Lu Ming

Chapter 146 Pearl, see pearl again

The Lin brothers were not very opposed to the errands of transporting goods to Taiwan—whether it was to the Frangji in Taipei or the Dutch in Daguan.

Since ancient times, Fujian merchants have sailed to Taiwan for trade: trading buckskin sulfur with the aborigines.

Funing Prefecture, where the Lin family is located, has a higher latitude than Taipei, so as long as the north wind blows in winter, the ship can be dispatched.Although the risk of crossing the strait is high, it is mainly due to the wind direction. I am afraid that the wind direction will change halfway, and the rest of the risk factors are actually very small.

When Lin Baoquan was young, he went to Taipei more than once to trade with the natives, and the senior officials also went there once. Now it is the Fulangji people who are in charge of Taipei. The situation is still very clear.

Franji is in Taipei, so poor that he only has money left.

Due to the unstable foothold in the local area and the bad relationship with the natives, the Franji people do not have many goods that can be used for trade: pull a ship of goods out, and then bring some silver and the other party's special products back to the voyage. This is the most cost-effective sea trade. way of trading.

The Franji people have only silver in the castle in Taipei, but no goods-the Philippines itself is waiting for the Ming ship to deliver the goods every day.Therefore, Hokkien merchants seldom went to Taipei in the past two years. Even if Franji was exempted from tax, yellow silk would be calculated at the price of white silk, and everyone was reluctant to go.

As for the Dutch entrenched in Daguan, although Lin Baoan said that the information was not clear, if he shipped a cargo there, the Dutch would definitely welcome him, and he knew this very well.

Lin Baoquan nodded slightly after listening to Xiong Dao's words just now: 5 cents a catty of pig iron, this business is well done - the best pig iron in Fujian is only more than 1 cent a catty of silver.

It was he who once again began to meditate, mainly to estimate the risks involved: crossing the sea is one, the ocean is unstable, and the total price of iron materials is insufficient.

The first two can be avoided - take the northerly wind from Funing Prefecture, the northernmost tip of Fujian, cross the strait obliquely to the southeast, and then go south along the coastline of Taiwan. member.

The latter is a bit tricky: Iron materials, regardless of raw and wrought iron, are rough goods. The Lin family’s Xing’anping is a 600-material (72KG per material) Fuchuan, which can hold more than 8 catties of pig iron when fully loaded. This cargo, The total value of the goods is only more than 4000 taels of silver. Even if it is a high profit of 5 cents of silver and 1 catty of iron, it is still not worthwhile to go to sea. The Xing’an Ping ship sells groceries to the Sunrise Sea. The minimum value of the goods is 1 taels of silver. More than 5000 taels.

After thinking it over clearly, Lin Baoquan said in a deep voice at this moment: "The total price is not enough, and a batch of valuable goods is enough."

Liu He, Steward Liu, who had been silent by the side, suddenly said, "My master still has hundreds of loads of raw silk in the warehouse of the Liu family in Hou Chaomen. If Brother Lin wants to distribute the goods, the raw silk is the most It's just right."

Lin Baoquan glanced at Liu He in surprise, and what caught his eyes was the face of a treacherous minister with a grin full of yellow teeth, "My master told me that the business of Master Xiong is the business of the Liu family. Brother Lin should You can’t even trust my master, can you?”

"Hahaha" The people in the room started to look up to the sky and laugh awkwardly at the same time as if they had made an appointment, but the laughter of the Lin brothers was a little dry at the moment.

Lin Baoquan knew that this was called riding a tiger. Now that Liu He had said this, he would never allow his family to shirk it. If he shirked it, the two brothers would offend the Liu family today.

"Since that's the case, the deal is done!" Lin Baoquan also knew that it would be useless to procrastinate any longer, so he stopped his laughter abruptly and made a final decision.

"Okay, okay, this will be a big help to my brother, Xian Kunzhong is a righteous man, this love Xiong has recorded!" At this point, Xiong Dao stopped talking, raised his hand and took three consecutive shots: "Come out!"

Two pretty maids with bright eyes and bright teeth, dressed in gold and emerald greens, came out of the back room.The former one held a large blue and white glazed porcelain plate in his hand. After the porcelain plate was gently placed on the table, the maidservant at the back took out a crystal clear crystal bowl with a coquettish smile. Just like a rain curtain, gently slide into the plate.

Looking at these dozens of flawless, ordinary-sized beads swimming in the porcelain plate, even the Lin brothers are well-informed, and they are also stunned by this scene at the moment.

"This is...?" Lin Baoquan asked in confusion after he woke up from his jewel-like aura.

"Deposit." Xiong Dao said two words lightly.

"Master Xiong is so crafty!" Lin Baoquan had a clear idea at this moment, and he no longer had any worries about selling this ship of iron materials in bulk—this kind of method of paying a large deposit in advance can only be done by Westerners. He now fully understands Xiong Dao. He became Hongmao's loyal comprador.

Of course, Mr. Xiong's deposit is not that easy to get, Lin Baoquan knew in his heart, not to mention swallowing the deposit, even if this ship of iron was sunk, the Lin family would have to send another ship to the master.

Unless the boats of the Lin family don't come to the south of the Yangtze River in the future, they still have to do this - Liu Yaozu's business can reach the capital, and there are many backers behind it, which is not something that a little bully like the Lin family can shake.

In addition, Master Xiong is obviously not a good stubble.Lin Baoquan came to Tangzhuang today, saw those sea ships and sailors, and came into contact with this red-haired comprador with an inexplicable and weird behavior. Mr. Xiong, whose friend handed over a large amount of property, has the ability to get back his family. The Liu family seems to be eager to help their friends, but they are actually clinging to them!
It doesn't matter if you don't understand the inside story, Lin just needs to understand that Xiong Dao is a dick, and the two sides will soon negotiate specific matters: After the Lin brothers return to Fujian, they will send a ship of iron and raw silk after the year Go to the senior staff, the deposit given by Xiong Dao will be converted into silver price and will be settled with the senior staff at that time.

After the negotiation was completed, the servant girl presented her pen and ink, and Lin Baoquan and Xiong Dao signed a contract on the spot as proof, and a deal was considered complete!
After discussing the business, it happened to be noon, so Mr. Xiong ordered a family banquet to entertain the guests. During this period, Liu He, Liu He, who had already thrown his eyes into the pearl plate, finally started a second negotiation with the Lin family brothers——Pearl, the Lin family People cannot be taken away.

This bowl of round pearls is very good in appearance, the most rare thing is that it is about the size of a head. If it is made by a famous craftsman, it will be a treasure that can be worn on the chest of nobles in the palace!
Liu Yaozu is capable of operating this kind of political investment.Most of the pearls brought out one after another by the crossing forces before fell into the hands of Liu Yaozu, and most of the good things that Liu Yaozu called "sea pearls" in private were sent to the relationship between the two capitals by him. Supported the career development of several mid-level officials in the officialdom.

In the end, these bead strings will appear in a certain pavilion's hometown, a certain servant's home, or on the chest of a certain concubine in the harem, with a halo of light and pleasant pastels.

As for the native turtle brothers from northern Fujian, what are they going to do with such low-level toys and give them to the magistrate?Isn't this spoiling the baby?

Fortunately, Brother Tubie also understood this truth. While eating lunch, they negotiated the deal of raw silk for pearls with Liu Guanshi.

(End of this chapter)