Chapter 159 A Strong Trading Caravan
"Those merchants are requesting the removal of the purchase restrictions..." Willow recounted the recent hoarding by merchants and Ellie's subsequent restrictions.
"That's interesting," Henry expressed surprise, not expecting these merchants to be so sensitive to the business opportunities in the big market.
Indeed, smart individuals could be found everywhere, but were they being too idealistic in wanting to monopolize the market?
Ellie walked in, her once pale face now fresh and clean.
"You did a great job with the restrictions this time," Henry praised Ellie, "You've taken good care of this household."
A faint blush crept onto Ellie's face as she nervously fiddled with her cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"But Henry, what should we do next? The merchants are still requesting the removal of the restrictions." Ellie expressed her concerns. "Even with the restrictions, newly stocked items are quickly sold out."
"No need to worry, I have a plan," Henry chuckled, shaking his head. He turned to Willow and said, "Willow, spread the new that the Garden Eatery will open tomorrow, and let it be known that I will be there."
"Yes!" Willow nodded and immediately took out a notebook to jot it down.
"By the way, do we have any information on those merchants?" Henry asked Ellie, "I want information on the most influential ones."
"Yes!" Ellie took out a notebook from her pocket, opened it, and handed it to Henry. "The most influential one is a merchant from Royal City named Soro, and I heard he has a powerful trading caravan."
"Powerful?" Henry took a closer look, then closed the notebook. Everything would depend on their choices tomorrow, as opportunities only come once.
"Henry, do you plan to meet those merchants at the Garden Eatery?" Ellie furrowed her brows. "Won't that make them too complacent?"
"Who said I intend to meet them voluntarily?" Henry's dark eyes sparkled with wisdom as he chuckled. "You arrange for the creation of ten invitations and deliver five of them to the five most influential merchants. Then spread the news that those attending the banquet will have the opportunity to gain exclusive access to the largest supply of goods in Eldoria."
"What about the remaining five?" Willow asked curiously.
"The remaining five will be distributed discreetly, and the highest bidders will get them," Henry said nonchalantly. "Merchants value profit, they were able to share goods harmoniously before, but what about this time?"
"Internal strife!" Ellie quickly understood the purpose of this plan. Of course, she knew that the most important thing was the banquet at the Garden Eatery the next day.
It seemed that Henry already had a plan, which relieved Ellie. With such a master in the family, everything would be much easier.
"The human race is good at internal strife, especially when it comes to their own interests," Henry said calmly.
Everyone present began to contemplate upon hearing these words. Soon, Tess and Mila gave up, leaving Ellie and Willow lost in thought.
Henry's eyes flickered to Tess and Mila, who wore troubled expressions. Was this the difference between a top student and an underachiever? Or was it that those who were strong in physical force lacked a bit in intelligence?
"Alright, let's not think about it for now," Henry said, breaking the silence. "Ellie, how much wheat we have now?"
"There's a lot, Henry," Ellie said, her eyes lighting up at the mention of wheat. "The granaries are almost full, with enough to feed the entire city for a year."
What Ellie meant by "almost full" was only thirty percent of the wheat tax collected from the commoners, not the entire city's wheat.
In previous years, Carter only left twenty percent of the wheat for the commoners, then filled the granaries halfway and sold the remaining wheat to grain merchants for a few gold coins.
"For a year?" Henry nodded in satisfaction. With this batch of wheat, along with the wheat brought back from Hyratos, the brewing plan would have to be put on the agenda.
"The weaving and spinning workshops also start to produce, but they lack workers, so the production quantity is not very high," Ellie reported another important matter.
"The people have already been brought back, and we can recruit workers tomorrow. The most important thing is to take good care of the security measures. I don't want these two things to leak out," Henry earnestly instructed. "Linen will become one of our main commodities in Eldoria."
"Understood!"
Ellie decided to assign more people to keep an eye on the two workshops. Anyone caught trying to learn or spy would be sent to the mines to dig for thirty years.
"By the way, has Emily not returned yet?" Henry looked around but didn't see the Bunny Girl.
"She should be back soon. At this time, Emily is almost ready to come back for lunch," Willow replied softly.
"Does Emily have something important to tell me?" Henry thought of Bunny Girl's hesitant expression when he went to Hyratos.
"Wait for Emily to come back, and she will tell you in person," Ellie answered.
Just as they were discussing Emily's whereabouts, she appeared.
Emily's eyes lit up as she saw Henry, and she exclaimed, "Welcome back, my lord!"
"So tall!" Tess's purple eyes caught sight of Emily and she walked over, gesturing at Emily's height, exclaiming, "She is really tall!"
Mila chuckled softly, "Emily is the tallest person in the Lord's Manor!"
Emily curiously looked at the cow-tribe woman in front of her. Was this another one that the lord brought back?
"I almost forgot to introduce her," Henry smiled. "She is Tess, and she came back with us from Hyratos."
"Hello, everyone. I'm Tess, a member of the cow tribe. I'm very strong. If anyone dares to bully you, just let me know, and I'll take care of them," Tess said confidently, patting her chest.
Ellie's eyes lit up as she glanced at Mila, then at Tess's well-endowed chest, and instantly felt a bit envious. She gritted her teeth, thinking, 'Damn, why are they all well-endowed women? It's impossible to coexist peacefully.'
Ellie seemed to have thought of something. She looked up and took another look at Tess's chests, her slender hand on her chin, her mind pondering, 'could there be some secret to her growth? I should find an opportunity to ask her.'
"Let's eat," Henry waved his hand, laughing lightly. "Discuss anything you want after you've eaten."
"Okay!" Emily smiled and nodded in relaxation.
