Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 2422 Trade Adjustment Memorandum ([-])
And the profits of China Merchants will be divided with the Jiangnan gentry of the Ming Dynasty.In this way, the Senate's direct profits will be even less.

The reduction in profits not only affected the finances of the Senate, but also involved another issue, which in disguise strengthened the strength of potential opponents.

To be honest, what Wang Kai is least worried about is the money flowing into the hands of Ming gentry, which can only be called "temporary custody" at best; what about smugglers?In fact, it's not a big problem. After all, smugglers have a strong sense of adventure, and most of the money they earn will re-enter the trade cycle.And as the power of the Senate on the mainland became stronger and stronger, this part of the money could also be regarded as "rotten in the pot".

In his view, the biggest danger is that this money has strengthened VOC, and its development momentum is faster than that of the old time and space.

Due to the long-term problem of transportation capacity, the Senate sold most of the goods to Europeans and waited for others to come to buy them; the routes operated directly were mainly two-way transactions between Lingao Guangzhou and Jiangnan and Jiangnan through the channel of China Merchants. ――Japan Trade in Nagasaki.

Private maritime merchants were mainly engaged in Asian domestic trade, which was gradually incorporated into the Dutch Asian domestic trade system.In contrast, the business of Europeans represented by the Dutch can be described as smooth sailing.They have full choice and initiative in trade.The Dutch can even earn more than ten times the profit with a pitiful principal.

VOC not only obtains profits from the entire trade process, but also obtains abundant working capital.Wang Kai came to this conclusion after studying related models.

Of course, VOC is their partner now, and the relationship between the two parties can be called "harmonious".But both sides are always wary-whether it is the Senate or the Dutch.

"...We have an equal identity relationship with Westerners. We organize mainland commodities for them. They originally wanted to come over with empty ships, and the price of the grains shipped will not be raised. Considering that our willingness to sell commodities is greater than that of the old time and space. Various continental powers, it is difficult for us to ask them additionally with the matter of "organizing commodity procurement". But we do need to ask them for some additional things. Also, our efforts for this Eurasian trade are actually better than theirs It is much more, but the bulk of the income is in their hands. Why do you say that? We provide maritime security for the entire East Asia and the South China Sea. We have commodity organization capabilities and means of payment that transcend this time and space. We have the strongest navy in the world. What about our status? Using the analogy of countries in the old time and space, we are equivalent to having the strength of the US military and one-sixth of Saudi Arabia's trade status. At most, add one-sixth of Italy. Is this okay? This Not good. Must change!"

After reading his own conclusion, Wang Kai felt that it was almost done.He revised some words, put the memorandum into the briefcase, and called the secretary in.

"How about the appointment I asked you to arrange?"

"Just now the office phone replied: You can go there on time."

It has become so difficult to see the chief of staff now.Wang Kai secretly slandered.Power is something that really separates you from those around you without knowing it.

The appointment time is ten o'clock in the morning.It takes about half an hour to take a rickshaw from the Colonial Trade Department, including the security check.Wang Kai checked his watch, it was less than nine twenty.During the cautious period, it is better to go there earlier.

At ten o'clock in the morning, Fatty Wang was brought to Xiao Zishan's office by the female secretary.

As usual, Xiao Zishan smiled and shook hands in the style of "comrades and brothers", and added "warm hospitality" greetings.When the secretary brought a cup of tea and left, Wang Kai knew that he could talk about business.

"Director Xiao, I came here today to report to you some thoughts and situations on foreign trade. Especially some things about the recent trade adjustments with Japan."

Xiao Zishan continued to smile and nodded: "It's easy to say, easy to say. But foreign trade is not my scope of supervision."

"Personally, I just want to reflect to you my thoughts as a foreign trade professional. There is no other meaning." Fatty Wang unconsciously used honorifics.

"In that case, I'm all ears—I'm a layman when it comes to trade."

"I'll try to explain it clearly."

Wang Kai first briefly explained the materials of the memorandum, and then he said:

"The main commodities on the Sino-Japanese trade route are raw silk and sucrose, and sucrose is completely under our control at present; raw silk, thanks to the efforts of the Hangzhou station, is also under good control. There will be some smuggling, and they take advantage of the security we provide. The environment and local cooperation in Japan. But we can also provide 'unsafe' at the same time. The defected pirates under our control have already started to do so. In terms of transportation capacity, only ten ships of H800 are needed per year, and we can always squeeze out .”

"I have some doubts. We have obvious advantages in bulk products and industrial products. In this case, is the prosperity and freedom of trade more beneficial to us?"

"Your statement is correct in the 21st century. Countries with advantages in products and products naturally feel that the freer the trade, the better. But it is different in the 17th century. The degree of trade exchanges is very shallow, the scale is limited, and the production capacity is large. Restrictions and insufficient competition. At this time, we cannot achieve freedom, but choose the part with the largest profit. Pragmatically speaking, in Australia and Song Dynasty, our current total trade income is far less than 590 million Australian dollars , where can I get it back?"

Fatty Wang paused for a while to let the audience digest, and took a sip of water by the way.

"In addition to transporting grain and basic materials, what else do we need them for?" Director Xiao is a pragmatic person and is more interested in this issue. "

"For example, we hope that the trade in Sanya will prosper, and we hope that they will promote our new products vigorously, such as bone china. But, because they have a lot of choices, they just need to respond kindly to us, There was no real action."

"I understand what's going on in Sanya, what's going on with bone china, can you tell me more about it?" Director Xiao asked.

"The bone china made by Dr. Qi is several grades higher than the traditional white porcelain celadon, and the yield rate is higher, so the material is cheaper. Of course, the high yield rate is because he uses 'steam with thermocouple temperature control. Power Mechanized Continuous Tunnel Kiln', from the name, you should know that its equipment cost, or construction cost is relatively high. This means that we need Westerners to vigorously promote bone china and reduce equipment and construction as soon as possible. cost, and give a higher price in about the first 5000 boxes, which is about twice that of traditional porcelain. Although the quality of bone china is more than twice that of traditional porcelain, Westerners still only promote it in a small range in Asia, the largest In the European market, they refuse to sell our new products."

"Why is that?" Fatty Wang paused for a moment, then Xiao Zishan asked, it seemed that he had already attracted attention.

"We assume that traditional porcelain is sold at A$1/piece and bone china is A$2/piece; Westerners ship them to other parts of Asia at A$2/piece and A$4/piece; if they Shipped to Europe, the prices are 10 AUD/piece and 20 AUD/piece. You may have discovered that people who can buy porcelain in Asia for 2 AUD can buy it for 4 yuan. But in Europe, the gap is absolutely The value becomes 10 yuan, which is not so easy to sell. Westerners represented by the Dutch have limited capital, er, they are not salted ducks. They want to ensure the profit margin of each dollar, so they will be more inclined to traditional porcelain.”

"Oh, I understand, so do we have the means to make a request directly?" Director Xiao asked.

"We mentioned it, but the effect is limited, and our means have not had a decisive impact. This is what I said before, they can easily obtain a large amount of silver in Japan. Even if we use diplomatic means and administrative means to force them to buy a certain The product is not very meaningful. There will be many such products, and we are in a passive state." Fatty Wang breathed a sigh of relief, and finally explained half of the things clearly.

"Even if the Dutch earn a lot of money in Japan, they still spend it here?"

"No, on the contrary, the more profit they make in Japan, the lower our sales. This has to be explained in two parts again, one is the Japanese price special case, and the other is the Dutch trade model. Don't blame me Wordy..." Fatty Wang tried his best to make his explanation attractive.

"No, it sounds interesting."

"Let's use sucrose as an example. This time we don't assume it. We use the actual price. In order to correspond to the unit of Japanese silver, I don't use Australian dollars for the time being. The port sells to the Dutch at 1 taels/cartal. In Japanese ports, the price of cane sugar can be sold at 2 taels/cartal, and in Amsterdam, the price of sucrose fluctuates between 6-10 taels/cartal. There is also a premise that our output Not enough to fill both the Dutch demand for Europe and Japan. What would you do if you were Dutch?"

"Does the Dutch have other suppliers?"

"Yes, they can also purchase in India, and the local production is still higher than ours."

Xiao Zishan nodded thoughtfully: "I understand what you said. The price in Japan is three times higher than our local price. What if we raise the price? To 3 taels."

"Then we will lose the European market. Don't forget that there is America as a variable. If the price of sugar in Asia exceeds a certain limit, Europe will definitely increase its investment in sugar in the Americas. The Dutch's principle of purchasing sugar from Asia is : When the price is the same, try to purchase cane sugar from China. The price is still the first.”

"What if we cut prices in Japan? Will it increase demand in Japan?"

(End of this chapter)