Chapter 84: Rebuilding from Ruins (Part 2)

The merchant eagerly presented Wu Qingsong with three proposals. 

At first, they seemed promising, but Wu Qingsong, with his modern sensibilities and a keen eye for scams, quickly perceived the real agenda. Each proposal was elaborately crafted to subtly transfer the ownership of the mines on his territory to the merchant, offering him only the leftovers as compensation.

“I think I’ve got the gist of it,” Wu Qingsong said, deciding to end the conversation. “Thank you for your time. If I need your services, I’ll be sure to get in touch.”

“Sir, the Dark Hand Mercenary Group used to be our client,” the merchant, probably expecting Wu Qingsong to be an easy target for deception, was taken aback by his discerning response. His tone turned more pressing. “The Defielna Commercial Guild has vested interests in the Elmons mines. I urge you to consider this matter carefully.”

“I’m afraid I can’t help with that,” Wu Qingsong replied, his tone matching the merchant’s assertiveness. He refused to be intimidated, even by the prospect of angering a powerful duke. 

“Perhaps the Dark Hand or the ant creatures can resolve your issue. Alternatively, you might appeal to Marquis Osaga to command me to surrender my mines to you.”

“Sir, you should be aware of the consequences of angering the Defielna Guild!”

“Please leave,” Wu Qingsong stated firmly.

Not long after, other commercial guilds sent their representatives, each expressing a keen desire to assist the Thirteenth Mercenary Group in its rapid development. However, to Wu Qingsong’s disappointment, their so-called solutions were essentially the same, aiming to swindle his mining profits.

Wu Qingsong was somewhat amused by the fact that representatives from at least three commercial guilds claimed to have deep ties with the Dark Hand and professed to be the rightful owners of the Elmons Mines. This revelation made him worry less about the situation.

They were just a bunch of swindlers trying to take advantage of the chaos.

Wu Qingsong prepared some modest gifts, intending to meet with Marquis Osaga to express his gratitude for the promotion and to clarify the situation. However, he couldn’t even get past the door, let alone deliver the gifts.

The message from Marquis Osaga, delivered through a servant, was cryptic, advising Wu Qingsong to “watch his step.”

What could this mean?

Did Marquis Osaga have some connection with the original identity Wu Qingsong was assuming?

This thought plunged Wu Qingsong into a web of paranoia.

On the fifth day after Esola’s siege, the four elves departed northward after overhauling the city’s leadership and purging numerous corrupt officials.

Soon after, dazzling red lights and massive mushroom clouds illuminated the distant sky, accompanied by rumbling sounds. It was clear to everyone that the elves were engaged in another fierce battle with the insectoids at the Eryk Mines.

This sight brought relief to the people. Confidence was high that the elves wouldn’t lose, and there was a general belief that Esola City would be free from insectoid invasions for several years.

With the elves gone, the half-elf officials regained their energy. They swiftly adapted to their new roles, eagerly seeking any opportunity to profit from the city’s reconstruction.

Wu Qingsong and Harold were summoned for a friendly yet intense negotiation regarding the annual taxes the Elmons Mines were expected to pay to both the Duchy and the esteemed lords of Esola.

Had Wu Qingsong not acquired the financial records of the Dark Hand Mercenary Group from Philip, the foxman on the fringes of society planning to leave Esola to start afresh, he wouldn’t have had the leverage to cut down their astronomically high initial tax demands by half, and then half again.

The outcome of the negotiation was acceptable for both parties.

Due to the ravages of the insectoid disaster, Wu Qingsong managed to negotiate two years of tax exemption and a subsequent three years of reduced taxes. In return, he was obliged to make a one-time payment of two hundred gold sols to the lords upon securing control of his territory. Furthermore, he agreed to an annual ‘consultation fee’ of the same amount, increasing by ten percent each year, in return for their political backing. The terms would be up for review after five years, depending on the recovery of the territory.

Given that the consultation fee paid by the Dark Hand was five times this amount, and that the fee would only reach three hundred gold sols after five years, Wu Qingsong found these terms to be just tolerable.

He then ‘borrowed’ a batch of grain from them at a rate thirty percent higher than the market price, committing to an annual interest of twenty percent. Yet, he was aware that this grain had already been approved by Marquis Osaga for free distribution to civilians as part of disaster relief.

Though this was a rather exploitative deal, compared to the offers made by the merchants who had approached him, these avaricious officials still seemed relatively more benevolent.

Armed with this grain supply, Wu Qingsong confidently dispatched Harold and Angus, along with half of the houndman warriors, to Bota to recruit additional houndmen. He himself, accompanied by the remaining recruits, returned to the previously abandoned mine to conduct training sessions.

It was evident that the mine had suffered damage at the hands of the antpeople. Most supplies were gone, including the chickens and ducks they had managed to raise. Thankfully, the bulk of the structure remained sound, and his secretively crafted gears and flywheels were undisturbed, safely hidden in their original place.

It wasn’t long before Harold and Angus came back with nearly a hundred houndmen and more than three hundred family members in tow. The firsthand testimonials of the initial group of houndmen proved to be a powerful recruitment tool. They had managed to bring almost every available houndman from the outskirts of Bota. If Wu Qingsong continued to prioritize houndmen in his ranks, he would need to venture farther afield.

However, for Wu Qingsong, this number was more than sufficient, even excessive.

With almost two hundred soldiers and four hundred family members, primarily consisting of adults and children, the thought of their daily food alone made Wu Qingsong anxious. How long could the grain last with such a burden? Even if Ram brought a large sum of money, it wouldn’t be enough in the long term.

“We should ask Ram to bring more grain,” suggested Harold.

“That won’t solve the problem. We need to find them work,” Wu Qingsong replied, his instincts as both a capitalist and a feudal lord coming to the fore. “They should at least be able to feed themselves.”

“What work can they do now?” Harold asked.

“What else? We return to our original trade, let them make armor,” Wu Qingsong declared.