Chapter 69: Luo Daban’s deception
"General, the reason why Zhu Daohua's army has such sophisticated weapons is because they are supported by the extremely large Daohua Trading Company in Europe."
"They can buy whatever they need through trade."
Rodriguez said.
"The Qing Dynasty can do the same. In this world, as long as you have money..." Rodriguez stretched out his hand and made a gesture of counting money, "There is nothing you can't buy."
"Can you, a banker, buy arms?"
Fukangan hasn't spoken yet.
Guo Shixun asked.
In order to prepare for this war against the Ming army, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi also moved to Guangzhou.
After all, Guangzhou is the center of Guangdong. As long as Guangzhou is still in the hands of the Qing court, Guangdong will not be lost.
Rodriguez said hurriedly, "Mr. Guo, I am a businessman. I do whatever makes money. If the Qing Dynasty needs arms, I can transport muskets and artillery from the factory in Calcutta, India."
"Foshan Town can also produce muskets." Guo Shixun was noncommittal.
"This is natural. The technology of musket production is not a secret." Rodriguez spread his hands and said, "The only problem is the cost."
Speaking of which.
Rodriguez made the five sign.
"Five taels of silver, only five taels of silver! Brand new Indian flintlock guns can be delivered to Guangzhou!"
"Five taels?!"
Guo Shixun and Fukang'an were shocked when they heard this.
Not to mention the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Beijing, even for craftsmen here in Foshan, the cost of simply making a musket is more than five taels.
"How can it be so cheap?"
Fukangan asked.
Rodriguez thought to himself, of course it's because I have no intention of selling the muskets, but for your money.
There was a slight smile on his face: "General, I want to be friends with the Qing Dynasty."
"Friend? Luo Daban, you can just say what you want." Fukangan said.
He knew that if the other party shipped the goods for five taels of silver per musket, they would most likely give up profits.
If the other party gives up profits, it will definitely have to make up for it elsewhere.
Rodriguez did not answer directly, but showed a playful smile: "I heard that the Thirteenth Industry in Guangzhou used to mainly trade with the Dutch?"
Neither Fukangan nor Guo Shixun answered this question. Fukangan looked at Wu Dunyuan, the general manager of the Thirteenth Bank, who was sitting on the side.
Wu Dunyuan was originally looking at his nose and mouth, sitting beside him like a clay Bodhisattva. As soon as Fu Kangan's eyes came over, he hurriedly stood up, bent down and came to the center of the hall with his hands hanging down.
"Sir, the raw silk, porcelain, and tea exported before the Thirteenth Line all followed the Dutch way."
The Thirteenth Bank is a commercial organization with an official and commercial nature. Any foreign businessman who purchases domestic products such as tea and silk or sells foreign products must go through thirteen lines.
The Thirteenth Bank did not directly conduct overseas trade.
Instead, it receives foreign businessmen and conducts port trade with Macao and Guangzhou as ports.
Every year, more than two hundred large Western ships come to Guangzhou for trade. In tax revenue alone, Guangdong Customs can contribute more than two million taels of silver to Qianlong's treasury every year.
This is just a "contribution" on the surface.
In fact, the Thirteen Banks had monopoly power, and they also needed money to feed the rich and powerful at all levels, from Emperor Qianlong to the banner owners and Manchu nobles.
Of course Wu Dunyuan knew.
Can the Thirteenth Line make money?
It was just a matter of words from these Manchu princes.
"Since the Dutch were defeated by the Ming Dynasty, no Western ships have come to Guangzhou for trade in the past six months..."
Wu Dunyuan cupped his hands and said.
This forced him to send people to Batam Island to set up a trading house. Ming Dynasty's control of Nanyang made the merchants of Thirteen Banks uneasy.
"This is because King Ming did not allow Western merchant ships to cross the Strait of Malacca."
Rodriguez added.
"This Ni Ming...this is too overbearing!"
Fukangan snorted coldly.
The income supplement from Guangzhou port trade is missing.
The finances of the Qing Dynasty will probably shrink a lot...
However, these merchants from the Thirteenth Line are also anxious right now - because the Qing Dynasty stipulated the minimum tariff at Guangzhou Port. If it is not enough, these merchants from the Thirteenth Line will have to bleed to replenish it.
And the filial piety given to the nobles of the Eight Banners like Fukang'an is naturally indispensable...
"In that case, how can you guarantee that you can deliver the goods to Guangzhou?" Guo Shixun tapped his fingers on the side of the chair and glanced at Rodriguez sideways with his slender eyes.
"It's very simple. Western merchant ships can enter Batam Island, and Eastern merchant ships can also enter Batam Island. It's just a re-export trade. King Ming did not impose any restrictions on the commodities traded."
When Rodriguez said this, he looked back and forth between Guo Shixun and Fukang'an, two officials from the Qing Dynasty in Guangdong.
"So...if possible, I hope to get exclusive trading rights at the Guangzhou port."
"Exclusive trade is impossible. However, Guangzhou Port does not restrict foreign trade. All you need to do is pay shipping taxes." Fukang'an stared at Rodriguez. This Hongyi was so whimsical that he actually wanted to get exclusive trade. power.
"what a pity..."
Rodriguez said he was sorry, but his face showed joy.
Fukangan snorted coldly when he saw this scene. This Hongyi was indeed a businessman who demanded high prices and paid back on the spot.
"Batam's entrepot trade sounds simple. Aren't you afraid that Zhu Daohua will know that you sell muskets to the Qing Dynasty?"
Rodriguez's eyes turned to Guo Shixun who was speaking.
"Sir, Daohua Trading Company is currently Zhu Daohua's most profitable business organization, and Daohua Trading Company's main market is in Europe, especially the United Kingdom..."
Rodriguez pointed to his nose.
"And many of the shareholders of my HSBC Bank are aristocrats of the British Empire. As long as I have not violated any laws set by the Ming Dynasty, if he takes action against my HSBC, his Daohua Trading Company will definitely be punished by the British Empire. Revenge!"
"So Prince Ming will not offend HSBC, nor will he ignore his relationship with Great Britain. The trade between us can even be carried out without going through Ming Yuan."
"No need for Ming Yuan?" Wu Dunyuan's eyes lit up.
"Master Wu, if you want to trade with the Qing Dynasty, it's best to bypass Ming Yuan. HSBC has enough strength to support the trade between us." Rodriguez said, turning to look at Fu Kangan.
"General, if you allow my HSBC Bank to establish a commercial bank in Guangzhou to absorb deposits, then the trade between us will be safer. The Qing Dynasty only needs to deposit silver to HSBC Bank and exchange it for flying money, and I can transport the muskets to Guangzhou, and even our subsequent trade can go through HSBC, thus bypassing Ming Yuan for direct trade."
You need to apply for a bank to attract deposits.
Is HSBC, which claims to have many wealthy shares in the British Empire behind it, worthy of trust?
"Zhu Daohua doesn't dare to close down HSBC Bank?"
"Absolutely not."
Rodriguez said.
Wu Dunyuan looked at Fukangan, who nodded slightly.
Wu Dunyuan took notice and said, "Luo Daban, if HSBC can really bypass Mingyuan, the Thirteenth Bank can strengthen cooperation with HSBC."
Being able to bypass the Ming Yuan, a currency that caused headaches for officials and businessmen in the Guangzhou Prefecture of the Qing Dynasty, HSBC has the value of its existence.
Rodriguez smiled slightly and was about to add fuel to the fire.
An official came hurriedly outside the door and whispered a few words in Fukangan's ear.
Fukangan suddenly stood up.
"Luo Daban, Wu Dunyuan is in charge of the gun trade."
Rodriguez hurriedly imitated the officials of the Qing Dynasty and bowed his hands before exiting.
"Duxian, what's wrong?"
"Ni Ming...occupied Lantau Island!"
Fukangan took a deep breath.
In the hall, several people's expressions suddenly became solemn.
A draft blew through the hall.
A chill came over me.
