Chapter 286 - Advantages Brought By Monopoly
The merchants were trembling in fear and panic.
It was no wonder that anyone would find a row of Sarrandian horsemen in fine chain armor and holding scimitars standing by the wall at the edge of the hall. Their hearts could not help but tremble.
But they had no choice. No one wanted to give up on this table salt trade. They could only brace themselves and bow to Kant.
“It’s a great pleasure to meet you, your Lordship!”
These merchants appeared extremely humble.
“Mm.”, Kant nodded. He did not even move from his seat. He accepted their bow calmly and said lightly, “All of you, sit down. There are many people here. Those without seats, stand.”
His established his identity.
As a baron, these humble merchants were not of the same noble class as him.
Even if they were not prepared and did not receive him, the group of merchants did not dare to say anything. Instead, they looked at each other and discussed in low voices, letting the merchants who had a high-ranking noble behind them sit down first.
The merchants were also classified also based on class and status.
As for the small merchants and ordinary merchants, they could only stand and watch with smiles on their faces.
However, there were only 30 people who could enter.
Apart from the 10 people who sat on both sides of the long table in the posthouse hall and smiled respectfully at Kant, the other 20 people stood at the end of the long table and listened quietly.
It was obvious that some people wanted to eat meat, while others wanted to drink soup. They had already discussed this when they entered the posthouse.
Kant saw this, but he didn’t care.
As long as he could sell his salt, it would be fine. He didn’t care who could buy it or sell it.
Rolf also stood behind the door.
Although he did not know much about business, he came to this hall to protect the Lord Kant’s safety and to prevent anything unusual from happening outside the posthouse. When the time came, he could also be in the middle of the operation so that he would let the cavalries on warhorses to react quickly. These cavalries were riding in guard secretly and waiting for orders.
He was a noble and a vicious bandit leader, so he had a deep understanding of the cunning of the noble and the merchants, as well as the lives of the bandits.
Better to be safe than sorry!
However, in the hall, Kant was relaxed, discussing the table salt trade with these merchants with a normal expression.
There was no need to talk too much nonsense, Kant, who had already taken the initiative, said directly, “I have 400 bags of refined white salt, each bag is 100 great silver coins, and can be supplied every week. I guarantee that after a month, the weekly supply will reach 1000 bags, I don’t know which one of you can eat it!”
“This…”, the merchants looked at each other and stared at each other. None of them could answer. They just stared at Kant and the familiar companions around them in a daze, looking a little stunned.
How could he reveal his trump cards so simply and rudely in a business trade.
But Kant looked at them with a slightly mocking smile on his lips.
He knocked on the table and said indifferently, “If any of you feel that it is unacceptable, you can leave this desert. If any of you feel that you can cooperate, then set the rules. 100 great silver coins per bag of table salt, neither high nor low.”
“Uh… this price…”
A businessman tentatively said, “If the production is too high, the Dukedom of Leo will not be able to digest it. Do you also want this price? I think maybe we can lower it…”
“Hehe.”, Kant laughed and did not hide his ridicule.
He looked at him and said indifferently, “It is 100 great silver coins per bag. If you feel that it is too expensive, you can leave. I know better than you how the table salt trade is like. All the creatures in the human countries and the wild tribes like these white and flowery goods. Buy them if you want, but if you don’t want it…”, he stretched out his hand and made a gesture. “There is no need to waste your breath in this posthouse.”
“This… this…”, the merchants were even more stunned.
Kant, on the other hand, was at ease.
This was the advantage of a monopoly. As the monopoly party, the rules were set by him.
No matter how harsh the rules were or how stingy he was, the advantage of a monopoly was always in his hands.
These merchants wanted to make money?
Then they had to pinch their noses and choose to follow Kant’s simple and overbearing rules!
However, Kant did give them a way out. In fact, the table salt trade of the human countries might be 200 great silver coins per bag, but if it was during the season of salt panic, 400 great silver coins would still be available.
After all, the trade caravan that transported salt to and from the Dwarf Kingdom also needed several months. The journey was not safe either.
If something unexpected happened and they were delayed for a month or two, the noble families and great merchants would have to spend a lot of money to purchase fine white salt if they wanted to hold a banquet. Especially the southern and eastern counties, which were prosperous due to trade, were generally extravagant and wasteful, every banquet would waste a whole sack of table salt, they were the big consumers of this type of table salt!
Currently, Kant only had 400 bags of table salt, which could at most be used by the Dukedom of Leo for less than half a month. After all, in order to kill time, the noble families held banquets every day.
In addition, there was the tradition of giving the elite troops table salt as an additional bonus, which increased the consumption of table salt.
Even 1,000 bags of table salt were nothing in the entire Dukedom of Leo.
If they were scattered in the human countries…
It would be even more pitifully scare!
Otherwise, there would not be endless trade caravans going to the Dwarf Kingdom, risking the dangers of the wilderness to carry out the table salt trade. It would be earned by a large amount of great silver coins!
Now, there was no need to risk their lives.
There was also no need to waste too much time, and they could easily obtain a large amount of refined white salt.
Hence, the monopoly of salt trade would bring Kant a huge profit!
“Your lordship! Our trade caravan is willing to cooperate! Willing to cooperate!”
“That’s right, your lordship, our trade caravan is also willing to listen to your arrangements!”
The merchants immediately reacted.
One by one, they stood up and bowed respectfully to Kant, each of them extremely deferential.
“These 400 bags of white salt are the goods for this trade. You can share them.”, Kant’s expression was still a little mocking, and there was no sign of shyness, he was still sitting in his seat and said calmly, “If you can use the golden eagle to trade, then use the golden eagle to trade. I am a person who is afraid of trouble. If you use the golden eagle to trade, you can pay it according to the price of the black market.”
“Thank you, your lordship, for your kindness!”
“Your lordship is really very kind!”
“Your lordship, your kindness has made us ashamed!”
The merchants were instantly overjoyed.
If they were to purchase table salt according to the price of the black market, the profit would be multiplied by several times!
They did not care what Kant wanted the golden eagle for. After all, it was a kind of currency. Although it was high-grade, they had brought quite a lot of it this time. Each trade caravan shared the expenses of the golden eagle, so they could completely swallow this batch of fine white salt!
However, while they were discussing, a desert bandit walked in quickly.
“Lord Kant, Lord Rolf.”
He first bowed, then reported solemnly, “We found an unfamiliar cavalry troop in the south. There are about 600 people. It seems… they are not friendly!”