European Financial Emperor - European Financial Emperor chapter 14

014 Ben Heren’s Request (2)

Another year passed, and when Yi Hwan turned 18, the fleet crossed the African Cape of Good Hope and reached northern Morocco.

Not so long ago, northern Africa was virtually no different from a huge group of pirates that pirates set up and walked in and out of their homes.

However, in the First Barbary War that took place in 1801, the number of pirates sharply decreased as the U.S. bombarded Tripoli, and in the Second Barbary War that broke out soon after, the U.S. military won one after another supremely, effectively Barbary. The Bari pirates were very weak.

However, not long ago, the British navy sent a fleet to get rid of the remnants of Barbary in Morocco, so the slave trade seemed to be heading towards an eradication.

During this time, Lee Hwan entered Casablanca with the Spice Merchant Guild.

Today, the guild decided to purchase a large number of African specialties based on the profits it had collected in Asia.

Lee Hwan was still carrying an abacus on a thick ledger, following the merchants, checking the quantity and calculating the price of goods.

But today, Ruben and his colleagues did not look very good.

He asked Jeremy, the head of the fur trader, what was going on.

“Uncle, what’s going on?”

“… … damn it! They say that something is missing in the middle.”

“Are things missing?”

“It is said that 10 boxes of elephant ivory and lion skins from central Africa have been lost.”

“Huh! Did that much disappear?”

“That’s it. Now the way for those people to make a living has become difficult. Ivory and lion skins are expensive because humans have to hunt them by hand, and friction with the natives is inevitable. It seems that the African business has completely collapsed during this trip.”

Even in Africa, ivory is a precious commodity, but when it is brought to Europe, its price has jumped up to several dozen times.

The merchants here in Casablanca do not directly import goods to hunters, but bring them through middlemen.

Ruben and Jeremy and the others stood up, saying that they would have to find another deal.

“Like f*cking pirates.”

“Are you a pirate?”

“Now that the pirate ships are robbed in England, these bastards seem to be heading inland.”

“By the way, what kind of pirates even steal now?”

“These days, because the trade of African black slaves from England to the United States is banned, it seems like a separate transport route from the south to the north has been developed. Because the transport route has developed, it is possible to be so determined and eat even the merchants’ backs.”

“There’s a lot of uproar about pirates here and there.”

The things stolen by pirates will probably be passed on as stolen goods, and if you sell them to the United States or Russia, you will be left with quite a few impressions.

Here, Lee Hwan had such a thought.

“Then, if the army robs the pirates of the stolen property, whose property does it belong to?”

“It is true that it was originally for merchants, but would the navy do that? It’s not like we’re going to put a stamp on every single thing.”

“It’s just plundering plundered things.”

“The navy and the pirates do the same thing. The only difference is the affiliation.”

“Huh… … .”

“In this era, the victor writes history.”

For Lee Hwan, the word plunder was deeply engraved on him.

There really isn’t much that can make more money than this.

He pondered.

‘It’s weird anyway. British troops are besieging you, and you think you’re crazy and want to run away by stealing other people’s belongings? Even though the British royal family risked their lives to secure a trade route?’

It was a situation I couldn’t understand.

It was something of a misnomer for a pirate to be swayed by British troops occupying all land and sea routes.

“It was a big deal, but it turned out to be a disappointment. There’s a merchant ship going to the eastern part of the US, so it looks like we’ll have to put a line there.”

“East America?”

“The eastern part of the United States has become a very prosperous region these days. There is a steady flow of goods to eastern New York and New England, so we can make a big profit just by sending the oriental luxuries we have bought.”

There was no doubt that the United States was the best place to make money in the future or now.

In particular, New York, which used to be New Amsterdam, was a commerce center crowded with wealthy merchants and financiers, so they were busy selling expensive luxury goods and spices.

Eventually, Ben Heren’s top changed direction from Casablanca and redirected to Algeria.

Because the contract had been broken, they were trying to make a profit in some way.

After supplying supplies from Casablanca, the top of Ben Heren swept the water towards its destination as quickly as possible.

In Oran, Algeria, where they arrived, a mixture of merchants and Americans from all over Europe were loading cargo on an open-air vessel.

Ben Heren’s Sangsan decided to trade in Asian pottery and spices by tying a line to the American merchant ship ‘Purple Mast’.

Lee Hwan boarded the Purple Mast to help trade American merchants and the Ben Heren Guild.

The Purple Mast carried an enormous amount of trade goods purchased from Asia and Africa.

‘How much is all this?’

The docks were full of goods that would cost 30 to 40 times as much as they crossed the water.

It seems that all the rumors that the US economy is not good these days are false.

By the way, an unidentified privateer fleet is running rampant, but with what guts did the Purple Mast pick and ship only luxury items?

Lee Hwan asked the merchants while closing the transaction and clearing the books.

“By the way, uncle. Aren’t those people afraid of pirates?”

“I heard that there is a US Navy fleet anchored around here. Don’t you think you’re being escorted by them?”

“A military escort.”

The future of the United States once formed an escort fleet to protect oil tankers from Arab extremist forces when the road to fetching crude oil was deemed too difficult.

Perhaps they are now taking such measures to rob the rich.

That’s how you end up on your way out.

Lee Hwan witnessed a middle-aged couple and eight sisters being denied boarding.

They were eagerly explaining their situation in German.

“So, we got the right to go to America from the German Federation?”

“Look here. This is how the certificate was issued.”

However, no matter how hard they tried to explain, the Americans simply remained silent.

On the way back to the ship, Lee Hwan sent the merchants to return first, and that way he reached the whole family from Germany.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, do you speak German?!”

“Yes, to some extent.”

“Then can you translate me? It’s not through words.”

“It’s not that difficult.”

“We bought a ticket from Prussia to the US via Algeria with almost all of our fortune, and the crew here won’t accept it as a fake.”

“Where can I see you?”

It was impossible to purchase package tour products in this era, and it seems that he paid some money to a broker who helped immigrate to the United States.

Lee Hwan asked the sailors, showing them their tickets.

“They say this is a ticket I bought in Prussia and go to the United States via Algeria. Is that correct?”

“It’s nonsense. We’re not attendants and we can’t make and sell tickets like that, right? Besides, this ship is a merchant ship. Instead of loading luggage, beggars pick people up with the introduction of some acquaintances.

“Aha, so there is no such ticket at all?”

“Sure. If you stop understanding, take those people and go home.”

Despite the plight, it seemed impossible for these people to board the Purple Mast.

Lee Hwan smiled bitterly and returned the ticket to the middle-aged couple.

“I think you have been scammed. This ship is a merchant ship, so they do not sell tickets for carrying people.”

“Huh! Could it be! We even sold a blacksmith to ride this boat!”

“I am sorry. I wish I could go back again.”

“… … If I had the money, I wouldn’t be so upset. Maybe this is good?”

Things seemed so bleak.

However, it didn’t seem like there were many ways that Lee Hwan could help them.

Then, Lee Hwan decided to talk with him to see if there was any way he could help.

“I work as a bookkeeper on a merchant ship in Benheren, Netherlands. What does the teacher do?”

“… … A person who made cannons in a blacksmith’s shop. It was outsourced by the British Army and directly managed to supply artillery.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Jeff was right.

Artisans from Prussia, the German Federation, and Switzerland were choosing to emigrate as they were trying to figure out how to make a living.

The man grabbed Lee Hwan’s hand.

“Isn’t the Ben Heren Guild the best commercial group in the Netherlands?! Can’t you please ask the Gong to collect our gasoline?!”

“Ugh.”

“My arms are fine, and my wife is a sewer who sews and sells clothes. My daughters are also quite dexterous.”

He grabbed one of his daughters, who was standing behind his wife, and dragged him in front of Lee Hwan.

Embarrassed, the blacksmith explained the utility value of her daughter.

“This guy has been learning how to make gunpowder in Sweden and making cannon shells! Getting on the ship will probably help a lot.”

“Are you a woman?”

“Even though I borrowed the name of my dead brother and delivered it, there were rumors that he had an amazing skill!”

In this era, there were not many paths for women to succeed.

It was the same reason why women writers borrowed their husband’s name to publish their books.

However, it was noteworthy that he studied chemistry in Sweden, a cannon developed country, in any case.

“The crew will do laundry and meals, and we will do it all, so please tell me! Please!”

Hearing the blacksmith’s request, Lee Hwan thought for a moment.

Workers are needed anyway, but it was important not to stand out from others.

If so, it could be seen that the timing was amazing for a coincidence.

“Then how about this?”

“yes… … ?”

“When I return to the Netherlands this time, I will receive a factory grant from Prince Ben-Herren. I was thinking of making a rifle there, but don’t you want to get a job in my factory?”

As soon as Lee Hwan talked about finding a job, the eldest daughter next to him walked out, tilting her head as if puzzled.

For a woman, she had a majestic body and a thick line, but considering her off-white, she was definitely not someone to fall for.

“By the way, I think you heard that Prince Ben-Herren is not an ordinary person and that the Dutch do not like outsiders very much?”

“Well, not necessarily. Especially in the case of the North, it is quite open.”

“Um, is that so?”

“I will tell the ball well. Would you like to go with me?”

The middle-aged man, who looked like the head of the family, bowed his head to Lee Hwan.

“Then thank you so much!”

“good. Then, come to our fleet later in the evening and look for a person named Lee Hwan. What is your name?”

“Mouser, this is Peter Mouser.”

“Mouser… … ?”

Lee Hwan’s eyes twinkled.