Chapter 962: Strict Quality Control

Fewer people came to the Maritime Trade Office today. As he passed behind a corridor, he overheard two merchants discussing:

"Why are the Nether Hydras out again? Yesterday, when I crossed West Fjord, I saw several of them swimming in the sea. They were enormous, almost as big as small whales!""Oh, was your ship alright?""As soon as we ran, the Nether Hydras chased us. They hovered right in front of our bow for a long time, and everyone on board was terrified. They kept peering out of the water, as if observing something, and only swam away after half an hour." The man spoke with lingering fear, "Didn't they say this sea area was safe?""When was that ever said?""Isn't the new owner of Yangshan Archipelago supposed to be able to control the Nether Hydras?""That's just exaggeration; who knows how much of it is true?" His companion suddenly realized, "Wait a minute, that's not right. Nether Hydras never used to go to West Fjord; that's outside the Yangshan Archipelago.""Ever since the incident with the archipelago and the Nether Hydra tide some time ago, they've been rampaging everywhere," the merchant sighed. "Now, it's not surprising where they show up."

Wu Tiju casually listened to a few sentences but paid them no mind.

Just then, Zhao Qianshi entered from outside. Wu Tiju gestured, beckoning him into a private alcove and asking:

"Are last month's accounts ready? In three days, we need to remit the silver to the national treasury.""They're all prepared, rest assured," Zhao Qianshi replied, glancing around. Seeing the two merchants had walked away, he continued, "Yangshan Archipelago hasn't sent anything for inspection these past few days. I heard they've harvested most of their palm oil and are even developing several new products."Noting Wu Tiju's silence, he prompted, "What are your thoughts?"

Wu Tiju's eyelids flickered. "After all, the new owner of Yangshan Archipelago is new to this business. A novice lacks experience, and quality is hard to control. The Maritime Trade Office must strictly review and repeatedly inspect their goods, urging them to meet standards as soon as possible.""Yes, yes," Zhao Qianshi immediately grasped the keywords "strictly" and "repeatedly." Speaking of which, Wu Tiju's own palm groves seemed to have yielded a bountiful harvest, with shipments going out these days. Every season, foreign merchants would come to Blade's Edge Port to collect palm oil.If they delayed another twenty days or so, the merchants would conclude their negotiations and head back home.

Zhao Qianshi understood Wu Tiju's intentions. It would certainly be impossible for Yangshan Archipelago to obtain sales and opening permits for the next half a month or so. Later, if Yangshan Archipelago wanted to sell oil, it wouldn't be so easy.

Once the local harvest season passed, major merchants purchasing bulk goods would leave the port, heading to other regions to distribute and resell their supplies. After they left, only small vendors and ordinary citizens would make sporadic purchases at Blade's Edge Port and the Fjord.

In simple terms, these were the differences between wholesale and retail, with neither the volume nor the price being on the same level.

Yangshan Archipelago's primary product was palm oil, with large quantities that needed to be sold to bulk purchasers. If they missed the delivery season, a significant amount of goods would pile up in warehouses, unsold. The small volume of sales in the retail market would be a drop in the ocean.

Accumulated goods would lead to poor circulation and liquidity problems—

Money could only generate more money if it circulated quickly through transactions. For a new island owner with limited financial resources like He Lingchuan, unsold goods could easily lead to a financial downward spiral.

Zhao Qianshi immediately declared, "Your subordinate will also diligently monitor and help them improve quality later on, so as not to betray the trust of the many foreign merchants in Blade's Edge Port."Wu Tiju sighed, "Good quality and a strong reputation are what truly benefit the long-term development of Yangshan Archipelago and Blade's Edge Port!"

Zhao Qianshi then quietly added, "Sir, I hear this island master, surnamed He, has some capabilities. Even the pirates who have roamed the archipelago for years have been subdued by him."

This matter had been a hot topic for over half a month, and officials at Blade's Edge Port had confirmed the news, all finding it incredible.

Zhao Qianshi had already rejected Yangshan Archipelago's applications three times and felt somewhat uneasy.After all, the other party was not like an ordinary merchant.Did this troublesome task really have to fall to him?

"What real ability do those pirates of Yangshan Archipelago have?" Wu Tiju snorted. "It's just that the concentrated nether-qi there makes normal life impossible. Pirates are like weeds; they'll grow back even after being cut down several times, and eventually, no one bothers with them.""Has that nether-qi also been dispersed by Island Master He?""Seeing is believing. The depths of the archipelago are still shrouded in gray fog, so do you really think he can disperse it?" Wu Tiju sneered. "Some people seek fame before seeking profit. Once their reputation is big, why would they fear money not rolling in?""But I heard that the nether-qi on some islands has been completely cleared..." Zhao Qianshi saw his superior's expression and immediately changed his tone. "This 'Island Master He' has been in Blade's Edge Port for months, yet he has never visited you, Sir. How arrogant!"

"It's said he's hosted many high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants, but he only sent his subordinate, a supervisor named Ding, to visit me." Wu Tiju gave a mirthless smile. "Youngsters, heh."If he didn't give his nod, Yangshan Archipelago couldn't sell a single bottle of oil or even a piece of paper in Blade's Edge Port!

The two returned to the front hall to work. No sooner had they sat down than someone rushed in from outside, a man with a pale face and brocade robes, looking anxious and almost stumbling over the threshold.

It was nearly late autumn, yet he was drenched in sweat. He rushed towards Wu Tiju, exclaiming, "Master, something terrible has happened!"This was Wu Tiju's disciple, who ran his own private school. He was usually a dignified and graceful man, serving as a role model, so he had never been so distraught.

Wu Tiju frowned. "Has the sky fallen? Sit down and tell me slowly.""The Baoji sank."Wu Tiju shot to his feet, scolding loudly, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"It was due in port yesterday morning, but it never returned. This morning, crew members from the Baoji returned by sampan from the sea. They said the ship was attacked by Nether Hydras, and they failed to fight them off, so they had to evacuate. After that... they watched helplessly as the ship sank."

The Baoji was Wu Tiju's ship, though it was registered under his disciple's name.Measuring ten zhang long, it wasn't the largest vessel he owned, but it was the newest, having only been launched last year.The Baoji's keel was made from a rare white hemlock, a gift to Wu Tiju. The ship built with it was exceptionally fast, and Wu Tiju himself often sailed on it.

Hearing that this ship had sunk, Wu Tiju was beside himself:

"What happened! Why did the Nether Hydras attack my ship? Did it sail into the waters of Yangshan Archipelago?""No, no, it was attacked when it passed West Fjord!"The words "West Fjord" made Wu Tiju swallow hard. Zhao Qianshi, standing by, couldn't help but interject, "West Fjord! Those two merchants just said that Nether Hydras were observing their ship in West Fjord and accompanied them for a long time, but didn't attack them."

Wu Tiju found his voice grating. "I heard you," he snapped."Could it be that the Nether Hydras were specifically looking for your ship?"

Wu Tiju's face was cold, and he remained silent.When would a creature like a Nether Hydra swim out from the depths of Yangshan Archipelago specifically to attack a particular ship?