"Mr. Ernst...... You're not kidding, are you? The person who asked this was another Sakai merchant with whom he had a trade dealing, and this person had only been able to sell 2,000 koko. If a foreigner behaves like this, wouldn't it put them in an embarrassing situation all at once. The grim situation made him forget basic politeness for a while, and I can't take his turn here!

But that's also my biggest confusion right now, so I just stared at him and didn't reprimand him. Although I had hinted at Ernst an hour earlier, it didn't seem to be enough to make him take such a big risk, could it be that he knew what I was thinking? But I haven't revealed a word to anyone!

"I mean it clearly, you can't make such a joke in front of Your Highness the Stars and you!" Ernst tilted his head slightly, the sunlight shining in from the outside and reflecting off his silver hair and spectacle lenses at the same time. "I have been trading with His Highness the Stars for a long time, and I have no doubt about his character and credibility! I am absolutely confident that the new policy he is about to implement will greatly prosper the economies of Sakai Town, Ishiyama, and the entire Central Japan region. As a foreign businessman with traditional trading relations in the above-mentioned region, I will benefit from it with all of you. In this new era of change, I don't want to be an outsider who just stands by and watches. Therefore, with this 'practical' action, I would like to express my support for this great initiative of Your Highness! ”

Ernst's words sounded sound, and for a moment there was silence inside and outside the house. Many people wanted to thwart his actions, but it was difficult to speak openly in front of me. I thought it was getting more and more interesting, so I just closed my mouth and watched it silently. Under my attention, the pressure on those merchants who are unwilling to spend money is increasing, and they are about to be unable to hold on!

"I personally have a small question and would like to ask Mr. López for advice!" Unexpectedly, at this time, someone came to find fault, it was actually the Portuguese businessman Juan Gómez, but it is not surprising that Portugal is an old rival of the Netherlands in all aspects. "Even though this is the first time we have met, I myself have great admiration for the great talent of His Highness the Stars, and I think the urgency of this plan is self-evident! In light of this, I would like to ask Mr. López, do you have so much cash on hand? As far as I know, most of your goods were sold in Mumbai, India, and the money was brought back to Holland by another ship. You only brought two boats with you to Sakai Town, and even if you sold all the goods at the best price at once, it would only be 14 to 160,000 kan. So much so that I am very curious, what are you going to use to fulfill your promise? After saying that, he bowed to me slightly, and then I noticed that he seemed to have an old wound on his back, which caused his movements to be a little stiff.

It was then that I remembered that this was a problem, and that my cannon payment had been settled with him half a year ago, and it was estimated that the ship being transported by this time had passed the Cape of Good Hope. This time, Ernst only brought some ordinary supplies, and the price should not be very high. It's just that I didn't expect Portugal's maritime trade hegemony in the past hundred years to have such great strength, and the intelligence of the Dutch was so detailed.

"Honesty is the basic condition of a businessman, and I want to mix in Sakai in the future!" Ernst pushed his glasses upwards on the bridge of his nose, his face a little red, not knowing whether he was excited or angry. "Before answering your question, allow me to express my gratitude to you. Mr. Gomez, you really 'care' about me! "He could not have been indifferent to such provocations." To be honest, your concerns are very reasonable, and I did not think enough about some contingencies before I came this time. But it's not for nothing that the Dutch have the trading position they have today, and I'm going to show you how we do it! ”

"I'll see!" Gomez smiled with a sly smile that was classical aristocratic.

"If my goods worth 150,000 guan are only sold for 100,000 guan, then how many days do you think I can get back the cash? Mr. Gomez! Ernst's crooked head showed a sense of "innocence".

"Three days at most!" This Gomez seemed very sincere. "It's worth it if it's convenient, at least I'd pay for it under normal circumstances. Although my current funds are ready to be used in more important places, you don't have to worry at all, there are quite a few 'smart people' in this room alone! ”

"Thank you for giving me such a high affirmation, and interested bosses can go directly to me to buy in a while!" Ernst was joking, but there was no hint of a joke on his face.

The strange atmosphere in the room continued to heat up, and sensitive people had realized that the situation was wrong, but no one could tell what was wrong, and I myself felt incredible.

"Please forgive me for my rudeness, if I'm not mistaken, it seems that there is still a gap of 100,000!" Gomez tugged at his beard and said unhurriedly, apparently he still didn't want to give up. "If it weren't for the age of my age, and my comprehension has deteriorated, then you still have a great trick? Times have changed now, and my mind can't keep up! ”

"Thank you for your concern, you really didn't miscalculate!" A cold glint flashed in Ernst's slender eyes, and I knew he was really angry. "But as you said yourself, I brought two ships with me this time, in addition to the flagship of our Chamber of Commerce, the 'Crystal Knight', there is also a 'Black Knight'. It's a three-masted, double-decked medium-sized sailing vessel, not very new, but it's the fastest even in Europe. In addition, the ship is equipped with 18 15-pounder guns, and it will not be difficult to sell 100,000 yuan, right? ”

Women are chaste because they are not tempted enough, and men are loyal because the price of betrayal is too low! I have forgotten who said this, and I don't fully agree with it, but once a certain emotion rises to the extreme, it is true that people can often break through the shackles of other habitual psychology. This was the case before my eyes, and with a "buzz" people began to whisper to each other, completely ignoring the proper politeness and reserve.

A state-of-the-art Dutch clipper ship, also armed with cannons! The merchants present were all excited, not to mention how much it would help their own maritime trade business in the future, even if it was sold to those pirate daimyo who relied on the navy to eat, they could easily get a profit from Ben. But what is all this for, just to invest in that "money fraud shop" in a hurry? To be honest, I was also weak-hearted, thinking about how to ask.

"On the contrary, Mr. Gómez, I would like to ask you...... "Before I intervene in Ernst, he will start to fight back, and he is of the rather sharp kind." As far as I know, you have long received 'special care' from His Royal Highness the Right General, and you should have a stronger trust in the orthodox government that the Imperial Court has granted administrative powers. However, the situation is somewhat different from this, and not only did you vigorously support the local forces in Kyushu and continue to strengthen their power against the central government, but you even made a lot of iron cannon deals with the Maori family, who were constantly fighting against the right general, last year. I don't know what this behavior of yours is? ”

"Mr. Ernst, are you overly sensitive?" Gomez was unfazed and calm. "The deal with the Kyushu daimyo and the Mori family has been agreed for a long time, and His Royal Highness the Right Admiral has never issued a "ban on business" in this regard. Speaking of real support, we not only provided a large number of advanced artillery to the right general, but also hired many craftsmen to repair the equipment on our behalf, what could be more tangible support? ”

"I really don't know about this, there is such a thing!" Ernst nodded apologetically, but I noticed a sly glint in his eyes. "No wonder you have not been interested in His Royal Highness Yuzhou's business, it turns out that you are firm in the 'big tree' of the right general!"

"That's a long way to go, do Your Highness the Stars and the Right General still have anything to say about each other?" Gomez is worthy of being cunning and cunning, and uses "one and two, two and one" to solve the contradiction of Ernst's "chicken or egg first".

"Whether it's true or false, let's come up with something practical!" A sneer hung on Ernst's face, it was time for the bayonet to see red.

"That's exactly what I'm trying to say...... Gomez turned his head to me and greeted me slightly, the calmness was calming. I have not had much practical contact with His Highness the Stars before, but I have long admired the wisdom of King Solomon. The plans you have announced here today have convinced me that under your leadership, Sakaimachi and Ishiyama will become trading ports that spread throughout the world. As a token of my heartfelt support for this great work of yours, I am ready to ......" He looked at Ernst, but the Dutchman was not alone in the room watching nervously. "Put 350,000 yuan into your plan!"

"It can't !!" Ernst cried out at once. "You're lying, you can't even carry more than 150,000 yuan in cash now! Your Highnesses, please be careful not to be fooled! His fair face was flushed, and his voice said excitedly.

"Mr. López! I would like to remind you that you are a businessman who is slandering the credit of another businessman! For the first time, Gomez sank his face.

"Please forgive me for my gaffes, I was a little impulsive!" Ernst also realized his mistake. "But like I did just now, I think you can prove your promise to His Highness the Stars!"

"I accept your apologies, and it is very necessary to make it clear!" Gomez's smile crept back into his wrinkled face again. "We Portuguese have been in business all over the world for a hundred years, and our roots are not comparable to those of hot-headed adventurers. It is true that I only have about 150,000 kan of goods and cash on hand, but as long as I send a message and sell our chamber of commerce's commercial buildings in Kyushu Hirado, Hakata, and Funai at a low price, including houses, shops, special piers, and a large amount of stockpiled supplies, then it should be easy to raise 200,000 kan. Maybe a little more than your 200,000 kan night, but two months...... No, it will all be in place in a month and a half at most! ”

As the words fell, there was silence in the room......