The Rise of the European Emperor

Before leaving Prague, Marin heard something from Vladislas II - it seems that the Saxon region in the north of the Kingdom of Bohemia is also developing a large silver mine on a large scale...

Marin immediately understood. After all, the data he had read showed that in the ten years from 1526 to 1535, the annual silver production of the Tyrolean Silver Mine and the Saxony Silver Mine reached a terrifying 70,000 kilograms. And 1526 is only 12 years away from now, so it is reasonable for Saxony to start expanding the scale of silver mine production from now on.

Thinking of the huge silver production here in the future, Marin was moved. So, after he left Prague, he didn't go back the same way, but went north to Saxony...

The silver mines of Saxony are not in the Electorate of Saxony, but in Freiberg in the south of the Principality of Saxony. The large silver mine in Freiberg was actually discovered and mined in 1165. However, its mining scale has been small. It seems that its surface silver ore reserves are not very obvious. Otherwise, when Saxony separated in 1485, the long-branched Elector Ernst would not give up to his younger brother, Duke Albrecht. It was precisely because they did not see the great prospect of the Freiberg silver mine that the long line of Elector Ernst easily gave up the silver mine to the younger line.

However, it seems that in the past two years, the prospectors under Duke George have discovered a large deep vein in the Freiberg silver mine. Therefore, Duke George is now organizing manpower for large-scale development.

However, according to Vladislas II, Duke George wanted to develop this large silver mine, but he didn't have enough funds, so he was looking for a loan to expand the production of the silver mine.

How could Marin let go of this opportunity? Anyway, even if Marin doesn't get involved, Duke George can find investment. So, why not let him get involved and get a share of the action.

Although it is said that Marin fought with the Principality of Saxony and captured George. However, in order to divide the nobles of the Saxon family, Marin specially repaired the relationship with George, and spent a lot of money to buy from George the right to rule West Frisia, which had actually lost control.

However, the 1 million gold coins he spent on buying West Frisia from George were transferred to Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, who was also defeated by Marin. Because, after Frederick III lost to Marin, he needed to compensate Marin with millions of gold coins.

But this is a big pit for Duke George. He and Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, were cousins, so it is not easy to urge the other party to give money. Therefore, Duke George has only received 200,000 of the 1 million gold coins. Otherwise, the Principality of Saxony would not lack funds to develop the large silver mine in Freiberg. And because of the debt of the million gold coins, Marin successfully separated the relationship between the two branches of Saxony. Sometimes, in the Reichstag, George would even drag Frederick III's back...

Of course, even if Duke George and Frederick III did not deal with the elector, he would not have much affection for Marin. After all, he was also defeated and captured by Marin at the beginning. In other words, his relationship with Marin is not bad, but it is definitely not good.

But Marin believes that if he is willing to provide funds, even technology and equipment, Duke George will definitely welcome it. After all, better development of the Freiberg silver mine is of great benefit to Duke George.

...

Sure enough, when Marin arrived in Dresden, the capital of the Principality of Saxony, he asked to see Duke George, and expressed his willingness to help him develop the Freiberg silver mine, and was welcomed by Duke George.

Duke George of Saxony is not a fool, he could not agree to Marin's share in the Freiberg silver mine. But Marin did not make such an unrealistic request, he just asked for the priority purchase right of silver mine output.

After all, after a silver mine produces silver, some of it must be exported, and not all of it will be digested by itself. The Saxony region has developed handicraft industry, commerce is also very developed, and the population is large. However, like other vassal states in southern Germany, it has a large population, few plains, and a lack of food.

The Duchy of Saxony has a large population,

The development of silver mines does not even require the introduction of miners from outside, it is enough to recruit domestically. However, because there are more mountains and less plains in the country, there is always a shortage of food. In Marin's hands, the most indispensable thing is food. Moreover, it is not difficult to transport grain from the North Sea country to the Principality of Saxony-as long as it is transported through the Elbe River. Because Dresden is on the Elbe River and belongs to the navigable river section. It is precisely because of the existence of the golden waterway of the Elbe River that both the Electorate of Saxony and the Duchy of Saxony have become commercially prosperous countries. The Saxon business district is also the second largest among the four major business districts of the Hanseatic League.

In order to win over George, Duke of Saxony, Marin agreed to provide a large amount of rye to George, Duke of Saxony, at a 20% discount on the market price, which is the wholesale price of 08 pfennig per pound. In southern Germany, where food is scarce, the price of rye is actually more than 1 pfennig per pound. At least, in the Duchy of Saxony, the price of rye is 11 to 12 pfennigs per pound. Marin provided food to Duke George at the wholesale price per pound of 08 Finney, and he could make a lot of money by reselling it.

It seems that Marin has lost money and made a lot of money, but in fact, Marin knows that if he refuses to give up the profits, the grain of the North Sea Kingdom will not be able to enter the market of the Principality of Saxony. Only after giving up a large amount of profits can the grain accumulated in Beihai be sold.

And, most importantly, by selling grain, Marin can cash out from George, Duke of Saxony, and get a lot of silver...

In this era when there is a serious shortage of gold and silver throughout Europe, whoever has enough gold and silver in their hands is the master!

The development foundation of the Freiberg silver mine in Saxony is very good. After all, this is not a newly opened mine, but an old mine for hundreds of years. The transportation facilities and mining equipment here are very complete. As long as enough manpower is added and some good equipment is added, the production can be greatly increased immediately, which is not comparable to those newly discovered mines.

To this end, Marin intends to provide Duke George with ten sets of steel mills made of high manganese steel for the crushing and grinding of silver ore to facilitate the selection of silver ore.

In addition, Marin also intends to provide the technology of railroad tracks and minecarts to Duke George. However, Marin did not intend to provide blast furnace technology. After all, Duke George and himself can only be regarded as business partners at best, and the relationship cannot go any further due to historical reasons. Besides, the Freiberg silver mine is not as easy to find a place suitable for damming the river and installing a hydraulic blower as the Tyrolean silver mine at the foot of the Alps. There is a river in the local area, but it is a large river suitable for navigation, not suitable for damming the river and using hydraulic blowers.

Therefore, Marin only provided high manganese steel mill and rail mine car technology. However, even with only these two technologies, the production efficiency of Freiberg Silver Mine can be greatly improved.

In addition, Marin also agreed to help matchmaking, and as a guarantor, helped Duke George obtain a loan of hundreds of thousands of gold coins to expand production. In return, Duke George and Marin signed an agreement that the silver ingots produced in the silver mine should be sold to Marin first, and the price should not be raised arbitrarily...