The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 914: Nagasaki Tea Party
In the 38th year of the Jingyan Emperor Liu Fan's death, the Qi Parliament, having lost the reins of imperial power, made a difficult decision:

In a letter sent to the inhabitants of the Eastern Provinces, the Assembly wrote:

To my fellow citizens of the Eastern Provinces (referring to the islands of Japan), as you read this letter, we have just made a very difficult decision. Until local taxes can no longer support the Empire's various projects in the East, we have decided to increase taxes in the Eastern Provinces, with specific amounts based on local economic development and population. We understand this may cause you some inconvenience, and we sincerely apologize. We have also included the reasons for this decision below, and we hope to gain your understanding and support.

In fact, this was the second time that Tenshin City imposed commercial taxes on its eastern colony, Nagasaki.

In the past few years, as the number of officials stationed in Japan has increased, the huge official expenses of the stationed officials have become increasingly difficult to support.

Imposing additional taxes is undoubtedly the most direct and feasible option.

Under the governance of Dong Shaowei and others, Japan was no longer the miserable country with starving people everywhere, but became a paradise in the eyes of the people of Qi.

Over the past decade, relying on cross-border trade, technological improvements and a reasonable distribution system, Japan has become a paradise with prosperous business and abundant materials.

Every year, more than 30,000 merchant ships from Europe, America and other places docked at the port of Nagasaki, and more than 300,000 foreign missionaries, merchants and sailors filled the streets and alleys of major cities in Japan.

Nagasaki regained its prosperity, Edo became larger than before, and even Kyoto, which had been reduced to ruins during the war, began to undergo large-scale construction.

However, the Japanese who originally lived in this land have disappeared, and they have been replaced by immigrants from all over the world, with various skin colors and speaking various languages.

The former Wa Kingdom, now the eastern province of the empire, is becoming a paradise for adventurers from all over the world.

~~~~~~~~~~~
One morning in early October, a spice ship from Persia dropped anchor and docked under the tow of port workers. Black merchants stood on the sampan and bargained with Nagasaki officials. A group of energetic sailors who had just woken up from a hangover were the first to land on the island, staring at the women who appeared on the dock with their burning eyes.

The sailors are in high spirits and are determined to disrupt the entire city today.

"Is this the last spice ship this month? How many tons has it brought in this month?"

"Less than 300 tons. Apart from what is handed over to Tianxin City, this is the amount that Nagasaki will keep."

At the Nagasaki outlying island dock, two people, one old and one young, dressed in black and looking like Han Chinese civil servants, were pointing at a Persian merchant ship that had just entered the port. They were surrounded by a group of soldiers armed with live ammunition, including several black faces.

The young official raised two fingers and gestured with a meaningful expression.

"Old sir, I'm afraid the Chamber of Commerce won't agree to the tax rate set by Tianxin City. Besides, Daqi's tea is about to arrive today, and the price is very cheap..."

"Competition, this is just the beginning."

"But Nagasaki won't be able to hold on."

The young official was about to continue speaking when the old official turned around and looked to the north.

In the industrial area far away from the port, there are densely packed chimneys that rise high into the sky and are emitting black smoke.

At this moment, behind the chimney, perhaps there is a pair of eyes looking at the dock and the two officials through a telescope.

"The Commander is very concerned about this matter, Imperial."

The old official stroked his beard and continued, "The Empire wants more from Nagasaki, until we can no longer pay."

"And then there's the war?"

"Tianxin City feels that Japan owes them a lot."

The young official was indignant: "Wa is Wa, Nagasaki is Nagasaki, we don't owe Qi anything! At worst, it will be like ten years ago!"

The war ten years ago was so brutal that many Japanese cities were reduced to ruins. "War is the worst option. Before that, there are many other countermeasures."

The old man signaled the young man to calm down, turned his gaze towards the harbor where masts and oars were like a forest, and instructed his colleagues:
"The large ship carrying tea needs to be escorted by more soldiers when it comes to landing, otherwise there might be an accident."

~~~~~~
Emperor Jingyan's funeral was held with great ceremony.

The council members of Tianxin City can't wait to declare war on the eastern province.

The so-called declaration of war certainly did not mean sending troops, but rather increasing taxes on colonial residents several times higher than in previous years without consulting the locals.

The parliamentarians may not have known that such thinking could lead to fierce resistance from various factions in the eastern provinces.

Unlike Da Qi, this is a land that advocates freedom and contracts.

By imposing more taxes, what can Da Qi bring to these immigrants?

A broader market, better living conditions, or more wealth.

Nothing at all.

There are just more obligations.

The tendency towards independence in the eastern provinces became increasingly serious.

~~~~~~
When Liu Fan was alive, he successively dispatched thousands of officials to the Eastern Provincial Government and transported tens of thousands of tons of food and supplies to the east. The fifth emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty worked hard to maintain friendly relations between the largest colonies.

However, the emperor's policy of good neighborliness was strongly opposed by the majority of the parliament from the very beginning.

Until Emperor Jingyan lost power.

Tianxin City quickly abandoned this colony and Dong Shaowei.

Although Qi abandoned most of its obligations to the colonies, it was unwilling to give up the rights it enjoyed in Wa.

The councilors used the Eastern Province as a dumping market for Da Qi's industry, a source of high-quality raw materials, a place of exile for serious criminals, and a holiday resort for the powerful...
In short, the leaders of the Great Qi in the post-Liu Fan era grabbed the sheep of the eastern province and pulled it hard, even if the sheep had been pulled to bleed.

In order to prepare for possible resistance, the Imperial Pacific Fleet has been retrained over the past eight years.

As more and more mineral deposits were discovered in the east, Tianxin City realized that this was an opportunity, an opportunity to eliminate the financial crisis of Da Qi.

In 1733, Finance Minister Charles Townshend suggested reducing the tenant rent in Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi and Henan provinces from % to %.

The tax cuts resulted in a fiscal revenue shortfall of approximately one million taels, which would be made up by income from the colonies.

After Emperor Jingyan lost power, the depressed Nian Gengyao picked up the red pen and signed various imperial edicts.

Against this background, Townshend worked tirelessly to propose several bills, which were passed. These were the famous Townshend Acts.

According to the relevant provisions of the Townsend Act:
From now on, import taxes will be levied on glass, tea, paper, pigments, lead and other goods imported into Nagasaki and Japan. Commercial taxes will be levied on merchant ships from various countries entering ports such as Nagasaki and Edo. A head tax will also be levied on sailors and missionaries from various countries.

Through the above taxes, it is estimated that the Da Qi treasury can increase tax revenue by 5 million taels of silver each year.

~~~~~~~~~
The local forces in the eastern provinces saw more and more clearly that as long as Townsend continued to wreak havoc in Tianxin City, war would sooner or later break out in Nagasaki, Edo, or Kyoto.

(End of this chapter)