Chapter 683

Episode 683: Suez (3)

Everyone present nodded at the French representative’s words, ‘Only empires make money.’

The meeting continued for several days, but the attendees were unable to come to a conclusion with expressions of displeasure.

The reason they were so worried was because of the ‘Empire’.

The reason they went to war was to monopolize trade routes with the empire.

Even while fighting over religious disputes, goods from the empire, also known as the ‘Land of Flowers’, were being sold steadily. Even when expensive luxury goods faltered, mid- to low-priced goods filled the void, and as soon as there was a lull in the conflict or even a small agreement was reached, luxury goods started selling like crazy.

Therefore, the alliance that monopolized the trade route with the empire was able to reap enormous profits.

* * *

And the composition of the countries participating in this alliance was truly exquisite.

The Ottomans, who suffered the most blood loss but participated most actively in the war, were able to exploit the Middle East and Arab Eastern Europe as their markets.

In the case of France, it was able to use its home country and the northern part of the Holy Roman Empire, which would later become Germany, as its market.

In the case of Portugal, northern Africa and eastern England were its markets.

“Africa?”

When Portugal announced that it would make Africa its market, all participating countries except Cosimo of Florence expressed doubts.

Their common sense was that Africa was a poor and primitive land suitable only as a source of slaves.

But Cosimona Henry knew full well that this was only half the truth.

There were surprisingly many wealthy people in North African countries such as Morocco and Algeria, and there were also many Islamic magnates who had accumulated considerable wealth.

They were great markets.

As a rosy future approached with monopolization of trade routes, the allies began to feel the shadow of the empire again.

* * *

“The biggest problem is that digging a waterway or laying a railroad will not work properly without the help of the empire.”

At Representative Florence’s words, the other representatives let out a long sigh.

“Whoa~. That’s the problem. “Isn’t this meeting always at a standstill because there is no solution to the problem?”

“Whoa~.”

The profits the empire gained from trade were already enormous. However, a request came from the empire to create an upper body to manage trade routes and to give the empire a 40% stake in it.

This was not pleasing to the allies.

-We shed blood!

The Allies went through all sorts of hardships to win the war. Even Cosimo de’ Medici supported mercenaries and provided huge amounts of military funds.

However, the Empire was an obnoxious entity that sat back and only made money by selling weapons.

-The best idea is to invest capital and create a joint venture to manage trade routes.

-But accepting the Empire at this top is the worst idea.

Therefore, the allies agreed to achieve their goals without relying on the empire.

Even Mehmed II, who wrote a memorandum in the name of Allah, agreed with this opinion.

Mehmed II came to power by paying for it at a significantly discounted price or purchasing a huge amount of weapons on credit and took the largest share among the allies, but he was not satisfied with keeping his promises to the empire.

In such a situation, the proposal of ‘exclusion of the empire’ made by other allies was a truly sweet proposal.

-I wanted to keep my promise, but other allies came to different conclusions.

-I’m sorry, but I can’t keep my promise to the empire.

-However, since this is due to unavoidable circumstances, the purchase price will be processed according to the conditions stated in the memorandum.

Mehmet II was planning to use this excuse to save money on purchasing weapons.

“It’s a bit disappointing about the private coal issue, but as time passes, someone will definitely solve it. There is no need to buy weapons from the empire if the exclusive ammo is taken care of. Of course, the empire will protest, but the empire will have no choice but to accept it if it wants to sell its own goods.”

Even though we thought of our own alternatives, we boarded the same ship as our allies, but the ship was on the verge of running aground.

“Whoa~.”

After sighing again for a long time, Osman’s representative asked the other participants.

“Everyone is currently researching steam engines and iron horses. Is there any good news?”

bang!

A few months later, after receiving the personal letter Giovanni brought, Hyang presented it to Kim Jeom.

“What do you think?”

In response to Hyang’s question, Kim Jeom, who received the letter, expressed mild surprise.

“Is this a personal letter written in the imperial language using the correct pronunciation?”

“That’s right. “I guess they were in a bit of a hurry.”

Kim Jeom, who listened to Hyang’s words and carefully examined the contents of the personal letter, reported his thoughts to Hyang.

“God thinks...”

Kim Jeom’s opinion was as follows.

-They had been thinking about the railroad from the beginning. However, after coming to the Empire and hearing the story, he changed his direction to water transport.

-But the reason they insisted on the railroad again is that they changed their mind.

-The biggest reason for doing so was to exclude the empire.

“...But I think they reached out to us because the situation was not favorable.”

“Jim feels the same way.”

Hyang nodded at Kim Jeom’s words and smiled mischievously and asked.

“Then there’s no need for us to look after it, right?”

Hearing Hyang’s words, Kim Jeom also smiled and bowed his head.

“This is an extremely natural thing to say. “They tried to stab us in the back, so shouldn’t we blow their jaws off?”

“I agree.”

The officer who recorded all of this added the following.

– says the officer. Admiral Kim Jeom, who has become the new Prime Minister, is highly capable, but his tone is too frivolous, so I don’t think he is a model for noblemen.

But I feel cool inside.

That’s right. If you receive something, it is polite to return it as you received it.

After reaching an agreement with Kim, Hyang immediately took out a piece of paper and started writing down something.

After rechecking the contents of the written sentence and stamping the seal, Hyang held out the paper to the merchant ship.

“Order Tao Seung-ji to convey this to Duke Jinpyeong in the North. ASAP.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang muttered to himself as he watched the eunuch leaving Geunjeongjeon.

‘It will take at least 15 days to get to the site in Bukji, so I’ll see that bastard in about a month.’

But exactly 21 days later.

“older brother! No, Your Majesty! What is this imperial name?”

At the sound of Jinpyeong’s shouting that echoed through Geunjeongjeon, Hyang slightly shook his head and muttered softly.

“Did this kid fly?”

“older brother! No, Your Majesty! “What really is this imperial title?”

When Jinpyeong questioned again, Hyang narrowed her eyes and asked.

“Does the duke not know manners?”

In response to Hyang’s point, Jinpyeong made an expression of regret and immediately raised his example.

“Duke Jinpyeong comes to see His Majesty Lee Yu!”

“okay. It’s been a while since I last saw you. “But it came sooner than I expected?”

“You have received such an imperial command. Will you come leisurely?”

The imperial command sent by Hyang was simple.

-Select and send people in charge of surveying and estimates for the railway to be built in Suez.

“Of course I have to go for this! “Don’t you know that it is my dream to lay railroads all over the world?”

Hyang briefly answered Jinpyeong’s words.

“That’s why you shouldn’t go.”

“yes?”