In the long hall, the dead silence was torn apart by the sound of heavy breathing.
Six businessmen, six faces, showing six completely different kinds of greed at this moment.
They were like dying travelers in the desert who suddenly saw a vast lake.
Shock, ecstasy, and a hint of disbelief.
A businessman with gray beard and hair, who looked to be the oldest, was trembling slightly and his lips were trembling, as if he wanted to say something, but could not make a sound.
A young man with sharp eyes beside him was the first to recover from the shock.
His Adam's apple rolled, and his voice was hoarse. "Sir... you mean..."
Suleiman's eyes fell on his face calmly. "What I mean is what you heard."
"In the governor's territory, your six families will have a monopoly on business."
"Although you can't do it now, in the future, you will monopolize the entire Riverlands."
Suleiman Every time he spoke a word, his heart was tightly clenched.
The blueprint of wealth unfolded before their eyes, dizzyingly grand.
This is no longer just a business.
This is power.
It is granted by the governor and defended by the Westeros ruler, monopolizing the power of the entire Riverlands.
"Of course."
The voice of Suleiman brought them back to reality from their feverish fantasies.
He stretched out a finger. "Power is never without price."
"You must pay a charter fee to the Governor's Office every year."
"This money is the certificate for you to obtain this power."
The hearts of the businessmen began to beat wildly again.
They understood.
The franchise fee must be an astronomical sum.
But every Gold Dragon will not be wasted.
This investment is a good deal.
Suleiman Put out your second finger.
"Forty percent of your annual profits must be turned over to the Governor's Mansion."
These words actually made several businessmen heave a sigh of relief.
The most troublesome thing about dealing with nobles is the numerous taxes and cleverly-named extortion.
40% profit, a clear figure, makes them feel at ease.
This means rules, not the arbitrary plunder of a certain lord.
Suleiman's voice became deep and powerful. "You are no longer ordinary businessmen."
"You are the governor's businessmen, the businessmen of Riverlands."
His eyes swept over everyone, making them straighten their backs unconsciously.
"This means that you have obligations and responsibilities."
"Whatever the Governor's Palace needs, you have to do it."
"Whatever the enemy of the Governor's Mansion needs, you have to find a way to prevent him from getting anything."
"Your merchants are the governor's eyes, and your caravans are the governor's arms."
"You are merchants and the governor's weapons.
The word "weapon" made the six businessmen tremble.
They never thought they could be associated with this word.
This is no longer a simple business cooperation, this is completely binding their wealth and life to House Lychester.
Suleiman looked at the changing expressions on their faces, and raised his lips in a slight arc. "In order to better fulfill your obligations, your six families will establish a Monopoly Guild."
"Every year, the governor will appoint a guild president from among the six heads of your family clans."
Suleiman paused for a moment to let the news sink in.
Then, he dropped a real bomb.
"The president of the guild will attend the governor's cabinet."
With a bang, all the businessmen's brains exploded at this moment.
What is the concept of attending the governor's cabinet?
That is a place that all Riverlands's vassal nobles can enter, and it is the center of power that determines the fate of the entire Riverlands.
A businessman sat among the lords and nobles passed down from generation to generation and participated in government affairs.
This has never happened before in the history of Westeros Seven Kingdoms.
What is the difference between this and nobility?
The young man with sharp eyes could not remain calm at this moment.
His breathing was rapid and his cheeks turned red. "Sir... are you telling the truth?"
"We are just businessmen...
Suleiman's eyes became sharp. "From today on, you are no longer just businessmen.
"You are Riverlands Governor's businessmen and one of the cornerstones of the Governor's rule.
"The Governor's cabinet needs your voice."
The ecstasy was like the strongest alcohol, overwhelming their last sanity.
If the previous monopoly was about gaining huge wealth, then this cabinet seat is about gaining political influence.
It is a political status that they dream of but cannot even dream of.
This means that their family will no longer be a fat sheep to be slaughtered, but will truly ascend to the power stage of Westeros.
Their descendants may truly get rid of their status as businessmen and become a respected ruling class.
A short and fat businessman couldn't help but speak, his voice trembling with excitement. "Suleiman Master...
"President... how will the president be elected?"
All eyes are focused on Suleiman.
Suleiman's answer is simple and direct, "Based on the amount of taxes you pay to the Governor's Mansion every year."
"Whoever pays the most taxes will be the guild president for the next year."
The six businessmen were stunned for a moment, and then their eyes burst into even more blazing light.
They instantly understood that this was a conspiracy.
The governor used a cabinet seat as a bait to make the six major families compete for this position and spend money frantically for the governor.
They will become each other's most powerful competitors, constantly pushing up the taxes of the Governor's Mansion in the competition.
But even if they see through this, no one can refuse this temptation.
At this moment, Olivier stepped forward from behind Suleiman.
He held a roll of parchment in his hand and slowly unfolded it on the long table.
Olivier's voice was steady and without any emotion. "These are the properties acquired by the Governor's Office in the past few days."
The merchants came forward and their eyes fell on the parchment.
There are densely recorded shops, workshops, warehouses...
They recognized most of them, they were left behind by businessmen who sold their properties in panic and fled here a few days ago.
Suleiman looked at them and said slowly, "Now, tell me your names and your family."
The six people immediately stood up straight, as if they were accepting the knighthood conferred by the lord.
The young man with sharp eyes was the first to speak, "Pork. Hewen, Suleiman, sir, I am an illegitimate child."
The short and fat businessman followed closely. "Marco Weller, our family travels to the Free City-State to do spice business.
"Rodley Tarr, my family's dealings are Free Cities, trafficking in silk...
"Gale. Spa...
"Ilio Mayne...
"Cobb Wood...
Suleiman nodded, indicating that he had written down their names.
His eyes returned to the parchment. "These industries do not involve salt, iron, sugar, or wine."
"Now, they belong to you."
"If you don't have enough working capital, even if you owe it, you have to pay it back within two years."
"You bid and compete."
The six businessmen were stunned again and looked at each other.
Just a moment ago, they were ecstatic about the power and wealth that came from heaven. In the blink of an eye, the governor asked them to take out Gold Dragon.
But they reacted quickly.
This is the Governor's first test.
Although these properties were sold off in a panic, they were all real assets, and only six of them were allowed to compete for them.
Buying these ready-made industries is tantamount to taking the lead in expanding and resuming production on the new track supported by the Governor.
Pork. Hewen's brain is spinning the fastest.
He knew that the Governor's Mansion had swept away these assets with less than 5,000 Gold Dragon.
But today, the total value of these industries can at least double.
The silence didn't last long.
The long hall instantly became like the busiest market.
"One hundred Gold Dragon!"
"One hundred and fifty Gold Dragon!"
"Two hundred Gold Dragon!"
"Two hundred Gold Dragon deal."
The businessmen who were trembling just now are now red-faced fighting for these industries.
As one industry after another is thrown out.
The number of Gold Dragon kept rising and soon exceeded 10,000.
Olivier calmly records every bid.
Suleiman just sat quietly on the main seat, watching all this.
In the long run, monopoly is never a good thing.
It will stifle innovation, dissatisfy desires, and eventually become a huge cancer attached to Riverlands.
But judging from the current situation, in a feudal separatist business environment, the big fish eats the small fish.
If a latecomer lord does not concentrate its industry, it will simply not be able to compete with those powerful lords who have already occupied the Westeros market.
Wealth will flow like water to the Westerlands, the Reach, or even Free Cities, and cheap resources will be plundered.
Supporting the monopoly merchant family can integrate Riverlands's commercial power as quickly as possible and twist it into a rope, quickly strengthening the governor's ruling power.
Riverlands must fight out, participate in Westeros business competition, achieve trade surplus, and let wealth flow continuously to Riverlands.
Time flies and the bidding ends.
Every estate on the parchment has a new owner.
The six businessmen were panting, but with satisfied smiles on their faces.
They paid a lot of money for Gold Dragon, but they also gained a future.
Suleiman's eyes swept across them, and finally fell on the illegitimate child with sharp eyes.
"Pork. Hewen."
Pork. Hewen's body stiffened suddenly, and his blood, which had just been excited by the bidding, instantly turned cold.
Suleiman's voice was calm, but like a boulder thrown into the middle of a lake. "You will be the first guild president."
"Responsible for managing the daily operations of the guild and coordinating the interests of internal members."
The whole hall could hear a needle drop.
Pork. Hewen stood stunned on the spot, his mouth slightly opened, his eyes full of disbelief.
After a brief moment of silence, a huge wave of ecstasy overwhelmed his reason.
His knees weakened and he knelt down heavily, his forehead touching the cold stone slab.
"Suleiman-sama!"
His voice trembled violently with excitement.
"I... I will never betray your and the governor's trust!"
Suleiman's tone did not waver at all. "Stand up."
Pork. Hewen staggered to his feet, still not daring to raise his head.
"All six of your families will move to Oldstones."
This order stunned the businessmen who had just been immersed in great joy again.
Suleiman ignored their consternation and continued, "Oldstones needs to be rebuilt. I want to build a new city with the castle as the center."
"Just like King's Landing."
Pork. Hewen's mind was running rapidly, and he immediately understood that this was a new test and a new opportunity.
He took a step forward and his voice was loud, drowning out the hesitation of others.
"Sir! Our six major families! In addition to the royalties! Taxes! We will jointly contribute another amount of money every year! For the construction of Oldstones!"
When the other five people heard this, they were shocked at first, then reacted and agreed one after another.
They looked at Pork. Hewen with a hint of anger in their eyes.
This illegitimate son has begun to play the role of guild president and please the governor.
Suleiman's face showed no emotion or anger. "Very good."
"You can leave now."
The six businessmen bowed deeply, almost folding their bodies in half, and then carefully stepped backward until they touched the huge wooden door of the long hall.
When they walked out of the castle and bathed in the afternoon sun, they felt like they were in a different world.
The light blinded them.
There is no coldness of the castle in the air, only the smell of earth and grass.
When they came in, they were lambs for the slaughter, with sharp knives hanging from their necks.
When they went out, they were already monopoly businessmen under the governor's command, holding butcher's knives in their hands.
The door of the long hall slowly closed, cutting off the sunlight from the outside world and returning to silence.
Suleiman walked to the window and looked at the six figures walking away. Their steps changed from cautious to high-spirited.
In a feudal society like Westeros, civilians bear heavy oppression from the aristocracy and Faith of the Seven, but this oppression is structural and difficult to resist.
The businessman then became the target of hatred from the civilians of Westeros.
They are wealthier than the common people, but they do not have the "sacred and inviolable" status like the hereditary nobles.
They have no rights, no force, and are hostile to theocracy.
In the final analysis, in an era when merchants did not stand up and call the shots, they were just the chamber pots of feudal rulers.
When needed, you can use it at any time to solve urgent needs.
When you don't need it, just kick it away.
The wealth and power given to them today can be taken back tomorrow.
The "dirty work" that the governor cannot do directly can be done by them.
When the matter is done, the credit belongs to the Governor; when the matter is exposed, the blame falls on them, the businessmen.
Whether the future involves confiscation of the family and annihilation of the clan, or a lifetime of prosperity, all depends on one's words.
The voice of Olivier came from behind, breaking his thoughts. "Master Suleiman."
"Where is Hubbard?"
"Aren't we going to punish him?"
Suleiman turned around from the window, the dim light making his face blurry. "Take his son, Roll Buck, to your side."
"Do your paperwork."
Olivier was stunned. He frowned and considered his words: "Sir, what should I do with the matter of which salt merchant?"
"How will the public view you if you let a financial controller who drives a businessman's family to death?"
Suleiman walked back to the main position slowly, without any trace of fireworks in his movements.
"Olivier, never care too much about the image in other people's minds."
He sat down and tapped the armrest with his long fingers.
"Because they don't know what they want. Their ideas are contradictory and inconsistent."
"It's foolish to waste time on such things."
His voice was very soft, but it had an unmistakable coldness to it.
"A businessman's bankruptcy, family destruction, and tragic situation will only make the common people applaud."
"Their cheers have nothing to do with justice."
Suleiman's eyes fell on Olivier's confused face.
"It's just a visceral excitement about the collapse of power."
Olivier was silent.
He wanted to retort, but found that his throat was dry and he couldn't say a word.
In Westeros, merchants are seen as parasites, leeches attached to nobles and peasants, and everything they own is immoral.
Their death and destruction will not arouse the sympathy of the common people, but will make the people's love for the governor who caused all this rise to a higher level.
This has nothing to do with justice, it's just a stupid expression of emotion.