Chapter 62: the new harbor
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-Third person
the reach has always been the breadbasket of the continent and when it was an independent kingdom or part of the seven kingdoms with its abundant crops fed all the other kingdoms, everything was due to the characteristics of their land, but especially for its rivers that cover the entire kingdom giving much ease to farmers when irrigating their crops.
But the mander has not only been used for this function but also for more disastrous activities the iron born, when their power could rival all the kingdoms of the continent and they could plunder any place where the seawater arrived, the mander became the form of transport by where the pirates carried out their incursions.
With the fall to power of the iron born it depended on them being able to defeat the forces on the shield islands to plunder the many villages living around the river using the mander.
The Prussian monarch was aware that the iron born raids were continuing although they were made on a smaller scale by two or three of the nimble pirate ships that ravaged fishing villages while avoiding the sea patrols of the noble houses
The construction of a fortress to guard the mander on both shores to be able to watch for ships wishing to enter the reach and avoid surprise attacks, forcing the iron born not only to have to defeat the reach's fleet but if they wanted to have all the juicy loot of the area they would be obliged to besiege the new fortification that was being built.
Making use of Roman techniques for the production of cement using volcanic ash and seawater much of the new harbor was completed
The news that the Prussians were buying building materials spread extremely fast, many merchants upon hearing this news decided to take a chance even with the bad reputation the Prussians had acquired due to their actions with the merchants who were working in the conquered territories
These merchants encountered the Prussian procurement system, which offered long-term contracts and tax reductions to those who promised to continue to bring raw materials to the construction sites, whether at the mouth of the Mander, the Prussian capital or the Torentine River.
In addition to attracting many craftsmen to the area looking to set up their businesses near the Prussian army centers because it was well known that the Prussian soldiers were paid a generous salary.
The only problem was the business about pleasure houses and drinking, the Prussians consider prostitution as a more advanced form of slavery and they detest it.
Although the Prussians are serious alcoholics, they knew that while they did not have days off it was forbidden to consume such drinks, and the fear of the whip of their commander made them resist the temptation.
What made that, many of those businesses failed or they only had to offer services to the westerosi that had come to work for the Prussians.
''Please, set up a board so we can go up to check your goods'' said a Teutonic knight to the ship captain who wanted to enter the mander.
''Ah... of course... but what for?'', said the captain.
''We want to verify that what you are transporting is in accordance with the laws and to be able to determine the tax for using the river as a transportation route'' said the Teutonic knight.
''Sure... quickly bring the bridge'' said the captain.
The sailors placed a bridge to land where the knight came up followed by two Finns carrying their dogs with spiked collars and armor.
''Inventory manifest?'', asked the Teutonic knight.
''Yes... here you go,'' said the captain handing him a papyrus book.
''So you are transporting iron and copper... I guess you are heading for ashford?'', said the knight after reading the manifest from the ship's inventory.
''That's right, we heard that the Prussians... you were offering a good price for the ore and we want to sell it'' said the captain.
"Well... lead me to the hold'' said the knight.
''Follow me'' replied the captain.
The knight followed by the Finns checked the holds of the ship making sure that the manifest was correct and there were no attempts of smuggling
''Well it looks like everything is in order, minerals valued at three thousand golden dragons, are you interested in becoming a supplier to the Prussian state or will it be a one-time thing?'', asked the knight handing back the book
''Do I gain anything, if I do it?'', asked the ship's captain with a face of interest.
''You will have tax benefits, we will reduce the sales tax from ten percent to five and we will also reduce the toll for the use of the mander from five percent to two percent of the gross value of the merchandise, but we need you to commit that every moon you will bring us these minerals, breaking the contract carries a fine'' said the knight
The captain's eyes began to sparkle at the thought that he could earn much more gold.
''That would be fantastic, what should I do'' said the captain.
''Bring the paperwork'' said the knight to a Finn.
''At once Herr Alfred'' said the Finn.
The knight stood motionless on the boat, waiting patiently for his subordinate to bring the paperwork
''I need you to sign here....here...here....thumbprint here'' said the knight pointing to the parts of the contract
''Ehh...I don't understand your language'' said the captain.
''Here take the common language version, it is only a statement that any problems that occur between you and us will be using Prussian law and also a clause that all the objects you transport were obtained in a legitimate way and not by piracy or robbery'' said the knight handing the sheets
''Ah sure let me sign... here you go'' said the captain very excitedly
''Well, that's sixty golden dragons for the use of the river'' said the knight putting the contracts away.
The captain approached a small chest he was holding and started to open it with his keys and took the coins the knight had asked for.
''Take the toll payment.... does the system still work the same as before, that all the gentlemen collect their tax or the toll?'', asked the captain smiling.
''Ha, no, it doesn't work like that anymore, we think it was doing too much harm to the trade, this certificate that I am handing you now, will serve for your whole trip through the mander and you should not pay any more tolls for the whole of your journey'' said the knight stamping a paper with the Prussian eagle on it.
''Oh, so this trip is going to be more lucrative than we thought'' said the smiling captain
''That's what we expected, well, I won't take up any more of your valuable time, good luck on your voyage'' said Alfred leaving the ship followed by his guards
''Send in the next one'' said the knight to his Finnish guard.
A group of three ships began to sail through the entrance of the mander river.
The merchant leading the ships was known to the Teutonic knight.
''Sterlan it is good to see you again, logs once more?'', asked the Teutonic knight.
''That's right Herr Alfred, the whole ship full of logs, no other goods'' said the merchant.
The sailors quickly set up their bridge so that the knight could get on board
''Manifest'' said Alfred
''Here you go'' said the smiling merchantman.
''Well three ships, ninety golden dragons it is'' said the knight handing back the manifest
''Aren't you going to check my hold?'', said Sterlan a bit surprised.
''not this time, maybe next time, it will be a surprise, so be on your way'' said the knight
''Oh great... let me get the coins'' said the merchant moving to his cabin.
The merchant handed over the coins and the merchant received his stamped certificate to be able to use the river as a means of transportation.
Alfred returned to his workstation and watched as the three ships sailed down the great river they were to protect.
Another ship was approaching the Prussian customs, but the knight did not recognize the flag with which the ship was sailing.
''Do you recognize the flag?'', asked the knight to his Finnish guard on his right.
''From the free city of tyrosh, Herr Alfred, known to be slavers, we must be on the lookout for their cargo'' replied the Finn, holding his dog
''Call for more guards, this could get ugly'' said the knight preparing himself in case it is necessary to use force.
The knight called the attention of the tyrosh crew.
''Set the bridge, we must check your cargo'' said Alfred with a serious tone.
''It is necessary, we will pay the toll at once, we don't want to waste any time'' said the leader of the ship, who had blue-tinted hair in common tongue.
''totally, necessary or your ship will be sunk on the spot'' replied the Teutonic knight.
''*Tsh*, well''cursed the Tyroshi.
The Prussians boarded the ship and began to check the manifest of tyrosh which brought one of the most coveted goods for the Prussians, the black dye, the black color is extremely difficult to maintain in the clothes with the traditional dyes and the Prussians were in the obligation to dye their tabards with the iron cross they had to resort to buy the Spanish dyes that they brought from the new world because it was the best ones
While with other dyes, the Prussians had to constantly dye the cloth to generate the black color, which quickly lost its color after a few washes, with the Spanish dyes of palo de campeche it was not necessary so much work besides being of an intense black color that was desired by the Prussian nobles.
But since their arrival in the seven kingdoms the black dye has become scarce and the cost of maintaining their clothes has increased considerably, but on the summer islands a similar plant was found that produces the same black dye that the Prussians desired.
The problem the Prussians had was getting it, and the merchants of essos became the main merchants bringing dyes from the east and south.
The knight and his men intensively searched the ship for any irregularities in the manifest, but no matter how hard they tried to look, they found nothing.
''Everything seems to be in order'' said Alfred, returning the manifest.
''I told you we just wasted time'' replied Tyroshi captain.
''It's just standard procedure, it wasn't an option'' replied Alfred.
Alfred and his men were about to leave the hold when captain Tyroshi said something in his tongue
''I told you those idiots wouldn't notice'' Tyroshi captain said in Latin to his deck hand, although his accent was strange to the Prussian knight and the Finns who followed him.
the customs officers turned and looked at the blue-haired captain, who opened his eyes in surprise that they understood what he had said.
''BRING THE DOGS IN, CALL ALL THE GUARDS WE WILL MOVE EVERY LAST BOX ON THIS SHIP!'', shouted Alfred furiously.
The guards began to take all the sailors and their captain prisoner and began to search the entire ship for whatever the Tyroshis were hiding.
But again the Prussians had moved every last box off the ship and found nothing that was off the manifest
The Prussians even began to investigate underneath the ship in case they found anything on the hull.
Alfred was about to have the ship dismantled if necessary, but finally the dogs began to bark as a sign that they had found something.
The ship had a false bottom, the Prussians began to break the false bottom with axes, and what they found disgusted many of the Teutonic knights that were helping.
They found in this false bottom a group of women who were gagged with blindfolds and shackled, which were extremely tightly packed in the small compartment of the ship.
Some of the women spoke a language that the Prussians did not understand and neither did the Finnish linguists, but they were able to communicate with a group of women from Essos who let them know that they were slaves from the Lys area.
The Prussians immediately began to take the Tyroshi to court to begin a formal investigation into what had happened.
''Tell the judge that the Teutonic order calls for the penalty of crucifixion for these slavers'' said Alfred as he watched the Tyroshi being taken away.
At the end of the long day's work the Prussians had begun to nail the slavers all along the mander, which for a time their screams of pain would serve as a signal to the next to try to continue the slave-trading network they had found that supplied the pleasure houses with exotic women for their business.
But now the Prussians were more alert because several ships from free cities had entered the mander and might be using the same trick.
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