Sitting in the inn, Adam looked through the account books, kept writing calculations with his quill, and couldn't hide the joy in his eyes.
Although some of the goods brought were unsalable and the quality was not as good as similar goods from the Ming Dynasty, fortunately, the prices were lowered and they were sold smoothly. In addition to the spices, gems, etc. that had been sold out before, the Venetian fleet had accumulated a large amount of goods. of wealth.
Bailey rubbed his hands and looked at Adam expectantly.
Cardin brought a barrel of wine and just waited for the accounts to be settled before he could celebrate.
Tony was calm and just waited quietly.
Adam turned to the end of the account book, ran the pen tip across the paper, looked at the final result, nodded with satisfaction, and said: "My great crew, we rented twenty ships, purchased ships, recruited sailors and crew, and purchased goods. , the two-year voyage was fully loaded and cost 53,000 gold coins."
Bailey grabbed the hem of his clothes, Cardin's Adam's apple trembled, and Tony looked at Adam with deep eyes.
Everyone knows the cost, and the most important thing is profit.
Adam looked at the three people in front of him. They were his most capable assistants on the voyage. Without them, he would not be able to return to the Ming Dynasty. Without them, there would be no success this time.
Reveal it.
Adam picked up the paper and said happily: "After three calculations, the determination is correct. Excluding tax items, the income from the sale of goods by the Venetian fleet is fifty-six thousand taels!"
Berry immediately clapped his hands: "Okay!"
Cardin smiled happily and opened the wine barrel with a bang.
Tony nodded slightly, very satisfied with the result.
Ming Dynasty's 56,000 taels of banknotes can be exchanged for gold and silver. Compared with the gold coins of Venice, there is not much difference with the 56,000 gold coins. Calculated this way, the entire fleet only made a profit of three thousand gold coins in more than two years.
Three thousand gold coins is not much profit.
But Adam was very happy, and others were also very satisfied, for no other reason, because all Venetian merchants knew that as long as the goods they brought did not lose money, they would make a profit. The real big profits were not in Ming Dynasty, but in Venice.
Now, you can use these 56,000 taels to buy silk, tea, ceramics, exquisite works of art, etc., and then return home.
After returning to Venice, these 56,000 taels of goods will be sold for five times, seven times or even ten times the price, making a huge fortune in the blink of an eye.
Cardin took out the wine and distributed it to Adam and others, with a smile on his face: "Captain, the northwest wind is coming soon. Should we buy goods and prepare to return?"
Adam nodded seriously and clinked glasses with the three of them: "I returned to the voyage in mid-October and took out 50,000 yuan to buy goods. The rest was divided with the crew and bought some things I liked to take back. After more than two years of hard work, I can't Go home empty-handed.”
"good!"
Bailey, Cardin, and Tony were very satisfied, which was why everyone was willing to follow Adam. He was not a monomaniac who monopolized interests, he cared about everyone.
There was a knock on the door, and sailor Garner opened the door and walked in: "Captain, vice-captains, and the director of the joint hall, Wang Shuo, are here."
Adam was a little surprised.
The Venetian fleet was just a merchant, not an envoy sent by Venice to the Ming Dynasty. It was not qualified to enter the Huitong Pavilion. There was only one thing to do with the Huitong Pavilion, which was to seek help from generals.
Wang Shuo shook the folding fan in his hand and walked in with a smile. He took a look at the scene and saw that the wine was on the table. He couldn't help but smile and said: "It can be seen that Captain Adam is very happy. Now there is something more worthy of happiness. "
Adam and others were deeply taught by William and were proficient in Chinese. Although they had a strong accent, they could still express their meaning clearly: "Mr. Wang, is there anything worth being so happy about? Please sit down and let us drink a few glasses of wine together."
Wang Shuo would not give up the opportunity to taste wine. Although this thing was not to the taste of the common people, he liked it. After asking for a few glasses, he said, "Get ready to go to the court after noon tomorrow to pay homage to the emperor."
"What?"
Adam jumped.
Tony, who had always been calm, also widened his eyes, not to mention Berry and Carney, who were already petrified.
Adam couldn't believe his ears. He went to the court to pay homage to the Emperor. Will the Emperor want to see us tomorrow? When he first came to the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Jianwen was inspecting the people's situation in the north. Even after he returned to Beijing, he was not summoned.
But this time, he actually summoned himself!
Adam got excited, it was a worthwhile trip to meet the most powerful person in the Ming Dynasty. There are countless legends about Emperor Jianwen in the market. People, businessmen, and craftsmen are all grateful to him. How could such an emperor not be seen?
"Okay, okay, Burley, go call William. We will go to see the emperor tomorrow."
Adam was excited.
Bailey agreed and left briskly.
Wang Shuo drank a lot of wine, and after William and others returned, he began to teach the basic etiquette of entering the temple.
The next day.
Adam, William, Burley and others walked into the solemn palace under the leadership of the etiquette officer. Looking at the sun and moon flag flying high, Adam couldn't help but bow.
The etiquette officer said that this is the sacred flag of the Ming Dynasty. Anyone passing by here should salute the flag first to show respect.
Adam knew that this sun and moon flag was no longer a simple flag, but had become a symbol of the Ming Dynasty. Whether on the mainland or in the ocean, as long as you see this flag, you will know that they are from the Ming Dynasty. They are the soldiers, businessmen, and people of the Ming Dynasty.
Ships flying this flag are unconditionally protected by the Ming Navy. They can even request escort, and the Ming Navy will definitely agree.
From Fengtian Square to the west, turn several times and enter the Nuan Pavilion.
The waiter arranged for everyone to sit down, and the food and drinks were served, but no one moved their chopsticks.
As the chamberlain shouted, "The Emperor has arrived," Adam, William and others stood up, stood in line, and knelt down respectfully.
The etiquette officer said that this was just a matter of doing as the Romans do. Anyone who saw the Emperor of Ming Dynasty would kneel down, even the Governor of Venice.
Zhu Yunwen walked briskly and waved his hand: "Everyone, get up and take your seats."
Adam and others stood up, bowed their heads and took their seats.
Zhu Yunwen sat down, and Chen Yu, who temporarily acted as a palace maid, filled a glass of wine, and then stood to watch how Zhu Yunwen sold this batch of cloth.
Adam looked at Zhu Yunwen. He was a young emperor. He had an elegant face, a slight beard, a pair of deep eyes, and a resolute and majestic look that seemed to tell everyone that he was a confident and determined emperor. It is said that Emperor Jianwen just turned thirty this year, which was the peak of the Spring and Autumn Period. It’s hard to imagine that he has been in charge of a huge empire for nearly ten years.
Zhu Yunwen smiled faintly and said: "Captain Adam, Priest William, I have heard about your deeds of sailing far and bravely coming to the Ming Dynasty despite difficulties. Your courage is comparable to the navy of the Ming Dynasty. I hope you can return with a full load and return to Venice on the water. City, welcome your glory."
Adam stood up and replied respectfully: "Dear Emperor, we Venetian merchants admire the power of Ming Dynasty. You have diligent people, exquisite craftsmen, smart businessmen, smart officials, and prestigious navy. You are a magical and powerful nation." country. We hope to establish stable trade with the Ming Dynasty, continue our voyages, and exchange what we need. "
Zhu Yunwen waved his hand and said with a smile: "I have no objection to establishing stable trade with the Ming Dynasty, but Captain Adam, your governor or the governor's envoy should say this, right?"
Adam suddenly broke into a cold sweat and realized that he had said the wrong thing.
When it comes to trade between countries, only those with power have the final say. No matter how many modifiers there are, the final word is merchant.
Adam apologized quickly.
Zhu Yunwen did not pay attention to this detail and said generously: "If the Governor of Venice is willing to send envoys to trade with the Ming Dynasty, I will not object. I just want to ask Captain Adam and Priest William if the Ming Dynasty is willing to accept Venice. Merchant, will Venice also welcome merchants from the Ming Dynasty?"
Adam was stunned for a moment, a businessman from the Ming Dynasty?
Aren't the merchants of the Ming Dynasty concentrated in Nanyang and other places, so they don't need to go as far as Venice?
However, the scene still needs to be made clear.
Adam said seriously: "Venice welcomes friends from afar, and even more so merchants who abide by their contracts."
William had no objection.
Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly and said with a smile: "In that case, I need to tell you some good news. I hope to use your words to tell Venice and other countries."
Adam and others are looking forward to it.
Zhu Yunwen ordered people to take out the map and told Adam and others: "During the Han and Tang dynasties, there were constant camel bells on the Silk Road, and an endless stream of Western merchants came to the Central Plains Dynasty. After Timur's defeat, the Ming Dynasty reopened the Silk Road. I I hope you can tell Western businessmen that if you want silk, come to Ming Dynasty, if you want porcelain, come to Ming Dynasty, if you want tea, come to Ming Dynasty."
Adam looked at the route on the map. Many experienced merchants knew this route, especially those who traded eastward. It's just that the caravan takes overland routes and carries limited cargo, so the cost is a bit high.
Adam agreed without hesitation: "After we return to Venice, we will tell everyone about the Silk Road."
Zhu Yunwen nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "You are about to return home, and you will need to buy a lot of textiles. Tell me how many pieces of cotton and silk you want."
Adam was a little surprised that the Ming Emperor was actually interested in doing business? Adam looked at Tony, who made some calculations and said, "Basically, we want to purchase 80,000 pieces of cotton and 20,000 pieces of silk."
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Zhu Yunwen looked at Adam and others and pointed at Chen Yu beside him: "She is the royal textile chief. She holds a batch of silk and cotton in her hands. The price is slightly lower than the market price. If you can reach an agreement, we will cooperate. If we can't, we will cooperate." Come on, you go to the store to purchase."
Adam, William and others understood that the Emperor was selling cloth to his family. Since it belonged to the Emperor, he needed to give him some face no matter what.
Zhu Yunwen raised his glass to drink. After he finished his glass, he asked calmly: "You traveled south from Venice to the Mediterranean. How did you enter the Red Sea after arriving at the Mamluk Dynasty?"
