The Rise of the European Emperor

Seeing this situation, Governor Loridan took the opportunity to "explain" (brag) and said:

"This kind of glass mirror is produced by the two masters of our Dalcarlo brothers. They have used extremely clever craftsmanship and gone through ninety-nine and eighty-one procedures to produce such an exquisite glass mirror. It is extremely difficult to produce this kind of mirror. The time required for the mirror is as long as 1 month..."

Marin couldn't help but want to roll his eyes-Nimma! Who are you bluffing? Still ninety-nine and eighty-one procedures? Isn't it just pasting tin foil and smearing mercury?

However, it is not nonsense that it takes a month to produce a mirror. After all, it does take a month for tin amalgam to react.

But Marin also knows that this kind of glass mirror, especially the newly produced glass mirror, is actually very toxic because the mercury component has not yet evaporated completely, and it is more terrible than the formaldehyde that will be decorated in later generations.

Therefore, don't look at Marin's praise and amazement, but just don't get too close, but stay away to help brag...

"Look at this glass mirror, it's so bright... and... so bright..." Marin suddenly couldn't think of any words to praise the glass mirror...

In fact, he didn't think there was anything to brag about. Because, being used to the glass mirrors of later generations, he felt that this kind of mirror was too low and poisonous...

However, others didn't notice that he was a little short of words when he praised things. Because they were all stunned by the "clear" picture in the mirror...

Anyone who can reach a high position is not a fool. They are very clear that they are old men, and they may not necessarily value this kind of mirror very much. However, those noble ladies will definitely be crazy about this incomparably clear glass mirror...

Marin also knew this, so he deliberately said loudly:

"Such a good and clear mirror, if I buy one and give it to my dear Queen Angela, she will be very happy. Maybe she will take the initiative to offer a kiss!"

This is very blatant and shameless. However, everyone agrees. why? They also felt that if they could bring a mirror like this home, their wives would be so happy...

But the problem is... the price...

Thinking of this, the other guests present were all tensed, and then looked at Marin resentfully—you bastard, why did you say it? Doesn't this give the Venetians a chance to raise their prices?

No, Governor Loridan climbed up the pole and bewitched:

"Yes,

His Majesty Marin! If you bring back a mirror like this and give it to Queen Angela, Her Majesty the Queen will be very happy! "

At this time, Marin suddenly said seriously:

"Then, Gul'dan... Ah no, it's Loridan... Lord Governor, how much does such a mirror cost? And what is the price?"

Governor Loridan's eyes flashed, and he said:

"The two masters have superb craftsmanship. Masters like them can each make a mirror every month..."

"So, Venice can only produce 24 mirrors a year?" Marin asked.

Governor Loridan was stunned for a moment, and after his brain turned quickly, he said flickeringly:

"That's not true. From the current point of view, the output of the two masters is indeed only this amount. However, we have many master glass craftsmen with superb craftsmanship on Murano Island in Venice. We plan to let a group of master craftsmen learn from the two masters In this way, dozens or even hundreds of masters can produce mirrors together. In this way, the annual output will reach hundreds, or even thousands of mirrors..."

In fact, the production process of mercury tinfoil glass mirror is very simple, that is, put tinfoil that has been beaten flat, paste mercury on the glass, and then wait for a month.

It is said that only one glass mirror can be produced in one month, but a craftsman does not only focus on making one mirror in a month, it is possible to make several or even dozens of mirrors together. Therefore, the output can be raised completely.

However, the Venetian is a professional profiteer and knows the routine of "rare things are more expensive". Therefore, the Venetians deliberately exaggerated the difficulty of manufacturing glass mirrors, and then controlled production. In this way, the price of the glass mirror can be sold at a high price...

"The annual output is only a few hundred noodles?" Other guests who participated in the auction were taken aback. Then, they realized that they might be slaughtered now...

Sure enough, after the official start of the auction, Governor Loridan told everyone with a "face full of embarrassment"—in view of the fact that glass mirrors are "too difficult to manufacture" and the output is very small. So, the starting price is 10,000 ducats, which is the "production cost" of the two masters...

After hearing what he said, Marin really wanted to take off his size 44 shoes and throw them in the face of this old thing—are you so shameless? Obviously, the cost of not more than one gold coin will become 10,000 gold coins in your mouth...

However, as a nurse with "professionalism", Marin deliberately exclaimed - oh! I see……

Then, Marin took the initiative to play the role of babysitter at the auction, raising cards frequently, and competing with others...

"The first glass mirror is mine! I want to dedicate it to my queen!" Marin shouted, with the face of a nouveau riche and the smell of copper all over his body...

Then, after intense "shopping", Marin finally got the first glass mirror at a price of 18,000 ducats. Then, pretending to be happy, he held the first glass mirror in his arms and brought it back to his seat.

The subsequent auctions naturally started at 18,000 ducats. Then, in the next few sides, the price was raised to 20,000 gold coins per side. Just like that, the 5 mirrors released for auction in Venice almost sold for a high price of 100,000 gold coins...

Governor Loridan almost laughed crookedly - what a huge profit! If Venice sold a thousand glass mirrors a year in the future, wouldn't it be worth twenty million gold coins?

Thinking of this, Governor Loridan couldn't stop smiling...

But after the auction ended, Marin suddenly made a request——

"Governor Loridan, I want the right to sell glass mirrors in Germany!"

"Agent sales?" Governor Loridan was stunned.

"Yes, exclusive agent sales!" Marin emphasized.

Governor Loridan hesitated and said:

"I'm afraid I can't make a decision by myself. I need a meeting to discuss before I can reply to you..."

Then, Governor Loridan hurriedly called the representatives of the Republic of Venice to the Doge's Palace for a meeting.

After a whole day of discussion, the Venetian executives believed that Marin was indeed a friend of the Venetian, and this time he also served as a childcare perfectly. Therefore, cooperation is certain.

However, the sole agency sales rights for the entire German region is a bit too much. So, the two sides launched a bargain.

In order to obtain exclusive agency rights, Marin was even willing to buy the goods at 90% of the retail price. In other words, only 10% of his profit was left. And considering the cheating transportation costs in this era, his profit is almost already very low... After all, in addition to the expensive transportation costs, Marin also needs to publicize and hire people to sell in various parts of Germany, which costs a lot...

Thanks to the high price of the glass mirror, the profit of 10% is only about 2000 gold coins. Even if the cost is high, it will be a thousand gold coins at most. At that time, there will still be a profit of several hundred gold coins...

However, the Venetians believe that all countries in southern Germany, including Austria, are close to Venice and can be reached after crossing the Alps. There is no need for Marin to earn the profit from sales agents of these southern German states.

Therefore, in the end, the senior management of Venice decided to give Marin the exclusive agency sales right of Venetian glass mirrors in the northern part of Germany. As for the southern states of Germany, the Venetians themselves are in charge of sales...

In this way, it not only gave Marin face, but also did not delay the Venetians from earning money from the neighboring southern German states. Of course, the exclusive agency sales rights of the "Kingdom of America" ​​far overseas must also belong to Marin... and Japan, Ryukyu and other places in the Far East under Marin's name...

Although the goal was not fully achieved, Marin was not dissatisfied. Because, he asked for the sole agency sales right, which was a cover, not the real purpose.

Then, Marin put forward his own request - requesting not to disclose the number of Venetian glass mirrors he sold as an agent...

The reason is that Marin lied that he was afraid that other German princes would be jealous... The Venetians also knew that Marin was in an embarrassing position among the German princes, so they believed his ghost...

At the same time, Marin also suggested that—except for northern Germany, if nobles and businessmen from other regions take the initiative to buy from him, Venice should not be dissatisfied...

Venetian people said - I will give you 90% of the selling price, can you still lower the price and compete with Venice? Unless, you don't want to make money...

Therefore, Venice agreed to Marin's "meaningless" request and wrote it on the agency contract...

"Great, I finally got the agency!" Marin waved his fist excitedly. With an agency contract of an undisclosed number as a cover, Marin can ship privately, hide behind the Venetian and quietly make a lot of money...