Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 527 Trade Negotiations
Early the next morning, Fujiwara Shimi came to VIP Mansion to meet Fan Ning in person. Accompanied by Fujiwara Shimi, Cheng Qing and several Japanese officials, Fan Ning took a carriage to the Zuoxiang Mansion for formal negotiations. , Fan Ning met Shiguan Fujiwara Gyotsu.

"Fan Shijun, we haven't seen each other for many years!" Fujiwara Kyotsu stepped forward to greet him with a smile on his face.

Fan Ning saluted with a smile, "It's been almost seven or eight years, and Guan Bai's body is still as strong as before!"

"Where! I'm old, Master Fan, don't you see that my hair is all white?"

"In our Great Song Dynasty, this is called growing old and growing strong!"

Cheng Qing quickly translated for the two of them, and they were basically synchronized. The two laughed. Fujiwara Kyotsu introduced the Minister of Internal Affairs, Fujiwara Nobunaga to Fan Ning. Fujiwara Nobunaga was the third son of Fujiwara Kyotsu, the third of the Fujiwara family Character, second only to his father Fujiwara Gyotsu and his cousin Fujiwara Shimi, he is currently the fourth minister of the Japanese court.

The other two officials are Hosokawa Hoso in charge of trade and Ikeda Tong in charge of construction. These two have no right to decide the negotiation, but after the negotiation is completed, they will be responsible for the specific implementation.

From the perspective of the negotiators on the other side, Fan Ning knew that the bulk of the negotiations today was still the trading port. As for the labor, the other party did not take it seriously.

Fujiwara Jiaotong invited Fan Ning into the guest hall of the Zuoxiang Mansion. The table had a seat mark, and everyone took their seats. Behind Fan Ning and Fujiwara Kyotsu, Fan Ning is directly opposite Fujiwara Shimi, below him is his cousin Fujiwara Nobunaga, and then the two chief officials.

As for Fan Ning, the two officials he brought with him were the two accompanying officials, one was Xie Jun, the prime minister of Ryukyu County, and the other was Zhao Cheng, the head of the Jinglue Mansion. The soldiers remained on the boat and did not go ashore.

In recent years, the government of Kunzhou has been getting along very well with Japan, especially the land in the Dewa country. Songcheng clearly leased it and paid 99 yuan a year. The lease was used for [-] years to grow food and raise ponies. Kunzhou Strictly following the agreement between the two parties, the Song immigrants were not resettled in the Dewa country. This gave the Japanese court face, and both parties were quite satisfied.

It is precisely because of this tacit understanding that today's negotiation atmosphere exists.

Fujiwara Gyotomi smiled at Fan Ning: "I heard that the envoy is in charge of Quanzhou. Is the envoy planning to use Quanzhou Port as a base to conduct trade with Japan?"

Fan Ning bowed slightly and said, "Actually, there are two things. The first is the opening of the second trading port, and the second is specific trade issues. It's better to clarify the labor issue first, and then talk about trade."

The reason why Fan Ning still decided to find the Japanese imperial court to lead the labor lease is mainly because the conditions in Ryukyu Prefecture are more difficult than those in Kunzhou. Ryukyu Prefecture is too hot, there are many miasma and poisonous insects, and the death rate of labor will definitely increase. If the Japanese imperial court guarantees , even if something happens in the future, it will be the Japanese court who will take the blame.

Secondly, this is also a favor for the Fujiwara family. The recruitment of laborers in the Song Dynasty is very popular in Japan. After all those who have worked as laborers come back, their lives have become richer, which has made countless people jealous. You must know that the population of Japan at this time is 1000. There are as many as [-], and the labor force is extremely abundant, which can just be used as a source of labor for Da Song's overseas expansion.

This will also bring a large amount of income to Japan, which is in the interests of both parties.

Fujiwara Jiaotong glanced at his nephew Fujiwara Shishi, he was not interested in this matter, so he asked Shishi to do it.

Master Fujiwara straightened his back and said: "I heard from Mr. Cheng that you need 1000 young and strong men and [-] young women. In terms of numbers, it's not a big problem, but if this matter is dominated by the Japanese court, Do you need to sign an agreement to clarify some of your responsibilities, such as board and lodging, labor intensity, compensation for casualties, etc. In addition, the Japanese court needs a sum of money for collection expenses."

Before Fujiwara Shishi could finish speaking, Fujiwara Nobunaga next to him coldly interrupted him and said: "Mr. Fan handed over this matter to the imperial court to respect the Japanese imperial court. Otherwise, he can completely contact the local government. It needs to go through us, I think the money will be waived, and it will be fine to sign according to the previous agreement with Kunzhou."

Fujiwara Shishi turned back and glared at Fujiwara Nobunaga, "I am speaking now, what do you think, you can talk about it after I finish speaking!"

"You are ignorant and arrogant, so I correct you. Why don't you listen to Fan Shijun's thoughts?" Fujiwara Nobunaga retorted unceremoniously.

Fujiwara Kyotsu was a little embarrassed, and shouted angrily, "Shut up!"

Only then did he say to Fan Ning: "This is not the first time that labor has been involved. We have always cooperated very well. I think we should follow the old rules!"

Fan Ning nodded with a smile and said, "That's what I mean too, but everyone wants us to recruit labor in the past. I think the Fujiwara family should recommend it. Where is the labor better?"

What Fan Ning meant was to give this favor to the Fujiwara family, and the Fujiwara family would designate some places.

Fujiwara Kototsu understood, and he said to Fujiwara Nobunaga: "Shishi is in charge of trade, and I will leave the labor to you. You will be recruited in Settsu, Hanoi, Izumi, and Harima. You don't need to go too far."

"Father, I understand!"

Fujiwara Shimi's face was a bit ugly, and he gave Fujiwara Nobunaga a hard look. The conflict between the two of them has become public in order to compete for the right to inherit the throne.

Fan Ning could see clearly, he sighed in his heart, he never understood how the Fujiwara clan declined so quickly, 20 years after the death of Fujiwara Yorimichi, the era of the Fujiwara family is over, now he knows the reason, family internal friction is the last One of the important reasons.

A centipede is dead but not stiff. If a big family has no internal friction, even if it declines, it will not wipe out its foundation, but will only slowly weaken.

But if there is internal friction in the family, no matter how big the family business is, it will die in a short time.

After all, the history of Japan is nothing more than the history of aristocratic families. The emperor was used to order the princes. Now the Fujiwara family in Kansai controls the emperor through marriage. The emperor was moved to Kamakura, and the Kamakura shogunate era began when the samurai family controlled the emperor.

The Warring States Period in Japan was also a battle between various powerful families. Fan Ning now fully understands why the Fujiwara clan regards the interests of the family as paramount. There is no imperial court in Japan at all.

Thinking of this, Fan Ning said slowly: "I have no objection to putting the new trade port in Dongcheng County of Setjin Kingdom, but in order to facilitate Kunzhou's need for material procurement and reduce the imperial court's supply of materials to Kunzhou, I still want to go to the lower general. Kamakura, the Kingdom of the People’s Republic of China, will build a small port to trade with Kunzhou, will the Regent Guan Bai and Minister Zuo accept this plan?”

Fujiwara Kyotsutsu immediately understood that Fan Ning still planned to bet on both sides, and he didn't want to bet all the chips on the Fujiwara family, which made him feel helpless. After a long while, he asked: "Mr. Fan is sure that the future trade will be in Quanzhou and Xincheng County between Kunzhou and Xincheng County?”

Fan Ning said with a slight smile: "Of course it is Quanzhou Port, and it mainly focuses on official trade. Japan can set up a representative office in Quanzhou Port. If Japan needs any goods, it can contact the overseas economic bureau through the representative office. If it does not violate the laws of the Song Dynasty, we will do our best to satisfy it."

Fujiwara Gyotsu was overjoyed. If it was official to official, then the financial resources of the Fujiwara family would be guaranteed to the greatest extent, which is simply great.

"I fully agree that your country can also set up a similar representative office in Heian-kyo, and we will try our best to meet your country's needs."

At this time, Fujiwara Shishi said cautiously: "We have three small requirements, whether your country can meet them."

Fan Ning smiled slightly: "Minister Zuo, please tell me!"

"The first requirement is that Japan has a great demand for copper coins from the Song Dynasty. In the past, it was private trade, and the quality of copper coins varied. If it becomes an official trade, I hope to provide a large number of high-quality copper coins."

The copper coin trade between Japan and the Song Dynasty has a long history, and the Song Dynasty did not prohibit it. Exchanging copper coins for gold sand in Japan is of course a good deal.

Fan Ning nodded and said: "Copper coins can be lost to Japan, and we can even cast copper coins for Japan alone, but gold sand must be used to settle the copper coin trade separately. This point cannot be ambiguous."

"This is totally acceptable!"

Shimi Fujiwara put forward a second request, "I hope that the export of pig iron to Japan can be properly liberalized."

Japan has no iron mines, so the lack of pig iron has always been a serious problem in Japan. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that a large number of ironware was smuggled to Japan in exchange for silver, and the iron shortage in Japan was gradually resolved.

However, Fan Ning flatly rejected this condition, "Pig iron is a strategic material. The Song Dynasty has powerful enemies in the north, so the export of pig iron has always been strictly prohibited, no exception to any country. This is clearly prohibited by the laws of the Song Dynasty. I can do nothing unless the court The law can be amended to allow the export of pig iron to Japan, otherwise I cannot agree to this condition.

(End of this chapter)