Chapter 306: A Big Deal

  Chapter 296 The Big Deal

Unsurprisingly, the newly released Suez Canal Company shares were not selling well. How could people continue to jump into the pit when they had a whole bunch of stocks trapped in their hands and it was too late for them to liquidate their positions?

Even if there are those with great vision who see the future potential of the Suez Canal, it doesn’t mean they have money in their pockets.

The Suez Canal’s stock is less asked for, but every day the issue of the stock was sold, the shrewd Yürgen soon discovered that someone is sweeping the stock.

But he decisively chose to shut up, and then took out his savings, quietly and unobtrusively bought a sum of money, ready to make a fortune in silence.

Unfortunately, he miscalculated; Franz wasn’t sitting on his hands this time, he was investing. Canal stock is completely in and out only, speculation on the stock price is non-existent.

There is no public opinion speculation, not even the most basic announcement, everyone only knows that this is an official cooperation project between France and Austria, and then there is no more.

There was no way around it, the project hadn’t started yet, both sides were in the fund-raising phase, and there was nothing but a long-published design drawing.

Under normal circumstances, this kind of project is not even qualified for listing and financing, how can it be sought after by everyone?

Especially now that the investment in the canal is much higher than at the same time in history, the risks of the project have increased considerably. The stock market in Paris is equally cold, and if Franz were not sweeping the market, it would be a question of whether the stock could be sold.

In the view of many people, this project is political engineering, the two governments in order to change the strategic disadvantage, only to join forces to promote, can win is a secondary factor.

This time the stock did not enter the London stock market, and with Austria’s support, the Paris government gave up trying to pull in the London financial community.

And Ürgen similar to a number of people, can now be a period of economic crisis, the consortium is busy bottoming out, the big players are also sitting still, waiting for the end of the crisis and then enter the market. Only a few retail investors, in the stock market even waves can not stir up.

……

Port of Venice, although the economic crisis is still ravaging the city, the port city is still so bustling that thousands of people leave from here every day for the overseas territories of Austria.

Inside the taverns, groups of people gathered in small groups, a barrel of beer and three or five downers, this was the cheapest pastime for everyone.

Most of them were sailors from the south of the world, bachelors who earned a good income themselves but basically couldn’t save any money, and were the tavern owner’s favorite customers.

The locals were a rare sight in the taverns, they couldn’t afford to spend so lavishly, and those with families would break away from the group.

Despite the number of guests, Buck, as the owner of the tavern, was not happy, one only had to look at the drinks and food on the table to see that.

It was obvious that everyone’s consumption had dropped by more than just one grade, the drinks were all the cheapest, the undercuts were also the cheapest, and there were even tables where even the undercuts were saved.

There was no way around it, the economic crisis had broken out, and everyone’s business had drastically decreased. Without business, everyone’s sea trips were naturally less frequent, and the corresponding income also shrunk drastically.

With less income, consumption is naturally lower. Casinos and prostitutes, which used to do a lot of business in the past, have become deserted, not to mention the taverns.

At this time a man walked in and said, “Boss Barker, business is booming!”

“Mr. Anthony, what brings you here, please come inside! Ham, hurry up and bring up the good wine and food.”

Barker greeted again with a nod and a haircut, his entire face almost smiling. Obviously the identity of the visitor was not simple, otherwise Barker would not have entertained him personally.

After mixing on the docks for a long time, Barker had long practiced the skill of changing his face, speaking to people, speaking to ghosts, and treating the bigwigs with all his might to please them.

Entering the box, Anthony sat down and opened the door, “I didn’t come over to drink today, there’s a big deal to take care of you, it’s up to you if you have the ability to take it.”

Barker’s heart sank, as a big ship owner active in Venice, Anthony never came to this kind of small place, the two of them were only nodding acquaintances, Barker would not think that there was really a good business to take care of him.

However, as an old man, Buck still asked smilingly, “Mr. Anthony, I wonder what big business?”

Anthony said lightly, “Recruit me a thousand lads who dare to fight and kill, and three hundred sailors, and give you a commission of one god’s shield for each.”

Buck’s face changed and immediately recovered. Logically speaking, a big shot like Antony didn’t lack manpower at all, and even if he wanted to recruit manpower, he didn’t need him to be an intermediary.

Doubtful as he was, but there was no reason not to do a deal that was delivered to his door. Being an intermediary was originally one of his businesses, and the tavern was originally a place where the three religions and the nine streams hung out, and this place also moonlighted as the mercenary guild’s business.

Barker assured, “No problem, Mr. Anthony. I’ll take care of this matter, and I’ll get you the manpower within a month.”

Anthony smiled and said, “Don’t be in a hurry to agree, if I had a month, I wouldn’t need to find you. Within three days, get the men together for me.”

Barker’s face changed, thinking about it 1,300 people is 1,300 divine guilders in commission, this is money he wouldn’t be able to earn in a year under normal circumstances, and now that it only takes three days to earn it, it’s obvious that it won’t be such an easy errand to do.

After thinking about it, Barker smiled bitterly and said, “Mr. Anthony, this is really beyond my ability, the time is just too short.”

Barker still had self-awareness, he never made promises when he couldn’t do something. Now he was very skeptical if Anthony was deliberately trying to amuse him, how was it possible to gather so many people in three days?

Anthony promised: “How much can be gathered counts, this time I want to do a big deal, the hands of the manpower shortage, had to ask you to help. As long as this matter is accomplished, you will not be spared of your benefits in the future.”

It really was a big deal, he had his eyes on Benin, the indigenous kingdom of West Africa. Robbing a kingdom with just the armed forces in his hands was obviously not enough.

For this operation, naturally, he had also found a few partners and was prepared to join forces to divide up this African indigenous kingdom.

It wasn’t that they were bold, but there were too many examples in this era that proved that it really wasn’t difficult to conquer an indigenous kingdom.

It was in order to increase his voice in the alliance that Anthony wanted to have to expand his force. In addition to keeping this kind of thing secret, it was also necessary for the soldiers to be quick.

There were so many colonial armies in the African continent, and they wouldn’t be the only ones who had their eyes on this piece of fat meat, the Kingdom of Benin. In case they were snatched by someone else, they would have worked for nothing.

Due to the time being too short, Anthony had to lower his standards, even the rabble that he usually looked down on were collected, no matter how wasteful they were, it was still possible to follow and fight downwind.

Hesitating for a moment, Barker whispered, “Mr. Anthony, a Swiss mercenary troop of three hundred men arrived not long ago, if you’re willing to pay a big price, I can help you pull strings.”

Anthony smiled and said, “If I can recruit mercenaries, why am I still looking for you?

With so many customers coming from the south and north in your tavern, there are always some who dare to take risks, just look for them.”

This was the truth, the finances looted by the mercenary corps would not be honestly handed over to him as their employer. Luckily and painstakingly to engage in a big action, for the sake of getting rich.

If all the loot was swallowed, what would they gain, would they just profit from selling black slaves?

Obviously, Anthony had his eyes on the hundred-year accumulation of the Benin Kingdom, not to be a slave trader for a time.

Barker said fearfully, “Mr. Anthony, this is out of order. Most of them have employers, and large-scale poaching is taboo.”

Those who made a living at sea in this era were all masters who licked blood from the tip of the knife, and would not hold back.

If only a few sailors were poached, then it would be fine, this is a normal turnover of personnel and will not cause a backlash; if it is a large-scale poaching, prepare for retaliation!

The older the jungle, the less courage. Barker is an old man, this kind of thing he would not dare to do.

Anthony said without changing his color: “This rule I also understand, precisely because I do not want to break the rules, so I came to find you ah!

You have been mixing here for so many years, you should be well informed, right?

The current economic situation is not good, many small boat owners are afraid that they can’t hold on any longer, so it’s always possible to negotiate with them and hire their people to do a deal, right?

This is something you can only negotiate. I’m only responsible for paying out the money, and I can’t reveal that I’m the employer till the end.”

Buck breathed a sigh of relief, he understood that Anthony did not want to show his face before letting him be this middleman.

What exactly the deal was to be kept secret, Buck didn’t care that much. He was just thinking about whether or not he could close the deal in three days.

(End of chapter)