"After deducting the expenses for maintaining the City Guard Army, mansion slaves, attendants, and leasing of monasteries and estates to the Knight Order, just from taxes, by the end of this year, my Lord, you could earn twelve thousand Suludes."
"Twelve thousand Suludes, that number is indeed considerable."
Losa was montarily taken aback.
If it were when he first traveled here, earning more than twelve thousand Suludes in gold coins annually would have made him laugh even in dreams. Count Werner collected taxes amounting to only half of that of Limassol, even if all the grain was exchanged at a premium for gold coins.
Moreover, due to poor road conditions, the surplus grain in the entire Algo County was often brewed into beer and consud internally, making it hard to sell; otherwise, Count Werner would not have held onto a bunch of silver dining utensils like treasures.
This is also the situation for many Western European lords, lacking silver and currency, causing the currency quality to decline and depreciate, contrary to the ti when money should beco more valuable, taking a path of reverse deflation.
But having just returned from Constantinople, Losa felt that this re ten thousand gold coins was not much.
General Nikiforos’s one ruby was worth twenty thousand Suludes.
Seemingly seeing through Losa’s insincere words, Turriados quickly added: "This does not include the profits from the rchant fleet we set up. Recently, the fleet completed its first voyage, selling wine and grain in Jerusalem while engaging with Lord Kurs to transport a ship full of textiles, porcelain, glassware, and spices. If everything goes smoothly, they will arrive in Lyon along the Rhone-Saone River in Provence, sell all the goods there, and purchase a batch of Burgundy red wine to ship back to Jerusalem."
Losa nodded slightly: "Kurs already told about this, hopefully, everything goes well for them."
Previously, the rchant fleet from Limassol ran the Jerusalem-Cyprus-Rhodes Island route, lacking ocean-going experience. But to gain the richest profits in diterranean comrce, ocean-going is unavoidable.
An ocean-going trade roundtrip, after deducting wages for sailors, captains, and the trade convoy guards, the net profit is conservatively estimated at tenfold, yet the risks are greatly increased, especially when passing Sicily.
Passing through the Palermo Strait is acceptable, as the Normans, despite their pirate origin, wouldn’t trouble rchant ships flying the Crusader banner too much—unlike during the first Crusades.
But the Moors in North Africa were different, having a long-standing pirate tradition and being Saladin’s affiliates, often raiding white people along the Western diterranean coast, selling them in the palaces of various chiefs.
They navigate on fast coastal rowing sailboats with triangular sails, easily catching up with solitary rchant ships against the wind, using their nurical advantage to rip apart and consu the cumberso Kirk ships like African hyenas.
"May the Heavenly Father bless them."
Turriados was not overly confident about this voyage either, despite hiring several experienced crew mbers, running a business this age was akin to being a rcenary, with one’s life hanging by a thread.
To earn a lot, one must take risks.
Newcors cannot compete on easy trade routes against old rchants who have managed well over the years, the water runs deep within, hence many would rather be rcenaries than engage in comrce.
"In any case, well done, Turriados."
Losa patted Turriados’s shoulder; as a mber of the Imperial Knights, he worries not about Turriados’s loyalty, but Turriados has his family and subordinates behind him.
Therefore...
"In the future, you can keep a third of Limassol City’s profits for personal use each year. Regardless of the rchant convoy’s returns, continue to increase investnt. If funds fall short, feel free to contact anyti."
Losa handed over a Double-headed Eagle Badge: "This is Anna’s badge; you can use it to contact Anna, who will act as an interdiary to transfer communications to , saving ti wasted in mailing letters back and forth."
"Anna’s badge? For ?"
Turriados swallowed.
"What? Do you hesitate to trouble Anna?"
Losa laughed.
Turriados awkwardly nodded: "After all, she’s the Empire’s most noble Purple Robe Princess, the foremost among kings’ daughters, second only to Her Majesty the Empress in prestige..."
"Alright, put your heart in your stomach. As long as it’s business, feel free to have Anna assist with the handover; we are very close friends—of course, if the matter is not urgent, try not to bother her at midnight, lest you invite a scolding."
Turriados accepted the badge, nodding solemnly: "I will rember, my Lord."
"The opening of new routes bears great significance to , a synergy to realize the potential of Eira Port and Limasol Port. Establishing a stable, continually profitable route ans I won’t worry about money for years."
Spices and other precious goods are valuable due to various tax levies, nurous hands along the route snatch profits, forcing rchants to dramatically increase prices to shift costs.
And as these precious goods reach Eira Port, fewer handlers are involved. Once Losa consus them, he ships them to the ports of the Holy Land, where other Crusader nobles, seeing his banner beyond his domain, would give him so face.
Thus, after loading and shipping from Jaffa Port, the cost remains controlled within a low range.
If the route is established, it becos a hen laying golden eggs, the gains expanding Losa’s erging fleet, granting him his own naval power in the diterranean.
The two complent each other.
With a navy, pirates face deterrents, greatly increasing the rchant fleet’s safety.
"I understand, my Lord, I will certainly give this matter my full attention. During this period, I will continue urging the shipyard to build new ships, recruit experienced sailors. Even if the first attempt fails, I will initiate a second trial as soon as possible."
Losa nodded: "If the first attempt fails, then I must consider letting professionals intervene."
"Professionals?"
"A seasoned captain under my command, currently clearing pirates holed up in the Red Sea and Aden Bay."
Though employing Captain Hog to escort rchant ships seed sowhat beneath his qualities, the stakes justify it.
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