Inside a military tent at the Anxi camp.
An old general with a resolute face and piercing eyes sat upright in the seat of honor, his solemn expression radiating authority.
This old general, with his broad jaw and powerful neck, was none other than the Imperial Envoy and Governor of the Northwest, Zong Tianqing.
He was the veteran minister who had overridden all opposition and brought a coffin along on this campaign.
Before him stood two blond, blue-eyed foreigners with a hint of arrogance on their faces.
Foreigners now enjoyed high status in Great Jin and behaved with unruly arrogance.
Yet these two senior executives of Fengjin Bank were quite reserved before Zong Tianqing, maintaining impeccable courtesy.
Their exchange, however, was still fraught with confrontation.
"Lord Zong, you're asking for a loan of four million silver dollars right off the bat. That exposes us to considerable risk."
"Precisely. You've already taken out a loan of one million four hundred thousand silver dollars, my lord. Our higher interest rate is simply a hedge against that risk."
The two had clearly come to negotiate the loan.
Great Jin was enormous, its people had a strong martial tradition, and it even had an Earthly Kingdom of God. All this had taught the foreigners that dealing with the Jin Dynasty Court remained their best option.
"But monthly interest of one and a half percent is still too steep. At that rate, we cannot guarantee the loan with imperial tax revenues. Within my authority, I can offer the revenues of the Northwest Three Provinces as security."
Zong Tianqing argued his case just as firmly. One and a half percent a month meant eighteen percent a year!
Combined with the size of his loan, this would be an extremely heavy burden.
Hearing this, Judy, the director