Chapter 321: Leave early
The royal capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Baili City, was once the imperial capital for thousands of years. It is across the river from the Holy City of the Church of Light. Every five steps you take in the city, there must be a place related to a historical figure. of monuments.
In a royal estate outside the city, a large area of land that was originally planted with pasture is now planted with soft short grass. His Majesty King Francisco is sitting in a shed next to the grass, looking at his grandchildren and others with a smile. The children of the noble family played football together, and from time to time they fed nuts to a purple bird on their palms.
Earl Friedkin walked quickly from a distance, saluted the king and began to report on the visit.
Francisco sat on the chair, put the bird on his shoulder, and slowly moved a string of shiny golden wooden rosary beads with his right hand, asking for details from time to time.
The little bird found that there was nothing to eat, so he kept urging with a crisp voice.
During this trip, Friedkin communicated with Mafia about the canonization ceremony this fall, and both parties reached an agreement.
Friedkin then reported the exchange with Duke Wesson.
"What?" Francisco sat up straight, "Did he really say that?"
Friedkin replied firmly: "Yes, Duke Wesson Think tulip prices will collapse soon ”
Francisco put the rosary beads on his wrist, combed his fingers through his white hair, stood up, turned and walked to the other side of the shed.
It was a large piece of newly plowed land, more than 200 acres, divided into more than 20 pieces by ridges. The queen was instructing the farmers to apply base fertilizer on the land.
In a few days when the weather gets warmer, the first season tulips can be planted.
Francisco paced back and forth by the tulip field, with his hands behind his back and playing his rosary beads.
Friedkin did not disturb his thinking, turned to the low table aside, filled the king's empty tea cup, scooped out two and a half spoonfuls of honey, and stirred it evenly.
The king and the earl had grown up playing like children on the meadow, and the queen did not understand the king as well as the earl did.
Francisco came back and sat down, picked up the tea cup and drank the sweet and greasy black tea in one gulp. He continued to put the bird back on his palm, fed it a nut and stroked its shiny purple feathers, and asked Fu Ridkin: "How much do tulip bulbs sell for now?"
He knows that tulips have been very popular in recent years, and many ladies, including the queen, like them, but he does not belong to this circle and is not interested in details. Not sure.
Friedkin thought for a while and replied: "Tulips in the market are currently priced based on how many strong bulls they can be exchanged for. If you talk about gold coins, you will be laughed at."
Francisco He nodded, this was the problem in the circle, and the hand-raised bird he had was priced in sheep.
Friedkin continued: "I heard that the best tulip bulbs in the Kingdom of Gaul were sold for a hundred bulls last month."
Francisco nodded and said: "I bought so many at one time, and I have to plant them." It takes a lot of effort."
Friedkin raised his hand and said, "It's just the price of a bulb."
Francisco blinked and smiled. Said: "You are really good at joking."
Friedkin shook his head seriously.
His Majesty Francisco was so stupid that the purple bird was almost crushed to death by him.
Friedkin continued: "I heard that the tulips of that variety were cultivated by Prince Moritz's family. They were particularly beautiful and attracted countless people to watch when they bloomed last year."
"Queen The tulips planted...with all due respect, the best ones are worth about twenty bulls, and most of them are only worth four or five bulls."
He finally added: "They are all the price of one bulb."< br>
Francisco turned his head and looked at the land that was going to be used to plant tulips. His breathing suddenly became rapid, and bloodshot eyes appeared faintly.
He picked up the teapot and opened the lid and drank it straight away to calm down. He put the bird on the table and continued to pluck the rosary beads and think about it.
After a long time, His Majesty the King turned to Friedkin and asked: "Where are tulips popular now?" Friedkin replied: "From the Osmaga Empire in the east, to Piast Kingdoms, to the Kingdom of Madeira at the western end of the continent, almost all places regard tulips as treasures growing in the land."
He paused and said: "By the way. , Wesson is not interested in tulips, they prefer to keep pet birds from the southern continent."
"Miss Ertal, the fiancée of Duke Wesson, has seven beautiful jewel birds. The children are of different colors and will circle around her. ”
Francisco looked at the purple bird that jumped back into his hand, and couldn't help but nodded. This bird was bought from there, and it is said that it has adapted to the climate north of the inland sea.
He narrowed his eyes and said to Friedkin: "You will have to lose a few fingers of fat again."
Friedkin immediately replied respectfully: "Please give me your orders. "
Francisco said: "You have to go to the Kingdom of Gaul and sell all the tulips in the royal domain before the darkest hour mentioned by Duke Wesson has come. It will be cheaper. That’s okay.”
Friedkin knew that the king believed Duke Wesson’s prediction and wanted to take the opportunity to make a fortune.
He thought for a while and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, it is better to hand over this business to the merchants of Venice."
"I heard that in the Rhine Estuary area where the value of tulips first skyrocketed, there used to be tulips. The price has increased more than 60 times in a year, and now every household there is investing in tulips.”
“Although the price of tulips has not increased so fast, it is still very attractive as an investment.”
“I was a little scared after listening to Duke Wesson’s analysis, worried that the darkest moment would come at any time.”
“Your Majesty, we can’t compare to the Venetians in terms of business, so why not take advantage of the tulips? The prices haven’t dropped yet, so hurry up and make a profit from them.”
Francisco narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Okay."
Recently, he has been thinking about how to build the railway, and the biggest problem is where the money will come from.
Okay now, there is an opportunity in front of you, it would be foolish not to seize it.
The Governor of Venice has a plenipotentiary representative in the city of Di Baili, and Baron Shylock quickly came to the king.
Shylock was puzzled when the King and Count Friedkin wanted to sell a large number of tulips, but they still took over the business on behalf of the Venetian Chamber of Commerce. This kind of business that is sure to make a profit is no one else. Will refuse.
"Your Majesty, I have a gracious request." Baron Sherlock said, "I would like to rent land and farmers, plant the tulips I bought, and then take them out in June next year."
Francis Co immediately understood what he meant. The next year, the tulips could be divided into four or five bulbs, and more could be sold by then.
"No problem." His Majesty the King said, "I will rent a few royal estates to you, and the rent will only be 10% of the market price."
"But I have a condition, I must Send the gold coins as soon as possible.”
Speaking of gold coins, Baron Sherlock has the confidence to be proud in front of the king.
"No problem." He said slightly proudly, "The payment will be settled within ten days."
Francisco sent someone to count the quantity, and Shylock checked to raise gold coins. The specific amount and transaction were all completed by his subordinates. Just wait for the final result.
In one day, the royal family's tulips were almost sold out, leaving only a few left by the queen. Friedkin also took the opportunity to clear out the goods of his wife and daughter.
"Duke Wesson..." Francisco pondered in the study, "I really want to meet him."
Friedkin said helplessly: "I originally invited The only reason he came as a guest was that one of his friends from the Kingdom of Gaul was ill and was recuperating on El Chapo Island, so he rushed there. ”
(End of this chapter)