The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 157: The Perspective of Foreigners on the Tula Union (Part Two)

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: The Perspective of Foreigners on the Tula Union (Part Two)

Through the Market Administration Office, Teos contacted four Turii shipowners (since he only brought one ship).

With the manager’s assurance (the manager guaranteed him that the shipowners would fulfill their duties responsibly because they were prospective citizens of the Tula Alliance, and any breach of contract would damage their credibility and lead to the immediate revocation of their citizenship), Teos felt confident enough to negotiate rental prices for the ships.

After signing the charter agreements, he finally relaxed and had time to explore the market.

Although Turii’s market was relatively simple, it was well-managed, orderly, and fairly clean—there was no unpleasant smell, which was rare.

The market offered a dazzling array of goods with great variety.

In the bustling market, Teos was surprised to find a large open area with only one relatively large building. The surrounding alleyways were occasionally patrolled by market patrols. Curious, Teos walked over and saw a sign outside the building that read: Cristoia Bank.

Banks were not a novelty in Greek city-states with prosperous trade.

However, it was rare to see such a long queue of people outside a bank, all looking excited. Banks typically provided currency exchange and loans, but loan interest rates often ranged from 20% to 30%. Generally, merchants would only borrow from banks when they were in urgent need of money or had no other choice.

Borrowers usually felt heavy-hearted about repaying such high interest. Seeing people this cheerful in front of a bank was a rare sight.

Out of curiosity, Teos politely inquired and learned that this bank offered loans with an interest rate of only 5%!

Teos thought he had misheard.

In the Mediterranean, where trade was flourishing, merchants could easily earn profits of over 10% on a single voyage—provided there were no mishaps like pirates or storms.

A 5% loan rate was practically giving money away for free! No wonder there was a queue of customers.

Teos was tempted and considered taking out a large loan to purchase even more wheat.

However, upon inquiry at the counter, he learned that the bank only offered loans to citizens of the Tula Alliance.

This left him disappointed.

On his way out of the market, Teos calculated the profits he could make from his five shiploads of wheat.

With the low tariffs and relatively low wheat prices in Turii, selling it back in Corinth would earn him nearly one talent of silver.

Despite feeling slightly suppressed by the news of the Tula Alliance’s newly issued Public Office Law and the favorable loan policies of Cristoia Bank for the Alliance’s citizens, he soon cheered up.

After a busy half-day, he felt tired and hungry and decided to follow Nicobulos’ suggestion to stay in Amendolara.

Just as he exited the market, someone stopped him and asked, "Are you going to Amendolara? Do you need a carriage ride?"

"A carriage?" Teos saw five or six two-horse carriages parked on the grassy area not far from the market.

In most parts of Greece, the roads were rugged and uneven, making them unsuitable for carriages.

Moreover, maintaining a carriage and horses was expensive, so they were mainly used as a luxury by wealthy merchants and nobles, like the chariot races at the Olympic Games.

Though Teos was well-off, he had never ridden in a carriage before, so he curiously asked, "Can I take a carriage to Amendolara?"

"Of course! You’ll see how fast and comfortable it is.

It’ll only take an hour to reach Amendolara," the older coachman enthusiastically recommended.

"How much?" Teos was intrigued.

"Only two obols." The coachman, sensing a potential customer, smiled.

Two obols was a reasonable price.

Teos decided to experience riding in a carriage.

The seat, padded with hay and covered with fur, was very soft.

The coachman, Solikos, flicked the reins and slowly set the carriage in motion.

The other coachmen nearby called out enviously, "Soli, another customer for you, huh?"

Solikos laughed heartily, "Haha, be patient; it’ll soon be your turn."

As he spoke, the carriage reached the main road.

Solikos lightly cracked the whip, and the horses began to trot.

The wheels gradually picked up speed...

Soon, the carriage was racing forward.

"How do you like it?!" Solikos shouted while steering the reins.

"Great! Fantastic!" Teos exclaimed.

The wind rushing toward him filled his throat, and an invisible force pressed him back against the seat. The scenery on both sides blurred as it flew by.

He enjoyed this exhilarating speed.

Teos had ridden horses before, but horseback riding was bumpy, and after long rides, it left his thighs and backside sore—nothing like this comfort.

He realized this was largely thanks to the road beneath them.

It was so flat and solid, and wide enough for six horses to travel side by side. He also noticed parallel ditches and trees along the road.

Thinking about it, he admired the careful planning of the road’s construction and couldn’t help but praise, "Your roads are built wonderfully!"

"Of course! These are the best roads in all of Greece!" Solikos’ words left Teos speechless. Indeed, he had never seen such good roads in any of the city-states he had visited.

"I heard this road was designed by our Chief Executive, Lord Juleios, himself! Truly a descendant of Hades—capable of anything!" Solikos proudly declared.

Teos had only heard about Juleios after arriving in Turii.

But in just half a day, his ears were filled with stories about this man: how Juleios had led mercenaries and repeatedly defeated Persian armies... how he had triumphed against all odds, annihilating the Lucanian coalition forces, and capturing...

The Corinthian army... stories about how Juleios drafted and proposed the "Immigration Act"... and so on.

As for the rumor that Juleios is a descendant of Hades, Teos didn’t take it seriously. The Spartans claimed to be descendants of the hero Heracles, Athens declared that their city-state was always under Athena’s protection, and even Corinth boasted a special relationship with Poseidon, for whom they had established the Isthmian Games.

Many Greek city-states and rulers claimed some sort of close connection with the gods.

However, what truly amazed Teos were the deeds attributed to Juleios.

If all these achievements were indeed the work of this chief executive, then it could be said that the Tula Alliance owed its current success almost entirely to him.

No wonder the citizens of the Alliance spoke of him with such reverence. It was also said that he was very young, which made him all the more remarkable.

Could he be the Periander or Pheidon of the Tula Alliance? (Periander was one of the Seven Sages of ancient Greece and ruler of Corinth in the 7th century BCE, who made Corinth the wealthiest city-state in Greece. Pheidon, on the other hand, was a king of Argos, Sparta’s mortal enemy in the 7th century BCE, who dominated the Peloponnesian Peninsula and struck fear into the Spartans.)

"Not only does Lord Juleios often care for us ordinary citizens, but his wife is also a wonderful person!" Solikos continued loudly.

"It was her idea to let citizens skilled in driving carriages operate carriage businesses along this road.

She even provided us with loans. Otherwise, someone like me, whose property was entirely burned down in a fire caused by the Crotonians, would never have been able to afford an expensive carriage!"

"What’s her name?" Teos shouted against the wind, suspecting something.

"Do you think you can casually ask for the chief executive’s wife’s name?!" Solikos feigned anger but then laughed. "But our lord doesn’t care much for these conservative city-state traditions.

He even allows his wife to appear publicly and open a bank that provides low-interest loans to citizens. Her name is the bank’s name—"

"Cristoia Bank!" Teos blurted out.

"Exactly! Anyone who has been to the bank can see it. She is the most beautiful woman in the Tula Alliance!" Solikos sincerely praised her. "I’ve heard that she’s recently pregnant, which is why she hasn’t appeared in the market lately.

Both she and her husband are good people. I hope they have a healthy baby boy who will grow up to be an excellent chief executive!"

"You mean to have their son inherit the position? Wouldn’t that turn the Tula Alliance into a monarchy?" Teos’ question left Solikos momentarily stunned before he burst into laughter. "I was just saying it casually. Why take it so seriously?"

He swung his whip in the air, the crack startling a horse attempting to run into the middle of the road, forcing it back to its proper path.

Solikos drove the carriage for a while, then spoke earnestly: "You must know that the former generals and council members in Turii City Hall used to argue and quarrel every day, accomplishing nothing. The road for transporting ore was in such poor condition, and despite days of debates, the city hall took no measures to improve it. In the end, months passed with no progress, and the enemy’s army was already at the city gates..."

Solikos let out a heavy sigh and shook his head vigorously, as if trying to cast off painful memories. "The old democratic system was very free, but we Turians have had enough of the pain of our city falling and our homes being destroyed."

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