The Rise of the European Emperor

This time, when negotiating the land on the east bank of the Rhine, Marin did not send an envoy, but went out on his own. Anyway, the Worms Empire meeting is about to start soon, so Marin simply went to Cliff City to discuss the issue of land exchange, and then went south to attend the meeting with John II, Duke of Cliff.

For the arrival of Marin, John II, Duke of Cleaver, was naturally very welcome. After all, Marin was an important ally of his. Moreover, the military power of Beihai Kingdom is very strong, and John II will definitely not want to offend Marin if it is not necessary. Besides, the Hoffmans and the Lamarcks were important partners in trade. The Lamarck family makes a lot of money just by representing the refined sea salt produced by Beihai every year. In the face of the God of Wealth, how could John II be neglected?

So, whether or not the negotiations on this territorial exchange were successful, John II did not want to make the relationship between the two sides deadlocked. For this reason, John II attached great importance to the arrival of Marin, and went out of the city to meet Marin in person.

"Welcome, Archduke Marin, Cliff City is honored by your presence!" John II enthusiastically led Marin to the palace of Cliff City. Then, there was a grand banquet in the palace, and wine was served...

But what makes Marlin happy is that the food and wine on the Cliff Palace are basically from the North Sea Kingdom...

Although the ingredients for the food are not from Beihai, the practice is all from Beihai. However, the chefs of Cliff Palace seem to have not learned enough, and the taste of Chinese food is a little awkward. But in any case, these delicacies are much better than the medieval German-style dark dishes eaten by John II before. Even the fine wine on the table is the "Royal Salute" just launched by Marin...

This diluted Erguotou with more than 20 degrees, after being mixed with maple syrup, is not strong, but also has the fragrance and sweetness of maple syrup, which is very suitable for the taste of nobles. Moreover, the cork in the shape of the brass crown makes the "Royal Salute" full of force, which is very in line with the aesthetics of the great nobles.

In addition, even the Earl Grey milk tea to drink before the banquet was invented by Marin...

John II obviously realized this, so John II didn't say much during the meal. Because the food and wine here are all in the style of Beihai, and there is no need for him to introduce them to the guests.

After eating and drinking, Marin declined John II's suggestion to dance and relax, but found a quiet room and directly discussed business with John II...

Marin didn't want to go around in circles, but cut to the chase and directly expressed his desire to exchange the land on the east bank of the Rhine River in the Duchy of Clifford with an area of ​​territory equal to the southern half of the Bishopric of Munster and the junction of the Duchy of Clifford.

"Forgive me, Grand Duke Marin, why are you so obsessed with getting this land? You know, you don't have a shortage of land right now. Also, this land isn't your hometown..." John II told Ma Lin's motives also expressed curiosity.

Before, when exchanging the Earl of Mark, King John II believed in Marin's reason that "the rich and noble do not return to their hometown, such as the brocade clothing at night, who knows". However, the land on the east bank of the Rhine River in the Duchy of Clifford is still far from Marin's hometown of Bochum.

Marin had already made a draft of this, and saw that he took out a map and pointed it out to John II:

"Lord John, please see, here is a map of the Ruhr and Lippe rivers. Since I moved to my hometown of Bochum, I will definitely increase investment and build my hometown in the future. It is not difficult to imagine that in the future near the Ruhr River Bochum will prosper..."

After a pause, Marin continued:

"And after prosperity, commerce will inevitably develop. When commerce develops, transportation will be frequent. And now, the largest amount of goods in transportation is shipping. Look at this map - after the ships set off from Bochum, it must be I have to go through the Mülheim area first. If the Duke of Berg sets up a card to collect taxes, it will definitely cause me serious inconvenience..."

"And after passing through the Mülheim area, you enter your country. Then, you enter the Rhine. After that, turn to the Lippe.

Entering the newly dug Münster Canal, connecting with the largest commercial port in the North Sea Country - Port of Emden..."

"If every time a cargo ship passes through your country's waterways, it will be taxed. If there are too many ships, the tax will be deducted very much, and it will be very troublesome..."

...

"So you just want to get the east bank of the Rhine in my Principality of Clifford?" John II was a little dumbfounded. Because, the reason given by Marin is too strong - in order to avoid tax, directly buy the land where the tax card is located? too much...

As a result, Marin nodded solemnly and added:

"This is indeed an important reason. Another point is that the land between the Ruhr River and the Lippe River is not mine. Now the Duchy of Clifford is not mine. I feel uncomfortable and want to take it all..."

John II curled his lips and said:

"Isn't there still two imperial cities, Essen and Dortmund?"

Marin shook his head and said:

"That's different. They are an independent imperial city and have no other territory. I bought it there, where will the people over there go? Therefore, they can't sell it."

John II thought the same thing. The two imperial cities have their own piece of land. If they sell it, they will be gone, and they will definitely not be happy. They are different, and there are many other sites. But he still frowned:

"We are allies. You want the free navigation right of the Rhine River. Why did you spend so much effort to get all that land?"

Marin shook his head after hearing this:

"Mr. John, you and I are indeed allies, and I also believe that you can exempt the North Sea ships from the toll tax. However, can you guarantee that your son, and mine, will also be allies in the future? Our grandson What? The future is uncertain, so it is safest to take the land east of the Rhine."

John II nodded, agreeing with Marin. However, he regretted saying:

"Although you're right, I still can't exchange that land for you. You know, Duisburg, but the most prosperous and prosperous city in the Principality of Clifford, and the main source of taxation in the Principality of Clifford. , I can't exchange it for you." In John II's assumption, the land on the east bank of the Rhine River purchased by Marin should also include Duisburg on the south bank of the Ruhr River. But Duisburg is the economic center of the Principality of Clifford and the number one source of taxation, which John II cannot give up.

"No, Sir John, you misunderstood, I never said I wanted Duisburg. Moreover, I also know how important Duisburg is to your country. So, the place I want to change is actually the Ruhr River. North and south of the Lippe. As for Duisburg, south of the Ruhr, I didn't want it. Because, I know, if I asked for it, you wouldn't give it."

...