Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1828 - 1315: A Trade of One Hundred Jin of Gold—It’s Worth the Price! (Part 2)

"My good friend from the Shandan Tribe! Are you satisfied with these three craftsmen?"...

"Hmm, they are alright! This lacquer craftsman is interesting, I am willing to offer one gold talisman for him, but it must include future lacquer tree seeds! As for this leather worker and tailor, I am always generous to friends, so two people for just one gold talisman!"

Zuwaro nodded modestly. Then, once more, he retrieved two shining gold talismans from his pocket, tossing them heavily into Kaozaki Yoshihiro's hand.

Holding the gold talisman, Kaozaki Yoshihiro's heart pounded, and he quickly handed it to his trusted follower, Kinoshita Ichiro. He feared losing composure once again in front of the Shandan Chieftain, the house elders, and retainers. Nevertheless, as he saw the continuous flow of gold talismans from Zuwaro, he was already numbed by shock, feeling a bit unreal as if in a dream. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Oh Buddha! The origin of this Shandan tribe, what could it be? Could there really be a great Gold Mountain in the mysterious and dangerous Far North Snow Plains that harbors such a wealthy Shandan tribe? Or is it that these obviously crafted gold talismans were inherited from a once-strong power, the last branches left after a giant tree fell, such as the once incredibly powerful...?"

Kaozaki Yoshihiro had a premonition that he was getting closer and closer to the truth of all these unknowns. But the enthusiastic and generous "Shandan Chieftain" interrupted his thoughts once again.

"Haha! Don't worry! You all are excellent craftsmen, the tribe will treat you well!"

Zuwaro smiled contentedly as he watched the three Japanese craftsmen with sorrowful faces board the Kingdom's longship. Still not satisfied, he pointed to the remaining craftsmen and inquired.

"My Japanese friend! Who are these remaining craftsmen?"...

"Oh! This is the mud bricklayer Asawara Ichiro, who is with his two apprentices."

"Hmm... a mud bricklayer?... These three combined, I can only give you one gold talisman."

"This?... Alright! For the sake of friendship, one gold talisman, you can take them away!"...

Kaozaki Yoshihiro showed a troubled expression, but inside he was overjoyed. The so-called mud bricklayer is actually an experienced construction worker for building large houses in the town below the castle or village community. Such mud bricklayers have no "unique skills," just accumulation of work experience over time. They don't earn much money and can pay at most one or two stones of taxable rice to the main family each year. And this one gold talisman equaled ninety stones of big money!

Of course, Kaozaki Yoshihiro didn't know what value these "ordinary skills," common and long-inherited on the Old Continent, would have for the Highland Kingdom across the sea! The introduction of these skills could accelerate the Kingdom of the Lake's development tremendously, skirting many detours...

"My Japanese friend! Do you have more?"...

"Ah! Only three are left. They are three brothers from a potter family, without a surname, just called potter Ichiro, Jiro, and Sanlang. However, they are skilled in pottery, especially in making large pottery urns! Their pottery skills are famous in Matsumae!"...

"Potters? Ichiro, Jiro, Sanlang? These Japanese craftsmen's names seem somewhat similar to the Kingdom's. Named after their professions with the addition of their family ranking, indeed quite interesting!..."

"May the Chief Divine bless! I wonder how their skills compare to the Kingdom's potters?... Able to make large pottery urns? It seems not many in the Kingdom can do this..."

With a bit of thought, Zuwaro simply took out another gold talisman, continuing to smile as he inquired.

"My Japanese brother! Any more craftsmen?"...

"My Shandan brother, there really are no more now! Had I known you were so honest and reliable, I would have recruited more craftsmen from the main family!"...

Kaozaki Yoshihiro shook his head helplessly, deeply regretting and increasingly greedy.

There were not many Japanese craftsmen, and he brought only thirteen craftsmen this time. Among them, one group consisted of a blacksmith, carpenter, bamboo craftsman, and paper craftsman; another group included a leather worker, sewing craftsman, and lacquer craftsman; plus three mud bricklayers and three potters. Unexpectedly, this Shandan Chieftain was so generous, taking all on the list and offering eight gold talismans, a total of eight jin and 128 taels of gold!

To know that these 128 taels of gold equaled 720 stones of rice income! With 100 stones of income, after removing farmer's rations and tax losses, usually, only about a third, 35 stones, of actual rice could be collected...

In other words, this transaction of just thirteen craftsmen provided the Kaozaki family with 2000 stones of income for a year! And it wasn't affected by the rice buying price, nor would it be further levied by merchants, it was actual "gold," ready to be used as actual cash, cash, cash!

Thus, Kaozaki Yoshihiro is keenly aware of the value of these precious gold pieces to the Kaozaki family, and Zuwaro is equally aware of the value of these precious craftsmen to the Kingdom of the Lake.

At this moment, these two "clever good friends" exchanged glances, elevating each other's status to that of a "brother"! Of course, if some irresistible temptation presents itself in the future, this "brother" of different fathers, mothers, and races would still not hesitate to draw the knife and stab each other through the ribs...

"Oh Buddha! What is this suddenly emergent Great Tribe of the Shandan trying to do by recruiting craftsmen at any cost? Are they attempting to restore their kingdom?... Or establishing a new kingdom?..."

Kaozaki Yoshihiro pondered for a moment, deciding to test the "Brother Tribes's" location once more and gauge their true "gold content." So, he smiled broadly, looking at the flamboyant Zuwaro and asked with a slight bow.

"My Shandan brother! Do you need craftsmen to grow mulberries and raise silkworms, to weave textiles?"...

"Trees called 'mulberry'? Silkworms that produce silk? What are these? Using 'hemp' to make clothes? Don't you have cotton?... Wait! I remember! 'Silkworms' were indeed mentioned in His Majesty's prophecy!"...

Zuwaro caught onto key information, verifying the prophecy once again. His face lit up with excitement as he inquired.

"My Japanese brother! Isn't 'silkworm', along with 'Great Ming Han tribe coalition' and 'Korean tribal alliance', a priceless specialty? How is it that even your Japanese tribes have it?..."

"Haha! My Shandan brother, you jest. Mulberry planting and silkworm raising had been introduced to Japan by the Tang people who migrated east long ago. The latest silk spinning technology also came to us from Korea through 'exchange' with the Southwestern clans... As of now, though the silk industry in the Capital City is still behind the Ming Dynasty, it is quite comparable to Korea!..."

Kaozaki Yoshihiro laughed humbly. Truly powerful individuals, especially those who bring great benefits to himself and the main family, are worth bending low before.

"My Shandan Brother, the main family has ways to contact important figures in the Capital City to acquire excellent 'silkworm varieties', 'mulberry trees', and skilled 'Korean Senior Silk Craftsmen'! But the cost is quite substantial, indeed very substantial!"...

At this, Zuwaro raised an eyebrow, understanding the unspoken meaning of this "cheap brother." He pondered for a moment, remembering the 'silkworms' specifically mentioned in the Chief Divine's revelation, then calmly inquired.

"Oh? My Japanese brother, do you truly have a way to acquire silkworm varieties, mulberry trees, and what Korean Senior Silk Craftsmen?"...

"The Buddha bears witness! It is indeed the truth! But the costs are truly high..."

"Oh! And how high, might I ask, are these costs?..."

Hearing this, Kaozaki Yoshihiro smiled with narrowed eyes, raising a finger. He kept a close watch on Zuwaro's reaction, also estimating the opponent's true "gold content." If they were willing to pay such a price for silkworm varieties and craftsmen, it would prove they possessed substantial financial power, and their location could not be the distant far north! After all, household silkworms fear the cold, they cannot be raised in chilly regions...

"One finger? Are you suggesting, ten gold talismans?"...

"No! It's not ten, it's a hundred gold talismans!"...

Kaozaki Yoshihiro spoke resolutely, meeting Zuwaro's gaze. Then he raised a smile once more, bowing respectfully.

"Trust me! My Shandan brother! The silkworm varieties from the Capital City and Korean silk craftsmen are worth the price!"...