The reason why Marin put the boiling salt base on Texel before was because he only had the territory of Texel at the beginning, and there was no way to put it elsewhere. Moreover, because the coal comes from Bochum, it needs to be transported from the mouth of the Rhine. Therefore, Thorenche has also become the place closest to the mouth of the Rhine in the Marin Territory, and it is also the most convenient place for coal transportation.
The seizure of the coal carrier in the Principality of Gedes also reminded Marin that Texel Island is so close to the Netherlands, and the secret of the salt cooking base is easy to be discovered. That is to say, there is a lot of talk on the west coast of Texel Island, which is not suitable for ships to sail. Otherwise, ships would have docked to observe the salt boiling base in Yancheng on Texel Island.
And as coal ships frequently docked at the port of Thorenchenen, the Dutch on the opposite side began to be a little curious-why did Texel buy so much coal...
The Dutch on the other side didn't know about the salt, because every time Marin shipped the salt out, it was well packaged and never exposed. Moreover, the island of Texel also prohibits outsiders from going to other places other than the port of Te Horenche, and offenders are immediately arrested. Therefore, the secret of Yancheng was kept for a long time.
But Marin knew that if those fishermen had a telescope in their hands, they could observe clearly far away from the Yancheng Boiled Salt Center. Therefore, Marin's control over the telescope has become stricter. Even, Marin requested that only serfs who were originally from Hoffman Manor, or serfs who have followed Marin for a long time, whose whole family is loyal, and have no foreign relations, are eligible to use the telescope.
However, in order to further keep it secret, Marin still built a tall wall on the west side of the salt cooking center in Yancheng, on the side near the sea, to block the eyes from the sea.
Even so, Marin felt that it was not too safe because there were coal carriers coming over the Rhine and Newcastle. After all, there are too many coal ships, which will also arouse the curiosity of the outside world.
If it is a normal commercial activity, but Marin has moved the capital to East Frisia, and the commercial activities here have not decreased but increased, it seems a bit abnormal. After all, according to common sense, it is reasonable for a place that has lost its capital status to be depressed. The most optimistic thing is that it is almost the same as before, and there is no reason for it to be more prosperous and lively than before.
It just so happens that importing coal from Newcastle is actually no better than unloading it at the port of Te Horenche. There are so many islands in the Wadden Islands, and it is almost the same where they are unloaded. Even the newly taken East Frisian Islands have many places suitable for cooking salt.
Moreover, the huge sea-going ship loaded with coal and entering the narrow Mars Channel is really eye-catching. After all, the ships that came to the port of Te Horenche to unload in the past were all small and medium-sized ships coming from the Rhine. Suddenly changing to a big sea ship is easy to lead people to guess.
What's more, the Mars Waterway is the main channel for Amsterdammers' merchant ships to enter and leave the Wadden Sea. The Dutch fishermen in Den Helder opposite may be a little stupid and can't figure out the reason. Had it been known to the clever and cunning businessmen of Amsterdam, they might have deduced the truth.
Therefore, Marin made adjustments and moved the location of Yancheng to the inland for a distance, and no longer placed it on the beach, which would easily attract passing ships to overlook. Moreover, walls were erected around the boiling salt base, and only smoke was seen inside. I don't know, I thought there was a steel base inside. As for the problem of taking seawater, this is very simple, just dig a diversion ditch to bring in seawater. Likewise, an additional drain could be dug to drain the excess brine out to sea, but in the other direction...
After thinking about it, Marin made the decision to partially relocate the salt cooking base. Specifically, the Yancheng Salt Boiling Center only reserves the production capacity for the head of the Wiggins Chamber of Commerce in Cologne, Wright, and the Principality of Cliff.
Then, the excess manpower was transferred to an island in the East Frisian Islands to re-establish a salt cooking center. The name of this new boiling salt center, Marin has already thought up, it is called "New Yancheng"...
In the future, the new Yancheng will fully use imported British coal, and the salt produced here will happen to be transported to the nearest Teutonic Knights. At the same time, the salt produced in New Yancheng will also be supplied to the entire territory of East Frisia.
Right now, the salt of the Counties of East Frisia relies on the mineral salt of Lüneburg, which surprised Marin. You know, East Frisia is a coastal country, and it is a joke to import salt from an inland country.
But this is the case, but like the Netherlands, the coastal areas of East Frisia lack the firewood needed to cook salt. Although there are some retail investors who cook salt, they cannot form a scale. Moreover, the original Sexner family seems to control the interests of salt sales. Therefore, the Sexner family forbids coastal fishermen to boil salt privately, and can only buy the Lüneburg mineral salt monopolized by the Sexner family.
Marin has been in control of East Friesland for several months now. As a salt tycoon, Marin naturally wants to take the monopoly of salt into his own hands. This is a huge profit industry. The feudal dynasties of China have obtained a lot of taxes from the monopoly of salt and iron, and also fattened a large number of corrupt officials. The entire territory of East Frisia, including the Wadden Islands, has a population of more than 80,000. With so many people added up, the consumption of salt is also considerable, and the profit is naturally a lot.
Moreover, the sea salt cooked in Marin's boiled salt base has the habit of discarding the bittern, so the bitterness in the salt is very weak and can hardly be tasted. Therefore, the salt produced in Yancheng is currently classified as high-grade salt in the European market. Only certain high-quality salt mines can produce it, and the price is very high.
Marin's plan is to use high-quality sea salt to completely replace the bitter mineral salt of Lüneburg and become the condiment of the people of East Frisia. Moreover, for its price, Marin also intends to adopt a par price, not the price of high-grade salt. Because, even with parity, Marin can still make huge profits.
In order to choose the address of the new Yancheng, Marin personally traveled to the East Frisian Islands to choose a suitable place to cook salt.
First of all, the island of Borkum, which is on the route from the port of Emden to and from the North Sea, is excluded. Because, on the side of the busy shipping line, it is easy to attract the attention of passing merchant ships. Merchants are very sensitive people, if they see the clues, they will be miserably copied...
Secondly, it can't be too close to the east. Because, the easternmost Wangeroog Island is already close to the seaside of the rebellious Jever area. It is not good to be seen by the Jever traitor.
Therefore, when Marin chose a location, he could only choose a few islands in the middle...
Marin hesitated for a long time between Norderney Island and Baltrum Island, but in the end, Marin chose the smaller Baltrum Island.
Because, after Marin's on-the-spot investigation, he found that Norderney Island has a large area and rich freshwater resources, so there are already many residents on the island. Moreover, there are frequent exchanges between Norderney Island and Norden, a seaside town across the sea, which is not conducive to keeping secrets.
And Baltrum Island to the east of Norderney Island is much smaller than Norderney Island, only about 6 square kilometers. Moreover, there are currently no residents on the island, and it looks a bit desolate.
But this is not a problem. What Marin wants is a remote place, a bustling place, and he still doesn't choose it. After the on-the-spot investigation, Marin discovered that there are freshwater lakes and streams in the southern half of the island, which can completely supply the freshwater for the salt cooking center.
Moreover, this small island is very strange. In the southeast direction of the island, there is a small peninsula that plunges into the sea abruptly, like a natural long bridge pier. Marin poked it with a wooden pole and found that the water on both sides of this natural long bridge pier was quite deep, which was very suitable for docking sea ships.
In the end, Marin finally made up his mind and built the new Yancheng on the southwest corner of Baltrum Island, next to the natural long bridge pier. Of course, like the salt city on Texel, the salt cooking center is no longer open to the air, but a tall wall is built to facilitate defense.
Because, Baltrum Island and Texel Island are different. Most of the water around Texel is not suitable for ships to dock, but Baltrum Island has a few places where it can dock despite its small size.
For the sake of safety, Marin decided to build New Yancheng into an urbanized island that specializes in cooking salt and has a particularly strong defense. If the enemy wants to attack, he must first face a solid city wall...
However, in order to prevent the island from becoming self-reliant in the future, although the island has sufficient fresh water resources and can plant some land, Marin still prohibits the cultivation of food on the island, and only allows to grow some vegetables. The food on the island will be delivered by ships sent by Marin. In this way, if the food is stuck in Marin's hands, they don't have to worry about them having the idea of self-reliance. After all, the castle on the island can not only guard against enemies, but also prevent Marin from exercising power...
Moreover, the small island of Baltrum Island only has an area of more than 6 square kilometers, even if it is not used to grow food, it is not a pity.
After selecting the address, Marin immediately ordered some salt cookers and their families in the old Yancheng to relocate to the new Yancheng. In addition, a group of masons was brought to Baltrum Island and began to build salt cauldrons and adobe houses. As for the walls and castles, there is no rush. The most important thing is to build the salt boiler and the houses where people live and start cooking salt. After all, the country of the Teutonic Knights is waiting for salt from here. Moreover, this place is relatively remote, far away from the route, and even facing away from the open sea towards the land. Outsiders generally don't come here, and domestic fishermen dare not approach here casually as long as they give orders. The city wall or something is not needed for the time being.
In addition, Marin also sent people to repair the natural "Long Bridge Wharf" on the southwest corner of Baltrum Island to make it convenient to dock coal ships from the UK and transport salt from here. Merchant…