Chapter 687 Armistice Agreement
Wiping the sweat on his neck with a handkerchief, Gigannon, the trade representative of Thousand Valleys, once again led Slayda into this spacious and cool negotiation room.
The ice cubes frozen by the wizards in advance exuded a strong cold air, but this still failed to dispel the irritability in Slaida's heart.
When he saw Mitnich smiling and making coffee at the black wooden negotiation table, he became even more angry.
Two weeks have passed since he arrived at Sola Fort in late April, and it is already early May, but the armistice agreement between the two sides has still not been signed.
It's not that Slade didn't work hard, it's that the requirements of the Sacred Axis were too harsh.
"Oh, Mr. Gigannon, Mr. Slade." Mitny put down the copper coffee pot in his hand and showed his signature smile, "It's really hard to bother you two to come here in such a hot weather, why not drink two A cup of our Black Snake Bay’s specialty blue pulp coffee to refresh you?”
"No need." Slaida waved her hand and shook her head, "I'm not used to drinking this kind of thing... Do you have any wine?"
"Of course." Mitnich snapped his fingers and called the attendant outside the door, "Bring in a bottle of fruit wine and ask for it to be chilled."
As he spoke, he used a knife to cut off two ice cubes, threw them into the tilted earthenware cup, took a sip of the fruity coffee, and then smiled at Slaida: "Your Excellency Slaida, today It’s your deadline to report to the lord, how have you considered war reparations and ransoms?”
"We are willing to pay the ransom of 100,000 gold pounds in one lump sum, but is the compensation of 350,000 gold pounds a bit excessive?" Slaida spread his hands, "Mr. Mitnich, you also know that this war has already consumed a lot of money." With all the financial resources of Lilac Corridor, 350,000 gold pounds is really an unbearable burden.”
In fact, the total compensation of 450,000 gold pounds is really not a big deal for the Horn Lion.
Among the captured knights, there were about 2,000 who held knighthoods. According to the market price, the ransom was 50 gold pounds per knight. Horn wiped out a zero, which was directly 100,000 gold pounds.
At this point, the nobles in Lilac Corridor are still very happy, because they are indeed following the rules.
But the war compensation of 350,000 gold pounds was beyond the knights' expectations.
"You can earn hundreds of thousands of gold pounds from the spice trade every year, but now you tell me that you can't get 350,000 gold pounds?" Mitnich frowned and shook his head, "You have exploited Black Snake Bay for decades. I only ask you to pay this amount of money, just for the sake of His Highness the King’s face.”
"That's 350,000 gold pounds, which is almost equivalent to 10 tons of gold. Where can we find 10 tons of gold for you?" The veins on Slaida's forehead jumped. "The lord's family doesn't have that much gold left. .”
Mitnich lowered his head and gently stirred the coffee: "Isn't there still an alternative clause? Needless to say, you can also see how much concessions the Sacred Axis has made."
The so-called replacement clause is that the Thousand River Valley Fran Royal Trading Company, the Holy Scythe Monastery and the Witch Council established a joint spice company, and Lilac Corridor spent 20,000 gold pounds each year to purchase the company's shares for five years, but it did not have the right to operate.
Moreover, before the war reparations were paid, all its dividends were used for the development of the United Flavor Company.
If this is the case, then the remaining 250,000 gold pounds can be deducted by 50,000, and then paid off within five years at an annual interest of 5%.
In this way, in addition to paying 160,000 gold pounds in the first year, they will only have to pay 60,000 gold pounds in compensation every year, of which 100,000 gold pounds may be turned into money back.
"But your United Spice Company has a monopoly on sales and purchase. Our income will be greatly reduced. You also want to increase the wholesale price of spices. In this case, we would rather let these soldiers starve to death, die outside, or jump from the shore into the river." I will accept any of your conditions.”
Although they were defeated, Lilac Corridor did not completely get what they asked for in front of Horn, because they still had the French royal family standing behind them.
If the nobles in Lilac Corridor are forced to have no choice, then they can simply abandon their bottom line and completely fall to the king's side. Anyway, the monopoly privileges will be gone.
Then Horn's purpose of sharing trade risks through Lilac Corridor and Red Leaf Hill would not be achieved.
Even weakening them too much is not good, because it will also cause these nobles to have their power usurped by the French royal family.
Faced with the threat, Mitigny just looked at him calmly: "United Flavor Company is here to maintain market order, not to monopolize the market.
Otherwise, once the spice trade in Black Snake Bay is liberalized, local planters will sell pepper in large quantities, causing pepper prices to drop crazily. However, United Spice can control spice output and prices through the right of first refusal.
If the market order collapses due to spice selling, this is not what you want to see, right? ”
Slaida looked ugly: "Then we ask for a fixed share of spices every year." After thinking for a moment, Mitny nodded: "We can make concessions on this point. We can give 30% of the annual export volume at the average market price. , priority for sale to Lilac Corridor
As for the extra shares, they will be auctioned in Tiannv City in batches according to the plantations..."
After hearing this, Slaida's face improved a lot. Although she only had less than half of her original share, at least it was not completely lost.
And without those secret parties blocking the road, they can transport it by themselves and save a lot of money. Coupled with the auction of Tiannv City, it is still feasible to get about 50% of the share.
As for the lost 30%, it can only be said that the bet was lost. Although I knew that the monopoly on spices in Lilac Corridor would not last long, I did not expect that it would be taken over by the royal family so quickly.
As for the five-year compensation, in Slade's opinion, it is actually a maximum of two years, with a maximum compensation of 220,000 gold pounds. When the new king of Leia takes over next year or the next year, Thousand River Valley will be half disabled even if it is not dead.
If we take action at that time, maybe even Black Snake Bay can be swallowed.
"Okay..." Slaida breathed a sigh of relief, "We will send 100,000 gold pounds to Dragonfly Bay in exchange for 2,055 knights before the rainy season arrives."
"Great, we finally made some progress." Mitnich smiled broadly, walked to the door, took the wine bottle from the servant, and poured three glasses of non-alcoholic fruit wine, "Let's toast in advance to celebrate peace. How? ”
Under the quick writing of several clerks, a summary version of the Armistice Agreement of the Spice War was freshly prepared.
"First, Lilac Corridor and Black Snake Bay agreed to immediately stop the war, accept the mediation of the Holy Monarchy of Thousand River Valley and the French royal family, and declare to the outside world that they were not defeated.
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Second, grant the nobles of the Lilac Corridor a certain share of preemptive rights, but they must give up their monopoly rights.
Third, merchant ships departing from Dragonfly Port must not be hindered from entering the Lilac Corridor.
Fourth, Dragonfly Port is the only trading port from Lilac Corridor to Black Snake Bay. Trade is not allowed outside this place. Both sides regard it as smuggling.
Fifth, this year the spices will be sold and purchased by the Holy Hoe Monastery. Black Snake Bay will ensure that spice production will not suddenly increase or decrease significantly to avoid market chaos.
Sixth, Lilac Corridor needs to pay 100,000 gold pounds to redeem the captured extraordinary knights and soldiers.
Seventh, Lilac Corridor paid a total of 300,000 gold pounds in war compensation to Black Snake Bay to compensate for the losses, and paid the compensation in installments based on 20,000 gold pounds of stock and 40,000 gold pounds of war compensation per year, with annual interest set at 5%.
Eighth, Black Snake Bay is willing to accept exiles and refugees from Lilac Corridor. ”
After taking a sip of the alcohol-free fruit wine and looking at the armistice agreement that had been entangled for two weeks, Slaida had mixed feelings.
Although he has tried his best to obtain the best conditions for the Lilac Corridor, as far as the current Lilac Corridor is concerned, it only shed a little blood and is not considered a physical injury.
But as long as the great nobles above him don't agree, then his efforts will be in vain.
The biggest fear is not that the lions of Black Snake Bay are talking loudly, but that the stubborn men are unwilling to admit defeat, procrastinate, and do not make peace without fighting.
If one day he comes to this negotiation room for the second time, I'm afraid he won't have the conditions he has now.
"We will send the treaty to Orange County via clipper within five days." Gigannon picked up the armistice agreement and said cheerfully.
Anyway, he didn't lose anything. Within a year of taking office, he got 10% of the spice trade for free. Naturally, he was grinning almost to his ears.
"We will be able to give you a reply within one month at the earliest."
"No hurry, no hurry." Mitnich naturally sipped the fruit wine gracefully, "but let me remind you that the rainy season is coming, so it's best to hurry up."
(End of chapter)