Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 339: The roar of cannons at the Pearl River Estuary, the chain reaction of domino collapse, no one can escape!
"Two ounces of tea a week can turn a cold dinner into a steaming one."

"A cup of fragrant black tea can make a sweet cake even more delicious."

Since 1699, the Saxons purchased 6 tons of tea from Guangzhou for the first time. The whole of Europe can no longer live without this magical drink.

By 1777, the Qing Empire exported more than 3000 million kilograms of tea through official channels.

The number of smuggling channels cannot be counted, but it should be no less than this number.

In Guangzhou Shisanhang, the purchase price of tea per hundred catties (1 dan) in normal years is 12 taels. But now it has risen to an outrageous 42 taels!
From foreign merchants to businessmen to ordinary people, everyone was very surprised.

……

Drinking tea has become a luxury.

However, even so, East India Company merchants belonging to various countries are still purchasing tea.

Because it’s profitable!

One party is asking for prices all over the place, and the other party is making counter-offers on the spot.

After eating, I took a sip of green tea and felt very comfortable in my stomach.

Not surprisingly, this time the negotiations came to nothing.

"In business, we all sit down and have a good discussion. We strive for a win-win situation."

The first negotiation between the merchants of the Thirteenth Bank of Guangdong and the Shanxi Merchant Alliance also officially began.

Seeing that the big boss of their own side had come forward, the minor characters responsible for charging into the battle immediately stopped their personal attacks and sat down to drink tea and enjoy snacks.

"Bumpkin!"

Generally speaking, the 18th century was a time when everything was flourishing, full of vitality, wild and romantic.

"Come on, whoever fails first will be the grandson. Those of us in Shanxi don't dare to say it, because our family has a strong foundation. At worst, we can dig three more cellars when we go home."

……

"Push to the street!"

"Old digger!"

"You all go down."

After clearing out the servants, these old guys wearing black silk robes and black melon caps, with as few as two and as many as five rings on their hands, were full of firepower.

Shanxi merchants wanted to get a share of the fat sea trade business and participate in the business.

……

……

Legal awareness is extremely weak, and conscience is non-existent.

Foreign merchants used all kinds of tricks, including tea stems and even some leaves. It’s specially for the lower class people in Europe, as long as they don’t die after drinking it.

The house was filled with smoke, and the maids shuttled back and forth like butterflies, pouring tea and lighting cigarettes.

Both parties left regretfully. After returning, they negotiated separately and then communicated again through an intermediary.

"Only ghosts can afford your high-priced silk and high-priced tea. If we can't reach an agreement, we'll waste it until your tea leaves and raw silk rot."

If you cannot purchase tea, silk and porcelain, this trip will be a waste of money. It is better to jump directly into the Pearl River Estuary.

"The Cantonese people are really prodigal. They make so many different kinds of pasta. If they make it so fancy, they still end up eating it."

Contempt is contempt, but it does not affect the shuttle back and forth with chopsticks.

"Aren't you Guangdong people gangsters? You have all the channels for sea trade in your hands. While selling official tea, you are also engaged in smuggling. In the past two years, you, Lao Guang, have made a lot of money, right?"

The big guys on both sides,
They each stood up and pretended to be gentle:
"Hey, why do you need to use knives and guns like this? We are all our own people. If we fall out, the ghosts will laugh."

After a seemingly meaningless but necessary verbal attack.

Suddenly he looked up and saw shopkeeper Wu walking with him across the way, looking at him with a half-smile but not a smile.

Zhang Erhe, the third shopkeeper in the southern region of Rishengchang, is from Taiyuan, Shanxi.

Among the three treasures of the Qing Dynasty, tea has the most important status!
Navigation experience in the 18th century:

Foreign businessmen from all over the world who didn't know the inside story were spinning anxiously in the post house.

"Yes."

Both sides cursed each other silently:
"Poverty is exquisite!"

Of course, the Thirteenth Bank did not agree and proposed that they could participate in each other's shares. If the people of Shanxi want to get involved in the ocean, the people of Guangdong can also enter the grassland.

History is what it is, and news is old news.

Ever since apes began to walk upright, there has been essentially no difference between humans and humans.

Looking at the barbecued pork buns, shrimp dumplings, rice rolls, dry steamed siomai, beef balls, etc. placed in front of me~
I muttered in my heart:

The total net worth of the 20 or so people in this room is equal to the annual income of the Qing court for 10 years.

Get one of each and taste the bird. Well, not bad.

"You Shanxi people are too shady. You hold all the tea leaves in your hands and are reluctant to sell them, right? Are you driving up the price?"

Every foreign ship leaving Guangzhou must have a large proportion of tea in the cabin.

Ordinary quality tea leaves are packed in wooden boxes, wrapped in tung oil mulberry paper, and surrounded by lead sheets.

High quality is tin can packaging!

They traveled across the ocean, arrived in London, Paris, and Boston, and then sold out at a higher price~
A process that is the opposite of this,
European silver continued to flow into Guangzhou.

In the end, a small part settled in the Qing government treasury, while the rest was funneled into the cellars of the houses of officials and gentry, large and small, never to see the light of day again.

……

This time, Shanxi merchants came out in full force.

The eight major families, Qiao, Chang, Cao, Hou, Qu, Kang, Fan, and Kong, all joined in and spent a total of 2800 million taels of cash to hoard tea silk porcelain.

In addition, it also absorbed more than 600 million taels of mysterious airborne funds.

Of course,
Mainly from the officials of the Council of Ministers, Prince Baylor, and the imperial merchants.

This good thing of making money with determination belongs to the main force, and small retail investors cannot get on the bus.

In the words of Cao Shunqing, the initiator of this alliance and the trader of Baofenglong Ticket Account:
"From the descendants of the Aixinjueluo family to the military gate of the Futai vassal in Shanxi, there are also the feudal territories of Sichuan, Guangdong and Hunan, and the adults of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Everyone handed in notes and invested in the event. We are the backstage of Shanxi merchants. , so big that it has no edge.”

"Why do they, Lao Guang, fight with us? Why should they fight with us?"

"Go directly to the imperial court and let all the gods and immortals take action to crush these upstarts from the Thirteenth Industry. Let them understand that we Shanxi merchants are the first-class existence in the Qing Dynasty!"

"The banker has the final say when to smash the plate and when to overturn the table. We are the only banker!"

Everyone nodded in approval.

To allow so many people to step in and share the profits, isn't it because Tu's chariot is strong and can bring out gods to help at critical moments?

This is also the consistent business style of Shanxi merchants.

……

Although Shisan Xing has money, he has no background.

Their connections are fine if they are kept locally. But in the entire Qing Dynasty, it was nothing.

A few days later,
The expected divine decree did not arrive, but bad news came.

When the shopkeeper of Baofenglong Wuhan Branch was supported by two knights into the house, Cao Shunqing happened to be carving gold and stone. This is his personal hobby and he has high personal attainments.

"Master, please step aside. I have something important to do."

However, Xiao Cao ignored him. Instead, he continued to quietly carve this hard-won piece of Hehuangtian jade.

"The young master's family is in urgent need of help. Please evacuate everyone in this room immediately."

Xiao Cao was very unhappy.
He put down his tools and washed his hands in the basin.

"You guys pack up and go down first. Uncle, I'm not telling you to calm down when big things happen. You are so anxious~"

Looking at the unhurried servants, the semicolon shop owner stamped his feet anxiously.

"Vigorously and resolutely" was not a complimentary term in the Qing Dynasty, but a neutral term that tended to have a derogatory meaning. Anyone who is associated with this quality is not a successful person in the traditional sense.

but,

There is really no way to be impatient about this matter today.

……

Watching the last servant leave the house.

Then he rushed forward, pressed against Cao Shunqing, and said tremblingly:

"My young master, please don't say anything later. The hard work of six generations of the Cao family can be found in my next words."

"The trend of the imperial court suddenly changed, and all the barbarian envoys, including the Saxon envoys, were killed in the capital posthouse. The captives were taken to Caishikou, where they were either executed or cut in half. Your Majesty, your health may be in doubt."

With a plop, Cao Shunqing slid to the ground.

The whole face looked like a dead person without blood.

My mouth trembled several times. There was a rumbling in his throat, but he couldn't form a complete word.

The shopkeeper didn't bother to drag him and continued: "This is news sent by insiders in the capital at any cost. Other families will know it tomorrow and the day after tomorrow at the latest. Now is the only window period to save our Cao family."

"Throw it away quickly! Throw it away quickly! Throw it away at any cost!"

"Okay, okay, listen to my uncle." Cao Shunqing's voice was like a dull knife scraping rust, it was terribly unpleasant.

……

It rained heavily that night.

All the backbones of Baofenglong Bank in Guangzhou were dispatched.

Reduce the price of tea and raw silk by 3% to those foreign merchants, as well as various small and medium-sized businessmen, and small retail investors. They only accept cash checks, cash, jewelry, calligraphy, painting, and antiques.

Sign the contract on the spot and get the cash check on the spot.

Not only that,

He also met privately with thirteen merchants and sold his inventory at a reduced price using the image of a "second or fifth boy".

The owners of Guangli Hong, Tongfu Hong, Dongxing Hong and Tianbao Hong were tempted and bought a large amount of spot goods after fiercely bargaining.

Of course,
What Bao Fenlong got was the equivalent of silver, and what these people got was a bill of lading, which was stamped with Bao Fenlong's seal and Cao Shunqing's private seal and signature.

After all, the selling behavior was too late.

The next day, just after collecting 120 million taels of funds, Rishengchang also received news.

Without saying a word, just give it out at 50% off, give it all away!

Now, even a fool senses something is wrong!
The Thirteenth Bank stopped all acquisitions, and foreign merchants were holding their money and waiting. Only some unresponsive retail stores were still happily purchasing goods.

Only one day later, the imperial mail from the capital arrived.

"~On the day the decree arrives, all foreign merchants and ships will be seized immediately. Those who resist will be killed without mercy. From now on, trade in Guangzhou will be stopped, artillery will be added to the forts, and the Eight Banners Green Camp will inspect armaments. Civilians are not allowed to go to the sea, and those who disobey the order will be punished 3 clan.”

……

There was a loud bang of thunder, and there was pouring rain.

Yierhang, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Fumin, the general of Guangzhou, Zhao Shisheng, the governor of Guangdong, Guan Daguan, the admiral of the Guangdong Navy, and Yongxiang, the supervisor of the Guangdong Customs, all looked embarrassed and panicked.

"Zhitai, what happened in the capital?"

"I don't know. But the letter is written in black and white and the procedure is legal."

"Lord Fumin, you arrived in Beijing with the Saxon fleet. You must know something, right?"

"I didn't even enter the capital. I sent the barbarians to Dagokou and then returned in a hurry. It's only been a few days since I came back, and I haven't recovered yet! I don't know either."

"My lords, from now on the tariffs of Guangdong Customs~"

Everyone looked at Yongxiang and comforted him awkwardly:
"In the future, I'm afraid there will be no Guangdong Customs. Naturally, there will be no such thing as tariffs."

Yongxiang threw down his straw hat angrily and huddled in the chair with his head in his hands.

Yierhang took a deep breath:

"Everyone, we are all ministers of the Qing Dynasty and we obey the imperial court. General Fu Min."

"The slave is here."

"Gather your troops together and send out troops at dawn tomorrow. Arrest all foreigners inside and outside the city."

"Whoo."

"Guan Junmen. You personally lead the navy to control all the foreign ships in the Pearl River Estuary, and don't let any of them escape. Tell the Humen Fort to directly fire and sink them when necessary!"

"I obey your orders."

"Zhao Futai, you must do a good job in propagandizing. From now on, Guangzhou's trade will become history. People along the coast of Guangdong are not allowed to go to the sea, and those who disobey the order will be punished by the three tribes."

"As ordered."

……

It rained heavily overnight.

Qing soldiers shuttled back and forth in Guangzhou City, marching in the rain.

The generals in all departments were hoarse from shouting.

The rain gradually became lighter, and a hint of fish belly white appeared in the east.

Guangzhou General Fu Min wore his ancestral cotton armor and wiped the rainwater dripping down the edge of his helmet from time to time.

"Master, everything is ready."

"Then what are you waiting for? Rush in. Don't let any Yi people escape."

"Whoo."

Gave an order,
2000 green soldiers, holding spears, poured into this specially designated "barbarian merchant residential area" like a tide.

Businessmen from various countries who were still sleeping were pulled out, beaten and tied up.

All kinds of screams and excuses, due to the language barrier, only led to more vicious beatings.

……

The Eight Banners Horse Troop garrisoned in Guangzhou patrolled the surrounding area and captured more than a dozen people who slipped through the net.

Fu Min finally breathed a sigh of relief, his errand was successfully completed.

however,
However, Guangdong Guan, the admiral of the Guangdong Navy, was in big trouble.

He mobilized all the warships in the surrounding area that could go to sea, a total of 53 ships, and temporarily recruited 30 fishing boats as arson ships.

With the help of the Xijiang water system extending in all directions, most of the barbarian merchant ships were blocked in the waters north of Shajiao.

"The Emperor has an order that the barbarians are causing trouble to the Qing Dynasty and will be killed without mercy."

Guan Daguan gave an order, and all the navy soldiers under his command were brave and rushed to drive the boat to charge.

"Military gate, military morale is available."

"Ah."

Guan Daguan knew very well that these bastards thought that attacking merchant ships would be lucrative, so they were so active.

If so, this would be against pirates.

They will be steady and cautious, and will never rush to take advantage of the situation.

……

A Dutch merchant ship, the sailors on duty stretched out their arms to stop the sailors from boarding the ship.

"What are you doing? We are legitimate Dutch merchants."

The leading navy officer, with his braid wrapped around his neck, bare-chested and holding a knife, stepped forward and without saying a word, he slashed diagonally.

The Dutch sailor fell to the ground clutching his bleeding neck.

"Kill, Yang Maozi intends to resist, kill them all."

The boss raised the bloody saber high and let out a loud roar. A group of soldiers who followed him immediately responded positively.

the reason is simple,
Kill everyone to make money.

The dock at the Pearl River Estuary became a battlefield, but the fighting was not fierce. Because the Qing army was calculated mentally and unintentionally, the advantage lies with me.

Except for one of the Iberian armed merchant ships.

Under the command of the captain, more than a dozen sailors used a Fran machine gun to defeat the Qing troops who boarded the ship.

then,

They fired wildly while trying desperately to find an escape route.

……

There are many boats berthing at the pier and it is overcrowded.

The Qing army used rockets and guns to shoot at this "fish that slipped through the net".

The Iberian sailors used the four bronze cannons in the cabin to fight back desperately.

After about 2 sticks of incense,
The Qing army looked at the merchant ship that was on fire and burst into thunderous cheers.

The rocket ignited the sails and then the deck, eventually burning the barbarian ship.

Guan Daguan was also quite pleased and said with a smile:
"Fire attack is the right way to fight with water."

"That's what the military gate said."

The situation was excellent, and the Guangdong Navy controlled a full 26 barbarian merchant ships.

Everyone is busy getting rich, and even the defenders of the Humen Fort can't help but send people to join in the get-rich-with-you-have sequence.

On the Lingding Ocean surface, the rumble of cannons was heard.

"Junmen, two barbarian warships are shelling our Hengmen water stronghold."

"Instruct all warships to provide support quickly!"

……

(End of this chapter)