49 Filling our holds
I wasn't planning to upload a chapter today, but since we are close to the stone goal I decided to upload the extra chapter as a normal chapter.
Anyway as I am a generous writer if THIS paragraph has 15 comments I will give you another chapter, this comment must include what you like/dislike about the FF or any idea you would like to see, I will give you likes to the ones I consider valid.
Since there is no chapter tomorrow
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Johann von Rügen POV
Being already in the port was bombarded by new smells and exotic sights, there was no place where I looked that I didn't see something new, this was always what I dreamed of seeing new places and new people.
''lord Johann wait''said Baldric, stopping me before I went to investigate.
''what's up Baldric'' I said with a huge smile.
"Wow you sure are happy, but the captain wanted to see you when we disembarked, it seems she wants to introduce you to the local prince, since you are a big merchant" said Baldric a little bit upset
''ah really?, well, I guess you said that maybe because of the quantity it was necessary to make deals with the local prince, he could negotiate a good long term trade treaty if he offers good conditions that don't have to be reviewed by the king'' I said scratching my nose
''if you have to wait a bit it seems they are landing somewhere else'' said Baldric looking at the port.
''by the way, how is the mooring tax?'', I asked doubtfully
''there is no mooring tax, the summer islands do not charge for mooring nor do they charge a cargo tax, since they are from a maritime tradition, they consider that an offense, besides it serves them to attract trade because for obvious reasons you will understand that trade is not at its best, and they depend on iron and steel imports from other places'' said Baldric serenely.
''I see there are still those merchants you know to speed things up and start filling our holds with cargo, as we have 45000 tons to fill'' I said smiling.
''yes, but we can't miss talking to the prince of this city, you could get discounts, even the possibility of tax exemption if you manage to convince him that you can provide him with the raw materials he needs'' said Baldric
''I understand we can't insult him by denying this meeting and above all it benefits my king greatly if I can bring him a trade treaty good enough to be accepted immediately I could secure a very lucrative trade route for my king and his subjects'' I said happily.
''Exactly lord Johann now in the meantime gather a sample of everything you brought, I'll see if I can buy a wagon over here'' Baldric said as he walked towards what seemed to be the marketplace.
I went to talk to my captains, and we started to move boxes where we had stored everything we had brought, and we started to gather a bit of everything to present it to the local prince, I started to look in my cabin for something that the king had given me for these cases an alcohol in a fine bottle because there can be no diplomacy without alcoholizing the rival.
After waiting about 10 minutes, Baldric returned with a wagon and a donkey.
''Here I got what I could, so you have everything ready?'', Baldric asked, showing me his new acquisition.
''yes everything is ready'' I said, showing him the boxes and a decorated bottle of alcohol
''good because here comes our key to see the prince'' said Baldric pointing to the woman who checked our cargo earlier.
''great, ask her how many men I can take'' I said smiling
''sure, I'll tell her'' said Baldric as he approached the woman.
They began to talk for a few minutes when Baldric turned to speak to me
''well we have to follow her we can take 10 men, so pick 8 of your best men'' said Baldric
''well let me give orders to my men to prepare the cargo'' I said as I turned to my captains who were lined up in order behind me
''Start preparing the cargo, I'll be back soon I think, if there is any problem you are allowed to use lethal force, you 8 with me'' I said to my officers and pointed to a group of sailors
''ready let's go see that prince what's his name?'', I said very intrigued.
''I don't know, let me ask'' said Baldric as he approached the woman to talk.
After a minute, Baldric walked back to my side
''his name is Xhobar Qo he is quite young'' said Baldric looking into my eyes
''thanks I hope we can make good deals with him'' I said smiling
Baldric nodded
for several minutes, we were moving through the colorful streets of this city, all the people were wearing very bright colors, but it seemed that the ones that stood out the most were us with our black and white clothes because the contrast was a lot.
But something was what left almost everyone in a huge shock, they were in what seemed to be a temple, but most of the attendees were having drinks and sex in broad daylight in the middle of the city,
I had a horrified look on my face and almost all of my crew
''first time ha?'', said Baldric laughing at me.
''what the fuck is going on here'' I said astonished.
''this is a wake for the dead, in their culture they respond to death with life, so they perform these acts as a way of celebrating the dead, I was also like you when I saw it for the first time I never got used to it, but when you understand that prostitution is well seen here almost nothing can surprise you anymore'' said Baldric as he started walking again.
''WHAT, you've got to be kidding they accept prostitution as an honest job'' I said incredulously.
''yes they accept it and even the nobility also sometimes practice it'' said Baldric, unable to contain his laughter.
I stopped and stood there with my eyes wide open.
''that can't be, but they are noble how can they stoop so low'' I said surprised
''it's not strange, since for the inhabitants of the summer islands' lovemaking is something sacred, their priests are masters at having sex, that's why they are so wanted by the slavers, for the fact that they even have to train the women to take them to the pleasure houses'' said Baldric
''shit I know people who would burn this place to ashes for their way of life'' I said looking at Baldric
''well, it would take a lot of man like I told you, those bows are dangerous, looks like we are already getting to the prince'' said Baldric
''but this place has no walls how this prince would defend himself against an attack'' he said looking at the building
''even the way they make war is different, they do ritual combat like the melee battles of the tournaments, one prince and his champions against another prince and his champions you don't attack the population, the loser is exiled, the winner takes all, very simple'' said Baldric calmly
''mhh yes pretty simple and easy really he with more men and better equipped wins'' I said looking at Baldric
''that's why steel is sought after, since the fights are with spears and slings and a good armor can make the difference'' said Baldric touching the box that brings the steel ingots
''I understand'' I said as we stopped.
Baldric started to talk to the woman and I just stood there looking around.
''we have to wait, it won't take long'' said Baldric.
I nodded and continued to look at the architecture, as it seemed so strange but at the same time charming.
When Baldric caught my eye
''Lord Johann we can see the prince now, let's go'' said Baldric looking at me.
''let's go'' I said smiling
we passed by what seemed to be the prince's castle, his servants were wearing beautifully colored clothes and many feathers, after a few minutes we arrived at the center of the courtyard where we started to unpack the goods.
After a while, we were taken to a room where prince Xhobar Qo was waiting for me, I was offered a chair and Baldric stood next to me.
The prince began to speak and when he finished I looked at Baldric
''he has given you the protocol greeting, he has introduced himself and said his titles'' said Baldric
''I greet you prince Xhobar Qo I am Johann von Rügen sent by his majesty the king in Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm II to be able to make commercial treaties in a peaceful way'' I said showing a big smile.
Baldric began to translate, and the prince smiled and began to answer me.
''he has offered you wine, rum or women and even all at the same time'' said Baldric.
''tell him I appreciate the gesture, but because of the importance of this mission I am under our military code that prevents me from drinking alcohol or having sexual relations with women'' I said seriously
Baldric gave my answer to the prince and showed a sad face and spoke again
''he said it's a real shame that you were forbidden to do something as natural as drinking and having sex, he also asked about the goods you brought'' Baldric said without taking his eyes off the prince
''oh of course prince Xhobar Qo, consider this a gift from my king to you''I said, handing over the bottle of alcohol.
Baldric translated my words and the prince took the bottle, he stayed a while observing the manufacture and opened it, and he smelled the content, showing a face of satisfaction he threw the content of the cup and filled it with our alcohol and drank it slowly, then he started speaking again
''He said that the gift is wonderful'' said Baldric.
After handing over the gift he began to take out the merchandise we had brought to fill the table between us with glassware, jewelry, ceramic containers with salt, ceramic containers with sugar, alcoholic drinks in bottles and the steel ingots.
The prince was interested in almost everything, he stopped for a long time to observe the glassware, especially the one that was painted in colors, the jewelry he hardly looked at, but he remained very interested in the steel.
The prince, after observing everything, began to speak to me.
''He is very pleased with the quality of your products, but he asks how many more of these ingots you have brought'' said Baldric pointing to the steel.
''we have the hold of 2 of our ships filled with only steel ingots 3000 tons of steel'' I said looking at the prince.
When Baldric translated the prince's smile was evident showing all his white teeth, and he began to speak very happily
''he wants to buy all the steel from you, he will still give you a good price if you sell it all to him'' said Baldric
''250 golden dragons per ton, Baldric'' I said as I looked at the prince.
Baldric handed him my terms, and the prince replied with a face of intrigue.
''says why so expensive, steel from the seven kingdoms tends to be 40 percent cheaper than what you are offering'' said Baldric
''Prussian steel by our advanced steelmaking techniques has the advantage of being stronger and more resistant, allowing it to withstand the edge of Valyrian steel itself'' I said looking at the prince.
Baldric gave my answer to the prince and the prince spoke again
''ask if it could withstand an arrow shot from a Goldenheart bow'' Baldric said without looking at me.
''I am not sure, but it should resist as well as it does Valyrian steel'' I said seriously.
The whole translation process was repeated
''do you have any armor, he would like to test the veracity of your words'' said Baldric
''I don't have one handy, but you can use my steel breastplate for your tests'' I said, taking off my torso protector.
When I took off my breastplate I handed it to the prince, he checked it for any difference with others he has seen, after his check we went out to the courtyard and I put my armor on a practice dummy
The prince took his bow and shot an arrow at the armor, to the surprise of many the arrow was deflected by the armor, there was no direct contact.
The prince gave me a look and shot another arrow where the same result was repeated, the arrow had been deflected.
Before these results, the prince took a third arrow and this time the arrow was not deflected it collided directly with the armor, the arrow was crushed leaving a medium dent in the armor, but it could still be used.
The prince and his servants were watching the armor with their eyes open.
After a few minutes, the prince approached me and signaled us to return to the hall.
He sat me back in my chair and the prince spoke to me again.
''the prince is very pleased with the quality of your steel, but he still wants to discuss the price, he is offering 180 golden dragons per ton''.
''240'' I answered seriously
Baldric gave my answer, the prince spoke to me again.
''He says 200'' said Baldric.
''230'' I said, looking at the prince.
After a few minutes of negotiations, we had agreed on 225 golden dragons per ton of steel, which left us a good profit margin.
Baldric ask him about a trade agreement'' I said smiling.
Baldric talked to the prince and spoke again.
''he asks you about the terms of the treaty'' said Baldric.
''mhh let's see that we don't have to pay sales taxes and the conditions of no payment for mooring or cargo are maintained in the future, the king in Prussia will commit himself to send 2 convoys a year loaded with materials, among them steel that will only be sold to him on the island of Walano'' I said seriously.
Baldric did his work and the prince remained thoughtful until he answered
''he tells you that he accepts everything but the taxes, he says he can give you a 60% reduction, but not exempt you completely'' said Baldric
80% reduction and we have a deal,'' I said seriously.
I didn't need a translation, as the prince looked at me and nodded.
After that, he shook my hand and invited me to eat, during this meal was full of exotic fruits with strange flavors, but I must say that the freshness of a fruit in this climate is appreciated.
After eating, I went back to negotiate with the prince about the rest of the products and managed to sell a good amount and the prince is willing to sell us many spices, ivory and colorful feathers that sell very well in essos and in the seven kingdoms.
For the amount that I calculate we could fill half of the ships with what the prince can offer us, we will have to search the merchants in the area for the rest of the goods to bring back.
Returning to the port, Baldric began to speak to me
''you did much better than I thought you would'' said Baldric with a kind tone.
''hey I have lived many years this is not my first negotiation I have a lot of experience'' I said smiling
''You don't look as old as you are, but I thought you would be softer to negotiate'' Baldric said, laughing.
''I needed the best deal possible, the king should review it and if I want to be efficient it is better to take a treaty that I know is easy to accept and does not require the king to send a diplomat to negotiate'' I said looking at the road.
''well, now we will have to see with the merchants how to sell what is left of the cargo'' said Baldric.
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