At this time, Qi King Zhu Cunhua was patrolling Penglai City with his Prime Minister Gu Yuan.
The huge Qi State, after years of development, already has two prefectures and seven counties.
They are Linzi, the capital of Qi, and the two basic counties of Jimo and Langya. Linzi Prefecture, with Fuyin, belongs to the capital.
After the Sulu Kingdom was destroyed, Tongdao County, Dongdao County, and some islands were established, which was called Xihai Prefecture.
After the Penglai gold mine was excavated, many silver mines, iron mines, and coal mines were discovered nearby. These were all minerals urgently needed by Qi State, and Penglai Prefecture was immediately established, with jurisdiction over Penglai and Chengshan counties.
Among the seven counties, Xihai Prefecture has a total of 50,000 people, Linzi Prefecture has nearly 100,000 people, and Penglai Prefecture, which has only been developed for two years, has increased sharply to 20,000 people.
The population of Qi State jumped to 170,000, and the rate of growth continued to accelerate. Immigrants from the mainland and Qin State continued to increase. It is expected that in less than ten years, it will be 500,000.
The reason for its rapid development was that Qi State lacked capital and people and allowed merchants from overseas and the Ming Dynasty and its tributary states to mine gold mines in Baoshan.
After paying a licensing fee of 10,000 silver dollars, you can find mountains and forests to mine at will. If it is a gold mine, you only need to hand over half of the gold.
Even if Qi State controls the richest part of the gold mines, for businessmen, the profits cannot be underestimated.
As a result, merchants from all over the world gathered together, including wealthy merchants from East India, as well as merchants from Luzon, Qin, and even Guangdong and Fujian.
Either in groups or alone, it can be said that the work is in full swing.
In view of the lack of manpower in Qi State, in addition to purchasing slaves from other island countries themselves, they also often transferred civilian slaves from their own country.
After all, slaves are unruly and cannot understand the language, so how can any fellow villagers be useful?
Gold mines and silver mines can be exchanged for silver coins, and coal mines and lime mines can be transported to Qi State. You will not lose money in any way, you will only make more or less.
"Gu Qing's development strategy has already paid off."
King Qi looked at the convoys that were leaving the city in an endless stream, and couldn't help but sigh: "Although the gold mine is profitable, it has to be given up. Half of the gold was exchanged for immigrants, and a large amount of grain was used to sell the gold. The real giveaway No more than 20 to 30%.”
"It's worth it."
"Gold mining involves people eating horses and chewing horses. It consumes a lot of money, and the mine site is uncertain. It may be all in vain. It is only possible to specialize in gold mining business and let this group of businessmen keep the gold in Qi State. Expected."
Gu Yuan stooped slightly, and his hunchback did not affect his speech at all, with a flying color on his face: "The reason why I asked His Highness to establish two counties is because I saw the potential of Penglai Prefecture."
"Next year, there will be more people coming to open gold mines, and they will also bring more workers. Who wouldn't be happy to win them over to our Qi country and grant them land and houses?"
"The land in Qi State is not enough."
King Qi hesitated for a moment: "If we just grant the land, I'm afraid it will be disrespectful and unfair to the people."
Gu Yuan frowned.
What King Qi said was beyond his expectation.
But he had been in power for many years, and he was no longer Wu Xia Amen. His political level was much higher. After thinking about it, he understood the general idea.
The interests of the State of Qi and the interests of the King of Qi are not the same.
For example, mines and the benefits of mountains and rivers are the property of the King of Qi. If it is in the Ming Dynasty, it must pay licensing fees and pay high taxes and profits to the emperor.
As for gold and silver mines, only the emperor can mine them exclusively, and now they are greatly profitable.
At the same time, granting land and houses also violated the interests of the King of Qi.
The army spent great efforts to capture wild slaves to open up wasteland, and all the land was granted to immigrants. You must know that these lands theoretically belong to the King of Qi.
The huge Qi State was entrusted to the King of Qi by the Ming Emperor, both in terms of people and land.
In the Ming Dynasty, the emperor may not be able to use his power to decide all the land in the country, but the King of Qi can.
The long-term profit concession has made King Qi dissatisfied.
After all, the Qi State is changing with each passing day. Although it is not a giant, it is still worthy of the land of the mainland. It is time to harvest.
In other words, after having wronged King Qi for many years, it was time for him to enjoy himself.
After all, King Qi is only twenty-one years old, very young.
No matter how powerful the prime minister is, he is no match for the king of a country.
Gu Yuan's thoughts changed and he said casually: "The vassal government clears tens of thousands of acres of wasteland every year, which consumes a lot of money. It's hard to justify doing it for nothing."
"And there are so many people and so many eyes. It's not appropriate to let some strangers in."
"Your Highness, I wish that Linzi Prefecture is an important place in the capital, and the vassal's confidants are not allowed to grant land. Instead, they can grant land and houses in Penglai Prefecture. After a few years, the land will no longer be granted, but sold at a low price..."
"Very good!" King Qi nodded and smiled.
Linzi Prefecture is located in the southwest of this large island, facing the sea plain and harbor. It has been developed for many years and is already the most prosperous area.
With the benefit, King Qi would be satisfied.
Although he is greedy, he is not stupid. Development and enjoyment can go hand in hand.
There was too much profit before, but now I have taken back some, which is enough.
Seeing that King Qi was satisfied, Gu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and continued: "Your Highness, now our Qi State has too close contact with the Naxi Yi, and they actually want to preach..."
"No." King Qi heard this and sneered: "Now that the people are at peace, it is time for Confucianism and Taoism to prosper. How can the Western religion show off its prestige?"
"As far as I know, the Eastern Diocese that Your Majesty spoke of did not mention missionary work in our country? Even if it is missionary, it is the Society of Jesus. The bishops of our country are also appointed by me. Who are the Dutch?"
When the state of Qi was newly built, like the state of Qin, many people's minds were not peaceful, so a large number of temples were built to express their homesickness.
Even the Taoists had a lot of people come.
Thanks to the emperor's gift package for the vassal state, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism were all available, with Taoist temples, temples, and schools, which quickly appeased the people.
As for the ancestral halls that existed all over the world during the Ming Dynasty, only some officials would build them.
Even, in order to establish the ruling order as soon as possible, everything from thoughts to behaviors should be carried out according to Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucian model.
Because this is the most effective way to teach.
The so-called Qin Xue of the Ming Dynasty was based on Neo-Confucianism, but Qi State did not even have Neo-Confucianism. Therefore, Zhu Xi's backward Neo-Confucianism took root deeply in Qi State from the beginning.
In a sense, to an extreme level.
Under such circumstances, the idea of opposing Western Yi missionaries was naturally common.
Just like today's North Korea and Japan, even though they are aware of the Jesuits' compromise policy, they still resist it.
North Korea only allows the Jesuits to preach on Yeongjong Island, a commercial island, while Japan only allows them to preach in Nagasaki Castle, and every move is monitored.
"Your Highness, I think we can preach in Dongdao and Dongtai counties. After all, the Peace Sect is very powerful there..."
Gu Yuan said softly.
Xihai Mansion was built after the Sulu Kingdom was destroyed, but it had been baptized by the Peace Cult two to three hundred years ago.
Although the Peace Sect at this time was very easy-going and compromising, it was not as easy to control as Confucianism, even though King Qi was honored as Sultan.
Therefore, for Xihai Mansion, the whole Qi State continued to work hard to assimilate it, but the time was too short and little effect was achieved.
"You mean, let the two religions conflict?"
King Qi narrowed his eyes: "Or, with the help of the Dutch?"
The Dutch East Indies were not far away. If they were to preach, they would definitely have to compete and use their power to fight against the Peace Sect.
When both of them were defeated, it would be appropriate for the vassal court to intervene.
"That's a good idea." King Qi nodded: "However, we have to turn the Quran and the Bible into Chinese characters..."
The Peace Religion believed in in Sulu naturally uses Arabic script. Although it is only in the hands of the imam, it is still a hidden danger.
Rewriting can not only instill Chinese characters, but also tamper with some unfavorable aspects.
After all, how many ordinary people at the bottom can read?
The monarch and his ministers reached a consensus.
…
Qin State, Hanoi.
It's the rainy season, the sky is cloudy, and it can rain three or four times a day. People on the streets are wearing bamboo hats, and only those with a little money are holding umbrellas.
"Please, fifty pieces of iron money!"
The bullock cart was parked in front of the Yuelai Inn in front of it. The cover was soaked and drooping, but the huge signboard was very conspicuous.
As soon as Han Lin opened the curtain, he saw the driver stammering these words, which was very convoluted and awkward.
Obviously, he is a native of Qin.
"It's too expensive. Can I get forty coins?"
"No, that's okay." The coachman shook his head, his face very determined.
"That's all." Han Lin took out eight copper coins from his arms and placed them in his hand.
The latter left happily.
He shook his head and carried the salute into the inn.
In the Qin State, the silver-copper-iron model was implemented.
That is, one copper coin is worth five iron coins, one silver round base is worth one thousand copper coins, and five thousand iron coins are exchanged.
There is really no way, who makes Qin State short of copper and silver.
Therefore, iron money can only be forged to activate the economy.
It's just that iron money is cheap, and both private and official people prefer copper coins, so it's actually one copper for eight iron coins.
But this group of Qin people are smart and can recognize outsiders at a glance. They only need to pay iron money. Once copper coins are given, they must exchange them according to the stated price.
Of course, copper coins and silver cents were also collected, but Han Lin was afraid that they wouldn't be able to find them.
When Han Lin walked into the inn, his style was no different from that of Ming Dynasty.
A room with three meals included costs one cent a day.
It was very cheap in Ming Dynasty, but it was expensive in Qin State.
"My silver is not easy to get." Han Lin took out the silver and looked at the shopkeeper and said: "You are taking advantage of my hundred iron coins. You need to add a pot of wine and meat."
The copper round automatically floated up by 20%, which was much more than the copper coin, so naturally it couldn't be let go easily.
"Sir, don't worry, it will definitely happen!"
The shopkeeper was heartbroken and could only accept it.
A plate of green vegetables and tofu, a plate of small fish, a bowl of coarse rice, and a pot of rice wine are enough to complete the meal.
Han Lin was sitting at the table eating. He looked at the waiter who was serving the food and casually rewarded him with a copper coin.
The latter pursed his lips, his eyes full of joy, but clearly: "Sir, do you have anything to ask?"
"I heard that the food in Qin is controlled by the royal family?"
"Your Majesty, you want to sell grain?" The waiter chuckled and said, "You are too late. Now there are only three grain merchants in the Qin Dynasty. They are basically in the pocket of the King of Qin and senior officials."
"Now I'm afraid I won't even be able to eat leftovers."
Hearing this, Han Lin was not discouraged.
Because among Qin's exports, although there are specialties such as spices and silk cloth, the bulk of them is grain.
Such huge profits are naturally coveted, and monopoly is the inevitable result.
It is said that the Qin State sold more than one million shi of grain in Yunnan, Guangxi, Hainan, Guangdong, Luzon and other places in one year.
Even if one stone of grain is calculated as 5 cents, it is still 500,000 silver dollars. For the Qin State, which was short of copper and little silver, it really quenched a lot of thirst.
"What fun things does Qin have?"
"I don't know about this. The Ming Dynasty is different from the Qin State after all." The waiter said helplessly: "If I had known about it, I would have gone to Zhennanguan to sell it and made a lot of money."
On land, Qin borders Yunnan and Guangxi, with convenient transportation and frequent exchanges. The Guangxi section has "three passes" and "one hundred passes".
Among them, Zhennanguan, Pingerguan and Shuikouguan are the most famous.
Qin was a vassal state, so it was naturally eager for trade with the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was also open to its own sons, allowing the establishment of sales offices in the three passes to collect taxes and transactions.
In these three levels, whether it is pearl agate, ivory or rhinoceros horn, or even iron, salt, or gunpowder, you can sell it with very few restrictions. There will be no restrictions like in Mongolia.
Han Lin had no choice but to let him introduce Hanoi City.
"Sir, there are 300,000 people in Hanoi now, and there are 50,000 or 60,000 imperial troops nearby. People come and go every day. It is a first-class big city in the Qin Dynasty. The copper coins flowing every day have gone to Haizi..."
After listening to the introduction, and with his stomach full, Han Lin left the inn and looked for business opportunities.
However, he still found two guides to lead the way.
Walking along the street, because it is the consumption of the princes and nobles, there are all kinds of shops with all kinds of goods.
It’s just that the goods from the North are more expensive.
As for southern goods, vendors along the street sell them one after another.
Whether it is a signboard or a cover, they are all Chinese characters, making people extremely friendly, as if they were in the Ming Dynasty.
He walked around the outer city, and then looked around in the village outside the city.
At this time, he discovered that buffaloes were very common in Qin State, and there were many cattle in every village, which were suitable for their growth.
Of course, beef tendons and cowhide were expensive and military supplies, so he would not dare to get involved.
But there are many horns!
In Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Huguang areas, it is customary to use horns to make musical instruments.
Not to mention, it can be used as a bugle, a horn comb, a scabbard, and even to ward off evil spirits and control the house.
Of course, horns are also a kind of medicinal material, and all kinds of pharmacies have to collect them.
The urchins were playing with the horns at will, obviously not knowing their value.
That's right, there are too many of them and they are worthless.
It seems that close to Hanoi, there is a school in the village. Some children are shaking their heads while reading aloud in Mandarin that is slightly off-key.
The content of the lectures is nothing more than the Three Character Classic and Hundred Family Surnames.
With a guide, the language difference was solved, so Han Lin collected five copper coins for an ox horn in the village, and was widely welcomed.
In one fell swoop, I got about twenty qualified horns.
If you return to Guangzhou, you can get one silver cent for an ox horn, which is twenty times the amount.
Suddenly, a man said secretly: "Do you want to take away the rhino horns?"
Huge surprise appeared on Han Lin's face.
Rhino horns are extremely valuable, one tael is worth ten taels of gold.
If it's true, this trip will make a fortune.
