Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 111 Planters and the Slave Trade

After the merchants responded in a flurry of voices, Zhu Changluo began a conversation with the plantation owner Rogers Heydrich.

"Did you open a plantation in India?" Zhu Changluo asked.

"Your Excellency, yes, I own a sugarcane plantation and a cotton farm in southern India, near the coast." Rogers Heydrich, having learned from past experience, even offered to add, "I have some knowledge of farming, but I'm not good at enslaving people. That's why I have a long-standing partnership with Mr. Władysław Amato."

"Cooperation? How do we cooperate?" Zhu Changluo asked.

"Your Excellency, there's always some loss of slaves every year. So at the beginning of each year, I'll order a new batch of slaves from Mr. Władysław Amato, along with last year's orders, to ensure the plantation doesn't suffer from a labor shortage that would affect continued production."

"But the number of slaves to be replenished each year is a question that requires careful consideration. Suppose that ten slaves were lost this year, but two young slaves reached working age, so the net loss is eight. If twelve were ordered last year, then after I receive the replenishment from Mr. Władysław Amato, the farm will have four more slaves who only eat for free, and the profit will be reduced."

"On the contrary, if eighteen were lost at once, there would be a shortage of six slaves on my farm. If I want to ensure production, I would have to over-drive the existing slaves, which even Jesus Christ would not allow." Xu Guangqi translated and finally wanted to have the farmer arrested and beaten up.

Although slaves existed in the Ming Dynasty, they were legally considered inferior human beings, not animals. Furthermore, the Ming Dynasty Code clearly stipulated that ordinary people could not own slaves.

Only high-ranking officials and nobles of the third rank and above were allowed to keep slaves, and strict restrictions were placed on the number of slaves they could keep: "The number of slaves kept by dukes and marquises shall not exceed 20; the number of slaves kept by the first rank shall not exceed 12; the number of slaves kept by the second rank shall not exceed 10; and the number of slaves kept by the third rank shall not exceed 8."

By the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, slavery had resurfaced, but the imperial court only relaxed restrictions on gentry households keeping slaves and maids in new regulations issued during the Wanli reign. From beginning to end, the imperial court maintained a tight legal grip on slavery, never allowing common people to keep slaves and maids.

In the Ming Dynasty, if a pure businessman like Rogers Heydrich owned slaves and took it too far, he would be beaten with a stick 100 times. After the beating, the government would also order him to release the slaves and become a good man.

Rogers Heydrich not only owned and abused slaves, but he even dared to claim the name of Jesus Christ. This is no different from chanting "Amitabha" while raping and looting evil monks.

However, despite Xu Guangqi's reluctance, he had to continue the translation work as long as the emperor did not stop. "Even if Jesus Christ allowed it, over-driving slaves would cause them to wear out faster, which would increase production costs."

"So, I won't just use the number of slaves lost in a single year as a guide, but rather the average of the losses over the past five years. This way, even if the actual number of losses fluctuates and ultimately leads to a labor surplus or shortage, the discrepancy won't be too significant." Rogers Heydrich nodded frequently as he spoke, clearly satisfied with his management methods. "Won't those slaves rebel?" Zhu Changluo remained calm, but inwardly he was thinking: This guy really treats people like animals.

"Indians are easy to manage. Most Indians are already untouchables. They have absolutely no sense of shame and rarely resist. They seem to think being enslaved is their due." Rogers Heydrich laughed. "To them, being enslaved by the local nobles is no different from being enslaved by me. At least I provide enough food for the young, strong, hardworking slaves. They are already grateful to me, so how could they possibly rebel?"

"The biggest problem on the plantation is not slave rebellion, but slave escape. If the strong laborers run away during the busy farming season and delay production, the entire harvest of that season will be lost. And it costs money to buy new slaves, which is also a cost. So in order to prevent similar things from happening, I will hire some higher-caste Indians to manage and suppress those slaves with restless ideas." At this point, Rogers Heydrich touched his beard proudly.

"Didn't you say that we have food and drink? The slaves can't thank you enough, so how could they run away?" Zhu Changluo picked up the teacup and blew lightly, sending the rising hot air into the cold air.

".Replying to the Lord, there are always some people who are blind and ungrateful." Rogers Heydrich said embarrassedly.

Zhu Changluo ignored him and turned to ask the slave trader Władysław Amato: "Are all your slaves captured from India?"

"Your Excellency, I'm just a human trafficker. The goods I have are basically acquired through trade with the indigenous nobles in India and South Asia. The risk and cost of sending people to capture slaves myself are too high. As a human trafficker, I only need to hire a small infantry unit to hold down the 'warehouse'." Władysław Amato thought for a moment and added:
"If we capture slaves ourselves, a small infantry unit would definitely not be enough. If we hire cavalry, the cost would be several times higher. Moreover, capturing slaves ourselves could lead to unnecessary conflict with the native nobles."

"What do you use to trade with them?" Zhu Changluo asked, giving examples: "Gold, silver, or jewelry?"

"Your Excellency. They certainly accept things like silver and gold. The native nobles' obsession with gold is even more excessive than the greediest Europeans. But they don't just accept gold and silver. Most of the native nobles are very fond of Chinese goods and are willing to exchange their own slaves or captured slaves for exquisite goods."

"How's the market?"

"Your Excellency. The transaction prices of living things such as livestock are similar to ordinary commodities, and they fluctuate. Generally speaking, they follow the basic relationship of supply and demand. The best market conditions are when a certain native noble wins a battle and plunders the slaves of other native nobles. If you can seize this opportunity to start a transaction, the price will naturally not be too high." Władysław Amato was outstanding in appearance and spoke slowly and steadily. It was obvious that he had received a good education.

"If you would like to know more about the specific price, I would like to explain it to you in a more private setting. I assure you that as long as the order volume is large enough, I will be able to give you, the court, a satisfactory and stable quotation."

(End of this chapter)