The Thousand Year Dynasty
08. Line Closure
"Mateus has just sent me the news that he has a royal warrant to decide on trade cooperation with us from today" Amithy said, a week after they received a warrant from the Urbar kingdom.
"Yes, it looks like they really want to close our trade route soon" Dirk said in response.
They once again held a meeting to discuss the matter with the Urbar kingdom. It is still in Lucia's residence. It was attended by the same people. Except for Anna, who's not coming.
"Kabari the southern traders, that we do not forbid them to keep trading in this place. But we're gonna close the south gate. So they can go first before the gate closes" Nata orders Madron. "Or if they want, they can turn through the north gate to Zeraza. Then cross over to Xin city" he added.
"Well, I will prepare an announcement to deploy in the Central city" Madron replied later.
"For northern traders it was also reported that the crossing was closed. But they can still trade with us" Nata continued.
"I will tell the traders" this time Dirk replied.
"And is the list of items from the north and south, which I have requested previously made, Mr Dirk?" Nata asked Dirk again.
"Here you go, Mr. Nata. We have also begun planning the manufacture of goods from the south that are most needed by the northern mainland" Dirk replied again.
"Good then. Now all we need to do is guard the gate and observe its development"
"For those spies? What are we gonna do about him?" This time Caspian asked. He seemed worried about Nata letting a spy stay in the city at a time like this.
"Leave it, Mr. Caspian. Let him be the window of the Urbar kingdom to see what impact we will receive from the closure of this trade path. So that they can compare it with the impact they receive" explained Nata Long.
Caspian seemed to understand what Nata meant. "It's okay if it's like that" he replied later.
And then the meeting was continued with talks about the needs of Pharos land from the southern region and the search for a solution.
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A week later, a guard post was built not far from the south gate. Complete with a wooden crossbar to cover the road. Some soldiers were seen standing guard with guns in their hands. It seemed ready to intercept a surprise attack from the land of Pharos.
"They even made a barrier until it was like that. Isn't that too much. It's as if we're going to attack them" Jean said as he stood atop the hillside of the south gate. With Aksa, Nata, Vossler, and Caspian. Is overseeing the continuation of the installation of defense weapons.
The defense weapon that is being installed is a weapon that uses air pressure. Shaped like a crossbow, but made with a size that is able to throw a harpoon.
The weapon has a support leg with an articulated ball made of iron in the section connected to the weapon body. Which makes the weapon very easy to be directed even though the legs of the buffer are embedded in the cliff.
The part that was used to put the bullet to launch was now replaced with an iron pipe connected to a shelf containing about 20 iron milestones such as harpoons, lined down.
There are springs that will continue to push the harpoons up, when the contents of the iron pipe are empty. So in short, the weapon can fire 20 bullets in a row, before then it must be refilled.
There was also a large iron tube for storing air, and a locomotive furnace next to it.
"Yes, they should feel intimidated when they see this weapon" Aksa said later.
"This is a weapon with air pressure, not one that uses gunpowder bubik" Caspian said later.
"Bigger than that gunpowder?" Caspian sounded sure.
"You will believe it when you see it in action" Aksa replied later.
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A month has passed since the closure of the line to the south. However, this did not have much impact on the Pharos region which has now started to have its own trading network with the northern region.
The Pharos region was able to make goods from the southern mainland needed by the northern mainland at a much cheaper price. Due to the original items, it now had to be carried using sea crossings and passed through many parties. Which will definitely weigh down its selling price.
And vice versa. The goods from the north would be much more expensive than before when arriving at the southern mainland port. And that makes the purchasing power of the people of the southern region so drastically changed. What was once a layman can afford it, now suddenly so up two to three times. Until the northern traders prefer to sell it to the land of Pharos because there is a guarantee will continue to be purchased.
Besides this, now the construction of the western region has also been fully completed. The lighthouse on the hill is standing gallantly waiting to be lit. The dock, which is in the middle of shallow waters, has now also been completed.
Several wooden houses appear to be standing on the pier. The plan is they will build a shipyard in that place.
On the south side of the beach also appears to have stood a building for the supervision of marine fauna cultivation. Like Black mussels and Sapphire pearls, which have high selling value.
"After this, we will also begin to install protection in this region" Nata said as he visited the region with Aksa and Caspian. After the installation of protection weapons at the south gate is completed.
"I agree, Mr. Nata. But what are you going to do to protect this place? Because we do not have a fence wall that can be fitted with weapons" Nikolai said as they walked towards the lighthouse.
"really. What else is a dock in the middle of shallow waters. How do we protect the place?" Add Anna who walks next to Nikolai.
"Because they will definitely bring ships to this place, then we will also make ships, to block them" Nata replied.
"But now we still lack people to make a raid on the opposing ship when it happens" Anna said.
"We just sank their ship" Aksa interrupted.
"Sunning the opponent's ship? You mean drown him?" Anna asked again.
"really. We don't have to storm the opponent's ship. After all we don't want the ship, or the things that are in it, right?" This time Nata answered.
"Right as well" Anna looked small nodding.
"Therefore we do not need to have many people. All we need to have is a reliable sailor and a ship capable of sinking the opponent's ship" Nata replied casually.
"Is there such a ship?" Nikolai asked as they were already under the lighthouse.
"You will see it soon, Mr. Nikolai" said Aksa, who appeared to smile before entering the lighthouse.
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