Chapter 565: Build a nest first
There is a place in the mountains north of the city of Bern with green water and green mountains and beautiful scenery. It is a treasured summer vacation spot. Many families and big businessmen buy land and build summer vacation villas here. .
After several days of negotiation and land exchange, the Montechi family and the Capuletti family gathered together four or five kilometers of land and gave it to Frederick in return for "saving" Mali. A gift from Otto and Gianozza.
They had planned to give away gold, silver, treasures, farmland and shops, but Frederick declined. It was a bit unethical for him to take away people's meals for this matter.
The holiday estate is different. It is just a plaything for the rich and can also be used as emergency real estate, so Frederick accepted it.
Frederick held several banquets and tea parties, inviting representatives from various families and other forces in the city of Bern to participate. They talked about the future when the railway was completed, and they would be able to eat fragrant scallion pancakes that were larger than the table.
Suddenly one day, Frederick stopped holding a banquet and said he was going to go fishing in the mountains.
The original small villa of Baron Lanzaro in the manor was located not far from a waterfall. It had a beautiful environment, but it was a bit noisy at night.
Aleppe led people to clean up the two-story building and told Frederick the story of the building in the living room: "Baron Lanzaro was cheated five years ago, the seller said This villa has many advantages, except that on rainy days, the sound of the waterfall is too loud to keep people awake."
At this time, a woman's voice came from behind him: "This is not a problem, find a magician. Just install soundproof barriers.”
Alepbe was sure that the voice did not belong to the person he brought. He turned around sharply and the dagger slipped from his sleeve.
The person who came was wearing a suit of black and bright red rose leather armor, with two swords hanging on his waist, a helmet tucked under his arm, and his long gray-white hair tied into a bun on the back of his head.
Aleppe trembled and exclaimed: "Her Royal Highness Mary, 'Bloody Rose'?!"
There were frequent conflicts between the city of Venice and the neighboring Osmaga Empire. Mary's territory.
The two sides have been fighting for many years, and Mary abruptly blocked the Venetian coastal expansion. Many people in the Kingdom of Sardinia have heard of the pattern of her armor.
Alepbe not only knows armor, but also knows people.
Frederick asked Mary curiously: "Do you still have such a nickname?"
Mary said proudly: "Those Venetians are not good at fighting, but their nicknames are quite nice." "
Then she turned to ask Aleppe: "I have always wanted to ask you a question, how much did you charge for assassinating me that year?"
Alepbe answered in a cold sweat. : "Two thousand Orei."
Mary nodded, looking quite satisfied.
Before she could say anything else, she was immediately picked up by Frederick and walked to the bathroom, her helmet falling to the ground.
One afternoon and one night passed, so I won’t go into details.
In the early morning, early birds were singing in the mountains and butterflies were flying among the flowers. Frederick and Mary sat on the boulder at the top of the waterfall and talked about business.
“I didn’t expect you to come.” Frederick said, “I thought Anna would send other envoys.”
Mary was wearing a white dress today. She took off her boots and splashed her feet in the cold river. She leaned back with her hands and counted the fruits on the lemon tree above her head.
She said matter-of-factly: "If you want to deal with the Venetians, I will definitely do it myself."
Frederick thought the same thing. There was an irresolvable blood feud between her and the Venetians. The Venetians left her with extremely serious injuries on the battlefield, so if they wanted to attack Venetian this time, they would naturally have to do it themselves.
Mary urged: "Tell me quickly, how are you going to deal with the Venetians?"
Frederick said: "My plan will take a long time, it will take many years. ”
Mary said: "I can understand that they are very powerful and it will be difficult to defeat them in a short time."
Frederick nodded and said: "They also have fatal weaknesses."
"The power of Venice comes from the wealth of the merchants. The political force dominated by merchants can indeed have huge economic power, but it is very different from the traditional political force dominated by land." "The wealth of the landlords comes from the land. , the land has clear boundaries, and it is easy to judge whether it crosses the boundary. "
"The wealth of merchants comes from commodity transactions, and the boundaries between commercial activities are very blurred. The same business is not just one. If one person can do it, others can get involved.”
Mary agreed with this view and said: "It is true."
"Land disputes between landlords can lead to wars, and disputes between businessmen can also lead to violent conflicts. There are many assassinations in the Free Society. It's a struggle between businessmen."
"The Venetian businessmen have a lot of secret intrigues, and the only cutting of flesh in your opera is considered kind."
"You mean, plan. Want to provoke a fight among the merchants?”
Frederick nodded.
The goal of businessmen is profit, and they can fight each other to the death for profit. They are the easiest to divide and collapse.
Many people understand this truth, but the specific operation is difficult.
Frederick said: "The art of politics is the art of dividing the cake. One piece of cake is only so big, and no one will be willing to get a smaller piece than others."
If it is. For three or five businessmen, for political beings at the level of Frederick and Mary, it was enough to see a little benefit slipping through their fingers.
But now the target is the behemoth The Merchant of Venice. The cake used as bait cannot be passed away with just a little profit, but national-level interests must be mobilized.
Mary understood this truth, lay on the stone and thought about it carefully, and then said: "This is a good idea. Even if it cannot cause civil strife among the Venetians, it can still win over some allies who are on our side."
" Are you planning to use Ferdinand Port and Ferdinand City and the railway between them as bait?”
She will not despise the Venetians and is prepared not to win them all.
She thought about the bargaining chips in the hands of the Osmaga Empire. Only the new industrial city of Ferdinand City and the railway connecting the city to Ferdinand Port were attractive.
Frederick said: "Ports and railways must have cargo transportation to be profitable, which requires businessmen to operate."
"Nowadays, the construction of Ferdinand City requires a lot of materials, and you have some problems in raising them."
"This is something that can be operated openly. It can be used as bait, and it can also solve practical problems. ”
If you want to fish, you must first build a nest, offer some benefits to gather Venetian merchants, and then slowly attract big fish. When there are more fish, it is the turn of the new energy fishing rod to come on stage.
Mary reached out and pinched the soft flesh of Frederick's waist, and said with a very angry look: "You are so greedy. You want to take advantage of it before you eliminate it. Is it the same for us?" ?"
Frederick pinched her soft flesh with his backhand and replied with a smile: "Yeah, are you scared?"
Mary slapped his hand away. The business was not finished yet, and there would be no way to talk without stopping him later.
“I have an idea.” Mary said after pressing Frederick’s paw on the stone, “If we do it too deliberately and the Venetians will be suspicious, the hatred between me and them will be too great. There is no reason to suddenly show your kindness."
"So you have to use your brain and let them ask me, and I will reluctantly agree."
Frederick nodded and said. : "This is easy to handle. I am selecting some businessmen, and there are a few that are on the verge of bankruptcy. They can use them as examples."
"When the time comes, you will sternly reject them first, and then find someone to suggest that they come to me. , I will convince you again.”
Mary nodded, and these were the first fish to eat the bait.
(End of this chapter)