The Genoese bankers provided loans to the Spanish government, and the Spanish government repaid them with commercial privileges and silver. The two sides used each other and cooperated with each other.
This was how Spain maintained its hegemony in a militaristic situation.
Looking deeper, it became clear that in that era, bankers did not have many high-yield investment areas, especially in warring areas.
A large business like a royal loan was not to be missed, and the Spanish Hapsburg family was the royal family that borrowed money the most.
Although the Spanish government went bankrupt four times during the reign of Philip II, the most recent one was a year ago, excluding the years when the royal family went bankrupt, the bankers still made money.
Not only that, but the benefits of lending to the royal family included the right to export Spanish gold and silver bars, which was their main source of profit.
Therefore, although every time the royal family went bankrupt, many banking families with less strong capital would go bankrupt and collapse, there were still many bankers who provided loans to the royal family like moths to a flame, just for the temptation that was really irresistible.
However, once another possibility appeared, such as opening up the China market and cooperating with the Chinese to sell Chinese luxury goods that could earn huge profits throughout Europe.
What would the Genoese bankers think?
What would the crazy French king, who was short of money and jealous, think?
Doing business with the royal family was extremely risky. Once the other party declared the government bankrupt and repudiated the debt, they actually did not have many countermeasures.
The saying "I am the boss before borrowing money, and the grandson after borrowing money" was not a joke. Otherwise, there would not be so many debt collection companies and debt collection businesses.
Every time the Spanish royal family declared bankruptcy, a large number of unlucky people would go bankrupt and collapse. The government's bankruptcy was more of a means than an actual bankruptcy, and the royal family would still be honored. However, the bankruptcy of the bankers meant the end of the real family, and there was no way out.
Compared with such a high-risk business project, the cooperation with the Chinese could be described as risk-free.
The Chinese used their own fleet to transport the goods to the port of Genoa, and the Genoese bankers sent people to pay for the goods, and then used their sales channels to sell the goods.
Although the Chinese were asking for a very high price and the cost was very high, there was definitely a market for it. There were definitely people who would buy it, and the supply could not meet the demand. One jin of gold could be sold for one and a half jin or even two jin of gold. The profits were frightening.
The goods from the previous dozen or so ships had all been sold. Basically, they were all taken by the major European royal families. Even the Pope had to send people to buy them and only managed to get a little. There was definitely a shortage of goods.
Moreover, what the Chinese could bring was definitely not just porcelain, silk, and tea leaves. They realized that the Chinese had many more things that they were obsessed with. Each of these things had great commercial value. Once they were developed, the profits would far exceed their expectations!
For example, Chinese cuisine!
France and Genoa were discussing with the Chinese about opening Chinese restaurants in their countries. They wanted to lead the trend of Chinese food culture, experience the taste of culture, and make money.
They were well aware of the huge potential of Chinese cuisine. The two chefs that Chen Longzheng had left in Genoa were now specially serving the top nobles of Genoa.
For example, the governor and top bankers of Genoa. There were even some nobles who loved Chinese food so much that they wouldn't eat anything other than Chinese food.
Kingdom of gold! That was a true kingdom of gold! Powerful! Civilized! Rich! Ethical!
This was the ideal partner!
The Spanish royal family that easily went bankrupt! shit！
If not for those privileges, they wouldn't have played with the royal family!
That was why before Chen Longzheng left, so many bankers cried and begged to go back with him to discuss business. The French government also sent people to follow him to discuss business. There were even some countries' representatives who only arrived in Genoa after Chen Longzheng left. They regretted not having traveled faster.
So, with such high profit expectations, if the ungrateful Spanish royal family intercepted them, would the bankers of Genoa eat them up? Would the King of France go crazy?
Robbing someone of their wealth was like killing their parents. If the Spanish royal family really didn't know what was good for them and insisted on becoming enemies with the Chinese, although Genoa was a vassal of Spain, their bankers were not Spanish subjects.
If they immediately withdrew their assets and stopped funding, the Spanish government would really go bankrupt.
And France wasn't really at war with Spain yet. They just wanted to take back some of the land that the Spanish had taken advantage of the religious strife in France. Both sides were fighting on a small scale. They didn't want to fight to the death.
Spain's biggest enemies were England on the sea and the Netherlands in the north of France. If they really pushed France and Genoa to the opposite side because of economic interests, they would really lose very, very badly.
Even if Philip II was a war maniac, he should also know what not to do. The Spanish's finances were already very bad due to the military wars. They couldn't afford the Genoans to withdraw their investments and become enemies with France.
Not to mention that even the Vatican was being used by Xiao Ruxun.
Did Spain want to be the enemy of the world?
They definitely wouldn't dare, so they could only swallow this loss.
Of course, they couldn't rule out the possibility of these guys suddenly creating an accident to take revenge on China. So, they still needed to have a fleet of escorts and deepen their relationship with France and Genoa.
Getting reliable allies in Europe would protect China's commercial interests in Europe and open up a new market.
"Tilong, don't worry. The Spaniards definitely won't dare to openly oppose us. Although we still have to guard against them playing dirty, there's nothing to worry about. If they do evil, the wicked will be punished by the wicked. They will regret it. Don't worry, they will definitely suffer this grievance."
Xiao Ruxun smiled, and this smile made Chen Longzheng a little afraid.
In any case, everything would not go back to the past. The surrender of the Luzon Kingdom had already been sent to the capital. If there were no accidents, the conferment would come very soon. The first step of the layout had been completed. Next, Xiao Ruxun would start to move against the indigenous people of the Philippines.
After the indigenous people learned that the Spanish had suffered a great loss, they would definitely be tempted to move against the core of the Spanish rule, City M. City M had a large number of military and material reserves, as well as a large number of spices that had not been sold in time. These were now Xiao Ruxun's spoils of war.
And it was obvious that the indigenous people were here for Xiao Ruxun's spoils of war.
Since that was the case, they had to fight a war, hurt them, and establish their position as the new colonial master.
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