The Fugger family is the richest family in Germany in this era, if there are sand sculpture netizens in this era, they will call the leader of the Fugger family, Jacob. Fugger is "Fugger Dad".

People did not insult the surname Fugger, and he was indeed quite rich. At its peak, the family had an asset of up to 7 million Gulden gold coins. Maybe this asset can't keep up with the value of all the grain in Marin's hands, but in terms of the amount of cash, Marin can't compare with others.

After all, most of Marin's assets are grain, and cash is actually pitiful. The Fugger family, on the other hand, has millions of dollars in cash. In 1519, when Charles V ran for the emperor, it was the Fugger family who loaned Charles V 850,000 Gulden gold coins, so that Charles V bribed the election and was elected Emperor of the HRE.

Therefore, if Marin wants to borrow 500,000 gold coins in cash, it is most convenient to borrow money from the Fugger family. Moreover, the headquarters of the Fugger family is in Augsburg, just a little east of the Duchy of Württemberg, and the allocation of funds is also very convenient. Moreover, the Fugger family was one of the largest creditors of Duke Ulrich of Württemberg.

As a sign of respect, Marin decided to personally visit the headquarters of the Fugger family in Augsburg and the head of the Fugger family, Jacob Brown. Fugger interview. Of course, this is also because Marin is afraid of sending people to negotiate some things, and his subordinates cannot make the decisions. There is that this year Jacob. Fugger had already been granted the noble title of "Count of the Empire" by Maximilian I. This is the first rank among the counts, although the Fugger family does not have a fief (mainly the Habsburgs have no land to give him, but give him some mines), but the rank of the imperial count is the highest among the counts. Like Brandenburg, if the title of Elector is excluded, its original border earls are lower than the imperial counts of the Fugger family. But this is useless, because the Fugger family did not have a feudal state, so they couldn't even enter the princes' court, and they could only be an honorary status. Of course, that's what people want. At least, the general princes did not dare to bully their family.

If it weren't for the status of the Count of this Empire, Marin might have sent someone to summon Jacob. Fugger came to the North Sea Kingdom to consult. But now he is also an imperial count, and he is very rich. Marin had a request for others, so he simply took 800 elite cavalry guards and went directly to Augsburg......

After several days of traveling, Marin and his men changed horses along the way, and finally arrived in Augsburg, where they arrived at the Fugger family's luxurious estate.

Jacob. Fugger waited at the gate of the manor with the main members of the family, after all, Marin was the Grand Duke, and in terms of title, he was higher than him. In terms of strength, let alone say. Moreover, everyone belongs to the emperor's camp, and their relationship with each other is not bad.

Just dismounted, Jacob. Fugger took a few core members of the Fugger family and greeted him with a smile on his face:

"Welcome, Grand Duke Marin! Your arrival makes the humble house shine! ”

People give face so much, and Marin can't help but give face. Moreover, he came to beg someone. So, Marin also smiled, opened his hands and said:

"It is also my pleasure to meet you, Count Jacob!"

Then, the two hugged each other, and then walked into the manor together......

……

After drinking the milk tea that entertained the distinguished guests, Ma Lin did not go around in circles, and directly asked for a loan. At the same time, it is hoped that part of the debt will be offset with food. After all, Marin lacks everything in his hands, that is, there is no shortage of food. If it weren't for the shortage of money in Europe, he would have sold grain in large quantities long ago.

But Jacob. Fugger rejected Marin's suggestion to pay with grain, because the Fugger family did not have a grain sales channel, and it was easy to smash their hands when they took over so much grain. Moreover, there is a loss in the transportation of grain. To store grain, it is also necessary to build a large number of moisture-proof warehouses, which is not cost-effective. So, Jacob. Fugger did not agree to settle the bill with grain.

Subsequently, Marin asked Jacob . Fugger recommended whiskey, royal salute and ginger from the North Sea Country, hoping to offset the bill. But Fugger still disagreed, and was only willing to cooperate with the North Sea Kingdom in the future to help sell these goods in southern Germany.

Marin was a little helpless, and he asked:

"Count Jacob, what do you have to do to lend me this money? Is it a high interest rate of more than 15%? ”

In those years, the interest rate on the loan was very high. The normal interest rate is 10% per annum, and the higher interest rate is 15% per annum. More than 15%, that's usury. But when money is urgently needed, 50% of the annual interest rate is willing to be borrowed. Marin was ready to be slaughtered......

But Jacob. Fugger shook his head and said with a smile:

"Grand Duke Marin, a loan of 500,000 gold coins is trivial. And I don't want a finney's interest ......"

Marin suddenly became vigilant and slumped, don't want interest, this is something else! When a profiteer tells you that you don't want profits, he will inevitably want more...... So, Marin's hairs stood on end......

Jacob. Fugger smiled:

"Don't be nervous, Grand Duke Marin, I'm not asking too much. I'm just going to ask you something about business......"

"Teach me, please? Business? Are you kidding? Count Jacob, you are a true connoisseur of business...... "Marin thinks he is a farmer, but he is not as good as the Fugger family in business.

Jacob. Fugger didn't go around in circles, and said directly:

"Yes, you know, I have given His Majesty the Emperor many loans, and the mortgage is the mines of Tyrol and Austria. Most of these mines, with the exception of the Tyrolean silver mines, are copper mines. Originally, I was going to monopolize the supply of copper ore in Europe. After all, the total reserves of copper ore given to me by His Majesty the Emperor are very large. However, since you developed the Farrenlun copper mine in Sweden, and I heard that you have also imported cheap copper from India, the price of copper in Europe is now on a downward trend......"

Marin was a little puzzled:

"Do you mean to ask me to shut down the Fayilun copper mine, or to stop importing cheap copper from India? I can't help it, and now the Spaniards and Portuguese are also planning to import cheap copper from India. It is foreseeable that the decline in European copper prices is inevitable! ”

Jacob. Fugger sighed and said:

"I know, so, I lend you money this time without any interest, just to ask you a way to make the Fugger family stop the loss! Seeing that the price of copper is about to fall, the Fugger family's previous hoarding of copper ore has become a very ridiculous behavior. So, if you can give me some pointers on how to stop the loss, I'm willing to give you an interest-free loan of 500,000. Moreover, the repayment period can be extended to up to 20 years......"

"Why do you ask me?" Marin was a little surprised, and I wasn't an Aladdin's magic lamp that responded......

"His Majesty the Emperor said that you are the one with the most ideas. Otherwise, he would not have grown from a knight to a powerful Grand Duke! "Jacob. Fugger replied solemnly.

……