Chapter 136 Trilateral Talks (Part 2) Around the round table, everyone took their seats…
Everyone took their seats around the round table.
The Dwarf King sat at the head of the table, a privilege reserved for him as the only king present. Thorek and Stonefist stood behind him.
Elendil sat first on the left, representing Silvermoon Forest. Two elven squad leaders stood on either side of him.
Ryan sat in the first seat on the right, with his adjutant and chief guard standing behind him.
Lin Yue sat slightly behind Ryan, indicating that although he was participating in the talks, he was not a formal negotiator. Mia stood behind him, holding thick ledgers and maps.
The dwarf king surveyed the crowd, his voice booming: "Gentlemen, this war began with a misunderstanding and nearly caused irreparable consequences. We sit here today not to determine who was right and who was wrong, but to find a path for our people to survive and prosper together."
"While we dwarves uphold our traditions, we are not ignorant of reason. We know that isolation leads to decline, and war only results in mutual destruction."
“So,” he raised his glass, “let us be frank and open with each other. For the sake of our people, for the future of this land.”
The representatives from all three parties raised their glasses.
"For peace."
"For prosperity."
"For a shared future."
The wine glasses clinked together in mid-air, making a crisp sound.
Negotiations have officially begun.
The Dwarf King set down his wine cup and took a map from his robes, spreading it out on the round table. It was a simplified topographical map of the Dwarf Kingdom, with the locations of some visible mountains, rivers, and mineral veins marked in dwarven runes. For security reasons, the core area of the map was carefully obscured, revealing only the relevant geographical information needed for the negotiations.
“Since we’re going to talk, let’s get straight to the point,” he said, pointing to the northeast corner of the map. “Here, in the Ironskull Mountains, lies the highest quality hematite on the continent. I’m willing to grant mining rights to one of the veins as a gesture of goodwill for peace.”
Ryan leaned closer for a closer look, his expression turning slightly grave: "Your Majesty, this location... if I may be frank, is far too far from our main settlements and trading centers, and it involves crossing several treacherous mountain ranges. The transportation costs will be extremely high."
“But the reserves are abundant and the quality is excellent,” the dwarf king retorted. “In your human terms, it’s excellent value for money.”
“If the transportation costs far exceed the value of the ore itself, then what’s the point of talking about value for money?” Ryan retorted without backing down.
The atmosphere at the negotiating table suddenly became somewhat tense.
Lin Yue then spoke up: "Your Majesty, Lord Ryan, would you like me to take a look at this map?"
The dwarf king nodded in acknowledgment.
Lin Yue stood up and carefully studied every mark on the map. His finger moved along the contours of the mountains, finally stopping at a river marked with blue runes.
“Your Majesty,” Lin Yue pointed to another location on the map, “How about here? The copper mine in Red Rock Canyon.”
"There?" The Dwarf King frowned. "Red Rock Canyon's reserves are only one-third of Iron Skull Mountain's."
“But it has two significant advantages,” Lin Yue said, tracing his finger across the map. “First, it’s right next to the upper reaches of the Sunset River. If we build a wharf here, the ore can be loaded directly onto ships and sailed downstream, reaching the vicinity of Blackrock City in three days. That area is not only Lord Ryan’s territory but also adjacent to Hope Town, making it convenient for the trading company to operate. Furthermore, the cost of transportation can be reduced by 70%.”
He paused briefly, then continued, “Secondly, Red Rock Canyon is only eighty miles from your capital, making it easy to manage and supervise. We can set up a joint checkpoint in the mining area, managed jointly by dwarves and humans, to ensure that no one breaches the contract.”
A hint of surprise flashed in the Dwarf King's eyes as he looked at Stone Fist.
Shi Quan nodded: "Uncle, Lin Yue is right. Moreover, the terrain along the Sunset River is flat, which is suitable for building a permanent wharf. In the long run, this is more suitable than Iron Skull Mountain."
"But the issue of reserves..." The dwarf king still had concerns.
“Your Majesty, how about this,” Lin Yue proposed a compromise, “we will obtain full mining rights to the copper mine in Red Rock Canyon. In compensation, we will pay the Dwarf Kingdom five percent of the ore production annually as land use fees.”
“Furthermore,” he pointed to Ironskull Mountain, “we don’t want full mining rights to this iron mine; instead, we’ll mine it collaboratively. The human kingdoms will provide transportation and technical support, while the mountain kingdoms will be responsible for the miners and management. The ore produced will be split 50/50. This way, we can ensure that the mineral resources don’t fall entirely into the hands of outsiders, and that both sides can gain tangible benefits.”
This proposal, without completely ceding the mineral resources, both saved face for the dwarves, guaranteed humanity's interests in obtaining a stable supply of minerals, and established a project that required long-term cooperation between the two sides.
The dwarf king's eyes revealed approval: "Lin Yue, your mind is indeed more agile than that of ordinary merchants. However, I would like to hear the opinion of your official representative."
He looked at Ryan: "What does the special envoy think?"
Ryan nodded: "I think this is a reasonable solution. However, I need to add that for cooperative iron ore mining, the miners must be jointly recruited by both parties, and the wage standards and safety measures must be consistent. We don't want to cause new conflicts because of labor issues."
“Agreed,” the Dwarf King readily agreed, “but this clause needs to be written in great detail. I want to make sure my people are not used as cheap labor.”
“That’s the right thing to do,” Ryan said. “We will clearly specify details such as wage standards, working hours, and safety guarantees in the agreement.”
The dwarf king nodded, then changed the subject: "Now it's time to tell you your terms."
Ryan unfolded a list he had prepared beforehand: "First, the human kingdom will guarantee to supply the dwarf kingdom with no less than five thousand bags of high-quality grain each month, at a price of 80% of the market price, with price fluctuations not exceeding 10% within three years. In the event of a severe disaster year, the price may be appropriately increased, but the increase shall not exceed 20%, and three months' notice must be given in advance."
"Second, open the trade route from Blackrock City to the Dwarven border, exempt trade taxes for three years, and encourage free trade between merchants of the two races."
“Third,” he looked at Lin Yue, signaling him to continue.
Lin Yue picked up the conversation: "We hope the trading company will promise to send an agricultural technology team to the Dwarf Kingdom to teach planting techniques for crops such as sweet potatoes and soybeans, as well as food processing and preservation techniques. All techniques will be completely open to the public without any reservations."
"We will also assist in establishing at least three demonstration farms and two food processing workshops to ensure that the Dwarf Kingdom can achieve basic food self-sufficiency within two years."
"Finally," Lin Yue solemnly stated, "we need to establish a goods distribution center on the border of the Dwarf Kingdom, serving as a transit hub for goods. The land for this site will be provided by the Dwarf Kingdom, and we hope the trading company will be responsible for its construction and operation, with joint management and a 50/50 split of profits."
After listening, the Dwarf King remained silent for a long time.
"You said you would teach these techniques," he looked directly into Lin Yue's eyes, "that you really did not hold anything back?"
“I swear on the honor of Hope Trading Company,” Lin Yue said without hesitation, “all the technology is complete. Moreover, His Majesty can send Uncle Stone Fist to supervise the entire process. He participated in the research and development of these technologies and knows the details best.”
Shi Quan interjected at the opportune moment: "Uncle, I can vouch for him with my reputation. Lin Yue has never held back on technical matters. Besides, think about it, if he really wanted to hold back, he would never have let me participate in the research and development of those core technologies in the first place."
The Dwarf King took a deep breath and looked at Sorek: "What do you think?"
Sorek hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Father, if I may be so bold, this offer... is far too generous. So generous that it makes me suspect there might be some trap involved."
“It’s not a trap, but a long-term plan,” Lin Yue explained. “Your Highness, think about it: if you can achieve food self-sufficiency in two years, will you still rely on our supplies?”
"Of course not."
“Then wouldn’t I be at a loss?” Solek retorted.
“No, you’ve overlooked something,” Lin said. “In fact, given the geographical conditions of the Mountain Kingdom, even if we promote crops like sweet potatoes and potatoes and significantly increase yields, it will still be difficult to fully meet the needs of the entire kingdom. After all, arable land is limited, and crop cultivation requires crop rotation and fallow periods; we can’t cultivate a single crop for a long time. So even if you no longer rely entirely on our food supply in two years, you will rely on our seeds, our farming tools, and our new techniques. And what will your people want when they have a stable food source? Better clothes, more exquisite utensils, and a wider variety of goods.”
"By then, the Dwarf Kingdom will transform from a source of grain imports into a source of industrial goods exports. And where will these industrial goods be sold? They will still be sold through the trade routes we have established."
He paused, allowing his words to settle: "So the current investment will result in a stable and long-term market. This deal is worthwhile."
Sorek was stunned, and the Dwarf King also fell into thought.
At this point, Ilandil spoke up: "I must say, Lin Yue's vision is indeed unique. However, I think there is still one problem with this plan that needs to be solved."
All eyes were on him.
“Transportation,” Elendil’s long fingers traced across the map, “from Blackrock City to Redrock Canyon, even by water, it would mean circling the entire Sunset Mountains, a journey of at least three hundred miles. But if…”
His finger stopped at the edge of the Silvermoon Forest: "If we go this way, the distance can be halved."
The entire round table fell silent.
That was the edge of the Silvermoon Forest, a forbidden zone for elves for centuries. Anyone who was not an elf and entered without permission would be killed on the spot.
"Your Excellency, what do you mean..."
“Silvermoon Forest,” Elendil’s voice drifted like the night wind, “is willing to open an ancient trade route on the edge of the forest.”
The dwarf king suddenly stood up: "What? The elves are willing to open the trade route?"
“Wait,” Ryan also stood up, “Your Excellency, what…what price is required?”
Irandir smiled slightly: "Three conditions."
"First, this trade route is for commercial purposes only; no army or armed caravan may pass through it. Violators will be considered to have invaded the Silvermoon Forest."
"Secondly, Silvermoon Forest has the right of first refusal for all goods transported via the trade route. We have the right to purchase the goods we need at market price."
“Finally,” he looked at Lin Yue, “Hope Trading Company needs to help us establish a similar food processing system and provide planting techniques for some new crop varieties. In exchange, Silvermoon Forest will allow Hope Trading Company to obtain the right to harvest medicinal herbs on some of the forest’s perimeter.”
Lin Yue quickly made a decision in his mind.
“I agree,” Lin Yue said, “but I have one condition.”
"Please speak."
“We can’t just build one distribution center at the Dwarven border,” Lin Yue pointed to three locations on the map. “We need three: one at the Dwarven border, one at Blackrock City, and one at the edge of the forest. Connect the three points to form a triangle, creating a complete trade route.”
“Each site is provided by the local land provider, and the construction is undertaken by the Hope Company, with joint management by all three parties. This will not only improve efficiency but also ensure that each party has a say in this channel.”
This proposal caused all three representatives to fall into deep thought.
The Dwarf King looked at Thorek and Stonefist, and Stonefist nodded: "Uncle, this plan is fairer and more stable."
Elendil spoke briefly in Elvish with the elves behind him, exchanging a few words before finally nodding: "Silvermoon Forest agrees."
Ryan pondered for a moment: "The human kingdoms agree in principle. However, the detailed management rules for these three distribution points need to be written into the agreement, clearly defining the rights and obligations of each party. At the same time, I must clarify," his tone became solemn, "that the terms I can agree to on behalf of the kingdom today are all within the scope of my authorization. But matters involving land use, long-term tax reductions, and other major issues will ultimately require the approval and seal of His Majesty the King and the Parliament before they can truly take effect."
"This agreement can be seen as our initial consensus. I will send the agreement back to the capital as soon as possible and strive to obtain formal approval within a month."
The Dwarf King nodded: "That makes sense. Although we dwarves are ruled by a king, I also need to consult the elders on matters concerning land and minerals."
“Well then,” said Ilandil, “I suggest we set out the big framework and principles today, and discuss the specific details over the next few days.”
“Agreed,” Lane said. “I have prepared a preliminary management charter for reference.”
He gestured to his adjutant, who brought over a thick stack of parchment and distributed it to the representatives of the three parties.
The dwarf king took the book and flipped through it, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper: "So detailed? It even specifies how to dispose of garbage?"
“Details determine success or failure,” Lin Yue said earnestly. “The more insignificant a matter seems, the more likely it is to cause conflict. Rather than arguing later, it’s better to clarify things now.”
Ilandil flipped through the documents: "Interesting. This management style... is very similar to the rules of procedure of the elves, but more detailed and specific."
For the next half day, the representatives of the three parties engaged in heated discussions on the details of the agreement.
Regarding the distribution of mineral resources, the ratio changed from 50/50 to 40/60, and was finally settled at 4.5 to 5.5, with the dwarves having a slight advantage.
The price of grain was negotiated from 20% of the market price to 75%, and finally settled at 78%, but with the clause that "it can be appropriately increased in the event of a disaster year".
The management of the trade routes evolved from "whoever has jurisdiction is responsible" to "joint patrols," and was eventually settled on "each managing their own section of the route, but sharing intelligence."
Regarding the transfer of technology, the Dwarf King requested that a supervisory team be dispatched to oversee the entire process. Lin Yue agreed but required that the members of the supervisory team must be knowledgeable in the technology and that no laymen be sent to cause trouble. Furthermore, the dwarves also needed to provide corresponding technical guidance.
Every clause and detail has been carefully considered and negotiated.
As the sun gradually set in the west, the parchment on the round table piled up like a mountain.
Finally, when the last clause was finalized, the Dwarf King slammed his hand on the table: "Good! It's settled then!"
He looked at everyone and said, “Gentlemen, I propose that we sign a preliminary agreement here today. Let’s do this while everyone’s sincerity is still there, and not let things get complicated. Although this agreement still needs to be formally approved back home, at least we can finalize it now.”
Ryan nodded: "I agree."
Elendil smiled: "Silvermoon Forest has no objection."
"We hope the business can sign the agreement at any time."
“Then let us begin,” the Dwarf King said, taking out the seal. “Let this round table be our witness, so that our descendants may remember this day, the day when the southern tribes regained their cooperation.”
Ryan's adjutant took out the prepared formal agreement text, in four copies, written in the common language of the continent, dwarven runes, elven ancient language, and the language of the human royal family.
[Northern Peace Trade Route Agreement (Preliminary Framework)]
Key terms:
I. Mineral Mining: The Dwarf Kingdom grants the Human Kingdom full mining rights to the Red Rock Canyon Copper Mine, paying 5% of the total mineral output annually as land use fees.
The Iron Skull Mountains iron mine operates on a cooperative mining model, with ore production split 4.5 (dwarves) to 5.5 (humans).
Both parties will establish a joint management committee in the mining area to jointly oversee production safety and environmental protection.
II. Food and Technology: The Human Kingdom shall supply the Dwarf Kingdom with no less than 5,000 bags of high-quality food per month at a price of 78% of the market price. The price shall not fluctuate by more than 10% within three years (the price may be increased by more than 20% in years of disaster, and three months' notice is required).
They hope the merchant guild will send an agricultural technology team to teach planting and processing techniques, helping the dwarf kingdom achieve basic food self-sufficiency within two years.
The Dwarf Kingdom has the right to send a supervisory team to oversee the entire process of technology transfer, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the technology.
III. Trade Route Opening: The human kingdoms will open the trade route from Blackrock City to the dwarven border, exempting them from trade taxes for three years.
Silvermoon Forest has opened the ancient trails at the edge of the forest, allowing caravans to pass, but prohibiting the entry of armies and armed caravans.
Silvermoon Forest has the right of first refusal for all goods transported via the Forest Trade Route.
IV. Establish one distribution center for goods at each of the following locations: Dwarven Border, Blackrock City, and Forest Edge.
The land is provided by the local party, construction is the responsibility of Hope Trading Company, the three parties jointly manage the project, and the profits are divided according to the proportion of investment.
Fifth, Stonefist Furyhammer, the Peacekeeper, travels to human territory for a two-year technical exchange as a member of the Dwarven royal family and a peacekeeper.
The human kingdom guarantees their personal safety and fair treatment, while the dwarf kingdom regularly sends liaisons to visit them.
Stonefist can bring five young artisan apprentices with him to learn the craft together, and will also share dwarven craftsmanship as appropriate.
VI. Dispute Resolution In the event of a trade dispute, an arbitration committee composed of representatives from the three parties shall be formed, with Silver Moon Forest serving as the presiding party.
Neither party may use force to resolve disputes without authorization; any party that violates this agreement will be deemed to have breached it.
The agreement is valid for five years, after which the three parties will renegotiate.
VII. Conditions for Effectiveness This agreement is a preliminary framework agreement, and its specific provisions shall become effective only after being formally approved by all parties.
Human kingdoms require the approval of the king and council, and the affixing of the royal seal. Dwarven kingdoms require approval from the council of elders and the affixing of the royal seal. Silvermoon Forest requires the official authorization of the Elf Queen.
All approval procedures are expected to be completed within one month.
Signatory:
Dwarven Kingdom: Ironbeard VIII, the Dwarven King (pending ratification by the Council of Elders)
Human Kingdom: Envoy Ryan von Kaslan (holding preliminary royal authorization, pending formal approval)
Silvermoon Forest: Messenger Elendil (with Queen's authorization)
Technology Provider: Hope Trading Company, Lin Yue
Witness: The ancient round table, the place where various tribes swore their oaths. Date of witness: 15th day of the Autumn Harvest Month, Year 793 of the Human Calendar.
The dwarf king was the first to sign. With his rough fingers, covered in mineral dust, he solemnly carved ancient dwarven runes onto the parchment, then pressed his seal, representing royal authority, affixed.
Elendil then signed his name in the ancient Elvish language with the Moonlight Silver Pen, and then took out an ancient tree resin stamp, pressed it gently, leaving a silver moon and oak tree pattern.
Ryan took a deep breath, solemnly signed his name, and then pressed the seal of the Caslan family and the temporary royal seal. His hand trembled slightly; this agreement would completely change the landscape of half the continent, and it would also change his own destiny.
Finally, Lin Yue also signed his name and affixed the seal of Hope Trading Company.
Four agreements, four languages, four seals.
As the last seal was pressed, the ancient round table suddenly emitted a faint glow. Runes that had slumbered for hundreds of years awakened, emitting a soft white light.
"This is..." The dwarf king stared in surprise at the light.
“The blessing of the Round Table,” Elendil explained, “is a table forged by the ancient tribes together. It bears witness and bestows blessings when the tribes reach a sincere agreement here.”
The light gradually faded, but the four names that signed the agreement today were permanently etched on the stone surface of the round table.
As the sun sets, the ancient round table gleams in the afterglow of the sunset.
Representatives from all four sides stood around the round table, setting aside their guard and hostility for the first time in many years, with only hopes for tomorrow.
Shi Quan walked up to Lin Yue and patted him hard on the shoulder: "Kid, thanks."
"What are you thanking me for?" Lin Yue laughed. "I'm the one who should be thanking you. If it weren't for you, how could I have convinced the Dwarf King of our sincerity?"
“Two years,” Stone Fist said. “I will study hard. There are still many things I don’t understand in Hope Town.”
“Yes, I also look forward to you bringing new dwarven techniques,” Lin Yue said earnestly. “I’ve been thinking about what would happen if we combined the dwarven forging techniques with steam power…”
“That would be a revolution,” Stone Fist’s eyes gleamed. “That’s what I think too.”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
In the distance, the Dwarf King and Ryan were discussing the specific details of the mining development, while Elendil was arranging for the elves to rush back to the forest to report their conversation to the Queen.
Everything is moving in a positive direction.
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