1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 1044 Tobacco Trade
Wang Tom then asked: "According to the original establishment, your Shipu Institute should be equipped with warships, right?"

Ma Ling replied: "Originally there were a few ships, but last year... Anyway, there are none now."

Of course, Ma Ling couldn't say clearly that the original warships had been sunk and confiscated by Haihan, and he didn't quite understand Tom Wang's intentions, so he could only respond vaguely.

Wang Tom said: "Shipu Port is tens of miles deep, and only a few sentry ships are required to maintain law and order. I think the pressure is too great. This time I plan to leave a few warships and corresponding manpower to help maintain law and order in the local area. , what does Ma Qianhu think?"

Only then did Ma Ling understand Wang Tom's intention to take the initiative to intervene in this matter. He dared to arrange for armed personnel to be stationed in Shipu Port to replace the role of the garrison of Qianhu.Before that, although Haihan stationed some clerks in Shipu, he did not reveal that he would replace Qianhu. Ma Ling was a little panicked at the moment. The existence of households seems to have become dispensable.

"Chief, in fact, the people of Shipu Port are simple and honest, and there have been no pirate activities nearby. There is no need to arrange for troops to station, and the subordinates led by the humble staff can do the job." Ma Ling quickly declined.

Wang Tom shook his head slightly and said: "The overall situation is the most important thing, you don't need to talk about this matter anymore, it's just decided."

Wang Tom didn't intend to explain Haihan's intentions to him in detail. Haihan didn't garrison here before, mainly because there were too many places in the Zhoushan Islands that needed troops, and he couldn't take care of coming here for a while, but after a year Haihan slowly freed his hands, and naturally he would no longer turn a blind eye to the situation in Shipu Port.Just like Yacheng, which was adjacent to Sanya, it was only a matter of time before Haihan gradually took over and annexed it.

In addition to Shipu Port itself being a good natural harbor, Sanmen Bay to the west of it is also an important coastal location with excellent terrain.The mouth of this semi-enclosed bay faces southeast and communicates with the East China Sea through the Shipu Waterway.The bay covers an area of ​​nearly 400 square kilometers, and there are six deep-water port branches distributed among it. It is the second largest bay in the coastal area of ​​Zhejiang after Hangzhou Bay.Shipu Port on the east side of Sanmen Bay, and Jiantiao Port on the west side are large natural seaports. In addition, there are many ports such as Haiyou, Chenhu, Liyang, Che'ao, Xiejiao, Zhengyu, and Qimen. Conditions in the maritime industry are ideal.In addition, the vast coastal tidal flats of Sanmen Bay can also be used to build saltworks, which is one of Haihan's best low-cost industrial projects.

In the original history, the western powers also made an idea here. In 1899, Italy tried to forcibly lease Sanmen Bay as its naval base in the Far East, but because of the tough attitude of the Qing court, the Italians failed in the end.

However, Haihan is not Italy, the weakest of the Western powers that entered the Far East in the 19th century, and Ming is not the Qing court that has been in decline after the Sino-Japanese War. control, but intends to actually control the area through the garrison of troops.

This method is a bit similar to the Qiongbei region before Haihan declared the founding of the country. Although the local Ming government agencies were preserved, they were all emptied by Haihan, and the actual jurisdiction over the area had long been lost.Sanmen Bay is right at the junction of Ningbo and Taizhou, the garrisons on both sides are unwilling to offend Haihan, a villain, but they provide Haihan with a lot of convenience.

However, Haihan's garrison in Zhejiang is limited at present, and it will be organized to go north within the year, so the measures to control Sanmen Bay cannot be achieved overnight. Tom Wang believes that controlling the Shipu waterway at this stage can be regarded as winning a city for Haihan.As for the navy stationed locally, there is actually no need for too many ships, as long as there are a few ships that can calm the scene.Although the establishment of the local Ming army is still there, the barracks are actually more than half empty, and the actual strength of the Shipu Qianhu Station is only a hundred or so, which is not enough to pose a threat to the Haihan garrison.

Tom Wang pretended to ask Ma Ling, but in fact he was just trying to find a reason for this arrangement. As for whether Ma Ling supported or opposed it, it would not affect Haihan's already made decision.If Ma Ling is knowledgeable and interesting, then he will continue to be his thousand households in Shipu, do smuggling business on empty pay, and become a rich man with public office in a stable manner; Ma Ling can arrange other not so good endings.

Hearing Tom Wang's resolute tone, Ma Ling didn't leave room for himself to argue. After hesitating for a moment, Ma Ling gave in: "Then can the garrison stay in Shipu in the name of the militia? This will also avoid making excuses and causing all kinds of inconvenience in the future."

"I just like dealing with people with a quick mind like you." Tom Wang patted Ma Ling's shoulder with a smile and praised: "Just as you said, the warship and related personnel will be in this area in the name of the Shipu militia from now on." Activity."

Haihan armed personnel exist in this area in the name of the Shipu militia, which is undoubtedly a relatively compromised approach.This can indeed effectively avoid the guilt of the Shipu Qianhu Office for communicating with foreign countries, and at the same time allow Haihan to achieve his goal. From a certain point of view, it can be regarded as a win-win situation.What Haihan wants now is the actual control right, and he doesn't need to care about the false name. Ma Ling's proposal fits into Wang Tom's arms, and at the same time, it also gives him a step down.

On that day, Ma Ling tried his best to arrange a sumptuous reception banquet for Tom Wang and others, including eating, drinking and having fun. Finally, he also prepared several jade ornaments bought from the consignee of Hangzhou Mansion as gifts.He knew that the people of Haihan had no interest in gold and silver, but had a hobby of collecting some low-value but exquisitely handcrafted small things, so he specially chose this kind of handicraft as a gift for Haihan's high-ranking officials.Of course, the cost of buying these gifts is not out of his own pocket, but directly deducted from the military expenses as training expenses—anyway, there is no such thing as daily training in the Shipu Institute today, and these empty military salaries are naturally paid by Ma Ling. You can spend whatever you want.

"Ma Qianhu has a heart!" Tom Wang admired the jade snuff bottle presented by Ma Ling.

Snuff was introduced to China by the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci during the Wanli period, and it was presented to the emperor together with items such as the bell and the map of all nations.Its raw material is dried tobacco leaves rich in oil after drying.In fact, as early as the early Ming Dynasty, Lu Song Kingdom offered tobacco as a tribute to the Ming Dynasty. During the Wanli period, there were sporadic tobacco plantations in the Zhangzhou area of ​​Fujian Province. According to the transliteration of the Spanish tabacco, tobacco was called Tamba.However, most of the snuff at that time was produced by the Spanish colonies, and the quantity trafficked to Daming was not large, and its production technology did not flow into Daming at the same time, so snuff was not popular among the people of Daming during this period, and it was only a pastime for a few upper-class people.

However, Haihan began to promote tobacco planting in Danzhou after taking over the Qiongbei area.The reason for choosing this place is that there was already a precedent for successfully growing tobacco in this place in the time and space before traveling, so there is no need to slowly investigate the water and soil environment in various places.In addition, in Heitu Port, Leizhou Peninsula, Pearl River Estuary, Fujian, Taiwan and other places, tobacco cultivation has also been gradually promoted in recent years.Except for a few low-grade tobaccos that were sold locally, most of the grown tobacco was recycled by Haihan for deep processing, and made into cigarettes and snuff, which were then sold to Daming.

Haihan imports almost all raw materials from Daming, while exports are highly processed high-value-added products. This scissors difference is also one of the main means for Haihan to quickly accumulate wealth through trade in just a few years.How big is the market potential of the tobacco business and how lucrative profits can be expected in the future? Travelers are naturally much clearer than people in this era. Therefore, after the key export products such as salt, glass products, and weapons, tobacco and related products It has also become Haihan's new profitable export project.

Compared with cigarettes, snus that does not need to carry tinder is obviously more convenient for users. In addition, its flavor can be blended with other medicines and spices, and the requirements for tobacco quality are relatively low. The most important product of the cigarette factory.

When making snuff, the tobacco leaves are first dedusted, ground, sieved, and then mixed with medicinal materials and spices, sealed and stored in ceramic vats and buried underground to age for more than one year, and finally taken out and packaged for sale.Most of the snuff trafficked by the Spaniards to Ming Dynasty was produced in the North American colonies, and it took half a world’s journey to reach the Far East. The shipping cost accounted for more than half of the cost, and it was difficult to compete with the snuff produced by Haihan in terms of price.

In addition, in the southeast coastal areas, the living habits of the Haihan people have gradually become the objects of imitation by the upper class. Using glassware, riding a box-type carriage, installing ceramic sanitary ware and hot water boilers at home, etc., were all pioneered by Haihan. After discovering that the Haihan people began to use snuff, some dignitaries followed suit.The Ministry of Commerce instructed some literati to start writing articles to promote this emerging pastime, saying that snuff "can improve eyesight, and especially have the effect of preventing epidemics." The noun is "Jinsixun", which has improved a lot at once.

However, in just a year or so, snuff began to become popular among the upper-class social circles along the southeast coast, and sniffing and sneezing became a new pastime.As long as you see someone holding a palm-sized glass snuff bottle, you don't have to ask, it must be something produced in Danzhou.

The snuff product also followed Haihan’s consistent development method. Not only did it soon have a variety of different flavors, but also according to the quality of the tobacco, the value of the added medicine and spices, the differences in the manufacturing industry, and the differences in the packaging, the development It has launched multiple series of products, and its prices cover all classes from the grassroots to the local tyrants, and it has completed its occupation of the market in a very short period of time.

Since the Spaniards were expelled from Taipei last year, and the main sea trade ports in Fuzhou and Guangxi provinces are almost inevitably affected by Haihan, although there are still some Daming maritime chambers of commerce going to Manila for trade, but in Haihan Ming secretly Under the gesture and threat of the Spanish snuff, it soon disappeared from the Daming market due to the interruption of supply.In this way, Haihan successfully completed the monopoly operation of the tobacco market without spending too much effort.

After Haihan entered the coast of Zhejiang last year, among the many Haihan products that flooded into the local market along the sea routes, snuff was naturally one of them.During this year, Qian Tiandun, Shi Diwen, Chen Yixin and others who were stationed in Zhejiang also acted as image spokespersons to promote this new product.A person like Ma Ling who has turned to Haihan on the surface and will go to Zhoushan Island in a month or two, naturally already knows the preferences of high-ranking officials in Haihan. This snuff bottle is the material he purchased by himself. Find a craftsman to custom build.

Of course, Tom Wang knew that Haihan’s business department was sparing no effort to promote tobacco products to Daming, but the effect of allowing Daming officers to give him snuff bottles as gifts was indeed something he had never expected.

Wang Tom called the guards over, gave some instructions in a low voice, and then asked Ma Ling, "Ma Qianhu also likes to snuff?"

Ma Lingying said: "The humble official thinks that this thing is really good for clearing the mind and improving eyesight, repelling filth and disease. Qianhu from Qiancang and Juexi also spoke highly of this thing. This snuff bottle is When I went to Hangzhou for business, I entrusted a craftsman to make it. Although it is not a valuable item, it is not too elegant to play with at ordinary times. I hope the chiefs will not dislike it."

Wang Tom and Chen Yixin didn't have much research on jade, but Hao Wanqing was a man of knowledge. He played with it and asked, "This jade is a little green. Is it Lantian jade from Shaanxi?"

"High opinion, chief!" Ma Ling quickly responded, "This is exactly what Lantian jade is made of."

"You're willing to spend the money!" Hao Wanqing didn't comment on the value of the snuff bottle, but instead made an ambiguous comment on Ma Ling.

Ma Ling said with a smile: "They are all small items, and they are not valuables. The chief laughed."

Tom Wang turned his head to Hao Wanqing and asked, "Is there something wrong?"

Hao Wanqing shook his head and said, "There's nothing wrong with it. It's a good thing. Take it. It's Ma Qianhu's wish."

"Yes, yes, what the chief said is that the humble position is just to express his intentions, and has no other meaning." Ma Ling responded quickly.

Wang Tom's bodyguard came back soon, with a small tin box in his hand.Wang Tom signaled him to put it on the dinner table, and then said to Ma Ling: "This is a high-grade snuff produced in Danzhou. The weight in the box is five yuan, but it can be sold for two or thirty taels of silver in the Guangdong market. The ones that haven’t been sold yet, and I don’t have much with me, don’t think Ma Qianhu thinks it’s too small.”

How dare Ma Ling dislike the fact that the portion is too small, it is already a great honor to get a gift from a high-ranking Haihan official in person, and now he accepts it gratefully, and his originally uneasy mood finally settled down.

(End of this chapter)