Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 227 Discussion of Trade ([-])

Ji Sixui said disdainfully: "This is my great achievement in the Qing Dynasty, not the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty."

"Although I don't want to get involved in some tasteless disputes, it must be said that this is a fact. In a society that can produce the buds of capitalism, business activities must be more active, and this reflects the higher level of per capita purchasing power and living standards." Immediately There is Mingfen who supports the views of the Minister of Chemical Industry.

"Another factor is that lijin was extremely heavy in the late Qing Dynasty and there were almost no customs duties in the Ming Dynasty. So the flow of goods in the late Qing Dynasty was actually very poor and everyone tended to localize natural economic production." Ji Situ continued.

Du Wen talked eloquently: "The increase in the commercialization rate in the late Ming Dynasty resulted in aggravated exploitation and social turmoil. This was also the case in the 100 years of old China. In addition, the low commercialization rate in the Qing Dynasty and the suppression of the power of landlords and gentry, the increase in population and the old It is related to the insufficient carrying capacity of urban population in the transportation environment.”

"Don't talk too far." Ma Qianju stopped Du Wen from continuing to talk, and Du Wen shut up obediently.

"I think the so-called budding of capitalism in the Ming Dynasty was exaggerated. The consumption level of ordinary people is obvious to all since D-Day. How much purchasing power do you think such a society has?"

"Your analogy is not very good. The consumption level of Lingao in the 21st century is not high."

"Even if it is Lingao in the 21st century, it is a commercial society, not a natural economic society. There is a big difference."

"It doesn't make sense to take Lingao, no matter what time and space it is, as an example," Wen Desi said, "just like those foreign capitalists who expected to get rich in China in the early days of reform and opening up Same. 90.00% of Chinese people still won’t buy his stuff. Consumption power has been concentrated in big cities since ancient times. Our status is actually the same as these capitalists. The market seems vast, but we can only choose those Sell ​​in areas with the ability. Guangdong, Jiangnan, and Jingshi are the sales markets for our products—other places are automatically ignored, and ordinary people in the Central Plains and Northwest have no way to be Taiping dogs and will not come to consume our products.”

Luo Duo said: "These places will be automatically filtered. Let's just talk about the possible goals that Mr. Wen said! If there is no lijin, the circulation of goods will be good? The fundamental problem is that ordinary people have no money. What do they use for consumption? This is not the same as consumption. It doesn’t matter if you are used to it. If you don’t have money, you have to save it. The reason why you don’t spend is still one word: poor!”

"I don't think so: you can tell by looking at the local landlords. No matter how rich the landowner is, it's okay to eat fine grains and meat every day. But what about the consumption level? Most landlords usually eat sweet potato porridge. Meat is also available every year. Only eat during the holidays."

Du Wen said: "Under the conditions of the clan small-scale peasant economy, in many cases, the value of labor plus diligence and frugality is the only way to accumulate primitive capital. The habit of agricultural labor makes people avoid speculative values ​​and risk values."

Yu Eshui nodded and said: "So, to take the commercial route of domestic sales, we must start with changing consumption habits, but how to achieve it?"

"Cultivate the middle class. The purchasing power of the bottom people is very limited."

"It's too simple, a typical middle-class omnipotence theory." Du Wen scoffed at such a lack of depth speech, "In my opinion, to change this habit, at least one thing must be done: [-]. Change the natural economic growth in ancient China. The first is to change the value of agricultural freedom and capitalism; the second is to create a "middle class"; the third is to improve the overall per capita economic level. The third point is that it was too slow in ancient times or before the second industrial revolution. The economic level has increased several times. The second point to note: it is not a capitalist or landlord class, but it is still quite difficult to overcome the natural laws of social Darwinism and create a jujube society. Moreover, in ancient times, the per capita economic level was limited and it was impossible to improve Under rapid circumstances, jujube society still has a destructive effect on social stability. In short: the natural economic society is a fairly stable system, and it is impossible to change it without paying a large social turmoil and price.”

"When you hear the queen talk about doctrine, you are bound to have a headache. But I still think you are right after getting rid of those gorgeous rhetoric." He Ying said.

Ma Qianju said: "Don't attack personally. If there is an argument to discuss, let's talk about the problem."

"I also agree with Luo Duo's statement. It is still necessary to look at consumption habits from an economic point of view." Wu Nanhai said, "When you have money, you will naturally consume, and you have to find consumption habits. I am willing to wait an extra half an hour every day, just to That one-dollar bus ticket. Such parents are often willing to spend thousands of dollars to sign up for a so-called art class for their children.”

"No, no. Economic conditions are just one factor. For example, everyone thinks that selling soap is a direction. In fact, no matter whether it is for home use or for helpers, the people who use soap with their own hands are basically the lower-class working people. And this thrifty habit often does not come from someone. This is not a sense of responsibility, but a pure habit—even if you are a servant in a foreigner’s house, you will get used to saving unnecessary money for your master.”

"Our soap can be considered as a first-class luxury. It is specially used for ladies, even famous prostitutes. Qinhuai Bayan should have become famous by now. Wouldn't it be a living advertisement for them to try?"

"How much can you sell it for?!"

"In fact, the demand for soap should be great, and there is a considerable demand for most service industries. Whether it is brothels, restaurants, medicine halls, soup baths, theaters, art gardens, mines, cloth workshops, etc., these are all It is already a huge market, even if there is no soap, soap powder is still a concept. Besides, the cost of soap is not high, and Nakato’s capital is enough. Is it true that only ladies and wives have demand? Practical Dodor.”

He Ying said: "Although the words are good, but having a demand does not mean that your product can meet this demand. There is something else without soap. In addition, the specificity of the function of soap does not disappear because there is no soap, but it is just used in other ways. It’s just a substitute. Like pig’s pancreas and saponins. Especially saponins are almost free. No matter how cheap the soap is, can it compare with free saponins picked from trees?”

"In the final analysis, it is still a 'poor' word! The reason why such a consumption habit is formed is not for nothing." Wang Luobin said, "The information Yu Eshui said, time, physical strength, comfort, and convenience are all 'free' , As long as you can save even a copper plate, you can squander these "free" elements. And until now, some old people's consumption concept is to only look at the price and not the quality. Therefore, I think that the commercial route should be advanced instead of thinking about what to do. To open up the market for future products, it is better to use technological advantages to lower costs to produce popular products at that time, and to earn profits by price advantages.”

"To use an analogy, there is a huge business opportunity for people to make better paper with less cost. Or there is a better way to make better and more fuel-efficient lamps. This is also a huge business opportunity. Even It’s a good idea. Making porcelain objects more functional and artistic is also a huge business opportunity. There are new iron smelting techniques, improved ironware, improved iron quality and better prices. Isn’t this a business opportunity? Even if it is a luxury product, As long as you grasp the creativity, the profits in the high-end market can also lead to good business opportunities.”

No matter how self-sufficient a natural economic society is, it needs to import commodities.It's not that ordinary people don't consume, but that there are no better products for them to consume.The rising import figures after the five-port trade opening in the late Qing Dynasty can illustrate this point.Why can kerosene and matches occupy the Chinese market? The Chinese did not suddenly become rich in the last few decades of the Qing Dynasty. It is just that kerosene and matches are much easier to use than the past products, and the cost of use has not increased much.

In the real world, China's domestic small-scale peasant economy and the natural economy are being disrupted in this way.There are not many new concepts, but the dumping of cheaper and slightly more useful foreign goods has broken the original small-scale economic system.

"So, in fact, we don't need too many fancy foreign trade goods."

"Well, in my opinion, once the triacid and dialkali are put into production, our most advantageous mass product is paper."

The consumption of paper is huge, and there are many levels of consumption. From writing imperial edicts to wiping buttocks, all kinds of paper are inseparable.With the chemical pulping technology mastered by the traveler, in this time and space, it is enough to close down all the paper workshops in the country-provided that the business network of the traveler can reach the whole country.

"Sewing needles and matches are also available. Let's focus on the sales of these three products." Ma Qianju said, "The current main trade glass products can only be regarded as luxury goods."

"Luxury goods should be divided into two parts." Wen Desi said, "Glass mirrors are luxury goods now. According to the market in Guangzhou, goose egg mirrors are sold for hundreds of taels. Only those rich can afford such prices." Affordable—Don’t be fooled by the volume of shipments. Guangzhou was the most prosperous city in southern China at that time, and there were more rich people. We must take a bigger look at the market. Let those middle-class families also be able to Affordable."

"Is the price reduced?"

"It's not just a simple price cut. It's a matter of classifying the product." Wen Desi has been thinking about this issue for a long time.A small amount of lucrative luxury goods cannot compare with massive mass consumer goods in terms of total profit.Just look at the Fortune 20 companies in the 500th century to see that the top figures for size, profit, and sales are basically those that provide common consumer goods.

"Mirrors are not technically difficult. After we have mastered the glass manufacturing technology, it is only a matter of time and raw material supply to manufacture glass mirrors in batches." Wen Desi said, "Take this opportunity to develop a complete series of mirror products. From selling We have to produce everything from large glass mirrors that are as long as the body of the rich to small mirrors with rough edges that ordinary people can afford."

(End of this chapter)