Chapter 155 Mole Manor (Part 1)
population……
I can't come back anymore...
When he heard the first half of the sentence, Viscount Conte suddenly felt a heart-wrenching pain, as if his chest was holding its breath and there was a slight pain.
That’s one-third of Conte’s population!
It was just like this, gone in an instant! However,
When Viscount Conte heard Bruno claim that the lost taxes could be recovered through other means, he instantly became alert.
Population and other things are secondary. Those dirty and unruly people can leave if they want to. As long as our taxes are still there, as long as those golden and heavy gold coins are still there, everything can be negotiated!
Besides, population reduction is not without benefits.
For example...the sanitary environment in Moore City (the location of the lord's castle in Conte Territory) is obviously much better than before!
Although it is still far from being as clean and tidy as the city of Idar, the stinking smell has been greatly reduced.
Before this, Viscount Conte did not feel any disgust about the stench floating in the territory. After all... everyone's territory was like this.
However, after living in Idar for a week, Viscount Conte actually began to dislike his own city of Moore.
then……
Viscount Conte suddenly realized! It turns out that a clean and orderly urban environment is such a prestigious thing! This is the dignity of a true noble! However, Viscount Conte really couldn't understand why his territory was cleaner the fewer people there were, while Idar Territory was cleaner the more people there were?
Could it be that... the Idar people kept their feces in their homes and didn't spill them on the streets? Viscount Conte shook his head helplessly. He really couldn't... figure it out...
"My Lord Earl... I wonder how we can get back the lost money?" Viscount Conte asked in confusion.
"Although I don't want to do this, but... the people who came to Idar Territory can't be found back no matter what..." Bruno said in a deep voice.
"As for the population loss, the biggest loss suffered by Conte Territory is the rent paid by the civilians for farming the land, and the firewood tax paid by the civilians for heating in winter, as well as the mill usage fee, forest tax and a small amount of commercial tax, which are not many in number but are numerous."
"In that case, why don't Viscount Conte do a business with me?" Bruno said enthusiastically.
"Ah? Business?"
Although the nobles of this era did not exclude merchants ,
If he were to bend down and do business in person, it would be somewhat out of character. Most of the time, it would be done by the butler or confidant, and they would never put it on the table for discussion like this.
"What do you think of this bottle of liquor called 'Whiskey', Lord Viscount?" Bruno asked, pointing to the empty bottle.
Viscount Conte licked his lips, savored it secretly, and then praised: "This strong liquor... I just felt it was particularly spicy when I first took a sip, but if you taste it carefully, it has a flavor different from beer and wine. Although everyone has different preferences, yes... I personally have a special liking for this kind of strong liquor from Idar Territory!"
"The business I'm talking about is this liquor!" Bruno nodded and spoke.
"Strong liquor? Could it be that the Earl wants to use strong liquor to exchange for civilians to compensate for the tax losses of the County of Conte?" Viscount Conte asked thoughtfully.
actually……
In Viscount Conte's opinion, this is not a bad idea!
After all, although Bruno had begun selling spirits in Idar and had tried to use them to open up the market in the Kingdom of Basel, the spirits had not been sold to the west or north of Idar.
Therefore, Viscount Conte naturally found this kind of liquor very new and fresh.
Even if you don't drink it yourself, you should be able to make a lot of money by reselling these liquors!
"no."
Bruno opened a new bottle of whiskey and poured it for the two of them himself.
"I plan to cooperate with you to brew strong liquor together."
Before Viscount Conte could come to his senses, Bruno suddenly changed the subject and said.
"Wine together?"
Viscount Conte was stunned for a moment and murmured.
“That’s right!”
When Bruno heard that Viscount Conte was coming, he naturally set his sights on Viscount Conte!
Although the Moore River Valley where Conte is located is located in the interior and does not have the high income brought by the salt industry, it also has its own unique source of income, that is grapes! The suitable climate conditions and geographical environment make the grapes grown in the Moore River Valley particularly sweet and full, even within the scope of the Norman Empire, it is considered to be ranked among the best!
Although the profits from growing grapes are not as lucrative as those from drying salt, it can still bring Viscount Conte more than a thousand gold coins every year!
Using high-quality grapes to brew brandy with a mellow taste and unique flavor naturally became one of Bruno's choices for brewing spirits.
after all……
Although the Idar Territory can use grain to brew spirits such as whiskey, but... that still requires the consumption of grain!
It would be fine if it was in normal times, but the Norman Empire is now at war! Food is an extremely valuable strategic resource! Therefore, Bruno certainly cannot use too much food reserves to brew liquor, but... the profits brought by liquor also make Bruno extremely envious.
Therefore, brewing fruit wine such as brandy naturally became Bruno's only choice to expand his profits.
"You mean... such a sweet and strong liquor can actually be made from grapes?"
"Of course. Besides, I call the strong liquor made from grapes brandy." Bruno nodded.
"Brandy?" Viscount Conte pondered for a moment, then couldn't help but praise: "What a good name! This name sounds particularly refreshing and noble!"
"So, Your Excellency the Viscount agrees?" Bruno asked.
"If we can use the finest grapes produced in the Moore River Valley to make brandy, then there is no reason not to agree. It's just... I don't know how to divide the specific operation and the final profits?"
"As for the profits... we'll split it 20% to 80%, 80% for me and 20% for you. What do you think, Viscount Conte?" Bruno said calmly.
"What?" Viscount Conte almost jumped up from his seat.
"My Lord Earl, this ratio is a bit...too exaggerated, isn't it?"
Of course Bruno knew that this ratio was a bit exaggerated, but...isn't negotiation all about asking for a high price and paying a low price?
"But... Lord Viscount, you have to know that the technology for brewing strong liquor is only possessed by the Idar Territory. This means that there will be almost no competitors for brandy brewed in the future!"
"Besides... it's just rogue to only talk about profit sharing without talking about investment! All you have to be responsible for is growing grapes from the land. As for the brewing of brandy, the subsequent sales and packaging, all these investments need to be borne by Idarling."
"but……"
Friendship is friendship, business is business.
After a lot of haggling, Bruno and Viscount Conte finally agreed on the profit sharing ratio and many other matters regarding this cooperation.
Thanks to "采菊东榭下丿悠" for the 1500 points! And...
(End of this chapter)
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