Chapter 440: Coffee Shop in Smyrna

After hearing so much, Plechev understood the Roman examination system for selecting officials. He didn't expect it to be so complicated.

After thanking the other party for the explanation, the two continued to wander around Smyrna. This place is bigger than Barcelona, ​​and the goods sold are also what they have never seen.

As they walked, they came to a store. This store looked like a restaurant. They were hungry, so they planned to have a full meal.

"Welcome!"

The store was not big, with only a counter and a dozen tables. There was an apprentice-like man grinding something next to the counter. Plechev found that the guests inside had a cup of black drink in their hands, so he asked the owner what it was?

"This is coffee from the East. It is very popular throughout the empire. It is also loved by the emperor and nobles. Do you want to have a cup to try?"

Hearing that it was the emperor's favorite, Simon quickly asked for a cup. He saw the owner pour the black powder into the cup, and then add boiling water while stirring. Not long after, a cup of fragrant coffee was ready.

"Please..."

Simon took it impatiently before the shopkeeper finished speaking, and drank it directly without caring how hot it was. But after two sips, his expression changed and he almost vomited. The shopkeeper looked at him and couldn't help laughing.

"It's so bitter, it's much harder to drink than wine."

The shopkeeper also pointed out at this time: "This is the taste of coffee. If you think it's bitter, you can add milk and sugar. The milk can be given to you for free. The sugar is paid according to the quality. In addition, you can also eat it with a piece of dessert."

Plechev ordered a cup of coffee, a wheat bread, and a plate of brown sugar. Add milk first and then sugar, stir and stir, and a different taste will come out.

Coffee is really expensive. This thing cost him 15 silver lei. Especially sugar, which cost 8 silver lei. There is also white sugar worth 20 lei, which is indeed affordable for nobles.

After the Roman Empire started drinking coffee, merchants from all over the country started to set up shops selling coffee, mainly serving the middle and upper classes. The practice of adding milk and sugar also made them follow suit. Soon, Rome began to consume coffee after tea.

Coffee from Abyssinia and Aden is of the best quality and is also the main source. Every year, a large amount of coffee beans are shipped to Rome, and colonists who go deep into the interior of East Africa also set up coffee plantations, intending to export and make money.

"I didn't expect this to have so many tricks."

After taking a bite, Plechev said to Simon that although it was bitter, it was refreshing and he could do more things.

"Is this guest visiting Smyrna for the first time?" the shop owner asked.

"Yes, we are from the western Mediterranean and want to see the scenery of Rome."

"So that's the case. I can help you choose the scenery here and introduce it to you."

"Thank you."

Plechev got a lot of tourist guides about Smyrna, such as the big library in the city center, where there are many Anatolian books; you can also go to the big market next to the port, where goods from the East are generally sold...

Plechev thanked the shopkeeper for his kindness and bought another cup of coffee. At this time, the door of the shop was suddenly opened, and a young man said breathlessly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our co-emperor has recovered the city of Rome, and the city of Rome is back!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole audience was boiling instantly, and they shouted long live Peter together. This scene scared Simon. He didn't know what happened.

Plechev understood the situation. Rome was recovered, which means that the Papal States were gone. Such a shock can cause a magnitude 10 earthquake in the whole of Western Europe. I don't know what the Western European monarchs think, anyway, it's not what they should think.

A cup of coffee changed Plechev's view of drinks. He didn't expect that there would be such bitter and refreshing drinks besides wine and beer. Maybe drinking coffee while drinking wine can neutralize it directly.

"Andre, where are we going next?"

Simon asked. Plechev thought for a while and then said to go to the library and church in the city center. The scenery along the way is so beautiful. The ground is not that kind of dirt road, but paved with marble tiles. There are also sewers next to it. There are fountains in some places. These things are not available in Western European cities, at least not now.

Who knows that the officialdom is now in a desperate era. Whoever has better political achievements than anyone else can be promoted faster. So the economy, trade, and municipal administration have become the results of their competition. Various municipal constructions are underway, and the citizens feel very good. It has been a long time since I felt such an efficient municipal government.

This can also be regarded as a revival of the Roman Empire era. After all, the municipal government at that time was also responsible. There are towns and roads under construction everywhere. I don't know how much the economy can be boosted by this approach.

Everything in Smyrna is different from Western Europe. Even the most prosperous champagne market decades ago is probably not as good as here. Who made Western Europe unstable now? Rome opened up the trade route to the East, and a large number of imported goods came to Rome, which made them buy directly from Rome. All kinds of luxury goods and other goods could be purchased. Merchants found that they could make a profit from the price difference, so they traded a large number of goods back to their own countries, and as a result, the silk and fine textile processing industry in Western Europe was defeated. But the merchants didn't care, they only cared about the profit. But the monarchs cared, after all, Rome was draining their treasury by doing this.

How to bypass Rome and trade directly with the East to become a Western European country, Portugal was the first to take action. John I actively pursued national economic development, and also for the purpose of preaching and enfeoffment of land, Portugal set its sights on the maritime territory and began to explore overseas.

He sent his son Prince Duarte to lead troops to occupy a small piece of land in North Africa, and then used it as a base to expand southward. Since the Canary Islands were occupied by Castile, Portugal went south to build a fortress in Alguin in the Mauritania region. The first step of exploration was completed.

They were originally planning to go to the East from the African Canal, but after thinking carefully, Rome might not welcome them, so they had to take a detour. However, the resources produced here also made Portugal rich, and its financial situation initially improved.

Castile was not far behind. After colonizing the Canary Islands, it planned to continue to go south, but the cost of colonization was a bit high, and the inaction of its own monarch put their colonial cause in trouble. As for the future colonial power England, it had not even conquered Ireland, and Rome had been ahead of them for decades.

The growing national strength made the people of Western Europe look back at the country they once sought help from. After Rome conquered it, their fear was greater than their envy. They were all afraid that they would be the next one. Is it too late to convert now?