In the Grand Palace of Constantinople, Emperor Alexios looked at Antony and Gary Moore, and after the daytime Senate meeting, the heads of various industries contacted privately, seeking to form a community of interests and get a piece of the future development of the Black Sea business circle.

However, Antony and Gelimore had already wittily discovered the key, without the support of the emperor, who could reach an agreement with the Khans of the Pechenegs, and the people on horseback only believed in force, not just words.

"We have come to see Your Majesty precisely because we want to contribute our meager strength to Your Majesty's cause of opening up the Black Sea coast, and we hope to gain Your Majesty's support." Anthony maintains a humble posture, and if he asks for it, he will bow to others, and who can not bow to the charm of money.

Alexios smiled playfully when he heard Antony's words, and then said something that shook the two: "Senator Anthony has always supported the cause of the emperor in the past, but unfortunately his father died early, otherwise he would have been promoted to the court!" Is Patriarch Anthony still willing to fight for the re-emergence of the Empire? ”

The two were stunned, what does the emperor mean, is this to promote merchants to serve in the court, can the civil officials of the Eastern Roman Empire agree?

Anthony hesitated for a moment and replied: "Your Majesty's will is the will of my actions, but the elders have not participated in government affairs for a long time, although I have the heart to serve Your Majesty, but if someone doubts Your Majesty's decision, it will definitely bring trouble to Your Majesty!" ”

Alexios was already smiling, Anthony was moved, and once a businessman gained great wealth, the idea of entering politics would inevitably sprout.

The emperor never worried about the merchants becoming bigger, and instead of letting the consortia stay out of the empire when the empire was in danger, it was better to directly include them in the institution-building work.

"If Lord Anthony is willing to serve the country, I would like to entrust you with carte blanche over the establishment of a trading post in the Black Sea, and you may establish the Black Sea Chamber of Commerce in turn, recruiting about thirty to fifty people as shareholders, and the royal family should receive forty percent of the shares as the majority shareholder." Alexios began to propose for himself to divide the share of the big cake first.

Anthony and Gary Moore looked at each other and secretly rejoiced in their hearts, this is simply pie in the sky, this trip to the palace to pledge allegiance to the emperor was really not in vain. The reward given by the emperor is very rich, and once the Chamber of Commerce is formed, it means that he Anthony will become the undisputed general agent of the empire in the entire Black Sea business circle.

"One thing I must make clear is that the export of salt, iron and grain will be monopolized and controlled by Galimore, and no grain of salt or grain will be delivered without a special order from the Empire." Gary Moore was stunned, the word monopoly made him stunned, doesn't this mean that the emperor wants to monopolize the salt and iron trade inside and outside the emperor, if taxes are extracted from it, it will be a steady stream of gold and silver.

Gary Moore hesitated for a moment and asked a question in his heart: "What if the Pechenegs trade with the Sultanate of Rûm?" ”

The emperor just smiled: "The significance of our monopoly is to unify the standards and form complementary advantages in price and quality. If the Turks of the Sultanate of Rum were more advanced than Rome and the sea was more developed than Rome, then they were not herders on horseback, they could go fishing instead! ”

"I'm planning to send an envoy to the Pechenegs these days, if you have the same intention, you can send an attaché to accompany you, and the matter of selecting the address of the merchant station and negotiating trade cooperation will be left to you!" The emperor did not hesitate to make a direct decision, and Rome needed to open up new sources of wealth as soon as possible.

Anthony and Gary Moore bowed to the Emperor with their right hands on their chests at the same time: "It is an honor, Your Majesty! ”

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A few days later, in the court of the Cuman Khan, dozens of Roman envoys outside the Great Tent stood respectfully with gifts from the emperor to the Khan, waiting for the Cuman Khan to summon them.

"These barbarians just left us hanging here?" The questioner was Theodosius, the military attache who had escorted the envoys, and he was already a little angry that the Cumans had so much contempt for the Empire.

"No matter how the other party insults us, but we come here with the mission of the emperor, and we must not return in vain! I hope that the Khan will at least receive us in terms of generous gifts. ”

The speaker of Chilun was an envoy appointed by Anthony to negotiate trade cooperation with the Cumans, and he knew that he had to calm down after many years of ups and downs in the merchant sea, although he was given a downward threat by the other party as soon as he came, but Chilun still waited patiently for the king of Khan to summon him.

"The Khan wants to see you, but there are too many of you to go in for two." A stout warrior came out of the tent, looked at the messengers, and shouted to them.

In the sweat tent of the Cumans, a strong man sat cross-legged on the main seat, biting a leg of mutton, this man with thick eyebrows and big eyes was the Khan king who ruled this steppe.

"King Khan, please allow me to offer the gifts from this trip, greetings from Rome!" Chilun smiled flatteringly, stretched out his hand not to hit the smiling man, and first sent the gift to see the heart of the Khan King.

"Well, you also brought gifts, hahahahaha, the Romans are really polite, then bring them to me and take a look!" The Khan smiled greedily and couldn't wait to see what gifts the rich Romans had given him.

Kiron stood behind the box and held up a gold-woven robe on which an eagle spread its wings and was beautiful, "This is the royal robe that the great Augustus has given you, please accept it with a smile!" ”

Brother Ti touched the golden robe as if it was his most beloved woman, "Come, put it on for me." ”

Several maids stepped forward to put on this gold-woven robe for the king, and the Khan looked at the magnificent gown, with the gold-encrusted scepter, which was majestic and majestic.

"Your emperor has sent such a great gift, I cannot but give it a reply, I will send the emperor five hundred sheep, one hundred ploughing oxen, and one hundred fine horses." Brother Titi was also profligate and showed his generosity to the guests.

Theodosius stepped forward and bowed to the Khan, and responded, "Great son of the wolf, the Roman Emperor has given you a gift to gain your friendship and make the two families united forever!" ”

"Oh, I have received the Emperor's kindness, but what kind of allies does His Majesty the Emperor want to form?" Brother Titi leaned on the throne and held his scepter, at this time, he was quite a bit of a king.

"Your Majesty wishes to sign a ten-year contract with the Khan to lease a commercial port for trade and at the same time gain the right to employ the Khan's people."

He thought that the Romans were just trying to get rid of some people by his hand, after all, the Romans had never been so conspiratory, but this time it was much more than what he expected.