Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 383 Vortex (IX)

"Every respectable gentleman present knows the city better than I do. For a long time, Steel Castle's large iron deals are all behind closed doors. Based on a long-term good trust relationship, the buyer and the seller only need a simple verbal commitment. An agreement can be made.”

  Anna paused for a while, smiled, and bowed to [Iron Hand] and old Schmidt respectively: "It's the same with Piedmont and Veneta."

  The forge masters were puzzled and shocked, as if they had been hit in the head by surprise, and they all subconsciously listened to it with a hold of their breath. No one knows what the little baron is doing to actually launch a woman in charge?

   However, all the workshop owners had to admit that although the baroness spoke quietly, she had a calm and unhurried force, and she was too beautiful to look directly at her.

   "But the Granach family does not have such a valuable trust relationship in Steel Castle." Anna continued: "So we hope to be able to complete the transaction in a more open, fair and simple way."

   After saying that, Anna nodded. The two guards were ordered, and each carried a stack of scrolls into the living room.

  The baron's guards are all wearing sabers, with cold eyes and burly stature, and their agility is undoubtedly revealed in their gestures. Just being stabbed by the baron's guard with a glance made the forge masters feel chills down their spines.

  The Sabre Guard gave the scrolls to everyone in turn with a blank face, and each workshop owner who got the scrolls fell silent.

  Fuller was in a bad position, and finally got the scroll, and before he could only look at other people's expressions in a hurry. After getting the scroll, Fuller couldn't wait to open it, and what caught his eye was a line of names and numbers, all written in neat italics.

  From barrels, sabres, helmets, breastplates to buttons, axles, lead ingots, and steel cakes, the items listed in the scrolls cover almost all of Steel Castle's output.

   The name of the product is written on the left side of the scroll, and the price and quantity are written on the right side. The format is simple and clear at a glance.

   At the end of the reels, there are additional descriptions of the items listed. The people who wrote the scrolls obviously put a lot of effort into creating very specific specifications for each item.

   For example, the item "Saber" is described as [a cavalry knife with a blade length of ninety centimeters to one meter, slightly curved, and made of hard steel. Must be able to withstand the impact of high-speed slashing, and have a certain elasticity. Knife and scabbard included].

   Another example is the "barrel", which is described as [one meter to one meter two in length and within four kilograms in weight. Straight, smooth inner wall, drilled at least once. Capable of firing lead bullets weighing more than twenty-five grams. Guns and accessories not included].

  Fuller quickly found the price of the "barrel" in the reel, which was slightly higher than the normal market price of gun barrels, but still a price that Fuller could not afford.

   Sell muskets at the price given by the other party, sell one and lose one.

  Unless Fuller hires people again, disassembles the muskets he has, and really sells only the barrels—then, minus the cost of hiring people, he might be able to save money.

   But what about the remaining guns? The guns of each musket are customized according to the barrel. Even if the size seems to be similar, if two muskets are exchanged for the stock, there is a high probability that neither of them will fit.

   Even if guns can be reused, who would buy guns at this time? Still can only be pressed in the warehouse, or split and sold as firewood.

   When Fuller was hurting himself, he suddenly found that the list also included gun accessories such as bullet molds and clear bars. Although the price was not high, there was still some profit.

   Just as Fuller was racking his brains to figure out whether he could use the profit from the accessories to make up the shortfall in the barrel, Iron Hand Geisberg raised the scroll and asked sharply, "What does that mean?"

"It's just like the meaning of the list." Anna said calmly: "We don't want to discuss the details of the sale with you in a closed-door negotiation way, which is too unfair and not transparent enough. So we can tell you honestly about our needs and needs. Quantity and acceptable price. No concealment, no conspiracy.”

  Most of the workshop owners were still digesting the sudden change and fell into a strange silence. Only a few quick-thinking people can respond on the spot.

   "You gave a price that the baron can accept." Iron Hand looked gloomy and asked aggressively: "And then?"

   "You can also submit a price that you can accept at any time - in an undisclosed form."

   "And then what?"

  Anna's voice was cold and transparent: "Whoever has the lowest price will get it."

  Fuller heard the words, and immediately looked at the number given in the column of barrels—3,000, and his heart sank suddenly.

  Three thousand sticks is not a small amount. If it is handed over to a workshop, the owner of the forge can earn a lot of money for keeping it. But in the current situation, 3,000 muskets might not be enough for the large workshops headed by them. Even if the blacksmith guild advances and retreats together, they can only give him a little bread crumbs at most.

  Anna remained calm, taking in the expressions of everyone in the living room with an almost indifferent attitude.

   Now that the workshop owners of Steel Castle have made it clear that they will join hands to raise the price, the best counter-attack is to completely lift the curtain. No longer operating in the dark, no longer courting both sides, but putting everything in the public eye and carrying it out in an open and aboveboard manner. Of course, 3,000 sticks is a very conservative number, and it is precisely on the inventory of major workshops.

  Anna is very aware of her weaknesses: she is a woman; she is an outsider, with no foundation or prestige in Steel Castle; she is not old enough, and is just a little girl in the eyes of most workshop owners;

  The Forgemasters of Steelcastle have countless reasons to look down on her, and even beauty—a virtue in general—puts her at a disadvantage in negotiation.

   Sometimes pretending to be weak is a great strategy, but not in this situation. Being underestimated by the forge masters of Steelcastle will only be detrimental to the subsequent pressure and slow down the progress of the negotiation, and what Winters needs most is time.

   So Anna's every move today was well thought out: her makeup, her dress, her tone of voice, how she appeared, and the "especially vicious Dussack escort".

   She deliberately created an unapproachable and unsightly image, invisibly putting pressure on the older and more powerful forge masters than her.

   may sound like a sidekick, but people understand that strangers always start from the outside first.

  Anna also prepared another weapon, another more sophisticated weapon—mystery.

   After writing down the faces of the anxious workshop owners, Anna nodded slightly as a salute, and then walked out of the living room without looking sideways under the **** of two guards. He didn't look at the forge masters again, and didn't say a word.

  The workshop masters looked at each other and watched the baroness leave, until the door leading to the inner room slowly closed, they remembered that there were still many things to ask.

  Father Kaman was surrounded by the workshop owners almost instantly:

   "Whoever has the lowest price gets it? What do you mean?"

   "What is an undisclosed form?"

   "How do we quote? Also write a list in the same format?"

   "Gentlemen, everything you need to know has been written on the scroll." Kaman politely but firmly saw off the guest: "Please come back, everyone."

  In this way, Fuller was invited out of the single brick building owned by Baron Granasse along with other workshop owners.

When    walked out of the room, Fuller heard Mr. Father say the last words: "His Excellency the Baron asked me to tell you, 'This is the best of bad choices'."

Before parting at the lakeside hotel, Iron Hand Geisberger wanted to say a few encouraging words, but he kept going over and over again, "hold your breath", "as long as you don't let go, he can't help us as a little baron", "don't give it to outsiders" clichés like taking advantage of it.

  The response from everyone was flat, and Iron Hand stopped wasting his words and hurriedly got into the carriage and left.

  For some reason, the words recited by Mr. Father were deeply imprinted in Fuller's heart, and they kept echoing on the way home.

  …

When   Ana confronted the Forge Masters for the first time and succeeded in impressing the latter, Winters, Berian, and Charr were walking through the streets and alleys of the Old Town of Steelcastle.

  The so-called street in the old city is actually the narrow space between two rows of houses. It is very narrow and can only accommodate two horses or three people in parallel. And it lacks planning, like the natural veins on leaves.

  The old town of Steel Castle is no different from the former Guitu City, and there are traces of barbaric growth everywhere.

  The workshops of all sizes are crowded on both sides of the Rose River, and the bellows forging hammer is driven by the power of the river. The poor who worked in the workshop built shacks nearby and formed the original slums around the workshop.

  As the fortunes of Steel Castle accumulated more and more, the slums also spread. The simple wooden houses gradually replaced the shacks, and while wantonly encroaching on the streets, they also demanded space from the blue sky, and they continued to increase their heights, finally shaping the old town of Steel Castle into what it is today.

The    long wind was too conspicuous, so Winters rode an old gray-spotted horse. Berrion and Ciel also made an inconspicuous ride.

  Berion led the way, and Ciel followed behind. The three of them rode down the slag-paved road, occasionally ducking their heads to avoid the icicles hanging from the eaves.

  Winters pulled the felt hat down a bit to cover the bruises from last night's knock--Mr. Father didn't lie when he said that Winters had a sudden headache.

  It was still cold, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the road.

   Behind the windows on both sides of the street, from time to time, curious eyes looked at the three riders.

  A thin, straggly puppy stood by the alley and barked at Winters. When Winters approached, the puppy disappeared under the wooden wall again.

   Through the chest-stuffing shacks and near the river bank, the street opens up. Because the workshop is on the river bank, the narrowest part of the road along the river can accommodate two freight carriages side by side.

  The main mouth of the workshop means that mule workers gather on the road along the river bank, heating up around the weak fire.

Frowning brows, deep-set eyes, high cheekbones, looking at Winters expectantly after hearing the sound of hoofs, and then looking down at the firelight blankly after realizing that Winters was not planning to hire anyone—almost everyone It's all like that.

  Ciel caught up with Winters and asked in a low voice, "Why are they waiting outside on such a cold day? No one would hire them, would they?"

   "Hope." Winters' eyes were complicated: "Because of hope."

  Ciel muttered ignorantly: "Hope, those workshop owners insist on the price and don't let go of the price, is it also because of hope?"

   Winters did not speak.

   The three continued to ride and soon reached a workshop.

After   Berion stepped forward to confirm, he came back to report Winters: "Your Excellency, this is the 'Neufer Workshop' that Mr. Carlo Ed said."

   "Go." Winters pulled out his cane, rolled over and dismounted: "Go and have a look."

   Just like the weather, the business of Neufel Workshop was also deserted. There was no one in the yard, and there was no answer to knocking on the door.

   Winters simply pulled out the cane sword and took off the latch.

   The three walked into the courtyard of the workshop, and a sleepy-eyed, brown-haired young talent emerged from the closed workshop.

   Seeing Winters with a cane and sword, the drowsiness of the brown-haired young man disappeared instantly: "Who are you? What are you doing?"

   Winters put away the stick and sword, and habitually inspected the surrounding environment, and asked: "Why, not doing business now?"

   "Business? Oh! Do you want to buy horse gear?" The brown-haired young man hurriedly removed the door of the workshop and said enthusiastically, "Saddles? Stirrups? I have everything in my house. Or do I need to repair it?"

   "I want to see the carriage, the passenger one." Winters said tersely.

   Here comes a big business! The brown-haired young man thought to himself, instantly becoming more enthusiastic. He quickly removed the door panel and shouted loudly into the room: "Klaus! Go and call the old man up!"

In the    workshop, another half-sized man, also with brown hair, was slowly grinding a spoke. Hearing his name being called, half the eldest raised his head in confusion: "What's the matter?"

   "Go and call the old man!" the brown-haired young man urged: "There are guests here."

   The half-eldest responded and walked lazily to the inner room.

   Winters could probably see that the brown-haired young man and the half-eldest boy with a seven-point similarity in appearance were brothers, and the old man in the young man's mouth should be their father.

   "There are only three people in your workshop?" Winters asked.

  The brown-haired young man scratched his head: "Everyone else is resting at home."

   "How long have you rested?"

   "Hey, it's been a while."

   As he was talking, a lean little old man came out, saw the three Winters, and hurriedly rubbed his hands to greet them: "Three gentlemen, what can I do for you?"

   Completely different from the two young men, the little old man's hair is very light, almost pure white.

   Winters laughed dumbly, feeling that he was taking it for granted. He coughed lightly: "I want to see the style of the carriage in your workshop."

"Wagon? Please wait, wait." The little old man's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly returned to the interior, not long after he came back with a heavy album: "Please choose whatever you want, as long as you choose, I can do it here. ."

   The little old man enthusiastically opened the big book, and at the same time desperately motioned the two brown-haired boys with his eyes to move the chairs.

   Winters was not interested in the decoration of the carriage, he asked bluntly: "Does your workshop have a ready-made passenger carriage?"

"The carriage." The little old man was surprised and then rubbed his hands together and said, "It's usually made to order. I do have a carriage ordered by Mr. Solis. If you want it in a hurry, I can ask Mr. Solis to you, but to..."

   Winters nodded politely: "Please show me."

  The carriage customized by Mr. Solis was parked in the inner shed, and the little old man kept complimenting how good the materials were, how fine the details were, and how light the body was.

  Winters looked around the carriage, and under the shocked eyes of the little old man and the two brown-haired young men, got under the carriage.

   After a while, he drilled out again in shock.

   Winters patted the dust on his body and asked, "This is your best carriage?"

   The little old man was stunned for a while: "That's right."

  Winters leaned on his cane and recalled what he saw:

The best carriage in Neufel's workshop is basically the same as the one Mr. Ed lent to Winters; the carriage and the frame are connected by belts - that is, the carriage is suspended from the frame by a number of one-inch-wide belts. , in order to reduce the vibration when driving.

   Belt-hung wagons were not unusual for Winters, and he even used them to carry cannons. It's just that the belt is not durable, and it is easy to be torn off when the bump is large.

   Cheaper options are also chain suspensions, which are, of course, far less comfortable than belts.

   "Is there a better carriage?" Winters asked.

   The little old man didn't know what to say to the weird person in front of him: "How can it be better?"

   Winters looked at the old man: "White Eagle's carriage."

   "How do you know..." The little old man was surprised, and quickly changed his words: "Mr. Esther's carriage was indeed sent to me for repair, but I just fix it, and Mr. Esther didn't buy it from me."

   "Is there a white eagle's carriage parked here now?"

  The little old man answered hesitantly, "Yes."

   "Show me."

   The little old man looked very reluctant. Winters nodded, and Ciel directly handed the little old man a bag of silver coins.

  The little old man became enthusiastic again, leading Winters and the others to another carport.

   A carriage painted with the coat of arms of the white eagle was parked in the carport.

   Winters looked around the carriage and saw nothing special. The appearance of White Eagle's carriage is basically the same as the previous one: four wheels, frame and body.

   Winters stood in front of the car and made up his mind: "Take it apart."

   "Huh?" The little old man was shocked.

   "Add money to him." Winters looked at Ciel.

   So White Eagle's carriage was dismantled on the spot. The carriage was separated from the frame, and the four wheels were removed.

During the dismantling process, the little old man was also relieved. The odd man in front of him didn't intend to destroy the most expensive carriage, but was more interested in the frame hidden under the carriage. Easy access to money.

  When the carriage was lifted from the frame, Winters saw the clue:

  White Eagle's carriage did not use belt suspension, and the carriage of his carriage was connected to the frame by two sets of steel bars like arch bridges.

   "What is this?" Winters asked immediately.

   The little old man glanced at it and replied nonchalantly, "I don't know either... Maybe it's something new?"

  Winters tried to step on it, and the steel bars barely moved—how could a structure that could support the weight of the car be trampled?

   So Winters dropped his cane and stood up.

  Charle hurried to Winters: "Be careful!"

   "It's all right." Winters staggered to maintain his balance.

When    bears Winters' weight, the steel bar is obviously deformed. When Winters jumps off, the steel bar is like a sword bar and immediately returns to its original shape.

   "This is..." Winters raised his eyebrows and reached out to check the steel bars: "What's new in Steel Castle?"

   The little old man licked his lips, showing a distressed look: "It shouldn't be, I've never heard of anyone building a car with this kind of thing."

   Berrian, who had been silent for a long time, walked to the carriage, and after careful inspection, his expression was a little subtle: "This is a reed."

Of course    Winters has seen reeds, in reed guns, but he hasn't seen one of this size: "A reed this big?"

   "Yes." Berrian said confidently: "Spring steel."

   "Where did it come from?"

   Bellion's Adam's apple flipped, and after a moment of silence, he whispered, "Empire."

   [Someone mentioned suspension and bearing in the previous chapter. In fact, bearing and suspension are also designed a long time ago, belt suspension, chain suspension and copper bearing. It has been explained in detail in the previous author's words, so I will not repeat it here]

   [However, whether the belt suspension is a continuation of Roman technology or a second invention in the Middle Ages is still uncertain]

   [Because although a belt-suspended carriage was unearthed in the ancient city of Pompeii, there was no physical transmission in the Middle Ages, and the existing paintings were also suspended by chains, so it is still uncertain what the technical route is.]

   [In this story, it is assumed that the ancient technology is better preserved QAQ]

   [Thank you for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, reward and comment, thank you all]

   (end of this chapter)