164 Two Meetings (1/2)
”Lord Huemac, what a lovely home you have.” With his best merchant's smile, Croco marched through the dim room, towards the imposing figure of Chatra Huemac. The fake compliment was an attempt to light up the archaic surroundings.
Not only was the lord's figure lit with hot coals from behind his back, he also sat elevated on a crude dais of stone. Even though the king stood tall, the seated Chatra's silhouette still stood above. A heavy robe, folded and stitched in complex layers all around Huemac's body, gave the lord the appearance of inhuman size.
*Are those padded shoulders? You're kidding me.*
No matter what he thought of the lord's fashion sense, Corco decided to make a good first impression and keep design tips to himself for now. Thus he walked forward, until the guards around the edges of the room began to tense up. Of course his sister had informed him about the proper etiquette, but talking to the Chatra like a servant would do no good if they wanted to establish close cooperation in the future. He would have to take a few risks and break a few rules if he wanted to be taken seriously. At least that was what Yasimi had told him of his new brother-in-law.
”...anyways, I'm glad to see my sister has found a new home in such an impressive mansion. When we met she seemed well taken care of. I'm thankful for that,” Corco said as he sat on the padded ground. In response, he lord's silhouette moved for the first time, though the shadowy head only hinted at a tiny nod.
”Despite her lowly status as a foreigner, Lady Yasimi has proven valuable support. She has handled the stores entrusted to her in a very satisfactory manner.” The lord's voice was much more youthful than Corco would have assumed at first. This Chatra Huemac couldn't be any older than Corco himself.
”Our sister was always the smartest of the bunch.” The king decided to do some PR for his little sister. ”She knows a whole lot about business, so I'm sure you'll have many more chances to be surprised. Look forward to that.”
”This lord was indeed surprised to find his newest wife present these rare treasures during the last grand family meeting. In fact, the other wives were quite envious of the favor they expected her to gain.” After a wave of the lord's hand, a guard stepped up to Corco and opened the small box of marketing samples Corco had given to his sister.
”This is my fault. Yasimi had to move fast since I will not stay around for much longer.” Now willing to see her harmed by his own actions, the king tried to excuse his sister's actions. ”I'm sure she would have been more discreet if she had been given the chance.”
Rather than reply to Corco's excuses, the Chatra still seemed focused on the precious objects in question.
”How can such treasures hail from barbarian lands? Rather than stem from uncivilized coasts, were they not transported from the far west of the great Empire? Is this not an attempt to trick this Chatra?”
Of course the question was ridiculous, but of course, it also spoke of the arrogance of the Chutwa Empire. As such, of course, Corco had expected it and prepared an answer the self-obsessed lord could accept.
”Ah, see, these are the combined treasures of the entire eastern half of the world. As you might know, the landmass of Medala splits the world into two equal halves. That makes us the only feasible way to transport treasures from anywhere east of the center to Chutwa. The world is a large and wondrous place. Even the less developed lands out east would be able to offer a few things to the great Chutwa Empire. Bring all of them together and they will appear in incredible splendor.”
”So that was the case. Even so, the great Empire does not trade with outside forces. It is forbidden by the great Immortal Palace.”
”Which is why I'm here to offer the wares, and not in the capital.” Corco spread his hands as if his revelation was obvious. ”Yeah, the central powers of Chutwa don't like outsiders and they aren't especially keen on trade with outside forces either. I can't go the legal route on this, so I had to get creative. Medala isn't even a tributary state.”
For now he held down his own views on the so-called 'tributaries' of Chutwa, who in truth were little more than vassal nations.
”Even if Medala was, not even the tributaries are allowed proper trade with the great Empire. All they are afforded is the honor to offer the Immortal Emperor a tribute once a year. If the emperor deigns their tribute sufficient, the tributaries will receive gifts in return.”
”Yeah, the leftovers of the empire, whatever isn't needed by the powers that be. Those are hardly what I'm interested in, and hardly worthy of my own treasures,” Corco scoffed. Since Huemac spoke quite openly about these things, he could open up a bit as well. ”Still, the silk and tea and porcelain of Chutwa are well-known all throughout the world. All those treasures are making their way out of the empire some way.”
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”Not a savory topic to speak of.” In defense, Huemac's shadow raised a hand. It seemed like he didn't want to participate in the smuggling business of his colleagues.
”So you're not interested in a deal then? I really don't mind if that's the case, though I would prefer if we could work together, if only for my sister's sake. No need to beat around the bush, you can just tell me if something bothers you.”
For a moment Huemac stared at Corco, until he offered a determined nod.
”Although secret trade is a worthwhile proposition indeed, there are many problems involved. For one, this Chatra does not have the necessary connections to launch such an undertaking. Although other nobles trade with the outside, they cannot do so on a large scale without knowledge from the Immortal Palace. Only if they know men deep within the palace can they make sure their actions go unpunished. However, this Chatra is a simple administrator, stuck at the fringes of the empire. How could he manage such a large operation and not offend men of great power?”
”Well, that's easy enough, isn't it?” Corco grinned. He had long considered how to crack the isolationist attitude of the great Chutwa scholars. Now was the time to test some of his plans. ”First we need to start on a small scale, which is easy to hide. We'll just trade between ourselves, and you bunker whatever you don't use for yourself. Once you have a amassed a decent amount of treasures from the east, you can travel to the capital. Once there, present those eastern treasures as gifts from the kingdom of 'Great Britain'.”
”Where is this kingdom of 'Great Britain'?” An interested Huemac asked.
”Somewhere in the east, probably,” the king shrugged as he suppressed a laugh. ”It doesn't really matter. All that great foreign kingdom needs to do is swear its fealty to the Immortal Emperor of Chutwa. After all, 'Great Britain' was founded by a scholar from the far off Chutwa Empire. On his travels around the world, to educate the barbarians, he got sick and had to settle down. However, even in the distance he could not forget his great empire and thus decided to bring as much of its light to his new home, even if it was only a shallow copy.”
”A lie then,” Huemac said.
”It's a good story, I'd say. Consider this: Will the great scholars accept that these treasures are of any value if they come from barbarian lands? If you can't establish any connection to Chutwa, an scholar could ruin your plans with a single word.”
Since Huemac didn't answer, sunk in thought, Corco continued his persuasion.
”Anyways, once the great nobles and scholars have accepted these treasures as part of the Chutwa tradition, they will try your samples. Once they do, all of them will want to obtain even more of them. At that point, I'm sure that one, specific tributary wouldn't have any trouble getting an exception on the rules of trade. Great Britain is practically a Chutwa colony anyways. And since these mysterious easterners only deal with me as a middle-man, and since the middle-man only deals with you through his sister, your city will become a central trade hub for the empire. How's that sound?”
”However, even if this Chatra were to agree with this sort of ploy, implementation would still be impossible. It appears as if young master Corco does not understand the grandeur of the Immortal Palace. If this Chatra wished to win over most of the palace, he would have to offer far too much. A lot of dye and... mirrors would be needed to convince every man in the capital. This Chatra presumes they would not be given for free. How would a poor land like Hueatlan ever pay for them?”
Under other circumstances, Corco would have at least considered to write these off as marketing costs, but at the moment he had more important things to worry about. Since he couldn't be generous, he decided to be just.
”Well, in the short term, you can just pay us in food. That wouldn't be a problem, would it? I've heard you have a pretty large stockpile, and we're willing to pay you well in return.”
Although the lord bent down to think for a while, in the end his posture relaxed again.