Leslie thought for a bit before giving a nod, “Your highness, your analysis is very correct. But I feel that you have neglected a large issue. You marrying Xu Yi would greatly help the royal family, but have you considered your own feelings? Are you…..willing to marry Xu Yi?”
Hearing this question, Seveni couldn’t keep the same calm look on her face and she couldn’t stop a blush coming over it.
After a while, she said with a nod, “I think…..I’m willing. Xu Yi is a charming person with a calm and powerful aura. I’ve known him for a long time and as long as he was beside me, I felt very relaxed. I would be affected by his strong confidence and feel confident about the future. I believe that if I could marry him, I would be much happier than now.”
Viscount Leslie had only casually asked this, but he never thought that Seveni would agree to him. He couldn’t help looking at Seveni in a daze with a complicated expression on his face.
The two were silent for a bit before Viscount Leslie gave a sigh and shook his head with a bitter smile, “Your highness, I’m suddenly filled with sympathy for you. With your identity, it is definitely impossible to find someone who can match you and is approved by you, but now Xu Yi has suddenly appeared. If you’re really willing, I think it is very likely that you can snatch him up, but I know that you’re not willing to snatch him from young miss Still, right?”
Seveni gave a sigh and shook her head. She looked at the snow outside the window and thought in silence for a bit before turning back to Viscount Leslie.
“Every person has something that they’re not willing to change and Xu Yi wouldn’t change his feelings for young miss Still because of me. It’s like how you went against the benefits of your company and insisted on giving back the stocks to Xu Yi, isn’t that right?”
Viscount Leslie revealed another bitter smile, “That’s very correct, so I was exiled to this bitter cold land by the family. Seeing the snow in the mind reminds me of my peaceful life back in the city.”
Seveni revealed a faint smile, “This is also a kind of life experience, right? When you return to Anvilmar City or Banta City, I think that the noble young ladies will definitely want to hear about your thrilling life here.”
Viscount Leslie gave a shrug, “I can’t guarantee that. When I leave here, I might not even have the same handsome face.”
Seveni and Viscount Leslie looked at each other and couldn’t help breaking out in laughter.
The laughter drifted on the endless snow and wind, spreading out all around them.