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This place is very democratic, everyone is a felon, who can bully whom?Wei Zhaonan usually coordinates conflicts and is always trembling. Corrupt officials face murderers with a natural sense of fear.
The captain of the militia is Tian Li. He worked as a farmer and soldier in his hometown for three years. He was not selected when recruiting people for the army, so he went to sea with his fellow countrymen as sailors.He returned home happily with the money he saved, only to find that his mother was dead, and his wife gave him a cuckold.
Tian Li suspected that his old lady was mad at the men and women, so he killed four people in a fit of rage, and even killed two of the adulterer's children.
"All gather, go to the pier to move the goods!"
When Tian Li heard the bell, he immediately blew his whistle in the village and called all the men in the field back.
There is a large warehouse in the village, which is dedicated to storing trade materials.
Surplus food, dried meat, salted fish, etc. can be stored in the warehouse and registered by the village chief, and sold to Li Quan's fleet as supplies.It's all barter, money is useless, and it can't be spent if you hold it in your hand.
"Village Chief Wei, Captain Tian, long time no see!" Li Quan smiled and cupped his hands.
Wei Zhaonan and Tian Li hurriedly returned the salute.
Wei Zhaonan asked, "Commander Li, what new books did you bring this time?"
"More than a dozen new books are enough for you to read slowly," Li Quan said with a smile, "craftsmen have invented new molding machines and character furnaces, and the imperial court has also promulgated a standard for general font sizes. In the future, books and newspapers will become cheaper."
Wei Zhaonan said with emotion: "I am in the same celestial dynasty, and it is really changing with each passing day. It is a pity that it is difficult for us and other sinners to return to our homeland."
Li Quan said: "You are here to educate the barbarians, maybe you can't turn America into China."
"Commander Li is right." Wei Zhaonan forced a smile.
Salt, cotton cloth, agricultural tools, pots and pans, pens and ink, paper, books, newspapers... One by one, items were carried off the boat in exchange for grain, dried meat, salted fish, fresh water, fruits and vegetables.
After the material exchange was completed, the crew went ashore to rest.
The villagers gathered together, scrambling to grab the newspaper.Many people under the age of 30 in the village can read a few words. "Datong Monthly" is their favorite, and they can learn the latest news from the distant motherland.
The old newspapers from the past year were all brought by Li Quan, and they were divided up in an instant.
Those who could not read were also laughing around, asking what was written in the newspaper from time to time.
"Hahaha, the court has won another battle!"
"Which one is this time?"
"To attack Mobei Mongolia, the imperial court dispatched hundreds of thousands of troops to defeat Mobei and Beihai. Governor Fei and Governor Zhang, Le Shi Yanran, sealed the wolf as a xu, and returned to the court to make them kings."
"What? Show me quickly!"
Wei Zhaonan snatched the newspaper excitedly, immersed himself in reading it several times, and said with tears: "Super Han and Tang Dynasties, Great Harmony!" As he spoke, he suddenly knelt down to the west, "Long live my emperor, long live, long live! age!"
When he was first exiled to America, Wei Zhaonan hated the emperor to death.
But as time went by, nostalgia fermented, and Wei Zhaonan felt that everything in China was so beautiful.The emperor is also a good emperor, he was wrong, he should not embezzle huge sums of money.
In addition to "Datong Monthly", tabloids in the market are also popular.
They even know about the big football teams in Nanjing, and they also know the popular stars in Washe and theatre.If there is an illustration of a star's portrait attached, the newspaper and magazine will definitely be torn apart. It seems that seeing the star's portrait, they are really listening to opera and watching acrobatics in Nanjing.
Li Quan asked someone to bring a box of books: "This is the latest version of "Datong Dictionary" and elementary school textbooks."
Wei Zhaonan picked up the big dictionary and asked in surprise, "Just one copy?"
"It's printed in small characters." Li Quan explained.
There were six copies of the previous "Datong Dictionary", which was very inconvenient for students to use.
With the introduction of movable lead type formulas and European inks, smaller prints became possible.Zhao Han asked people to cast and engrave lead plates, not movable lead type, but something similar to engraving. After eight years of casting and engraving, he finally got the lead plate of the dictionary.
Each lead plate is framed with good wood to prevent the hard and brittle lead plates from being damaged and broken.
With these stereotypes, there is no need for typesetting in the future, and the "Dictionary of Datong" can be printed indefinitely until the stereotypes are worn out.From now on, only a single copy of "Datong Dictionary" can contain all the content, and the more copies are printed, the cheaper it is to share the cost.
Wei Zhaonan picked up the elementary school textbooks, all of which were new editions with standard font sizes, more beautiful and concise than before.
Wei Zhaonan stroked the books and said, "Good books, good books, it's time to build a school in the village."
Among the more than 100 children in Xindeng Village, the oldest is five or six years old.I have been speaking Chinese with my father since I was a child, and it was time to learn Chinese characters. Wei Zhaonan decided to teach it himself.
Li Quan asked: "Is there any change in the nearby indigenous people?"
Wei Zhaonan said with a smile: "The natives in the east often fight with the natives in the south, but no one has come to provoke us. But last year, a southern native came quietly and wanted to exchange iron axes from us. It must be because of the defeat in the battle. We found out The benefit of the ax."
"Didn't you change it to them?" Li Quan asked.
Wei Zhaonan shook his head and said, "No, we are allies with the natives in the east, and we also bought the land in the village from them. How could I exchange the iron ax for the enemies of our allies?"
The ally is for sale, but this ally is too close to be sold for the time being, otherwise the village will never be peaceful.
Chapter 1002 [Blood Purification Document]
"Iron... pot, two... mouthfuls!"
The native Indians spoke stiff Chinese, pointing to the iron pot and making gestures.
"No." Fearing that the natives would not understand, Feng Xing raised a finger and said, "Only one iron pot is exchanged every year."
The aborigines became anxious immediately, and chattered a lot.
Feng Xing could barely understand a few words, and it seemed that the tribes further east were in need.After finding out the reason, Feng Xing became more determined: "I only change one iron pot every year."
The natives had no choice but to choose other products.
Feng Xing used to be a clerk in a store, because he had studied in middle school for two years and was also smart, so the shopkeeper appreciated him a lot.Later, I got to know the owner, was appreciated by the owner, and was promoted to the third shopkeeper of the semicolon in a few years.
When he was promoted to the second shopkeeper, Feng Xing committed a crime.
This guy was dragged to gamble by his elementary school classmates, and he was so addicted to it that he couldn't extricate himself.After losing his savings, he still owed a lot of usury, so he was obsessed with the idea of making money from the trading company.
Soon he was discovered, and he absconded in fear of crime.
On the way to escape, Feng Xing became more and more angry as he thought about it.He is the second shopkeeper of the semicolon at a young age, with a promising future, but he actually ruined his life because of gambling.Moreover, he suspected that he had been set up by someone, and those guys partnered to defraud him of his money.
So Feng Xing stopped running away and went back to kill the classmate who lured him to gamble.Then he rushed into the underground casino, chased down the croupiers and gamblers who often played cards together, and after killing two people, they were twisted and sent to see the officials.
Of course, Feng Xing was sentenced to death, the underground casino was also shut down, and the loan shark who partnered with the casino was also imprisoned.
Feng Xing, who was asked to be killed after autumn, escaped his life by chance, and was thrown into Xindeng Village by Li Quan to be in charge of the village's foreign trade affairs.
Under the auspices of Feng Xing, iron pots and iron axes are only sold in limited quantities.This made the natives very anxious, and took the initiative to increase the price to buy. After two or three years, the fur in exchange for the same iron pot almost doubled.
The current trade process is: Xin Deng village in exchange for Li Quan's supplies, and then sold to the aborigines for fur.The indigenous tribe next door is also earning a difference, getting ironware from Xindeng Village and selling it to other tribes in the alliance.
The price of sea otter fur in China ranks among the top three among all furs.
And California is full of sea otters!
How much can agricultural products be sold for?Xindeng Village's prosperity depends entirely on the fur trade.
"One more... an axe." The native begged.
Feng Xing sighed and said, "Oh, we don't have many axes."
The native stretched out two palms: "Add... ten... sea otter skin."
Feng Xingmian couldn't help it: "Since you are so sincere, then I will sell you another axe."
"Thank you!" The native was grateful for this, and said "thank you" perfectly.
Feng Xing pointed to a pile of goods next to him: "These cotton cloths can be sold, you can count them slowly."
These natives are not good at mathematics, and when trading items, they have to do it slowly.
The aborigine was checking the cotton cloth, but suddenly his eyes lit up, and he saw a small mirror next to him, and immediately said, "Mirror... I want it!"
Feng Xing said: "Mirrors are very precious. Those wolf skins, deerskins, and bear skins left by you... Hey, you can't understand after talking about it. Mirror, exchange... all of you!"
"All?" The native understood.
"Yes, all of them." Feng Xing nodded.
"it is good!"
The aborigines picked up the mirror, handed over the rest of the fur to Feng Xing, and then led the people away happily.
Wei Zhaonan watched the natives go away, and couldn't help feeling: "You profiteers, can you ever do business without cheating people?"
Feng Xing smiled and said: "How can this be called deceiving people? Rare things are the most valuable. In the past few years, only one mirror has been replaced, which is very precious to the aborigines. I have inquired about it a long time ago. Give it to the wizards for safekeeping, saying that they can communicate with their gods. Mr. Village Chief, the mirror is a sacrificial vessel here!"
Wei Zhaonan also found it funny: "If you are in charge of trade, everyone really chose the right person."
"Isn't that right? I've only been here for four years, and the land in the village has doubled." Feng Xing said triumphantly.
This guy used the iron ax as a restricted commodity, and took advantage of the war among the natives to sell the iron ax as a weapon.Moreover, when they heard that others were about to go to war, they took the initiative to come to the door to sell.
Ten iron axes bought a large piece of land, doubling the size of the village community.
Of course, the indigenous tribes next door are not bad either.
They have iron axes to fight, and control the trade to Xindeng Village. They have sprung up in the entire alliance, and the tribal chief even became the deputy leader of the alliance.They put a one-meter-long wooden handle on the iron axe, and when they fought against the tribal alliance in the south, they were often able to expand their territory southward with one enemy.
These natives even regarded the Han people as fools.
A small piece of land can be exchanged for so many iron axes. With this weapon, they have conquered more than ten times the territory.
After finishing the business, Feng Xing walked towards the crew's station, greeting and laughing all the way, and finally stood outside Li Quan's tent and shouted: "Feng Xing, please see Commander Li."
"Come in... Forget it, I'll go out." Li Quan lifted the curtain of the tent.
Feng Xing handed over a self-grown and self-wrapped cigar: "Commander Li, taste it, it's a new product grown last year."
Li Quan took the cigar: "Let's talk."
Feng Xing said: "This time I received a letter from my wife, she wanted to come and reunite with me, and the elder son came with me. The younger son was not old enough, and he was afraid that he would not be able to withstand the rough seas, so he was adopted by my elder brother. When I grow up, it is best to marry in my hometown, but here is too far away. Commander Li will return to China next year..."
Li Quan nodded and said: "I understand, bring your wife and children here. The wife will not talk about it. Are you really willing to let your son come here?"
Feng Xing explained: "The eldest son of my family doesn't study well, his brain is not bright, and he has no future in his hometown. It's better to come here to farm."
"Okay, you write a letter, and I'll send it to you," Li Quan said, "I'm sure I won't be able to pick it up next year. Your hometown is in the mountains of Anhui. When your wife and children receive the letter, let them go to Shanghai's trading company in the spring." Wait, I'll pick him up next year."
Feng Xing cupped his hands excitedly: "I am grateful, I am grateful!"
After resting in the village for two or three days, Li Quan continued to set sail with the fleet. In addition to food and fur, there were letters and silver taels sent home by the villagers.
Four Seas Trading Co., Ltd. has people who send letters and money, but they have to charge a certain amount of money.
Although Xindeng Village exchanged goods, some of them were converted into silver and sent back to the villagers' families in China.
Seeing the continuous development of the colonial stronghold, although the speed is very slow, Li Quan still has a sense of accomplishment.He believes that he is expanding his territory, not only can he make money from trade, but he can also leave his name in history after his death.
Li Quan's trading fleet has grown to ten ships, and each ship has been licensed to install twelve cannons (other armed merchant ships in China can only have six cannons per ship).
As a result, the amount of silver imported into China from the Americas has doubled every year.
The Spanish colonial officials were also completely crazy. The Governor of the Philippines sold everything he could to raise money to build a new galleon.The ship was not reported to the King of Spain and was used exclusively for smuggling. The profits were divided between officials and investors, which intensified the flow of American silver into China.
In the coastal areas of China, inflation has become more and more serious, and gradually spread to the inland provinces.
Relying on raising interest rates and conquering Mobei, the imperial court eased the inflation a little bit, but it is not the way to go on like this, and the prices will definitely become more and more expensive in the future.
The prosperity of American smuggling and the accelerated inflow of Chinese goods made the cities of Spanish American colonies more "prosperous".
To the people of America, all smugglers are cuties!
Why do Americans have money but can't buy daily necessities?
For from the very beginning, Spain restricted the industrial development of America.
Take cotton as an example. Cotton grown in Mexico is not allowed to be processed into cotton cloth in Mexico, but must be sold to merchants designated by the royal family.These Spanish merchants bought cotton and shipped it to Seville, and they did not develop industries in Spain, but sold it to Dutch merchants.
The Netherlands (including Belgium) was the European textile center at this time. It bought Mexican cotton to make cotton cloth, and sold it back to Spanish merchants, who then sold the cotton cloth back to Mexico.
With such a coquettish operation, the industries of Spain and Mexico were destroyed, and only the royal family and resellers could make money.
However, the Mexican people grow a large amount of cotton every year, but they can only buy a few hands of European cotton cloth, which is not only expensive, but also scarce.
Li Quan openly sold cotton cloth at a "low price" in Mexico. In the eyes of the locals, he was a living Buddha!
Arriving at the trading port again, merchants gathered inside and outside the town.
Moreover, the number of merchants who came to hear the news increased sharply year by year, and some came to barter, directly exchanging fur and other goods for cotton cloth and silk.
In addition to normal transactions, Li Quan also met several Indian-European mixed blood.
"You want to go to China by boat?" Li Quan was a little surprised.
An Indo-European man named Julio asked in an anxious tone: "Can you allow us to take the boat? We can pay the boat fare. If it is not enough, we will be sailors on the boat to pay the boat fare."
Li Quan smiled and said, "What are you doing in China?"
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