Vol 3 Chapter 115: Roman merchant

At the turning point of the Tiber River after passing through the Vatican, the large houses along the east bank of the river appear to be somewhat disordered. If you look down at a slightly higher place, you can see the gap between the large houses. There are complex alleyways and several narrow and winding streets that are slightly wider.
Several men in miscellaneous robes walked forward under the eaves on the street. They lined up one after another, and there was a distance between everyone, although it made it difficult for them to talk to each other. , But at least this way, at least it wo n’t run away once someone is cut off.
Each of these people is bulging, some are in their arms, and some are full of rucksacks hanging on their shoulders, but there are some messy things outside the rucksack pockets, making people think that what is inside is not something. It matters.
Sometimes the sun will shine on their faces through the gaps in the eaves that are almost touching on both sides of the street, so that they can vaguely see the tension on their faces. Whenever someone passes by them, these people will Involuntarily leaning sideways against the wall, and then staring at the passing people by vigilant eyes.
It wasn't until they finally came to an inconspicuous shop door that a few people looked at each other silently that they hurried in one after another.
This is a grocery store. Some dimly lit houses are lit with the same dim oil lamp, so that people who have just come in cannot adjust to the light in front of them for a while.
"Why don't you light a light, at least add some oil," a young man among the few men who came in whispered, he unloaded a heavy rucksack from his shoulder and tossed it on the ground at will Then, sitting on the buttocks and gasping for breath, "Can you give me some water, my thirsty tongue almost sticks."
"If you are always so frizzy, there will be no way to find someone to drink saliva in the future." An old man with gray hair walked out of the suite in the shop. He knocked on the stopper with a cane in his hand The young man in front of him asked him to walk away, then walked to the bench in front of the counter and sat down, looking at the few people around him "How is it, what have you brought me today?"
"Dad Yitzhak, you must be satisfied with the things we brought this time," a middle-aged man said slightly, "Several guys are short of money, so they not only brought out their home stuff but paid it We also borrowed a lot of money from us. "
"What's the interest?" The old man, known as Daddy Itzhak, groaned unmoved. "Every time you say you get a good business, but in fact those who are willing to borrow usury are very smart. There are not many benefits you can get from them. Sometimes I have to pay a sum. "
"It must be different this time. Recently, it seems that many people are short of money. Everyone is looking for ways to raise money," another person said hurriedly. "We brought you all the receipts, as long as you lend us some more. Money, we are willing to share more with you.
"Half profit, thanks to what you said," the old man showed dissatisfaction, his eyes glanced around the faces of several people, and finally landed on the face of the young man who had just shouted. "You guys, think I I do n’t know if you all get a bit of profit from the guests. You have to know that if those people still do n’t pay the money, it ’s me who ends up in bankruptcy. I am at great risk, but you are willing to give up half the profit. , Since you can go to other people to see it, go to Morakush, go to him and inquire, he will ask you some profit. "
Although the old man was angry, his voice was not high, and the others did not leave immediately to find the man named Morakush, as he said. Come together and start bargaining.
"Are the Romans crazy now? It seems that everyone is looking for money everywhere recently. I have almost no savings here." After finally discussing the result, the old man returned to the suite and took it out of the dark room. A heavy bag came out and kept mumbling, "The things you brought this time are not bad. It is best if those people can't afford to die, so we can earn more."
The old man mumbled alone, but he didn't hear a few people talking, he looked up in surprise, and when he saw the stiff look on the faces of several people, he also saw one standing behind them and standing in the dark to see clearly. Figure.
The old man's heart suddenly jumped, and he quietly put the bag containing the gold coins quietly at his feet, and kicked quietly to the side. Then he just wanted to speak, but he didn't expect that the man had come to him.
"Dad Yitzhak, I want you and I to do a business with you, you will not object."
When he saw the man ’s face clearly, the old man was stunned for a while, and then he suddenly whispered to the previous people like a mosquito: "Let ’s go, I have something important to do. I hold this for you. Money, hurry up and the interest will be half-profit according to what you said. Now hurry and leave! "
In a hurry, the few people were expelled from the house inexplicably, and then the old man hurriedly closed the door. Then he turned and looked closely at the unexpected guests.
"Krian, are you crazy, and dare to come here, do you want to kill all of us?" The old man yelled angrily. "Don't tell me that Monteiro wasn't done by you, others don't know me. Guess what. "
"Daddy, you don't have to be so nervous," Clian sat down comfortably and took out a glass bottle filled with black powder from the drawer of the counter. "The coffee is good, I haven't tasted it in a long time." pass."
"What are you doing," the old man sullenly sat across from Krian. "I'm a serious businessman. I don't care what you do, as long as you don't involve me."
"I'm here to do business," Krian also took it seriously. "Someone needs a large sum of money and interest to say that as long as they can get it as soon as possible, because the best is all gold coins, I can only find you."
"How much," I heard that the old business man's expression became better. "My interest is very high."
"This number." Krian pushed a note in front of the old man. When he saw the writing in the dim light, even the well-informed old man couldn't help but stunned.
"So much, but also ready-made gold coins? This is not easy to handle." The old man frowned.
"That's why I came to you. There are not many people in Rome who can get such a large sum of cash without major trouble," Krian said in a slightly complimented tone.
"This is actually, there are few people in the whole Roman city that can compare with me, but because it is cash, I have to find all the money that can be collected from other places. This cost is not small, you Ready to recognize the profit? "The old man looked at Klien with a slightly suspicious look." Let's say yes, the relationship is the relationship, the business is the business. I have to take a big risk. "
Obviously, I ’ve been tired of the old man ’s rhetoric, and Clariant waved carelessly:
Relax, this time the guests are very generous, and in addition to interest, you can also give you a promise, but this is about to become Cardinal's promise. "
"Promise?" The old man snorted. "Don't mention any promises. You said that the man will become a cardinal. At least it is a bishop. Do you think a bishop's promise is useful? Look at Castile, that's it The two monarchs promised that they would not treat us even if they drove away the Moors, but later, the Moors were saints compared to them. In the eyes of those kings and bishops, the Jewish purse was They do n’t have locked warehouses themselves, so do n’t tell me what you promise. "
Listening to the complaints of the old Jews, Krian frowned impatiently, but said patiently: "It is not easy to get a cardinal friendship, maybe it will become a friendship of the pope in the future, think about it, although it is true There are risks, but is n’t the return worth the investment? "
The Jewish look of indignation changed slightly. He sat there staring at the corner of the counter, looking up at him, and then looking at him, who made him a "this way" look, and then he finally licked his lips and lowered his voice. Tentatively asked: "The man you said, this adult, do you think he can be a cardinal with certainty?"
Seeing that the Jews were finally moved, Krian smiled, then he also learned the Jewish posture and pressed his upper body on the counter and whispered, "I can't guarantee you this, but there is one thing I can tell you, this The adult is very young and healthy, so you do n’t have to worry, even if he ca n’t become a cardinal this time, the chances are great, but you also know that there will definitely be more people willing to fund him in the future, so now if you can help him No matter whether he succeeds this time or not, you are the one he should repay. "
Krian ’s words brightened the Jewish eyes. He turned around and thought about the wall before turning around to say to Klian:
This is too big for me to be the master, and this is also A lot of money, I have to discuss it with more people. "
Krian nodded silently. He also knew that the figures he proposed were indeed expensive, and it was normal for the Jews to be cautious and careful.
"Trust me, if this thing is done, in addition to the future cardinal himself, there will be another noble person who remembers your friendship, and by then your life will definitely be much better than now."
Krian did not mind revealing more to strengthen the Jewish determination
The Jew nodded thoughtfully. At this time, he was already wondering how to raise funds. Looking at the number on the note, the wrinkled corners of the Jews could not help shaking slightly.
"If we are willing to provide the money," the Jewish eyes shone brightly and the tone seemed deeper. "The interest must be very high, so this can be considered for repayment in batches, but this requires some valuable mortgages. It ’s important to know that without this guarantee, the Pope ca n’t borrow money. "
Krian nodded, knowing that the Jews were right, and he had already prepared for Alfonso.
"What do you want for the farmland, the estate, or the debt contract?" Krian asked casually, seeing the Jewish man hesitate, and he continued, "I know that you are worried that these things might become a pile of waste paper in the future due to contract destruction. So I prepared another thing for you, I believe you will be interested in this. "
With that said, Crian took out another piece of folded paper and placed it in front of the Jews.
But when the Jew wanted to reach for it, he covered the paper.
"I'm leaving Rome for a while. If you think this business can be done, go to the place where we met before and someone will contact you."
After finishing talking, Krian withdrew his hand and looked at the Jew who suspiciously picked up the piece of paper and slowly opened it.
Then he saw an incredibly horrified look on the face of the old Jewish man.
"Are you going to use this as collateral?"
The Jew looked up dumbfounded and saw the back of Krian who was opening the door to leave.
The Jew looked down at the paper in his hand again. He hesitated to take it under the lamp and looked carefully. After he was sure that it was exactly what he thought, the Jew's breath seemed to be rapid.
"This is impossible."
The old Jewish man put down the paper, staring at the shaking lights, and then picked it up again to take a closer look.
Then he suddenly grabbed the black fluffy coat on the corner of the counter and draped over him, and hurried out of the shop.
The old Jewish man walked along the alley through several houses to a small two-story building and patted the closed street door.
As the street door opened, a teenage boy appeared at the door.
"Are your grandpa and your father here?"
After the old man asked, he saw the boy nod and walked in a few steps.
It didn't take long for the boy to rush out of the house, and soon several prestigious Jewish elders in the Jewish gathering area of ​​Rome gathered in this house.
Looking at the piece of paper on the table, the Jews around the table looked at each other for a while, making it difficult to make up their minds.
"Isaac, do you think this is reliable," an old-looking old man asked, "You have to understand that this is not a trivial matter, it concerns all of us, and it's a lot of money."
"I thought about it, this business has been done," the old Jewish man shone brightly in his eyes. "But we have to meet the person who wants to borrow money, so that we can be guaranteed in the future. As for the money needed, this Are there any people in the world who can't live with Jews because of money? "
The old man's words caused a chuckle around him, and the eyes of several Jews could not help focusing on a pattern drawn on the paper.
"With this, for us it is like having a powerful weapon." A Jewish elder said excitedly.
"I still can't believe this is true. After all, it's so weird. Who will use this kind of thing as a mortgage," the old man said suspiciously on the other side. "Maybe we should consider it again."
"I don't think there is any problem ~ EbookFREE.me ~ The old Jewish man named Itzhak waved his hand stubbornly." Think about the riot that this thing caused. It was so important. The Vatican even thought it was condemned and mortgaged People like us know that if we want to lend such a large amount of money, we must have enough collateral, and we ca n’t pass on this matter, so we dare to use this thing as mortgage. "
After looking at the faces of several people with different looks, the old man beckoned silently to the child next to him, asked him to move to a very strong box, and then took out a few gold coins from his arms.
"Old rules," the old man distributed the gold coins to everyone around him. "Agree positively, object on the back, vote for yourself."
Several crisp sounds came from the box. When the boy gently opened the lid, a few sighs of relief or a slight disappointment sounded in the room.
"So, we did this business," the old man said with a satisfied smile on the opposite face. "Izhak, go and tell our guests, we will soon prepare the money for him, let him put The collateral must also be prepared. "
The old Jew nodded. Under the eyes of several people, he picked up the paper and placed it in front of the lamp. As the flame ignited, the paper instantly turned into a small ashes.