1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 234 New trends from the mainland
In addition to the busy residential area in the inland area, people from the military and police department have also arrived at the planned location and started to build the Iron Furnace Port outpost.

Due to many objective reasons, the coastal defense fort plan of Iron Furnace Port was not approved in the end, and the Executive Committee believed that the Wanzhou area north of Iron Furnace Port could pose very limited military threats, so the original heavy deployment was convenient. It was changed to arming the lookout post, and fire strikes were replaced by early warning.After the preliminary field survey, the military and police department chose a commanding height on Yalong Ridge, south of the entrance to the port of Tielu Port, to establish a lookout post.

Although the altitude here is only over 100 meters above sea level, it is not easy to transport a large amount of building materials up from the shore. The military and police department dispatched [-] laborers for this purpose, plus a platoon of militiamen, and carried them while opening the road. It took a whole day to transport the various materials and building materials for building the outpost to the predetermined location.After the outpost is built here, a squad of militia will be stationed here for a long time, mainly to monitor the sea areas on the north, east, and south sides, to prevent other forces from attacking Iron Furnace Port from the sea, and to monitor the inland residential areas if necessary. Early warning with the production area is basically the same as the outpost at Yulinjiao, Shengli Port.

Due to the proper planning and layout in advance, the progress of this colonization operation was very fast. By the time of sunset that day, the workers in charge of building the residential area had cleared a large area of ​​foundation and erected the pillars of several boat-shaped houses.According to the calculation of the Ministry of Shipping, 80% of the building materials and supplies have been delivered, and the first batch of new immigrants selected in advance can be gradually transported here the next day.

According to the arrangement of the executive committee, the administrative planning of Tielugang will be divided into two communes, the north and the south. The commune on the south side will focus on planting salt-alkali-resistant crops, mountain crops and fisheries because there are relatively few tidal flat areas nearby. As the main industry, the communes in the north will make full use of the large area of ​​coastal tidal flats and use salt as the main industry.

The executive committee has decided to set up a separate Salt Industry Department in the establishment of the Ministry of Industry. The Shengli Port Salt Field that has been built, the Tielu Port Salt Field that is under construction, and even the Yinggehai Salt Field that is still under planning will be managed by the Salt Field in the future. The newly established Salt Industry Department unified management.All the salt export business will also be separated from the current commercial and trade department and handed over to the Salt Industry Department.As for the person in charge of this newly established unit, it was handed over without any suspense to Anxi, who has the most professional qualifications and has nearly half a year of experience in saltworks operations.However, the relevant appointment order has not yet been announced, and the executive committee will not announce the appointment until the Iron Furnace Port colonization site begins to be put into normal operation.

After Luo Shengdong and his friends made another shipment the next day, they bid farewell to Tao Donglai and headed north with the fleet.This time the executive committee paid him five thousand catties of salt, which cost less than a hundred yuan to the Transit Group, and it was a good deal to hire seven or eight boats for nearly two days.But for Luo Shengdong, a salt dealer, if the five thousand catties of salt are sold to Qiongzhou Mansion, he will get a gross profit of one thousand taels of silver. Half of the money is in his own pocket, which is a lot of money after calculation.Both parties get what they need, and are very satisfied with this way of cooperation.

However, Luo Shengdong has one more temporary mission to go to Qiongzhou Fucheng this time.After hearing Tao Donglai's words, Luo Shengdong's mind slowly became active.Whether you can be promoted to the head of a thousand is very important, but if you can move the future father-in-law to the seat of Yazhou magistrate next year, I believe it will benefit you even more.

Although the Haihan people are not very interested in the land of Fenghuang Town at present, judging from their development speed, the area of ​​Shengli Port will definitely not be able to accommodate them, and sooner or later they will expand outward. It has developed to Fenghuang, Tianya, and even Nanshan Town next to Yazhou.Instead of giving all the benefits to these officials who are about to resign now, it is better to save them in the future and transfer all these benefits to the old man who is in charge of Yazhou. Anyway, the old man has an only daughter under his knees. , isn't that in your own interest?

Of course, Luo Shengdong's calculations were good, but first he had to find a way to help the old man to the top. This time he went to Qiongzhou Fucheng not only to sell salt, but also to find ways for the old man to succeed Yazhou.Tao Donglai has made it clear that he will support it. Luo Shengdong naturally understands that this kind of "support" means more than just verbal support. Haihan people have always been very generous in giving gifts to officials in Yazhou. Luo Shengdong thinks As long as he has figured out the way, the Haihan people will be happy to use money to help him push the old man to the top.

As for what kind of benefits the Hai Han people would ask for after this matter was completed, Luo Shengdong was no longer willing to think about it.Anyway, my head should have been cut off half a year ago and hung on the gate of Yazhou City. Now that it is still growing on my neck, it means that I have chosen the right path so far. Then just go down.There is nothing wrong with cooperating with Haihan people to get promoted and make a fortune.

On October 10, three 20-material Daguang ships slowly sailed into Victory Port.These three ships came from Guangzhou, and one of them is a second-hand ship recently acquired by the Guangzhou Office. Including the one that has already arrived at Shengli Port, there are already two large ships that can be put into the next Vietnamese immigration operation. Act as the main force of transportation.

The other two ships were sea-going ships of "Furuifeng". The person in charge who was sent by Li Jifeng to Shengli Port to discuss trade this time was still an old friend of the Crossing Group, Li Nai, the third young master of the Li family.But this time the old manager He Qiang did not visit with him, it is said that he was sent to other places to handle other affairs.

Li Nai's visit this time brought many materials purchased by the Guangzhou Office to the Traveling Group, such as cloth, tung oil, leather, copper ingots, tin, sulfur, etc., as well as various handicrafts recently hired by the Guangzhou Office There were more than [-] craftsmen, more than [-] orphans, more than [-] sailors and crew members received by the Charity Hall, and nearly a hundred poor people who voluntarily immigrated to Shengli Port to try their luck.

In addition, Li Nai also brought a lot of materials and manpower during this trip. These items were not used to trade with the Transit Group, but to prepare to fulfill the cooperation agreement reached between the two parties in August, and began to work in the Victory Port area. Set up commercial stores, build restaurants, and special industries that the majority of single young men have been looking forward to for a long time.

Of course, as the executive committee that attaches great importance to health and epidemic prevention, it will naturally not let Li Nai bring these people ashore easily.Anyone who intends to live in Shengli Port for a long time must accept the necessary quarantine and isolation observation measures in accordance with the existing system, especially those young women who have made it clear that they are here to engage in special industries, and they must undergo a comprehensive physical examination before they can be approved. login.

Li Nai didn't quite understand the harsh measures taken by the executive committee and the port management committee, so he went to Tao Donglai and asked to release the people on board as soon as possible. A good girl has only half her life left, and Li Nai doesn't want the person transported all the way from Guangzhou to be carried into the coffin without doing anything.

However, the executive committee did not let go of this. The cooperation with "Furuifeng" in commercial development is still relatively controversial, especially the feminists headed by Ruisa, who have always been concerned about the Victory Harbor area. There is opposition to the establishment of "brothel" and other places.If there are any more messy diseases in these places, then the few people who approved the matter at the beginning will be blamed for the blame.Therefore, the executive committee also secretly issued a death order to the medical department. In the early stage, the source of infection must be eliminated, and in the later stage, strict monitoring should be maintained and random inspections should be carried out at any time, so that no scandals can occur due to the sanitary conditions.

In order to comfort Li Nai, Tao Donglai dragged him to the planned business district and showed him the land belonging to "Furuifeng".At present, the foundation here has been basically leveled, all the trees and their roots have been cleaned up, and all kinds of bamboo and wood building materials required for building the house have also been prepared according to the original requirements of "Furuifeng". All piled up in the nearby open space.Just wait for the construction team to enter the site, and the construction can start immediately.

Li Nai saw that the preparations had been done very well, so he let go of his previous unhappiness, and said to Tao Dong, "Mr. Tao, according to your original request, I specially sent him to Shengli a certain period of time in advance. Hong Kong, accept the epidemic prevention inspection you mentioned, but now these women are not allowed to set foot on the shore, is this too much?"

Tao Donglai looked around and saw that Luo Wudan who had been circling around before had disappeared, and then he breathed a sigh of relief: "Mr. Li, when you came to Shengli Port last time, you should have already understood that we are A place like brothel exists with great care, and for us any scandal from such a place would be a good enough reason to close it down, especially in terms of hygiene. If any Hai Han people are in it If you are infected with some shady and strange disease, then not only the brothel will be closed, but even your 'Fu Ruifeng' will be listed as unwelcome objects."

Li Nai said disapprovingly: "These women are carefully selected, and they have been checked by someone when they were in Guangzhou."

Tao Donglai still insisted: "For the smooth cooperation in the future, it is always right to be cautious. I guarantee that these people will be allowed to disembark and land ashore by tomorrow at the latest."

What Tao Donglai didn't say was that even if these people could set foot on the land of Shengli Port, they would be sent directly to the isolation shelter, where they would stay there for at least seven to ten days and receive another comprehensive inspection before they would be granted local quarantine. Residence permit.However, there is no need to explain these things to Li Nai in detail, he will be dissatisfied with the previous arrangements, and what he cares about is not the future and fate of these people, but how much weight his own face has in Haihan people.And Tao Donglai's patient explanation has already made him feel the respect of the Haihan people, which is enough.

In addition to these purposes, the most important thing for Li Nai's trip is to discuss with the Executive Committee how to further expand the scale of trade.After Li Nai returned to Guangzhou in August, he was immediately dispatched by Li Jifeng to Huizhou, Chaozhou and Shaozhou to promote the private salt trade.Li Nai spent nearly a month running through the state capitals of these states, met with some local businessmen and officials, and successfully reached several intentional cooperation agreements. In the future, "Furuifeng" Provide cheap sources of goods, and these merchants and even officials are responsible for distribution channels locally.

The business of selling private salt is a capital crime for ordinary people, but for powerful people, it is a shortcut to get rich.The partners that Li Nai talked about in these states require as little as three to five thousand catties of salt per month, and as many as tens of thousands of catties. There are even some people who have proposed to cooperate with "Furuifeng" to sell private salt Trafficked to Ganzhou, Jiangxi, and Chenzhou, Huguang for sale.Li Nai's second brother, Li Po, also achieved similar promotion results in Zhaoqing, Gaozhou, and Leizhou.Although there is no news about the promotion activities of the boss of the Li family in Fujian, but judging from the situation in Guangdong, the situation in Fujian will not be too bad.

Since then, the trade volume of salt between "Furuifeng" and the crossing group has rapidly increased from 12 catties per month to [-] catties, and then to the current [-] catties, and will continue to rise in the near future. Trend——However, there is still a small problem with the current production capacity of the supply required by "Fu Ruifeng", and it will take some time to alleviate this situation.

Of course, in addition to salt, Haihan glass products, which have become popular in Guangzhou cultural circles, are also included in the product list of the promotion.However, due to the extremely limited supply of the Crossing Group to the mainland at present, it can barely meet the needs of the market in Guangzhou and its surrounding areas. Therefore, when these glass products are transported to areas a little farther away from Guangzhou, the price begins to drop sharply. For example, in Chaozhou, which is more than [-] miles away from Guangzhou, the price of a set of colorful carved glass stationery produced by Haihan has been fired to thousands of taels of silver, and it has been in a state of price but no market for a long time-this thing is because The production process is relatively complicated and the yield rate is low. Up to now, the Transit Group has only sold about [-] sets.

However, in Huizhou, Chaozhou, and Shaozhou, where Li Nai went, the market demand for glass stationery has far exceeded the current production capacity of the Transit Group. Li Nai said that as long as the Transit Group can provide sufficient supply, "Fu Rui "Feng" can even increase the purchase price appropriately.

As for the matches and soaps recently launched in Guangzhou, because the current output is too small, the supply to Guangzhou is still insufficient, so they have not been promoted to other places at all.

In addition to these civilian commodities, the arms of the crossing group's key export project have also received information feedback from buyers in Fujian-[-] [-]-style matchlock guns and [-] artillery pieces of two calibers, of course , There is also a large number of special ammunition for Haihan firearms.This second munitions order from the mainland has already surpassed the first order in terms of content. Obviously, the quality and practical utility of these munitions have been recognized by users.

Although before Li Nai's arrival, the executive committee had actually learned about the trade orders that "Furuifeng" would bring this time through the radio station of the Guangzhou Office, but after hearing Li Nai's own words, the executive committee still asked Will feel the joy of success again.

At the request of Tao Donglai and others, Li Nai also gave a brief explanation on this.The last time "Fu Ruifeng" did not disembark after the first batch of arms ordered from Shengli Port was transported back to Guangzhou. After replenishing at the dock, it went straight to Fujian. In the end, "Fu Ruifeng" quietly sold these arms to Xu Xinsu's party in the name of a middleman in accordance with the instructions of the Time Travel Group.

At this time, the forces of Xu Xinsu's side have gradually been at a disadvantage in the naval battle, and even some commercial routes have been blocked by the pirate ships of "Eighteen Zhi".Not only that, "Eighteen Zhi" began to organize manpower to attack multiple land targets along the coast of Quanzhou Prefecture since the middle of the year, exerting great pressure on Xu Xinsu.At this time, the batch of firearms and artillery shipped from Guangzhou was like a timely gift to Xu Xinsu. There was no dispute about the price at all, and the other party just accepted it as it was ordered.

Although most of Xu Xinsu's subordinates were pirates, and they only took off their original skins and put on Ming army uniforms in the past one or two years, but many of them can handle firearms, which is much better than the peasant army in North Vietnam .Therefore, although the Transcend Group did not provide any technical support for the firearms sold, Xu Xinsu's side still put the new weapons into battlefield applications in a very short period of time.

I have to say that the effect of using the new weapon is very remarkable. In a land offensive and defensive battle that broke out in Zhongzuo Institute, Xu Xinsu, who used firearms, easily defeated more than [-] incoming pirates. ".Compared to this illustrious record, his own losses in this battle were almost negligible.

Of course, "Eighteen Zhi" is not without firearms, it's just that they didn't expect that Xu Xinsu, who had been buried in the beating, suddenly had such strong firepower.Half a month later, "Eighteen Zhi" once again organized an attack on the Zhongzuo Institute, and was equipped with a considerable number of muskets and various heavy weapons such as tiger squatting guns and Flang machine guns, but unexpectedly this time they were still defeated by their opponents. Even those men who used firearms suffered heavy casualties-whether it was the range of the weapon, the lethality, or the speed of loading and firing, the firearms held by the "Eighteen Zhi" could not compete with the opponent.

This does not mean that the "Eighteen Zhi" has nothing to do with its opponents. Zheng Zhilong still has a lot of authentic Hongyi cannons bought from the Dutch earlier. superior.However, this kind of gun weighs two to three thousand catties, and its mobility is almost zero. It is only suitable for use as a defensive weapon. If you want to transport it to Zhongzuo by boat, and then move it ashore and drag it under the city to attack the city, But it is too difficult.

(End of this chapter)