ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1240. Requirements of the Ministry of Commerce
"He will come, he promised me!" Tios said firmly.

No wonder you talked about this with me when you came... Saustatus thought to himself and said: "That would be great. With your help, we will solve this problem today."

Theos nodded, and then changed the topic: "Before anyone else comes, let's discuss how to get your brother to get support from the Ministry of Military Affairs."

Sostatus now understood: why Theos mentioned his brother's matter before, it turned out that he wanted to give him some benefits in advance and let him make some concessions in the subsequent negotiations with Dicopolis. Of course he Will not refuse.

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Not long after, the slave merchant Sebernus, the wine merchant Kalmandes, the shipbuilder Mikris, the wool textile merchant Phorasias, the medicine merchant Agumus, the stone merchant Inipias... all came one after another. When they came, of course Dickpolis was included. Although he had a straight face, he did not make a fuss with Sostatus on the spot.Moreover, Theos quickly pulled him to sit down at the dining table very close to him. After whispering to him for a while, his face became better, and he looked at the guest who greeted the guests at the door of the hall with a complicated expression. Saustatus didn't know what he was thinking.

After all the invited guests arrived, Saustatus immediately ordered the servants to bring all the prepared dishes to the table, and asked the maids to pour wine for each guest.

Then he raised his glass and said loudly: "Everyone, it has been a long time since our chamber of commerce got together like today. Thank you very much for taking the time to come to the banquet tonight. I would like to toast you to this first glass of wine!"

After he finished speaking, he drank it in one gulp.

"That's because you, the president, usually hold too few banquets. Otherwise, if you had spoken, how could we not attend?" Kalmandes joked while raising his glass: "In any case, I thank the president for serving us. I’ll give you a drink in return for this banquet!” After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp.

As soon as he started, others followed suit and the atmosphere of the banquet became lively.

Dickpolis saw this, picked up the wine glass and took a sip silently. He understood why Kalmandes was so interested in helping Sostatus to liven up the atmosphere of the banquet, because Sostatus had helped Kalmandes in the past few years. His wine opened up sales in mainland Greece and the Aegean Sea, greatly increasing his income. The goods of other merchants at the banquet also received more or less help from Sostatus and entered the mainland Greek market, including him. I, it was just because of the Athenian pottery incident that the relationship between the two was at loggerheads, but if the root cause of this matter was the instruction of His Majesty the King... it was indeed a big trouble, and it seemed that I had to talk to Sostatus carefully. Let’s talk!

Thinking of this, he stood up: "Sostatus, I would like to toast you too. Thank you for providing a lot of help to us in the Chamber of Commerce in the past few years!"

As soon as he spoke, the hall suddenly became quiet, and everyone's eyes focused on the two of them.

Sostatus picked up the wine glass without hesitation and said with a calm smile: "Without the support of you, the former president, I, Sostatus, would not be where I am today! For the better development of the Chamber of Commerce, I also wish everyone here Your business will be more prosperous, thanks to you and me!"

Both drank it down.

"Okay! Great!!" Others shouted in unison, and Theos also smiled happily. They all saw that the two of them had settled their differences, and they all drank to cheer.

"Everyone, don't just sit around drinking. Hurry up and eat some food first. Let's chat while eating." Saustatus said in a happy mood after the conflict was temporarily resolved.

"President, yesterday the Ministry of Commerce convened a meeting with the presidents of chambers of commerce in various towns. Today you invite everyone to the banquet. Is there anything important you want to tell us? Why don't you say it first so that we don't worry about it in our hearts? , Drinking and eating are not fun!" Cerberus said bluntly, and others followed suit.

Saustatus pointed at him pretending to be helpless: "You are so impatient that you can't even wait for this little time. Well, I'll tell you first."

He stood up, looked around at everyone, and said loudly: "I believe you all should have guessed that this time the Ministry of Commerce convened various chambers of commerce to discuss 'about the upcoming Dionia Games'. Yes, it is indeed the case. So! Since His Majesty announced that the Dionysian Games would be held in Thurii two years ago, the Ministry of Finance has spent a lot of gold and silver on organizing the games, and has also set up high bonuses for various competitive sports in the games. This It caused a sensation among the people of the entire kingdom and its affiliated allies. Athletes from all regions of the kingdom and its affiliated states actively signed up, and a large number of spectators continued to pour into Turii to watch the competition...

We all know that the Games is not only a festival for gods, athletes and spectators, but also a festival for our businessmen. The 103rd Olympia Games two years ago was the first time that the Kingdom sent athletes to participate. We also went to join in the fun. During the Games Olympia gathered tens of thousands of spectators from all over the country, and the shops set up in Olympia and surrounding towns made large profits.

However, even though the kingdom has become the leader of the Greek League, the traditional concepts of the local Greek people are still deeply rooted. Dionysian athletes are discriminated against and ridiculed in Olympia, and we Dionia businessmen are also excluded. We can’t even buy a storefront where we can set up a stall and sell—”

"The president is right, damn Greek businessmen actually dare to use those despicable methods against us! This time, during the Dionian Games, I will let them know how powerful the Dionian businessmen are!" Sebernus shouted angrily.

"That's right, President, we should take advantage of this sports meeting to show these ignorant Greek businessmen the powerful power of our Thurii Chamber of Commerce!" Sebernus's words immediately resonated with some people.

Sostatus smiled and did not respond directly, but continued: "Maybe it was because of what we Dionians experienced at the Olympia Games that His Majesty Davos decided to hold the largest sports meeting. , while demonstrating the strength of the country, it also contrasted with the narrow-mindedness and selfishness of the Greeks, and demonstrated the tolerance and broadness of the kingdom. Therefore, the Minister of Commerce Mariji told us that in fact, the kingdom not only sent an invitation to the allies, but also notified all the Mediterranean countries. country, even Persia, the kingdom's enemy—"

There was a commotion in the hall.

"The reason why the Ministry of Commerce convened this meeting is to ask us businessmen from the kingdom not to participate in this Games with a narrow vindictive mentality, but to welcome businessmen from all countries with a tolerant attitude. Only in this way will the Dionia Games be held Only then will our trade become more and more prosperous, and we will earn more and more gold and silver, so that the Dionysian Games can become the most famous great game in the entire Mediterranean and everyone will actively participate!"

Speaking of this, Sostatus emphasized his tone: "After the meeting, Mr. Mariji specially stayed with me for discussion and asked me to warn all the merchants in the Turiyi Chamber of Commerce after I come back. , During the Games, the interests of foreign businessmen must not be squeezed out, harassed, or violated; illegal means must not be used to obtain certain privileges, thereby undermining the fairness of commercial activities during the Games... And as one of the hosts of the Games, the Turiyi Chamber of Commerce shall We must also proactively assist the Ministry of Commerce in maintaining the normal operation of all commercial markets in the entire Turiyi region...'

Lord Malijie also conveyed to me the order personally issued by His Majesty Davos, "If the Ministry of Commerce finds that Kingdom merchants, especially merchants from the Thurii Chamber of Commerce, have violated the above requirements during the Games, no matter who they are, they will be severely punished!" '"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall suddenly became silent.

After a while, Dickpolis couldn't help but asked first: "Listen to what you said, our Turiyi Chamber of Commerce has no right to enter the four urban trade markets temporarily opened for this sports meeting?!"

The question he asked was also the one of greatest concern to everyone, because on the day when the Ministry of Commerce announced the "opening of temporary markets," almost everyone present was using their own networks in an attempt to obtain the best location and largest area in each market. The more pavement, the better.

"Of course not." Saustatus said seriously: "I also asked this question to Mr. Mariji, and he told me, 'All domestic businessmen and foreign businessmen who apply to enter these markets will be treated equally, and he will personally Responsible for arranging distribution and trying to ensure that every businessman participating in the sports meeting can obtain a more ideal store, and the distribution plan will ultimately be submitted to His Majesty for review...'

Moreover, Mr. Mariji also quietly told me, "His Majesty has appointed the Intelligence Department to investigate illegal activities during the sports games. Once discovered, both parties involved will be severely punished." 'So don't take any chances, otherwise you will harm others and yourself. "

Saustatus' words made everyone's hearts tighten, and they all looked at each other, silently calculating.

Tios couldn't help but said: "Isn't it just fair competition? There is nothing to worry about! Our Turiyi Chamber of Commerce is the largest chamber of commerce in the kingdom, and you are also among the top businessmen in a certain industry in the kingdom, whether it is Your financial resources, manpower, and the quality and quantity of goods are superior to those of merchants from other parts of the kingdom, let alone those from small Greek towns. Moreover, you also occupy a favorable location. In the case of fair competition, can't you still beat them? "

　Thanks to Lamperucci for the tip!Your support is my motivation to write!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)