Chapter 349: Chapter 310 Eternal Domain’s Response_1
News that the Thunderous Swamp had accepted elven troops had already spread through many channels.
Marquis Anderson had seized vehicles from the Eternal Domain, imposed higher taxes on the Eternal Commerce Guild, and invited Lord Yan Xing of the Eternal Domain to Storm City to discuss commercial sanctions. These actions immediately made everyone sense an unfavorable wind blowing. A run on the Eternal Grain Bank in Nuta City had already occurred. The major merchants and great nobles were also desperately using various channels to gather insider information.
Is Marquis Anderson really going to wage war against Lord Yan Xing?
In the Eternal Domain, Yan Xing had long anticipated that Marquis Anderson would make some moves against him; he just hadn’t expected him to act so quickly. As soon as Cloud Tower reinforced Storm City with a batch of airships, Marquis Anderson wasted no time in targeting the Eternal Commerce Guild. He acted without any hesitation. He was indeed the kind of man who could create such a situation in the Wildwind Highlands.
In fact, war begins the moment the decision to fight is made. Before official battles commence, warring parties exhaust all means to weaken the enemy and increase their own chances of victory. Open, armed conflict is only implemented after all non-military measures have been exhausted. Sometimes, these preliminary measures can determine a battle’s outcome before it even starts.
The arrival of the airships, facilitated by Cloud Tower, not only bolstered Anderson’s military strength but also projected an image of him having Cloud Tower’s support. His challenge to the Eternal Domain’s trade system at this juncture was an economic strike against Yan Xing.
Through recent investigations, Marquis Anderson knew Yan Xing held significant influence in Nuta City. Many merchants and nobles were profiting from the trade systems he had established, and Count Theodore owed Yan Xing a substantial sum of money. The residents of Nuta City had also benefited greatly from Yan Xing. Therefore, if Marquis Anderson were to wage war against Yan Xing, Nuta City would undoubtedly be a significant vulnerability. The Rose Court and the Temple still held power in Nuta City. If Yan Xing were to use his wealth and influence to stir up trouble in Nuta City, it would be a loss Marquis Anderson could not afford.
Thus, Anderson launched his offensive on the economic front first. He hoped that an inappropriate response from Yan Xing would cause his business partners to lose confidence in him. Driving Yan Xing’s influence out of Nuta City was intended to reduce internal opposition when war eventually broke out with the Eternal Domain.
Yan Xing’s response was... to immediately purchase grain from the "real world" and replenish the Eternal Grain Bank’s warehouses. He opened the bank for unrestricted grain exchange. He also issued a warning to those merchants holding large quantities of Grain Tickets: "The Eternal Grain Bank will not repurchase exchanged grain. An oversupply in the market will inevitably devalue the grain you currently hold. Moreover, if heavy snow blocks the roads again, you will find it even more difficult to sell your grain. When that happens, don’t blame us for not issuing a warning."
In response to the increased tax rate targeting the Eternal Commerce Guild, the Guild announced a corresponding price increase for military supplies provided to the Wildwind Highlands Legion, such as woven bags, windproof goggles, plastic basins, and steel. They also condemned Storm City for the unreasonable seizure of lawful merchants’ property.
Yan Xing invited Marquis Anderson to meet in Nuta City to negotiate and resolve the emerging commercial disputes.
The Eternal Commerce Guild announced they would build the Nuta City Airport on the ruins in front of the Thunderous Swamp’s Special Envoy Office in Nuta City. The short-haul civil air route between the Eternal Domain and Nuta City would soon be operational, reducing travel time between the two cities to under twenty minutes.
The Eternal Grain Bank announced plentiful warehouse reserves, assuring absolutely no delays in grain exchanges during business hours.
The Eternal Commerce Guild announced the formation of its Second Mercenary Combat Regiment, with a strength of 3,000.
Count Theodore issued a public statement, expressing his hope that both parties could come to Nuta City for negotiations to peacefully resolve their misunderstandings.
Lady Karol of the Rose Court issued a statement accusing Marquis Anderson of unreasonably seizing merchants’ property. She deemed it an act unbecoming of nobility, warning it could lead to the grave consequence of merchants abandoning the Silvermane Principality.
Even Grand Priest Lancelot of the Temple unexpectedly voiced his concern, stating that Marquis Anderson’s provocations against the Eternal Domain would drag Nuta City—still recovering from a recent thug attack—back into the quagmire of war.
In short, messengers from all sides were the busiest group of people on the Wildwind Highlands. They rode Griffons through the skies, relaying the heated exchanges between the various factions.
As the Eternal Commerce Guild lost the trade route south to the Silvermane Principality due to targeted attacks from Storm City, Yan Xing immediately handed over the northbound trade route to the Merchant Guild. To this end, Yan Xing specifically met with Prince Elrado and Chief Old Momm, enabling the Merchant Guild to conduct commercial activities in the Untamed Wilds and the Snowland. As for the southern business, they could operate under a different guise, having other merchants manage it.
The increased taxes imposed on the Eternal Commerce Guild were entirely passed on by adding them to the selling prices. After all, the goods of the Eternal Commerce Group were irreplaceable, and people were still willing to pay the price.
After several consecutive days of bank runs, the Eternal Grain Bank gradually resumed normal operations.
What’s the use of exchanging for so much grain if we can’t eat it all or sell it from our homes?
Besides, Lord Yan Xing isn’t intimidated by Marquis Anderson at all; that shows how powerful he is!
Count Theodore stepping in to mediate shows Lord Yan Xing has deep roots in Nuta City.
Even Lady Karol has come forward to support Lord Yan Xing and condemn Marquis Anderson! It shows the Principality is on his side.
Lord Yan Xing is solid!
The disturbance gradually subsided but did not entirely cease. Marquis Anderson continued to impose sanctions on the Eternal Domain, demanding Yan Xing come to Storm City to discuss punishment. Yan Xing was definitely not going to Storm City. After all, Marquis Anderson’s sanctions had no substantial effect on the Eternal Domain’s current scale. Minor financial losses could easily be recouped elsewhere. Moreover, Highland City and Frostleaf City were now open to the Eternal Domain’s caravans, with vast untapped markets awaiting development.
After the excitement of the recent events, most people’s daily lives weren’t significantly affected. They continued to work for their livelihoods, occasionally visiting the site of what was being called the "Eternal Aviation" airport to see the progress.
What are those long, flat stretches of ground for?
What kind of ’chickens’ will this ’chicken farm’ raise in the future?
It’ll take less than twenty minutes to get from Nuta City to the Eternal Domain in the future? Those ’chickens’ must fly incredibly fast!
However, the tranquil days did not last long.
When ten airships bearing the banners of the Wildwind Highlands Legion appeared in the skies above Storm City, it instantly sent a shockwave across the entire Highlands. Subsequently, more airships arrived in Storm City, delivering alchemical weapons—once exclusive to Cloud Tower—into Marquis Anderson’s hands.
Marquis Anderson announced that Riftfort, the large fortress nearest to the Eternal Domain, would be the first to receive alchemical weapons from Cloud Tower and would swiftly complete its retrofitting and training. Simultaneously, he issued a remote challenge to Yan Xing, agreeing to meet in Nuta City.