Evil will not deceive you

"What are these people crazy about?"

Arthas was speechless as he looked at the letters from the nobles of Stormwind City. These letters contained many kinds of flattery and words of loyalty. Although they were not evidence of rebellion, they reached Varian's ears. , it can also make these people feel uncomfortable.

"You talk about business, do I have any business to do?"

Sitting on the edge of the field, watching the undead farmers continuously cultivating the fields, he was a little confused about the thoughts of these Stormwind nobles, and he didn't understand why they were suddenly so attentive to him.

Even if you seek refuge with him, you shouldn't write him a straightforward letter!

"There are a lot of troubles in Stormwind City. It is said that the remnants of the orcs are constantly attacking them, causing their nobles to suffer great losses. It may be to make up for their losses, and I want you to stay with His Majesty Terenas. Say something nice there.”

Kel'Thuzad on the side looked at these letters and gave Arthas a summary.

"But the prices they offer are really generous and very cheap."

"How cheap?"

Alsace took it in confusion, and then saw a number that made him unbelievable.

"Each kilogram of salt is ten coppers cheaper? And what happened to their hoes? Why are they so cheap after being transported by sea?! Have they discovered any huge salt mines there?"

His exclamation made the undead farmers in the field look over curiously, but they did not surround him because their prince often watched them work in the fields recently and ate from the same pot as the soldiers.

Such a good prince, they have nothing to doubt.

But for Alsace, this was a bit unacceptable. He had just talked with people from various chambers of commerce some time ago, and spent a lot of effort to negotiate the prices of various supplies. Even so, he knew I owe a lot of favors, and I will have to pay them back in the future.

But the goods given by the nobles of Stormwind City obviously need to be shipped by sea, but they are still cheaper than theirs!

"I don't know either. Logically speaking, our salt merchants should give the lowest price."

Kel'Thuzad didn't quite understand. Although he knew how to make salt, it was completely nonsense to ask a great mage to make salt all day long, so this matter still had to be done by ordinary people, and their labor force was just right for this kind of thing.

So he didn't understand why salt could be so cheap.

But at this moment, the friendly Lord Presto arrived, and beside him was his fiancée Calia.

Arthas was a little angry because Calia had obviously become haggard and sad, but he also knew that this was not Mr. Presto's fault, but the fault of those sycophants.

But what Presto said next made his blood pressure rise.

"Well, I took the liberty of visiting, Your Highness, but you probably won't mind my rudeness, because I brought news from Li Ke."

Just hearing this name, Arthas felt his head was a little confused, his cheeks were a little burning, and he had an uncontrollable urge to roar.

But he still endured it and extended his hand to Presto very rudely.

"show me."

Presto smiled awkwardly and handed the letter to Alsace's hand. Alsace looked at the thick envelope and couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

"Why is it so thick?"

He frowned and opened the envelope. What he saw was not expensive but elegant parchment, but sheets of white paper.

He looked through it and found that there was no greeting in it. Li Ke didn't even say hello to him. What was inside was only a price list.

The cost of the salt coming out of his factory, the wages of the workers, and the cost of transportation.

Then there is the price after the nobles purchased it, the shipping costs, then the customs duties to Southsea Town and the port in Lordaeron, and finally the selling price of the local nobles, and the price sold to him by the nobles of Stormwind City.

In addition, the prices of various cloths, various herbs and hoes are also included.

Not only does it include detailed prices, production techniques and procedures, it also includes labor costs and possible corruption.

But even with so many additional processes, when his goods came to Lordaeron from the hands of the Stormwind nobles, the prices were much lower than those of others.

Especially those pieces of cloth, each piece of cloth is cheaper by an average of five or six silver coins.

Arthas, who has been studying the economy these days, quickly calculated in his mind. If the people on this land had Li Ke's efficiency and ability, and the prices of Li Ke's goods, then the civilians in Lordaeron would live a better life. A good life without worrying about salt or clothes!

but……

The next drawing made Alsace's face darken.

Because this picture is the price process of Lordaeron.

From the factory to the sale, step by step, people in every link are exploited. When it finally reaches the hands of civilians, all they can get is salt mixed with sand and gravel.

And short of a pound,

Alsace was silent because what Li Ke said was true.

Facts are the most silencing things.

Alsace angrily slammed the drawing in his hand on the table, and couldn't help but cursed.

"Is he teaching me how to do things?!"

He was very angry, but he couldn't tell who he should be angry at, whether it was the corrupt nobles, his father's inaction, or -

Are you angry that you don’t have Li Ke’s ability to leave other people behind and work alone?

He knew very well that without the nobles, he alone would not be able to manage so many people. Although the nobles were loyal to him, these people undoubtedly had to consider their families.

Just like him, he also has to consider his family.

Everyone has selfish motives. He knew very well that the reason why his father reused Sir Uther was because the other party had no selfish motives.

But this……

What is this?

Why can Li Ke's people eat salt that is dozens of times cheaper than his people?

Why? !

Why can one of Li Ke's subjects earn enough to support a family of eight as long as he works an eight-hour job? !

Why?

Alsace completely understood Li Ke's drawings, but he became even more angry because of it.

He saw the ‘role’ of nobility:

Make goods extremely expensive and make people's income extremely low! Putting his kingdom in danger!

They are a bunch of moths!

But he still wants to use these moths to rule his kingdom!

He should be like a piece of wood, watching these moths burrowing in and out of his body!

"damn it!!"

He smashed the table with an angry fist, but he held the drawings Li Ke gave him tightly in his hands.

Li Ke did not give him half-finished technology, but gave him real technology.

But although what Li Ke showed him was true and comprehensive, there were still things that were not shown.

Li Ke didn't show him his——

cost.