For Matthews Tiego, a businessman from Barearics, it doesn't matter what the free trade zone is, what matters is that he survived.

What was even more incredible to him was that what this miracle girl who seemed to him to be like an angel descending was true, and that those fierce sailors had not plundered a single thing from his ship, which made Matthews Tiego feel that nothing so good would happen in his dreams.

Following the advice of the girl who claimed to be the Count of Cosenza, Matthews decided to follow the ship to the next port, in fact, he did not dare to disobey this advice, after all, the mysterious girl in front of him could save his life now, and maybe he would be killed in the next minute.

Matthews fearfully followed the huge Galen warship, and after another day of turbulent seas, Matthews Tiego was surprised to find that they had reached the open sea of the port of Taranto.

Taranto is a port with a long history, because it is separated from the peninsula across the Ionian Sea, and it is not only one of the most important ports at the southern tip of Italy, but also a guarantee of security for Venice.

For the Venetians, they would rather lose a large number of ships in naval battles than see the port of Taranto fall into the hands of the enemy, after all, the loss of ships can continue to build, but once Taranto is lost, it means that not only will the entire Venetian fleet be blocked in the Ionian Sea, but the entire city will no longer have any direct face from the invaders from the sea.

So the Venetians were even willing to pay for the Taranto to build castles and a large number of coastal ramparts.

Carrying the twin galleons of Mattheus Tiego was a battleship in the fleet of the Republic of Venice, and, to his surprise, it was the flagship of the Venetians.

"You mean that the old man is the commander of the fleet of Venice, the famous Moo Olgag?" Matthews was stunned and asked the monk beside him, in fact, he was very skeptical like the sailors that this guy dressed as a monk would be an impostor, after all, although the moral statement of the clergy was indeed about to fall to the bottom of the gutter, this guy named Massimo really didn't look like a monk in a monk's robe.

However, Matthews was still very grateful for the life-saving grace of others, and he not only privately gave the monk a few barrels of wine brought from his ship, but even took out a small bag of precious spices from the secret compartment to express his gratitude.

In Matthews' opinion, the monk named Massimo was obviously a wonderful man, and after being careful about the spices as soon as he got them, he revealed more information to him.

"Yes, this ship is the ship of the commander of the Venetian fleet, we are going to follow them to Taranto now, the Venetians have set up a supply depot in Taranto, but this is certainly not enough for them, and a large number of warships will be stationed or transferred in Tarento next, which is not a small number, so I will follow the Countess to determine the partnership with the Venetians."

"Oh, will there be a large number of warships?" Matthews Tiego's heart moved, he stood on tiptoe to look at the busy sailors coming and going on the tall Galen ship, and then lowered his head and whispered to Massimo, who was drinking a little wine: "So honorable monk, what does this have to do with this countess, I know Cosenza, and even have the privilege of meeting its heir, Baron Kesel, although I don't have the honor to speak to him, but the lord he ......"

"Kaiser," the monk waved his hand disdainfully when he heard the merchant mention in a stammering tone that Kaisel looked like he wanted to get into a relationship, "that person is long gone, and the current Count of Cosenza is Miss Kosenza, remember it's not Miss Countess, it's Count Kosenza, do you understand?" ”

The merchant nodded in amazement, of course he had heard the count's self-introduction before, but he had always thought that she was the young lady of the earl's family, but who knew that she was actually the earl himself, so whether it was the old earl or the heir of Kosencha he just mentioned, Kaiser, had obviously stepped aside, although he didn't know what was happening, but Matthews immediately realized that something was wrong, and he had only talked a little too much about the relationship before.

"Honorable Monk, you know, Miss Countess saved my life, my admiration for Miss Count is very deep, this is definitely not comparable to others," the merchant cleanly tried to save it, while his eyes swept over the monk's face, trying to find something to grasp from his expression, "May I ask if you need anything to do Just tell me, I know it's too hard for you to be a monk, so I'm willing to try to make your life as comfortable as possible, You can think of this as a friend's sincere concern for you. ”

"Speaking of life in the monastery," Massimo said with a thoughtful look on his face, which seemed to Matthews to recall some of the hardships he had suffered, but in fact Mahimo was recalling what he had heard from Alexander about how he had survived those hard days in the monastery of San Sebalon, "In short, it was not a pleasant memory, and I felt that the bread and meat I ate were too light, and I preferred the stronger flavors, is there anything you can do?" ”

The obvious hint put the merchant at ease, and after placing another bag full of spices much larger than before in front of the monk, Massimo took a sip of his glass, then shrank in the corner of the cabin, wrapped himself tightly in his monastic robe, and said to the merchant, "Speaking of the count, I suggest not to underestimate her and not to despise her as a young and beautiful woman who fascinates men, oh, just remember the young, and forget about the beauty and fascination of men, otherwise you will be unlucky if someone hears you," The monk waved his hand and reminded the merchant, "The most important thing is that now this countess is actually in a little trouble, she is now working on her free trade zone, but neither the Venetians nor the Taranto are so willing to cooperate, the count's lady has run back and forth for this matter many times, although it has some effect, but obviously it has not satisfied her, I think that if anyone can help her solve this problem, it may be more effective than complimenting her appearance a hundred times, so my advice to you is that there is always only one chance, If you miss it, you miss it. ”

Matthews Tiego listened carefully, although he was also exchanging glasses with the monk, but the shrewdness he had cultivated outside for many years kept him awake all the time, so although the monk seemed to give him a suggestion, Matthews did not plan to seize any opportunity as the other party said, but to inquire about what this so-called free trade zone was.

"Flat tariff? That's good, but it doesn't seem like there are many places willing to respond now, as you said only Naples, Taranto, maybe Genoa, maybe Venice, but although these places are big ports, you yourself said that there are a lot of difficulties in this. ”

"Form an integrated market import and export quota, and duty-free allocation of similar in-demand commodities in the trade zone? That sounds like a good idea, but it seems that the Hanseatic League in the north did the same, and again, if the trade area wasn't big enough, it wouldn't be much of a benefit. ”

"All goods stored in a specific area of the trade zone are sold in the market at a completely parity price, and even ship taxes are not charged, etc., what does this mean, are the nobles of those ports stupid and willing to accept such terms, even if the nobles are willing, those guilds will not agree."

"Otherwise, why do you think the young lady wants to take a boat to Taranto in such a cold weather," Massimo snorted, "In fact, the real trouble is not those nobles and guilds, there are a lot of shrewd people in the guilds, they know that this seems to be getting along with themselves, they may be able to get out if they come in, other people's goods can be sold in their own market, and their own can also do this from others, as for who makes money in the end, it depends on everyone's ability, so this is not a problem." The real trouble was actually the individual merchants, and people were afraid that this whimsical idea of the young lady would eventually be abolished, so although many merchants were optimistic about this trade area, no one was willing to take the first risk to sign a contract, much to the pride of the great merchants of Taranto, who were said to have begun to bet on when the young lady would admit defeat and obediently return to the castle of Cosenza to be her countess. ”

The friar's tone of sarcasm made Mattheus Tiego's heart skip a beat, and he couldn't help but remember that he had heard someone speak to that countess not long ago, but where was that person now? I've already swallowed it into the stomach of a big fish.

Obediently go back to be her Countess? Surely no one who had this idea had seen her shoot and kill with their own eyes!

Matthews felt his lips dry a little, and he unconsciously raised his glass to take a sip only to find that it was dry, and he reached for the wine bottle on the floor, but the mouth of the bottle was covered by the monk's dirty hands.

The merchant raised his head and was met by the strange eyes of the monk staring at him, Matthews was startled, he remembered the rumor that the monks in the monastery were in pairs, which was the result of not being able to see women for many years, and then looked at the hungry eyes of the monk in front of him now, Matthews chrysanthemum tightened, and couldn't help but reach out behind him.

"I said, this is your chance."

As soon as the monk opened his mouth, the merchant was startled, I don't want this kind of opportunity, I have a wife at home and two mistresses outside, I don't like this tune, Matthews moved his body back, thinking that if this guy is strong, he will fight up, or obediently pout and accept the facts.

"Everything happens once."

This frightened the merchant again, did he think more than once?

"Now that Mademoiselle Countess needs someone to help her, do you think she's going to make you suffer?"

Yes?

Matthews, who was thinking wildly, was suddenly stunned, he looked at the monk in a daze, and after a while began to lick his dry lips and asked uncertainly: "Are you saying that if I am willing to be the first, Miss Earl will not let me lose all my money?" ”

"You're such a fool, I doubt you've done a lot of business as you boasted," Massimo pouted, "Now Miss Count's hope is to make all the merchants in this trade area who are watching see the benefits of making a lot of money with her, how can you fail, to put it bluntly, even if you are stupid like a donkey, she will find a way to make you rich, only in this way will those businessmen be willing to invest, understand, according to a certain adult, this is to make yourself lose your capital and let the guests know our good reputation." ”

"Oh, that's really the case," Matthews nodded, he couldn't help but admit that this statement instantly moved him, but the next question made him feel strange, "But those local merchants can't see this, they should know very well that no matter who it is, this first business will not be lost." ”

"Of course, they are not stupid, but it is because they are local merchants that this method will not work," Massimo shook his head, and the monk's face, which had always been immodest, showed a rare trace of solemnity, "There is a news that I don't know if it's true or not, but it shouldn't be said casually, after all, it has been spread before." ”

"What's the news?" Matthews asked cautiously, although the prospect described to him by the monk was tempting, but as a shrewd businessman, he would never easily take out a child until he had figured out the details.

Before speaking, Massimo glanced at the narrow, sloping hatch of the ship, and then leaned forward, so nervous that Matthews could not help but lean forward to protect his precious chrysanthemum with his hands.

After getting very close, the monk lowered his voice and said: "It is said that the uncle of Miss Countes, Count Mordillo of Naples, intends to marry Miss Countess to Count Horseson of Taranto, and those local merchants are afraid that once this marriage is successful, Count Horsen will have the right to annul the decree of the territory of Cosenza, or at least he may repeal the various decrees related to Taranto, and then the local merchants who participate in the trade area will be unlucky, and the foreign merchants will have no scruples about this, at most they will change places, For example, if you invest in Taranto, you can enjoy the privileges of the whole trade area, and you can move your business to Naples, Rome, Genoa, etc. ”

"But if even the edict issued by the Countess is to be repealed, will the whole trade zone still exist?" Matthews said worriedly, "After all, this young lady is a key person in the trade zone." ”

"Oh, this," the monk scratched his head, "I forgot to tell you, it was not Mademoiselle Countess who decided to establish this trade zone, but another Countess, who did what he wanted, and he was my master, Mademoiselle Countess's half-brother, the honorable Lord of Agri, Alexandre Juliant Cambrai," the monk stood proudly, bowed to some imaginary figure with garlic at his feet, and then sat down beside the merchant and continued to remind him with a mouthful of wine." That is, the one I just warned you not to let him know what you think about Miss. ”

After saying this, the monk fell asleep on the ground with a bang.

Matthews Tiego's mind was in a state of turmoil at this time, he didn't know whether the news he had just heard was true or not, but as a self-confessed shrewd businessman, he was keenly aware of some of the things that made him excited, maybe this so-called free trade zone still sounded crude, or it was indeed no different from the Hanseatic League, but he could see that there was something in the making of this seemingly simple box.

Is this an opportunity given to me by God, or is it a trap set by the devil?

Matthews couldn't help but wonder when he was hesitating when a cheer suddenly came from the hatch of the ship.

Matthews immediately stepped out of the cabin, and when he saw a faint light on the sea in the distance, he couldn't help but wave his arm vigorously in excitement.

It was a lighthouse on a high reef in the sea, and on such a foggy winter day, ships relied on the lights on the lighthouse to guide their course, and seeing the lighthouse meant that they were close to land.

"Taranto~"

The lookout sailor on the mast habitually shouted loudly, and it was only then that Matthews noticed that a striking figure was standing motionless at the side of Galen's ship not far from the side.

"Taranto......" Tsusha whispered to herself, "my brother, I'll let you know that your sister isn't just a prop for marriage." ”