Chapter 529 – Scavenging

The Venetians were able to stand for seven hundred years as a single city, and even at one time had the power to separate themselves from the Pope in Rome, and it was never simply business.

It could be argued that Rome was, if anything, a source of legitimacy for aristocrats throughout Europe.

Venice, then, was the moneybags of the nobility throughout Europe.

The nobles were not specialized in tax collection in their territories because of religion and war.

After all, at this time in Europe, and did not give birth to a professional civil service system, the whole of Europe in addition to the so-called Roman levy tithes and other religious taxes, while the nobles of the tax, most of the tax in the form of tax packages, entrusted to the merchants of Venice.

If the military and civilian population of Europe were to pay taxes, basically …… one share was paid to the Pope in Rome. The other share, through the Venetian merchants, is in the pockets of the nobles and Venetian tax-payers through the form of tax-packing.

This form of tax charter was often contracted by the king’s treasurer with one or more contractors, who gave the tax to the treasury once in advance, acquired the king’s taxing power, and then collected it from the taxpayers.

However, over time, because of the frequency of wars, it made many nobles in order to conquer wars, taxes can not meet their requirements, therefore, they often choose to borrow from merchants.

Thus, in addition to chartering, trading, and colonization proceeds, Venetian merchants …… had a major business …… lending money.

Europe in this era, the lending rate of interest of the ruthless, never joking, interest rates can be said to be high terrible, and because of religious reasons, Europe unusual people are not allowed to borrow, and lending business, almost all by the Venetian merchants of this pagan group monopoly.

Not only that, but these lending operations were almost usurious, carefully packaged by the Venetian merchants.

Because of this, this Merchant of Venice was hated by all Europeans, so much so that more than a hundred years later, Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice was able to take Europe by storm when it was performed.

This city of Venice, in a sense, is really the equivalent of the tax collectors and usurers and trade merchants and colonizers of all of Europe.

As Doge, Tommaso Mocenigo did not really have much power; the city of Venice was a city-state founded by a group of merchants, and although he was named Doge, he was actually just a representative of the merchants.

Consequently, the only thing Tommaso Mosenig could do was to assist the Ming army, who first had to stabilize the big merchants while starting to collect the ransom.

As expected, after hearing that the Ming army only collected ransom, almost all of the big merchants, were relieved.

Of course, this is the common practice in Europe, the city is occupied, it is right to pay the ransom, and it is advantageous and harmless to the great merchants to levy it according to the head, and to buy the lives of all the people of the city.

It may be a big income for the poor, but for the big businessmen, it’s just a drop in the bucket.

Given that Venice is in the hands of the big merchants, so the big merchants are extraordinarily hardworking, they actually began to step in to maintain order, and have even begun to organize manpower, to collect ransom from the residents of the city. This ransom is of course a little early to collect a stable, after all, these outsiders, can not pinpoint, lest the night is long and dreamy.

It can be said that everything is very smooth, almost every street, every household, in the merchant group of assistance, not even need to stationed Ming troops, only by the merchant group of mercenaries, the ransom will be very soon as the number of up.

But such behavior soon caused a split within the city of Venice, where the poor were forced by the merchants to be penniless and resented themselves.

The merchants, however, did not care about this, and when the ransom money was delivered to Chuson by the wagonload, Chuson was overjoyed.

“It’s still you guys who have a way.” Qiu Song revealed a look of appreciation and said cheerfully, “I had thought that I still had to rob it.”

When Tommaso Mosenig saw Qiu Song’s smile, his tight face finally loosened up a little bit and said resentfully, “General, this is what I should do.”

Chuson then said, “Great job, next, step it up!”

Tommaso Mosenig actually couldn’t help but smile at the compliment from Chuson.

It was just that the contempt on the face of Erdan, who was in charge of the translation, for Tommaso Mosenig, became more and more obvious.

This stems not only from the fact that Erdnase, who comes from the Roman Church, himself has a deep-seated hatred for heretics like Tommaso Mocenig.

On top of that, the identity of a Venetian merchant was the object of Second Egg’s scorn!

Not to mention, it was clear to Two Egg that Tommaso Mosenig was doing more than groveling, he was betraying his own kind.

At this moment, Tommaso Mosenig respectfully said, “The garrison has cut off the trade routes, and next, it’s time to sell the grain! Please rest assured, General, I will make arrangements ……”

Qiu Song waved his hand and said, “And go, be quick.”

Tommaso Mosenig hurried away.

Erdan frowned and couldn’t help but say to Qiu Song, “General Qiu, what kind of evaluation do you have of these merchants?”

Qiu Song glanced at Erdan, and since he also saw the look of disdain on Erdan’s face, he, on the other hand, said in a nonchalant manner, “I don’t care.”

Erdnase: “……”

He always found it incredibly difficult to communicate with this General Qiu.

Looking at Erdan’s complicated expression, Qiu Song said with a faint look, “This is your business, I only want the result!”

After a pause, Qiu Song seemed to think of something and fiercely stared at Erdan and said, “On the Roman side, is there still no news?”

Erdnase was in a mood that was almost suffocating. He slowly came out of his bitter hatred for the Venetians, because …… what he had to face was also a difficult choice.

In fact, Rome was now so noisy that it was at the point of chattering whether to compromise or die fighting.

The tithes levied by Rome had allowed the entire city to accumulate astronomical amounts of wealth indeed, but that didn’t mean, they were willing to give it away.

But the strength of the Ming army, but far beyond their imagination, even Venice, such a solid city that has stood for seven hundred years, in one night will be ashes, who can ensure the safety of Rome?

Under Qiu Song’s impatient gaze, Erdan had to say, “It might take some more time.”

Qusong looked at him with a raised eyebrow and said, “You’re not playing any tricks, are you?”

Erdan’s heart jumped and he quickly shook his head, “No ……”

However, Qiu Song interrupted him and said brusquely, “Even if you play with your heart, you are not afraid. Of course, if you want to go back on your word and not honor your agreement to give these ‘gifts’, then for the sake of our acquaintance, I will simply give you one month’s preparation time! Within a month, I will not attack Rome, and teach your Pope that there is enough time to gather people just in time to fight me to the death.”

When Erdan heard this, instead of being delighted by it, he was even more alarmed in his heart.

Only he knew that his back was already covered in a dense cold sweat.

When an enemy says to you, “I’ll let you have ten rounds,” then that person is either a fool or a person you can’t afford to mess with.

And it’s clear that the other side is suspected to be the former, but it’s 100%, by no means, also the latter at the same time.

Erdan’s face froze for a split second, then he quickly stabilized his mind and reluctantly withdrew a little bit of a hard smile and said, “I will repair the letter again and travel to Rome, please trust me, General, I will definitely make this happen.”

Erdan has now magnificently transformed himself into a peace negotiator. Even in his many letters to Rome, almost constantly rendering the powerful Ming army. Because there is no European in the world than he understands, now this fleet, is Rome can not mess with the existence of, hurry to find ways to raise money for the wonderful.

The city of Venice …… food suddenly began to be cut off.

After that, food prices began to rise high in this city.

The grain has long been sold out in the usual grain stores, and right now, it has become a Governor’s Office franchise.

On the first day, it went up seven times. The second day, up to fifteen times. On the third day, to forty-five times.

In this way, on the first day, everyone was still just taking out all their money and trying to acquire food for their stomachs.

But on the second day, things changed.

Tommaso Mocenigo deserves to be recognized as one of the great merchants, the leading Venetian merchant among the merchants.

Because by the second day, the poor people have almost no way to purchase food, and small merchants …… can actually purchase food to maintain.

Just …… for the small merchants as well as the unusual rich households, the food prices are so high, they are rather more fearful in their hearts.

Because no one is sure what the price of food will come to tomorrow.

Therefore, the first choice of almost everyone was to purchase food, and to do so by all means. Almost everyone, coincidentally, took out all their wealth and purchased food for storage.

Sure enough, the price of food continued to climb ever higher, and within a few days, almost all of the small merchants and wealthy families were almost out of money.

The great merchants, on the other hand, are almost always looking on coldly; for them, even if the grain rises a hundredfold, a thousandfold, they will not be embarrassed by it.

For them, they instead care more about …… smoothness!

This rush for food was clearly out of place for them.

Until …… the price of food suddenly began to restore the supply, all the small merchants, almost wailed.

The food that had cost families tens and hundreds of times all their wealth. Even overnight, it suddenly began to fall, and at the same time began to be supplied in large quantities. Even, the Ming army began to implement a certain amount of poverty relief law, those who starved for many days of the poor, suddenly began to distribute black bread. Although this black bread per day per person but barely two hundred grams, but let all the small merchants, overnight, the family wealth ashes.

A feeling of resentment began to fill the whole city of Venice, the poor who had been extorted by the great merchants for ransom, the starving commoners and artisans, the small traders who had lost everything.

In the midst of this discontent, Chuson, with his guards, arrived at the governor’s palace, and, after making careful arrangements with Tommaso Mocenigo during the night, early on the following morning, a large number of lieutenants suddenly began to move out, and, according to the public opinion maps supplied by Tommaso Mocenigo, began to surround, during the night, one of the great merchant’s residences.

In the city of Venice, a solemn atmosphere is beginning to emerge.

The lieutenants rushed straight into the mansion and began to search it.

Meanwhile, the Governor, with his men, began to receive prosecutions.

Obviously, this worked very well, previously because the conflicts between the big merchants and the civilians, small merchants and even the servants had already accumulated. Many people had long hated these big merchants, not to mention, if there was valuable information, a certain amount of bounty could be provided.

In a moment, the vaults and goods that had been privately hidden were unearthed one by one.

All the great merchants were invited to the governor’s house, where they were asked to give an immediate clue to their money, and only by giving all their gold and silver could they save the lives of their families.

But if they refuse to let go and are reported by others, then it’s a lose-lose situation.

They are big businessmen, not the usual small landed gentry.

A landed rich man can bury his pot of gold and silver, secretly finding a courtyard to bury it in.

But such big businessmen, their wealth is too much too much, it is not possible that one person alone can keep this wealth like a mountain of gold and silver in private.

Consequently, there must be a need to employ men, and there will be special men to provide them with cashiering services, and certain faithful slaves to watch over their coffers.

It was a shudder for these big Venetian merchants who were straight up and down. It must be said that Tommaso Mosenig’s set was effective, and could have been tailor-made for his compatriots.

In the end, what the Ming army has to do is to start sealing all the gold and silver, and …… shed all the ballast stones of all the ships, and even dismantle a lot of heavy things. Subsequently, began to be responsible for carrying gold and silver on board.

The gold and silver, which had been carried for half a month, were carried by many men, under the supervision of the lieutenants, who carried the heavy cargo in streams and boarded the ships.

And at this very moment, the city that had stood for seven hundred years, through borrowing and taxing and colonizing and trading, was, at the beginning of that moment, utterly empty.

Not only gold, but even all the silver jewelry, tableware made of silver, which originally came from the trade in North Africa, as well as from the silver mines in Greece and Czechoslovakia, and a considerable portion, which originated from the plundering of the East by the Crusaders of the time.

Chusong couldn’t be happy in time, but Erdan and Donkey Ball came to the door.

For this reason, Donkey Ball made a special trip back to Rome to bring Venice up to speed!

After a heated argument, in the end, Rome made its decision.

He came in a hurry with the news, and when he saw Qiu Song, he first saluted him, “General, on behalf of the Pope, I would like to greet you.”

Qiu Song said simply and directly, “Where’s the silver?”

Donkey Ball’s face stiffened for a moment, and then he took a deep breath before saying, “We are determined to feed the general ……”

With that, he took out a list and handed it over to Qusong.

Donkey ball translated in Chinese, Qiu Song naturally understand, just look at the number, Qiu Song frowned, very dissatisfied: “You send a beggar? I have come a long way, not to avoid the difficulties and dangers, for you to charge into battle, blood and sweat, you only pay this gold and silver?”

Donkey Ball was, by now, drenched in sweat, and he looked terrified.

Qiu Song said with a furious look on his face, “This gold and silver of yours is not as much as one-twelfth of what I got here in Venice! Since you despise us, there is nothing more to say, let’s meet in arms.”

Donkey Ball smiled bitterly as he prayed, “General …… we are allies ……”

Qiu Song hooked his lips in a cold smile and then said, “Take this amount of gold and silver and dare to say you are an ally? If I say so, then I will not be polite.”

Donkey Ball: “……”

The donkey ball and the two eggs looked at each other, and then …… the donkey ball which took another deep breath and said, “Actually, there is another program.”

Qiu Song still looked at him with a cold smile.

Donkey Ball’s hand went back into his pocket and took out another list, handing it to Qusong, “Does the general think it’s feasible?”

Chuson took the list and looked down at it, frowning.

In fact, he already knew that the donkey ball must be playing tricks, Qiu Song followed Zhang Anshi, such tactics, he has long seen I do not know how many times, which is not the price of the sky, the land to return the money?

The authorization that this donkey ball has received is definitely not as simple as the first list, and this first list is just a test! The real bottom of the box is this one that Qiu Song is holding in his hand now.

It’s all left over from his big brother’s play!

After Qiu Song carefully scanned the list, he only smiled and said, “Well …. This number, it’s not impossible ….”

Erdan and Donkey Ball did not show the slightest expression of relief, instead they looked pained.

Qiu Song then said: “There is one more thing, since we are allies, we are naturally family members. Of course, this family does not talk about two families, this Venice is a good place, from now on, my Ming will not be polite, occupy this feng shui treasure land. Only …. We still know the rules, always have to ask the Pope to do a little favor, sign an agreement or something…”

When Erdan heard this, his heart snapped, and he immediately understood that the other party’s calculations.

These people did not just want to pillage and plunder hard, but had long been planning to be resident. And the reason why they attacked Venice was not at all to fall for their so-called ploy, but to have been planning it for a long time.

These men have plundered all the Venetian merchants, in order to take these Venetian merchants in their place, ah!

All at once, everything can be figured out.

The reason for the birth of the group of Venetian merchants in Europe is precisely because in the Middle Ages, as a religious person is not authorized to borrow, and there is no solid civil class of reasons, the nobility and the need for tax packages, coupled with the Venice itself in the Mediterranean Sea thoroughfare, from which you can radiate the whole of Europe and even include North Africa and the Near East region of the sea, which gave rise to today’s Venetian city-state.

Now that the Venetian merchants had been wiped out, it was these merchants of Damien who next took their place.

If this is so, then has not the Papacy, which drove the tiger to swallow the wolf and tried to destroy the Venetian merchants in the first place, done so for nothing?

Moreover, in the future, these merchants of Daming may be even more powerful, even more than the Venetian merchants.

At that thought, Erdan and Donkey Ball couldn’t help but shiver, suddenly feeling as if a pot of cold water was drenching them from head to toe, chilling them to the bone.