open sea

Chapter 807 Compensation
Acosta was hastily summoned to the Changsheng county government office. This time, it was not Chen Mu who received him, but the county magistrate Zou Yuanbiao in a civil robe.

This meeting was much more solemn. After all, Zou Yuanbiao did not treat the Westerners as casually as Chen Mu did. There were only two accompanying interpreters who received them strictly according to the rules of the Ming Dynasty and conveyed a message to Acosta.

"My Son of Heaven has said beforehand that he wants to establish Youjing in Panama. Even Chen Shuai can't make the decision on this matter. Therefore, I hope the envoy will tell the King of the Western Kingdom that Panama cannot be ruled together and must be the land of the Ming Dynasty."

When Acosta heard that he was summoned, his heart sank. Now that this heaviness has become a reality, he cupped his hands jerky and said: "Spain needs the Isthmus of Panama to transport goods. Our trade with Ming Dynasty, without Panama, where would we transport it from? "

"And as a country that is about to sign a treaty, I would like to remind Your Majesty that it is no secret that the king wants to build a canal in Panama, but why hasn't it been built in decades?"

Acosta didn't believe Zou Yuanbiao's words that Youjing of the Ming Dynasty was here. Did they think their emperor was a god?They didn't even know there was a place called Panama before the war, and now it's the capital city on the right?
Obviously, the Ming army's move to capture Panama made them know something, such as the canal plan they had been investigating for decades?maybe worse?
From the bottom of his heart, Acosta didn't care that the Ming Dynasty people knew about Xiguo's plan for the Grand Canal, because no country in Europe had the ability to build this canal.

Building a canal is a hundred times more difficult than paving a road on a mountain. Not to mention in the New World, even in Europe, the national systems of European countries are not enough to mobilize the people to build such a large-scale canal.

Of course, the planned Panama Canal is not huge for ancient China, ancient Egypt, and ancient Persia, but it is too huge for Europe, where the first 750-meter-long canal was built by the English monastery in the Middle Ages to transport agricultural products. .

Although it is huge, it is not impossible to build it. Spain captured [-] Indians and blacks to build the mountain road. As a result, the slave labor rebelled many times during the road paving process, causing them huge losses-if [-] were used?

For more than five years, at least two legions of troops have been continuously invested to suppress slave labor, just to build a place where ships can go. The risk of landslides caused by excavating mountains and forests, etc.

Compared with these costs, people generally think that it is good to walk with mules and horses on the mountain road for two days.

However, the Ming Dynasty was different. As early as the time of Marco Polo, the travel notes recorded the news of the Grand Canal. If this matter was handed over to the people of the Ming Dynasty, it might really be possible—at least Acosta thought so.

Therefore, although Acosta had speculations in his heart, he really hoped that Chen Mu would be willing to take on the drudgery of building the canal. He was not worried about this at all.

First of all, the planned river is not easy to repair. If it was in the hinterland of the Ming Dynasty, this river would not be too difficult, because the Ming Dynasty had a strong mobilization ability, but in the New World, there is no such thing; secondly, if Chen Mu really wants to repair it, Spain will Both feet are up in favor.

The limited energy of the Ming Dynasty people in the New World was devoted to this river, and the Spaniards could sleep peacefully on the other side of the ocean.

What he was worried about was that the Ming people would not allow the Spaniards to use the mountain roads they built.

"Unless you can pay enough compensation to make up for the transportation loss, for example, our trade price will be reduced by [-]%, otherwise it is impossible to hand over all of Panama to you."

Although Zou Yuanbiao's status in the Eastern Military Mansion has long been low to the toes, but facing the "envoys of the border despise the country", the magistrate still has unparalleled authority and pride. He slowly shook his head and said firmly: "No, you I don't want compensation."

Zou Yuanbiao was not overbearing, he flipped through the buffalo leather notebook on the table casually, and said reasonably: "The price of the goods is [-]% lower, and the commercial tax is increased by [-]% as usual. Such compensation is not enough for an ignorant person I will."

Zou Yuanbiao only said to follow the rules, but he didn't say where the rules were, because he didn't know where the rules were. He just repeated what Chen Mu told him earlier.

They have known for a long time that the Spaniards will want to make a fuss about the price of goods. According to the analysis of the staff, the significance of Panama to the Westerners is to shorten the transportation distance. The degree of care in governing the place is not even as good as those of the plantation owners.

They will never let go of any opportunity to gain a trade advantage.

Speaking of it, Zou Yuanbiao really admired Chen Mu more and more. He could think of such a shameless method of reducing the price by [-]% and increasing the commercial tax by [-]%-he blushed when he said it, but Chen Mu was already very proficient.

Acosta didn't come up in one breath, his face was suffocated, like a big piece of pork liver that has been sitting for a long time.

Because he really didn't know how to answer it.

Mingxi trade is completely a seller's market. The goods traded in the current treaty, whether silk, porcelain, guns, or artillery, are all bought by them. Ming Dynasty people basically do not buy their things. All they have is a lot of silver.

Moreover, this silver was dug out under the eyelids of the people of the Ming Dynasty.

Acosta thought, he thought it would be great if they could sell something to Ming Dynasty too!
Fortunately, Zou Yuanbiao immediately spoke human words: "The imperial court will not compensate you, but the imperial court knows that you have worked so hard. You don't need to transport it in the future. The trade is completed on the west coast, and the imperial court will transport it to the east coast for you, right there. Just wait for the shipment."

"If Ming's merchant ships sail to the east coast in a few years, then I'll just wait to unload them in Seville and send them to you."

Adhering to Chen Mu's consistent proposition, Zou Yuanbiao and his staff all agreed with Chen Mu's decision to take care of the transportation.

There is no other reason, because Chen Mu said that communication is necessary now and in the future, but this kind of communication has never been equal. If you communicate with him, you can poach his corner, get all his good things, and Add your own good things and continue to develop.

If he comes to communicate with you, the situation will be reversed, he gets your excellent science and technology, but you don't get his.

Active and passive, the results are very different.

On the balcony of the port office, Chen Mu stood on the railing, overlooking his city and let out a long breath.

In his eyes, the history of the world is dynamic. He has seen more ups and downs than others. He knows that a country that is now strong will experience decline and tribulation in the future, and find a way out of the tribulation to rejuvenate.

More countries that are now strong will be devastated by the ordeal.

He also knows that the weak and weak countries will become strong through tempering, and monkeys will be born all over the world.

But he didn't know what impact his decision at this time would have on Spain, and which path they would take.

But he knows the secret of a great power and prosperity—it is to never admit defeat and to work hard.

If Spain shrinks due to its scramble in the New World, take a longer-term view, find the country's shortcomings and bury itself in making up for it, hold back the current seeming weakness, do not engage in large-scale wars outside for 20 years, and rely on its strong national strength to develop locally Handicrafts, manufacturing.

In 20 or even 200 years, Spain will be a powerful country in the world.

But let their nobles hold back their feeble infirmities?

Let Philip not start a war for 20 years?

If he doesn't hit others, he will hit him.

Chen Mu smiled reassuringly.

(End of this chapter)