However, within a few months, the Great Xia copper coins lost their former glory in Korea, Japan, Champa, and even Siam. This was because a group of Great Xia merchants were sweeping the market with a brand-new type of copper coin. They bought up everything that Great Xia needed, whether it was raw silk, gold and silver, or people.
Edo Port in Japan has undergone a dramatic transformation since the arrival of Daimyo, becoming even more bustling. The Daimyo Hall in Edo Port has been expanded several times, occupying most of the street, but it is still incredibly crowded every day. Each of the eight side gates serves a different purpose, and it is always busy until very late before it becomes quiet.
Narita Ryoji, the steward of the Narita family in Oshijo, led a group of young men to stand at the seventh side gate of the Dai-Yuan Hall. This was a relatively quiet entrance, reserved only for Japanese people who had made "special contributions," such as disabled warriors who had killed beastmen, or... the Narita family, the maternal family of Kaihime.
"Hey! Ryoji, this batch of goods is pretty good! Where did you get them?"
The senior staff member at Gate 7 clearly recognized the steward leading the group. Given the Narita family's current prosperity, a steward who was granted the surname Narita must be the right-hand man of the Narita clan head, already a figure of considerable importance.
"Shh! Keep your voice down. This was obtained from the Uesugi family. I just saw their caravan over there, and I don't want to cause any trouble."
"You Narita family are afraid of trouble? Heh, it's trouble that's afraid of you, isn't it?" The shopkeeper laughed and cursed. Even the Toyotomi family wouldn't dare to provoke Narita Ujicho casually these days. Three hundred armored soldiers were no joke.
"Hehe! Forget about that. Getting the money as soon as possible is my job. As for causing trouble, that's something only young people do. How much do you think this is worth?"
Ryoji Narita pulled over a fairly robust young man and asked the shop assistant to help him estimate the price. The fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy tried to smile, his clean teeth showing that he was a healthy young man.
The shop assistant looked at it, took out a copper coin rolled into a stick, and threw it to Narita Ryoji.
Ryoji Narita was initially startled, not understanding what it was. At the waiter's prompting, he tore open the package, revealing exquisite copper coins.
"Oh! This is... the new currency of Great Xia?"
"No, they're high-ranking copper coins. One set costs a hundred copper coins. How many men do you think you could buy with that price?"
Narita Ryoji didn't answer hastily. Instead, he examined each coin carefully, then bit one of them with his teeth before asking uncertainly, "Three?"
"Ryoji, that's another company's price. You know the relationship between your Narita family and us. I'll give you the price of two boys. Isn't that fair?"
"That's great! I brought seventy people with me this time, and they all want these copper coins, exactly the same ones!" Narita Ryoji was very happy. He wasn't afraid of being ripped off because the Narita family always offered the best treatment.
"Ryoji, I've paid some wages in these copper coins. Do you... want to exchange some?" The shopkeeper pulled Ryoji closer, his eyes gleaming.
"Of course, I'll trade it for gold!"
Thank you so much, brothers and sisters, for your votes and tips!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com