Before the barter sides began to sign a trade agreement, almost all Spanish plantation owners mentioned several issues closely related to the purchase of black slaves. Diego Alvarado, an elderly plantation owner with whom Isabel had spoken earlier, spoke on behalf of the other plantation owners about the English, who had plundered the Portuguese "cargo" at sea.

While drinking wine, the plantation owner Alvarado looked with interest at the black slaves who were being driven away by the white overseers in the small square, and looked at Isabel on the side with a very satisfied expression, "Miss, I and the other plantation owners are very satisfied with this shipment. So, we don't mind if you raise the price a little bit. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, the other plantation owners present burst into laughter. A plantation owner with a scar on his face raised his glass to Isabel, "Mademoiselle, we thought that you would have some unhealthy or unsatisfactory goods when you brought this shipment to the city of Santo Domingo. Unexpectedly, each of your 300 goods looked beautiful, and not a single cargo had lost a tooth. ”

Until now, Isabel and Captain Hawkins were still unclear about all the requirements of the plantation owners to select black slaves. However, it can be seen from some of the methods used by Spaniards such as Diego Alvarado in the selection of black slaves that they wanted to procure young, able-bodied young male slaves with no disabilities.

Isabel stood in the stands with her glass in her hand, squinting her eyes over the hundreds of black slaves who were leaving the square, and said calmly, "Of course, sir." If we don't come to Santo Domingo with the cargo that satisfies you, our fleet will lose a lot of money. ”

Captain Hawkins, who was very interested in the slave trade, smiled and toasted the old Alvarado, "Sir, I'm William Hawkins, the vice-captain of the fleet, could you elaborate on the requirements for selecting the cargo?" ”

Alvarado nodded calmly and spoke in more fluent English, "Mr. Hawkins, I'm Diego Alvarado. In order for us to become a long-term trading partner, I will be happy to tell you some knowledge about the goods. ”

Now that the barter has begun, Isabel must know what kind of high price the slaves can be sold for in order to repay the large sum of money raised by the voyage. Stay around the crowd and listen patiently to the slave owners of the eastern part of the Spanish island talk about the importance they attached to black slaves.

Captain Hawkins was so focused on his conversation with the Alvarado plantation owner that he didn't notice any change in Isabel's expression. Smiling with interest, he looked at the planter opposite, "Mr. Alvarado, your magnanimity reminds me of some of the traders of Sumu, Brazil. ”

"Oh, Mr. Hawkins has traded with the Portuguese?"

"Yes, sir. You know, there is a very rare and expensive commodity that grows in this Portuguese colony. And this kind of goods happens to be what our Majesty the King and the royal family, as well as many nobles, urgently need. ”

"Well, I know, you're talking about Brazilian suma. Not only the royal family of England, but also the royal family and nobles of all Europe needed it to make some expensive textiles. ”

The conversation between businessmen is always closely related to the goods, the cost, the price, the place of origin and whether it can be sold smoothly. Isabel intuitively sensed that the two of them would shift the direction of their conversation in the direction of luxury, Brazilian suma, and squinted at the two who were talking happily, "Ahem, ahem, two gentlemen, I remember we were talking about black slaves today, right?" ”

Captain Hawkins hurriedly looked at her, vaguely feeling that there was something wrong with the noble lady from the north, and when he came to her side, he whispered, "Miss, I'm sorry to keep you waiting so long, we'll start closing the deal right away." ”

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After some bargaining between the two sides of the trade, Isabel Walton finally sold the high-quality black slaves that she had plundered from the Portuguese for a very tempting price that everyone did not expect. It's just that I can't get an accurate sale amount for a while.

However, judging by the large sums of gold, silver, hides, spices, jewels, semi-finished or finished sugar that plantation owners were willing to pay, this single transaction would make her and the Hawkins family the most legendary top wealthy people in the Kingdom of England in overseas trade.

When Captain Hawkins signed and handprinted his name on a dozen or so trade agreements for the sale of black slaves, it was dinner time for the day. Diego Alvarado, the plantation owner, who had a pleasant conversation with Captain Hawkins and Isabel, planned to invite the two and their entourage to dinner on his plantation.

This is a great opportunity for Captain Hawkins to get closer to his future trading partner. However, for Isabel, it was another good opportunity to plunder. Of course, at the moment she doesn't want to loot Alvarado's sugar cane plantations, because she needs to consider more objective factors.

The plantation owner of Saint-Domingue brought several horses for Isabel and the others, and the group regained their riding experience after leaving England. Hop on a horse and ride freely through the streets, admiring the first overseas colonial town of the Spaniards in the Caribbean in a sophisticated and relaxed mood.

The group rode less than six miles to the north of Santo Domingo, outside the iron fence gate of a very large sugar plantation. Baldwin, the maritime lieutenant riding beside Isabel, observed the plantation in front of him and whispered in a tone that seemed to be joking and serious, "Captain, this plantation is much bigger than the navigator's. I think there must be a lot of treasure. ”

"Squeak... Chirping... Squeak—" As the tall iron fence gate of the plantation was opened by two black male slaves, Isabel looked back at Baldwin and nodded as she gently drove her horse forward, "There is no doubt about it. It's just that you can't do that yet. ”

Captain Hawkins rode behind her to the left, only a horse's head away from her, and looked at her with a smile as he rode forward, "Miss, I have found that the plantations everywhere are similar, and all the sugar cane is cultivated. ”

Isabel held her left thigh with her left hand, and smiled softly with her right hand holding the reins, "Captain, the most valuable crop at present is the cane sugar obtained by squeezing sugar cane into juice and making it after a certain amount of making. ”