The Rise of the European Emperor

After that, Marin and Duke Cliff discussed in detail the specific cooperation plan and the details of the distribution of benefits. After a fierce debate, the two sides finally agreed on the final division of interests——

After John II, Duke of Cliff got the letter provided by Marin, he would use it as a basis to declare war on the Duchy of Gerdes. Then, John II would publicly announce the hiring of Marin to fight for him for a commission of 300,000 gp.

But after laying down the Dutch part of the Gedde company, John II would openly demand land in exchange for the lack of funds on hand.

Then, Marin would gladly agree. In the end, Marin will get the entire territory of the Earl of Mark except for Fort Mark (this is mainly considering the title issue, and John II obviously will not give up the title of the Earl of Mark. Therefore, it is certain to keep the Fort Mark. And Markberg The territory of the country will be mainly transferred to the Dutch part of the former Gedde company). Of course, the two sides agreed that the price of the country of Mark was 400,000 gold coins. Therefore, Marin also needs to compensate John II in return for 100,000 gold coins...

This is only an explicit clause, and there is also an auxiliary clause - the agency sales of Marin's spirits and whisky in the Teutonic state will be handed over to Königsberg, which was co-founded by John II and his younger brother Philip Grandmaster. Chamber of Commerce. So, but the spirits business, the two brothers John II, will benefit at least ten to two hundred thousand gold coins every year, or even more. After all, the Teutons had millions of people. Moreover, as an important Hanseatic business district, there are many local people who can afford spirits. Therefore, John II and his brother Philip must have made a fortune...

It seems that Marin paid a very high price for this private transaction. But in fact, Marin was snickering in his heart. why? He also came to the main coal-producing area of ​​the Ruhr area. Before the Industrial Revolution, the Ruhr area was perhaps inconspicuous. But once the steam engine began to be popularized, the Ruhr area became a real golden area. Even, it is the root of a strong country.

So, from the eyes, Marin really lost. But once the steam engine began to be promoted, it is estimated that John II regretted vomiting blood.

After the secret treaty was signed, John II asked curiously:

"Lord Marin, why are you so obsessed with getting the Earl of Mark? Is it really good there?"

Where would Marin tell him the truth? So, Marin thought about it and replied:

"My teacher told me such a story - 'The rich and noble hometown is not expensive, such as brocade clothing at night, who knows?'"

"I have become a great noble now, but not in my hometown of Bochum. Therefore, I want to get the country of Mark and show my success and nobility in front of the people in my hometown..."

In fact, this is just the thinking of Xiang Yu, the king of Chu, and Ma Lin will not think so. but,

This reason sounds reasonable...

John II thought about it, it really is. Humans are animals who long to be recognized, especially by old friends. Many people have made a fortune and like to go back to their hometown to show off... Marin said so, it seems very reasonable...

For the Earl of Mark, John II did not cherish it. why? Because at present, there is really no oil and water in the country of Mark. After all, this is an agricultural age. In the northern part of the country of Mark, due to the abundance of coal mines, the land is very poor and the food production is very low. The shallower the coal seam is buried, the more it affects the fertility of the land and the harvest of crops.

As for coal mines? This thing does work, but mostly for metallurgy. However, now is the age of agriculture, the scale of the metallurgical industry is very small, and the sales of coal are naturally very bad.

You say coal can be used as fuel? Sorry, in Europe in this era, the popular fireplaces mainly burn wood, and there are not many that use coal as firewood. There are not many people in Europe right now, and forests are everywhere. Obviously, you can cut down firewood nearby, so why go all the way to buy coal for burning? What's more, the pulverized coal fire is often extinguished, and only the coal can be sold...

So, despite the abundance of coal, it was not very popular because of the narrow use of coal in this era. Why spend money on coal when you can pick up free firewood everywhere to burn?

Only a small number of residents living in the city, who do not have the conditions to pick up firewood, will choose to buy fuel. But most of the people who buy firewood are firewood, and there are fewer people who buy coal.

However, the size of European cities in this day and age is impressively small—large cities with a population of more than 10,000 people. Even a small town with a few thousand people dares to be called a big city. Even a capital like Vienna has a population of only 20,000. Milan, the largest city in Shinra, has a population of only 100,000... With such a small urban population, and only a small number of them buy coal for burning, it is conceivable how small the coal market is... Before, Marin wanted to sell Hoffman Manor's When the coal was sold, not only did the price decrease, but also the person in charge of the Wiggins Chamber of Commerce was bribed to achieve the purpose of selling the coal...

In short, in this era when the use value of coal has not been fully explored, coal is very unsustainable. Unlike China, where the industry developed in later generations, any coal boss can become a tycoon. Before the rise of real estate developers, those coal bosses were the richest...

...

In fact, even without a steam engine, Marin has a way to make coal a best-seller—just shake the pulverized coal into briquettes, which can greatly improve the utilization rate of coal. And if the briquettes and the matching charcoal stoves that appeared in the 20th century were created, the sales of coal would not be very good... You must know, in later generations, which city will no one use the charcoal stoves?

The charcoal honeycomb stove is so convenient and easy to use, it doesn't take up any space, and it can be burned outside the door. It must be a super artifact! Therefore, even if the application of steam engines is not promoted, as long as the briquettes are used as a killer, the coal mines in the Ruhr area will instantly become treasures.

Therefore, in any case, Marin can make a lot of money in the Ruhr area. Therefore, the two who have reached a consensus at the moment are both smiling happily. But Duke Cleaver laughs now, and Marlin has the last laugh...

Seeing Marlin smiling so brightly, John II, Duke of Cleaver was stunned for a moment—this fool, he has suffered so much, how could he still smile so happily? Is it really that important to show success in front of the parents and folks?

And what Marin thought in his mind was - laugh, laugh... At this moment, do you think I'm laughing stupidly? But in the future you will understand, who is the real stupid ×...

Then, the two people, each with their own minds, continued to smirk at each other, and they both thought the other was very stupid...

Just when the two were smirking awkwardly at each other, the report of their guards interrupted their awkward smile:

"Grand Duke, a letter from Paris..."

Marin immediately stopped giggling, because, he knew—there was something about the theft of letters between the Principality of Gerd and France...