Vol 7 Chapter 83: Bronze Age

Gold is bright and charming. From the day this beautiful metal was discovered, it was like a magic spell that could never be broken. For thousands of years, countless people have become obsessed with madness and killed countless lives.
A well-dressed businessman took a bag and walked to the exchange. This kind of place has really been a bad business recently, especially for the parishes ordered to ban the exchange of gold coins. Most of these exchanges have a fairly reliable reputation and are sufficient. The backing that can contend with the local church, after repeatedly squeezing out many small traders, the business is booming.
When the businessman walked into the shop, he saw that there were already several people waiting, and one of them was Zhang Shu's face.
After saying hello, the businessman sat on a simple bench made of horizontal trunks against the wall and watched as people walked into the room with large or small gold coin bags. The businessman quietly opened himself Looked at the money bag and frowned.
Huang Chengcheng's gold looked so tempting, which made the businessman feel a little reluctant. Thinking of the harsh exchange ratio of this exchange, he suddenly felt that it was difficult to accept.
"Maybe there are other ways ..."
The businessman thought to stand up. Under the watch of others, he hurried out of the exchange and walked along the narrow street to a very broken alley in the distance.
He had n’t walked out of the alley. A messy voice had been faintly heard. Hearing the sound, the businessman pressed the place where the money bag was originally hidden on the robe. After making sure that he would not attract attention, he walked out of the alley with his head down .
A loud noisy noise immediately filled the ears, the businessman covered his ears, and then followed a dirty path through the street full of various tents to the door of a blacksmith's shop.
"Old Bard, do me a favor," the businessman greeted the door, and then took a pre-prepared Ladia gold coin from the pocket outside the robe and stuffed it into the blacksmith's hand. dry."
The blacksmith with alcohol in his mouth looked at the gold coins in his hand, then at the merchant, and suddenly smiled.
"Are you here to melt gold?"
Hearing the blacksmith's words, the businessman was stunned, but then he realized that since he could think of it, other people would naturally think of it.
Perhaps doing so may lose some money when melting the gold, and if you want to spend the gold again, it will be a lot of trouble, but at least it is much better than being stripped by the exchange.
The merchant nodded and took out the hidden money bag to the side of the iron felt, and then stared at the blacksmith.
There was a strange look in the blacksmith's eyes. He looked like a taunt to the businessman, which made the businessman feel inexplicable.
The blacksmith started to work neatly, he weighed the gold coins on a rough scale first, and after indicating a new weight scale engraved to the businessman, he threw the gold coins into a thick layer of mud Melting spoon.
Under the blazing fire, the gold coins gradually became soft and twisted, and gradually the gold coins turned into a thick yellow water.
Looking at the gold water in the melting spoon, the businessman licked his tongue. There are still many such Ladia coins in his house. At this time, he had already calculated that he wanted to melt them all into pieces of gold and collect them.
The gold water gradually began to infiltrate along a very fine iron grate, and then flowed into a square mud mold. With the rapid solidification, the gold water became heavy gold nuggets.
The businessman could not wait any longer. After the gold nuggets didn't look so hot, he tried to touch them first, then immediately picked up the slightly hot gold and put it back on the balance.
Then the businessman's face sank.
He glanced at the blacksmith, and then glanced into the melting spoon and the mud grinding tool. Although it did have some residue on it, he could be sure that the weight would not be as bad as the balance.
"What's going on?" The businessman asked angrily. "Did I not pay you a radia, do you think you have to take a lot of blacksmith work to earn a radia, but you actually play in front of me This kind of trick, maybe I should sue you to the mayor and the judge. "
"What are you so anxious to do." The blacksmith didn't care about the threat to the merchant. He pulled the iron grate from the mud abrasive tool, and then knocked the iron felt. With a soft sound, the few traces left on it The solidified gold and some of them seem to be yellow, but they are somewhat different, and the metal has also been solidified.
Then the blacksmith smiled strangely, and from the pocket inside the leather apron took out the same gold coin as the one he had given him before, and raised both of them to the businessman.
"This is what you gave me, this is my own," he said, and he placed the two gold coins on the scales on each side of the balance.
The balance shook twice, then slowly sank to one side.
The merchant's face became ugly following the sinking scale.
"What's going on?" He asked a little irritably. Obviously two identical Ladia coins have different weights, which is enough to prove that things are not ordinary, not to mention those filtered from the gold Metals that look like gold but are obviously different are enough to make businessmen realize that they may have been pitted.
"You are not the first one," the blacksmith threw the merchant's gold coins back to him. "These are inadequate in quality. I am really pure. If you don't believe me, I can melt this gold coin, but you After guarantee, I will be compensated for a complete Ladia or Florin. "
The businessman took the gold coin suspiciously and looked at it. Although the edge was somewhat worn, but the carving of the goddess of victory on the top was still very clear and delicate, he slightly grasped the gold coin in both hands,
I don't know if it's an illusion. For a while, he really felt that the weight of the two gold coins was really different.
"There is something mixed in it," the blacksmith took back his gold coins from the hesitant businessman, and extended his other hand to look at the businessman. He saw that he had helplessly put the previous gold coins back in his hand. He smiled. "Those who exchanged Ladia made a lot of money, but this is nothing compared to those who made these coins. Probably the bishop has made a fortune now."
"Isn't this the Vatican's casting?" The businessman asked dullly.
"Not all," the blacksmith raised his fingers in the direction of the distant church. "Many of them were cast by the bishops. I heard that with the permission of the pope, I once repaired the furnace for melting gold for them, although I did n’t see how they made these coins, but you know ... "
The blacksmith pointed to his forehead and made a gesture, then he threw the gold coin up and smiled and tucked it into the pocket outside the leather apron.
The businessman walked out of the blacksmith's shop with a depressed look. Although he had a heavy gold nugget in his pocket, he always felt that he seemed to have lost a lot.
At the same time, an anger was brewing in this person's heart.
Louis XII held his brow and looked at a letter that had just been sent from the homeland. His queen, Brittany ’s Anne, had just sent him bad news. The coastal fortress near the French coastal city of Le Havre The bombardment came from the British.
This really surprised Louis XII. Although the United Kingdom also participated in the anti-French sacred alliance, whether it was before or this time, they had already dispatched an army of thousands of people at most. The King of England seemed not very interested in matters on the European continent, which made Louis XII feel relieved.
After all, the shadow of the Hundred Years' War is still shrouded in the hearts of the French. Some people who have participated in the long war are still alive.
But suddenly the British without any warning attacked the French coast, which naturally caused a panic among the French.
In addition to this, another thing also attracted the attention of Louis XII, that is, from Le Havre, suddenly there was no sign of gold exchange trouble.
How many cities and ports in France participated in that trade union, Louis XII is not very clear, in his view, those cities as long as they can provide him with more tax revenue than before.
So even though I heard that the trade union seemed to have a deep relationship with the Principality of Rome Theseia, he did not take it seriously.
The Hanseatic League, which was once extremely prosperous, has gradually declined, while France is gradually becoming glorious.
Louis XII firmly believed that it was the powerful army and rich knowledge and talents that decided whether to leave a heavy stroke in history.
So he spared no effort to support the construction and improvement of the University of Paris.
Although both of them require a lot of money as a support, the French king still believes that those who master gold will eventually bow their heads to those who master the sword.
But suddenly, he found that his country seemed to have a bad sign, and the root of these signs came from the trade union.
The decision of the Free Trade Union to stop doing business with the French and the gold exchange wave that began on the French West Coast at the same time seemed to have spread to Paris at this time.
The Queen ’s letter described that many of the goods that were originally expensive but in sufficient quantities seemed to be suddenly short and became tight goods. As a result of the prosperity of the black market, the prices of various goods rose rapidly, even now in the palace. Things have to be bought from the black market.
What is worrying is that those black market merchants have kept saying that as long as Florin and Ducat with the same value, the Ladia gold coin was directly rejected.
Louis vaguely felt uneasy. Although he did not believe that the businessmen might threaten his rule, he still instinctively felt that some kind of danger was approaching when he thought that the situation in the country is becoming chaotic.
One of the clearest threats is the scarcity of commodities caused by the trade union ’s embargo on French cities and seaports, and because of the rampant black market transactions, the prices of goods are extremely high, while accompanied by a large number of Florin ’s Trading, it seems that countless gold is flowing to some places that no one knows.
Louis was aware of the danger, but now he is on the front line. Although the changes in France have vaguely affected the French army in Italy, Louis XII believes that as long as he wins in Italy, then everything is worth it.
"Is there anything else to worry about?"
Louis frowned lightly and looked at the messenger on the opposite side. This man was his wife, a distant relative of Anne of Brittany, but Louis did not like him very much, because he always suspected that his wife and the brother who looked like oiled noodles So one leg.
"Something is true, Your Majesty," the elegant Brittany noble bowed to the King. "Your Majesty the Queen thinks that you should probably increase the share of war materials collected locally."
Seeing Louis XII's brow furrowed tighter, the young nobleman said in a slightly helpless tone: "Your Majesty, although you have decided to practice benevolence in this land, it will undoubtedly bring a lot to France The burden, and because of these things happening in the country now, the queen thinks that you should probably show a tough side appropriately, so that it seems that the Lombards will recognize the authority of your rule. "
Louis wrinkled his eyebrows and listened. He actually knew that his wife ’s suggestions might not be unreasonable. Unlike his predecessor Charles VIII ’s military conquest as the only means, Louis XII hoped to be kind and moral. Let the people in this land thoroughly recognize him.
Although his ideal is indeed great, it undoubtedly puts pressure on France itself. At least he ca n’t wantonly plunder the materials here in a war-fighting way, which naturally brings the French Little financial pressure.
Queen Anne is clearly dissatisfied with this, especially as the experience of replacing the king's regent France because of the expedition to Italy, she can more clearly feel the difference between before and after, at least Charles VIII did not give her Bringing so much burden.
"She wants me to be a Viking pirate instead of me, I see, is Caesar I conquer?"
Louis XII whispered to himself, he knew that Anne seemed to be dissatisfied with his inaction in Italy, which made him feel annoyed that Anne was comparing him with Charles VIII.
Many people think that Charles VIII was just unlucky. If it wasn't for an accident, maybe he has already arrived in Italy again, and may even have conquered Rome again.
It's just a pity that Charles VIII threw his hands at his most majestic age, which made people never imagine what would happen if Charles VIII was still alive.
This is also the most helpless of Louis XII, because he knew that he was destined to live under the shadow of Charles VIII.
Unless he can make much greater achievements than his predecessor.
Obviously, conquering Italy is such a good choice.
"Go tell my wife, I don't think that brutal means will help our rule, but since she hopes so, I will do my best for her."
After Louis XII finished speaking, he waved to the young nobleman to signal his withdrawal.
Looking at the back of the Brittany who bowed back, Louis XII couldn't help but start thinking about his wife's words.
As the Queen said, the French army ’s inaction in Italy during this time was really unsatisfactory, but Louis XII knew that it was not Queen Anne ’s benevolence to the locals that caused the situation, but because of One's death.
Louis XII never thought that Caesar would die in the hands of the Queen of Naples.
The plan for a successful triumphant meeting in the hinterland of Romagna completely collapsed with the death of Caesar, and now the French are in the area between Romagna and Tuscany.
This made Louis twelve a bit dilemma.
Going forward, as long as you cross the plains of Romagna, it was once Florence VIII, once described by Charles VIII as the villa of God in this world.
This road is actually not very long. The distance of less than 30 miles is almost insignificant compared to that from France.
But it was such a distance that made Louis XII cautious, especially after Caesar's rather weird life on the battlefield, he was even more careful.
Although Florence is full of temptations, the location of the city has always made Louis XII hesitant.
There is the hinterland of the Principality of Rome Thesia. If you look closely at the map, you will find that the city is like a lure with a tempting atmosphere, and around it, it is surrounded by a stare and seems to be at any time. Pounced on the prey that came from the bait.
A servant came in and whispered, and after a while Charlene walked into the king's tent.
"The weather here is really different from France," Louis XII said, handing a cool glass of wine to Charlene. "So you are all ready?"
"Your Majesty, I can start at any time," Charlene nodded sharply.
"Go tell the lady that as long as she is willing to cooperate with me, I will consider the rights that she and her daughter should have," Louis XII commanded. "And don't forget to remind her that her brother is dead. In whose hands. "
Charlene nodded seriously, he knew his mission was important to the king ~ EbookFREE.me ~ because only he successfully persuaded the mother of the Duchess of Pisa, Louis XII could rest assured Without Caesar's response, he moved towards the hinterland of Rome Theseia.
Fortunately, the people of the Pogia family had a special feeling, which made Louis XII's minister believe that the current Lucrezia should be the most impressed.
As long as Pisa can be won, the French army can confidently march into Florence without worrying about the retreat behind.
"As for the Venetians, I believe they still understand what they should do. Louis XII said confidently to Charlene," So now the key to everything is your mission. "
"Your Majesty, I will surely bring you a satisfactory result." Looking at Louis XII, who was looking forward to his face, Charlene replied carefully.
This day is June 9, 1501.
Also on this day, a shocking event happened in Montpellier, France.
A group of angry people blood-washed the Montpellier Cathedral!