As Mansur had expected, the negotiation was not easy.
"Let's start with the spices that are familiar to our Joseon first."
"Yes, Your Highness."
With the first item for negotiation decided, the serious bargaining began.
"Alright. What price do you wish to receive? Explain it based on the units of the Ming Kingdom, not your traditional units."
At Hyang's command, Mansur calculated a rough price and told Hyang.
"Is it cheap?" In response to Hyang's question, Kim Jeom immediately answered.
"It's about half the price of what comes from the Ming Kingdom."
"Half, huh... Mansur, what price do you sell to the merchants of the Ming Kingdom?" "I believe they buy directly from India."
"Hmm..."
Listening to Kim Jeom's answer, Hyang began to diligently calculate on his abacus. 'As far as I know, pepper was said to be more expensive than gold of the same weight.
Well, Teacher Samcheong expressed doubt, asking, "Could it really be so?" But in Joseon, where we could obtain pepper through smuggling, it is entirely possible.
Even after opening the trade in Shandong, pepper remains a luxury item, doesn't it?'
Before Joseon opened trade in Shandong, the price of pepper, which Joseon people called "hocho," was astronomical.