"When we talk about the wilderness overseas, that's because the overseas population is sparsely populated compared to the Ming Dynasty. But it's precisely because of this that we can make a big difference." Han Du glanced at everyone with a smile.
Seeing that everyone was waiting for his next words, he continued: "Based on the land given by the Marquis of Shunshen, we can grow food three times a year."
"Can these lands be harvested three times a year?" Tang He asked in a trembling voice, holding the title deed of 30,000 acres of land in his hand. If he could really produce three crops a year, wouldn't the land deed in his hand be equivalent to 90,000 acres? Ninety thousand acres, if it were in Ming Dynasty, he would never dare to pocket it.
Han Du nodded and said, "Yes, but using this land to grow food is a huge waste and you won't make much money. If you want to make big money, you still have to grow sugar cane."
Then, Han Du told everyone what he had discussed with Marquis Shunshun.
Sugarcane can be used to refine sugar, so the price of sugar is naturally much higher than that of grain. Moreover, the demand for sugar in the Ming Dynasty was also huge. Many people lived their entire lives without having the opportunity to eat sugar several times. With the huge demand market in Ming Dynasty, sugar can naturally bring huge benefits to everyone.
Thinking of this, everyone laughed together.
Only Xu Da was frowning.
When Tang He saw it, he said: "Brother, please don't frown. This is not the land of the Ming Dynasty. Even if we take it, it will not harm the Ming Dynasty. Although your Duke of Wei's mansion is full of glory, how are you living? Don’t we old brothers still know about the days of tomorrow?”
Although Xu Da ranked first among the heroes and enjoyed great glory, he had no other benefits except his own food and Lao Zhu's reward. Although Xu Da often led troops, he loved his soldiers as much as his own children and did not allow himself to receive soldiers' pay at all. Therefore, the Duke of Wei's family had a great career, but their life was indeed not that good.
Tang He's Xin Guo Gong's Mansion was not doing well in other aspects. However, after cooperating with Han Du to open a restaurant, with this part of the income subsidy, it became much more comfortable and able to maintain the glory of Guo Gong's Mansion.
Although Xu Da is cautious, he is not stupid. He knew clearly what he could and could not do in front of the emperor. This kind of thing like occupying land overseas can be done.
Once, Xu Da didn't want to take the land just now, but he was thinking about another issue. He looked up at Han Du and said: "Thirty thousand acres of land requires at least three thousand people to cultivate it. Where are we going to find so many people? We can't drag the people of Ming Dynasty over, right?"
Lao Zhu would definitely turn a blind eye and not care about taking overseas land in front of the emperor. But if three thousand Ming people were sent overseas, Lao Zhu would definitely not agree.
And land that no one cultivates, no matter how much there is, is of no benefit.
"As for the human problem, Marquis Shunshao has already thought about it for everyone." Han Du continued: "Marquis Shunshao is now going around to arrest the local natives. When farming starts next spring, I'm afraid there will be enough The manpower has been used to cultivate the land for everyone. Of course, it is not easy for Marquis Shunfu to travel around. When the time comes, whether you choose to buy or rent, you can discuss it with Marquis Shunfu. At that time, as long as you send a few stewards in the mansion Just go over and keep an eye on it.”
Everyone looked at each other after hearing this. Since there is no problem, what else is there to say? Of course I do it.
After the Duke of Ying, Fu Youde, was silent for a while, he suddenly said: "I am a rough man. I don't understand what you are doing. But I want to ask something."
"Please speak, Duke Ying."
"You mean, we don't need to bring people there, we can just use the natives caught by Marquis Sangfang?"
"Of course." Han Du smiled and nodded.
Ying Guogong smiled, sighed and said: "You have never done farm work. Han Du, I will teach you a lesson today. Farm work is not as simple as you think. Even in the Ming Dynasty, it was not easy to learn farm work. A simple thing. It needs to be taught step by step by the parents from an early age. Only by doing this can one become a good farmer in the future. Those natives may not be able to learn it for several years. How do you expect them to farm? Think about it. It’s so beautiful.”
When Han Du heard this, he pondered for a moment, and then smiled and said: "My father-in-law is right, but growing sugar cane is easier than growing food. And the reason why the people farmed intensively was because the land was limited in the past, so they had to improve each day as much as possible. Each acre of land produces food. But we don’t have this need, as long as the natives can grow the sugar cane and harvest it.”
Fu Youde was not as open-minded as Han Du. He shook his head and said with a smile: "I'm worried that the natives can't even grow sugar cane. At that time, what will you do?"
Han Du was well prepared for this and said, "You must have heard of the story of Queen Zetian training horses, right?"
Not only Fu Youde, but also everyone else present was shocked after hearing Han Du's words.
No one answered Han Du, so he said to himself: "The whip will make the natives obedient and let them grow sugar cane obediently according to our methods. Even if there are a few who are disobedient, then use a hammer to break their legs. Serve as a warning to others. If they don't obey, kill them!"
The cold words chilled everyone present. But now, the people in this room are either Dukes or Marquises, and no one has killed anyone.
They were just surprised by the murderous intent in Han Du's words. After all, Han Du was once a scholar and only led the navy twice. Where did he get such murderous aura.
But Han Du didn't feel that he had any murderous intention in his heart. He just regarded the natives as slaves. What is a slave? It is a cow, a horse, or an animal. It is not a human being at all. Since slaves are no longer human beings, Han Du naturally has no murderous intent.
If the Ming Dynasty wanted to embark on a great voyage, if it wanted capital to sprout, if it wanted to transform from an inefficient agricultural country to a highly productive industrial country, and to start the industrial era, the participation and help of slaves was absolutely indispensable.
The beginning of the industrial age was built on the bones of slaves. Anyway, if these people do not contribute to the Ming Dynasty now, they will contribute to the Western countries in the future. Since they are destined to contribute to others, why can't this master be the Ming Dynasty?
Fortunately, no one cared about the fate of the natives. When they saw that Han Du had repeatedly promised that someone would cultivate the land for them, they all nodded and agreed. After being convinced by Han Du, he agreed to send stewards to Nanyang to manage his land.
