Iron Powder and Spellcaster

The unexpected turn of events came from an unexpected person, that is Lord Blood Wolf's loyal subordinate (self-proclaimed), the most trusted assistant of the Lord of Tiefeng County and Warne County (exaggerated by others), Winters Monta Nirvana is the mouthpiece of Maplestone City's upper class society (this is not a lie), and the young man from out of town who is gradually beginning to be addressed as "Your Excellency" (it's absolutely true) - Little Priskin.

The little Pliskin who showed up at Winters' residence was originally there to use his weekly "right of audience."

I don’t know when, everyone around Mr. Montagne will bow to him intentionally or unintentionally.

And the less common people are in official business, the more aggressive they will be.

Take little Priskin, for example. If Winters didn't issue an order to stop him, he could come to "meet your Excellency" three times a day, wishing he could live under the nose of "Your Excellency", which would make Winters extremely annoyed.

So Winters simply gave an order to little Pliskin that unless there was an emergency, little Pliskin was only allowed to see him once every half month.

Later, at the request of little Pliskin, it was changed to once a week.

But Winters also gave a clear definition of "emergency": that is, as long as Winters thinks that Little Pliskin's matter is not urgent enough, it is not urgent enough;

If little Preskin showed up on the pretext of something less urgent, Winters would have Charles and Heinrich beat him up.

With these rules in place, little Pliskin is much more honest and doesn't run to Winters' house every once in a while like before.

The day after the Iron Peak County all-officer meeting was held, young Priskin came to Winters' home again to use his sacred and inviolable "right of audience."

Although he would definitely come every week, there was actually nothing major that little Priskin had to report to Winters personally.

He talked about the sales situation of various goods produced in Tiefeng County in Maple Stone City, and then stayed in Winters' living room as usual, talking here and there, unwilling to leave directly.

In the past, Winters would have evicted the guests himself.

But the situation today is special. Although the people who should leave are unwilling to leave, the people that Winters has been looking forward to finally come.

"Mr. Priskin." Anna walked out of the kitchen with a silver plate. With appropriate enthusiasm, she personally placed a cup and saucer for little Priskin and poured a drink from the cup into the saucer: "In Maple Stone City, anyone who can It’s great to have someone as trustworthy as you to help him.”

Little Priskin was flattered and hurriedly picked up the porcelain plate, but did not dare to drink directly, but kept glancing to the left.

To the left of little Priskin, on the largest soft bench in the living room, Winters crossed his arms, his face already darker than the bottom of the pot.

There are no servants in Winters' residence, and the only orderlies and guards are Charles and Heinrich - and they were all sent away today.

So when the "uninvited guests" came to visit, Anna took the initiative to take on the responsibility of entertaining the guests.

If Winters was the only one at home, little Priskin would not even be given a sip of water, not to mention the precious drink from the Far East, otherwise the guy would definitely be stuck for at least another half hour.

I saw that the male host showed no enthusiasm for hospitality. He just sat there with a livid face and said nothing.

After Anna arranged the cups, Tingting returned to Winters, sat down next to her lover, and calmly took her lover's arm.

"Drink." Winters finally said, "Drink more."

That's what he said, but his eyes clearly conveyed: "Get out of here, get out of here, get out of here..."

But little Priskin couldn't leave directly. He got advice from an expert today and came to solve the problem for Mr. Blood Wolf.

"I heard." Little Priskin held the plate and asked cautiously: "The country bumpkins in Wargne County are blind and don't see that your Montessori plow is good?"

"Oh? Has it all spread to Maple Stone City?" Winters was not angry anymore after someone poked his heart out. He picked up the cup and took a sip of the soup with the dregs. He smiled and said, "You don't have to sugarcoat it for me. , but no one cares about it.”

The blood wolf smiled, but little Priskin was even more frightened.

"He thinks it's too simple." Anna took the cup from Winters and filtered the liquid into the saucer while saying softly: "Of course every household needs a plow, but it's Because every home uses it, every home has it. Just like furniture, once you already have something in your home, even if it becomes outdated, you won’t easily replace it with a new one.”

There is a special appeal in the voice of "Madam" that makes people feel like a spring breeze and calm them unconsciously.

With "Mrs." by his side, little Priskin felt less nervous. It's not like what I did when I met alone in the past - my mind went blank, and when I walked out of the door, I remembered that I still had something to say.

"That's it." Little Priskin nodded gratefully, but plucked up his courage: "But it's more than that."

"Oh?" Anna showed a puzzled expression at the right time to keep the conversation going.

“Not only because the plow is a big piece and cannot be replaced easily, but also because as long as the plow is used, it needs to be sharpened and repaired.”

Little Priskin didn't dare to look directly at Madam's beautiful face, so he lowered his head and stared at the cup, stumbling and saying:

"So, farmers... local farmers buy plows from local blacksmiths, because they not only need plows, but also blacksmiths. Therefore, blacksmiths everywhere regard the plow business as an exclusive business. Your Excellency Selling plows like this is actually competing with blacksmiths from all over the country for business. Ordinary people buy your plow and take it to the local blacksmith shop when it needs to be repaired, but the blacksmith will not take care of it."

"So that's it." Anna smiled as if she suddenly understood. She turned her head and glanced at Winters - the latter moved his shoulders as if uncomfortable - then looked at little Priskin, and asked sincerely: "Since If you understand the reason, then you must also know the solution?"

Little Priskin was no longer reporting to the Blood Wolf, but talking to his wife, so the more he spoke, the more natural and fluent he said: "It depends on whether you want to make money or promote your plow."

"How do you promote the Montessori plow?" Winters finally became a little interested. He propped up his knees and leaned towards the little Priskin: "How do you make money?"

"It's easy to make money." Little Priskin subconsciously hid back, but with the encouragement from his wife, he mustered up the courage to continue: "Just package the plows and send them to plantations everywhere, and order them to buy them. . Plantations have money and need to replace their farm tools, so they won’t be particularly resistant. Plantations are self-sufficient and most have their own blacksmiths, and they won’t compete with private blacksmiths for business.”

"The most important thing is, Your Excellency." Little Priskin licked his lips: "A large plantation can cover half a village. It is sold once to a family and sold directly to them. It is more convenient than selling to small farmers. It’s a lot, it’s quick and hassle-free.”

Winters was noncommittal: “What if we want to promote the Montessori plow?”

"Then don't think about making money from small farmers. Just put the plows in the blacksmith shops in the villages and towns for consignment, and don't charge them for mortgage money. Anyway, you don't have to worry about anyone daring to default on your account. Many blacksmiths have already done it. I haven’t made plows for a long time. I always buy ready-made steel fortresses. If you give them a Montessori plow on consignment, they will make a profit without spending any capital, and the blacksmith will be very happy."

"The method you mentioned can win over blacksmiths from all over the country." Winters was not going to let little Priskin off easily, and asked to the point: "But even if we don't accept mortgage consignments, farmers don't want to change, and they don't have the money to buy new plows. , what should we do?”

Little Priskin replied with joy: "Then you have to be cruel and don't even need the principal. Depreciate it for new ones, collect old plows and sell new plows. Or more directly, lend money to the poor to buy plows and allow them to If you pay it back in kind, if you can't pay it back in one year, it will take two or three years..."

Speaking of excitement, little Priskin got a little carried away, and blurted out his true thoughts: "Anyway, those plows of yours will be stored in the warehouse. Aren't they just taking up space and getting moldy?!"

After saying this, little Priskin regretted it and wished he could slap himself twice on the spot.

To his surprise, the blood wolf was not furious or even angry. Instead, he nodded gently. Then, "Madam" covered her lips and laughed, and the blood wolf also laughed bitterly.

"If you believe me." Little Priskin felt relieved and volunteered: "You can leave this matter to me, and I guarantee that it will be handled beautifully for you."

Winters raised his eyebrows and looked at little Priskin in surprise.

Because little Priskin spent most of his time causing trouble for Winters, and even if he occasionally helped, it was a mixed success.

This was the first time for him to "take the initiative to share worries" like this, but it actually made Winters a little afraid to nod easily.

Winters looked at Anna questioningly.

Anna thought for a moment, looked back at Winters, and asked with a smile: "Since we are sending the goods for consignment, why just consign the plows? The factories in Gevaudan can already make a lot of things. For them, , having nowhere to sell has become a problem.”

"Gévaudin can produce a lot of iron." This time it was Winters' turn to be confused: "But are they all going to be sold on consignment?"

Little Priskin was also puzzled.

"You don't have to sell everything on consignment. Products that no one cares about can be sold on consignment. Of course, there is no need to do this with products that are eager to buy." Anna patiently explained: "The key is not what to sell, but the channel."

Anna thought for a while and made an analogy: "It's like a canal. You can use big boats or small boats, and you can transport wool or grain. Mom always said that the value is never the boat or the goods on the boat, but the goods on the boat. It's the 'canal' that carries them."

Little Priskin suddenly understood. He stood up suddenly and stammered and danced to explain to Mr. Blood Wolf: "I understand! Madam means...Madam means...to take Tiefeng County...no , all the blacksmith shops in the new land will become our branches!"

Winters said "Oh" and fell into a long test.

"In this case, it would not be appropriate for one person to come forward to do it." Anna continued eloquently: "Perhaps a franchised firm should be established in the name of the Tiefeng County Government or the New Land Government to do this specifically. Things. Industries such as the Forge Township Smelting Factory and the Jevaudan Iron Factory can also be included in this franchised firm. In this case, the business between each factory and the Tiefeng County Government will no longer be left-handed and right-handed. As a result, the accounts are unclear and the profits and losses are unclear.”

After saying that, Anna looked at Winters and asked softly: "What do you think? My dear."

"I..." Winters smiled bitterly: "I...I listen to you."

"In this case," Anna said softly, "it can also solve the headache you have been having."

With a clear understanding, Winters instantly understood what Anna meant.

From Wolf Town to Maplestone City, Winters lost a lot and built a lot. He not only established an army and a political power, but also established many industries that are continuously creating wealth.

From the vast farms scattered throughout Tiefeng County, to the iron-smelting blast furnaces that work day and night in the Forge Township, to the bustling ironworks workshops in the new city of Jevaudan, and even the wool business with the Red River Department...

Everything Winters had built with his own hands was so tightly bound to him that it was impossible to tell what was public and what was Winters-Montagne's.

Take the ironworks factory in Villeneuve-de-Gevaudin, for example. Except for Winters himself, I am afraid that no one—especially the Steel Castle immigrants sweating profusely in the ironworks factory—would doubt that the factory belongs to Winters-Montagne. property.

Some people around Winters even firmly believe that what belongs to the Blood Wolf belongs to the public, and what belongs to the public belongs to the Blood Wolf.

They instinctively resisted the distinction between "Winters' things" and "public property" and resolutely resisted any attempt to divide it.

Some leaders may like this situation and even deliberately promote it, viewing it as an excellent opportunity to make profits or even swallow the elephant.

However, Winters regarded it as a hidden danger and chronic disease, and expressed his worries to Anna more than once.

So when he heard Anna's words, Winters immediately realized his lover's subtext: If he wanted to solve this problem that had been bothering him for a long time, there was no better time than now.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so let's start with plows and nails." Winters made up his mind, stood up, and put his hand on little Priskin's shoulders: "Let me see You are more than capable of getting into trouble, so I can entrust you with greater responsibilities."

Little Priskin was overjoyed and so excited that he didn't know where to put his hands: "Then can I have a week in the future..."

"Once," Winters replied calmly.

Little Priskin instantly withered.

"But if you have anything important, you can come to see me at any time." Wen Tesla took Anna's hand and told little Priskin: "If you encounter any problems, you can also ask Madam for 'help'."

Hearing this, Anna was obviously more surprised than little Priskin.

But little Priskin was very clever and immediately replied: "I understand."

After saying that, he faced Ana Navarre and bowed deeply and respectfully.

Anna hesitated for a moment, then finally smiled with relief. After making eye contact with Winters, she nodded to little Priskin and said, "Then you'll have more work, Mr. Priskin."

Little Priskin no longer lingered, picked up his hat and was about to say goodbye and leave.

But the farewells had already been said, and one foot had already stepped out of the threshold. Until he saw the carriage parked far outside the block guard box, little Priskin found that he had forgotten one thing.

In fact, this matter that he almost forgot was his real reason for coming today.

So little Priskin turned around and went straight back, just in time to bump into Mr. Xue Lang who was putting away the cups and dishes.

Winters put down the silver plate awkwardly, coughed slightly, and asked, "Did you forget something?"

"It's not a thing, it's a person." Little Priskin wanted to poke his eyes out. He explained incoherently: "A person."

Winters frowned: "Did you bring outsiders in?"

"No, no, no!" Little Priskin shook his head like a windmill: "I know the rules, Your Excellency. I let him stay outside the guard."

Winters was relieved. To be honest, if he still lived alone, he wouldn't be afraid of anything. But now that Anna has also come to Maple Stone City, he has to be extremely careful.

Anna touched the back of Winters' hand to signal her lover not to be so sensitive. Then he picked up the silver plate and left the living room to the two of them.

"Who is he?" Winters sat down calmly.

"I don't know him either." Little Priskin answered honestly: "This man was sent by several city councilors from Maple City. It is said that it took a lot of effort to find him. They said that this man might be able to help You 'solve' Maple Leaf Castle."

"I just had a meeting yesterday." Winters sneered: "They sent people to me today? It seems that they are very well-informed."

Little Priskin lowered his head and did not dare to speak.

Winters raised his legs, leaned on the back of the chair, and asked, "Tell me, what's the 'solution'?"

"The man refused to tell me, saying that he would only tell me in front of you." Little Priskin said carefully: "He is outside now, and Roger Baldhead is watching him. You If you don’t want to see him, then I’ll drive him away?”

"Go to the apartment next door and invite Father Carman." Winters smiled: "Since the congressmen of Maplestone City gave me such a gift, how can I not ignore it?"

After receiving the order, little Priskin first went to the apartment next door, found Father Carman who was praying, and then quickly ran to the carriage parked on the street.

Roger, a man from Steel Castle with pale hair and a slim figure, was sitting in a car with another young man.

"You came out so early today?" Roger was quite surprised.

"You're in luck, Roger." Little Priskin ignored the strange young man, but breathlessly urged Roger: "Follow me quickly, and while my wife is at home, hurry up and see your Excellency. "

After catching his breath, little Priskin smiled unconsciously and added: "But the most important thing is to go and see Madam."

…

After a while, in front of the blood wolf, the strange young man finally spoke.

"Your Excellency, my name is Mercer Jack, and I am the apprentice of Master Figni." The strange young man introduced himself to his family without being humble or arrogant, and then suddenly his eyes turned red, and he bowed his head deeply and saluted: "I am willing to help you get Maple Leaf Castle back, but I still have Please let my mentor go."

[For a long time, the way of drinking tea in some places outside China was to brew tea in a cup, then pour the tea into a small saucer, let it cool before drinking...]

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