Chapter 853: Wealth Moves the Heart
As the verbal clash between the two faction leaders grew increasingly heated, a few minor commanders—men of some reputation—hurried forward to mediate. With the formidable enemy at the gates, infighting among allies must be avoided. Even the three sects of the Daoist Order fought among themselves, yet they could still unite against an external foe. Surely the divisions here were not deeper than those within the Daoist Order. Besides, everyone was supposedly fighting for the Sonno-joi cause, so there was no need for discord.
Meanwhile, Qi Xuansu was quietly planning to leave this assembly as soon as possible so he could report this situation back to the Daoist camp and raise the alarm regarding the Westerners’ interference in Fenglin’s affairs.
After a brief moment, the two men temporarily laid aside their quarrel.
Metropolitan White, well-versed in smoothing over conflicts, said, “You are both pillars of our cause. Let us not allow this humble messenger to create discord. Mere words of support and aid are difficult to trust, as we understand. That’s why Cardinal Deacon Brown anticipated such concerns and permitted me to bring a large Space Bag.”
With that, he produced an almost translucent bag, and with a flick, ten large chests with distinct Western craftsmanship materialized on the floor before the altar table, each engraved with intricate patterns.
Metropolitan White stepped up to one of the chests, turned the circular lock, and lifted the lid.
In that instant, the entire hall fell silent.
Inside the chest was a dazzling mass of silver coins, not inscribed like Taiping coins, but instead bearing the emblem of a double-headed eagle. This was the famous silver Eagle coin of the West.
This single chest held at least 20,000 silver Eagle coins.
Since the East and West had begun large-scale trade, the global economy had been transformed, with currency affected most profoundly. Today, the two most stable currencies in the world were the Eastern Taiping coin and the Western Eagle coin—the only two universally accepted forms of money.
Compared to these two types of silver coins, ordinary copper coins, bills, and paper notes had no such influence.
Many of those present gasped, and their breathing grew heavier.