Chapter 102. Shady Trade (2)

At first glance at the map, I couldn't help but doubt my eyes.

Are there so many cities built in western Ifriqiya?

"Seeing so many cities built, it seems like there could be several countries in western Ifriqiya without being strange."

This map didn't indicate how many people lived in each city.

However, the fact that there are so many cities naturally means there are people at their center.

It's enough to be seen as evidence that they have monarchs.

'It's as certain as Koreans liking kimchi if they're Korean nationals.'

"I've heard there's a country called 'Mali' if you go out of our trading area and head south. But within our trading area, there are no countries, not even city-states. There are only tribal confederations centered around large tribes."

Humans have created large communities called countries since the Bronze Age.

To that extent, it's fair to say that the DNA of human beings is strongly imprinted with an instinct to cling to countries...

Why on earth are there no countries?

"Instead of farming like us, they all do animal husbandry. They're nomadic people."

As soon as I heard this, everything fell into place.

Nomadic peoples don't settle down in any specific place, but move around in tribal units raising herds of livestock.

Agriculture allows people to gather and live if there's water and a suitable area of land, but if these groups grow beyond a certain size, they won't be able to secure grass for their livestock to eat.

For that reason, the need for a 'country' is very low.

But they're people too, so it's essential to buy grains through merchants like Abdullah, or exchange necessary items between tribes.

According to everyone's needs, markets that become bases for rest and barter are created, and as they develop, they become cities.

'It wouldn't be strange if countries formed even without my intervention...'

Isn't there an outstanding leader here who can subdue several nearby tribes?

Well, from my perspective, it's good that there are no countries in the western Ifriqiya neighborhood.

That way I can use the wisdom of the British Empire, 'divide and rule', to extract extreme profits.

"Very interesting. Do you know anything more? Even trivial things are fine."

Hearing my words, Abdullah made a gesture full of signs that anyone could see he was pondering.

It's a universal truth that first-class, no, merchants don't express in words when they want to ask for more money in situations advantageous to them.

If he wasn't a traitor, I'd want to use him as an executive in our trading company, he's so capable.

Still, I can give as much money as needed.

Until I extract all the information you have, that is.

"Usually, nomadic peoples engaged in animal husbandry generally live a nomadic life raising livestock because the place they live is too desolate."

They say if you go to places like Mongolia, you can understand why Mongol and Jurchen barbarians plundered Joseon or Ming so much.

They say there's really only a bit of grass growing on the steppes and some water.

You can't see even a speck of rivers or wells where you can farm.

They say it's understandable that those gentlemen had no choice but to plunder because they suffered from chronic food shortages.

But why on earth do these western Ifriqiya bastards...

"Actually, the western Ifriqiya region isn't fertile, but if you try to farm, you can farm as much as you want. There are forests, and water isn't as scarce as you might think, so it seems like you could grow wheat... but strangely, those guys don't farm."

Even if humans rationally understand that something will be helpful to them, there's an instinct to unconditionally avoid unfamiliar things.

Anyone can try new foods...

But when you try to study for a certificate after work because it's necessary for your job, you get a headache and take out your smartphone.

Or when you sign up for a gym to start exercising, you really hate going for the first month after starting...

Moreover, transitioning to settled farming people that fundamentally changes their lives?

It can't be easy.

That's why even Kublai Khan, who succeeded Genghis Khan and founded the Great Yuan Empire, tried to kill all the Chinese people, burn down all the cities, and neatly turn them into pastures.

There's an anecdote that thanks to a loyal subject from the Song Dynasty preaching about the greatness of 'taxes', Kublai shouted "Wow, taxes are amazing! As expected, our protagonist is awesome!" and stopped, but.

But it seems the nomadic peoples here aren't that smart.

"Very interesting."

"Thank you, Baron."

It seems like we could create several 'small-scale' countries here by selling some agricultural technology along with gunpowder and matchlock guns.

And if our Tuscan Empire controls them through 'gunpowder', 'matchlock guns', 'weapons', 'armor', etc.?

Isn't this actually the East India Company?

The kings of the countries would think they're kings of independent countries.

But in reality, they're friends who would be devoured instantly if the Tuscan Empire said they wouldn't sell gunpowder.

If we do well, could we create something like a colony without shedding a drop of blood?

Then it would be good to use this as a base to advance to other places.

"I promised to give you 3,000 gold coins, right?"

Abdullah answered honestly like a dog wagging its tail.

"Yes, that's right, Baron!"

"But what are you going to do with those 3,000 gold coins? Where will you live after receiving that money?"

"I'll have to live somewhere else hiding my identity. I need money for that, so I'm handing over this information now."

I was going to just kill him because he's a traitor and reminds me of Lee Wan-yong.

But the quality of information this friend has seems higher than I thought.

'I'll have to let him live for 3 more years.'

After that, I should either abandon him or give him a little money considering his merits so far and drive him out.

"Can you speak the languages the indigenous tribes use?"

"Yes, I can. After all, you need to know at least the minimum language to open trade. I also understand the culture a little."

"Admirable, very good. Then let me make one proposal."

It's not a proposal but practically an order.

Because all my instincts are telling me now.

'It's not just that he's trying to run away blinded by money, he must be being chased by something.'

I can't bet my wrist that I'm wrong, but I can bet 2,000 gold coins.

"I'm about to open trade with those in western Ifriqiya. Just bringing gunpowder won't keep trade going."

If trade was that easy, that crazy Vasco da Gama wouldn't have implemented advanced country trade (threatening with cannons).

Also, looking at history, early Indian trade was ultimately about 'who threatens with swords' and plunders.

"I need your help who knows the language and culture. If you do well, we'll treat you like before in our trading company. Honestly, I can tell just by looking at you. The trading company is plotting to kill you now, right?"

Hearing those words, Abdullah broke out in a cold sweat.

"You'd be thinking of taking the 3,000 gold coins and defecting with your family."

This was too obvious from the moment you came here.

There's a difference in desperation between just defecting after receiving money and trying to start a new life by running away with a large sum of money because of 'major corruption within the trading company'.

"There's also a way to just extract information and hand you over."

Hearing that, Abdullah quickly knelt and begged.

"There are guys among my subordinates who are in the same boat as me. Of course, they have a deep understanding of indigenous tribal languages and cultures..."

Instead of begging to be spared which wouldn't be effective, he's appealing his usefulness first, what a guy who looks like he'd betray well.

Well, who said it?

'Even being a treacherous minister can't be done if you're incompetent. Could Lee Wan-yong have sold the country if he was incompetent?'

He's helpful now, so I should extend his life.

"I'll give you the money a bit later. I hope you prove your usefulness. You may go."

As soon as I chased Abdullah out, Chris came in.

"How was it?"

"I feel like I've gained a more useful piece of trash than expected."

Honestly, if he wasn't a traitor, I'd want to tie him to our trading company for life and use him as a slave.

"I investigated Abdullah a little, and sure enough. He was involved in various things like embezzlement, human trafficking, etc."

"If you say human trafficking, I guess he got caught trafficking slaves from the Sultanate who believe in the Mahrbad religion."

"Well, that's what everyone does, but it seems they pinned embezzlement on him too."

As I expected, he was a guy with quite a lot of 'crimes'.

Well, since he's that kind of guy, there's almost no guilt in abandoning him, but.

"What are you planning to do now? Are you heading to western Ifriqiya?"

Honestly, I was going to just get information this time and send other explorers...

'If there's such an accurate map...'

"The map I just obtained has coastlines drawn, and there's a fairly large tribe nearby. We'll resupply in the Kingdom of Granada and depart right away."

We should start trading first and gradually increase information.

And about a month later, we were able to encounter a western Ifriqiya tribe for the first time.