Chapter 110: Bethlehem (5)

Since coming here, Cesar had seen many Saracens.

From the battlefield to the court, such as Saladin, such as Shawar, but this Saracen merchant was clearly a third type of person.

He was even young, with fair skin, a smooth forehead, and black eyes and black hair that made Cesar feel good involuntarily. His attitude didn't look like a merchant's, neither humble nor arrogant, gentle and polite—more like a scholar.

"My name is Amin Al-Asamila, a merchant. My family has been engaged in the production and trade of soap in Aleppo for generations. You might have heard of Al-Asamila olive soap—our goods were once supplied to the Romans and the Caliph, the Sultan's court. The Emperor of Abbas, moved by our loyalty and diligence to him, bestowed the best olive forest in Aleppo upon us."

"Al-Asamila olive soap," Cesar said: "Indeed, I have heard of it and used it." It was no exaggeration to say that what he paid attention to first was this. In the monastery, the monks made soap themselves, but the soap Abbot John used for bathing was Al-Asamila olive soap. He also complained about why it wasn't Christians who invented this, but Muslims who made soap—he had to spend a large sum of money on this every month.

"Then, why did you come to see me?" Cesar asked.

"I did encounter a difficult matter. Originally, I was already in despair and prepared to return to Aleppo, but later I heard that this city had been enfeoffed to you by Amalric I, and I had also heard your name. You are a fair and wise good person, and will not arbitrarily judge a person's guilt or innocence because of faith... so..."

"Please speak."

"Our family has been doing soap business with a merchant in Bethlehem named LeGao for several years, but recently, he privately detained a batch of goods, but was unwilling to pay according to the price we requested..."

"Did you sign a contract?"

"Yes." Amin pulled open his robe, pulled a copper tube from his lapel, and then pulled a piece of parchment from it. Cesar took it and read it for a few times. The contract was written in Latin and Saracen, and he didn't find it difficult to read. And this was actually an open contract, that is, the price of the soap was not agreed upon, but it had to be negotiated after the soap's quality was seen before the price could be set.

"Al-Asamila soap needs to be air-dried for more than ten months. During this time, wind, humidity, and main materials will all affect the quality of the soap," Jacques explained on his behalf: "So generally speaking, it is to wait for the goods to be transported here, look at the quality, and then the price is set by the merchants."

Saying this, Amin also opened the box he carried with him. Inside was the soap specially dedicated to the new master of this city. Cesar picked up a piece to look at. The quality of this box of soap was even better than what he saw at Abbot John's. The surface was like gold, the inside was like jade, the texture was warm and delicate, full of the fragrance of bay leaves and olives. Compared with industrial products hundreds of years later, it was no worse.

The merchant LeGao was quickly summoned here. Compared with Jacques and Amin, his posture was much more humble—he was a Jewish merchant. As soon as he saw Amin, he knew why he was called before Cesar, because of the previous public trial, he also knew that the Bethlehem Knight was not the kind of fool who could be deceived and played by him, so he didn't hide his little thoughts.

He honestly admitted his conflict with Amin, but he also said that he didn't violate the contract, just didn't agree with the price Amin proposed. He brought the previous contracts. The price on the contract was indeed different from what Amin said—the latter was at least three times the former. Cesar looked at Amin: "Is the quality of the soap different?"

"I don't want to deceive you, but my lord, I must admit that the quality of the soap is no different from before," Amin said: "But if he doesn't agree with the price I proposed, I won't force him to fulfill the contract, but the problem is, he is unwilling to return the goods to me."

A cunning light flashed in LeGao's eyes: "Well," he looked at Cesar, as if he agreed to this Muslim's price increase because of him: "I can buy these soaps at the price he said, since he has already appealed to you."

Cesar looked at Amin. Strangely, the Muslim didn't seem happy. He seemed to want to say something, but still held back: "Then... that's it." He reached out his hand, and LeGao shook it, which meant the deal was reached.

And after they left, Cesar looked at the box of soap and calculated the time, "Go and call Jacques back," he said to Longinus.

Longinus went, and returned exceptionally quickly. Cesar even suspected that Jacques was standing outside the door waiting for him to call him back.

"Did something happen in Aleppo?" he asked.

Jacques smiled.

"Sometimes I also feel like I'm too good," Cesar said, holding his chin, "You don't fear me. If it were someone else, such as the Templar Knight Walter, would you dare to do this?"

"If you are talking about that one, I dare to guarantee that he definitely wouldn't have discovered the clues in it," Jacques said.

"Amalric I hanged many merchants in Bilbeis and Fustat because the information they provided was either wrong or incomplete." For example, those bridges that suddenly appeared: "And the passes and charters the King issued to you were not just for taxes—if something important happened in Aleppo, and because of your delay and intentional concealment, it caused an unfavorable situation for Al-Asar, I wouldn't be stingy with a gallows."

"We wouldn't have such guts, my lord," Jacques said hurriedly: "It's just that we couldn't be sure, but looking at Amin Al-Asamila's reaction, it should be true."

"Is it Nur ad-Din?"

"Yes, my lord," Jacques stepped forward and said in a low voice: "Al-Asamila's goods were transported here a week ago, but suddenly, Al-Asamila's people raised the price to three times the original, and the quality of the soap didn't change. When our merchants questioned it, they even said they were willing to transport the soap back to Aleppo... This was a bit wrong, so, I let some people investigate—"

"What did you find?"

"Nur ad-Din has been seriously ill twice. It is said that Shirkuh, whom he sent to Egypt, has become the Grand Vizier of the Caliph Al-Adid. Nur ad-Din demanded that they depose Al-Adid and change the faction of the Saracen faith in Egypt, but was refused. He was furious and wanted to gather an army to expedition to Fustat, but..."

"Several of our people were executed," Jacques didn't continue: "But the situation in Aleppo is indeed very tense—Al-Asamila's merchants not only raised prices but were even willing to transport the goods back, perhaps because Aleppo will have a poor olive harvest due to the war—olives mature every two years, and the production of Al-Asamila soap must use the freshest olive oil. These soaps are stored in the warehouse and won't deteriorate.

If a war really breaks out, their price will certainly rise."

"Can you confirm Nur ad-Din's condition?" Cesar asked: "If Nur ad-Din dies, the Saracens can't hide it."

"We will carefully observe the situation in Aleppo, my lord."

"If you can give me a definite message," Cesar stared at Jacques: "Baldwin IV, the King of Al-Asar, will give you a satisfactory reward."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 111 =====