Chapter 35: Chapter 34: Transaction

Guan Jinpan's question left Ambrosius struggling for an answer.

The people of Chenla used old-fashioned sixteenth-century matchlock muskets, designed by the Portuguese back in the day.

Currently, the major powers of Europe had already phased out matchlocks; even flintlocks were being superseded by more advanced percussion cap guns (commonly referred to as ignition guns).

Even in a backward country like Russia, matchlocks had already been obsolete.

Nowadays, those still using matchlocks were likely only found in the Italian regions or among the small principalities of the German states.

Due to the limitations of his own experience, Ambrosius had assumed that matchlocks had long since exited the battlefield.

In reality, throughout all of Italy, except for the northern regions controlled by Austria, matchlocks were still quite prevalent.

During the Spanish Civil War of the same period, both sides were still equipped with large numbers of matchlocks.

In the even more backward Balkan regions, soldiers without matchlocks were even forced to equip themselves with cold weapons like bows, arrows, and spears.

He picked up his rifle and retreated to a distance of one hundred and fifty paces.

*Bang!*

With a gunshot, a watermelon shattered instantly.

Cleaning, reloading, applying oil, and loading—Ambrosius was clearly far more proficient at this than those Chenla Imperial Guards.

After all, in the Austrian Empire, his status allowed him to practice shooting at will.

After about half a minute, a second bullet shattered another watermelon at a distance of one hundred and fifty paces.

Although Ambrosius practiced frequently, he was not a professional marksman; however, he believed this distance was sufficient to intimidate the arrogant Chenla people before him.

In truth, Ambrosius held an advantage: he was using a rifled musket. Although it was slower to load, its accuracy was far superior to smoothbore muskets.

By this time, Humboldt was gaping in astonishment. One had to realize that one hundred and fifty paces was three times the shooting distance of the Chenla Imperial Guards just moments ago.

Even the best musketeers among the Chenla Imperial Guards could not achieve two hits in two shots at such a distance.

However, neither Humboldt nor Guan Jinpan realized this was a disparity in weaponry; they immediately offered praise.

"Miraculous! Truly miraculous! Magnificent! Excellency Ambrosius, you have truly opened our eyes."

Ambrosius did not quite understand the words, but he knew they were satisfied with his demonstration.

Thus, a new idea struck Ambrosius: he would sell all the obsolete flintlocks phased out by the Austrian Imperial Army to this group.

"That's right, these are the latest products of our Austrian Empire. With these guns, you can do the same. We are willing to trade with you. We don't just have guns; we have artillery, and we have..."

Before Ambrosius could finish, he was interrupted by Guan Jinpan.

"Wait, are you saying only the firearms are impressive? I don't believe it. Does your Austria have anyone with even more accurate marksmanship than you?"

"Of course. Captain La Fontaine, why don't you demonstrate?"

Captain La Fontaine was a former Jäger (light infantry). The First Tyrolean Jäger Battalion to which he belonged was one of the most formidable units in Austria.

Coming from a commoner background, La Fontaine's ability to rise to the rank of officer naturally meant he possessed extraordinary skills.

Shooting was one of his specialties. La Fontaine took the rifle and inspected it.

First, he fired from his position, hitting a watermelon. Then, he retreated fifty paces and hit a second watermelon. He retreated another fifty paces, and then another fifty.

Four shots, four hits, with the furthest at three hundred paces. This made Humboldt unable to believe his own eyes; being from a military background, he understood exactly what kind of formidable strength this represented.

If his Imperial Guards possessed such capability, paired with five thousand rifles, he would have nothing to fear even if Vietnam deployed a hundred thousand troops.

Seeing Humboldt's expression, Guan Jinpan knew that these firearms were vital to the Imperial Guards.

"How much silver for such a gun?"

"Fifty taels." This was a price Ambrosius had arrived at based on his intelligence, believing it to be reasonable.

However, Ambrosius had forgotten the unwritten rule of Eastern officialdom: demand an astronomical price, then settle for a lower one.

"Twenty taels," Guan Jinpan replied, without a hint of hesitation or embarrassment.

But he knew he was making a massive profit.

Because the birdlocks the Qing Empire sold to the Vietnamese cost thirty taels, and the ones the French sold to the Vietnamese years ago cost twenty-five.

The gunsmiths of Chenla had long since been conscripted by the Vietnamese.

Now, Chenla could only purchase muskets from the Vietnamese at high prices, and the price the Vietnamese charged the Chenla army was exactly fifty taels.

*This young man seems to know nothing of business; I should be able to secure them for twenty-five taels,* Guan Jinpan thought, his face brightening with joy.

Ambrosius realized he had made a mistake; he shouldn't have revealed his bottom line to the other party.

In fact, Father Pacini had already learned through the local Catholic secret network that the price the Vietnamese charged the Chenla army, and had informed Ambrosius.

Ambrosius had simply naively assumed that if he stated a reasonable price, the other party would agree to the deal immediately.

It seemed he would have to lose some profit; he would have to make it up elsewhere.

"No, twenty taels is too little. Fifty taels is our bottom line. Our goods must travel over twenty thousand kilometers to reach you."

"Then twenty-five taels. Not a penny more," Guan Jinpan said, putting on an expression of painful sacrifice.

"Forty taels, and you allow us to establish a supply point in Bay of Passain," Ambrosius took the opportunity to state his condition, while still leaving Guan Jinpan some room to maneuver.

"Twenty-five taels. Not only can I help you establish a supply point by the sea, but I can also introduce you to a member of the Royal Family," Guan Jinpan said.

"Is it His Majesty Ang Chan?" Ambrosius asked.

"No, it is our Chenla Princess," Guan Jinpan replied, because he had to close this deal.

As Vietnamese rule grew stronger step by step, the situation suggested that Vietnam would eventually annex Chenla.

As a great noble of Chenla, he would inevitably be a primary target for the Vietnamese to eliminate.

Even if he surrendered, the Vietnamese might not let him go.

One could tell from the Vietnamese policy of reducing the population that they wanted Chenla to vanish from the face of the earth entirely.

And the Siamese were just as untrustworthy as the Vietnamese—both were like tigers and wolves.

Guan Jinpan was a powerful magnate of Chenla; his clan numbered in the thousands. Even if he could flee, his family could not.

Rather than being a lamb waiting for the slaughter, it was better to fight desperately.

At this moment, the arrival of Ambrosius and his weapons was like a life-saving straw to Guan Jinpan.

Most of the great clans within Chenla shared this sentiment; they were secretly uniting, contacting rebel armies, and accumulating strength in the shadows.

This was precisely why, historically, after Emperor Minh Mạng of Vietnam executed Ang Chan's family, the large-scale anti-Vietnamese uprisings in Chenla were able to persist.

"Thirty taels." Ambrosius had already achieved his two objectives for this trip; now he only hoped to earn a bit more profit for Austria.

"Deal."

(End of Chapter)