"The Mountain, I should go back," Edmure said. "Let's talk about how we can cooperate."
"Tell me about it," said Demon Mountain.
"I'll pay you, you teach us the technology," Edmure said. "One price: 100,000 gold dragons. That's definitely better than you contributing your technology to the City of Academia."
*
The old folks of the Citadel researched and experimented with a new production technique, which they sold to the king. The king then sold it at a high price to the nobles of the entire country. The nobles then taught it to the people of their territories. The people learned the new production technique, increased their productivity, and were able to pay more taxes to the lords.
Jenny and Asa could contribute the milk sterilization method to the Citadel and receive rewards and honors from it, but this was not practical. The honors given by the Citadel often outweighed the practical benefits. The Mountain also despised the honors given by the Citadel; he valued practical benefits more.
*
Admer is willing to pay 300,000 RMB to buy out the milk sterilization technology, a fixed price.
Earl Gavin, Lady Hipper, Rover, Bernie, and Bull Zelly were all surprised.
One hundred thousand golden dragons could buy one hundred thousand cows. But in the Western Regions, there are at most twenty thousand cows.
Clearly, this price is too high, ridiculously high.
Even if all the milk in the entire Westerlands were dumped during this season, the total loss would only be around ten thousand gold dragons. Of course, the Riverlands produce the most milk in the country, supplying the royal domains and King's Landing with its nearly one million inhabitants. If they were all dumped in July, August, or even September, the losses would amount to tens of thousands of gold dragons in cost. Furthermore, minor illnesses and epidemics, such as diarrhea from drinking milk, frequently occur in other months, which is an invisible but significant factor hindering the development of the dairy industry.
The Mountain glanced at Jenny, whose eyes darted around. Though excited, she managed to remain composed.
The Mountain looked at Edmure: "Lord Edmure, 100,000 gold dragons is a lot of money. It is indeed a high price to use this money to buy out the new milk sterilization technology researched by Jenny and Maester Assa, but it is still not enough."
Edmure exclaimed, "Mountain, this is the highest price I can offer. Even if I return to the Riverlands, my father might not approve it. One hundred thousand gold dragons is enough for us to buy milk for many years."
The Mountain stared at Edmure: "Lord Edmure, if Duke Horst is unwilling to pay this amount, I will not force him."
Edmure exclaimed in surprise, "Lord Mountain, do you mean you're unwilling to earn my 100,000 gold dragons?"
"I'm not making money off you, I'm helping you make money. Lord Edmure, let me do the math for you. We'll sell you the milk sterilization method, and you'll pay 100,000 gold dragons—that's a considerable sum. Would you pass this technology on to the North? Lady Catelyn is your own sister, and the North has plenty of cows. Milk is an essential, highly nutritious food for the people of the North. Would the North give you 100,000 gold dragons? Let me do the math. There are over twelve major noble families and more than thirty minor noble families in the North. Would the Stark family be willing to order their vassals to pay for this technology? Of course they would. Once this technology is learned, it's a valuable technology that can be used for decades, centuries, or even millennia. Hmm, besides the North, there's the Vale. The Vale has even more nobles and a larger population than the North. Lord Robert Arryn, the Lord of the Vale, is your nephew, and his mother is your sister Lysa Tully. Heh heh, if you spread that out, the cost of 100,000 gold dragons will be almost gone."
Edmund jumped up, his eyes wide, speechless for a moment, his face showing anger.
It's likely that he wasn't as shrewd and far-sighted as the Mountain thought; he probably felt humiliated.
But it's also quite possible that he's faking it! Edmure has developed a roguish personality in the underworld, so this kind of trick wouldn't be difficult for him. He may look rough and rugged, but he's not a reckless person at heart; in fact, he's quite meticulous in many things!
Earl Gavin quickly changed the subject, laughing, "Sir Gregory, Earl Edmure, come, come, let's have a drink first. There are many ways to cooperate; it doesn't necessarily have to be a one-time buyout."
Mrs. Hibel was quite satisfied with the price of 100,000 gold dragons. She hadn't heard of such a price in a long time, and she felt that putting the money in her pocket first was the most reliable and correct approach. As for how many years the milk sterilization technology would last, she didn't consider it. Why should one think about things so far in the future?
Madame Hipper had no concept of selling technology for money. The same was true of Earl Gavin, Bernie, and Zelly.
"Count Edmure, don't be angry. I can see your sincerity. Let's sit down and talk slowly." Sybil walked over and gently pressed Edmure's shoulder, making him sit down. This was a big spender with a wealthy family background. It wouldn't be difficult for him to come up with a million gold dragons.
The Mountain said calmly, "Sir Edmure, even if you didn't intend to sell the milk technology to the North and the Vale, I would still do the same. Because once the technology is given to you, it has been leaked, and we can no longer control it. Whether you want to sell it to the Iron Islands, to the Stormlands and the Reach in the south, or even to the other side of the Narrow Sea, there is nothing I can do."
"I can swear to keep it a secret, and we can even sign a legal agreement in the sanctuary," Edmure said angrily, staring at the Mountain.
"I can trust your oaths and agreements, but I cannot trust the people around you, your technicians, your hundreds of workers, servants and maids. For example, the mercury thermometer manufacturing technology pioneered by Maester Assa—once you know about it, you can immediately ask a glass manufacturer to produce a hundred identical thermometers."
Maester Assa interrupted, "Sir Gregor, I have already informed the Citadel about the thermometer. After verifying it, the Citadel will sell the technology to the King, and through the power of the royal family, to the lords of the nation."
Jenny said, "Sir Gregor, why don't we just hand over the milk sterilization technology to the Citadel as well? The Citadel can then sell it to the Royal Family, and through the Royal Family, it can be sold to the nobles of the whole country. We won't get 100,000 gold dragons at once, but over the years, it will be a lot of money. In addition, we will gain the friendship of the Citadel and priority access to the Citadel's new technology."
"And there is the eternal honor recorded in history!" the Maester Assa exclaimed enthusiastically.
"If that's the case, King Robert will be the happiest. He'll surely make a fortune from this new technology. But I'll do it myself! Sir Edmure, I offer you a second plan: we'll send people to the Riverlands to set up milk trading posts, buying milk in various major cities, producing fresh milk and cheese, and then selling it. The profits from this transaction will be split 50/50 between the Westerling and Tully families."
The idea of the Westerling and Tully families splitting the inheritance equally made Lord Gavin and Lady Hipper absolutely adore their wicked son-in-law, the Mountain! Even though they knew it was impossible, it just sounded so appealing!
"No, my father would absolutely not agree to the Westerlands monopolizing the milk business in the Riverlands," Edmure said, directly using his father as a shield. He knew very well that this technology wasn't just for use during the peak outbreak months of July and August, but could be used year-round to ensure a continuous milk supply. The profits from this were staggering. Milk was a very popular food, supplying not only the hundreds of thousands of people in the Riverlands but also over a million people in King's Landing and the Royal Territories. However, the frequent outbreaks of disease had severely limited the development of the Riverlands' dairy industry. Once the problem of milk-related diseases and even deaths was solved, the Riverlands' milk production, like its wine and fisheries, could rapidly double in both output and sales, truly forming the three pillars of the Riverlands' economy: first, milk; second, wine; and third, freshwater fisheries.
Moreover, the Mountain is not stupid. Edmure has acquired the milk pasteurization technology, so there is no reason not to export it to the North and the Vale.
The 100,000 golden dragons are divided into three parts, and he only needs to contribute 30,000 golden dragons.
Thirty thousand gold dragons is a small sum for a super lord like Tully!
King Robert, who considers extravagance an honor, is holding a national tournament and will award the first-place winner with a golden dragon worth forty thousand.
"Alright, Mountain, give me a price!" Edmure shook his head, speaking with obvious displeasure, his tone implying that he was about to give up.