When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#446 - Southern Thousand Valley Free Trade Agreement

Of course, Horn couldn't directly agree to Giganon and Cassani's proposals.

He brushed them off by saying, "The leader is often just a figurehead," and then convened a cardinal council the next day to discuss the matter with several cardinals.

The Salvation Army's internal merchant and citizen forces, as well as the Franks' assistance, were naturally very welcome.

When the economy prospers, these people have a reason to exist; otherwise, they can only wag their tails and beg for the Salvation Army's military orders.

Even some military forces welcomed it, because if they wanted to defeat Prince Condé, they needed better weapons and more soldiers.

Because they knew that military spending was high, it would be good if the Franks could supplement it.

There were also some who believed that the Franks' involvement would slowly infiltrate the Salvation Army, leading everyone to be beholden to them.

Of course, the vast majority were staunch royalists, supporting whatever Horn supported; anyway, Horn was always right.

This was a consequence of Horn's personal involvement in everything on his bloody path, and many Salvation Army members and veterans had this mentality.

They didn't have much education, let alone the habit of independent thinking; anyway, following the Holy Grandson was the right thing to do.

Since Horn had the final say, most of the participants in these cardinal councils could only serve as advisory consultants, and the final decision still had to be made by Horn himself.

After holding meetings for three consecutive days, summoning several bankers, and obtaining the information collected by Armand, Horn finally made up his mind.

The Kingdom of Frank's agreement was a sugar-coated bullet. Horn didn't have the ability to swallow the sugar and fire back the bullet for the time being, but at least he could spit out the bullet.

But to do this, he had to play tricks on the agreement between the two parties.

On the fourth day of the meeting, Horn finally summoned Cassani and began a twelve-hour agreement signing session.

In the small study, several people engaged in a war of words, back and forth.

Every time Cassani proposed a plan, Horn would say, "A good strategy, but I would like to make some modifications," and then completely change the plan beyond recognition.

The discarded support agreements piled up as thick as bricks, even forcing Cassani to leave his seat several times, wondering if Horn was sincere.

Later, he was relieved, after all, diplomatic work was like this, each for his own master. If the signing was quick and easy, it would most likely be a surrender document.

As the candles flickered, Cassani and Giganon and others, exhausted for the Kingdom of Frank, finally couldn't hold on anymore.

They held a small meeting in another small room and finally reached a consensus with the plan proposed by Horn.

This draft of the "South Thousand River Valley Free Trade Agreement" was freshly baked, but of course, this only finalized the general scope.

Specific figures, such as tariffs on different goods, the specific arrival of support funds, etc., still needed to be discussed later.

But the signing process of this agreement was finally over. Seeing that Horn did not continue to agree that it was a "good strategy," the Frankish ambassadors finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This trade agreement, on the surface, is a private trade treaty signed by merchants from the three counties of the South Thousand River Valley (Langsand County, Lower River County, and Kasha County) and the Frankish Royal Chamber of Commerce.

Thousand River Valley was originally considered the core territory of the Church, especially the Leia Church. Such a private trade treaty would definitely be disrupted in the past.

But now, the churches in the South Thousand River Valley, except for the two townships in the northwest of Kasha County and the north of Upper River, have basically been cleaned up.

Moreover, Kasha County in the three counties even borders the Kingdom of Frank, although the bordering area happens to be the surviving area of the church forces, they dare not attack the Franks again.

Currently, the Leia Kingdom is fighting a civil war between one king and two justices. If they take action, no one will protect them.

"Don't leave yet, everyone. I just asked the kitchen to make some hot soup and roast Holy Grandson duck, which is just right for a midnight snack." Catherine looked at Horn, who was doing the final finishing work with Giganon, and smiled at the Frankish envoys.

Cassani, who was sitting sloppily, immediately straightened his back, and his stomach even grumbled appropriately: "What is roast Holy Grandson duck?"

For the Franks, who are naturally fond of gourmet food and gorgeous clothes, their curiosity about new foods and new clothes is no less than their desire for new territories.

"This is roast duck personally developed by His Majesty. It is brushed with maltose, air-dried for half a day, and then baked in a brick oven with fruit wood. It is very particular to eat with honey and red bread sauce."

"Red bread sauce, I haven't eaten this before." Cassani's saliva was about to come down after Catherine said this, because he was already hungry all day.

If the agreement hadn't been signed yet, he definitely wouldn't do anything to avoid delaying important matters.

But now that everything has been done, that lazy energy has come up again. What if the roast duck is delicious and the wine is good, and he gives up a little profit?

"Giganon, stop looking, you're like a Leia person, so stingy."

Taking Giganon's place, Cassani, who was annoyed by the day's negotiations, picked up the agreement: "Lord Horn, let's read the main agreement again first. If it's not too different, I'll send the agreement out."

Horn, who was still confirming one by one, put down the pen in his hand: "That's better, you read it."

"First, during the signing of the trade agreement, the Franks promise to refuse any proposal to jointly attack Thousand River Valley with other countries."

"Agreed." This is declaring to the Empire that the Franks are protecting these three counties of the Salvation Army.

"Second, the Calendula Chamber of Commerce will purchase 50,000 gold pounds worth of Holy War bonds from the Megdi Chamber of Commerce in multiple batches within a year. As for the interest rate, I heard that your interest rate is 10%?"

"Yes." Horn nodded, bluntly.

Catherine immediately added from behind: "But that's for bonds to prepare for war. For these new foreign bonds, we will have someone to calculate the specific interest rate..."

"No need to calculate, let's calculate it at 4%. The rich Franks don't like this little interest dividend." Cassani waved his hand carelessly.

A 4% interest rate is almost an interest-free loan in this empire with generally high usury.

"Third, the Megdi Chamber of Commerce and the Frankish Royal Chamber of Commerce will jointly establish a Frankish Thousand River Valley Investment Bank and issue bonds.

We will call on Frankish citizens and nobles to purchase the bank's bonds, and the bank will pay interest every year.

But we don't guarantee how many people will buy it, so one-third of our purchase of Holy War bonds needs to be injected into the investment bank as shares."

"Agreed."

This bank and that Calendula Chamber of Commerce are the channels for the Franks to support Horn, mainly composed of several local Frankish chambers of commerce in Thousand River Valley.

Through this investment bank, a steady stream of funds will flow from the rich Kingdom of Frank to the Salvation Papal State.

"Fourth, the Franks will migrate a group of immigrants, including unemployed and bankrupt craftsmen, citizens who believe in heresy and paganism, laborers without pants exiled by the Frankish king, and a dozen or so college students with radical opinions or who had to go out to avoid the limelight for dueling and killing.

Their number is about 10,000, and they will enter in five to six batches, mainly laborers without pants and bankrupt craftsmen.

The Thousand River Valley Investment Bank will invest money for them to establish workshops locally. They will open shops within the scope of the Salvation Papal State, and open the border to allow Frankish immigrants to enter."

"Agreed, but their identity can no longer be Frankish, but local, and they must enter the household register."

"Acceptable." Cassani took the pen and stroked it twice, "But you can't force them to naturalize."

"Of course not."

"Okay, the fifth secret clause, if the Salvation Army expels the Thousand River Valley Church, then it must join the Frankish market, the two sides negotiate to unify tariffs, and mutually declare friendly relations, preferably marriage."

"Everything else is fine, but marriage is probably not possible. I am the Pope and cannot marry and have children."

"What are you afraid of?" Cassani looked at Horn in surprise, not expecting him to be so pure in this regard, "Aren't there a lot of illegitimate children of Popes? You just give a first mistress status, and there are people rushing to do it."

"We'll see then, don't discuss things that haven't happened yet." Horn rubbed his temples, really unwilling to continue discussing this topic.

The two sides read the last few details, such as delivery time, principles of mutual respect, etc., and this "Agreement" was completely finalized.

As long as Montiac agrees, it can be signed directly.

"On the day of signing, we will purchase 8,000 gold pounds in one lump sum, of which 2,000 gold pounds will be offset by half-body breastplates and one-handed weapons. Remember to send the drawings of your armor and swords to the villa where I live."

In order to prevent being recognized, Cassani still has to do some superficial work.

Otherwise, when the Salvation Army wears a uniform Frankish-made half-body armor on the battlefield, the Leia people will be fools to know that the Franks are playing tricks.

Although they can guess it now, they have no evidence, and the standard armor is a bit too much.

Cassani looked at the monks who were re-copying and asked Horn with a smile: "I'll ask one last time, are you sure you don't allow the Chamber of Commerce to directly station? They are willing to provide you with more than 20,000 gold pounds in donations at one time, and give you a personal income of 900 gold pounds per year."

"Of course I am willing to have large and small chambers of commerce stationed, but that will have to wait until the Salvation Army completely defeats the Thousand River Valley Church and becomes independent. At that time, I will establish a stock exchange to ensure that you earn a lot of money."

"I'm waiting for that day."

After confirming the signing of the agreement, Giganon hurriedly took the draft agreement to Montiac.

Before leaving, he left Horn with good news, that is, it has been confirmed that Prince Condé has led his troops back to Feiliu Fort.

This means that the situation has basically stabilized.

After fighting outside for many days, many soldiers were tired and wanted to go home. Just as the nobles in Gouhu Township were almost cleaned up, Horn prepared to return to Zhende Fort.

In mid-August, after leaving more than a dozen officers to train and recruit local soldiers, Horn and two legions, with the first batch of 2,000 immigrants, set off for their happy old home.