Chapter 660: Monopoly of Mediterranean Trade

Chapter 661 Monopoly on Mediterranean Trade

"I understand your good wishes." Melka Mohammed supported his huge white turban, straightened his back and said, "However, His Majesty the Great Sultan has decided that our country's trade will be fully aligned with the United Kingdom. ”

Talleyrand shook his head: "The girl you are obsessed with may still be smiling sweetly at you, but what you may not know is that she turned around and went to have a tryst with your enemy.

"Ah, I mean, the person who robbed the Northern Xinjiang Peninsula from your home."

The northernmost peninsula of the Ottoman Empire was Crimea, so he was obviously referring to Russia.

Melka Mohammed narrowed his eyes: "The trade between Britain and Russia has always been very close, but this does not affect the increasing number of British merchant ships coming to Constantiniya.

"Moreover, Britain's huge commercial influence on Russia may at some point be used to help us check and balance Russia."

"Haha," Talleyrand laughed heartily, "You actually have expectations for a woman who has changed her heart?

“Oh, you just mentioned merchant ships.

"I almost forgot. The main reason I came to see you this time is to talk about the merchant ship."

A look of displeasure flashed across the face of the Ottoman Grand Vizier: "Although your country has obtained port control of Tunisia and Tripoli through some improper methods, British merchant ships can completely bypass these places. Jia replenished the rowers and then went straight to Constantiniya."

"I must remind you that our country is only destroying pirates. Moreover, these pirates are all from Anatolia. It was because of our country's just act that the Duke of Tunisia decided to be loyal to His Majesty the King." Talleyrand First he retorted righteously, and then put on a business-like expression.

"Let's go back to the merchant ship. You should know very well that the oarsmen who board the ship from Mitiga will exhaust their energy by reaching Egypt at most. After that, they will either stay in Alexandria for several days, or pick up new oarsmen there. .

"Either way, the cost of transportation will increase significantly."

Melka Mohammed seemed to have lost his patience: "This cost is acceptable, Mr. Talleyrand. If you plan to use this as a bargaining chip, I'm afraid..."

Talleyrand took a deep breath of the aroma of coffee in the cup and showed an intoxicated look: "You can't drink such a fragrant coffee in the Palace of Versailles. Oh, if this cup of coffee can be shipped to France within 6 days, I believe it will be great." The selling price can be as high as 1 franc."

"Six days?" The Grand Vizier shook his head, "Emergency sailing cannot reach this speed, and that will make the cost of this cup of coffee exceed 8 francs."

When people mention coffee, most people think of the coffee culture in Europe, and subconsciously think that it is the center of the coffee trade.

In fact, Osman was the coffee overlord at this time. From Yemen to Ethiopia, the Ottomans produced more than a third of Europe's coffee needs. These coffees were also an important export commodity for the Ottomans.

Less than a hundred years ago, this number was 90%! It was not until Indonesia and the Americas began to plant coffee on a large scale that the Ottoman monopoly was broken. However, Yemeni coffee can still stand out among the others in terms of quality and price.

The "emergency voyage" mentioned by Melka Mohammed refers to letting the ship pass through the Mediterranean at the fastest speed regardless of the life or death of the oarsmen. This is usually only used to convey urgent messages.

And if used in the commercial field, the cost will be unacceptably high.

Just like the 8 franc coffee he just mentioned. The price in the Ottoman Levant port will not exceed 2 sous, the rest is the cost of the rower.

Talleyrand shook his coffee cup contentedly and said with a smile: "What if my merchant ship can maintain a speed of more than 8 knots without using oarsmen?"

"How is this possible?" Meleka Mohammed said nonchalantly, "Sail alone cannot reach such a fast speed."

"Yes. However, we can rely on coal. Brittany's steamship has begun production, and it only takes 6 days to arrive here from France." Talleyrand looked at him, his tone was quite proud.

He laughed: "The cost is only slightly higher than that of an ordinary galley. Oh, and if the British ship supplies in Algiers, the cost is even higher than that of a steam ship."

Yes, the main arena for steam paddle steamers was river navigation, but they were perfectly fine in the calm Mediterranean too.

Of course, there are currently only a few coal mines in Tunisia along the Mediterranean coast, so it is very difficult to add coal along the way. Merchant ships were able to carry large amounts of coal on voyages, resulting in lower cargo volumes.

But this did not prevent Talleyrand from impressing the Ottomans with bright prospects.

He had previously signed an agreement with Mohammed to promote trade. When he returned to Marseille, he heard the news that the Brest Shipyard had begun producing steam paddle steamers, and he immediately realized that this could be used to re-negotiate trade with the Ottomans.

However, the main reason for his eagerness to return to Constantiniya was that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had given him a diplomatic mission related to the situation in Poland.

Melka Mohammed's eyes suddenly widened: "Are you serious?"

"You see, I am the most frank person." Talleyrand gestured to the west, "A steam transport ship will arrive at the port in three days. You can go and see for yourself.

"Oh, that ship only departed from Nantes when I left Marseille. It traveled through most of France, but it was only three days behind me."

Melaka Mohammed's heart suddenly stirred up a storm.

If there really is such a ship that does not require oarsmen and can maintain a high speed, it can be predicted that Mediterranean shipping will soon be monopolized by it!

You know, the biggest factor restricting galleys is not the cost, but the oarsmen.

Whether it is Alexandria or the Levant, a large number of merchant ships can be seen queuing up every day waiting to hire oarsmen. Of course, wealthy ship owners will buy slaves to row, but the cost is sky-high, and slaves also have to rest frequently to replenish their physical strength.

So any shipper who wants to transport goods to Italy or France will definitely choose a steamship that is not restricted by any restrictions without hesitation.

What's more, the speed of steamships is much faster - ordinary galleys usually take 12 days or even half a month from Constantinia to Marseille.

No wonder the lame man in front of him said confidently that France would be the largest trading partner of the Ottomans.

They really can't eat a whole sheep, but in the future, the meat in their own store may have to be shipped out and sold by their ships.

Under such a large gap in cost and efficiency, any ban will be useless. Ottoman merchant ships would immediately hand over goods to steamships parked offshore after shipping them out of the port. Those who did not do so would lose competitiveness in front of their peers.

The Grand Vizier suddenly thought of a question and raised his hand to hold Talleyrand's coffee cup: "The British will not sit idly by and watch you monopolize Mediterranean shipping. Their fleet will control the entire Aegean Sea to the Gulf of Surt."