The Rise of the European Emperor

On the… It was the place where Glinski met his subordinates. As for the guests, they are received in the large living room in the front yard.

"My lord, we are back!" Both of them were Glinsky's retainers, and they both defected from Lithuania to Moscow with Glinsky. After seeing Glinski, the two knelt on one knee and saluted respectfully.

"Don't be too polite, Belov, Kasaisky, have you found any specific information in Constantinople? Is it what the Italian sailor said?" Glinsky asked eagerly.

Although Marin's spies pretended to be "The Merchant of Venice" and taught Glinski how to use artillery. But Glinski did not dare to believe it. Even after buying the artillery back, he still cautiously sent people to Constantinople to inquire about the news.

Constantinople is the capital of the Ottomans, Istanbul. Although the Ottomans captured Constantinople and changed the Hagia Sophia into a mosque, they did not ban some Orthodox church activities in Europe. Even in the Ottoman army, infantry such as gunners and musketeers mainly came from the Slavs in the Balkans, that is, Orthodox Christians.

Therefore, Glinsky's two subordinates, Belov and Kasaisky, easily found relevant people who knew the news in Constantinople. And, coincidentally, he was a Slavic mercenary musketeer who had participated in the Battle of Dabik Grassland.

After only a few glasses of wine, the musketeer from Serbia gave a detailed account of the Battle of Dabik Grassland. Of course, moisture is added. For example, this musketeer classmate boasted that he killed 100 Mamluk cavalry. However, with the hit rate of a musket...so, just listen to this part...

What? You said that Ottoman is a country that teaches peace and does not allow drinking? Really not. Because of religious tolerance, the Ottoman Empire has not completely prohibited alcohol, but only peaceful people are not allowed to drink. Even in the famous Sudanese Guards, many people drink alcohol. Historically, when Murad III came to the throne, he ordered a national ban on alcohol. Then, the guards directly rebelled, scaring Murad III to immediately cancel the prohibition. No way, in the Ottoman Empire, the Guards did not support you, and the Sultan could not sit still.

So, in Istanbul, drinking is very common among Orthodox Slavs. The reason why the Slavs were not converted into pacifists was because the Slavs really could not accept prohibition on drinking.

...

"So, what the Venetian merchant said is true?" Glinsky said happily.

"Yes, my lord, but the Venetians seem to focus on the cannon and not pay much attention to the application of the musket. And the mercenary of the Ottoman Empire said that the musketeer behind the cannon carriage is the one who decides the outcome The main force..." Belov added.

Greenski waved his hand:

"It's normal. The Venetian merchant is a businessman after all. It's good to be aware of the importance of artillery. As for the Ottoman musketeer, his words are also exaggerated. We all know that muskets are actually scary. Those who really died under the gun, They are all unlucky. However, it is indeed a good supplement to arrange a group of musketeers behind the chain cannon formation. The Grand Duke can still gather one or two thousand musketeers. At that time, we will use this tactic to deal with Lithuanians!"

Both Belov and Kasaisky showed complicated expressions. They were both Lithuanians and fled to the Grand Duchy of Moscow with Glinsky. They have mixed feelings about their motherland. However, Glinski is their master, and the master resents Lithuania, so they can only stand on Glinski's position and oppose their own motherland.

The next day, Glinsky entered the city excitedly, entered the palace, found Vasily III, and reported the good news.

Vasily III was also very excited. Although his moral character was not good, Vasily III's business ability was still very strong, and he was considered a powerful monarch.

No, before Glinsky suggested to buy 150 cannons, he also gave his full support, and even made an IOU with the big nobles in Moscow, and finally got enough money to buy the cannons, so that Glinsky pulled back 150 cannons Bronze cannon.

However, in order to buy these 150 bronze cannons. Vasily III spent tens of thousands of gold coins, and also issued a bunch of IOUs to the ministers for this. It's not that Vasily III couldn't afford tens of thousands of gold coins. In fact, in order to prepare for the war, Vasily III emptied the treasury and prepared a lot of weapons, armor, and engineering equipment. When Glinski went to buy guns, he had no money left, so he had to borrow money from noble ministers. Of course, he is a tyrant, and the ministers dare not refuse to borrow it. Unlike the unlucky Chongzhen, who couldn't even borrow money.

When the news reached Aurich, Marin frowned—it was my money!

Marin had long regarded the city of Moscow as something in his pocket, so the money of the nobles that Vasily III took away should have been "captured" by the army of the North Sea State. As a result, Vasily III exchanged 150 bronze cannons, as well as a lot of gunpowder and lead bullets.

However, what Marin needs is gold and silver in hard currency, not copper cannons! Beihai has neither artillery nor copper. These copper cannons are melted into copper, and no one wants them...

"Oh? No! It's true that no one wants to make copper coins. However, copper cannons... If the Grand Duchy of Moscow wins this battle, it seems that there will definitely be a market for copper cannons..."

"Come on, Xiaowa (Vassily III), you must blow the Lithuanian army to pieces..." Marin silently cheered Vasily III and Glinsky.

As long as the Grand Duchy of Moscow has a good record in this battle, regardless of whether Western Europe can pay attention to it, Lithuania, a victim, will definitely pay great attention to it. After all, they are the direct victims of artillery, and their feelings must be extremely deep. In addition, Poland, an ally of Lithuania, will also feel the same way. At that time, the captured bronze cannons can be exchanged for gold and silver with Lithuania and Poland...

In addition, the North Sea State itself can cast copper cannons and sell them to Lithuania and Poland. These two countries are so big and have such a large population, so buying 100 guns for each family is not too much, right? In addition, the 150 small Austrian guns bought by the Grand Duchy of Moscow are too petty, and there are still many one-pounders and two-pounders. Marin felt that all should be changed to three-pound guns.

Of course, it is not the front-mounted three-pound gun, but the rear-mounted Franc cannon that is currently popular in Europe. Casting this kind of cannon is not difficult. As long as the iron mold is made, the copper cannon can be cast very quickly, one cannon in a few hours. Unlike the traditional mud-film cast cannons, which cost one every few months... the difference in the craftsman's wages is huge...

Therefore, in the general market, the price of copper cannons is not only the price of copper itself, but also the salaries of many craftsmen, which is very expensive. Generally speaking, the price of a copper cannon is about double the price of its own copper, or even more. In this way, the seller can be guaranteed sufficient profit.

Because of the iron mold casting method in Beihai, the cost of casting copper cannons is relatively low. If you sell it at double the copper price, you will definitely make a profit! And if Lithuania is crippled by artillery fire, Lithuania and Poland, even if they are not willing, will suffer this blow. There is no way, there is a sharp pain. For a sense of security, you have to buy it even if you pinch your nose.

Besides, since Lithuania bought it. The Grand Duchy of Moscow, which was looted by Marin, would also want to buy artillery in order not to be abused by Lithuania. What? You said that the Grand Duchy of Moscow had no money at that time? If you don't have money, you won't borrow it? As long as the interest is sufficient, or the land is mortgaged. Even, it is not impossible to buy copper cannons with the population as collateral. Even, Marin intends to provide a batch of copper cannons to the Grand Duchy of Moscow through a third party. If the other party really has no money, you can use the population to pay off the debt...

Even, this third party, Marin has already thought about it-the Teutonic businessman...

The Teutonic Kingdom had enmity with Lithuania. It was reasonable for the Teutonic merchants to provide the Grand Duchy of Moscow with artillery, and it also prevented Marin from turning against Poland and Lithuania. After all, it's my brother-in-law's country, so I can't make it too obvious...

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