Iron Power And Sorcerer

Iron Power And Sorcerer Chapter 383

2021-12-24

Chapter 383 vortex (IX)

"Every honorable gentleman present is better than me Learn more about the city. Until now, Steel Castle's large iron deals are all behind closed doors. Based on a long-term and good trust relationship, the buyer and seller only need a simple verbal commitment to enter into an agreement."

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

The forge masters were puzzled and confused. Shocked, like a sudden blow to the head, they all listened subconsciously, holding their breaths. No one knows what little Baron is doing to actually launch a female boss?
However, all the workshop owners have to admit that although Mrs. Baron speaks quietly, she has the power of calm, and the beauty is so beautiful that people dare not look directly.

"But the Granassi family doesn't have such a valuable relationship of trust in Steelcastle." Anna continued: "So we hope to be able to complete the transaction in a more open, fair and simple way."

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

Baron's guards are all armed with sabers, cold-eyed, burly stature, and unmistakable aggression in their gestures. The forgemasters felt chills down their spines just from being stabbed by Baron's guards.

The Sabre Guards handed out 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 gun barrels, sabres, helmets, and breastplates to buttons, axles, lead ingots, and steel cakes, the items listed in the scrolls cover nearly 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 concise and obvious 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 less than 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, and sell one for one.

Unless Fuller hires people to dismantle the musket he has, and really sell only the barrel - then maybe you can save the money, excluding the cost of hiring people.

But what about the rest of the 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.

As Fuller racked his brains to figure out whether he could make up for the shortfall in the barrel with the profits from the accessories, Geisberger the Iron Hand raised the scroll and asked sharply, "What does that mean?"

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"It's just like the list shows." 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 tell you frankly. What we want, the quantity we want, the price we can accept. There is no concealment, no conspiracy."

Most of the workshop owners are still digesting the sudden change, and thus fall into a strange silence middle. Only a few quick-thinking people can respond on the spot.

"You gave a price that Baron can accept." Iron Hand looked gloomy and asked overbearingly: "And then?"

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

"And then?"

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

Fuller heard this, and immediately looked towards the number given in the column of the barrel - three thousand, his heart sank suddenly.

Three thousand pieces 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 safekeeping. 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 Steelcastle have made it clear that they will join forces to raise the price, the best way to fight back is to completely lift the curtain. No longer operating in the dark, no longer courting both sides, but putting everything in public, just and honorable. 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 the 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 - can put her at a disadvantage in negotiation.

There are times when 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 thought out: her makeup, her dress, her tone of voice, how she appeared, and "the particularly vicious Dussack guards."

She deliberately creates an unapproachable, unsightly image, invisibly putting pressure on older and more powerful Forge Masters.

Sounds like the unorthodox way, but people understand that strangers always start from the outside first.

Ana also prepared another weapon, another more brilliant weapon—mysterious sense.

After writing down the faces of the anxious workshop owners, Anna slightly bowed her head and saluted, and then walked out of the living room, looking steadily forward, under the escort of two guards. He didn't look at the forge masters again, and didn't say a word.

The workshop owners looked at each other in blank dismay and watched Mrs. Baron leave, until the door leading to the inner room slowly closed, and they remembered that there were still many things to ask.

Father Kaman was surrounded by the workshop owners almost instantly:

"The one with the lowest price gets it? What do you mean?"

"What is undisclosed? Format?"

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

"Everything you need to know, gentlemen, is written on the scroll." Card Mann saw off the guests politely but firmly: "Please come back, everyone."

In this way, Fuller and other workshop owners were invited out of the single-family brick building owned by Granach Baron.

As he walked out of the room, Fuller heard Mr. Father say his last words: "Your Excellency 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 inspiring Zhuang words, but he continued to "hold his breath", "As long as he doesn't let go, he can't help us as a little Baron", "Don't clichés like giving outsiders an opportunity.

The response from the crowd was mediocre, and Iron Hand stopped wasting his time and hurriedly sat on the carriage and left.

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

 …

When Ana first went head-to-head with the Forge Masters and succeeded in impressing them, Winters was in Steel Castle with Belion and the Charr. Walk through the streets and alleys of the old town.

The so-called street in the old city is actually a 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 Steelcastle is no different from the Jade City it used to be, with signs of savage growth everywhere.

The large and small workshops are all crowded on both sides of the Rose River, using the power of the river to drive the bellows forging hammer. The poor who worked in the workshop built shacks nearby and formed the original slums around the workshop.

As Steelcastle's wealth accumulated, so did the slums. The humble wood house gradually replaced the shack, and the impudent encroached on the street while asking for space from the blue sky, constantly increasing the height, and finally shaping the old town of Steel Castle into what it is today.

The long wind was so conspicuous that Winters rode an old gray-spotted horse. Berrian and Charles also picked unremarkable rides.

Berrion led the way, and Ciel followed behind. The three of them rode down the slag-paved road, sometimes 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 Winters had a sudden headache.

It was still cold and there were few 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, stray puppy stood at the corner of the alley barking at Winters, and when Winters approached, the puppy disappeared under the wooden wall again.

As you walk through the chest-stuffing shantytowns and near the river bank, the streets open up. Because the workshop is on the river bank, the narrowest part of the road along the river can accommodate two cargo carriers in parallel.

The mule workers gather on the road along the river bank, around the weak fire to keep warm.

With frowning brows, sunken eyes, and high cheekbones, he looked towards Winters expectantly after hearing the sound of hooves, and then he looked down blankly towards Firelight after realizing that Winters didn't intend to hire anyone— - Almost everyone does.

Charle chased after Winters and asked in a low voice, "Why are they waiting outside on such a cold day? No one would hire them, would they?"

p>

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

Ciel muttered: "Hope, it's also because of hope that those workshop owners hold on to the price. Right?"

Winters didn't speak.

The three continued to ride and soon reached a workshop.

After Bellion 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, business in Neufel's workshop was equally deserted. There was no one in the yard, and there was no answer to knocking on the door.

Winters simply drew his sword and picked the latch off.

The three walked into the yard of the workshop, and a sleepy brown-haired youngster emerged from the closed workshop.

Seeing Winters carrying the stick and sword, the brown-haired youngster's sleepiness dissipated in an instant: "Who are you? What are you doing?"

Winters put away the stick and sword and habitually Check the all around environment and ask: "Why, don't do business now?"

"Business? Oh! How many of you want to buy horse gear?" The brown-haired youngster hurriedly removed the door of the workshop, enthusiastic "Saddles? Stirrups? I have everything in my house. Or do I need to fix it?"

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

BIG BUSINESS coming! The brown-haired youngster thought, instantly becoming more enthusiastic. He quickly tore down the door panel and shouted loudly into the room: "Klaus! Go and shout old fogey!"

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

"Go and call old fogey!" The brown-haired youngster urged: "A guest is coming."

Half-sized child complied, drowsily walks into the middle.

Winters can probably see that the brown-haired youngster and the half-sized boy who have seven similar appearances are related to each other, and the old fogey in the mouth of youngster should be their father.

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

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

"How long?"

"Hey, it's been a while."

While he was talking, a lean Little Old Man walked 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 youngsters, Little Old Man's hair color is very light, almost pure white.

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

"carriage? Please wait, wait." Little Old Man's eyes shined, and he hurried back to the inner room, not long after He came back with a heavy picture book in his hand: "Please choose whatever you want. As long as you choose, I can do it here." The two brown-haired boys went to move the chairs.

Winters wasn't interested in carriage decorations, he blunted and asked, "Does your workshop have a ready-made passenger carriage?"

"Carriage." Little Old Man was startled first After rejoicing, he rubbed his hands 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 transfer it to you, but To..."

Winters nodded politely: "Please show me."

Mr. Solis's custom-made carriage was parked in the inner shed, and Little Old Man kept complimenting How good the materials, how beautiful the details, how light the body is.

Winters looked around the carriage and, under the shocked gaze of the Little Old Man and the two brown-haired young men, got under the car.

After a while, he came out again in shock.

Winters brushed the dust off his body and asked, "This is your best carriage?"

Little Old Man paused for a moment: "That's right."

Winters leans on a cane and thinks back carefully:
The best carriage from Neufel's workshop is basically the same as the one Mr. Ed lent to Winters; the carriage and frame are connected by belts ——That is, the carriage is suspended from the frame with a number of one-inch-wide belts to reduce vibration when traveling.

The belt-dung carry is not unusual for Winters, who has even carried cannons with them. It's just that the belt is not durable, and it is easy to be torn off when the bump is large.

An even cheaper option is chain suspension, which is, of course, far less comfortable than a belt.

"Is there a better carriage?" Winters asked.

Little Old Man didn't know what to say to the weirdo in front of him: "How can it be better?"

Winters looked at the old man: "Carriage of the White Eagle."

p>

"How do you know..." 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, Mr. Esther is not here with me Buy it."

"There's a white eagle's carriage parked here now?"

Little Old Man answered hesitantly, "Yes."

"Show me."

Little Old Man looked very reluctant. Winters nodded, and Shire handed Little Old Man a bag of Silver Coins directly.

Little Old Man became enthusiastic again, leading Winters to another carport.

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

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

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

"Huh?" Little Old Man turned pale in fright.

“Add money to him.” Winters looked towards Ciel.

Then the white eagle's carriage was dismantled on the spot. The carriage was separated from the frame, and the four wheels were removed.

During the process of dismantling, Little Old Man was also relaxed. The weirdo in front of him did not intend to destroy the most expensive carriage, but was more interested in the frame hidden under the carriage - that is to say, after dismantling You can also put it back, and you can easily get two coins.

When the carriage was lifted off the frame, Winters saw the clue:
White Eagle's carriage was not suspended by a belt, the carriage of his carriage was passed through two sets of steel arches like bridges. The bars are connected to the frame.

“What is this?” Winters asked immediately.

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, the steel bar almost completely motionless - how can a structure that can bear the weight of the car be trampled?
So Winters dropped his cane and stood up.

Ciel hurried to Winters: "Be careful!"

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

When bears Winters' weight, the steel bar deforms obviously. When Winters jumps down, 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 examine the steel bars: "What's new in Steelcastle?"

Little Old Man licked his lips, looking distressed : "It shouldn't be, I've never heard of anyone making a car with this thing."

Berrion, who had been silent for a while, walked to the carriage, and after checking it carefully, his expression was a little subtle: "This is a reed ."

Winters had seen reeds, of course, in reed guns, but he had never seen one of this size: "A reed this big?"

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

"Where did it come from?"

Berion turned his Adam's apple, 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. This matter has been explained in detail in the previous author's words, so I won't repeat it.]
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