The Rise of the European Emperor

This mission to the Crimean Khanate, Marin can be said to have completed the mission gloriously. Just when Marin took the guards out of Bakhchisalai, the capital of the Crimean Khanate, the first group of about 4,000 frontal cavalrymen of the Crimean Khanate were already roaring and marching north.

This group of 4,000 Tatar cavalry as the vanguard, each with three horses. Also, there are plenty of sacks and ropes on the horse's back. Marin asked curiously, and the Tatar officer told Marin that the sack was used to hold stolen property, and the rope was used to tie people...

Marin looked at the 4,000-strong professional robber team with admiration and felt that the other party was really professional. Moreover, it is a country that is very professional and familiar with the business of kidnapping and robbery...

Seeing that the Crimean (robbery), his temporary ally, was so professional, Marin finally felt relieved. As long as the Crimean Khanate attacks the Ryazan Principality, which is already part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the Crimeans and Maozi will definitely turn against each other. And because Ryazan is the southeastern gateway to Moscow City, the Crimean Khanate army is overrunning the border, and the elites sent by the Grand Duchy of Moscow to Finland will also have to temporarily withdraw. Because the troops left behind by Moscow alone are no match for the Crimean cavalry. Only the 20,000 elite standing army can dare to say that they can stop the cavalry of the Crimean Khanate. Other levies, on the battlefield, are estimated to be collapsed by a charge of the Crimean cavalry...

After entering the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Marin took the team to Vilnius and returned the 500 cavalry sent by the Lithuanians. In fact, these 500 cavalry did not enter the territory of the Crimean Khanate at all, but were arranged to wait at the border. However, Marin went to Vilnius not only to return the cavalry, but also to urge Archduke Alexander to complete the return of his credentials with Mungoguirehan. Only in this way can the ally status of the two sides be determined in writing.

The Vilnius Palace, Archduke Alexander and Prince Sigmund were overjoyed when they heard that Marin successfully moved the Crimean Khanate to send troops. If nothing else, as long as the Crimean Khanate and the Grand Duchy of Moscow turn their faces, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania will not worry about being attacked by Moscow and the Crimeans.

If facing the Grand Duchy of Moscow alone, Lithuania can’t say that it can beat the opponent. At least when it focuses on defense, it can still resist the attack of the Muscovites.

Therefore, in the eyes of Grand Duke Alexander and Prince Sigmund, as long as the alliance between the Crimean Khanate and the Grand Duchy of Moscow can be broken, it is a great success. As for sending troops from the Crimean Khanate, they had no extravagant hopes.

However, what they didn't expect was that Marin said that he wanted to persuade the Crimean Khanate to send troops, and it actually came true...

Although it is said that the Crimean Khanate sent troops to attack the Principality of Ryazan, both Grand Duke Alexander and Prince Sigmund understood that the Principality of Ryazan was the gateway to Moscow and an important granary for the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Moreover, on the bright side, the Ryazan Principality is already a vassal of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Attacking Ryazan, although not directly attacking Moscow, is similar to attacking Moscow.

In this way, the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Crimean Khanate will surely turn their backs. From then on, the Muscovites will probably waste a great deal of their forces on the southern steppe to guard against the invasion of the Crimeans. Even, in order to facilitate defense, the Muscovites have to spend a lot of money to build a large number of fortresses on the southern border as a basis for resisting the Crimean invasion.

There is no problem in exchanging credentials and concluding a covenant with the Crimean Khanate. Grand Duke Alexander quickly signed the instrument and ordered Victor, the deputy envoy who had just been to Bakhchisalai, to deliver the credentials.

However, when the Crimean Khanate sent troops this time, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had a dispute over whether the Grand Duchy of Lithuania should send troops to echo.

Prince Sigmund believes that he should take this great opportunity to send troops to retake several cities in northeastern Ukraine that were previously ceded by the Grand Duchy of Moscow.

But the Duke of Alexander seemed to be frightened by the beating,

I was a little scared, and said that it is better to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight...

The brothers quarreled in front of Marin. Marin shook his head, feeling that Archduke Alexander was indeed cowardly. If only it was in the past. The Crimean Khanate sent troops at this time, and also concluded a formal alliance with Lithuania. If you don't do anything at this time, it's a complete waste of a great opportunity...

However, who called the Grand Duke of Lithuania at this time to be the Grand Duke of Alexander, not the more strategic Sigmund I? Marin couldn't influence Grand Duke Alexander's decision either. He could only drink the "Earl Grey Milk Tea", which had become popular among the upper classes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, depressed, thinking about things while drinking it...

Thinking of going back this time, he would have to pass through the Teutonic Kingdom and return the borrowed horses to Captain Philip... Marin suddenly screamed and put down the teacup...

Archduke Alexander and Prince Sigmund, who were arguing, were interrupted by Marin's exclamation, and then they looked at Marin in confusion...

Marin suddenly remembered just now, it seems that his ally, the Teutonic Knights, currently has a hostile relationship with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland. Moreover, although Lithuania and Poland were defeated by the Muscovites, they still had the upper hand in the face of the weaker Teutonic state, and they kept chasing the Teutonic state.

Now, since Marin has established such a good relationship with the Teutonic State, Marin decided to help the Teutonic State to make peace, persuade Alexander, the Grand Duke of Lithuania and the King of Poland, to give up the suppression of the Teutonic State and concentrate on dealing with Moscow Grand Duchy...

Therefore, Marin first said that this time, in order to let the Crimeans send troops and turn against the Grand Duchy of Moscow, he bleeds heavily, and decided to let a chamber of commerce under his command sign a contract with the Crimean Khanate to purchase 1 A trade agreement for 10,000 cattle and thousands of war horses. These animals will pass through the Lithuanian border, and I hope that the Grand Duke Alexander will cooperate.

Both Grand Duke Alexander and Prince Sigmund were a little unhappy, because the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which controls the Ukrainian steppe, is also a place rich in cattle and sheep. The purchase of cattle and horses by Marin and the Crimean Khanate is obviously to send money to the Crimeans. It would be great if the order was given to Lithuania...

However, both Archduke Alexander and Prince Sigmund understood that this was an important condition for the Crimean Khanate to agree to an alliance with Lithuania. If the Grand Duchy of Lithuania obstructs this transaction and prohibits the passage of cattle and horses of the Crimean Khanate, the Crimean Khanate may turn its face on the spot and become an enemy of Lithuania again.

Therefore, despite his reluctance, Archduke Alexander agreed to the Marin Chamber of Commerce. After purchasing the cattle and horses of the Crimean Khanate, they would pass through Lithuania and pay only a small transit tax.

Then, Marin brought up the issue of the salt trade...

Lithuania is an Eastern European country, and the main part is in the Baltic Sea region in northern Eastern Europe. Obviously, this is also an area with high salt prices.

Lithuania has a population of several million, and with such a high salt price, it would be strange for Marin not to be jealous of this big market. Moreover, Marin has always believed that the alliance of interests is the strongest alliance between countries.

Before, Marin sent someone to inquire that although the Jagiellonian Dynasty was powerful and monopolized the throne of the Kingdom of Bohemia, Hungary, Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, this family was not rich.

Because these four countries, although they are all powerful countries, are not very developed in business. Speaking of which, the most developed region is the Kingdom of Bohemia. Therefore, the eldest brother of Archduke Alexander and Prince Sigmund chose the thrones of the smaller kingdoms of Bohemia and Hungary, and gave up the throne of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

The main reason is that although the Kingdom of Bohemia is small, its business is relatively developed. The more developed the business, the higher the business tax. The more taxes, the better the life...

The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, although huge in size, seem to be very powerful. But in fact, Poland and Lithuania are two countries with developed agriculture and animal husbandry.

However, in agriculturally developed countries, there are many feudal nobles. Many interests have been divided up by those feudal nobles. The benefits in the hands of the royal family are actually not many.

Therefore, even though Grand Duke Alexander is the Grand Duke of Lithuania with a population of several million, and the King of Poland with the same population of several million, his actual interests are not as good as his brother Vladislav IV, who has won the throne of Bohemia.

Seeing that Archduke Alexander was so precious to a piece of tea brick worth a horse, Marin could imagine that the other party was not rich.

So Marin first asked Archduke Alexander and Prince Sigmund about the origin of the merchants who currently monopolize the Lithuanian salt trade...

Archduke Alexander knew nothing about it, but Prince Sigmund did. He told Marin that the monopoly of the salt trade in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were mainly Hanseatic merchants from the Danes and the Livonian Knights...

Speaking of which, the Kingdom of the Livonian Knights is a vassal of the Kingdom of the Teutonic Knights. However, since the Teutonic Legion was defeated by the Polish-Lithuanian coalition in the Battle of Tannenberg, with the secret support of the Lithuanians, it has gradually become self-reliant. However, it still maintains the identity of the Teutonic state on the surface. But in fact, they have become completely self-reliant. Every elected commander of the Livonian Knights will not go to Königsberg to report and take the oath.

All this was done by the Lithuanians in secret. Therefore, after independence, the Livonian Knights have a good relationship with Lithuania. Although it belongs to the Hanseatic League, the relationship with the Hanseatic League is somewhat elusive.

Before, because the Teutonic Knights were the most important ally of the Hanseatic League in the Baltic Sea region, Lithuanians and Poles were not very cold about the Hanseatic League, the ally of the Teutonic State.

So the Lithuanians and Poles handed over large orders of salt to the Hanseatic rivals, the Danes...

The Danes' source of salt, mainly from the well-connected British, came by merchant ships. After all, at this time, the British already knew how to use coal to cook salt. In addition to not knowing the techniques of using energy-efficient stoves and washing off brine to reduce bitterness, Brits have also made a fortune selling salt. Most of the salt of the Hanseatic League came from the salt mines of Lüneburg, and the cost was also very low. It's just that Lüneburg's mineral salt doesn't taste very good.

Marin heard that most of the salt trade between Lithuania and Poland was monopolized by the Danes. Naturally, he was very unhappy. In addition, Denmark is his enemy, so Marin decisively decided to grab the business...

As a result, Marin annihilated the entire Danish fleet, and the fact that many Danish merchant ships were robbed by the coalition forces told Archduke Alexander and Prince Sigmund. Apparently, after losing the merchant ships, the Danes also temporarily lost their ability to transport salt...

"Count Marin, don't you want to return those captured merchant ships to Denmark after the war?" Grand Duke Alexander did not understand. According to the unspoken rules among European nobles, any captured people and property should be returned as long as they pay enough ransom. And if Marin and the Hanseatic League snatch all the Danish merchant ships, Lithuania and Poland will have to consider stopping trade with Denmark and changing agents. Otherwise, the trade will not go on.

"Yes, Your Excellency the Archduke, you don't understand, even if I am willing to return the merchant ship, Lübeck and Hamburg will definitely not agree. Because the purpose of this war is to comprehensively attack Denmark's maritime trade and snatch its share of maritime trade. I dare say that even if Lübeck and Hamburg burn those merchant ships, they will not be returned to Denmark..."

Archduke Alexander and Prince Sigmund were silent, apparently they had figured this out too. In recent years, the Danes have vigorously developed maritime trade, making it clear that they want to seize the interests of the Hanseatic League. Therefore, Lübeck and Hamburgers must hate Denmark as a trade rival.

Originally, the trade markets of Lithuania and Poland were monopolized by the Hanseatic League. However, since Queen Margaret I established the Kalmar League and began to compete with the Hanseatic League in maritime trade, the trade interests of the Hanseatic League in the Baltic Sea region have been significantly affected. Even, because of the Teutonic Knights, Lithuania and Poland had bad relations with the Hanseatic League. To this end, Lithuania and Poland also handed over large orders of salt and other commodities to the Danes...

That was before, though, and it was clear that with this war, the Danes were finished. Their warships and many merchant ships were all robbed by the ruthless Lübeck and Hamburg. Later, the Danes wanted to engage in maritime trade, and it took many years to slow down.

But the salt trade between Lithuania and Poles can't wait! After all, people eat salt every day. The Danes can take many years to recover, but the millions of people in Lithuania and Poland cannot wait. If you don't eat salt, you will get sick...

So, from the moment the Danish fleet was wiped out, Lithuania and Poland were destined to change salt merchants...

Moreover, Marin expressed that he is willing to hand over the sales agent rights of salt in Lithuania and Poland to Grand Duke Alexander, and give up some profits.

Thinking of the salt consumption of millions of people in the two countries, Grand Duke Alexander was really moved... So, Grand Duke Alexander and Marin signed a trade agreement of 500,000 quarts (a total of 6.35 million kilograms, 12.7 kilograms per quarter) of salt trade. Super big order.

Marin sold it to the Archduke Alexander at a "preferential price" of 9 shillings per quarter, with an average profit of about 8 shillings per quarter of salt. 500,000 quarts of salt and a profit of 4,000,000 shillings, or 800,000 gp...

In fact, such a large amount is less than half of the salt consumed in Lithuania and Poland. However, Archduke Alexander did not dare to ask for more shares. Because the big nobles below also want benefits. The salt trade in Denmark is abolished, and the salt trade in Lithuania and Poland must be reshuffled.

That is to say, before everyone reacted, Archduke Alexander dared to take the opportunity to sell and grab nearly half of the salt. The other half of the shares must be reserved for those big nobles to divide up. Otherwise, if he dared to eat alone, Archduke Alexander would not be sure whether he would be hacked to death by those angry nobles...

By the same token, the salt trade market in Lithuania and Poland is empty. It wasn't just Marin who had this idea, but also Lübeck and Hamburg. If Marin dared to monopolize this market, he would also be hated by Lübeck and Hamburg. Therefore, he only dared to swallow less than half of the market. Others have to be given to Lubeck and Hamburg.

Even if he swallowed less than half of this share, Marin didn't dare to play his own banner. When transporting salt in the future, Marin will have to be sneaky, and even use the British flag to avoid causing the anger of Lübeck and Hamburg...

In fact, because salt prices in Eastern Europe are so expensive, Marin even made such huge profits. When the salt is in the hands of the Grand Duke Alexander, it can also bring a profit of hundreds of thousands of gold coins per year for the Grand Duke Alexander. It is worth mentioning that this is not financial income, but the private income of the Jagiellonian royal family...

It wasn't until he finished talking about the super-large contract of the salt trade that Marin suddenly remembered--I clearly wanted to intercede for the Teutonic countries, so I went to the salt trade. However, this building is very crooked, and if it crooks, it is a super large order with an annual income of 800,000 gold coins...