I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 342: Modernized Colonial System (1)
This was the statement made by the Japanese Prime Minister when the Korean War broke out.
"Now Japan is saved!"
When the Vietnam War broke out, South Korea reacted similarly to Japan during the Korean War.
The thought was that if we participated in this war, South Korea could survive, which is why we decided to send troops.
As a Korean, I concluded this after witnessing both events.
“Foreign wars make money!”
Thanks to this lesson, I am now one of the wealthiest people in the Toscana Empire, preparing thoroughly to make even more money.
“Hmmm, let’s see. How much debt did our baron owe? Sebastian.”
“7,000 gold coins. The interest alone is 2,450 gold coins per year. He’s been overdue for 2 years now.”
“Then, with interest, he owes 9,900 gold coins. And what about our Lord Padonabo?”
“He borrowed 5,000 gold coins, and the interest alone is 1,750 coins. So, the total debt is 6,750 gold coins.”
The nobles who had gathered here informed me of how much they owed, then looked at me.
I’m just a mere merchant.
These people, despite owing money, would likely be angry and curse me, even though they had no means to repay the debt.
They would say something like, “We’re not refusing to pay, just give us some more time,” or “You’re just a merchant, what right do you have to threaten us? We’ll protect you if you just wait a bit longer.”
But I was no ordinary merchant. I was also a noble and a powerful figure, having been asked by the Crown Prince to join the royal family.
“You’ve borrowed a lot. How do you plan to repay all this?”
I deliberately sighed as I looked at them.
“I didn’t want to say this for the sake of your honor, but you all have been determined, by the Rothschild Trading Company’s strict assessment, to be unable to repay your principal debt.”
“What do you mean? Our family is still intact, why can’t we repay?”
When people’s weaknesses are attacked, they get angry first.
If you call a rich person a beggar, they won’t get angry, they won’t even care if you say they don’t look popular with women.
But if you call a poor person a beggar or tell someone who’s never held a woman’s hand that they look unpopular, a fight will break out.
The nobles here were angry because they knew how serious the problem of not being able to repay their debts was...
“Lord Padonabo.”
“I hope you’re going to take that back.”
“Do you think I would talk nonsense about money matters? Me?”
“Just because it’s you, doesn’t mean you always make the right judgment.”
“Well, I’m not omnipotent, but...”
There’s no such thing as a perfect person in this world.
Anyone who thinks they’re perfect is, without exception, mentally ill.
In fact, humans should grow by acknowledging their imperfections and maximizing their strengths.
If you try to be perfect and focus only on trivial details, you’ll go crazy.
“Why does it matter if I’m perfect?”
“Can you prove my judgment is wrong?”
Lord Padonabo’s face turned pale.
A nobody like me acting tough.
“Repay half of the principal and interest within a year, then I’ll believe you.”
“No, that’s... If you can wait two or three years...”
“Then, would you be willing to sell part of your territory to repay the debt?”
“No, I’d rather not...”
“If you don’t want that, then what do you plan to do? As it’s written in the Bible, the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.”
I deliberately emphasized the word “slave.”
At that, the nobles present shuddered.
“Still, I have no intention of turning you into slaves. I’m just suggesting a more refined contract.”
“A refined contract, you say?”
“It’s not a bad deal for you. If you agree to this contract with me, I’ll forgive all your debts.”
It’s not that I’m offering such generous terms because I have money pouring out.
No, money doesn’t exactly overflow.
It’s made of gold, silver, and copper, so how could it rot? It may rust, but it won’t rot.
There was a person among Meng Shangjun’s followers in the Warring States period who did something similar.
I don’t recall his name, but when Meng Shangjun was sent to collect a debt from someone, this fool would reduce or forgive the debt as he pleased.
Meng Shangjun wanted to kill him, but when he tried, this man said:
“Those beggars won’t be able to repay the money anyway. If you generously forgive their debts, your reputation will rise, and you’ll be able to receive help later.”
Meng Shangjun, unable to collect the money, cursed and gave up on everything.
This man later survived thanks to the people of that town.
I don’t necessarily want to break ties with nobles who can’t repay their debts.
I’m offering a contract that benefits both sides, forgiving their debts and showing generosity.
Ah, of course, the contract is not exactly the most equal imperialistic kind from the late 19th century.
The people who get duped will be grateful for my generosity, and it’ll be a beautiful sight.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
“The Holy Empire is currently in a civil war. This will lead to a massive demand for weapons, as well as food that can be preserved for a long time, like salted fish and dry bread, and armor. Many resources will be sold.”
No noble in the Toscana Empire is unaware of this.
Even the old-school Confucian aristocrats from Joseon have this level of common sense, and our nobles are not ignorant in # Nоvеlight # this regard.
Anyone who doesn’t know this shouldn’t be in politics.
Someone this ignorant would believe that a bowl of instant noodles costs 5,000 won and a bus ride costs 3,000 won.
And in the 2020s, they might even say that 880,000 won is enough for a four-person family to survive and live comfortably.
“Our Rothschild company plans to create facilities capable of mass-producing military supplies for the war effort. Please exempt us from the land tax and any taxes related to the factory construction.”
“Are you crazy?”
Why would I be crazy? I’m perfectly sane.
I’m sane enough to gather the poor, like you, and build a ‘factory,’ threatening you outright to get the land and tax exemptions.
Do you think it’s easy to pick who to threaten and who not to?
This is why people who owe money shouldn’t go around.
“If you refuse my generous offer because you can’t repay, then I guess it can’t be helped.”
In the Toscana Empire, it’s not uncommon for merchants to buy noble status with money.
If they can’t repay the debt they owe, they can either face a lawsuit and lose everything, or they can quietly pass on their noble title.
Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.
After a rational discussion like this, low-ranking noble families, and sometimes even barons, may pass on their titles.
More often, they simply give up the rights to the land and taxes.
But I’m not just some merchant. I’m a noble.
Merchants do sometimes seize land and titles from nobles who owe money, so why can’t I do the same?
“If Chris has a son, I might buy a title like this.”
“You’re making an enemy of me. Anyone who tries to cheat me out of money is my enemy. And they all end up in a bad place.”
The people here don’t know that I took 20,000 gold coins from Archbishop Urban and started the ‘Thirty Years War’ with the Holy Empire.
They wouldn’t know about the riots in the Sforza Duke’s territory, either.
“I don’t believe you think my only weapon is an accountant.”
I’ll send an accountant, then a labor inspector, and accuse those people of violating labor laws. Then I’ll stop all industries in their territories.
By using the power of large corporations to suppress local economies, I can quickly devour entire regions.
That’s why I destroyed the guild.
It was tough back in the day with the guild system, but now I can set up stores freely, as long as I get a permit from the Ministry of Commerce or the commercial courts.
In medieval terms, it’s a bad thing, but in the 21st century, this is simply a legal market expansion policy.
The market expansion policies of the 21st century, more advanced than the British Empire, are truly magnificent.
From now on, I’ll need to use more wisdom from the 20th and 21st centuries.
“Sign here. If you don’t, life will become very difficult for you.”
Thus, I signed a treaty that allowed me to create military factories and other related facilities, obtaining land and tax exemptions.
And, as promised, I forgave all their debts and even gave them generous compensation.
