The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1860

[1860. Chapter 1770 World War]

I heard that they were from Venice, and everyone in the dormitory cheered up.

The royal barber stepped back.

The priest also stopped singing in a low voice.

The knights stood solemnly.

Only His Highness the King still looked confused.

Everyone waited with bated breath.

His Royal Highness the King slowly shook his head, and as if he was as angry as a gossamer, he slowly stretched out his hand.

The knight stepped forward, knelt down on one knee, kissed the back of the king’s hand, and then handed a letter to the king.

The king tried to cheer himself up.

Years of treatment had exhausted all his energy. He lowered his head and barely read the letter written in Latin, but the color gradually returned to his face.

After coughing, he said, “Gum?”

“What?”

A knight stepped forward with a strange look on his face.

“Gum arabic in North Africa…”

“Your Highness, what you are talking about is…”

His Royal Highness the King tried to regain his energy and said: “In…in Venice, there were merchants purchasing a large amount of gum arabic, and the price became more and more expensive. At first, It was a Persian Chamber of Commerce. The people from the Chamber of Commerce noticed something strange, so they invited a woman and took the opportunity to extract valuable information from him…”

Then, His Royal Highness the King fell into coughing again, and his face was filled with tears. First he blushed, and then he said: “I heard that this kind of gum is very popular in the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty does not produce this product, and there are even merchants trying their best to buy it. People from the Chamber of Commerce have already captured this businessman. Well, after the torture, the inside story learned is even more shocking…”

After hearing this, the knights all looked worried.

The reason why this gum is called gum arabic is because… it is a specialty of North Africa. This tree does not survive in other places.

However, such gum has no value.

But who would have thought that this thing would be favored by so many rich people in the prosperous Ming Dynasty.

“Your Highness… we must strictly prohibit this news.”

“Impossible.” The King of Spain shook his head, with greed in his slightly chaotic eyes: “Sooner or later, this news will spread all over the world, and even… I doubt Now the news has leaked. “

“Then your highness… North Africa has always been in the hands of the Ottomans. They control the origin of the gum, and they can rely on the gum to continuously earn a large amount of gold and silver coins from the Ming Dynasty? “

Spain ?

His Highness the King sighed.

I don’t know if it’s because of the pain the disease has caused him, or because of his worries about the current situation.

You know, once this happens, it means that the Ottomans have dug out a huge gold mine.

According to the merchant’s description, such gum was in short supply in Ming Dynasty.

Whoever controls the origin of gum can bring huge amounts of gold and silver to his treasury.

And precisely… Spain’s treasury is now low.

As for the Ottomans, they were even more of a serious concern for the Spaniards.

After all, the Habsburg family, to which the King of Spain belonged, not only controlled Spain, but also controlled the Holy Roman Empire, Austria, and part of Hungary.

The Ottomans have been sharpening their knives. On the one hand, they are competing with the Habsburg family for sea control in the Mediterranean. On the other hand, in Austria, they are also trying to cross here and penetrate into the entire Western world.

Compared to the Ming Dynasty, which was thousands of miles away, and even the Northern Province, which was still stubbornly resisting, the Ottomans… were the real worry.

As for North Africa, it was a barren land. Although the Spaniards occasionally had conflicts with the Ottomans in North Africa, it was obvious… that barren land was not worth the Spanish war.

But now… when people realize that North Africa has become a huge gold mine, and by controlling North Africa, they can bring balance to trade and even bring huge profits continuously…

The King of Spain can be said to be a powerful man .

Pulling himself together, he thought for a long time and said: “We need to confirm this news. Send personnel and try every means to bring gum to the Ming Dynasty. To find out clearly, you don’t need to bring too much gum, just a few kilograms. The sooner the better.”

“If that’s the case, I’m afraid we’ll need help from our friends in Venice,” an old knight said thoughtfully.

The Venetians are the best at doing business. Not only do they have contact with the Spanish, in fact, they have always been aloof from the Ottomans.

After all…the Ottomans controlled the trade routes, and most of the routes in the Mediterranean and the cities along the coast were in Ottoman hands.

It is extremely difficult for the Spaniards to cross the Ottoman territory, but for a Venetian, especially a Venetian who usually has a close relationship with the Ottoman dignitaries, it is not too difficult to do this. .

His Royal Highness the King of Spain nodded. This matter is very urgent. What he is worried about is…the Ottomans are also aware of this and will strengthen the North African navy and coastal defense forces.

He said with a deep expression: “We must use the quickest method at all costs.”

“Not only that…”

It seemed that because of this letter from afar, the King of Spain actually forgot about his illness. The fleet is ready…”

His eyes suddenly became a little more colorful, and he stared at the knight: “Perhaps… it will be useful… If the news is true, Spain will never allow this huge treasure to fall into the hands of Suleiman. “In the hands of the cultist.”

“Everything is as you wish.” The knight saluted, knowing what to do next.

Next, we need to work hard to formulate a detailed battle plan.

North Africa occupies a huge area. Although the land is barren and the population is not large, and it is across the sea from Spain, if you want to take North Africa in one fell swoop… this means that a full-scale war is about to begin.

Originally, Habsburg hoped to use Austria’s tall and solid city walls as a battlefield against the Ottomans.

But now…it is obvious that he must shrink all his strength and plan a war that affects the fate of the kingdom.

The King of Spain was obviously determined.

Of course… all this still needs to wait for the result.

The wait is long.

At least…

this process took nearly two months.

A young Venetian businessman arrived in Ming Dynasty almost at full speed along the land route.

When he arrived at Yumen Pass.

Then I discovered that Yumen Pass was gradually becoming prosperous because of the silk trade.

Here… after many years of trade, it has become a sizable city!

This Venetian brought his Ottoman guide, who knew some Chinese. When he took out the gum arabic he carried with him, he was suddenly surrounded by countless merchants.

Businessmen are always the most sensitive. The passing caravans know almost everything the capital needs.

So…the Venetian businessman stayed in the inn for less than a day, and there was an endless stream of people coming to the door.

These merchants saw the legendary gum arabic with their own eyes.

Some of them have seen this thing with their own eyes.

Of course… there are also people who only judge the authenticity based on the rumors in Beijing.

“How much do you have?”

The Venetian could clearly see the greed in the other person’s eyes.

After all…

the purchase of gum has become an enduring topic in the capital. Everyone is looking for it, but so far, the gum on the market is almost unheard of.

People say that this thing is called yellow gall.

Some people even say that this thing can be eaten and is a kind of medicine.

There are also rumors in private that the reason why many people are crazy about buying this medicine is because the medical school has found that this medicine can prolong life, and not only that… it can also nourish the kidneys and strengthen Qi. I heard that its effects are far better than those on the market. All medicines.

As soon as the news came out… the market went even crazier.

The price of this item is constantly rising, but what makes everyone most desperate is that they find that this item is nothing more than a legend.

Now that something legendary has finally appeared in front of us, how could we be willing to miss it so easily?

I saw the Venetian businessman saying: “I have ten pounds on me.”

“Ten pounds…” The expression on the face of the inquiring merchant changed from shock to surprise, and then he hurriedly asked: “I wonder how much you are willing to pay?”

But the Venetian businessman said Be alert.

The other party didn’t ask any further questions, and just asked the price directly. It was obvious that the other party had a strong interest in it and just wanted to buy it immediately.

It’s just that this Venetian is also good at buying and selling, so he naturally knows that he can’t reveal his bottom price easily.

The merchant couldn’t sit still any longer.

After all… I’m afraid… Who knows if someone else will be the first to get there first? He gritted his teeth and stretched out his hand: “One hundred taels, one hundred taels, I’ll buy these ten kilograms of yellow gallbladder. How about it?”

One hundred taels .

…The Merchant of Venice was shocked.

The merchant added: “Of course, I am talking about gold. I know that you prefer gold. Of course, it will be delivered in gold. I want it now.” The

Venetian’s heart was in his throat.

You know, such a gum is found everywhere in North Africa.

And the other party… wants to buy it in one go. Obviously… he hopes to acquire as much as possible.

The price offered is even more jaw-dropping.

The merchant looked anxious, seeing that the Venetian gradually calmed down and kept urging the transaction.

But soon, more and more people began to come.

The Venetians have become almost everyone’s focus.

So much so that even Osman’s guide whispered to him that he might be in danger and it was best to sell the treasure in his hands as soon as possible, otherwise… no one can guarantee his safety.

Money is important, but life is more important. The Venetians no longer dare to stay any longer.

His original plan was to visit the capital of the Ming Dynasty, but now it seems that his goal has been achieved.

So, the gum was sold for two hundred and fifty taels of gold that day.

After getting the gold, he immediately returned the way he came, traveling all the way westward day and night.

(End of chapter)