Rich Harvest
Zul'ra naturally praised Jaina's demonstrated credibility within the Alliance. Who would want to do business with a deadbeat who wouldn't pay their debts? They needed to hurry up and finalize the arms and radio deals, or they'd miss their chance.
After some discussion, Jaina, on behalf of the Alliance, offered the Horde an arms deal for 20,000 old-style muskets (including 5,000 muskets in Ironforge) and 500,000 rounds of ammunition, with the price calculated at 50 gold coins for a musket of a specific shape and 1 silver coin for a single paper bullet.
Besides the weapons, Jaina also purchased the radio technology developed by the Horde for 300,000 gold coins. In return, the Horde gifted Alliance Alliance 100 telegraph machines and helped train 200 telegraph operators capable of transmitting and translating.
The entire deal between the Horde and the Alliance was settled in gold, totaling 1,305,000 gold coins. The Alliance could pay with equivalent amounts of fine gold, mithril, Thorium, true silver, and other precious metals.
Although the Alliance is short of copper, it is not short of these precious metals, especially Ironforge and Kul Tiras, which are famous for producing precious metals and iron ore. Stormwind's Westfall is also rich in gold and silver. These amounts of gold coins seem like a lot, but for their level, they are not much at all. In comparison, the Horde is poor again.
After finalizing the deal, Jaina, building on her previous good reputation, paid a deposit of 400,000 gold coins and immediately began selecting telegraph operators to be trained and sent to Orgrimmar.
Zul'ra will deliver the corresponding weapons and telegraph machines within the next two months, and Jaina will also pay 600,000 gold coins or equivalent precious metals. The final balance will be settled after the two hundred telegraph operators graduate.
The trade orders with the Alliance not only brought huge benefits to the Horde, but also gave Zul'ra a great sense of accomplishment, as it was the sweet fruit of his long-planned industrial project. Of course, he also had to thank the Sin'dorei, Gnomes, and Goblins technicians and related staff; he would give them bonuses when he got back.
With the intention of giving bonuses to the staff and also to properly implement the industrial plan, Zul'ra casually inquired a couple of times about Stormwind's internal affairs before leaving Lirath there and heading straight back home.
Upon returning to Orgrimmar, Zul'ra first entrusted the task of training telegraph operators for the Alliance to Kaso Mor of the Information Committee, and then instructed the factories to begin rushing to produce radios and munitions. In addition, she also prepared to take the lead in implementing the plan for a new smelter.
The Foothill Industrial Zone is too crowded, and the output of the smelting area there is gradually unable to keep up with the industrial and trade needs of the Horde. This is a good time to plan a new smelting plant without relocating and disrupting production, while the old smelting plant can be gradually demolished and replaced later.
Zul'ra planned to set up the new smelter in the mining area downstream of the Southfury River, and put the Goblins engineer Grizzl in charge of its implementation. Of course, before that, he gave the employees a round of allowances and benefits, and distributed Lok rewards of varying levels to celebrate the Horde's industrial achievements. This move greatly boosted the enthusiasm of the staff.
After issuing various industrial tasks, Zul'ra dealt with personal and Horde matters, sent a telegraph to Darnassus asking Tyrande Whisperwind to help inquire about the dragon's whereabouts, asked Cairne Bloodhoof to gather straw, and sent a telegram to the Eastern Kingdoms asking the Defias Brotherhood workers to go to Silithus to repair canals and reservoirs for the Kaldorei.
→
While radiating influence, Zul'ra also sowed seeds of trouble everywhere. After happily finishing her chores, she was just about to find a way to manipulate the Nodaka Crystal in her hands to fulfill her promise to Anveena and Valeera. Of course, Tarecgosa also had a share of it, but the problem was that the Blue Dragonflight girl was nowhere to be found.
Just as Zul'ra was about to mess with the Nodaka Crystal, Gazlowe's sudden appearance forced him to stop and focus on negotiating with the newly promoted Baron of Ratchet. He took on two big orders from him: one for the steel frame of an airship worth 200,000 gold coins, and the other for various machine parts worth 700,000 gold coins.
It must be said that the Goblins are very farsighted. They have already seen the signs in the Horde's industrial plan and are preparing to reinforce their airships with more qualified steel and assemble machines and Shredder with standard parts, getting rid of the unreliable situation of the past.
In addition to purchasing steel, Gazlowe also placed an arms deal with Orgrimmar. Zul'ra was preparing to upgrade the Horde's weapons, so he sold him 5,000 rifles and 200,000 rounds of ammunition, priced at 35 gold coins each for the new muskets and 1 silver coin each for the copper-cased flintlock bullets.
Trades must be reciprocal. Zul'ra sold weapons and steel components, and also contracted out Horde mines the Horde had discovered in the the Barrens Mulgore bordering Ratchet on a 60/40 split, while also paying back the previous mercenary fees. As for the airships and warships recommended by Gazlowe, he bought thirty large transport ships, but didn't want a single wooden warship.
The Horde is currently developing ironclad warships. Once these are completed, wooden warships will be obsolete. As for airships, the advancements in aviation technology in the 21st century show that they can only be used for transportation and errands. The skies for combat belong to airplanes, and the Horde shouldn't waste money on either of these.
Although trade was extremely unbalanced, Gazlowe could only watch helplessly as Zul'ra swallowed up most of the business profits in exchange for a mining contract. As a Goblins baron who relied on the Horde, he didn't dare to take control of the Horde now.
After seeing Gazlowe off, Zul'ra was about to study Sky Star, but as soon as she turned around, she was startled by two—no, three—figures that suddenly appeared behind her.
"You're scared? You must be scared, right!" Chromie looked up at Zul'ra, who had a frightened expression, and gave her a mischievous smile.
"Can't you come in from the front?" Zul'ra looked at Chromie, and the two beautiful dragons, Indormi and Alurmi, standing behind her, and couldn't help but pat her heart, which had been clenching just now. The appearance of these Bronze Dragons had come without any warning.
"We just separated." Chromie shrugged innocently at Zul'ra, while the two beautiful dragonesses, who maintained the appearance of High Elves, shook their heads with smiles on their faces.
"Tch, can't you guys just stop making your time normal? Is it normal like ours?" Zul'ra asked irritably.
"To protect the world, no, your mortal time is too slow. Anyway, let's hurry up and make the deal, I can't wait." Chromie shook his head, complaining and urging at the same time.