Chapter 6

Salarium

The air felt dry and the wind carried chill from the north. The animals were no longer active with bears and foxes had gone into hibernation. However, the usually slow season was not happening in Korelia. This year, the town was bustling with activities.

Digging work was picking up pace and there were also two wooden towers being constructed. An enlarged crude picket fence surrounded the west side of the town. Their tips were sharpened and positioned to deter cavalry attacks.

Today’s busy work was interrupted by a single cry. “They’re back, I’ve seen them. The caravan is back!”

Just after the midday break, the trade caravan from Midlandia was finally sighted. In droves, hundreds of men, women, and children went out to get a glimpse of it. Their return was highly expected especially by the poor who couldn’t afford the rising price of grain.

As they watched, they noticed an additional ten horse-drawn carts. Now, there were forty carts of different sizes along with a hundred cavalry escorts. For the first time in weeks, the poorest had sparkles in their eyes. Not even the hot midday sun could dampen their spirit.

Just as the first caravan entered the city, the cheering went wild. Soon, they learned about the ten extra carts that were a present from the Lord of Midlandia to commemorate Lansius’ victory. Cheering erupted along the main road.

Without resting, the merchants unloaded their goods at their respective shops and started the business rolling. Hundreds of people lined up to get cheap grain. The long queue of buyers only ended at sundown.

For a few days, the price dipped down as cheap grain flowed into the local market. However, it didn’t last long. The price steadily rose again on the fourth day. Despite the grain caravan, the situation in Korelia improved just a little.

Calub’s word of caution was proven right.

***

Lansius

This morning, I went to the worksite. Calub, Cecile, and Margo were with me. Thomson along with two guards also followed.

On-site, I made sure that the ditches were deep enough and equipped with a simple sewer to prevent mud. I also checked the nearly finished picket fence. They were rough and crude but should be effective as a deterrent. Now the town had more measures of protection, not just the castle.

While a wall or even a wooden palisade was better, we didn’t have the luxury of time and resources to build one. In this regard, I envied the Romans whose region could supply them with fresh timbers to make fortifications. Unlike Italy or Germany, Lowlandia was akin to the Eurasian steppe.

After the inspection, I went to the wooden tower which was halfway completed. Calub had told me that he used this spot if he needed to gather the men. After taking some breaths to calm down, I spoke to Thomson. “Go for it, call their attention.”

“Behold, you are in the presence of the Lord of Korelia! Gather up and listen,” the bearded lieutenant’s deep commanding voice heralded my presence.

The workers dropped their tools and gathered around. I saw many friendly faces, mostly the troops that had stayed with me since last year.

“Please be at ease. I’m just here to say a few words." I tried to speak as clearly as possible, which meant loudly in this kind of environment. “First, it’s the third day. So we’re here to pay for your work.”

That attracted short cheering from the crowd.

“It’s usually the treasurer’s job, but there’s some change. Today, we’re giving you new options. You could choose to be paid in cash, or in salt.”

There were many murmurs amongst the crowd.

“The usual rate is three days of work for two silver coins. Now, I can offer you a cup of salt for the same-“

The crowd grew lively all of sudden.

“Order! Order," Thomson shouted.

“Three days of work for a cup of salt. The rate stays until winter ends. Also, by next week, the ground would be too hard to work on. However, the workshops will be ready.”

The crowd listened intensely.

“I'll pay the same rate for the workshop. Two silvers or a cup of salt-"

Just like a beehive being struck down, the crowd was buzzing. Many relaxed faces were seen. Their biggest fear of not having enough food for winter was now allayed.

“Order, say your piece after the Lord is done." Thomson tried to rein in the crowd.

“The workshops will be open throughout winter. If you work there, while it won’t be much or taste as good, there’ll be free food twice a day. We’ll also provide fire for the night. Anyone whose family is without firewood, you can spend the night there.”

Oddly there was little cheering this time. Instead, I got murmurs and a different look on their faces.

A look of disbelief? Did I say something wrong?

But I pressed on. “Lastly, the small amount of salt you’ll get probably won’t be enough for meat curing. Thus, the castle, just for this winter, will buy more fresh meat and we’ll pay in salt. A bucket of salt for a fat lamb, less for lesser ones.”

I looked around and found people not reacting as I expected.

Calub took the stage as I already said my piece.

Man, I’m really not a good speaker…

“Fellow Korelians, I have the Lord’s speech in writing and it’ll be posted on the main plaza. You can check it anytime, words for words. That being clear, let’s get down to business.”

Calub then started the roll call and each one was given the option to take coins or salt.

***

Timmy

Last summer, little Timmy had lost his job and with it his meal and shelter. The family he had worked for, fell into trouble. The cause was the stillborn disease that plagued their livestock. There were too few newborn lambs that survived, thus the family couldn’t secure enough for winter.

They had to let go of Timmy who ended up banded together with other similarly unlucky kids, begging for alms or food in the street of Korelia. Despite his condition, he wasn’t the most unlucky. Little Tia took that spot, her herd was attacked by wolves. While she saved what she could, one of her legs was mauled.

Not only Tia had lost her flock and her job, but now she walked with a limp.

Trying to cheat death, the kids banded together. Tia's knitting skill was useful to make winter clothing from scraps of leather or unused rags. However, there was little food for them.

It was generally known that the bottommost society in Korelia was doomed every winter. Korelia was a harsh place. Its winter mercilessly culled the unlucky ones. A shepherd family without enough livestock would face certain hunger or death.

Butchering too many livestock would make them poor next year. Butchering too few, then they might lose a family member from hunger. Last winter Timmy lost his last aunt and several friends. This year, it was probably his turn.

However, compared to war, at least winter was giving a peaceful death. There was a saying: at least the cold took life peacefully.

This year the situation was terrible. The food price rose so much that nobody could afford much. After harvest, there was little work to be found. Many resorted to pickpocketing, even thinking about robbery.

Before the situation went critical, the new lord opened a series of works. Digging the ditches was popular because it didn’t require any specific skills. Timmy applied, but he was deemed too small for labor. Luckily, the older kids in his band were accepted and for a while, they could sustain themselves.

The situation improved further when the wildly talked caravan arrived. Prices went down for a while, but it didn’t last. Sadly, even with all their savings combined, they could only secure half a sack of grain.

So close to winter, things were looking bleak. That was when they learned about the salt payment. The older kids took the offer and traded it for a few sacks of grain. For them, it was a miracle to have that much.

Few of them were even lucky enough to be called back by their employer. More and more shepherds had enough food after selling some of their livestock for salt. Now, winter work was available. With enough salt, many shepherds could produce sausages, corned meat, and even meat jerky.

Processed meat products fetch a high price at the market and could be easily stored through winter.

Timmy and Tia weren’t the lucky ones. But that didn’t deter them. This time they got another avenue to pursue. They heard the workshop provided free meals twice a day and a working fireplace every night.

It sounded unreal, a too good to be true promise. Naturally, there was a big crowd who applied. The two didn’t get accepted, but surprisingly they were allowed to spend the night.

They still remembered the first night they spent under a solid roof with warmth from a working fireplace. Even the straw beddings felt luxurious. The master craftsmen allowed the kids to have leftover gruel if they helped with the cleaning. At noon they were given a small simple task for a bowl of soup.

They watched and learned as the craftsmen, carpenter, and apprentice were making crossbow parts, strings, and bolt shafts. The situation wasn’t ideal, but now the kids had a fighting chance.

Hundreds if not thousands of Korelia’s poorest felt the same. Be it the daily laborers, shepherds, orphaned, or even townsfolk who get into destitution, they were equally grateful. They had yet to trust the new lord. But they felt that as long as the new lord ruled over them, then even people like them could survive.

***

Korelia Castle

“So, how’s it going,” Calub greeted Hugo as they met in the courtyard.

“Lively,” Hugo responded. They were in a good mood.

Audrey followed them quietly. The three were heading for the Great Hall for supper.

“You should see the merchant’s face when hundreds of men are buying grain with cups of salt," Hugo bragged.

Calub laughed. So far from the coast, in Lowlandia, salt was worth their weight in silver. It had many usages: cooking, medicinal, and alchemy; but the most important is for curing and preserving meat.

“Mm, why did that happen?” Audrey voiced her curiosity.

Both men stopped and turned around to face her. “Ah, salt is expensive around here. So much so that almost nobody in Korelia has a bucket of salt. Probably only the richest and the town’s butcher have that many," Calub explained.

“So you pay with salt because it’s more expensive?” Audrey tried to swallow the hard concept.

“What I’m saying is that salt has a better value," Calub corrected her.

“Is it because salt can also be used for curing meat?”

“That too, Audrey. But that’s beside the main point," said Calub.

Hugo shook his head. “I think allowing shepherds to meat curing is a big deal. While fresh meat is more profitable but it's more difficult to sell. They’re only good for two days before rotting? Preserved meat is easier to sell.”

Calub nodded deeply at his friend’s remark.

“But how is this related to people having enough grain for winter?” Audrey arrived at the main issue.

“Well, as I said before, salt has more value. That’s why the merchants can offer better bargains for salt." Calub tried to explain.

“I still don’t follow.”

“You see, if we give someone two silver then he could only buy a few cups of grain. But if we give him a cup of salt then he could trade it for a quarter sack of grain.”

“Ah, yeah right..." Audrey nodded. "But then, why did only Lansius buy salt in Midlandia? Other merchants bought grains. Why don't they do the same?”

“Good question, that’s because almost everybody in Korelia is poor. No merchants will stock salt, because nobody in Korelia would buy it.”

Something clicked inside Audrey after she listened to Calub.

Looking that Audrey was working on it at the moment, they proceeded to the Great Hall.

“We realized that there aren’t enough carts or time to transport enough grain," Calub clarified as they walked. “That’s why his solution is to bring another currency to the table.”

“Salt as currency?”

“Yes, Audrey, it can be used as such if the situation is correct.”

The girl started to grasp the idea.

“We bypass the high grain price by using salt. From the start, the problem isn’t about a shortage. In reality, there’s enough grain in Korelia, in the merchants’ storages," Calub happily explained the situation.

“That’s why there’s plan B." Hugo cut in in low voice. "To confiscate the grain and sell it out. But Lansius was against it. He said we’ll lose more if we betray the merchant.”

The three reached the Great Hall. The fireplace and chandelier were already lit, but the meal was yet to be served.

“Our problem is the merchants who can't sell their grain cheaply. That's because they follow the market to maintain their margin," Calub resumed after they all took seats.

Nobody reacted so Calub continued. "With salt, everybody is in a better position, because salt prices are relatively more stable. Any merchant can easily sell or barter salt for profit outside of Korelia."

“You know, I can’t even imagine buying salt from Midlandia to alleviate famine. It’s unthinkable," Hugo remarked. “I know ten carts of salt worth more than a hundred carts of grain. But I never imagine it can be used in such a way."

“Indeed, Hugo. It's a surprising method." Calub smiled.

Out of thirty carts in the caravan, only ten were under their control. Had they followed with grain purchase, then for the most part nothing would change.

Calub leaned in toward Audrey and spoke in a low voice after making sure there wasn’t anyone in their vicinity, “tell me, has Lansius ever become a merchant?”

But Audrey shook her head. “I knew he’s a teacher before becoming a clerk, but never a merchant.”

Their lord was a mysterious person. Even Audrey, who knew him the longest, didn’t know the full story.

“Well, anyway, let it be known that with ten carts, our lord brought enough grain to feed six thousand!" Calub summarized his thought. He was more than pleased by this victory.

“I’ll drink to that,” Hugo remarked while glancing at Audrey.

The two quickly waved their hands to attract the servant.

“And you know the best part is?" Calub threw his question but nobody answered.

“It’s only working for Korelia." The alchemist laughed while leaving his two friends puzzled.

Korelia was a special case. It had an unusually large number of poor shepherd families who could use salt to preserve meat and build up the home industry.

The same scheme wouldn’t work for other places whose main populace was farmers who didn’t use large amounts of salt. Therefore there was no incentive to receive salt payment or use it as a bartering commodity.

In two months' time, the height of winter finally engulfed all of Lowlandia. Pristine white snow covered the entire plains. The elven year 4425 was drawing to a close.

***