Chapter 381 The restless old nobles
As countless players from Bright Light City passed through the teleportation array and happily entered Dan'erluo Port, this brand new area was also revealed in front of them.
This seaport city named Danerluo is the brightest pearl on the Pearl Sea. The weight of history and the vastness of the ocean are intertwined into a unique picture.
The outline of the city gradually becomes clear under the reflection of the rising sun, and the ancient city wall twists and turns, like a giant dragon guarding this prosperous land. The city wall is made of huge blue stones. After being eroded by wind and rain, it still looks strong and solemn. The towers on the city wall stand tall, and the eagle flags buzz in the wind, highlighting the majesty and glory of the city's new lord.
The streets in the city are narrow and winding, and the roads paved with bluestones have become as smooth as jade over the years. On both sides of the street, various buildings line up row upon row, from simple wooden huts to elegant commodity exchanges, all exuding a strong seaside and commercial atmosphere. The window lattice is carved with exquisite patterns, which shines with golden light in the sunlight.
The seaport is the soul of this city. Ships from other areas of the Fanor continent are docked at the dock, and some even tall merchant ships with strange shapes are from other continents thousands of miles away.
There are many masts, sails are fluttering, the sea is sparkling, and seagulls are flying in the sky, making cheerful chirping sounds. The sea breeze blows against your face with a salty and moist breath, which is refreshing.
Many players were completely attracted by the charming style of this seaside port and walked around the streets indulging in the novelty of opening a new map.
At this time, Li Si, led by Ivor and Grace, was brought to the west of Dan Erluo Port.
An elegant yet gorgeous mansion appeared in front of Li Si and others, standing quietly in a lush green garden, with many attendants busy cleaning it.
Ivor smiled and said:
"Not knowing your preferences, we took the initiative and found this place as your temporary resting place."
"This place was built by a Duke of Berdych in Port D'Elro, but it was later taken back by us."
"Master Li Si, look, if it's not suitable, there are other places."
Li Si briefly looked at the mansion in front of him. Although it was not as exquisite as his mansion in Bright City, it was more spacious and bright.
Especially the courtyard outside this mansion is even ten times larger than the one on Face Street.
"This is it. Anyway, I don't have anywhere to live until the castle is built."
Li Si nodded and said, quite satisfied.
Immediately, without any delay, Li Si led Ivor and Grace into the reception room of the mansion.
Rossi and others started to pack up happily, and quickly directed the servants left in the mansion to carry the large and small luggage.
"Tell me, what's the matter?"
Li Si leaned on the sofa in the main seat and looked at the two people in front of him.
He waved to Risa and asked her to come and sit next to him.
Risa naturally saw it and walked over hesitantly, with a little blush on her cheeks, and was immediately pulled over by Li Si.
This time, Li Si did not call anyone else to participate except Risa.
He has also considered that among his team, Risa is the most suitable one who is strong enough and worthy of his trust.
It is impossible for Li Si to stay in Port Dan'erluo for a long time. He still has a lot of things to do, and the affairs of the territory must be left to others.
Li Si was prepared to leave all the matters of territorial construction and business operations to Mora. After all, the rapid development of the White Pigeon Chamber of Commerce had fully proved his strength.
Then Risa is needed to maintain the security of the territory.
But Risa also has some otaku attributes.
This is a habit she has developed since she was a child. If it weren't for Li Si, she would have been huddled in the library and laboratory and never tired of it.
Recently, Li Si has been taking Risa out frequently, and the effect is obvious. At least Risa is not as shy and timid as before.
But this is not enough.
Therefore, Li Si planned to take Risa with him in a short period of time to get in touch with various affairs in the territory and get her used to it as soon as possible.
Of course, Li Si had already communicated with Risa before this.
If Risa really resisted, Li Si would not force her.
Ivor and Grace sat aside, their attitudes could not be more correct.
There was nothing they could do. The shock that Joyce had given them just now had not dissipated, and their nerves were still tense.
After a moment of silence, Ivor took the lead and said:
"Your Majesty, that's it."
"After you left the Port of Dan'erluo two months ago, the Berdych Kingdom quickly collapsed, and the Port of Dan'erluo was also in chaos for a relatively long period of time."
"After the fall of Huangshi City, just as you said, many nobles of the Berdych Kingdom were panicked. Many nobles chose to go to other places from Dan'erluo Port to save their money in Dan'erluo Port. The wealth was completely taken away, leaving only a lot of empty shells.”
Li Si nodded, naturally he expected this.
Although Ivor and Grace are nominally the guardians of Port D'Elro and the holders of the city's highest power, in fact they do not have strong control over the city.
Although Port D'Ello nominally belongs directly to the Berdych royal family, due to the erosion of those greedy nobles for countless years, most of the chambers of commerce in the city belong to those noble families, almost controlling the right to speak in Port D'Ello.
Even the Berdych navy stationed in the port of Danelluo belong to those nobles.
Ivor and Grace alone, with their few subordinates, simply cannot control the city normally.
Li Si naturally expected that after the nobles took away the wealth and manpower, the operation of Dan Erluo Port would definitely be affected to a certain extent, but it should not be major.
After all, the Port of Dan Erluo is here, and its position in the Pearl Sea is irreplaceable.
At most, those nobles can only take away the extraordinary professionals and senior executives of the chamber of commerce. Naturally, it is impossible to take away most of them.
These talents are the most basic force that makes up the maritime trade of Dan'erluo Port. As long as these people are there, it will not be difficult for Mora to reorganize those maritime trades through the White Pigeon Chamber of Commerce.
And judging from Ivor's words, the two of them have already taken measures, and Li Si naturally observed when he entered the Port of Dan Erluo that the operating order of the port terminal was normal, there were still many ships coming and going, and there was no major impact. Impact.
So, what is this guy trying to say?
"Then what?"
Li Si nodded and continued to ask.
Ivor pursed his lips and said in a deep voice:
"Just a few days ago, some of the noble families who left before sent representatives to join forces and wanted to make a deal with me."
"The general meaning is that they want me and Grace to cooperate with them and serve the coming lord or governor of the Kingdom of Fes, while secretly retaining their previous interests in the Port of Dan Erluo. For this reason, they are even willing to transfer some of their interests. For both of us."
"Because you're not here, we don't know how to report to you, so we're just putting it off like this."
Ivor said a little sarcastically. He had no choice but to feel a little moved before, but he didn't dare to agree like that.
However, although he and Grace were defended, they did not hide the whole matter at all.
In this current situation, if you still want to hide it, you are courting death. It is better to be honest.
The Duke Kane in front of him didn't seem to be a narrow-minded person.
"This is the matter."
Li Si nodded, playing with Risa's slender white fingers in his hand, thinking quickly.
He had no doubts about what Ivor said. He also had a clear idea of Ivor's little thoughts but had no intention of pursuing them.
This is not a threat to Li Si, not to mention that everyone has small thoughts. After today's incident, Ivor will definitely give up those unnecessary ideas and work for him honestly.
For those Berdych nobles who want to return, it is actually a good thing for Li Si.
After all, the Port of Dan Erluo is an extremely important commercial port, and it is impossible for the White Pigeon Chamber of Commerce under Li Si to support the entire port's trade.
Caravans from all over the eastern part of the Fanor continent deliver different products to the Port of Dan'erluo for sale, and purchase special products from other regions for return.
Merchant ships from other regions brought a rich variety of goods for sale at the port, and they also used the profits to buy enough local specialties to take back to their hometowns.
The chamber of commerce and merchants in Port Denerluo provide intermediaries and other services to make profits.
The entire maritime trade link is quite detailed, but after all it is an extremely cumbersome process that requires countless people to participate.
Li Si did not want and could not swallow up the entire port's trade. Such a monopoly would not only give Li Si indigestion, but would also deprive the Port of Dan Erluo of its vigorous vitality and cause it to gradually decline.
Li Si encouraged all chambers of commerce and merchants to trade and earn profits in the port of Dan'erluo.
Even players can participate in this process, which is what he mentioned in the Lord's mission.
Therefore, Li Si didn't mind the idea of the former noble families wanting to return.
But the premise of all this is "legal compliance"!
There is no doubt that nobles and merchants are greedy.
Just like the Port of Darro during the period of the Berdych Kingdom, the chambers of commerce secretly controlled by the nobles have made huge profits, but rarely or never paid a penny of taxes to the Berdych Kingdom.
The taxes of the Port of Darro are collected from chambers of commerce and traveling merchants from other countries, as well as merchant ships. Even so, the taxes of the Port of Darro are valued by King Berdych.
The Chamber of Commerce of the Berdych nobles occupies the intermediate trade of most commodities, and they are the bulk of the commercial trade in Port Danelluo!
And now, since those nobles who came back thought of buying off Ivor and Grace, they naturally wanted to do the same as before, evading taxes, and even doing some shady things.
For Li Si, this kind of behavior is poaching him!
After pondering for a moment, Li Si looked at Ivor and said:
"I see, Ivor, you did a good job!"
"In that case, take me to see these people now."
Ivor was a little surprised. He thought that Li Si would punish him, but he didn't expect that Li Si would want to meet the representatives of the noble families.
Grace gently pulled Ivor, and he reacted. He quickly stood up and said respectfully:
"Yes, Your Majesty the Duke."
"What's going on? Ivor hasn't been hesitating all this time. Why did he suddenly come over again?"
Rolando Linton, wearing a gorgeous dress, said dissatisfiedly, waving the four or five gemstone rings in the air.
He had just been informed by the servant, and he almost fainted while he was in high spirits.
"Rolando, you'd better wipe your face well."
Bernard Byrne glanced at the hickey on Rolando's face, shook his head and said.
This guy is still acting like this. Do you really think he is still the Duke?
Do you think this is still the Port of Dan Erluo that was once jointly controlled by them?
Even if Ivor does not have the status of the guardian of Dan'erluo Port, he is still a gold-level mage, and the respect he deserves is indispensable.
They came here to negotiate a deal, and for this reason they were even willing to promise Ivor and Grace quite generous profits.
If the Kingdom of Fes defeated the Kingdom of Berdych and occupied the entire kingdom's territory, there would inevitably be a shortage of manpower.
And gold-level powerhouses with innocent backgrounds like Ivor and Grace must be on the Fes Kingdom's list.
It is even possible for them to continue to control the port of Dan'erluo.
The strange actions of the Fez army outside the port of Dan'er Luo seemed to confirm their judgment.
This is why those who lost their noble titles united and wanted to trade with Ivor.
In this transaction, Rolando and Bernard were the leading figures among the representatives of the old nobles, as can be seen from the gold-level guards beside them.
The Kingdom of Berdych is weird.
Like the Kingdom of Fes or the Kingdom of Dillon, many extraordinary powers in the country are in the hands of the royal family.
The Berdych Kingdom is different. Most of the power lies in the many noble families that are constantly eating away at the foundation of the kingdom.
When these noble families faced the invasion of the Kingdom of Fes, their first reaction was not to gather together to resist, but to shrink their strength and prepare to escape.
It was really because of their wanton behavior that the entire Berdych royal family was so weak that they had no idea of resistance at all.
But even so, the gold-level guards around Rolando and Bernard are the absolute heritage of the family. Even the Duke family cannot cultivate several gold-level strong men.
"They have been promised so many benefits, what else is there to talk about?"
Rolando wiped his cheek casually and said with a careless smile.
"If it doesn't work, just use some tricks to get them away, and directly trade with the new people sent from the Kingdom of Fes."
"I don't believe there are people who don't like gold coins?"
Bernal shook his head, too lazy to say more.
He didn't want to talk too much. If the Linton family wasn't strong enough, he wouldn't want to say another word to such an arrogant man who couldn't see the situation clearly.
Hope it goes well this time!