Late Ming sea owl

Chapter 29 Commercial Espionage
Lin Hai didn't know the name of the Guangdong general named Xie, but this surname was easily reminiscent of Xie Jisi Xing.He didn't have time to think too much, he called Gong'er with a smile on his face and said: "It turns out that General Wu is in front of you. I wonder if I can help you?"

Wu Guoyi returned the courtesy and said: "I don't dare. Since Boss Lin is wearing that ring, he must be very close to Mr. Li. I have something to do with Mr. Li. I dare to ask Boss Lin why Mr. Li didn't come to pick up the goods in person. He himself can be here Hao Jing?"

Lin Hai couldn't figure out the way and said alertly: "What does the general want to do with my sworn brother?"

Wu Guoyi said: "It turns out that Boss Lin is the sworn brother of Mr. Li. He can bear the trust of tens of thousands of taels of silver. So, does it mean that Mr. Li is not in Haojing at the moment?"

Lin Hai said noncommittally: "General, you have some business to discuss with my sworn brother?"

Wu Guoyi replied: "Exactly."

Lin Hai secretly observed his expression, calmly shook his head and said with a smile: "This is very unfortunate. My sworn brother is not in Haojing, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to come back in the future. If General Wu has to go to my sworn brother for this business, I can send you a letter."

"It will be difficult to come back in the future... What is the explanation for this?" Wu Guoyi's face showed a look of astonishment, "Old Captain Zhemo no longer sails the Western route?"

"The old captain is old and has been in poor health recently. From now on, he will live in the Japanese country to take care of himself. My adopted brother is an only son, and it is human nature to want to fulfill his filial piety." Lin Hai replied half-truthfully. What Li Guozhu said before returning to Dongfan may really become a fact.

He paused for a moment and then said: "Of course, my sworn brother is young after all. He will still go to sea personally after a hundred years as the old captain. But for the time being, in the past few years, I will do the work of the sea for the time being."

"I see." A smile appeared on Wu Guoyi's face, "It's not convenient for me to keep a record of my business. Since Boss Lin is handling the maritime affairs for Mr. Li, I will do the same with you."

Lin Hai was waiting for this sentence.

The commercial civilization of this era was far less developed than that of later generations. To do large-scale business, it was very important to be familiar with the methods, and it was difficult to establish supply channels.So he half-truthed and half-falsified, assuming the identity of Li Guozhu's plenipotentiary representative to see if he could intercept the scam secretly.

Sure enough, Wu Guoyi continued: "Boss Lin, would you like to buy cheaper Qili silk?"

Lin Hai smiled and said: "As long as it's a sea voyage, who wouldn't want to? I just don't know where I can buy it? Please tell me."

"Zhejiang." Wu Guoyi's answer was concise and to the point.

Lin Haixin said this is not nonsense?Qili silk is produced in Huzhou, Zhejiang, and the price is definitely cheaper than in Macau.The question is why Wu Guoyi invited Li Guozhu to Zhejiang to buy raw silk?Tse Kee Silk Shop has a monopoly in Macau, which seems illogical.

Monopoly... Lin Hai remembered that Wu Guoyi said it was not convenient to discuss business in the Titiao Department and was unwilling to leave a letter, and suddenly thought of another possibility.He hesitated and asked: "May I ask, General, if the owner of this transaction is not Xie Jisixing?"

Wu Guoyi looked behind him, then turned around, stroking his palms and smiling: "You know the elegant meaning after listening to Xiange, and you are talking about people like Boss Lin. Do you listen seriously? Xie Jisi has done a good business in Haojing, but it is not so good in his hometown in Zhejiang." I may not dare to be number one.”

"That's it." Lin Hai nodded when he heard this. His guess was indeed correct. Wu Guoyi was working for a competitor of Xie Ji Silk Shop and could be regarded as a commercial spy.

His words also contained some other information. The boss of Xie Ji Silk Shop is from Zhejiang and is one of the top silk merchants in Zhejiang.Of course, if Wu Guoyi was not bragging, then the man who invited Li Guozhu to do business in Zhejiang—Wu Guoyi’s real boss—was the leader of the local silk industry.

It is not difficult to imagine that relying on its relationship with the Haidao Yamen in Guangdong, Xie Ji Silk Shop occupied Macau, a huge overseas trade market, which attracted the jealousy of Wu Guoyi's boss.Therefore, the latter sent spies to investigate the rival's customer resources in Macau, trying to poach one or two to do business in Zhejiang.It was obvious that the other party did not want to do piecemeal business, let alone a one-time deal, but wanted to find a long-term contract buyer. Otherwise, why would he have to find Li Guozhu?One possible reason is that after investigation, the other party believes that only Li Guozhu among Xie Ji Silk's customers has this ability.

Lin Hai's mind was racing. If he rashly went to Zhejiang now, it would be easy to expose the secret. After all, with his financial resources, he couldn't buy much. Even if he bought some cheap Qili silk, he couldn't be a package buyer.

But it is a pity to give up like this. If this opportunity is grasped, its significance will not only be as simple as a contract buyer. If it develops well in the future, it may be able to monopolize a route.

As far as Lin Hai knew, before Zhu Wan banned the sea, the trading port from the Ming Dynasty to Japan was mainly Ningbo, and it was only transferred to Macau, Xiamen and other places after the Jiajing Japanese pirates.In other words, in this era, there is no direct trade between Zhejiang and Japan, although the distance on this route is much closer!
Wu Guoyi saw that Lin Hai had not expressed his position for a long time, and said: "Boss Lin is worried about Zhejiang's maritime ban? But he is worrying too much. The boss can get through it as soon as possible, and there is no need for Boss Lin to spend any effort."

"Since the general said so, that's it. But I have another concern, but it's hard to express it." Wu Guoyi's words gave Lin Hai some inspiration, and he decided to give Lin Hai a try to see if he could become a bag buyer.

Wu Guoyi said: "Boss Lin just says it doesn't matter."

Lin Hai smiled and said: "Does the general know the origin of the great Japanese pirate in Jiajing?"

Monk Wu Guoyi was confused: "Please ask Boss Lin for advice."

Lin Haidao: "I don't dare. I heard that the great Japanese pirates in Jiajing 70 years ago started from a fire in the old mansion of Xie Ge in Yuyao."

Wu Guoyi understood a little, and then heard Lin Hai continue: "The descendants of Mr. Xie Ge are used to doing business with maritime merchants, but they take advantage of their family status and refuse to pay back the money they owe. He jumped over the wall in a hurry, set a fire in Xie's house in Yuyao, and killed several men and women."

"After this incident, Zhu Wan, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, began to impose a strict maritime ban. Heavenly soldiers were everywhere. Shuangyu Port in Zhoushan, where smuggling was the most popular at that time, was destroyed. This forced Wang Zhi, Xu Hai and others to change from sea traders to pirates."

This matter was not a secret at the time, and Wu Guoyi naturally knew it. As soon as Lin Hai said this, he understood what his concerns were. The essential root was still the maritime ban.

On the vast sea frontier of the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court only left two legal ports: Macau, Guangdong and Yuegang, Fujian. Other places, including Xiamen, could only smuggle goods.Obviously, large-scale smuggling must cooperate with local officials or gentry. In this illegal cooperation relationship, maritime merchants are the absolutely weak party, and it is difficult to protect their rights and interests.

Wu Guoyi was not a man of words and fell silent after hearing Lin Hai's words.

Lin Hai took the opportunity to say: "Of course, I really want to do the deal that the general just mentioned. But when I work for my sworn brother, I also want to be safe. If the general is sincere, I will boldly put forward some conditions. I wonder if you can agree to it?" "

Wu Guoyi said: "Let's talk and listen."

Lin Hai stretched out two fingers and said: "First, no deposit is required, and no credit is allowed, as long as the money and goods are paid in full. Second, the stall should not be too big. Start with a few thousand taels of silver, and wait until the two families are familiar with each other. Don’t worry, we will start the business one by one.”

Wu Guoyi pondered: "Both of these are reasonable, but I can't make the decision. If Boss Lin is really sincere, please go to Shaoxing Fucheng. There is a Liaodong Shen Diao grocery store in the city and introduce him to the shopkeeper named Yan. At Xia Dong’s house.”

"Shaoxing Fucheng, Liaodong Shen Diao Grocery Store, shopkeeper Yan." Lin Hai repeated, raised his eyebrows and said, "Okay! Just follow your words. I'd like to trouble General Wu to come back to your boss's house. It will take at least three months and as many as half a year. I will come to visit you. Nagging."

(End of this chapter)