The Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 501: The Orchid and Bamboo System (4)

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"Master Chen has such a vision. He is indeed the leader of the Lanzhu business community." Zhu Youjian frowned and thought for a while, trying to calm down his tone. "Business is indeed an important means of enriching the people, but for the whole Lanzhu As far as the province is concerned, Master Chen still has to learn to do it in multiple ways.

"Master Wang means..."

"It is often said in the mainland of Daming that doing business is a trivial trick. Looking at it from the bottom of it, doing business is like hair. It is the highest link and the last link to enrich the people," Zhu Youzhen hesitated before saying: "So, where is the foundation of doing business?"

"Basically?" Chen Da still doesn't understand. Isn't doing business just an exchange of money and things? Pay with one hand and deliver with one hand.

Zhu Youjian finally pointed out the key, "Master Chen, if all the people in Lanzhu Province are doing business, what goods can be sold?"

"Goods for sale?" Chen Da felt that he understood a little bit, but he still didn't understand it. It seemed that there was a sense of itching between boots through a layer of window paper.

Zhu Youjian asked with a smile: "What Mr. Chen said about doing business is entrepot trade, also called transit trade. It means that you don’t produce goods by yourself. All goods are purchased from elsewhere and sold elsewhere. Isn’t that right? ?"

"Master Wang, isn't trade like this?" Chen Da smiled back, but felt that it was faintly wrong, so he smiled somewhat unnaturally.

"Look at Master Chen." Zhu Youjian took out the Nanyang map he carried with him and spread it out on the square table. "There are two Nanyang trade routes. One is the eastern route, which starts from Malacca and goes along Batavia. (Jakarta), from Kuching, Fusong to Taiwan, and then to the mainland of Daming, which is usually Xiamen."

"My Lord Wang is right. We do business along such a sea route."

"But Master Chen will look again. In Nanyang, are there other routes besides this sea route?" Zhu Youjian pointed his finger at the map and let Chen Da see for himself.

Chen Da thought of the Eastern Route mentioned by Zhu Youjian just now, "Could it be that the Western Route is also possible?"

"Yes, starting from Malacca, if you follow the western route, you can go from the east coast of Annan to Qiongzhou, Guangdong, and then enter Guangzhou in the inland." Annan has now gained independence from Daming, and Zhu Youjian doesn't want to lose his eyes. Wolf.

"But, Lord Wang, no one seems to have walked this road."

"Nothing now, doesn't mean there will be no in the future," Zhu Youjian thought of the later generations of Britain and France, taking this trade route. "With the increase of Western maritime merchants, this path will definitely be opened up in the future."

"Master Wang, this..." Chen Da suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. If this maritime trade route is opened up, not only Lanzhu Province but also his family's commercial business will suffer a huge decline. "We can stop this trade route. Open it up?"

"Businessmen pursue profit and directly obstruct it. They cannot obstruct it. Moreover, Annan along the coast is not Daming's land, and the South China Sea Fleet is also powerless."

Chen Da looked at the map carefully, "Master Wang, this business way seems to be closer."

"So, from a cost perspective, once this channel is opened, no one can stop it." Zhu Youjian saw Chen Da's disappointed look, and then added: "Unless you!"

"We?" Chen Da raised his searching gaze. Now he can only ask Zhu Youzhen for help. "What can we do?"

"If you can produce some goods, then the merchants don't need to go to the Daming Mainland," Zhu Youjian continued: "I'm not talking about the goods already in Nanyang, but the goods produced in the Daming Mainland."

"Ah..." Chen Da understood. If Western maritime merchants can buy the same goods in Lanzhu Province, why should they go to the mainland of Daming instead of near and far? At least some merchants will use Lanzhu as the terminal, "But, can we produce goods from the mainland of Ming Dynasty?"

"Of course you can't produce some goods, but some goods, such as clothing, sugar, etc., you can produce, and you can even produce goods that are not available in the mainland of Ming Dynasty. As long as there are enough goods, you still worry about not having a sea merchant?"

"Your subordinates have been taught!" Chen Da got up and gave Zhu Youzhen a deep glance. His eyes were also swept around Zhu Youzhen, as if he was asking whether this was his idea or his majesty's." Lord Wang is saying that we not only need to provide a trading base for maritime merchants, but also to produce more products?"

"That's what it means," Zhu Youjian said with a smile: "After all, there will not be too many people involved in transit trade, but if a large number of production plants are built, a large number of people will be recruited, so that more people will have more than enough people in their hands. "Money," Zhu Youjian chased after one step, "If the people have more money, your business will do better business!"

"Sure enough!" Chen Da was relieved. "It's a pity that Lord Wang has seen the essence of business so well, but didn't come to do business!"

"Haha, Mr. Chen is the elite of the shopping mall," Zhu Youjian laughed, "It's just that Mr. Chen used to only focus on the interests of business itself, but now it is different. Since Mr. Chen is the governor of Lanzhu Province, he must be Lanzhu. People of Bamboo consider."

"Hey!" Chen Da smiled wryly. He only then thought that a person's identity would have a different starting point. "Master Wang can see through the essence of things at a glance. He is really a talent in the world."

"Your Majesty Chen praised, where can your Majesty be worthy of any chance? Your Majesty is the talent of the world," Zhu Youzhen shook his head and smiled, pushing all the credit to "Your Majesty", "Your Majesty also let him I would like to ask Master Chen, what percentage of all the people in the future Lanzhu Province, who are engaged in commerce and industry, will account for?"

"How much?" Chen Dawei closed his eyes and thought for a long time, but there was no result. He peeped at Zhu Youzhen and found that Zhu Youzhen was drinking tea without hurriedly, obviously waiting for his answer, so he had to insist. The scalp said, "I'm afraid it's less than 30%!"

Zhu Youjian put down the porcelain cup and slowly said: "If within five years, the people engaged in industry and commerce can reach 30%, Mr. Chen will be indispensable." Without waiting for Chen Da to reply, he continued: "Even if it can reach 30%, It's less than half of the total number of people, Master Chen, and 70% of the people, what should we do in the future?"

"The rest of the people naturally want to farm," Chen Da knows. Whether it is in the inland areas of Ming Dynasty or Nanyang, more people are still engaged in agriculture. If there is not enough food, no amount of money will be used, "Master Wang's It means that you want the officials to care more about these farming people?"

"That's what your Majesty said," Zhu Youjian nodded, "First, all the people must have land to cultivate. Once the people have food to eat, Lanzhu Province will be stable."

Zhu Youjian naturally hoped that the people in Lanzhu Province should cultivate as much farmland as possible. Lanzhu Island is surrounded by plains, with abundant water resources, fertile land, and tropical regions. Rice is grown two or three times a year. It would be a pity if these farmlands are abandoned. Now, there is no need for food to be sold. It doesn’t matter if you can’t eat it, you can sell it to the mainland of Ming Dynasty.

More importantly, when allocating land, if proper measures are taken, it can also attract natives to naturalize.

"Your Majesty said that farming is the foundation of a province. Orchid and bamboo will be stable only if there is abundant food and the people have food to eat. Industry is a sign of the prosperity of Orchid and bamboo. When industry develops, the people will benefit from it; The foundation of huge profitability, without commerce, the goods produced by the people cannot be converted into income in money. Therefore, His Majesty hopes that Mr. Chen will gradually improve the techniques of agricultural farming, and gradually reduce the amount of work done without reducing food production. The agricultural population should include them in the scope of industry and commerce, so that more and more people will become wealthy."

"Your Majesty would like to follow your majesty's teachings!" Chen Da saluted the north from the air. "With your Majesty's guidance in the capital, Lanzhu's government affairs will definitely flourish." Chen Da was secretly anxious. Such a big difference, if it hadn't been for your majesty to send imperial envoys, he would have thought that enlisting was to protect his family's belongings, and he would no longer have to live a life of fear and fear like before.

"With Master Chen in Lanzhu, Your Majesty will rest assured!" Zhu Youjian is also quite satisfied with this conversation. Although Chen Da has no experience as an official, as a businessman, his brain is very lively, and he is very good at it. Those saints in the Mainland are much easier to deal with. It is precisely because he has no experience of enrolling in scholars that he has no official mentality. Compared with the Donglin Party, he has a passion and does not have the stubbornness of them.

However, Zhu Youjian and Chen Da spent only half a day, after all, Chen Da was born as a businessman, and his profit-seeking nature will more or less exist. He has to beat him, "Master Chen is most familiar with business. Do you know the restrictions imposed by Ming Dynasty on commerce?"

"Restriction?" Chen Da was startled, "Master Wang means..."

"For merchants to make money, the court does not interfere. After all, the court can increase taxes. However, some goods are related to the future and destiny of the country and may also be related to the interests of other businesses. The court will restrict or prohibit exports. Once someone exports without authorization, they will betray the country. The imperial court will punish severely, and hope that Lord Chen will also strictly control the businesses in Lanzhu Province.

Chen Da was a little restless, "Master Wang, which goods are restricted or prohibited from exporting?"

"For example, flintlocks, flower bombs, etc., these military materials are prohibited from being exported by the imperial court to avoid leaking related technologies, such as cement, iron, and grain. If they are exported in large quantities, they will strengthen the strength of others. If these goods are exported, You must obtain permission from the court." Zhu Youjian does not want commercial traitors to appear. "The court has express regulations for these goods. It is better for Master Chen to learn the laws of Ming Dynasty."

"The lower officials will arrange manpower as soon as possible to fully learn the various laws of Ming Dynasty." Chen Da relieved that these goods are not within the business scope of his family. It seems that the court will treat him equally instead of targeting him Chen Da.

Zhu Youjian looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was about to move above his head, "Master Chen, time has come so fast, unknowingly, it's almost noon, and there is one last question below."

"Yeah, it's almost noon," Chen Da twisted his somewhat stiff body, then gently rubbed his wrists, "Master Wang, please!"

"Master Chen, how long do you plan to serve as Governor of Lanzhu?"