Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 518 Strategic Materials
The quarrel between the two dukes naturally went unnoticed by Master Zhang, who had already set sail and was in a very good mood.

Not only were the expected goals successfully achieved, but there were also additional gains.

Providing daily necessities for the people of the territory is secondary, since it's not impossible to buy them in the North.

However, it would be impossible to purchase in bulk at such a low price in either Neverwinter, where productivity is relatively low, or Waterdeep, where prices are high.

There are two real big prizes: seeds and weapons.

The former goes without saying; the importance of growing crops for agricultural production in a territory cannot be overstated.

Yes, Master Zhang did indeed possess some skills and inventions from his previous life, and the addition of the Druids further enhanced the agricultural industry.

However, Zhang Yuan was not a scientist by training, and even the research of the Druids did not delve into the level of hybridization breeding or even genes.

At least Jady couldn't do that.

Everyone has their own expertise, and Master Zhang, who holds the dual roles of mage and lord, cannot afford to waste so much time in the fields and wheat fields; besides, there's simply not enough time.

The only option now is to choose from existing models, since the lord is not very satisfied with the fact that his territory has excellent conditions but can only grow wheat.

Don't say that Neverwinter is like spring all year round. That only applies to the pleasant temperature and environment within the city. The winters in the countryside outside the city are still just as cold as they used to be. They won't retain any warmth just because the lords in the city are happy.

The constant temperature of Neverwinter, besides allowing noble lords to enjoy the vibrant flowers and plants and dream of springtime even in the dead of winter, and to eat out-of-season fruits and vegetables grown in their own gardens, also benefits those vagrants who, in their words, should be grateful to the gods and these lords for sparing them from freezing to death by sleeping on straw mats in the beggars' nest.

For agriculture, however, there is almost no impact whatsoever.

Therefore, the northern regions, including Neverwinter City, mainly cultivate cold-resistant crops such as winter wheat and rye, but the situation in High Cliff is different.

After surveying the terrain around the high cliff, the monk understood that there was a reason why this place had served as a granary for the winter.

It is surrounded by mountains to the east and north, which act as a barrier. Every winter, the fierce, cold winds that howl down from the world's ridge block it and detour southward.

Facing the ocean currents on the west coast and adjacent to Wudong Port, the warm current flowing from the Wudong River into the Baojian Sea adds some warmth to the surrounding sea area. Its significance is not only to make Gaoya Port benefit, but also to make it a winter-free port.

The heat capacity of warm currents does not usually cause significant changes in coastal areas, but on the uniquely topographical high cliffs, it creates a rudimentary version of the greenhouse effect.

Nestled against mountains and beside water, facing south, with a climate superior to that of the northern regions, Gaoya possesses the advantages of being a grain-producing area, and it is no exaggeration to call it a feng shui treasure land.

In the past, Highcliff's two harvests a year were considered an enviable granary treasure in the Northlands. It should be noted that with the current agricultural level in Faerûn, apart from the private gardens or experimental fields of some high-ranking druids or mages, only a tropical climate like Kalinsan could achieve two harvests a year.

The past abundance is now history, and even with the care and support of the druids, the lands devastated by the Shadowlands and the loss of population still need time to heal.

Also lost were the varieties and types of crops. In the years after large tracts of land were eroded and abandoned, the Gaoya people could only survive by cultivating a few barren fields on the edge, and the grains they sowed were almost the same as those in other areas.

Fortunately, these issues could be resolved with money. We tried purchasing some barley, oats, potatoes, soybeans, and even rice seeds from Karatu in the Far East.

Except for one thing: cotton. Everything else is manageable, but cotton cultivation is truly unsolvable. Its demanding requirements for sunlight and climate are something that neither the high cliffs nor the entire northern region can meet.

Otherwise, why not promote it more vigorously given the harsh winters in the north?

Is the cotton-padded coat not warm enough, or is the animal hide too cheap?
The winters of High Cliff could never compare to those of Neverwinter. The villagers who migrated from the temperate riverside village to the North only had thick linen clothes to keep warm, while the survivors of High Cliff had nothing more than old fur coats that had been patched and mended for three years.

Getting through the winter is no small matter. Even if he doesn't love his people like his own children, Lord Zhang, who at least understands that the people under his rule are not expendable, cannot allow such meaningless attrition.

Baldur's Gate's relatively inexpensive cotton and leather came in very handy.

Another one is Master Zhang's private business. Nitrocellulose and nitrocellulose are all quite valuable items.

Even if phenylpropionic acid is successfully developed, these valuable substances are still needed as an activation fuse.

In addition, there was another procurement that was kept somewhat secret—crossbows.

With Gaoya's industrial capabilities, this thing is as easy to make as a toy. If you really want to investigate, even automatic firearms are not impossible to make.

Unfortunately, the situation did not allow it. The latter was too important to be controlled by a militia organization composed of ordinary villagers, while the former's wooden structure made it difficult to force it to start using the existing metal processing production line.

It would be too unwise to adjust the production process again or start from scratch.

Pay up, buy! Buy! Buy!

Fortunately, Master Zhang has connections. If it were an ordinary person, or even an ordinary nobleman, wanting to acquire these sensitive weapons would be very difficult.
Even if you're willing to pay, it's not your chance!
Just like the ancient times of the past, crossbows were subject to strict regulations. This portable, easy-to-use, and highly lethal weapon was also a sensitive topic in Faerûn.

The existence of extraordinary martial prowess is a fact, but without special skills such as deflecting flying arrows, having natural armor and skin, lightning reflexes, or triggering protective spells, even professionals are mostly made of flesh and blood, and can be injured, maimed, and of course, die.

It's not uncommon for people to make mistakes or even fail unexpectedly, and besides, noblemen aren't necessarily willing to go through the hardship of pursuing a professional career, so they naturally have some reservations about crossbows, which are such underhanded weapons.

Fortunately, Master Zhang's business empire was located far away in the high cliffs of the north, and no matter how much trouble he caused, it was unlikely to affect the Bode region. Iltan then gave him face and decided to avoid seeing it and worrying about it.

A full one hundred military crossbows in perfect condition—if Iltan hadn't been the Grand Duke of Flamefist, it would have been difficult for him to pull off such a shady deal.

One hundred may not sound like much, but it's a luxury for a place as remote as Gaoya.

Ordinary nobles, even powerful lords, are considered quite remarkable if they have several hundred private soldiers.

When the armies of Waterdeep, Neverwinter, and Flamefist met at Dragonspear Citadel, they numbered only a few thousand, but it was a rare joint military operation in the North.

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Wishing all book lovers a happy Mid-Autumn Festival, may the moon be full and families be reunited!
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(End of this chapter)