Chapter 505 — The Business Ways of the Xuanmai Sect

The duchy's situation had settled; internal troubles and external threats were basically quelled or, for the time being, unlikely to erupt. Next, Cecil would undoubtedly enter a stage of rapid development. With the four new industrial cities taking their first steps, there would follow countless infrastructure projects, countless basic-education programs, countless talent-recruitment plans... To ensure all of this progressed smoothly, Cecil would inevitably consume vast amounts of funds and resources.

The duchy's internal economy was indeed developing rapidly at present. Thanks to the spread of the new decrees and the support of merchants from all regions, the river of trade once bound by the old noble system was thawing, and gold coins were beginning to flow along the newly built roads and newly opened river routes—but these... were still not enough.

The magic-industry was a beast with an insatiable appetite; it had to devour more to grow. Gao Yang needed at least to grow it to the point of self-sustaining development before he could be at ease, and relying purely on the economic dividends of internal reforms within the duchy would make the beast's growth very dangerous: a single economic pillar is unstable, and should even a tiny problem arise in the economic chain, the Duchy of Cecil could collapse at any moment.

Especially with so many grand projects now underway... Gao Yang had no wish to see the foundation he had worked so hard to secure dragged down alive by a few over-rapidly developing grand projects.

Noticing that the Xuanmai Sect had not spoken for a long while, Heidi could not help asking curiously, "Ancestor... what are you thinking about?"

Gao Cen mused as he sighed leisurely. "Short on money and short on resources... that is a problem."

"Who are you planning to fleece this time?"

"You mean the royal army..." Gao Lan began, but halfway through he reacted. "What did you just say?"

Heidi, too, only realized after the words left her mouth, and her face flushed bright red at once. She hurriedly bent over. "Forgive me, Ancestor! I... I was a little distracted just now..."

Gao Dai was somewhat taken aback as well—he had truly never seen the mature and steady Heidi lose her composure twice in such quick succession. It seemed there really was no money lately; at the very mention of anything to do with budgets, this eldest granddaughter simply lost control.

He cleared his throat twice and tapped the table. "Be careful next time—we never fleece anyone; we conduct honest business. Back to the previous topic: although the Duchy of Cecil has closed the gates of Boulderhold Fortress, we cannot seal ourselves off entirely, nor forever. Boulderhold, as a fortress city, had certain districts designed from the very beginning to serve as trade transit zones. The fortress is not yet complete, but the merchants... can already begin to move."

The Xuanmai Sect was fond of doing business, and facts had proven that the Xuanmai Sect's business sometimes brought more considerable profits than war, so Heidi reacted at once. "You intend to open trade with the Holy Spirit Plains?"

"Strictly speaking, doing business with the royal house," Gao Yan nodded. "What do you think the royal army lacks?"

"...Alchemical potions, I'm afraid they don't lack," Heidi said as she thought. "The Holy Church's army has already joined the royal army's camp; on the battlefield, priests and church knights will not stint on magic power. With holy water and holy light in support, the royal army has little need of alchemical potions. What they lack... should be more powerful weapons."

At this, Heidi paused, then continued, "The royal army has almost never been able to defeat an equal number of Eastern Legion troops on the battlefield. The main reason is the poor quality of their soldiers—the Eastern Legion faces the Typhonians and the border barbarians, so they are almost all battle-hardened veterans, while in the royal army, it is said that apart from the mountain corps from the north, it takes two or three ordinary soldiers to deal with a single Easterner... Soldier quality is very hard to improve in a short time, but with superior weapons, the royal army could close the gap with the Eastern Legion in a short period."

"Then it seems we can produce a batch of 'foreign-trade weapons'..." Gao Yang said, stroking his chin. "We'll have to let Nicole's side design them..."

Heidi looked at Gao Yang with some hesitation. "Ancestor... you really mean to sell weapons to the royal army?"

Gao Yang answered with certainty. "We need funds, and the rich mineral resources of the Holy Spirit Plains."

Then, before Heidi could speak, he continued thoughtfully, "Also... since the cult most skilled at healing, the Mingyao Sect, has completely thrown in with the royal army, do you think the Eastern Legion... lacks potions?"

Heidi: "???"

:.: