The plan to purchase grain was forced to a halt.
Li De was quite surprised when he received this news.
He had thought this would be the simplest part of the plan, but unexpectedly, it had hit a snag.
"Lord Li De, I had already contacted several rchant guilds specializing in grain sales.
Just before I was about to make the paynt, they suddenly inford that due to the border war, Green City had issued a ban on large-scale grain purchases.
I went to every grain-selling rchant guild in the eastern district, and by the Goddess, they all used this reason to refuse . Those damn bastards!"
Laurent was frustrated. He had thought this would be a simple task, sothing he could handle smoothly, but he hadn't expected such a significant obstacle.
1,800 gold pucks could buy enough food to feed ten thousand people for a month, or one hundred thousand people for a year.
While this was a considerable amount, it wasn't anything extraordinary.
After all, the southern region was the primary grain-producing area of the Nolan Empire, with plenty of grain reserves. But Laurent had never encountered such difficulty in purchasing grain before.
Having money but being unable to buy grain—what a nightmare!
Li De pondered for a mont.
The importance of food to the population acquisition plan was irreplaceable.
Without food, even if they managed to bring people back to the ancient castle, it would be pointless. They couldn't expect humans to survive on just one al a month like the vampires.
The most suitable place for large-scale grain acquisition was Green City. Other nearby cities were too far away, unfamiliar, and didn't have as much grain stored as Green City.
If they went to other cities to buy grain, the ti and effort required would be imnse, and they might not even be able to purchase the desired quantity before winter set in.
So there was no choice—this problem had to be solved.
"Which rchant guilds control the grain supply in Green City?
I'm not talking about the small guilds that sell grain, but the ones that control the entire grain market in Green City."
Laurent didn't hesitate and imdiately replied, "Lord Li De, half of the grain in Green City is sold by honorary mbers of the Green City rchant Guild, while the other half is controlled by the largest rchant guild in the city—the Alex rchant Guild."
The Green City rchant Guild was a collective of thousands of rchant guilds in Green City, with the twenty most powerful guilds being granted honorary mbership.
The Golden Wheat rchant Guild was a mber of the Green City rchant Guild, but its strength was only mid-tier, not even ranking in the top five hundred.
Li De nodded slightly. This era had no anti-monopoly laws, and nobles often controlled the most profitable businesses.
Grain was the foundation of everything, and its profitability was second to none.
He had already prepared himself for the possibility that one or a few major noble families controlled the grain supply.
"What's the situation with the Alex rchant Guild? Can we purchase grain from them?"
The Vampire Progenitor was a standard magic enthusiast with very poor social skills, and his connections in Green City were practically nonexistent.
Coincidentally, nobles often relied on connections and relationships, so even though he was a high-level mage with a baron's title, he had no way to find the right people to solve this problem.
Given his status, this should have been a simple matter, but now he had to handle it himself.
It seed that after resolving this issue, he would need to establish connections in Green City, he thought.
"The Alex rchant Guild is one of the founders of Green City and holds a very prestigious position in the city.
If we can gain their support, this grain issue can be easily resolved," Laurent said with a bitter expression. "I originally wanted to visit them, but I was stopped at the door."
"However, if it's you, Lord Li De, I believe they would be more than willing to receive you."
The status of a mage and a rchant were naturally different. The Alex rchant Guild might look down on Laurent, but they couldn't afford to treat Li De lightly.
Laurent also felt a sense of relief. If he hadn't attached himself to this powerful figure, he would have had no choice but to accept the situation.
"Are there any alternatives besides the Alex rchant Guild?"
"The Alex rchant Guild is the best option. If they can't resolve this issue, then no other guild can."
Laurent's face was full of bitterness.
Li De nodded slightly. It seed the Alex rchant Guild was not as simple as it appeared in Green City.
Could this grain sales ban be related to them?
If it was indeed related to them, what was their purpose? Was it simply because of the Beastn invasion?
His eyes narrowed slightly. These ancient nobles might be rotten, but he wouldn't underestimate them.
"Has Green City ever banned grain sales in previous winters?"
"Lord Li De, there hasn't been such a ban in the past ten years. But this year, the Beastn arrived unusually early, so perhaps the nobles of Green City have other concerns."
Whether it was related to them or not, this visit was necessary.
"Help send a formal visit request. I will personally visit the Alex rchant Guild."
"Yes, Lord Li De."
The headquarters of the Alex rchant Guild was located in the most prosperous area of Green City's central district, less than a thousand blades away from the City Lord's Mansion in a straight line.
After Laurent delivered Li De's visit request to the guild, it wasn't long before a vice president of the Alex rchant Guild personally ca out to arrange a eting ti.
The treatnt he received was worlds apart from when he had co alone to seek an audience.
By the ti Li De received Laurent's feedback, two sun-hours had already passed.
The distance between the Alex rchant Guild and the Crimson Mage Tower took a full sun-hour by carriage.
So Li De didn't delay, preparing to set out with Laurent.
"Lord Li De, may I co with you?"
In the first-floor hall, just as Li De was about to leave, Vina looked at him with pleading eyes.
Li De was montarily stunned. He glanced at the dozen or so mage apprentices in the hall, all looking expectant, and nodded slightly.
"Vina, Cohen, you two co with . Karu, today you'll help answer their questions."
Vina and Cohen, who had been called out, were overjoyed and quickly stepped forward to follow him.
The other mage apprentices, though envious, didn't dare to speak up. They didn't have the courage to speak to Lord Li De as boldly as Miss Vina.
Over the past few days, Li De had been staying in the mage tower, finding ti to give these mage apprentices a few lessons.
Having experienced the baptism of compulsory education, he followed the modern teaching thods of his own teachers, providing these knowledge-thirsty apprentices with several thorough explanations.
The apprentices discovered that their teacher wasn't as unapproachable as they had thought, so they beca much closer to him and more respectful.
If it had been the Vina from before, she would never have dared to speak up when the Vampire Progenitor was leaving.
Li De didn't have any particular thoughts about this. These mage apprentices were undoubtedly the best labor force.
They could work for him for 14 hours a day and still be thrilled, considering it an honor.
All he had to do was give them a few lessons when he had ti, and as their strength improved, the greatest beneficiary would still be himself.
There was simply no more perfect labor force than this.
As a newly minted capitalist, Li De was very satisfied with this batch of apprentices.
Bringing Vina and Cohen along was also because he had noticed that these two were quite clever. In the future, he could delegate more tasks related to the Golden Wheat rchant Guild to them.
While the vampires were launching their grand farming plan, the mage tower couldn't be neglected. Both cultural and physical developnt were essential.
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