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Chapter 426 Bank

"Dear Your Majesty the Emperor, I didn't expect that you are also an excellent general! This is so amazing... so magical... No, no, no, I mean, you are so young and handsome, not only can you rule such a large country With so many people, you can go into battle like a knight and kill your enemies and win.”

His Majesty the Emperor returned to the court in person with his troops, but did not receive the cheers and ceremony he deserved. This was not because the courtiers were deliberately neglecting them, but because the people who could make the decisions were basically forcibly taken to the Chaoyang Gate, and they are still missing.

It cannot be said that there was no welcome ceremony. Baroness Silva soon appeared at the door of Qingfu Hall, with a face of admiration and unabashed praise to the victor.

"Oyani, there is no need to add an appositive in Chinese before His Majesty the Emperor, as that would look very unserious. However, your Chinese level has improved significantly, and you look beautiful in Hanfu."

Hong Tao was about to take a hot bath to relieve his body that was eroded by the ice rain. Facing the blond woman who spoke a lot of Chinese, he had no interest in continuing the conversation or the urge to explore life. He just wanted to hurry up. She sent him away.

"Of course, Her Royal Highness the Queen said that if you allow me, you can let me try on her dress." However, Baroness Silva had no intention of leaving immediately. She turned around, showed off the official uniform of the female officer, and then proposed A small request.

"It's not allowed. The queen's crown is not just clothes, it's also a symbol of the country."

There would be no problem if you just try it on in the Cining Palace, and you won't be criticized even if it reaches the ears of the Empress Dowager. But Hong Tao didn't want to open this mouth, and there was no need to please a prisoner, even if he was pretty, he was still a prisoner.

“Of course, the Queen of Spain’s crown will not be allowed to be worn on her head... Respect... His Majesty the Emperor, if the King of Spain has not responded yet, have you considered letting Silva return to Spain by ship.

He can personally explain to the king how wise this very tempting suggestion is, which is not only beneficial to the Ming Empire, but also of great benefit to the Kingdom of Spain. I'm afraid Governor Aguna's ability alone will not be able to fully explain your ideas. "

Sure enough, she went to the Three Treasures Palace for nothing. The Baroness came to talk sweetly. Not only did she congratulate the emperor on repelling the enemy, she also wanted to take the opportunity to recommend her husband to become a special envoy and return to Spain to lobby.

"I have other tasks for Silva to do, which are more important than the trade between the two countries and equally important to the future of both of you. Do you want to hear about it?"

Hong Tao didn't bother to find out what the couple had in mind. Even if he told her about a flower, he couldn't let it go within a short period of time. But I can't stay in the palace for nothing, there is a job to start now.

"As His Majesty the Emperor's trophies, Silva and I have very limited choices!"

Seeing that the conspiracy failed to succeed, the Baroness showed her disappointment that could not be concealed, and her attitude became less reverent. She sat down without waiting for permission, showing off the virtue of a dead pig who is not afraid of boiling water.

"Well, yes, it is right to have such mental preparation. But when you work under me, as long as you are serious and responsible, you will usually get extremely high rewards."

Since the Silvas are asked to do things for them, it is obviously unwise to rely solely on force. But how can we convince this European noblewoman to work hard for her? In two words, inducement. If the interests of both parties can be tied together, there is basically no need to worry about being in Cao's camp and being in Han's camp.

"But as far as I know, His Majesty the Emperor is not generous to his ministers. Your chief minister can only get 400 escudos every year." The Baroness disagreed with the emperor's statement. After being captured into the palace, During this period of time, in addition to teaching Latin and trying to master Chinese, she also used every opportunity she could take to understand the full picture of this huge palace, including its financial situation.

The feedback received was not very optimistic. It was completely different from Spain and even Europe. The emperor was extremely wealthy, but the nobles and officials below were extremely poor. The salary of the emperor's ministers was very pitiful. When converted into silver and then converted into European currency, it was not as high as that of ordinary ministers of the King of Spain.

"As the chief minister of the King of Spain, how much remuneration can the Duke of Lerma get every year?" I really don't know much about the huge salary of officials in European countries. Since we have reached this point, we might as well ask Spain first.

"...There are roughly 1500 escudos." The Baroness hesitated for a moment before reporting a number.

"If I pay 5000 escudos a year to hire Silva to work for me, would that be considered generous?"

The Escudo is a gold coin issued by Spain, weighing about 3.8 grams, which is almost equal to one and six cents of the Ming Dynasty. 400 escudos are 41 taels of gold. According to the European gold and silver ratio of 1:11, they are worth 450 taels of silver.

The chief minister mentioned by the Baroness is probably Ye Xianggao. He now holds the title of Young Master and has a monthly salary of 61 dan. Calculated at 7 taels of silver per stone meter, the annual salary is indeed only more than 400 taels, which is much lower than the salary of the chief minister of the King of Spain.

However, the Baroness has obviously not yet followed the Romans, and is not very clear about the income structure of officials in the Ming Dynasty. The 61 shi that Ye Xianggao gets every month is called the official salary, which is the legal salary. In addition, he also has preferential exemptions, money for soap officials, money for firewood and other incomes, which are the bulk of his income compared with his regular salary.

Let's take the tax exemption as an example. With Ye Xianggao's rank, he can enjoy 800 acres of land tax exemption and 24 labor exemption quotas every year. In addition to family business, various filial piety from gentry and lower-level officials, the total is probably much higher than the legal salary.

Of course, the nobles in Spain certainly don't expect to live on the salary given by the king, but Hong Tao really doesn't know how to compare it specifically for a while.

You want money, right? It doesn't matter. As long as you say it clearly and it has corresponding value, you can and must pay the corresponding price. Employment is business. One is willing to buy and the other is willing to sell. Haggling over the price is too reasonable.

Is it expensive to hire a Spanish nobleman for 5000 escudos? How can I put it, just looking at the price, according to the gold and silver ratio of the Ming Dynasty, it is almost 4100 taels of silver, which is ten times the annual salary of a second-grade minister. It is indeed not cheap.

Whether it's expensive or not, price is only one aspect. If you want to make a comprehensive evaluation, you have to add value. Is Baron Silva worth 4100 taels of silver per year? Hong Tao thinks it's worth it, just because he is familiar with the European banking industry, and the 8000 taels of silver every year is worth it.

What's more, this money is not just one person's salary, but also includes persuading, supervising and guiding the work of two other Spanish bank employees, starting banking business in Daming from scratch, and training the first batch of Daming Bank staff. Calculating it this way, another 8000 taels may not be much.

(End of this chapter)