Chapter Thirty-Four: The Deal

Guan Jinpan’s question left Ambrosius at a loss for words. The Khmer were still using antiquated sixteenth-century matchlocks, a legacy of Portuguese design. By now, the major powers of Europe had long since phased out matchlocks; even flintlocks were being superseded by the more advanced percussion cap rifles. Even in a nation as backward as Russia, the matchlock had been discarded. Perhaps only the minor principalities of the Italian and German regions still relied on them.

Given Ambrosius’s limited perspective, he assumed matchlocks had vanished from the battlefield entirely. In reality, throughout Italy—excluding the Austrian-controlled north—matchlocks remained quite common. During the contemporaneous civil wars in Spain, both sides were still heavily equipped with them. In the even more primitive Balkans, soldiers who lacked matchlocks were forced to rely on cold steel, such as bows and spears.

He picked up his rifle and retreated to a distance of 150 paces.

"Bang!"

With the crack of the shot, a watermelon shattered instantly. Clearing the barrel, priming, and reloading—Ambrosius was clearly far more proficient than the Khmer imperial guards. After all, in the Austrian Empire, his status allowed him to practice shooting at his leisure. It took him about half a minute to shatter a second watermelon at the same 150-pace mark. While Ambrosius practiced often, he was no professional marksman, yet he felt this distance was enough to awe the arrogant Khmer before him.

In truth, Ambrosius had an advantage: he was using a rifled musket. While slower to reload, its accuracy far surpassed the smoothbore weapons of the time.

Hong Bufu’s jaw was agape in astonishment. One must understand that 150 paces was three times the effective range of the Khmer guards' shooting just moments ago. Even the best marksman among the imperial guards could not hit two targets out of two at that distance. Neither Hong Bufu nor Guan Jinpan realized this was a technological disparity, and they immediately heaped praise upon him.

"A divine feat! Truly a divine feat! Magnificent! Lord Ambrosius, you have truly opened our eyes."

Ambrosius did not fully understand the language, but he knew the other party was pleased with his demonstration. Thus, a new idea sparked in his mind: he would sell the flintlock rifles phased out by the Austrian imperial army to these people.

"That's right. This is the latest product from our Austrian Empire. With rifles like these, you can achieve the same results. We are willing to trade with you; we have not only rifles but also cannons, and..." Before Ambrosius could finish, Guan Jinpan interrupted him.

"Wait, you mean your firearms are just superior? I don't believe it. Does your Austrian nation have anyone even more accurate than you?"

"Of course. Captain Bilafont, show them."

Captain Bilafont was a Jäger by trade, and his unit, the 1st Tyrolean Jäger Battalion, was among the most formidable in the Austrian army. A commoner by birth, Bilafont had risen to the rank of officer through skills that far exceeded the norm, with marksmanship being his specialty. Bilafont took the rifle and inspected it.

He first struck a watermelon from his starting position, then retreated fifty paces to hit a second, then another fifty, and another. Four shots, four hits, with the furthest at 300 paces. Hong Bufu could hardly believe his eyes; coming from a military background, he understood exactly what kind of formidable power this represented. If his imperial guards possessed such capability, combined with 5,000 such rifles, he would have nothing to fear even if Vietnam sent an army of 100,000.

Watching Hong Bufu’s expression, Guan Jinpan knew that these firearms were vital to the imperial guards.

"How much silver for such rifles?"

"Fifty taels." This was the price Ambrosius had deemed reasonable based on his intelligence.

However, Ambrosius had forgotten the unspoken rule of Eastern officialdom: the seller asks an exorbitant price, and the buyer haggles it down.

"Twenty taels," Guan Jinpan replied, his face showing no sign of hesitation or a racing heart. He knew he had come out ahead. The Qing Dynasty sold matchlocks to the Vietnamese for thirty taels, and the French had sold them for twenty-five. The Khmer gunsmiths had long since been conscripted or displaced by the Vietnamese. Now, the Khmer could only purchase firearms from the Vietnamese at high prices, and the price the Vietnamese charged the Khmer army was exactly fifty taels.

*This young man seems to know nothing of commerce; twenty-five taels should be enough to close the deal,* Guan Jinpan thought, his heart swelling with joy.

Ambrosius realized his mistake; he should not have revealed his bottom line. In fact, Father Pacini had already learned the price the Vietnamese charged the Khmer through local Catholic secret networks and had informed Ambrosius. Ambrosius had simply been naive enough to believe that if he stated a fair price, the other party would immediately agree.

Realizing he would lose a portion of his profit, he would have to make it up elsewhere.

"Impossible, twenty taels is far too little. Fifty taels is our bottom line. Our cargo has to travel over 20,000 kilometers to arrive here."

"Then twenty-five taels, and not a penny more," Guan Jinpan said, putting on a pained expression as if he were losing flesh.

"Forty taels, and you grant us permission to establish a supply depot at Kompong Som Bay," Ambrosius seized the opportunity to state his condition, while leaving room for Guan Jinpan to maneuver.

"Twenty-five taels. I will not only help you establish a supply depot on the coast, but I will also arrange for you to meet a member of the royal family," Guan Jinpan countered.

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

"No, it is our Khmer Princess," Guan Jinpan replied. He had to close this deal. The Vietnamese grip was tightening step by step, and at this rate, Vietnam would eventually annex Khmer. As a high-ranking Khmer noble, he was destined to be a primary target for liquidation by the Vietnamese. Even if he surrendered, they might not spare him. The "population reduction" policy implemented by the Vietnamese made it clear they intended for the Khmer to disappear from the world entirely. As for the Siamese, they were just like the Vietnamese—tigers and wolves not to be trusted.

Guan Jinpan was a powerful local magnate with a family of thousands; even if he could escape, his kin could not. Rather than being a lamb led to the slaughter, it was better to fight. For Guan Jinpan, the arrival of Ambrosius and his weapons was a lifeline. Most of the powerful clans in Khmer shared this sentiment; they were secretly uniting, contacting rebel forces, and quietly amassing strength. This was precisely why, historically, the large-scale anti-Vietnamese uprisings persisted long after Emperor Minh Mang of Vietnam executed the family of King Ang Chan.

"Thirty taels." Ambrosius had achieved both of his goals for the trip; he now only hoped to earn a little more profit for Austria.

"Deal."