Chapter 5 National Power [2]

When he came to a blacksmith's shop, Crockerdale's eyes lit up, picked up a pair of scissors, shook it, and asked the owner of the blacksmith's shop, "How much is it?"

The blacksmith was a strong man. His apron was full of oil and dirt. The apprentices secretly looked outside in the room. I heard that it was an emissary from the Norman Kingdom, and these guys were also a little cramped. After all, I have really heard enough about the Normans in the past few years. Most of the time, I feel that it is similar to fairy tales.

Where is such a good place? It's a lie.

However, when he really saw the living senior official of the Norman Kingdom standing in front of him, the blacksmith was still a little distracted. After being reminded, he suddenly reacted and stammered, "Six or six silver lira. Six!"

It seems that I made up my mind to say so.

Crockerdale bent the corners of his mouth slightly and casually asked about the price of ironware on the street. He found that the price was almost the same, but the price of ironware now is more than ten times that of three years ago.

You know, such a pair of scissors can be done when Crockerdale left the Roma Empire, that is, 30 copper coins, but now, it has been more than ten times, which is ridiculous.

Inflation in the Roma Empire has begun to appear. If this situation continues, it will depreciate the currency of the Roma Empire to the limit. In the private territory of the nobles, a large number of gold and silver mines were taken, and then imperial gold and silver coins were minted privately. At the same time, he hid it from the world and bought a large number of members of parliament. Some of the great nobles even thought of themselves as the Mint. It can be imagined how chaotic the economic activities of the Roma Empire had reached.

The capital of a country is still like this. Crockerdale doesn't want to think about how people in those small places live, as he guessed. The price of wheat flour has increased 35 times. At the same time, the salaries of these poor guys did not rise much. Correspondingly, there was a famine around Roma City, especially in some peripheral slums.

This news made Crockerdale more sure that the contradiction between the upper and lower floors within the Roma Empire has reached an irreconcilable level, and it can even be said that a big change and riot will rise. It's just that this fuse is still unknown.

"Adult! You guessed it well. The price of all the materials in Rom City has increased by more than ten times and dozens of times, and the most exaggerated is the weapons and equipment, which has increased by hundreds of times. It's completely profiteering."

After returning to the embassy, Crockerdale, who was resting, listened to the reports of the deputy envoys. The investigation made Crockerdale suddenly understand a lot of things. Now, the Norman caravan is frantically plundering the gold and silver coins of this huge empire.

It's just that these are all executed at sea, and there are no commercial transactions on land, so Crockerdale must complete this action and let the idiot Bartley Sean sign his name on the contract. That's it.

"It seems that all forces within the Roman Empire are hoarding a large amount of materials. Today's inflated prices and chaotic markets are all our opportunities. Let the wealth accumulated by this country for hundreds of years be disintegrated in an instant. This is also what His Majesty personally told us, gentlemen, work hard!"

"Yes, my lord! We treat it with justice!"

This is an opportunity and a crazy season. There is no doubt that what is needed is just a little opportunity. The past I saw is a detour of the Millennium Empire, and now it is a new road.

His Majesty King Tiger House's goal is to let the whole world hear his voice, know his existence, leave a heavy and indelible figure in this world, and tell the world that he has come, he has seen, and he has conquered.

That's all.

And these groups of people, who are Tiger House's subordinates and lackeys, immediately waved their minions and explored the lifeline of this millennium empire clearly. From a small thing, they could see the future of a world. The meaning of existence is nothing more than that.

"Sent someone back to China immediately and report the situation here to the cabinet of the kingdom. Please make a final determination!"

This road is a long way, but at the border, there are Norman airships and empty boats. In just one night, you can directly reach the city of Tamsalu from the border line.

So, in fact, it's not too late.

But now, Crockerdale is looking carefully at the edge of the map. There are opportunities everywhere on the long border line. In addition to the five most important border cities that are their trade goals, King Tiger House I has also appointed Crockerdale with full responsibilities. In addition to the five border cities, it is also available. It is a big decision to add a few border checkpoint trading towns in the field. Crockerdale can feel the great energy and wisdom in it, so he must work hard.

"Tumble, Kabul, Ithaca, Noel, Sabalando. These five cities are trading cities that must be opened, and the Norman trade caravans must be tax-free here!"

In the reopened negotiations, Crockerdale, the ambassador of the Norman Kingdom, said sternly.

He suddenly patted the table and startled Bartley Sean opposite him. However, the old count was very puzzled and said to himself: What is this requirement? Just open the city. For the empire, reducing the loss of land is the most important.

However, before Bartley Sean could speak, Crockerdale said, "My king has full authority to be the negotiating ambassador. I can already be the master of many things. For example, regarding the trade agreement, as long as you nod and sign it, we can negotiate the control of some parts of western Minsk. There are some things that can't be discussed. It's just a matter of how many chips there are.

Crockerdale's way of negotiation does not have that kind of needles and twists and turns at all. He has always been straightforward, using eloquence and directness to beat his opponent completely. The momentum suppressed the other party's Count Bartley Sean, which is also because the strength of the Norman Kingdom has greatly increased and the national prestige is majestic.

Let Crockerdale have supreme pride, which is much better than when he was a Roma. Even if someone scolds him Crockerdale as a traitor and a traitor to the country, so what? This can't change Crockerdale's mind to become a leader.

To be a lower class in a big empire, it's better to be a top class in a country that is not a big empire.

Although it may not be a superior person, there are so many people who respect themselves, which makes Crockerdale very comfortable and feels that his efforts have been returned and it is worth paying. The majesty of this country gives him a supreme motivation to drive him to work hard and fight unremittingly to maintain this majesty!

"Why are the five cities of Tambour, Kabul, Ithaca, Noel and Sabalando?" Bartley Sean said to himself doubtfully and looked at Crookdale's sarcastic eyes. Although he was a little angry, he restrained. The news from the front line is really bad.

Gon Liluo, the commander of the Second Norman Legion, burned up the grain and fodder of the Western Legion with a fire. Now food and fodder are being added, otherwise, the war horses will starve to death. And the soldiers were angry and afraid because the food and grass were burned out. I'm afraid that the Normans will do some crazy things again.

But now, it doesn't affect anything.

Some armies of the Western Legion had no choice but to make a detour and entered the Armenian region. As a suzerain, they asked the Principality of Armenia to provide supplies, but unfortunately, the Armenians refused. These troops wanted to do it, but when they heard that it was only 45 kilometers away from the Norman border, they also gave up the idea.

Sometimes, as long as there are some small episodes, some important things can be changed.

At the current negotiating table, the entire Roma negotiation team is completely at the mercy of the Normans and the situation. This situation of being blown by the wind is really too broken.

It's just that this is reality.

"There is no reason! You just need to sign. At the same time, we require the establishment of 25 trading checkpoints from east to west with the Minsk Dominion as the boundary. In these trade stations, both sides can send troops to maintain public order. Of course, they can manage their own affairs within their respective limits. However, it is still the same condition that Normans must be tax-free.

Crockerdale fully knows that these great nobles of the Roman Empire look down on merchants and think that commercial taxes are inconspicuous, but in the Norman kingdom, this is not the case.

The abundance of business tax makes the whole kingdom full of vitality, and everything is very comfortable.

The country's trade maintenance naturally requires the army, which made Bartley Sean slightly stunned. He thought he had misheard it. It turned out that he didn't want to cede the land, it was just to open a port. What a great thing?

"Good! I think this condition is permissible.

Bartley Sean naturally couldn't figure out what the Normans were playing, but all this made Crockerdale smile and said to himself: It's halfway through. Anyway, it's a good thing.

"Good! Since the count is so cheerful, I will no longer be stubborn. We can give up the area of 17,000 square kilometers in the south of the western Minsk Autonomous Territory. However, there is an additional condition. Crockerdale raised a finger.

Bartley Sean was overjoyed and said to himself: This is definitely a great credit. For me, it is an important help to consolidate my current position.

"What conditions! Please say it!" His voice was full of excited trills.

"Give up the suzerainty of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Croatia."