Xinshun 1730

Chapter 872 "Unfair" Competition ([-])
"In the past, Macao's trade, excluding European trade, was mainly profitable on these few routes."

"Go to Timor, where sandalwood is produced. However, with the resistance of the local indigenous people, it is difficult to see the possibility of being tamed again."

"Go to Manila... Now the British are occupying it. Although they don't object to our trade, they don't have the gold and silver in America."

"Besides, the Spaniards in Manila have already launched a direct flight trade, and they no longer need our transit."

"Going to Batavia? Before the Ostend company's tea incident, we were the largest transshipment merchant. But after the tea incident, the Dutch East India Company finally opened direct trade, and our status as a transit merchant ceased to exist. .”

"Besides, the Chinese now occupy Southeast Asia. Even before their imperial court occupied Southeast Asia, those Chinese maritime merchants severely squeezed our living space. What's more, now that they have completely occupied Batavia, how could they allow us to go to Trade? We also transport porcelain and silk, and so do their Chinese merchants. Will their court favor us?"

"Go to Japan? Since the ban on religion, it is impossible for us to go to Japan."

"Go to India, Goa? There is not much trade volume at all. In India, we are also squeezed out by Denmark, Britain, and France."

"So, the only possibility is to open up a route to Brazil. Perhaps, this will be the only turning point in Macau."

Rodriguez, who is both a captain, a businessman and a Jesuit professional manager, still has some understanding of the situation.

He feels that the council in Macau should be prepared for transformation earlier, instead of being half-dead like it is now.Even blinded by the short-term prosperity caused by the European war.

The companions around him agreed with his words to a certain extent, and after discussing for a while, the companions came to a conclusion.

"The rise and fall of Macau actually does not depend on us, but on China's trade policy. If China's trade policy continues the previous policy of banning direct flights by businessmen from various countries and opening business offices in the city, we can easily recover former prosperity."

"And those brothers and sisters who were persecuted by the pagan emperor will also see a prosperous Macau under the protection of the Lord. Instead of the shameful, dirty, dilapidated and immoral Macau like it is now."

Rodriguez was not so fanatical, and said that he would treat his partner's words in two.

"From a businessman's point of view, your thinking is wrong."

"From the perspective of the priest, your idea is right."

"From a businessman's point of view, if the Chinese court bans direct shipping trade and Songjiang's business houses, it means that they will force businessmen from various countries to trade in Macau, and if Macau agrees-this is a Chinese term , called to lure wolves into the house. This is tantamount to Macau taking the initiative to welcome their competitors."

"From the priest's point of view, as long as the Chinese imperial court bans the direct shipping trade and the commercial halls in Songjiang, it means that merchants from all over the world can only trade in Macau, and the prosperity of Macau is inevitable. However, the prosperity of Macau is not What good is it to us if it is not the prosperity of the Portuguese?"

"Guess, if that day really comes, will Macau take the opportunity to refuse merchants from various countries to settle in and try to monopolize the transit trade? Or will it stand in the perspective of a priest, give up its own interests, provide convenience for merchants from all over the world, and lure wolves into the house?"

Speaking of this, Rodriguez laughed silently, and pointed to his own ship: "This is the St. Paul, a merchant ship of the Jesuits. Even the most loyal Jesus Company in the Reformation made a wish to make a fortune." The Jesuits are all in business, so does the perspective of a priest really exist?"

The partner wanted to defend the Jesuits, but thinking about the cargo on the ship, he finally had nothing to say.

He could argue that money is needed to preach and relieve brothers and sisters who were persecuted by the pagan emperor; but he could not argue that this time he went to Dongguan for trade, and the goods he came back to ask for were not the most urgently needed cheap rice, but other valuables. goods, because rice is not profitable.

At this time, a crew member rushed in and shouted: "Captain! Captain! Chinese warship! It's the fleet!"

Hearing this sentence, Rodriguez seemed to be stabbed with a needle suddenly. He didn't care to tidy up his attire, and shouted in horror as he ran outside: "Sail down and slow down! Salute down and slow down! Quick! Quick!"

The sailors next to them also seemed to have seen a ghost. Given the firepower of the fleet, the warship would not run to the city without being idle in the military port.

These people were deeply impressed by the last incident in which a British ship in Lingdingyang was beaten, and the incident in which the French "royal ship" sailor beat up the British sailor because the merchant ship did not pay tribute.

Rodriguez ran to the deck and saw the Dashun Fleet unfolding in the distance. From a distance, he could see the flag unfurling on it, indicating that all ships lowered their sails and docked immediately.

The following warships have already launched a battle formation, adjusting their angles on the ocean surface, and seem to be aiming at the interior of Macau.

Rodriguez subconsciously drew the sign of the cross, thinking God bless, who would be so unlucky today?

Fortunately, my reaction was fast enough, and I have already started to slow down, and the flag of tribute has been raised.And there are no contraband on the ship, just some goods that Annan is in short supply.There were no slaves on board, because Annan's slaves were not worth much at all, and they were prone to accidents.

Although he was nervous, as long as he followed the rules, he wasn't afraid at all.

The incident with the British ship last time was different from this time.Last time it was a warship, but this ship of mine was a standard merchant ship, which fully complied with Dashun's rigid regulations on how many cannons merchant ships were allowed to carry, and didn't even touch the edge.

In fact, after the last forcible demolition of the city wall, the ships of the Jesuits had already been inspected in full compliance with Dashun's regulations.Because Dashun can tear down the city wall, how can he know if he will find excuses to cause more trouble next time?

After making sure that there were no contraband on board, Rodriguez breathed a sigh of relief.

After the sails were lowered and the anchor was lowered, several small boats were dispatched from the opposite battleship to approach this side.

He didn't dare to neglect, and quickly got the ladder ready.

Several naval soldiers and officers from Dashun boarded the boat, and Rodriguez skillfully took out the chewing tobacco and scattered it.

The navy was not polite at all, but after taking over, the officer's attitude was not much kind.

"What is on the ship? Where is it going? Are there tax bills for the goods on the ship?"

Rodriguez quickly said: "Yes, yes, both."

If it is elsewhere, he can still say that this is a Jesuit ship, and he still has some face.But here, saying this may cause trouble, so why not say it.

He hurriedly took out all kinds of documents from the captain's room, and after being inspected by the officer and a person who looked like a customs official, they did not let them go.

"Call your sailors to assemble on deck."

"Yes Yes."

He repeatedly urged the sailors to gather on the deck, and the officer waved his hand, and the soldiers rushed into the cabin to rummage through the cargo.

Rodriguez gradually felt that something was wrong.

The Portuguese here in Macau have heard of the Hirayama Changchen incident during the Dutch and British ship robbery inspections, which directly led to a major change in trade with Japan, and finally let the Dutch win everything.

And the current inspection is really like a replica of the Hirayama Changchen incident that has been passed down by the population.

Rodriguez is afraid of being here.

Although there are no contraband or slaves on board his ship, theoretically, this ship is also illegal.

In theory, Annan is a vassal of Dashun.

Dashun banned religion, and the vassals also issued a notice of banning religion.

While the law is one thing, its execution is another.

However, in theory, as long as there are missionaries on board, it is illegal.

The key depends on whether Dashun wants to do it or not.

Thinking of this, Rodriguez couldn't help breaking into a cold sweat, and asked with a smile: "My lord, what are you looking for? My ship is full of legal goods. And there are all the bills for dry tariffs. These goods are not smuggled, nor are they Those who travel from Guangzhou to Macau by water pass through Xiangshan.”

But the officer snorted and said, "We've seen many smuggling ships and pirate ships, which one doesn't say he's legal? If you say you're legal, it's useless. I'll count as legal."

After waiting for a long time, the soldier officer who searched came back and whispered in the officer's ear: "My lord, nothing was found. There is neither opium nor human population."

The officer hummed, glanced at Rodriguez and said, "Nothing has been found for the time being, and it's hidden in the cargo, so it's unknown."

"There is an order from the imperial court that there are many people traffickers and opium smugglers in Macau, and this time they are going to be strictly investigated."

"Even if you didn't take it with you when you left Hong Kong this time, you may not bring it with you when you come back. It's not necessary."

"Even if you don't take it with you when you come back, the sailors and crew on the ship may not have engaged in these things."

"Even if they didn't, it's not necessarily the case that their families didn't do the business."

"The ship turned immediately and returned to the port to berth and be strictly investigated!"

Rodriguez was taken aback by the reasons that sounded extremely absurd. Just as he was about to beg for a few more words, the officer turned around.

A sailor next to him held up the butt of his gun and swayed towards Rodriguez who was trying to approach, and cursed: "Damn it, my lord told you to turn around and berth, are you deaf?"

Rodriguez hurriedly stopped, Xin Dao and a group of sailors, what reason can there be to argue?This is the most unreasonable bunch of hooligans.

"Turn around, return to port, berth!"

After giving the order, thinking about what the naval officer said "the imperial court wants to investigate human trafficking and opium smuggling", I couldn't help but look back at the fleet that had already aimed its guns at Macau.

I thought, Macau, it's over.

(End of this chapter)