In fact, Kayal had an excellent impression of these itinerant merchants.
These itinerant merchants possessed a great ambition that large merchant associations lacked. Their presence was felt from Macedonia to Persia, to India, and even to China. The seeds for black tea, potatoes, and corn were all purchased from them. These items allowed Red Leaf Ridge, and even Camelot, to escape starvation in the initial stages, and also provided a buffer for surplus labor. All of this was their contribution.
You can hardly imagine an Englishman's fervor for tea. This light and delicious beverage was received in Camelot with only one word to describe it: fanaticism.
However, due to the underdeveloped shipbuilding industry, long-distance trade with the Far East was impossible, so all they could do was acquire tea seeds. All of this required itinerant merchants.
Existence is reasonable! Although many itinerant merchants aimed to own their own shops, it cannot be denied that they were the lifeblood of commercial circulation.
Kayal decided to utilize this lifeblood, including the plants and species he needed, and also... to gather intelligence!
He had already heard news of a certain Great Emperor's ascension! That highly aggressive Great Emperor, a genius who should not have existed in his era, a military genius! A genius of conquest!
His name was Iskandar Alexander!
A well-deserved genius! His military talent surpassed that of the future King Arthur, and he was the only one who successfully campaigned in the East!
His contributions were no less than Zhang Qian, who opened the Silk Road, but in terms of military prowess, he was no less than Wei Qing, who led a hundred cavalry to defeat the Huns.
A perfect fellow!
His charisma was truly convincing. If not for his early demise, his achievements would likely have been far greater. He possessed a greed far beyond ordinary humans. He conquered Persia, Egypt, Babylon, and even campaigned in India. It is said that he died at only forty years old due to the humid viruses in India.
This was a Great Emperor!
His existence directly influenced the world for thousands of years!
A great emperor! His existence for the West was like Qin Shi Huang for the East—though he came many years later!
Why would such a great emperor appear several centuries earlier in the same century?
Kayal didn't know, nor did he want to know. He was now eagerly planning to compete with that unparalleled Great Emperor. First, he needed intelligence.
He roughly remembered that Great Emperor's life story. It's estimated that various rebellions would follow his ascension. Although he was a representative of blitzkrieg, he would still have to cross the Black Sea, right? Such operations would take at least a year, or two at most. He had to calculate carefully!
"Are you sure these spices can be cultivated?" Kayal asked, carefully examining the spices in the bag.
"Well..." Lawrence scratched his head and smiled, "Sir, if you're talking about the taste, my spices are absolutely fine. But if you're talking about cultivation... begging your pardon, first, Camelot's climate isn't suitable for spices. Second, cultivation is very troublesome and could even lead to a total loss. Finally, these spices aren't suitable as seeds. We prioritize quality, not shriveled, unattractive spices that look like seeds."
Kayal nodded slightly and smiled, thinking to himself, 'Nonsense, does he not know that England's climate isn't suitable for spices?' He merely wanted to promote spices as a luxury item and a brand.
"Alright, I'll take these." Tying the cloth bag, Kayal smiled and asked, "So, Mr. Lawrence, what is the price you can accept?"
"Red Leaf silver coins generally have a higher silver content than silver Hawks, up to eighty percent. If you pay with Red Leaf silver coins, Sir, I will trade them to you at a price of one and a half silver coins per gram. I have ten bags of spices here, all different things..."
"Is one gold coin enough?" Kayal smiled, pulling a gold coin from his pocket and placing it on the table.
"Sir, we merchants value integrity. Mine would be at most thirty-three silver coins. One gold coin exchanges for one hundred silver coins, and on the black market, it can even exchange for around one hundred fifteen. You'll be at a loss, Sir!" Lawrence thought Kayal was joking and chuckled.
Flicking the gold coin to him, Kayal felt pleased that his financial system was showing initial effects.
The so-called financial system has always been a gradual process from bartering to a unified currency, and then from a unified currency to gold-backed paper money. Previously, Camelot's financial system was still based on bartering, and even the currency was an external system. Now, Kayal has initially established a financial system among merchants with good credit and extraordinary means... of course, a massive reserve of gold and silver coins is also indispensable!
Kayal was in a great mood with the initial success of his financial system.
He smiled and took a sip of tea: "No, Mr. Lawrence, this is what you deserve."
"I am very grateful for your intelligence." Kayal drank black tea and took a biscuit.
"Wait! I didn't do anything!" Lawrence, unable to comprehend, asked loudly.
"You brought me the most important intelligence." Kayal smiled like a fox: "The ascension of Alexander the Great is enough for you to receive this gold coin."
"Alexander the Great? No, he is called King Alexander!" Lawrence corrected him.
"Ah? Hehe, I see." Kayal sipped his tea and smiled, saying, 'Soon you will admit that the fellow who utterly defeated the Persian Empire is far more than just a King.'
"Then, Mr. Lawrence, let us celebrate the success of our business." Kayal gently raised his teacup.
"Ah? Oh," Lawrence was stunned for a moment, then quickly raised his cup.
He had no reaction until the sweet black tea flowed down his throat: just a piece of intelligence was worth one hundred silver coins? One hundred silver coins was enough for a family of three to eat for a year, enough to buy a small house, enough to rent a shop for a long time, enough... starting capital!
Lawrence held the gold coin, feeling as if it were a huge rock, the weight of life's responsibilities all concentrated there. The sudden immense wealth overwhelmed him.
A white light fell upon him, and a gentle, jade-like voice soothed his heart: "Mr. Lawrence, you don't have to think so much! Please relax."
The burden on his heart slowly lifted. "Although I don't know what you did, thank you." Lawrence apologized sincerely.
"Well then, Mr. Lawrence, this has been a successful transaction. I believe we will definitely have a chance to meet again." Kayal smiled, picking up a cookie.
Of course they would have a chance to meet again, because tomorrow was the Harvest Festival!