Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1832 - 1319: The Age of Exploration Madness—Ezo Land’s First Gold Trade!

"Oh! Ancestor, my brother, you don't have to send all the captives back! These three Samurai are from the Matsumae Ando Clan further south and are not within the scope for the Main Family's ransom... I beseech you! Take them back to the distant snowy plains and prevent them from appearing again. And these more than one hundred farmers and craftsmen, I also implore you to take away, as far as possible!..."

"Witnessed by Buddha! Please ensure that the trade between your division and the Main Family remains unknown to the large clans further south... Those powerful yet greedy clans are always like ravenous wild boars, crashing aggressively everywhere... Unlike the Main Family, they are more accustomed to using brute force to seize every potential benefit!"

"Likewise, if the trade between your division and the Main Family is known to the powerful Temples and Shrines, it's very likely to be interfered with by greedy Monk Officials!... These Monk Officials possess means to reach the heavens, never achieving anything but very adept at causing trouble. Their greed is hard to satiate, even Buddha cannot transform them..."

"Therefore, I beg you! Do not let our trade be enveloped by other unpredictable clan forces!... The Main Family will also exert its utmost to meet the needs and provide goods and the 'extended hire' of craftsmen for your division..."

Nightfall gradually descended, and the bonfire was ignited along the coast. Three longships of the Kingdom were already loaded with goods and livestock, leaving insufficient space to accommodate the more than one hundred Japanese farmers. Therefore, more than ten Kingdom's Warriors disembarked, skillfully binding the Japanese farmers into teams of twenty, preventing them from escaping under the cover of darkness. They would encamp on-site, watching over these Japanese farmers for days, waiting for the fleet to reach the Hanbin Faction and then return for them.

In actuality, the fate of these Japanese farmers was sealed the moment they left the camp at the foot of Ezo Fuji. Even if they managed to escape under the cover of night, it would be impossible for them to pass through the roads blocked by Kaozaki Family, traverse the territories governed by the Upper Country Guardian, and return to their Matsumae homeland.

The most likely outcome for them would be being slaughtered by the roadblock Koyozaki warriors, their heads hung high, and then being saddled with charges of "having secret dealings with Shandan" or "deserting military service," consequences that could even reach their villages and families.

"Oh Buddha! The Kaozaki Family will never allow! For today's golden trade to be leaked by these escaping farmers, leading the Matsumae Guardians to become aware... because the profit therein is truly immense!"

Kaozaki Yoshihiro resolved secretly, even if it required wielding the Samurai's Tachi to sever the heads of warriors and farmers, the secrecy of today's transaction must be maintained. Such consequences are ones the Kaozaki Family cannot bear.

Matsumae Guardian Ando Sadaki, though needing to comply with Takeda Nobuhiro's orders, shares the same status as Takeda Nobuhiro, both being retainers of the Hinoki-yama Ando Clan. In other words, Ando Sadaki can directly contact the Hinoki-yama Ando Clan! 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Once the Hinoki-yama Ando Clan learns of such astounding golden trade, negligence is not an option; they will inevitably intervene, possibly seizing everything wholly! As for that time, whether the Hinoki-yama Ando Clan, with at least sixty thousand stones, will trade or use their swords to secure sustenance remains uncertain... It's likely they will dispatch warriors to take immediate action. After all, why bother trading when you can seize it by ability?"

At present, these internal struggles and disputes among Japanese clans are naturally unknown to Zuwaro. He merely squinted, deeply observing Kaozaki Yoshihiro, contemplating this Japanese Chieftain's earnest request for exclusive trade. Kaozaki Yoshihiro bowed deeply, even ensuring his spine and waist formed a straight ninety degrees.

"Please, dear sir!"

"Please, dear sir!"

Two house elders of the Kaozaki Family also bowed deeply, maintaining this posture respectfully without moving. Zuwaro clenched his hand, feeling somewhat uneasy with these strange Japanese clan rituals.

Because, according to Highland traditions, this posture invites the esteemed superior to grasp one's hair, serving as a pledge of allegiance in submission. However, the Japanese intent definitely isn't submission; it's a vehement request...

"Alright! Yi, I promise you! As long as you can provide a steady stream of goods and craftsmen we need, I will not disclose our transaction nor seek other tribes further south! After all, you are my long-time Japanese Tribal brother!..."

After a moment's pause, Zuwaro decided to first agree with this group of Japanese. After all, reciprocal trade requires backing by strength. Before amassing sufficient strength, the Kingdom exploration team indeed does not intend to risk further southward exploration again. At least not navigate southward along the Japanese Archipelago, carrying hundreds of pounds of gold, crashing headlong into the Japanese clans' lair...

"Thank you very much, dear sir!..."

Upon hearing the promise of the Shandan Chieftain, Kaozaki Yoshihiro bowed once more before he straightened up, revealing a genuine smile. His honorifics for Zuwaro rose accordingly, from the initial subtly disdainful "Shandan Chieftain" to the respectful "Your Excellency" used among the Martial Family.

"Buddha! I don't wish for this either… but this Shandan Chieftain is incredibly generous, greatly benefiting the Main Family! This golden trade is indeed a destined opportunity brought by Buddha, a chance for the Main Family's absolute rise!…"

Kaozaki Yoshihiro's face remained respectful and sincere, with a smile. And the settlement of this golden trade passed through his mind like a flowing stream, raising waves of golden ripples that stirred one's heart!

"Thirteen craftsmen exchanged for eight gold talismans. Five cattle and horse breeders exchanged for one. Over a hundred farmers exchanged for four… Just the human trade alone amounted to thirteen gold talismans, thirteen pounds of gold!…"

"Next, twelve broodmares exchanged back for four gold talismans. The normal Kiso horse selling price is 6 stone, though the Main Family's Shandan hybrid is better than the Kiso horse, it only sells for 7 stone to merchants. A cost of 84 stone against 360 stone for 4 pounds of gold means nearly three times pure profit!…"

"A pair of breeding cattle exchanged back for one gold talisman. The cattle price in Ezo Land is slightly higher, with adult buffalo costing around 7 stone. A cost of 14 stone against earnings of 90 stone means five times pure profit!… As for forty pairs each of chickens, ducks, and geese, exchanged for one gold talisman. These were conscripted military supplies from villagers, selling for cheap at town markets. Similar to human trade, it's all profit from nothing!"

"Finally, twenty large baskets of ironware, twenty boxes of rice wine, twenty stone of rice, five stone of salt. Most of these goods are produced by the Main Family, and even when purchased from local townspeople, the cost is less than one and a half gold talismans, only around 120 stone. Yet the return of 5 gold talismans is worth a full 450 stone! Again, nearly three times pure profit!…"

"And this golden trade, just one trade! The total revenue for the Kaozaki Clan is a staggering 24 gold talismans, an unbelievable 24 pounds of gold! That's cash equivalent to 2160 stone of coarse rice, at least 6500 stone from high-income territory! And the total annual income for the Kaozaki Clan, even if not spending a bit, would only match this number!…"

"Moreover, the trade returns are all gold! All cash! Cash that does not require discount for converting, cash as is!…"

Calculating up to this point, Kaozaki Yoshihiro trembled all over, like being electrocuted! Just one transaction with the Shandan Tribe could bring back a year's income for the Main Family, establishing merit surpassing all clan retainers! And this was just the start, just the initial exploratory trade!

What excited him to madness was the income from trading with Shandan people, which turned out to be all gold, all actual cash, not needing to "convert" through merchants!

Do not underestimate this! In this era, even the local tyrant Daimyo of the Japanese Clan struggled to produce ample cash. They typically must first convert their territory's tangible goods before having "currency" to purchase necessary commodities. Yet this "conversion" process inevitably comes with a merchant's discounting! And the amount of discount during conversion varies depending on power balance; some even lose half in discount!

It's akin to how the Ming Dynasty's switch from tangible taxes to silver taxes suddenly increased the burden on commoners! Not only did silver tax facilitate officials' manipulation during collection, but fire tax payment was intentionally increased. Just by the need to "convert" their harvested grain and fabric into silver money after autumn, commoners are inevitably gnawed at by merchants colluding with local tyrants, even losing half of their flesh!…

In this era and many years later, transactions between those lacking currency and weak in force with those abundant in currency and strong will always be inherently unfair, bound to be full of blood and tears!

"Buddha! The golden Shandan trade is truly golden! Such astounding profits… are the hope for the Main Family's rise!"

"I must return to report to my father immediately, and quickly draw in Uncle Mori no Kiyoshi from the Capital City into this golden river, transforming him into the supplier for the Main Family's craftsmen, livestock, and goods!…"

"Even at any cost, we will establish long-lasting and stable trade connections with this self-proclaimed 'Golden Tribe' of the Shandan, to exchange for more, more, and more gold!…"

The pitch-black night swept through the torch-lit bay. And the more dazzling golden light flickered over the Kingdom's Leader, also flickering in the hearts of the Japanese Leaders. Both sides, carrying full sincerity and joy, reluctantly waved torch-lit farewell amidst the vast night.

Afterward, came twelve-fold vigilance! Vigilance against the opposing side's reneging and ambush in the dark. Their warriors each protected their most treasured "wealth," one guarding the gold racing south, the other guarding the craftsman rowing north. Both sides hastily set off on their course, wary of reneging from the other, embarking on the return journey overnight~