King of German Mercenaries

After Marin's team climbed over the Alps with difficulty and entered the territory of Venice, Venice's developed post system immediately passed the news to the city of Venice.

In the Doge's Palace in Venice, a group of Venetian senior parliamentarians are discussing countermeasures...

What countermeasures are being discussed? Marin came to withdraw money! To be honest, the Venetians were not really happy about paying 1.25 million gold coins to Marin. Although, the previous captives, through the ransom, earned most of the expenses back, and did not lose much. However, they were still very unhappy about Marin coming to withdraw money. After all, this is watching a large sum of money pass from one's own hands to someone else's.

"This kid, how long has it been? He spent 500,000 gold coins in more than a year, so he's too prodigal?" said a certain member of the congress. He is a banker, and this large sum of money will stay in Venice for one more year, so he can make a lot of loans and pay a lot of interest.

"Or, let's get rid of him and hack the money?" a congressman suggested. This person is the controller of the underground forces in Venice and likes to come to Yin.

"No, if you get rid of him, his subordinates will reveal the original agreement, and Venice will be discredited. If there is no credit, there will be problems in Venice's trade." Governor Agostino Barbarigo immediately dismissed it. the idea.

"However, it hurts to let that kid just take away the 750,000 gold coins!"

"Yeah yeah..." Many people echoed.

"Everyone, I have an idea..." said a congressman named Alani.

"Tell me about it..." Governor Agostino Barbarigo glanced at Alani.

"Although we owe Marin Hoffman 750,000 gold coins, we didn't say in the agreement that we need to pay it all at once?"

Everyone thinks about it, there is really no...

"I mean, although Marin Hoffman came to withdraw money, we don't need to give 750,000 at a time..."

"You mean... in batches?" Governor Agostino Barbarigo hesitated.

"Yes, we can give him three batches and pay him back 250,000 each year. The other 500,000 gold coins can be left in Venice, which can generate a lot of profit a year..."

"Good idea, but, what's the reason for doing this? I'm afraid that guy will make trouble..." The Governor worried.

"What are you afraid of? It's not that we won't give it. As for the reason, it's very simple. If you say that Venice has a financial crisis, he can still bite us?"

"Good...good idea..." Many people agreed. 500,000 gold coins, I don't know how much interest will be generated for two years. You know, in this era, the interest on lending is around 10%. Lending to kings and great nobles is even more super-high interest of 15%. If you keep 500,000 gold coins for two years, you can make a profit of tens of thousands of gold coins.

"In addition, I have a suggestion..." Amero, the director of Murano Island, said.

"We owe him 750,000 gold coins, didn't we say we must give gold coins?"

"Of course, what do you mean?"

"Hey... we can use the glass produced in Murano Island to offset the account..." Amero smiled wretchedly...

"This...this method is so evil..." However, the congressmen felt very happy.

Murano is the center of the Venetian glass industry. The stained glass produced on the island is sold all over Europe and even the Middle East, and the price is not cheap.

However, due to the frequent wars in recent years, the glass business in Venice has also been affected to a certain extent, and there has been some backlog. Amelo, the congressman in charge of the glass business, suddenly wanted to forcibly sell glass products to Marin...

"Okay, this is good, but how much is appropriate to sell?"

"Lord Governor, I think, for 750,000 gold coins, we will give 250,000 gold coins each in two years. For the remaining 250,000 gold coins, we will only use Venice products to offset the balance..."

"Will that anger that kid?" Governor Agostino Barbarigo was a little worried.

Marin, who was afraid of anger, said nonsense.

"Don't be afraid, if we kill him, there is a danger of leaking the secret. As long as he is good, if the secret is leaked out, his emperor will be the first to spare him!"

"Makes sense! Let's do it!"

"Lord Governor, don't just focus on promoting glass products. In the 250,000 gold coins, you must allocate a share of the ships! My shipyard, it is almost impossible to open the pot..." Senator Magria shouted.

"And my food..."

"My spice..."

"My clock..."

...

These Venetian congressmen are in business at home and have a lot of goods...

...

When Marin arrived at the Governor's Palace, Governor Agostino Barbarigo personally came forward and received Marin:

"Long time no see, Baron Hoffman, nice to see you!"

"It's also an honor for Marin to see the Governor again! You can just call me Marin!"

"Please sit down..."

Then, the two sides started negotiations. When Governor Agostino Barbarigo made an offer, Marin's face became very ugly. He didn't expect that the Venetians would cheat like this...

"Lord Governor, I'm here to withdraw money, not to buy goods!"

"I know, Baron Marin. You know, because of the French invasion, the whole Italian economy collapsed, and it also caused great difficulties in the business of Venice. So, we can't afford to take out 750,000 gold coins all at once. You Next time, we can only take out 250,000 gold coins, but if you need it, Venice has a lot of backlogs, which can be offset..."

"Why do I want so many products? I don't have a chamber of commerce, so when the products are shipped back, they can only be seen in the house and warehouse..."

"But we really don't have that much cash..." Governor Agostino Barbarigo also pretended to be pitiful, as if Venice was really poor.

"This... how about this, will Venice give me a group of craftsmen? I heard that there are many craftsmen in Venice who have signed lifelong contracts with Venice, such as the glass craftsmen on Murano Island. Or, the Governor will give me A craftsman calling for a lifetime contract?"

"What craftsman do you want?"

"Calling a glass craftsman?"

"Impossible, the glass industry is the core industry of Venice, I will not give it, and other members will not agree!"

"Lord Governor, I'm not looking for a core craftsman who knows the recipe of stained glass, but an ordinary craftsman who knows how to blow, carve and polish..."

"yes?"

"Of course, otherwise what do you think?"

The idea of ​​Marin actually existed before. He had always wanted to recruit a group of artisans who knew how to make glassware, and there was a lack of glass in the East. Even in India, the price of glass products is very high, not to mention the great lack of glass products.

Europeans and the East trade, because there is no exchange of special products, and they have to buy with money. But in this way, gold and silver flowed into the East in large quantities. Before the discovery of gold and silver in America, Europeans did not have so much gold and silver to buy.

Therefore, in this context, Venetian glass products have become an important exchangeable commodity. Even Daming, who got extremely scarce glass, can still sell it for a very high price.

However, Marin has no glass craftsman in his hands, and he only knows a little bit of principles. Therefore, he has long planned to come to Venice to dig glass craftsmen.

As far as the current stage is concerned, beautiful stained glass is Venice's main export product and its core secret. More powerful mercury-tinned glass mirrors have yet to appear, and will have to wait for decades. This year, the core technology of Venice is especially stained glass.

However, stained glass technology is a sophisticated thing to others. Marin, who has studied chemistry, knows the secrets inside, but only adds some special minerals.

What Marin needs most is a glass craftsman of the processor type. After all, to trade with the Orientals, it is necessary to process the glass into the shape that the Orientals like.

For example, if you carve a glass cross, the Orientals don't like it. However, if you carve a glass dragon and phoenix, it is absolutely welcomed in Daming, and even regarded as a treasure.

Marin intends to open up the Ming trade route. He does not have so much gold and silver to buy silk and porcelain. He can only use glassware that meets the aesthetic requirements of the Orientals to exchange related goods and make huge profits.

At the same time, Marin also asked Governor Agostino Barbarigo to ask for a group of shipbuilders...

Governor Agostino Barbarigo did not reply directly, but discussed it with the deputies. Hearing about the stained glass technology that does not touch the core, even Amero, the general manager of Murano, did not object. As for shipbuilders, the shipbuilding industry has been sluggish in recent years, and Venice's demand for ships has dropped significantly. Shipbuilding magnate Magria doesn't give a damn about shipbuilders who hand over some lifetime contracts. However, the high price is certain.

In this way, everyone reached an agreement and agreed to deliver a group of ordinary glass craftsmen who did not involve the secret techniques of stained glass, as well as a group of shipbuilders to Marin. But, that price...

"What? A glass craftsman and a shipbuilder are worth 200 gold coins? Lord Governor, are you too dark?" Marin almost jumped up in fright.

"Would you like it or not, it's the price. Baron Marin, you have to know that these are the top craftsmen in Europe, and they are contracted for life, and they will not betray them!"

"Are they all experienced craftsmen with more than 10 years of experience?" Marin gritted his teeth and decided to get a batch of them.

"Yes, you can follow this request."

"Okay, I want 50 glass craftsmen and 200 boat builders!" Marin is in short supply of boat builders now, and glass craftsmen are in great need. So, he reluctantly asked for so much, and the total price reached 50,000 gold coins. In addition, considering the trade to India this time, a batch of goods is needed. As a result, Marin also purchased a large number of stained glass products worth 10,000 gold coins.

After that, Marin also requested that the families of these craftsmen, together with these craftsmen, plus the goods, be sent to Texel by Venetian ships. Of course, the Venetians have no objection to this, but the boat fee that should be charged has not been undercharged at all.

When the craftsmen hired a boat to return to Texel Island, Marin also sent Schwartz to take half of the people and escorted 200,000 gold coins back to Texel with the boat. And Marin himself, with Sauer, Kohler, Kahn and others, with 50,000 gold coins, continue to stay in Italy and do other things...

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