I will go ahead and propose something to the like of what you have mentioned Count of Venice. While the more merchants and priests will yield us more money and glory respectively, I find the numbers you suggest to be a little bit exaggerated. There may not even be enough ressources to gather for so many merchants in the appointed regions. Maybe we should reduce the number to three to better suit the purpose.

Let me revoice the Edict in this light and also present you my proposal for peace with Venice.

Edict 8.xx

During the next Chancellors term a group of merchants and priests shall be dispatched to at least one of the following places, preferrably both:
- The far reaches south of the great Saharan desert.
- The Nile upward in the south of Egypt.
A group should consist of at least three merchants and priests each.

Edict 8.yy

The Chancellor shall try to find peace with the Venetians as soon as possible. A moderate amount of florins may be used to persuade them. Should the Venetians decline, subsequent raids towards their holdings in Durazzo and Thessalonica, resulting in possible razing or extermination of those cities, shall teach them the error of their ways.

I purposefully left the vehicle to be taken by the merchant group open. I am sure our Emperor and Chancellor shall find a suitable mode of transportation for them without us decreeing anything.