1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 294 Cameo
This battle is not just a conflict between the Japanese maritime merchants and the Taiwan office of the East India Company, but the hidden interest competition behind it is the key.Because of the Ming Dynasty's trade ban on Japan, it is difficult for the Japanese to buy Chinese products directly from Chinese trade ports, so they can only make a big detour to buy from the Dutch, who are second-hand dealers. They will inevitably be ripped off heavily. There must have been considerable resentment.The Dutch are also quite dissatisfied with the fact that the Japanese businessmen who came to Taiwan never paid taxes. Before that, there was a precedent for Japanese businessmen who refused to pay taxes and were confiscated by the Dutch.

However, for the Time Traveling Group, the conflict between the two is an opportunity that can be used.It's just that due to the limitation of its own shipping capacity, the Crossing Group does not have enough ability to reach the Taiwan Strait or even Japan at present, so this great opportunity can only be cheap for Xu Xinsu first.

Originally, among the three parties, the Netherlands was the middleman, and Japan and Ming needed to conduct trade through the Dutch.And now that Japan and the Netherlands have turned their faces, it can be said that there will be a huge gap in the Japanese market, and whoever makes the first move will benefit.If the Japanese want to buy goods from Daming in the next few years, almost the only solution is to cooperate with Xu Xinsu.Although the Ming Dynasty had a trade ban with Japan, the ban could not control Xu Xinsu, who started out as a pirate and smuggler. As long as he was willing to do it, there were plenty of places along the coast of Fujian that could be used for private transactions with Japanese businessmen.

Xu Xinsu has now monopolized the trade between Daming and the Dutch. If he controls the trade relationship with Japan, he will really be making big strides towards the goal of "a country that is as rich as an enemy".According to the original history, from 1628 to 1632, the trade between Japan and the Netherlands would be suspended for nearly four years. As long as it is handled well, this is enough for Xu Xinsu to earn several gold and silver mountains.

Of course, the executive committee will definitely not let Xu Xinsu's family sit on the big board. After its own sea power is gradually enriched, it is only a matter of time before Haihan intervenes in the Northeast Asia route.As for the possibility of Xu Xinsu’s retaliation due to conflicts of interests in the future, the executive committee is not particularly worried—by then Xu Xinsu’s subordinates should have been equipped with a large number of weapons produced by Haihan, and the crossing group will be responsible for ammunition supply and maintenance. Maintenance is enough to jam the opponent's neck, not to mention the huge generation difference in the performance of the weapon itself.

Ning Qi didn't fully explain what he had said, which made Dong Yanyun a little confused.However, he has also worked beside Xu Xinsu for many years. Although he has never been to Japan, he is still very clear about the embarrassment between the Japanese businessman and the Dutch East India Company. Dong Yanyun could guess what the consequences would be.It's just that he really couldn't figure out how the Haihan people who lived in the southern corner of Qiongzhou Island got the news about what happened on Dayuan Island.

If someone else uttered such nonsense, Dong Yanyun would probably just scoff at it without even listening to it.The annual transaction volume between Japan and the East India Company is around one million taels. Both parties have been carefully maintaining such a large business. Even Xu Xinsu has never had a good way to intervene, otherwise he would have directly sent the raw silk dealer Japan sells at a high price.The interest entanglements between the Ming Dynasty, Japan, and the East India Company are extremely complicated, so how can outsiders make rash comments?
However, the person who said this was a high-level person among the Haihan people, so that is another matter.This is not only because the Fujian side is asking for help from the Haihan people, and should pay enough attention to the opinions of the Haihan people. More importantly, before coming to Shengli Port, Dong Yanyun also heard some shocking rumors in Guangzhou. .

It is said that before the death of Emperor Tianqi and the ascension of Emperor Chongzhen, the Haihan people gave some hints to the "Furuifeng" Li family to draw a clear line between the Li family and the local eunuchs in Guangdong.The reliability of this kind of rumor is not convincing, but during the nationwide investigation of eunuchs in recent months, many businessmen in Guangzhou were also dragged into the water because of their close contacts with eunuchs in the past. "Feng" miraculously escaped, and the mystery in the middle is somewhat unclear.

Dong Yanyun can be regarded as someone who has seen the world, if he just stays at the level of rumors in the market, he may not care.However, "Fu Ruifeng" has never clarified such rumors on any occasion. On the contrary, it has recently done something that Dong Yanyun could not understand - Li Nai, the third son of the Li family, was A certain restaurant had a dispute with the eldest son of Li Fengjie, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, because of trivial matters, and it is said that they almost fought.After the incident, "Fu Ruifeng" did not take any measures to deal with the aftermath, neither made an apology on the surface, nor asked someone to make peace in private, and seemed not worried about offending the governor.

Dong Yanyun didn't know who Li Fengjie's eldest son was, but he had seen Li Nai before - he visited the Guangzhou Office twice, and he met the third son Li and the Haihan people who were said to have close contacts with the Haihan people Talking and laughing.Although he had no direct contact with him, Dong Yanyun also knew that Mr. Li San was a well-known scholar, and he had traveled to many places. Regardless of his cultural level or ideological insight, Dong Yanyun was very famous in Guangzhou. How could the rich second generation offend the eldest son of Guangdong and Guangxi so unwisely?

In view of the fact that some of the local officials that "Fu Ruifeng" had turned against before had fallen in the eunuch investigation, Dong Yanyun believed that Li Nai's actions were very likely to be intentional - deliberately creating such an incident to show that his family Li Fengjie, governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, is not the same person.This kind of behavior is very dangerous, close to death. If Li Fengjie stays in this seat for another year or so, "Fu Ruifeng" will definitely have a hard time here.Even if Li Fengjie can't hold the big handle of "Fu Ruifeng" for a while, he is the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, the right servant of the Ministry of War and the censor of the right capital. With so many positions, he will always find other tricks to slowly consume "Fu Ruifeng" Ruifeng".

But if Li Fengjie really collapsed in the near future, then "Fu Ruifeng" would bet right again.This situation is not impossible. In the past few years, the governors of Guangdong and Guangxi have been like a revolving lantern, and the speed of rotation is rare in history.This rhythm began when Chen Bangzhan handed over the seat to Hu Yingtai in the fourth year of Tianqi, and then Hu Yingtai was taken over by He Shijin that year, and He Shijin did not sit for too long, and then handed over the seat to Shang Zhouzuo in the fifth year of Tianqi.In the second year after Shang Zhouzuo came to power, he was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of War, but he requested to retire that year and gave up all his public positions. Therefore, in the sixth year of Tianqi, he was succeeded by the current incumbent Li Fengjie.

Four governors in four years, no one dares to guarantee how long Li Fengjie will stay in the post of governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. Maybe the new emperor's head is hot, and one day the imperial decree to remove him will come to Guangzhou.But the problem is that no one dares to gamble with their wealth, but "Fu Ruifeng" did so. Dong Yanyun thinks there must be some reason that he doesn't know.Judging from the degree of intimacy between "Furuifeng" Li Sangong and the Haihan people, Dong Yanyun had to admit that the rumors that the Haihan people guided the "Furuifeng" immortal actually had a certain degree of credibility.

But those things are all about Guangdong after all. Almost all of Xu Xinsu's properties are in Fujian. Whether the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi can be replaced will not affect Xu Xinsu's family business. But if there is a conflict between Japan and the East India Company, it will really have something to do with Xu Xinsu immediate interests.If you want to change the trade relationship with Japan and the Dutch East India Company, the sooner you prepare many things, the better, and this kind of preparation must take some risks. If what the Haihan people said is true, then there is indeed a chance It's a big profit, if it's just nonsense, then it will really make Xu Xinsu suffer.

Out of careful consideration, Dong Yanyun felt that he should inquire about some more inside information, at least to convince himself that this guy surnamed Ning was not just fooling himself.Dong Yanyun thought for a while before saying: "When I was in Guangzhou, I heard that 'Fu Ruifeng' also received a lot of guidance from your side on the current situation. I don't know if it is true or not?"

"That's right, there is such a thing." Ning Qi didn't hide it. To be a magic stick, you have to look like a magic stick: "If we hadn't given the Li family the way in advance, the 'Fu Ruifeng' would have been gone by now." It was copied by Jin Yiwei."

Dong Yanyun didn't expect Ning Qi to answer so directly, he was taken aback immediately, and asked tentatively: "I don't know how the third son Li of Furuifeng had a conflict with the eldest son of the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi recently, what do you think?" ?”

"When there was a conflict, we asked him to do it." Ning Qi readily admitted the fact: "Li Fengjie will be an official in a few days, so why post him? It's better to fall out as soon as possible, so as not to be next in office." The governor thought that "Fu Ruifeng" was on the same side as Li Fengjie!"

"There is such a thing? I wonder how Mr. Ning learned about it?" Dong Yanyun simply didn't know how to react to Ning Qi's statement.

"Tianji!" Ning Qi solemnly stretched out his finger and pointed to the sky: "Some things, it's good to know a general idea, and you can't know too much detail, which is easy to cause accidents."

Dong Yanyun said: "What is the proof?"

Ning Qi sighed and said, "I really don't like people like your Excellency who are inquisitive... well, if I don't say something, I guess you won't believe it, so let's talk about Li Fengjie's successor to Mr. Li!"

Next to him, Tao Donglai suppressed his smile and cooperated, "Lao Ning, aren't you afraid of being punished by God for leaking secrets like this?"

Ning Qi sighed and said, "That can't be helped, it's for the benefit of the collective, and it's worth sacrificing myself!"

When Dong Yanyun heard that there was some good stuff, he quickly held his breath and listened intently to Ning Qi's revelation.

"Li Fengjie will be dismissed within a few months... No, he will be dismissed." Ning Qi coughed dryly and said, "The person who will succeed him is Mr. Wang Zunde, who used to be the censor of Guangdong Province."

"No, no!" Dong Yanyun shook his head again and again: "If you talk about others, that's fine, but there is a fellow from my hometown who is the servant of Mr. Wang's family. I know a thing or two about him! During the Wanli period, he was indeed a servant. Guangdong inspector censor, also served as governor of Guangxi in the fifth year of Tianqi. A few months ago, he was appointed by the late emperor as the right servant of the Ministry of War, but he was dismissed after a few days. Now he is at home, how could he suddenly come out to take over Guangdong and Guangxi? The position of governor?"

Ning Qi shook his head and said: "Mr. Dong, you just know what's going on and don't know why. How many of those people employed by Emperor Tianqi can still sit in their seats? Could Emperor Chongzhen be the one who was dismissed by Emperor Tianqi? The ____ does not work?"

Although Dong Yanyun came from a smuggling businessman, he still had some respect for the imperial power in his heart. He definitely didn't dare to talk about the emperor's actions like Ning Qi. He just shook his head, thinking that these Haihan people were really speechless, but they couldn't say anything. What an objection.

Ning Qi smiled, and further revealed the spoiler: "It doesn't mean that the successor, Mr. Wang, will be in place in one step. Emperor Chongzhen will soon re-enable him as the right servant of the Ministry of Punishment. If you don't believe me, just wait and see. Half a year Within a short period of time, Emperor Chongzhen will appoint him as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and concurrently as the governor of Guangdong. If you want to manage the relationship, you should start the cold stove now, and don’t say that I didn’t warn you.”

Dong Yanyun opened his mouth wide in surprise, and murmured after a while: "So Mr. Li San of 'Fu Ruifeng' just listened to your words, and did this?"

"Do you think the people in the Li family are crazy? In a few months, when Li Jifeng becomes the guest of the new governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, you will know whether they are crazy." Ning Qi said calmly: "The governor of Guangdong and Guangxi will definitely change. , There will definitely be a big conflict between Japan and the red-haired man. After you go back, you can report these two things to your master. Anyway, the result will be seen soon, and it won’t take too long to verify. I hope there Afterwards, no matter whether it is your Excellency or Xu Daguan, don't have any thoughts of questioning our decision."

At this time, Dong Yanyun's brain was about to crash due to the amount of information he received.After he bid farewell and left in a daze, Tao Donglai smiled and said, "Ning Qi, are you going to take the magic stick route?"

Ning Qi laughed and said: "It's fine to be a magic stick, it's against my image of a great educator in the minds of the students. Appropriate spoilers can still be used. Schneider's spoilers in Guangzhou are very effective. I think this method It can be used in a targeted manner in the future, after you say this is verified, does Xu Xinsu still have the guts to question our decision?"

"Even if he doesn't believe everything, at least it can increase our prestige." Yan Chujie continued.When Ning Qi fooled Dong Yanyun just now, he was also suffocating beside him. If Ning Qi hadn't glared at him a few times, he might have laughed out loud.

Tao Donglai put away his smile and concluded: "Boatsmith, silkworm eggs, and copper, the three most important things have basically been negotiated, and the next step is to wait for implementation. But Fujian is indeed too far away. It will take at least another month or two for them to come to Victory Port once they have organized what we need. The period in Japan is estimated to be longer. It would be good to have Japanese copper shipped over within half a year. gone."

"Then do you want to sell them arms this time?" Yan Chujie also returned to the serious business.

"Sell, but it still needs to be limited. You can sell more guns and less artillery." Tao Donglai has a corresponding sales strategy for this: "Xu Xinsu is the side defending the city. If you sell too many guns, 'Eighteen Zhi'ke can't continue to fight at all."

"But this guy brought 30 taels of silver here, so he can't be let go easily." Ning Qi touched his chin and said, "Why don't we hold a special product promotion meeting for him tomorrow?"

"We can have this." Tao Donglai nodded and said: "Although our production capacity is insufficient now, we can sell some samples to Fujian first to build popularity, and first to show the existence of our Haihan products."

In the next two days, in addition to visiting a series of infrastructure projects in Shengli Port under the arrangement of the executive committee, Dong Yanyun also ordered a lot of Haihan products through the product promotion meeting specially prepared for him by the business department.He has seen most of these things in the Guangzhou market and in the product catalog of the Guangzhou Office, and even saw some glass stationery sold by merchants when he was in Zhangzhou.However, the shipping price of Shengli Port is indeed much lower than that of Guangzhou, and the variety of goods that can be selected is much richer than that of Guangzhou. Many things in Guangzhou will be sold out as soon as they go on the market. Priceless out of stock status.Not to mention Fujian, basically only sporadic Haihan goods can be trafficked, and so far they are only the collections of a few high-level people in society, and the reputation of Haihan products is far less than that of Guangzhou.

But Dong Yanyun is an old businessman, and he understands the truth that rare things are more expensive. Even though these things are not well-known in Fujian, the sales of these things will definitely be extremely hot after they are transported back.It is not difficult to replicate a product that can cause a wave of popularity in the Guangzhou market in Fujian. He has already inquired clearly how the popularity of Haihan products has been hyped in Guangzhou.

Dong Yanyun is even able to imagine the scenes of these Haihan products being snapped up after they were transported back to Fujian—the rich people in Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, and Fuzhou really don’t need too many people, such as glass products. They really will spend the same weight of silver to buy things.

Of course, the most important thing is the two hundred matchlock guns and two Haihan guns purchased from Shengli Port this time.Although the number was indeed a little less, at least he didn't return empty-handed, and Dong Yanyun was able to return to his master's family after returning.As for how much arms he can buy when he comes to Shengli Port next time, the Haihan people have made it very clear, it depends on how many useful things he can bring from Fujian next time.

In addition, Dong Yanyun also unavoidably circled a piece of land in Shengli Port and prepaid the land use fee for two years.Although this is his own decision, Dong Yanyun believes that his decision can also be recognized by Xu Xinsu after seeing many mainland businessmen investing here to build commercial warehouses.Of course, the most important thing is that the densely packed forts built on both sides of the inbound channel here make people feel very safe. Dong Yanyun even felt that even if the fleet of "Eighteen Zhi" arrived here, they might not be able to please them.

(End of this chapter)