"Oh! The exploration and trade between the shogunate and the Ming Dynasty!"
In the quiet room, the fire is warm. The soup in the pot is boiling slightly, and steam is coming out, mixed with the faint fragrance of tea. Kyoto businessman Morino Qing lowered his eyes and stared at the slightly boiling soup, just like the ups and downs in his heart.
The Ming Dynasty strictly enforced a maritime ban, prohibiting foreign merchant ships from coming to trade, and also prohibiting private citizens from going to sea privately. The so-called joint trade between the shogunate and the Ming Dynasty was in form the "tributary trade" in which the Muromachi shogunate, the "King of Japan", paid regular tribute to the Ming Dynasty.
The shogunate sent a tribute ship to the Ming Dynasty, which was carried by the country's big merchants. It carried a large number of special products from the country and arrived at the two ports of Beijing and Ningbo to conduct formal transactions with merchants officially licensed by the Ming Dynasty.
This apparent transaction included two parts, namely the tributes and gifts to the Ming emperor, which were called "official trade", and the transaction of goods shipped by merchants from both sides, which was called "private trade".
The items traded between the two sides, and the special products of China that the Ming Dynasty needed, were sulfur, copper, gold, silver, fans, swords, lacquerware and screens. The goods of the Ming Dynasty that He Guo needed were almost all-inclusive, and everything was lacking. Among them, Ming Qian Tong Bao, books, calligraphy and paintings, and silk porcelain are the major items.
Of course, both "public trade" and "private trade" are official trades with concessions from both countries. The profits from this kind of official trade were generally more than ten times for merchants from the Ming and Japanese sides, and two to five times for the shogunate's tribute gifts in return. The only one who lost money was the Ming Emperor.
"Ha! The real profit from Kanhe trade...is not just ten times higher!"
Morino Kiyoshi, a big businessman in Kyoto, was feeling flustered and whispered secretly. He knew in his heart that how could it be possible that the huge trade demands and massive cargo gaps between the Ming and He countries could only be met by one Ming ship in a few years!
Between the Ming Dynasty and the He Kingdom, there were not only official transactions on the surface, but also secret trade between the merchants of the two countries. The huge amount of private trade and the huge profits are like icebergs floating in the far north sea, a huge thing buried under the water. The official trade on the surface is just the tip of the iceberg, less than one thousand percent.
Since there is a huge private trade between the merchants of the two countries, why must they participate in the joint exploration trade? Wouldn't it be great to transport goods directly to the coast of Ming Dynasty for private trade? Well, the southwestern countries of the shogunate carefully considered this issue and boldly implemented it. As a result, they became Japanese pirates in the eyes of the Ming Dynasty officials and were chased and killed by the officials.
And the big businessmen who traded with them in the Ming Dynasty always had a sharp sword hanging over their heads to penetrate the Japanese. Once this kind of private trade is exposed, it will be directly abandoned by the big shots behind the scenes, and it will end without mercy!
As for the shogunate, merchants and samurai who trade privately without a license will be executed immediately if caught. It was only after the Onin Rebellion that the prestige of the shogunate gradually declined and its control over various countries gradually became weaker, so the number of Japanese pirates at sea increased day by day.
"Ah! If you can participate in the joint trade, you will have obtained a permit from the officials of the two countries... and it will truly open the door to private trade!"
Kyoto's great businessman Morino Kiyoshi closed his eyes and imagined in his mind the luxurious appearance of the great businessmen of Hakata and Kaiko, who participated in the prospecting trade, with a bustling family and a large number of servants.
When these big merchants go to the Ming Dynasty, they will prepare officially licensed trade flags and trade permission certificates printed by the two countries. Then, they quickly traded with the Ming merchants they met near the Ming Dynasty. And if they encounter a patrol fleet from the Ming Dynasty government and are unable to escape, they will raise a tribute trade flag and claim to be a Japanese ship that comes to pay tribute!
Generally speaking, when the Ming Dynasty navy encountered this kind of situation, it would only collect a tax and drive away the ships on the grounds that the tribute time had not yet arrived. And the navy generals, even if they were greedy for the goods on the ship, would not directly regard the official tribute ship as a Japanese pirate. Because attacking the tribute ships of foreign countries is too risky, but it can ruin their political careers, wealth and lives...
"These are in limited quantity, and it is difficult to obtain the exploration and trade flag and the exploration and trade permit... They are the talismans of private trade, and they can turn into a floating gold ship!..."
After lowering his eyes for a long time, Morino Kiyoshi opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and spit it out forcefully. With a wry smile on his face, he looked at Nobuhiro Takeda who was smiling but not smiling, shook his head and sighed.
"In our Tiantai sect, we have always practiced 'Samatha-Vipassana'. Only by cessation of desire can the mind be calm, and by silent contemplation can the mind be wise. If you practice 'Samatha-Vipassana' together, you can cultivate 'Concentration-Wisdom'..."
"Mr. Xinguang, you arouse the greed in my heart and disturb my meditation. You want to destroy my practice!..."
"Haha! Mori Yeqing, Master Jizang once said, 'If you don't destroy it, you won't collect it. The evil has been destroyed. The true Buddhist dharma cannot be said to be existence or non-existence, nor can it be divided into internal and external. The reality of all dharmas is neither existence nor non-existence. What is destroyed is what is collected. ?'"
Speaking of this, Takeda Nobuhiro clasped his hands together and showed a solemn smile.
"So, in my opinion, the reality of all dharmas does not need to be destroyed or established. If you do this, you are stuck!"
"..."
Hearing this, Morino Kiyoshi shook his head. He didn't argue with the other party, just replied with a wry smile.
"Xinguang Gong, this is the method of the Sanlun Sect, and you are also following the path of sophistry... This is the evil view of 'evil seeking nothingness', which is inconsistent with our Tiantai Sect."
Hearing this, Takeda Nobuhiro smiled and said nothing. He knew that his Buddhist cultivation was incomparable to that of Miaohuayuan's Morino Kiyoshi.
But since the other party responded in this way, it was aroused in his mind. With their minds together, their desires are great, and the balance of power between the two parties changes. In this case, wouldn't it be necessary to invest more money and give him more benefits? To put it more simply, if you want better and more tributes and connections with big shots, you have to spend more money!
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"Guang Guang, order some tea!"
Takeda Nobuhiro ordered in a deep voice, and Mitsuhiro Uizaki next to him put away his blank expression and solemnly lit tea. Then, with a respectful expression, he handed two cups of tea to the two of them. Both parties finished the drink in one gulp without any further exchange of greetings.
"It is indeed possible for me to get involved in the Kanhe trade. But the premise is that I have to get things done this time! Not only do I have to give a tribute that I cherish and amaze enough to give to the newly succeeded general's family, but I have to complete it. A request from a big shot. I also need the same unique and valuable gift to feed the big shots behind me, as well as the powerful Governors Hosokawa and Hatakeyama... Even so, there is only one possibility that I can obtain permission for Kankai trade. half!..."
The big businessman Morino Kiyoshi regained his composure, the gentle look on his face disappeared, and for the first time he showed sharpness. He looked at Nobuhiro Takeda and said calmly.
"Xin Guang Gong, everything in the world depends on man-made things. Between you and me, we will both lose and prosper. If I get permission to explore and trade, I will never forget your help today! And you came from the far north, If the furs, medicinal materials, placer gold, and horses obtained in exchange were transported to the Ming Dynasty, the profit would be more than thirty times greater!"
"I, Morino Kiyo, make a wish to the Buddha! If this plan succeeds, I will share the thirty times profit with you ten times!"
"Split me ten times?!"
Hearing this, Takeda Nobuhiro's calm expression finally became unbearable. He thought for a moment, finally nodded, and solemnly swore.
"Morino Kiyoshi, I swear to the Buddha in the name of the Takeda family!...If this is the case, your business is my business!"
"good!"
The great businessman Morino Kiyoshi stretched out his hand and clapped his hands with Takeda Nobuhiro, the head of the Uyizaki clan, and swore an oath. Next to him, Mitsuhiro Uyizaki's eyes widened and he was dumbfounded as he watched the negotiation between the two. Then, another loud shout from his father, Nobuhiro, came to his ears.
"Guangguang, order more tea!"
Mitsuhiro Uizaki pursed his lips and ordered tea again. This time, his movements were a little out of shape and his expression was a little hazy, but no one cared. Morino Qing drank slowly, put the tea cup away, and then asked in a deep voice.
"Xinguang Gong, my old friend... tell me, what do you want?"
