Water Margin people

Chapter 1440: Trade Planning

After a brief period of chaos, Quanzhou quickly regained its prosperity. Without the disruption caused by corrupt officials and foreigners, the Port of Quanzhou operated more smoothly.

“Yes, it’s lively!”

Sun Lei looked at the busy Quanzhou Port and said with a smile that the ships coming and going in Quanzhou Port at this time were mainly merchant ships from Qi State, as there were too many goods in the Central Plains that needed to be sold.

"It is all thanks to your Majesty's wise leadership. If it were not for your Majesty's presence and guidance, I am afraid it would take a long time for me to solve these troublesome problems."

Qian Zhen said with a smile.

"Stop flattering others and spend more time thinking about how to get things done!"

Sun Lei glanced at Qian Zhendao.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Qian Zhen bowed quickly.

"Quanzhou Port will become an important port city in the future. Now the port is still too small. There are also those houses and a large area of ​​shacks right next to the port. It is neither convenient nor safe. Even though the port is close to the water, if it catches fire you won't be able to save it!"

Sun Lei pointed to a large area of ​​makeshift houses in the distance and said, these were all built temporarily by outsiders, and they formed a large area over time.

"I understand. We will renovate and expand the entire Quanzhou Port immediately!"

Qian Zhen nodded and said that the problem in Fanren Lane had been solved, and the corrupt officials who were left behind had also been solved.

The most troublesome ones are some local gangs. Most of these people hide in slums, rely on the poor as cover, and engage in smuggling and various illegal activities.

"What are you going to do?"

Sun Lei looked at Qian Zhen and asked.

"Let the army drive them away and then demolish it!"

Qian Zhen’s idea was very simple. These houses were built privately, and most of the residents relied on Quanzhou Port for their livelihood, so he just ordered them to be taken away by force.

“This is just forced demolition!”

Sun Lei was speechless, as if he had become the bad guy again.

"Your Majesty, these were all built privately. They don't have property deeds or land titles. How can this be called forced demolition? They are breaking the law!"

Qian Zhen spoke righteously, saying that as an official he had memorized all the latest laws of Qi State, and it was absolutely true that this matter was not against the law.

"Don't let anyone die. Our goal is to make Quanzhou Port better."

Sun Lei nodded. Although he felt that Qian Zhen's approach was problematic, the truth was that if such things were tolerated, it would be a bad start and many people would follow suit.

"I know that I can convince people with reason, but if they refuse to listen to reason, I will inevitably resort to force!"

Qian Zhen said he knew what to do.

Sun Lei didn't say anything else. Sometimes violence was unavoidable, and giving in blindly would accomplish nothing.

"His Majesty!"

Li Ying, dressed in official attire, came in front of Sun Lei.

"Haha, you look like a rich man in this outfit!"

Sun Lei said with a smile while looking at Li Ying in front of him, Li Ying had always been in military uniform before, it was really surprising to see him suddenly changing into official uniform.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for making a fool of myself!"

Li Ying bowed with a smile.

"How about it?"

Sun Lei looked at Li Ying and asked, "I have contacted a group of local merchants and formed a fleet. We will be able to go out to sea for business next month. Those people have been living on the sea for generations and are very familiar with the situation in the South China Sea."

Li Ying replied that he had not been idle during this period. Relying on his identity as a northern merchant and some connections in the court, he was very successful in remote places like Quanzhou, and many local merchants wanted to cooperate in business with him.

"Well, you did a good job. If you need any help, you can contact Xiao Qi and the others!"

Sun Lei nodded. Since they were doing business at sea, they would encounter a lot of troubles. The wind and waves were one thing, and dealing with alien races was another. This required sufficient military force.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Ying bowed quickly.

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing. Pu Kaizong also wants to join my caravan. He claims to have connections in Champa and the Arab world and can help us open up trade routes there."

Li Ying spoke again.

"Take him with you for a while. If he can help, use him. If not, kick him out! Also, don't limit your caravan to Quanzhou Port. Hu Cheng has also organized a caravan in Guangzhou Port. You can cooperate with him!"

Sun Lei looked at Li Ying and said.

"Hu Cheng? I know!"

A trace of discomfort flashed across Li Ying's face, as if he was choked.

"Hu Cheng is such a despicable fellow. I begged for the privilege of going out to sea for business, but this fellow is trying to fight for it! It's all because I have a beautiful sister! Humph, why don't I have such a good life!"

Li Ying cursed in his heart. Hu Sanniang was now a noble concubine and had given birth to a princess. Not to mention Hu Cheng's other identities, just being the emperor's uncle was enough to put him above others.

"Don't have that expression. Working hard is more important than anything else. Don't limit yourself to Quanzhou. You can develop in Mingzhou, Changjiang, and Dengzhou!"

Sun Lei knew what Li Ying was thinking just by looking at his expression. Hu Cheng made this arrangement somewhat out of consideration for his daughter and wife, but it was just a little bit of face.

For Sun Lei, checks and balances are also necessary. Li Ying is a smart guy, and matters at sea cannot be left to him alone, so Hu Cheng is a restraint, and with Chai Jin's involvement, the overall situation can be well controlled.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Li Ying hurriedly saluted in fear. He was a little frightened that his unintentional change in expression just now was actually seen by His Majesty the Emperor.

Next, Li Ying reported in detail how he planned to conduct business and the goods he planned to take away. Most of them were glassware, porcelain and silk, which were also the most needed goods overseas.

"Be more careful when you come back and select the goods. Those things are not that valuable!"

After hearing about the goods that Li Ying was going to sell back, Sun Lei began to express his own opinions.

Sun Lei doesn't care about coral, ivory, rhino horn, agate, crystal, spices, and blankets. These things are mainly for high added value, but are actually not worth much.

"Your Majesty, overseas, this is all we have! The rest are slaves!"

Li Ying said helplessly that the overseas trade was just silk, porcelain, and tea in exchange for spices, coral, agate, crystal and the like.

"I'm asking you to lower the price. Isn't it a loss to exchange a piece of silk for a bundle of spices? What are spices? Some bark, leaves, grass, and fruits. They are everywhere in the mountains and grow every year. Do you think they are worth a piece of silk?"

Sun Lei looked at Li Ying and said that if it was something really good, he would just let people grab it, and for those that were not valuable, he would lower the price.

"I understand!"

Li Ying reacted immediately. All the things in Middle-earth were good stuff. To exchange them for some foreign items, the value had to be re-determined.

"I admire you. Your Majesty is the one who makes money!"

Qian Zhen said with a smile.

"What's that? Once we conquer the South China Sea, I'll let you know what huge profits are!"

An evil smile appeared on Sun Lei's face. He planned to let the West enjoy the Opium War as well. The nobles over there would probably like it very much.