Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 529 Quanzhou Gathering
Fan Ning inquired in detail about the life and habits of the Dongfan people. At first there were more than [-] Dongfan people. Because they were constantly robbed and killed by black people, the population has dropped by half over the past hundred years, and now there are only about [-] people left. People are mainly distributed in the southern coastal areas. Although they do not farm and live by fishing, women can spin and weave cloth, so that both men and women in Dongfan wear homespun linen clothes.

In addition, they often go to Quanzhou and Fuzhou to exchange seafood for food and daily necessities. They have more contacts. Many of their customs and etiquette are basically the same as those in the coastal areas, and their language is also similar. Therefore, it is easier for the Dongfan people to integrate into the Ryukyu Prefecture than the Kun people back then. much.

Fan Ning cared more about the Gaoshan people than the Dongfan people. Alang said with a smile: "There are about 6000 to [-] Gaoshan people. They live by hunting. They are very simple. We have lived in peace for thousands of years. They were also killed by the little black devil." Forced, dare not go down the mountain, and occasionally go down the mountain to exchange salt with us, now that the Song army has wiped out the little blacks, as long as the people in the mountains are treated well, they will surrender to the Song Dynasty sooner or later."

"Why do you say that?" Fanning asked with concern.

"In fact, the reason is very simple. People in Gaoshan also live in poverty. If they have prey, they can have a full meal. If they don't have prey, they will starve. Men die at the age of three or 40. It is not easy for children to survive. I suggest that the government build some markets outside the city. , selling salt, food, daily necessities, etc., if I have a chance, I will tell them, they will exchange their prey, and they will gradually trust them after a long time. They also hope that their lives will be better, and their children will survive. So I said that sooner or later they will go down the mountain and surrender to Song Dynasty, but it will take time."

After listening to Zhou Mi's translation, Fan Ning happily said to the two chiefs: "Next year, the government will build Liuzhong County and Liunan County at the same time. At that time, you will distribute land and food like the people of the Song Dynasty, and enjoy the same tax-free treatment. I will arrange People go south to open schools and clinics in your localities, teach children to read and write, see doctors for local people, and give you food, cloth and daily necessities. I also believe that your life will get better and better."

The two chiefs thanked each other and left. They came from the sea in a fishing boat. Fanning sent them to the seaside and watched the boat go away.

At this time, the county magistrate Zhang Ying said with a smile: "The envoy wants to advance the plan?"

Fan Ning nodded, "I originally thought about building Liuzhong County next year and Liunan County the year after. Now it seems that the two counties can be built at the same time tomorrow. Many preparatory matters can now be started."

Three days later, the silver mines and forests that had been silent for a long time began to be lively again. Twenty-five thousand Japanese laborers began their three-year labor to rectify the mines, build roads, and dig trees. Into a lively large construction site.

Song Jun brought a large amount of realgar powder from Kunzhou, and used it to make realgar bags and wear them on the body, which can effectively prevent the attack of poisonous snakes and insects.

People in Ryukyu County also began to cultivate land and grow vegetables, and the entire county became full of vitality.

Five days later, the army surrounded and wiped out the last indigenous group of more than [-] people. So far, this group of ferocious indigenous people from northern Luzon and occupying the western plains of Ryukyu Island for more than two hundred years has completely disappeared.

Fan Ning led two thousand sailors back to Quanzhou by boat. As the prefect of Ryukyu, he had to start preparing for the establishment of Liunan County and Liuzhong County in advance. In addition, he had to report back to the imperial court to report the trade agreement signed with Japan. After all, this is a relationship between countries. The trade agreement between the two countries must be approved by the imperial court before it can be regarded as formally effective.

Fan Ning's new home is still under construction, and the outline has already come out, but the details are not yet visible. Lin Junsheng assured him that it will be officially delivered for use in a month.

At this time, both Li Dashou and Su Liang had already taken office, one was serving as the envoy of Quanzhou City, and the other was serving as the prefect of Quanzhou. Fan Ning only saw Li Dashou, but not Su Liang, who went to inspect the county below.

At noon, in a restaurant close to Jinglue Mansion, Fan Ning filled a glass of wine for Li Dashou and said, "Quanzhou Shipping Department was only established after all, and you don't have enough experience in all aspects. I suggest you go to Guangzhou Shipping Department and learn more about it." See how they manage it."

Li Dashou drank the wine in his glass, and said with a gloomy face: "The problem is not here, but your overseas economic management office. You set up a trade agency under the economic management office. Isn't this the same as the Shibo Department? "

Fan Ning couldn't help laughing. It turned out that Li Dashou's heart disease was here. He explained with a smile: "The Economic and Strategic Administration is indeed involved in trade, but it only cares about official trade, not private trade. Private trade is still managed by the Department of Shipbuilding. The two are not in conflict. .”

"There will still be problems. Official trade is tax-free, but non-governmental trade is subject to a [-]% tax. For example, the same Nanyang spices will end up with cheaper official goods. Aren't you competing with the people for profit?"

"Wait! Your idea is wrong. Spices have always been sold by the government. Even the spices brought in by the people must be sold to the Bureau of Fragrance and Medicine. The government only taxes the finished products of spices, such as rouge and sachets. And so on, if you smuggle spices, it's not a matter of taxation, it's about killing people."

"I'm not talking about spices, but other goods, such as medicinal materials, treasures, woolen goods, raw cotton, etc. They charge taxes, but government and businessmen are exempted from taxes. This is the truth!"

Fanning shook his head, "You still don't understand the true meaning of official trade."

Fan Ning said in a low voice: "The condition for the bastards in Zhizhengtang to give me power is to hand over 1000 two million taels of silver to the imperial court a year. Where can I get so much gold and silver? It can only be exported with commodities. To exchange for overseas gold and silver, I even want to help Japan explore ore and teach them how to smelt silver, isn't it just to satisfy the growing appetite of the old guys at Zhizhengtang?"

Li Dashou finally understood a little bit, "You mean that official trade is to ship goods out and then bring back gold and silver, not to bring back overseas goods?"

Fan Ning nodded, "That's right. Akihito Mingli and the others will do the shipping of overseas goods, and officials and businessmen will not be involved."

Li Dashou hesitated and asked again: "But you also spent money to buy goods in the Song Dynasty. Where did you get your money?"

"Of course, Zhizhengtang brought out the goods. Tea cakes, porcelain, silk, and cloth. Except for silk that needs to be transferred from the south of the Yangtze River, other goods are sold by the local government. I will show you a way to make money. Let your father or you My younger brother came to Quanzhou to set up a business, bought homemade cloth from various places, and then handed it over to officials and merchants to sell overseas, with double the profit, after a few years, your father will be able to buy a ten-acre mansion in the capital."

Li Dashou was indeed a little tempted. His father was cheated last time when he bought a house in the capital. Later, the money was recovered, but the house was not bought. Thousands of coins were still in his hands. It would be good for his father and two younger brothers to come to Quanzhou for development. My father is located in Quanzhou, and my two younger brothers went to Liangdao, Jiangnan to buy cloth. Anyway, if there is no need to worry about sales, the Li family can grow bigger.

Fan Ning took a sip and said, "Mingren and Mingli have decided to open a weaving workshop in Quanzhou, with [-] looms, the number one in the Song Dynasty. Quanzhou can't recruit so many female workers, and they still have to go to Japan to recruit some workers." Thousands of girls, but they are only for their own business, not for the government, so I asked you to find your father and younger brother, don’t just do the cloth business, you can also go to the Central Plains to buy folk kiln porcelain and silk.”

"But are there so many people buying goods overseas?"

"Why not? Japan alone has a population of 1000 million. Think about it, how many goods are needed? There are also big food merchants, and more western countries. How much gold and silver can be brought by just porcelain and silk. Wang Anshi desperately To change the law and take profits from the hands of the powerful, instead of killing each other internally, it is better for everyone to work together to find wealth overseas."

Li Dashou lowered his head and pondered for a moment, "It's just that I was appointed as the Shibo envoy, but I let my father and brother do overseas trade, will I be criticized?"

Fan Ning sneered, "You didn't use your power for personal gain, so why be afraid of it, besides, with me supporting you, what are you afraid of? Everyone knows Mingren Mingli is my cousin, but who will investigate them?"

Li Dashou has been an official for many years. In fact, he also knows in his heart that if he is investigated, it is not because he used power for personal gain, but because of Fan Ning's downfall. He also knows that Fan Ning wants to build a large overseas business group as his Confidant, this responsibility must be taken by oneself.

He nodded, "I'll think about it a little more."

"You think about it for another night. I will go to Beijing tomorrow. You give me the letter. When I come back, I will send someone to Pingjiang Mansion to deliver it to your father."

"Okay! I'll give you the letter tomorrow morning."

Li Dashou also made up his mind, even if he let one of his brothers run the business, it would be good.

(End of this chapter)