"My lord, your debts are getting bigger and bigger..."
Yao Daqiao was wearing a crimson official robe and a black gauze hat on his head. He followed Zhu Cihuan and walked step by step by a small lake. From the corner of his eyes, he kept looking at Masaki Hoshina, who was walking behind him with a samurai sword. This boy was too pink and tender, and his figure could be described as petite. No matter how he looked at it, he looked a bit like a girl disguised as a man. Sticking to the prince's side...this is not very good!
The prince is becoming more and more masculine. When he was in Yingtian Mansion and Shanghai Mansion, he was a greasy-faced guy. Now, being blown by the sea breeze on the Pacific Ocean, exposed to the scorching sun, growing a big beard, and being displaced for thousands of miles, he has actually developed a murderous spirit.
The place where Zhu Cihuan and Yao Daqiao are walking now is a small island in the middle of the Gulf of America, about 60 miles away from Peninsula City by waterway. However, this 60-mile waterway is not a straight line, but is winding and must pass between several islands and peninsulas.
The topography of the Gulf of America is really nothing to say. The huge bay is filled with islands and peninsulas. Except for Dashan Island (Vancouver Island), the other islands are very flat. The land on the islands is fertile and the vegetation is dense. And there is no shortage of rain in this area, with more rainfall throughout the year than in Jiangnan.
So just by cutting down a few trees on these islands, you can sow wheat or soybeans. The only troublesome thing is digging out tree roots, but no matter how difficult it is to dig out tree roots, it is still easier than digging out rocks in the soil.
In addition, crops harvested on these islands can be transported by water to the entire Gulf of America region and even the entire west coast of the New World.
If the grain produced in the American Gulf can be used to raise pigs, and then made into bacon and suet, it can be transported back to the mainland of the Ming Dynasty in large sailing ships for sale!
So Yao Daqiao, who was a grain merchant, after some investigation and research, used the proceeds from selling the iron blocks, copper blocks, and lead blocks he brought (the American government was preparing for war with all its strength, and of course it purchased these war materials at high prices, so that A small part of Yao Daqiao (who made a huge profit) bought 15 United States common stocks from the market in Peninsula City, and then bought Zhu Cihuan's 5 United States common stocks. These 20 United States stocks were used to exchange for an island with an area of more than 20,000 acres, a flat terrain, and a small freshwater lake, and named it Little Chongqing Island.
Now Zhu Cihuan and his Japanese military soldiers are stationed on the island, and Yao Daqiao has also hired hundreds of stock refugees from Peninsula City. Relying on the labor of these Japanese samurai and stock refugees, by the autumn of the 15th year of Hongxing's reign, there was already some situation on Little Chongqing Island. Around a bay in the north of the island, a small port and a series of wooden houses were built, and some farmland was also opened. On the edge of the lake in the middle of the island, several relatively decent wooden houses appeared. That's where Zhu Cihuan's palace and Yao Daqiao's palace are located - Yao Daqiao is now an official, a dignified palace official! It's just that this official not only doesn't have a salary to get, but also has to pay money.
The prince's own expenses and the salary and food expenses of his two thousand Japanese samurai are all accounted for by Yao Daqiao, the "big brother"!
Less than ten thousand taels of silver a month!
Although Yao Daqiao now has a lot of money, he sold more than 500,000 taels of iron, copper, and lead blocks alone. After taking into account the shipping fees and various expenses for purchasing United States stocks and developing Little Chongqing Island, he still has no less than 400,000 taels on hand. Ten thousand taels, the interest earned by depositing it in Pacific Bank for one year can be more than 20,000 taels.
But Zhu Cihuan and his Japanese soldiers could spend 120,000 taels from Yao Daqiao a year... They couldn't afford it with interest!
Moreover, investment must continue to be made in the development of Little Chongqing Island!
Cutting down trees, digging roots, leveling the land, building canals and ponds, building warehouses and residences, purchasing and raising farm horses, purchasing various farm tools and seeds... All kinds of expenses are added together, and there is nothing. With an investment of 70,000 to 80,000 taels, the 20,000 acres of fertile land on Little Chongqing Island cannot be developed.
And even if these 20,000 acres of land are developed, there will not be a net profit of 120,000 taels a year...
So Yao Daqiao cannot afford to support Zhu Cihuan, a gold-swallowing dragon!
Zhu Cihuan sighed as soon as he heard Yao Daqiao mention "debt".
Wei Zhongcheng, Qi Yuanbi and Yu Daren are all traitors who deducted military pay!
The three of them used the excuse that the guards of the county palace were not affiliated with the American Palace or the American Army, so they could not bear their daily expenses. They could only agree on the remuneration before the guards of the county palace went into combat operations - Wei Zhongcheng, Qi Yuanbi and Yu Daren actually followed the rules. Son, if Zhu Cihuan is the king of United States, of course he can make the American Palace pay for his guards.
But he is not the king of the United States, or even the county king of the United States, but the county king of the Ming Dynasty. How can the United States bear the expenses of his stay in America?
Therefore, the American Palace could only hire palace guards to fight.
Zhu Cihuan turned his head and looked at the frowning Yao Daqiao, "Chang Shi... are you worried that I will not repay my debts? Is this the kind of person I am?"
Aren't you just a "deadbeat"? Yao Daqiao said in his heart: You still rely on me! What a miserable life I have! I have been exiled to America, and I have not escaped from you, this unlucky prince. Do I really have to be eaten dry by you before I am done with it?
Zhu Cihuan looked at Yao Daqiao's face and felt a little embarrassed - the biggest difference between him and his third brother Zhu Cijiong is that he still has a bit of shame and is still thinking about paying off his debts... But now the debts are getting more and more, Not to mention repaying the principal, we can’t even afford the interest!
Moreover, the Japanese samurai who followed him to the American Mansion were also seeking a wealthy future, not to cut down trees and dig roots for Yao Daqiao.
It's been almost three months now...
Zhu Cihuan and Yao Daqiao, the "destined couple" (they were both monarch and minister, creditor and debt slave, so fateful) were sighing when they suddenly heard the sound of horse hoofbeats. Prince Zhu turned around and saw that one of his retainers, a guy named Takeda Nobunaga, was riding a horse. When he reached the edge of the lake, he turned over and dismounted, then galloped to Zhu Cihuan. After half-kneeling down, he reported in blunt Chinese: "Your Majesty, the Grand Administrator Wei and Admiral Qi are here to visit. They have arrived at Haiwan Village."
Bay Village is on the edge of the small bay in the north of Little Chongqing Island, where all the ships visiting Little Chongqing Island park.
Zhu Cihuan and Yao Daqiao looked at each other, and both found a hint of joy on the other's face.
There's drama!
Those two guys were the masters of the Three Treasures Hall who would go to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing - that was natural. As soon as they didn't invite the princes who were waiting for Emperor Zhu to see him, they suddenly came with troops. Wei Zhongcheng and Qi Yuanbi didn't mobilize their troops to arrest them. You're too polite, how can you get close? Zhu Cihuan is not a "rich king", so you have to look at the person you want to flatter him!
Therefore, after Zhu Cihuan went to Little Chongqing Island, they and Yu Daren, the commander of the American Army, had not been here.
They came here today, they must have something to ask for!
...
"Your Majesty, the Shimazu family's envoy has said that he is willing to surrender to you... If this succeeds, we will advance seven to eight hundred miles south and enter the Satsuma Valley!"
"Furthermore, the Satsuma Valley has been reclaimed by the Shimazu family for two years. There are already more than 10,000 people and 100,000 acres of land... which can at least station tens of thousands of troops!"
"Your Highness, your opportunity to make a meritorious deed has come!"
"Your Majesty, with this achievement, Your Majesty will definitely not care about it anymore..."
"Yes, yes, and with this matter, the American Mansion can justifiably make money!"
Wei Zhongcheng and Yu Daren sang and drank, and within a few words, Zhu Cihuan's heart came alive. What a meritorious service! Moreover, he can open his mouth and blackmail the Yamen of the American Mansion for a large amount of money.
With merit, the emperor's brother in Yingtian Mansion should not pursue his "crime of cheating" on him. This is meritorious deeds!
And the money from the American Mansion is what Zhu Cihuan urgently needs... He can't really pull out Yao Bapi's skin. If Yao Daqiao loses money, where will he find money to make a living?
Without money, wouldn't his Japanese soldiers disperse? How can we rely on us to default on our debts?
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