Chapter 288: Bargaining

Chishan Iron Mine was not a large deposit; previously, the total annual output of iron ore amounted to roughly 3.6 million jin.

This number, at first glance, seemed immense—but when converted into units, it came to merely 1,800 tons.

At the highest iron yield ratio, such ore could produce only 720 tons of wrought iron.

Such output was barely enough for Luo Ning’s own needs; he would never willingly share it.

Moreover, this had nothing to do with any grievance against Viggins.

If Viggins had genuinely aided him in securing Chishan Town, he would have been willing to concede a portion.

But as Luo Ning himself stated, Viggins had provided no assistance whatsoever in this matter.

Under these circumstances, for Luo Ning to relinquish thirty percent and supply six thousand gold coins annually for free was utterly impossible.

Viggins could not help but protest: “You say I offered no help, yet you seem to have forgotten—I supplied the logistical support for the Ubei Lord’s knight squad.”

“I remember that perfectly,” Luo Ning replied. “And I also recall your promise: that if I took your place at the front lines of Chishan Town, you would grant Ubei Lord an additional twenty thousand people, free of charge.”

Viggins let out a bitter chuckle, as if angered into amusement. “You deny me my share of the Chishan Iron Mine, yet still demand people from me? Luo Ning, do you think I’m easy to manipulate? Or perhaps you think I’m a fool?”

Seeing the two on the verge of another quarrel, Dianyi seemed to have something to say.

But after glancing between them, she swallowed her words.

Better not interfere. They wouldn’t listen anyway.

If their father-son relationship truly deteriorated beyond repair, the Marquis would still bear the burden.

“Father, you jest. I’ve never entertained such thoughts.”

Luo Ning softened his tone. “I said I wouldn’t give you a share—but I never said I wouldn’t give you gold.”

In prior collaborations, Viggins held a ten percent stake, worth roughly two thousand gold coins annually.

Yet if Viggins had his own sales channels, he could independently sell the 360,000 jin of ore tied to his share—that was his right and freedom.

Previously, when Luo Ning had sought to purchase iron ore from him, Viggins had handled it precisely this way.

Now that Chishan Iron Mine belonged solely to Luo Ning, if Viggins continued to privately sell his share, complications would arise.

Imagine, for instance, if Luo Ning urgently needed iron ore—only for Viggins to suddenly announce he’d secured a deal and required ten thousand jin immediately. What then?

Better to settle everything in coin from the outset.

And why was Luo Ning willing to pay? Simply because he did not wish to estrange Viggins further.

No matter how disliked he was, Viggins remained the future Marquis. Moreover, he still had influence over matters in Wushan Lordship. Luo Ning would need to navigate many affairs in the future—and none could be done without him.

Furthermore, rumors of discord between Luo Ning and Viggins would reflect poorly on the Wushan family.

“Oh? You’re willing to pay?”

Viggins paused, stunned. He had assumed Luo Ning would offer not a single concession—yet now, a twist had appeared.

The gloom on his face lifted slightly.

“How much? Six thousand? Five thousand?”

Luo Ning shook his head. “You know my coffers are thin, and Ubei Lord is desperately short on gold. To demand five thousand annually from me now is impossible.”

He paused, as if settling on a figure. “With all my capacity, I can manage no more than fifteen hundred gold coins per year.”

The clouds on Viggins’ face receded a little further, yet his lips remained closed.

“No, no, Luo Ning—fifteen hundred is far too little. Though Ubei Lord needs gold, the profits from Chishan Iron Mine are enormous. Four thousand annually is nothing to you!”

“Father, during the time the Polante Bandits held Chishan Town, they slaughtered countless people. Now the town’s population is decimated—I can barely muster enough miners to match our former numbers, let alone restore production in the near term.”

Luo Ning wore a look of deep distress. “Moreover, I must rebuild distribution channels, recruit skilled labor—all of which demands vast sums of gold! If you still refuse to acknowledge my hardships, I can add three hundred more—eighteen hundred annually.”

Viggins fell silent. Perhaps there was truth to this.

“Very well. I’ll solve the manpower issue. On top of the twenty thousand I already promised, I’ll add five thousand more. As for gold, seeing how hard you’re struggling, I’ll accept three thousand.”

The atmosphere shifted from hostile confrontation to haggling.

Dianyi exhaled inwardly—thankfully, the tension had eased.

After dozens of rounds of amicable negotiation, they reached an agreement: Luo Ning would pay Viggins two thousand and fifty gold coins annually.

For Viggins, it was slightly more than before; for Luo Ning, it was acceptable.

“Hah! Well done, Luo Ning!”

Viggins grinned and raised his thumb—he was a man whose emotions never hid.

“Nobles from all regions will gather here in the next few days. Rest well, and prepare for the victory banquet!”

“And Father, you promised me twenty-five thousand people…”

Viggins waved his hand dismissively. “Rest assured, I’ve already gathered seven or eight thousand. Once word spreads to the estates and cities below, the rest will come quickly!”

The unpleasant meeting ended on a pleasant note.

Watching Luo Ning’s retreating figure, Viggins muttered, “That man—if he was going to pay, why not say so outright? Now I’ve ruined this fine chair!”

Luo Ning had refused outright at first precisely to lower Viggins’ expectations as much as possible.

“And just now—he used aura against me! How utterly disrespectful to his own father!”

He glanced at the wooden shard deeply embedded in the lawn, still unsettled.

But words were words, complaints were complaints—yet in the end, securing this price left him pleasantly satisfied.

“Viggins, you really ought to change your temper,” Dianyi urged, troubled. “Luo Ning is no longer the boy he once was. He is now your son, the Viscount of Ubei Lord, even a Silver Knight capable of delivering a fatal blow to a Meteor Knight. You must recognize your own limitations—and his superiority.”

“I know,” Viggins admitted reluctantly.

From now on, even in anger, he could only vent with words—never with fists.

He understood the importance of Luo Ning’s presence to the family.

“Dianyi, go urge the administrators of Wushan City and all the estates to hasten their efforts. I need those twenty-five thousand people—now!”

Viggins added, “If there are no volunteers, count the prisoners in the jails. Those capable of crime are capable of mining—drag them all out and send them to the mines!”

Dianyi frowned. “Prisoners are difficult to manage.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Viggins dismissed. “They’re mostly commoners. With Luo Ning’s strength, how could he fail to control them?”

He added with indifference, “Besides—he has a knight squad at his disposal!” (End of Chapter)