What effect did the discovery and mining of gold and silver in the Americas have on China in the following centuries? A) Gold and silver trickled into China, but only in exchange for opium and other drugs. B) China was not affected by the discovery and mining of gold and silver in the Americas. C) China accumulated much of the gold and silver because of trade with European merchants. D) China became rich because its treasure ships raided Spanish and Portuguese ships carrying gold and silver.