Chapter 89
The Governor of Nador opened his eyes wide when I mentioned war.
"Our Sultanate is not at war. So why do you say we need weapons?"
There's no Korean man who doesn't know why the Korean military stockpiles massive amounts of weapons to the point where the Ministry of National Defense is jokingly called the Ministry of Artillery.
It's to prepare for war that could break out at any time.
Therefore, the more weapons the better, as long as the budget allows.
'As a bonus, it strengthens the foundation of power and has a public order maintenance effect, so it's killing three birds with one stone.'
The problem is that it eats up a terribly large amount of money.
"Certainly, Your Excellency is not waging war against a country. But aren't there various conflicts happening everywhere? Against the tribes of western Ifriqiya."
To put it nicely it's a conflict, but strictly speaking it's a war of conquest.
A medieval-style M&A to expand the power of the semi-independent Nador and gain more wealth and slaves.
And I heard that Your Excellency the Governor is in a slightly difficult situation now.
They say you can meet the required number of soldiers by recruiting black slaves with freedom as bait, but you don't have weapons so you're giving them things like bamboo spears?
The tribes are using iron in terms of civilization level, so it won't be easy.
'Moreover, the opponents are nomads who just don't ride horses.'
"Your Excellency, let's have a slightly more honest conversation."
"I think I'm already having a sufficiently sincere conversation with you."
Isn't it not a sincere conversation if you don't honestly confess when you're in a very disadvantageous situation?
Well, even if the governor and I were family, we wouldn't talk while completely exposing our bottom cards during political negotiations...
Didn't they say good negotiation is making the other party reveal all their cards while hiding mine to the end?
I don't know who said it, but it seems like a pretty good saying.
"Both His Highness the Petit Duke here and I are very tight-lipped. Moreover, since our Tuscan Empire and Nador are a whole week apart by sea route, we have no intention of mobilizing imperial troops to attack Nador."
The most important thing when persuading a wary opponent is to let them know I'm not a dangerous being.
No matter how good the conditions I bring to negotiate, would they believe it if I seemed like a murderer or scammer?
At the very least, I need to instill the perception that I'm not a bad guy, even if they don't know me well.
"We just want to buy gold at a cheap price and sell it expensively to other countries including the Kingdom of Lyon. Because the more money, the better."
A good way to instill the perception that I'm not a bad guy is to form common ground between the other party and me.
In late Joseon, it's said that when a Westerner visited a town, the town magistrate was very wary of the Westerner.
He believed those guys squeezed people's eyeballs to draw black lines when drawing pictures, and killed people without any hesitation because they were ghosts.
But when a meal was served, he let down his guard seeing them eat properly.
'If they were ghosts, they should eat chopsticks, bowls, and folding tables, but since they ate rice, he believed they were human.'
With exactly the same psychology, I revealed my honest desires.
"Even if we believe in different gods, can't we become one under the love of money?"
I smiled while looking at the governor with a deep gaze.
The Petit Duke beside me covered his mouth with his hand looking at me.
He'll understand if I explain everything.
Our Petit Duke is a wise person, so he'll quickly understand a merchant's negotiation too.
Perhaps understanding my heart, the governor put his hand on his forehead and sighed.
"Who told you that information?"
"I can't tell you, considering the person who provided the information."
"That's true too. Alright, I surrender completely. As you said, we are working on civilizing the tribes in Ifriqiya."
They say civilizing, but in reality it's a conquest project.
After sending evil infidels to God's side with guns and swords at the forefront, they spread the right religion to the poor ones remaining.
If they don't accept it, they purify them with cruel methods that are a bit hard to put into words.
If they repent, they specially give them a chance to live with bio cotton pickers or farm machinery.
By our Albania, no, Sultanate standards, it's a very humane and socially just project.
Because it cleans up evil infidels and also conveys the right faith to stop their vain lives.
'Looking at the inner thoughts, it's just a war of conquest to obtain slaves.'
"And these days, perhaps there's some evil Satan's work, those infidels are uniting in various tribal units to harass us. So we urgently need weapons."
No, if I were a tribesman living in Ifriqiya, I would have argued to gather strength and drive you out too.
Because what you're doing isn't something humans should do.
I'm not on the righteous side either, but you seem a bit worse.
"The more weapons, the better, right?"
"How nice it would be if we could use black slaves as bullet shields and arm Nador's people to sweep them away."
The governor looked at me and grinned.
"So how much are you thinking of selling one gun for?"
"How about 20g of gold for one gun?"
"It seems too expensive."
"Anyway, when you import from the Kingdom of Lyon or Kingdom of Granada, don't you bring them in at a higher price? And the quantity wouldn't be much because of smuggling."
Although the Albania continent's weapon management system is sloppy, it's not easy to divert weapons overseas without colluding with nobles.
Because when officials at customs find weapons being exported overseas, they try to impose tariffs of 50-70% unconditionally.
It costs enormous money to escape even with bribes.
Even merchants who collude with nobles at that level don't sell weapons to "infidels" unless they're unusual guys like me.
Maybe if they were selling to enemy countries instead.
When fighting, enemy countries are just mortal enemies, but infidels are seen as enemies who can't live under the same sky, like someone who raped your wife and daughter, as common sense.
So great merchants including the Medici baron family who trade spices with the Alsini family appear like incarnations of all evil in plays and such.
'Would the total annual export of matchlock guns even exceed 500?'
"We will bring 2,000 matchlock guns and 50 tons of gunpowder every year starting next year. If you want more later, we can increase the quantity as much as you want."
50 tons of gunpowder is enough to fire about 60,000 shots.
It may not seem like much to people accustomed to firing dozens of shots each time during shooting practice.
But in wars of this era, if a soldier fires more than 5 bullets, it's considered a "fierce battle", and if more than 7 bullets are fired, it's counted as a terrible war.
If you fire 30 shots each with 2,000 guns, an enormous amount of blood flows.
"Can you keep that promise?"
"His Highness the Petit Duke here will guarantee it."
The Petit Duke nodded hearing my words.
"This friend is a genius who rose to viscount by his own power at the age of 22. I'll vouch for him."
"...... Alright, then I'll prepare the gold, so just bring the goods. I still have schedules left, so I'll be leaving now."
Saying that, the governor immediately left his seat.
Then the Petit Duke took me to a secluded place where only he and I were.
There was quite deep anger on his face.
But his questioning voice was very calm.
"No matter what, selling weapons to infidels. Isn't this like doing good things for infidels just so we can make money? Are you still a Deus believer?"
Honestly, I don't care whether I believe in Deus, other religions, or Buddha.
But for people of this era, faith is like breathing, so it's understandable to feel aversion to helping infidels.
'I should clear up the misunderstanding quickly.'
"When did I say I would only do good things for infidels, Your Highness? I have thoughts about everything."
"Thoughts, what on earth do you mean?"
It's something an evil hyena country would do, but originally to make as much money as possible during war...
"With this, we've secured a foothold on the Ifriqiya continent. Using this foothold as a base to explore the surrounding geography, we can find 'coastal cities located in the western Ifriqiya continent'. If we change the flags we're using now from 'Medici family' 'Duke Visconti family' to others in the Tuscan Empire and sail directly to that coastal city, would our tails be caught?"
I don't know how good it is that there's no technology like radar in this era.
There's no chance of smuggling being caught if we don't cause trouble after entering the port.
So we just need to land in coastal villages of the western Ifriqiya continent and exchange gold and various resources for gunpowder and matchlock guns.
If the governor says anything, we can just say 'Ah, it seems other countries' guys are doing that.' What can he do?
If you don't buy matchlock guns from us, the tribes will unite and push you out with guns.
"There's no chance of getting caught."
"If we make primitive tribes who don't believe in Deus and infidels fight each other, we can make money and weaken the infidels' power."
The Petit Duke looked at me and said as if dumbfounded:
"So this is why father told me to learn from you. Viscount, your strategies are truly marvelous."
"It's an honor, Your Highness."
"Let's receive hospitality moderately and return. And I'll write positively about this matter to my father."