Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 491 - 305: Territory Exchange (2)

Chapter 491: Chapter 305: Territory Exchange (2)

Wei Lan cautiously took a sip of the honey wine, feeling a slight stirring of energy within his blood, and remarkably, his fighting energy seemed to have increased somewhat.

“Good wine…” he blurted out.

This gift relaxed the atmosphere at the banquet, and the two ate and drank without discussing serious matters.

But Wei Lan was still uneasy, pondering Horn’s intentions.

It wasn’t until halfway through the banquet that Horn set down his wine glass and spoke slowly.

His tone was gentle, without any official airs or the least bit of concealment: “Baron Wei Lan, the Red Tide Territory hopes to exchange lands with you.”

As soon as these words fell, the smile on Wei Lan’s face momentarily froze imperceptibly.

On the surface, he quickly regained his composure and even poured himself a glass of wine, but inside he was already in turmoil.

So, they had their eyes on this barren land beneath his feet.

It seemed shrouded in mist with a mysterious air, but he knew better than anyone the true nature of this place.

It grew almost no crops, the soil was barren, and each year’s harvest barely fed the livestock, leaving only fallow ground.

For three whole months, sunlight didn’t reach in, and the mist lingered like the sighs of the dead among the treetops, and a knight once even reported seeing mysterious shadows, which caused an uproar in half the territory.

And the most damning fact was that this place was utterly undevelopable, with no resources whatsoever.

He had sent people to try clearing the vegetation, only for it to turn to ash within days. Attempting to build a fort was futile, as the foundations always collapsed.

The only usable resource was a vine that could be used as rope, to trade with the Red Tide Territory for supplies.

Claiming this land rashly back then was his greatest mistake since obtaining the Northern Territory pioneering rights.

So at this moment, when Red Tide’s people unexpectedly suggested exchanging that land, his first reaction was not anger, but surprise.

A sense of excitement at hitting the jackpot surged in his heart.

Have these Red Tide folks gone blind? They actually want this land?

But then, the caution hidden beneath his initial joy quickly resurfaced.

Something’s wrong… Wait, these people would never make a losing deal.

Horn was a formal special envoy from the Red Tide Territory, and their dealings were as shrewd as foxes.

Wei Lan kept up his stiff smile, inner anxiety rising.

If Red Tide traded him something worse, like the “Blackwater Swamp” or “Icebite Ridge,” places so desolate not even birds could survive, he’d be jumping from hardship into hell.

As Wei Lan weighed the pros and cons, trying to steer the conversation away from the main topic, Horn calmly pulled out a scroll.

He unrolled it before everyone, the firelight illuminating a meticulously drawn map, with a red seal from the administration office of the Red Tide prominently stamped on the corners.

“Baron, please take a look,” Horn’s tone was gentle and composed, as he pointed with his fingertip, “We are willing to trade you this fertile land to the north for your Ghost Vine Slope.”

The area he pointed to was situated in the north of the southeast region, adjacent to a river’s tributary, with flat terrain and abundant water sources.

The map was finely annotated with numerous labels.

Marshes at the river mouth, three marked usable farmlands, two paths, and a suspected Cold Iron vein.

“The terrain here is stable and does not easily waterlog; the southern slope’s soil is gray-brown, found suitable for wheat growth after surveying.” Horn added, raising his eyes, “More importantly, a suspected iron mine, an extension of a Cold Iron vein, is likely here.”

Wei Lan’s heart suddenly wavered, his breath even paused for a moment.

Cold Iron Ore? Such a mature vein could nearly sustain an entire territory!

This could be considered quite a fine land, compared to his Ghost Vine Slope ridden with phantasmal shadows, it was precisely the kind of legitimate fiefdom that the nobility dreamed of.

But wait, something’s amiss…

Why? Why would Red Tide exchange a piece of land that could almost serve as a main city’s vassal territory for his land?

But either way, he knew for sure he had to ask for more.

So he slowly showed a troubled expression, sighed, lifted his glass to mask his face, and squeezed out a reluctant smile: “Your Excellency’s words… came unexpectedly. This is my ancestral…”

Horn didn’t wait for him to finish, the tone remaining gentle, but with alarming frankness that brought cold sweat: “Baron, you’ve been in the Northern Territory for just two years, ancestral is a bit of a stretch…”

The air suddenly stilled.

Though thick-skinned, Wei Lan’s heart skipped a beat, almost spilling his wine.

He coughed twice, wearing a sheepish smile: “Ahem… Indeed, I was mistaken.”

But Wei Lan’s skin was thick enough, his expression switched to a fake look of regret and he mournfully said:

“While not by bloodline, I’ve grown attached to this land. Patrolling amidst the mountain mists every day, listening to the misty birdsong, I’ve come to see it as a child.”

The attendant beside him almost spat out his wine.

But Horn remained unfazed, only smiling slightly, as if he had anticipated this rhetoric.

“In that case,” he said, unhurriedly, “we’ll add another one hundred gold coins, and three months’ worth of the territory’s grain allocation.”

He spoke casually, as if discussing a trivial transaction, adding offhandedly:

“Red Tide Territory is interested in this area’s convenient terrain for commerce. If the Baron finds it hard to part with, it’s fine.”

Wei Lan was secretly delighted: This is more like it! It seems my audacious demand was the right move!

But he still wore a stipulated aggrieved look, frowning to the point where he could crush a mosquito: “This… your Excellency is indeed a reasonable person… but…”

He paused, his eyes showing a glimmer of “add a bit more.”

Horn didn’t respond, instead sipping his wine, calmly observing him, showing neither impatience nor any willingness to raise the price.

They quietly stared at each other for a few beats.

Realizing his lack of bargaining experience, Wei Lan sensed this might be Red Tide’s highest offer, and further demands might cause him to lose the deal.

Reluctantly clenching his teeth, he moderated his thoughts with a feigned expression of weighing greater good, slowly nodding: “Very well, in light of Lord Louis’ favor… let’s proceed with the exchange.”

Having said this, Wei Lan purposely covered his face with his hand, muttering under his breath as if at a great loss, though his mouth had already quietly crooked up.

Trading a foggy slope where even knights refused to patrol, for fertile land, rivers, mineral veins, plus gold coins and food…

“It’s like manna from heaven; Red Tide Territory is truly generous…” Wei Lan laughed inwardly.

Horn slightly tilted his head, his gaze sweeping across Wei Lan’s barely concealed glee.

This newly minted Pioneer Noble still tried hard to suppress his smile, not very naturally, truly a novice negotiator.

Yet Horn didn’t expose him, only offering a faint smile.

He had achieved his objective.

Horn still didn’t understand why Lord Louis personally marked this almost non-productive barren slope as a premium exchange.

But he knew that with the current trade terms, the Red Tide Territory could at least make room three to four times over.

In other words, Horn secured an incredibly overpriced target at an extremely small cost.

“Mission accomplished perfectly.” Horn smiled slightly, laying out the pre-prepared dossier on the table.

“If there are no objections, please sign and seal, Baron.”

Wei Lan was already eager, maintaining modesty before the envoy, yet now saw the other party voluntarily offer pen and paper, smiling so broadly that the corners of his eyes wrinkled like flowers: “Naturally, naturally!”

He pretended to examine the document, muttering “reasonable terms” and “Lord Louis is indeed a righteous person.”

Then, without hesitation, he stamped his family crest.

Horn silently took notes from the side, rising to bid farewell courteously whilst retrieving the map and contract back slowly.

Meanwhile, Baron Wei Lan remained submerged in his self-satisfaction of being a negotiation genius, as if he had just outmaneuvered a great threat.

But little did they know, beneath this seemingly insignificant barren slope, lay dormant a priceless treasure.

The sprawling roots of the Abyss Silk Flower, if successfully refined, could become the core nerve fibers of a new generation of Magic Explosion Bullet ignites.

It would be the key weapon to reverse the tide in future warfare.