Chapter 510: An Olive Branch Thrown to Pat!

Gervas actually held a higher opinion of Viscount Pat; he was a wise man who knew how to weigh choices.

However, Gervas did not immediately state his position, but instead looked at Lei Meng, "Lei Meng, what do you think?"

The look in Lei Meng's eyes directed at Gervas was full of gratitude.

Although he would never go to Viscount Pat's territory again in the future.

But this was, after all, a thorn left in his heart.

Now, my lord Gervas didn't even need to say anything, he directly let Viscount Pat prepare to issue a proclamation of his innocence in the viscount's territory, and even gave him twenty gold coins as compensation.

All of this, if it were not for my lord Gervas, he would never have dared to dream of!

"My lord, this subordinate will follow all your arrangements!"

"Very well, then I will take the initiative to agree to Viscount Pat's request!"

"Alright, Viscount Pat, the little interlude is over, let us continue drinking!"

Lei Meng's matter was just a small interlude; afterwards, Gervas called out to Pat.

And when Pat heard the call, his hanging heart immediately settled, and a look of surprise and joy appeared on his face.

He handed the beaten and bruised Miles to a servant, and he himself responded and followed Gervas back to the long table.

Returning to the long table to drink heartily for a long while, when the banquet was drawing to a close, Gervas threw an olive branch to Viscount Pat.

"Viscount Pat, I wonder what specialty your territory usually produces?"

"Specialty?" Pat was stunned, but after coming to his senses, he answered without hesitation, "Viscount Gervas, what my Pat territory produces most abundantly is wheat!"

"My territory has about four hundred thousand mu of fertile arable land; as long as the weather is favorable, the grain produced annually can feed at least one hundred thousand people, yet my territory has only fifty thousand people."

"Therefore, the remaining half of the grain, besides paying taxes, is used by me for sale every year!"

Four hundred thousand mu is only equivalent to the level of an extremely backward mountainous county town in a previous life.

However, in this world, for a viscount's territory, it was already very considerable.

After all, farming tools in this world were backward, and the difficulty of reclaiming land was very great.

So, a viscount's territory having so much arable land was because Viscount Pat's territory belonged to a plain area, possessing numerous fertile lands and river systems.

And this point was the same for Baron Old Gai's territory.

"How much is the wheat you sell per kilogram?"

"Viscount Gervas, this depends on whether there is a bumper harvest each year; if it is a bumper harvest year, it is about three copper coins per kilogram!"

"If a disaster occurs causing reduced production, the price might rise to five or six copper coins per kilogram."

"So cheap?" Gervas was slightly surprised, because in the Southern Region, wheat started at ten copper coins per kilogram.

Even in border areas, twelve or thirteen copper coins per kilogram was common.

If it were a disaster year, there was no need to say more.

Viscount Pat immediately gave a bitter smile, "Viscount Gervas, compared to other places, our wheat here is indeed much cheaper, but who can help it that our territories are so fertile? We simply do not lack wheat!"

"Therefore, every year when selling, we can only sell to noble merchant caravans from other regions!"

"But precisely, wheat is too heavy; if the distance is too far, the freight cost is a huge expense, so selling nearby no one wants it, and selling too far it is not cost-effective for them!"

"Therefore, the merchant caravans willing to purchase are limited, so the price is naturally low!"

At this moment, Andrew, who was nearby, also nodded, obviously agreeing with Viscount Pat's words.

Gervas now had a clear idea in his heart, "Viscount Pat, then how about this, from now on, sell all the grain you produce to me! I will buy it at four copper coins per kilogram!"

Viscount Pat was stunned, somewhat hesitant, "Four copper coins? Count Gervas, is this the price for a normal year or a disaster year?"

"Of course, if it is a normal year; if it is a disaster year, then seven or eight copper coins, or even ten copper coins, is also not impossible! Of course, the specifics depend on the grain prices nearby at that time."

"In short, no matter what, my price will be thirty percent higher than others!"

Viscount Pat instantly became excited!

A price thirty percent higher, do not think it is little.

Although for a mere kilogram of grain, it is only one extra copper coin.

But grain is something; one purchase might be tens of thousands of kilograms, or even hundreds of thousands of jin.

In this way, it would be a difference of tens of thousands of copper coins at one time, or even hundreds of thousands of copper coins.

Converted into gold coins, that is a difference of several gold coins or even dozens of gold coins.

Absolutely not a small sum.

And upon hearing this, Andrew wanted to say something.

"Father, rest assured, I have calculated in my heart; although even if I use the original price, I can still procure it!"

"But who can help it that they are all neighbors, so I am also willing to let them gain some benefits!"

"I have now become a count and lord; my territory will soon expand, and I need to recruit a large number of subjects."

"This means I need more grain, so, not only the Viscount Pat family, but also the other neighboring baron families present today, I also plan to purchase grain from them!"

"Father, please help call the nobles over; I might as well discuss the grain procurement matters with them all together!"

"Count Gervas, I will go help you call them!"

There was absolutely no need for Andrew to move; Viscount Pat became extremely attentive.

Afterwards, under Viscount Pat's notification, the other barons were all stirred up.

One by one, they came to Gervas's side with smiling faces.

In the past, when they had a bumper harvest each year, it was also the time they worried the most.

After all, if the grain was not sold, it could not be exchanged for gold coins, and it would be stuck in their hands.

If time passed too long, the grain quality would decline, and the price might become even lower then.

For example, this year, the vast majority of their grain had not yet been sold.

But if Count Gervas was truly willing to purchase, or even purchase long-term, that would absolutely remove the worry from their hearts.

In fact, even raising the price was something they didn't dare to imagine.

"Count Gervas, is what Viscount Pat said true? Are you really prepared to purchase the grain produced from our territories?" The minor nobles asked Gervas nervously for confirmation.

"That's right. Not only will I purchase it, but it will be a long-term purchase, and the price will also be raised. For example, in a normal year of harvest, others buy at two copper coins, but I, Gervas, will buy at three!"

"This... that's wonderful, thank you, Count Gervas!"

Gervas smiled, but he held the crowd back. "Of course, under such a transaction, I do have one small request."

The expressions on everyone's faces shifted slightly; they had indeed felt it wouldn't be that simple.

Even Viscount Pat showed a hint of disappointment on his face. Indeed, pies don't just fall from the sky.

But still unwilling to give up, he asked: "Count Gervas, may I ask what the request is?"

"It's very simple. In each transaction, I require that one-fifth of the payment be offset by goods!"

"For example, beast hides, linen fabrics, iron farming tools, medicinal herbs, smoked meat, and so on!"

"Of course, I will sell these goods to you at half the market price of the kingdom's heartland, and absolutely guarantee their quality. How about it?"

Pat hadn't expected such a request and immediately pressed: "Viscount Gervas, are you certain it's half the price of the heartland, and you can still guarantee the same quality?"

"Of course, under the condition of guaranteed quality and quantity, at half the price of the kingdom's heartland!" Gervas confirmed once again.

Upon hearing this, Viscount Pat and the group of barons immediately breathed a long sigh of relief.

The look of joy on their faces also returned.