Book 5: Chapter 130: Opening the harbour
Before the important Marquis Southgate had left, there was another important guest that came to the Stantine Duchy.
This was already Russell’s third time in the Stantine Duchy.
Unlike the last two times, he didn’t come with ambassador Hakanin this time, but led several of his subordinates from the Candra Empire navy. He came in the pure black Magic Car that he bought from Belil’s Magic Car Store and drove all the way here from the Candra Empire.
Although he had informed Xu Yi ahead of time, when Xu Yi saw the serious expressions of the subordinates that followed Russell, he was still a bit surprised.
Seeing their stance, it didn’t seem like they were just here for a follow up inspection.
As expected, after exchanging greetings with Xu Yi, Russell directly jumped into the main topic.
“Chairman Xu, we’ve obtained the navy headquarters’ approval on the cooperation method from last time. As long as you can agree on behalf of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, our first cooperation will become official.” Russell looked at Xu Yi as he said this with a serious look.
Xu Yi was silent for a bit before asking with a smile, “Sir Russell, may I ask how many guard ships you are buying this time?”
Russell had an awkward look on his face and after hesitating a bit, he slowly raised three fingers for Xu Yi.
“Thirty ships? That might be a bit difficult. With our company’s current production capacity, it’ll take us a few years to build thirty ships.”
“No……It’s three ships……” When he said this, Russell’s face couldn’t help turning a bit red.
As the Candra Empire’s navy with incomparable glory, it was very embarrassing to buy warships from another country’s company. What was even more embarrassing was that they could only buy three ships!
Xu Yi was surprised as he revealed a strange look. He immediately suppressed it and revealed the same smile as before.
“Three? That isn’t a problem, we can finish these three ships at the quickest in three months. But how do you propose we finish our cooperation?”
“Relax, we have already made preparations.”
Russell took out the document from the bag in his hand for Xu Yi.
This was a cooperation contract. It clearly wrote that as compensation for the three guard ships from the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, the Candra Empire would offer one and a half million gold coins. At the same time, they would be opening up the mineral resources on the islands in the southern seas of the Candra Empire.
At the same time, the Candra Empire navy would work with the Frestech Chamber of Commerce to build several bases on the southern seas, allowing the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s transport fleet to rest and restock along the way.
Other than this, the Candra Empire’s navy would open up two harbours with the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s transport and guard fleets respectively.
The harbour for the transport fleet would be a deep sea harbour for civilians. After this was opened, it would allow the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s transport fleet to transport a large amount of cargo.
This was equal to opening the southern market of the Candra Empire to the Frestech Chamber of Commerce.
If this was put on earth with a highly developed commercial society, this approach would be careless. It wouldn’t be easily opened in a normal situation.
But for the countries of the Sines Continent, this wasn’t a problem.
This harbour was controlled by the Candra Empire’s navy, so as long as the navy agreed, there were no problems.
There is some problem with opening the harbour to the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s guard fleet. However, the Candra Empire’s navy worked with the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s guard fleet to attack the pirates, so they gave the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s guard fleet that status of an ally, allowing them to freely move through the Candra Empire’s harbour.
“Chairman Xu, this is for the army headquarters that we gave you the status of an ally fleet, please don’t mind it.” Russell explained to Xu Yi.
He knew that in terms of combat strength, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s fleet was not as big as the Candra Empire’s navy, so they were considered an ally fleet in name, but when they were fighting the pirates, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s guard fleet were the main forces.
The pirates hadn’t just run wild in the seas of the Candra Empire for a few days. The Candra Empire’s navy had surrounded them many times, but because their fleet couldn’t suppress the pirates, they never had the chance to obtain an outstanding victory.
After the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s guard fleet had arrived, with the power and speed of the guard fleet, as long as they met pirates, the pirates wouldn’t be able to do anything. They weren’t even able to run away.
In just half a year, the pirates in the Candra Empire’s southern seas had disappeared and no longer dared to run wild.”
“Oh, this isn’t anything.” Xu Yi waved his hand to show he didn’t care.
He really didn’t care what they were called since the Candra Empire was one of the two empires on the continent. He could understand if they wanted to maintain a bit of superiority.
Compared to this, Xu Yi cared more about the practical significance.
Opening up the civilian harbour and opening the market for the Frestech Chamber of Commerce was already enough.
Then they opened the military harbour. The guard fleet would be able to have a stable and sufficient supply base in the Candra Empire’s seas, they wouldn’t have to run back to the Rudson Kingdom’s Nissi Harbour for supplies like before.
This way, it would greatly increase the active range of the guard fleet. It would help the Frestech Chamber of Commerce explore and develop the southern seas of the Candra Empire and the surrounding seas.
Xu Yi carefully looked over the contract and found that not only did it have the clauses that Russell mentioned before, there were a few extra clauses. He couldn’t help giving a satisfied nod.
It seems like the Candra Empire’s navy had taken out some good sincerity in cooperating with the Frestech Chamber of Commerce.
This was a good beginning, it meant that the Candra Empire’s navy would keep considering how to have a deep cooperation with the Frestech Chamber of Commerce in the future.
After discussing some details of the contract with Russell, both sides quickly signed it, putting both their names on the contract.
Seeing that Xu Yi had finished signing the contract, Russell immediately revealed a bright smile. He reached his hand out towards Xu Yi, “Chairman Xu, to a happy cooperation.”
“To a happy cooperation.” Xu Yi shook Russell’s hand with a smile before asking, “Sir Russell, I still have to ask something. After you buy these guard ships, how are you planning on using them?”
Russell looked at Xu Yi with a bit of surprise, “Of course we plan to put them into naval service. Only by letting others see the power of these guard ships can we replace more of the navy with these guard ships. What is it? Chairman Xu, could it be that you don’t want this to happen?”
“No, no, no, of course I want to see more ships being replaced with guards ships because wouldn’t our company be able to earn more money from this?” Xu Yi gave a laugh. He looked at Russell’s followers who also had strange looks, but he didn’t say anything else.
It wouldn’t take a day or two to build the guard ships, so there was no meaning for Russell to remain here.
But he still left a subordinate here. He told Xu Yi that it was to supervise the construction progress of the guard ships and to make it easier for them to communicate.
Xu Yi wasn’t surprised by this and didn’t object, he happily accepted this. He immediately ordered his subordinates to prepare a special residence for the Candra Empire’s navy’s observer.
Seeing that Xu Yi cooperated with him, Russell felt assured. He stayed in the Stantine Duchy for another day.
The next morning, before he planned to leave, Russell decided to see the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s shipyard.
Other than seeing the construction progress of the guard ship, he also wanted to prepare his observer for his first day of work.
Seeing that the work in the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s shipyard was very systematic, with each person being filled with energy and moving smoothly, Russell was very satisfied. Only then did he decide to leave.
With Xu Yi coming along, Russell came to the Frestech Harbour and looked at the endless seas. He said in an emotional voice to Xu Yi, “Chairman Xu, I heard that you wanted to explore the depths of the endless seas?”
Xu Yi gave a nod, “Yes. Actually, my goal in developing the Magic Ships was to explore the depths of the endless seas with these Magic Ships. I’ve always believed that other than the continent we are on, there is another or there are several other continents.”
“Because the legend of the halflings?” Russell asked with a smile.
After coming to the Frestech Chamber of Commerce several times, he already knew that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce was known for having a legendary halfling. Moreover, when he had been at the shipyard, Xu Yi had even introduced him.
“It isn’t just the halflings, it’s also because exploring the unknown world is something that people long for.” Xu Yi replied, “Sir Russell, don’t you feel emotional when you think of exploring the new world?”
Russell gave a laugh, “I’m already old, this matter should be left to you young people. Of course, I hope that our royal fleet can explore the endless seas with your Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s guard fleet. After all, other than a whole new world on the endless seas, aren’t there also endless dangers?”
Xu YI smiled, not responding to Russell’s words.
As if he realized something from Xu Yi’s reaction, Russell’s expression changed slightly. He turned to the endless seas and noticed that there were several ships that were like small mountains quickly heading over.
“That should be your Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s transport fleet? I’ve already heard that they were big, but it really seems like they live up to their reputation.” Russell said with a sigh.
“You’ll be seeing them frequently in the future.” Xu Yi replied with a faint smile. Then he suddenly remembered something and his expression changed slightly.
Sensing the strangeness with Xu Yi, Russell asked, “What is it? Is there a problem?”
“No……It’s nothing……” Xu Yi looked at the Paladin Ship that was already close to harbour and a strange feeling filled his heart.
After a while, the Paladin’s bridge fell down. Marquis Southgate who was with the Paladin Ship’s captain who went to the Black Rice Wasteland yesterday came down.
Seeing Xu Yi standing at the harbour, Marquis Southgate came over with a wide smile.
“Chairman Xu, you’re too polite, coming here to welcome me back. I……”
Marquis Southgate suddenly stopped as his eyes went past Xu Yi, falling onto Russell beside him. The smile on his face disappeared.
The faint smile on Russell’s face had also long disappeared.