different warring states of japan

Chapter 912: Celestial Trade Network

Imai Zongjiu understood Takada Yono's meaning, and she suggested to keep the Lanren's Nanman route, which was also out of concern in this regard.

"The adults said so.

Yixiangzong is also very troublesome, but the iron cannons of the Nanmans are powerful, and merchant ships can withstand huge waves, monopolizing most of the ocean trade.

Especially the iron cannon. In recent wars, the proportion of iron cannons has become higher and higher.

However, the projectiles and trigger gunpowder of the iron cannon are consumables, especially gunpowder.Every year in Sakai Port, a large amount of saltpeter enters the port to make gunpowder, all of which come from the Nanman people.

Today's Portuguese and Westerners are relatively peaceful, but compared to previous years, they are much more active.

I am worried that the Nanman Cult will become more powerful in the future, they will make progress, and we will be coerced by them when we participate in the Nanman trade. "

Takada Yonano asked with a serious expression on his face.

"So you want to support that Lan person and give her some port resources. Let her insist on running the Japanese trade route and help us leave a way out?"

Imai Sohisa bowed.

"Yes. Among the Nanman merchants, the British Orchids are different from the Westerners and Portuguese. They are not so fanatical about the spread of Nanman Religion, especially the Orchids.

It is said that their country has not been established for a few years. It is a country of merchants, and they value business credit and money profits most.

In the past two years, the Portuguese obtained a port called Macau by bribing local officials on the southeast coast of China, gaining even more advantages in trade.

If we don't give the Orchids a little benefit, maybe they will soon lose in tomorrow's trade and leave Japan's trade line. "

Takada Yono lowered his head in thought and murmured.

"yes.."

Japan played a relatively unique role in the ocean trade during this period, mainly as a entrepot trade attached to Ming Dynasty.

After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, foreign trade became increasingly conservative.Originally, Japan could still get a share of the pie through exploration and cooperation trade, but as a result, Ningbo was invaded by Japan, and this road was blocked by Ming Dynasty.

The official foreign trade of the Ming Dynasty was indifferent, which was originally supplemented by private trade.

But after Jiajing, the official closed-door policy gradually became stricter, and the sea was seriously banned.In the southeastern provinces, there are many mountains and few fields, and people smuggle out to sea, causing chaos.Within a few years, the sea ban existed in name only.

After Longqing Kaihai and the Wanli New Deal, Guangdong and Fujian allowed Nanman merchants to come to trade, and gradually became Luzon, the main port for Nanman people in Southeast Asia to do business.

Even the artillery and muskets used by the southern barbarians in Southeast Asia all used steel from Guangdong, and countless other materials were obtained.

As the light of civilization in this era, Daming exported silk, porcelain, tea and other high-tech commodities, and enjoyed a world-renowned reputation.

However, the southern barbarians could only use spices from Southeast Asia and silver, the main currency in circulation in Ming Dynasty, to exchange for these materials, which led to a large amount of silver flowing into Ming Dynasty from all over the world.

And Japan played a special role in the trade between the Southern Barbarians and Ming Dynasty.That is the transshipment port and financing, similar to an oriental pearl five hundred years later.

Ancient East Asian trade, from the map.The round-trip distance from Southeast Asia to Guangdong is very short, while North Korea and Japan are far away, but it is actually not the case.

In ancient times, sea trade followed ocean currents, and there were trade wind seasons, also known as trade winds.The Nanman people in Southeast Asia arrived in Fujian, Guangdong, and it was impossible to wait here for a few months before turning back with the ocean current.

Instead, with the ocean current, it passed through Taiwan Island, the Ryukyu Islands, and arrived in Japan and North Korea.Then follow the ocean current to turn back to the southeast coast of Tianchao, and finally go back to Southeast Asia.

Only by going in circles like this can the maximum benefit be obtained.In other words, this is not a point-to-point first-line trade, but a triangular multi-point trade network that draws circles.

Japan's exports are mainly special products such as paper fans, lacquerware, and Japanese knives.The southern barbarians didn't care much about these things. What they needed most were Chinese tea, porcelain, silk, and cotton.

However, there is a lot of gold, silver and copper in the island of Japan. Because of the lack of copper smelting technology, the internal silver is cheap and copper is expensive for a long time, and the Yongle money of the Celestial Dynasty is used as the hard currency.

This is also the reason why Imai Zonghisa and others can use the money from Du Lai to trade and make profits, while the Nanman people are more slick in this regard.

The southern barbarians set off from Southeast Asia and brought spices north to the Chinese Empire, where they exchanged cotton cloth, sandalwood, copper coins and other materials needed by Japan to Japan.

Then through transactions with Japan, a large amount of gold and silver and special products were obtained.Then turn around and go south to the Celestial Dynasty, buy the tea, porcelain, silk and other commodities they need, and go back to Southeast Asia.

During this trade process, the Southern barbarians not only earned the balance of normal trade through transportation, but also used Japan's huge gold and silver mine resources to finance and obtain huge extra profits.

China used silver as its main trading currency, and a large part of the gold and silver used by the Southern Barbarians in trade with China came from Japan.

Therefore, although Japan is poor in products, it has become a transshipment port that the Southern barbarians are unwilling to give up by virtue of its unique gold and silver advantages over the Celestial Dynasty.

Since Japan lost its joint trade with Ming Dynasty, it can only get high-quality second-hand goods through North Korea, a profiteer, or smuggle them through the Jiajing Japanese Rebellion on the southeast coast.

With Wang Zhi killed and Qi Jiguang suppressing the Japanese, smuggling has become unsustainable.The Japanese urgently need the Nanban people to open up trade routes with Ming Dynasty and absorb the advanced technologies of the Nanban people, such as iron cannons.

In maritime trade, the two sides actually have common interests.

In the trade with Ming Dynasty, the Portuguese had the greatest advantage.Not only participated in official trade in Yuegang in Fujian, but even Macau in Guangdong got a new foothold through bribery.

The devotion of the Portuguese to their beliefs greatly facilitated the spread of Nanbanism in Japan, which aroused Sohisa Imai's vigilance.

It is understandable that she hoped to reduce her dependence on devout Christians such as Portuguese and Westerners in the Southern Barbarian trade by supporting the Orchids.

Although the price of Lanren is higher, it is not safe to put all eggs in one basket.

Takada Yono thought it over carefully, and finally approved Sohisa Imai's judgment.

"You are right, we should keep this Lantern. The trade between the Southern Banners cannot be monopolized by the Portuguese and the Westerners, which is not good for us.

Then I will meet this Lan person and give her some resources so that she can persevere.

what is her name? "

Imai Sohisa bowed.

"Lilu, Argot. It is said that they are from some lowland, the Netherlands. Anyway, it is a small country that has just become independent on the other side of the world."

Takada Yono glanced at her.

"Is it reliable? In a few years, this country will be gone, right?"

Imai Zongjiu smiled wryly.

"This... I'm not very clear either.

Such is the case with the Southern barbarians, divided today and united tomorrow.Perhaps tomorrow the Portuguese will become Westerners, and the Englishmen will become people of one country.

But don't worry, these businessmen don't care which country they belong to, they only care about their interests. "

Takada Yono was silent for a while, then nodded.

"It makes sense."

(End of this chapter)