"Sir Vittorino, there is a man named Nicholas outside the gun factory who wants to see you."
Francois, who was fighting with the meat on the plate with his knife and fork, raised his head, frowned, and said, "Who is Nikolai? I don't remember that there is a cannon caster named Nikolai in the cannon factory."
The servant said respectfully, "His name is Nicholas Zheng. He is from the Ming Dynasty. Huang Cheng took him to the banquet hosted by Mr. Vittorino last time."
"So it's that boy from the Ming Dynasty, Huang Cheng brought him here?" Vittorino asked the servant in front of him.
The servant replied, "No, there is only Nicholas. The Ming businessman Huang Cheng did not come."
"Didn't you see that I was busy? I'm gone." After saying that, Vittorino picked up a cut piece of meat with a fork and put it in his mouth to chew.
The servant stood in front of the door without moving, and said, "Nicholas said he came to give your money to Mr. Vittorino."
"Give me some money?" Vittorino stopped what he was doing, thought for a moment, and said, "Bring him here!"
"yes."
The servant withdrew from the room, weighed a few pieces of silver in his hand, and then walked towards the main gate of the artillery factory.
After a short time, Zheng Yiguan, led by the servant, arrived at Vitorino's room.
"Young man, I have met Mr. Vittorino." Zheng Yiguan saluted Mr. Franji who was sitting behind the table.
Vittorino put down the knife and fork in his hand, picked up a dry cloth and wiped his mouth, and said, "Listen to my servant, do you want to give me money?"
Zheng Yiguan couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth twice.
Although he knew that the man in front of him was greedy and stingy, he was still a little uncomfortable with the other party asking for money so straightforwardly.
Without waiting for a response, Vittorino's face sank and he said dissatisfied, "Did you lie to my servant? You didn't come to give me money at all!"
Zheng Yiguan took a step forward and explained, "Sir Vittorino misunderstood. This boy is indeed here to give money."
After hearing this, Vittorino looked much better and said, "Where is the silver? You can give it to me now."
Zheng Yiguan rubbed his hands and said with a smile, "Sir Vittorino, please be patient. There will definitely be money, and I came to see Mr. Vittorino this time to take away a cast member from the gun factory." Gunner."
"No, our Franco machine gunsmith cannot leave the gun factory." Vittorino shook his big, bearded head.
"One hundred taels." Zheng Yiguan stretched out a finger.
Vittorino hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.
Zheng Yiguan, who had been paying attention to Vittorino's expression, smiled and stretched out two fingers and said, "Two hundred taels."
"This..." Vittorino hesitated and asked, "Which cannon caster from the cannon factory do you want to take away?"
"Louis." Zheng Yiguan said, "He is my friend."
Vittorino said with an embarrassed look, "He can't do it. Luis is the best cannon caster in the cannon factory. The cannon factory cannot do without him."
Zheng Yiguan didn't believe a word of these words.
He had been in Xiangshan'ao for so long and learned Portuguese from Francois like Luis, so he knew the situation of the artillery factory very well.
It is true that Louis is the cannon caster of the cannon factory, but he is by no means the best cannon caster in the cannon factory. Otherwise, he would not propose to take Louis away, because he cannot take away the best cannon caster of the cannon factory. Torino wouldn't let anyone take him away either.
"Three hundred taels." Zheng Yiguan said, "If Mr. Vittorino agrees, I can take Louis away now. If he doesn't agree, the matter will be dropped. Mr. Vittorino will treat it as if I have never been here."
Vittorino frowned and said, "Nicola, you have to understand that Louis is the best cannon caster in the cannon factory."
He said this, but in his heart he hoped that Nicholas in front of him would give him more money, because in the end all the money would belong to him alone.
Zheng Yiguan did not increase the price this time, but shook his head and said, "Since Lord Vittorino does not agree, let this matter be dropped and I will leave."
After saying that, he cupped his hands, turned around and walked towards the door behind him.
How could Vittorino let the three hundred taels of silver fly away from his eyes like this? He hurriedly stood up from behind the table and shouted, "Dear Nicholas, we can still discuss it again."
Zheng Yiguan stopped, turned around slowly, and said, "Three hundred taels, if Lord Vittorino agrees, I will give you the money right away."
"Nicola, you know, Louis is an excellent cannon maker, and the value he created is definitely more than three hundred taels, so..." Vittorino licked his lips with his tongue.
Both of them understood what this action meant.
Zheng Yiguan frowned.
He had known Vittorino's greed for a long time, but he didn't expect that three hundred taels of silver was not enough.
Vittorino continued, "Three hundred taels of silver is too little for Louis and does not match his value. Nicholas, you have to know how rare an excellent cannon maker is."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Vittorino, it seems that our cooperation cannot continue." Zheng Yiguan spread his hands in disappointment.
He knew that even if he added more money, he wouldn't be able to satisfy the guy in front of him.
"No, no no." Vittorino waved his hands and said, "Four hundred taels, I agree that Louis will leave with you."
Zheng Yiguan shook his head and said, "It seems that we can't reach a consensus on the money, so we can only apologize."
After saying that, he walked out.
Seeing that he was about to reach the threshold, Vittorino hurriedly shouted, "Three hundred and fifty taels, you can take Louis away for only three hundred and fifty taels."
Zheng Yiguan retracted the leg he was about to step out, turned around, and said, "I can take out three hundred and fifty taels, but I want to take one more person with me."
"Who?" Vittorino looked at Zheng Yiguan warily.
"Simon."
"Seven hundred taels, you can take both of them with you as long as you have seven hundred taels."
"No, only three hundred and fifty taels. Ximang is not a cannon maker."
"But he is an excellent gunner, the most powerful gunner in the gun factory. I can guarantee that there is no more powerful gunner in my gun factory than him."
"No matter how powerful he is, it's useless. He's not a cannon maker, he's just a gunner, and he's also a mercenary." Zheng Yiguan looked at Vitorino in front of him with a half-smile.
"Uh..." Vittorino choked and said immediately, "Five hundred taels, it can't be any less."
Zheng Yiguan curled his lips with a touch of sarcasm and said, "Sir Vittorino, I'm afraid you have forgotten that Simang is just a gunner at the artillery factory, and he is also a mercenary. I can take him away without spending a tael of silver." .”
Vittorino's expression changed several times.
Zheng Yiguan continued, "Three hundred and fifty taels, I will take these two people away. If Lord Victorino is not willing to let them go, forget it. I will go to find the cannon builders elsewhere, such as Luzon."
Vittorino knew that three hundred and fifty taels of silver was already the limit, and if he continued to increase the price, the silver might no longer belong to him.
Thinking of this, he immediately put on a smile and said, "Nicholas, you convinced me that as long as the money stays, you can take them two away."
Zheng Yiguan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
This is how I earned my first five hundred taels in my life.
