Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 436: Give the sweetness slowly, don't spoil God too much~
Jinshanwei Pier,
The captain's cabin at the stern of the HMS Boyne, the flagship of the East India Company fleet.

A group of people were admiring the dozen or so porcelain samples on the table, with all kinds of compliments floating on their faces.

These porcelains were the first batch of luxury goods produced after the Yangzhou salt merchants monopolized the Jingdezhen porcelain industry. They were "Jasmine" brand and were exclusively for export.

The patterns are complex, the colors are bright, and it exudes a strong sense of nouveau riche.

It fully caters to the aesthetics of Europeans in the 18th century.
……

If it were just the novelty of the style, these people's surprise would only be short-lived.

After all, we are all businessmen who have seen the world, and we often see special products from all over the world.

But these cups left everyone dumbfounded.

The inner wall of the cup,

It is clearly printed with "Man looks at today's affairs, but God looks at tomorrow's affairs" and "The Lord turns every calamity into a blessing."

This is what the Bible says!
The young pastor on board excitedly poured some water into the cup, picked it up and drank it all.

The expression on his face was very satisfied.

Holy water, absolutely holy water!

……

The pastor was emotional:
"Such a cup should be presented to the Archbishop."

A senior employee of the East India Company immediately refuted this:
"No, I think it should be auctioned off in London to the highest bidder."

The discussion was heated.

Suddenly I turned my head and found an officer scratching the inside of the cup with his fingernails.

"Fuck, what are you doing?"

"I, I'll try to see if this word will fall off~"

“Will it fall off?”

"It's very solid, the Holy Word and the white porcelain are one. It's amazing."

……

"Hey, look at this."

Everyone stretched their necks and exclaimed in unison - "Wow."

This cup is so exquisite that there is a full-color "Uncovered Eve" printed on the bottom of the cup.

At this moment, Mr. Huang sneezed in Jingdezhen, thousands of miles away.

This is his idea.

Who is Eve? It is clearly a painting of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai.

The young member of the most important committee of the colony could not help but pour some water into his glass.

Drink it all up~
The expression is full of enjoyment and the smile is rippling.

"Wonderful! I dare not imagine what kind of sensation this cup will cause when it arrives in London."

The employee who refuted the pastor immediately spoke up:
"Auction! The highest bidder wins!"

……

Wherever there is Eve, there must be Adam.

Eve - one of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai, Adam - Mr. Huang’s imagined younger self.

The monthly concubine system he invented was known to everyone in Yangzhou.

When it comes to shamelessness, Mr. Huang is far ahead.

He was determined to get this set of luxury goods, and no one could stop him.

The priest's blood boiled.

Again, we propose:

"I think it should be presented to the Archbishop."

"No, no, this is a tea set for the distinguished ladies of the upper class to have afternoon tea."

"Who stipulated it?"

"Look, this is the manufacturer's instructions."

After reading it, the pastor was stunned and called it shameless.

……

"Reverend, I think this cup might be more suitable for the Archbishop's physique."

"Oh?"

The pastor took the cup with an embarrassed look on his face.

There is an "Uncovered Adam" printed on the bottom of the cup, which is highlighted, lifelike and has a high artistic content.

The pastor thought about it and poured some water into the cup.

Drink it all up.

It feels good when you smack your lips, with a sweet aftertaste.

Seeing that the iron-faced employee was about to speak again, he spoke first:
"I will suggest that the Archbishop entrust believers to participate in the auction and purchase it."

The employee nodded modestly.
He would defend the company's property to the death and would never allow anyone to covet the company's profits, not even the archbishop or the king.

……

The calligraphers and painters in Jingdezhen all have inherited their skills from their ancestors and have superb techniques. Their hands are as precise and stable as laser printers.

Everyone unexpectedly discovered that

It works better when the cup has water.

Adam and Eve moved around under the refraction of light, as if they were alive.

Although everyone says that cups printed with the Bible are truly top-notch products.

But I know in my heart,

The "Adam and Eve" cup is the focus of competition among the nobles and will definitely be sold at a sky-high price.

It is better to send it to Paris for auction. Regardless of the position, people there like art more and are more willing to pay for it.
……

"Gentlemen, we have some rare goods here. Would you like to take a look?"

The employees washed and dried their hands reverently.

Carefully take out a Suzhou embroidered silk robe and unfold it, brush it, the drape is super good.

The moon-white silk robe is covered with gold-embroidered words. English?
“Matthew?”

"Yes, exactly as it is, it is embroidered on the robe."

Everyone gasped in unison.

For a long time,

Someone whispered:

"The Vatican will definitely buy this treasure at any price."

"Gentlemen, look at this one~"

In the employee's hand, a blue silk robe fell down.
"Three golden irises on a blue background?"

"Yes, gentlemen, the inside of the robe also bears the emblem of the Emperor."

Everyone was smiling, they were all smart people, no need to say more.

This robe must be sold to the Frankish court at a high price. If they don't cooperate, they will be disgusted.

……

Everyone felt that the trip was worthwhile and they gained a lot.

Wu State is truly a great business partner.

The price is indeed very expensive, but each piece is of high quality and the profit is guaranteed.

Except tea leaves,

Although the packaging is exquisite, with mulberry paper and straw inside the wooden box to prevent shock and moisture, its quality is really hard to describe~
After unpacking,

It was found that the main leaves accounted for at most 3%, the thick stems accounted for at least 4%, and there were many indescribable things.

If you randomly pull a farmer from the south of the Yangtze River to identify the tea, he will definitely ask in surprise: Who mixed mulberry leaves into tea?

……

answer:

Yes, Your Majesty!
His Majesty's oral instructions:

Ordinary tea at 19 taels per dan was sold to ordinary people in Europe for drinking, so there was no need to worry too much about the quality.

Anyone who has raised silkworms knows how delicate they are.

If the mulberry leaves you feed them are even slightly contaminated, the silkworms will die immediately. Therefore, mulberry leaves are really non-toxic.

Moreover, mulberry leaves are not rotten leaves. It takes 20 mu of mulberry fields to produce one load of silk.

Mulberry leaves are dried, shredded and mixed with tea for sale.

Li Yudu sighed that he was simply too kind.

In the future, I have to consider changing to some cheaper leaves to change the taste of customers on the other side of the ocean. I must not spoil their taste buds.

In the plan of loving father Li Yu,
The tea business has been going on for at least 500 years. We have to slowly give customers benefits and never spoil them too much.

……

The quality of tea sealed in lead cans is significantly improved.

There are 6% tender buds and 4% old leaves in it.

The seal is super good, ensuring the quality remains unchanged after crossing the ocean.

The employees of the East India Company had no objection to Wu's differentiated management, and they also believed that the tea served to ordinary customers did not need to be too good.

During these 30 years, the European upper class was very dissatisfied with the phenomenon of ordinary workers drinking tea.

The upper class believes that drinking tea is an elegant behavior, but dirty workers actually imitate it?
This invisibly lowers the value of the act of drinking tea.

and,

Each time, the workers would grab a few tea stalks and throw them into the water. They were reluctant to add sugar, so they usually added some coarse salt or oil.

This kind of city drinking is very disrespectful and ungentlemanly.

The nobles were heartbroken whenever they mentioned it.

……

Some lofty hereditary aristocrats publicly called in newspapers for the enactment of corresponding laws to prohibit ordinary people from drinking tea, and violators should be thrown into prison.

however,
This appeal is really untenable.

Moreover, importers and exporters will never allow it.

finally,
The right of ordinary people to drink tea is reserved.

A freelance writer in London's largest-circulation newspaper said: Drinking tea is the right given by God to every lamb.

Parisian society tells the story:
Nonsense!
It's all about money! To make the little money from the lowly people.

You Saxons are finished, there is no hope!
……

Not long after,
The upper class racked their brains to come up with a way to distinguish their identities and invented afternoon tea~
Drinking tea does not mean having status.

Having afternoon tea = status.

Drinking afternoon tea in an Eve cup = super classy.

Only those who are rich and have free time can sit on a high-end sofa, drink afternoon tea, eat sweet snacks, and enjoy the scenery of the Seine.
……

Li Yu specifically asked about the lead can sealing and packaging process.

The factory was asked to add a process to make three cuts inside the can before immediately filling it with tea leaves and sealing it.

Lead can packaging should be used as a standard for export, and our Great Wu should also have an ancestral law that will never change.

Lead-can tea is not allowed to be sold domestically and can only be sold outside.

Lead-sweetened tea is definitely better than mulberry-leaf-flavored tea. It is especially suitable for special families like the Habsburg royal family and may have miraculous effects.

Private discussions within the Commercial Office:

This should be an anti-counterfeiting measure. In the future, you only need to pry open the can and check whether there are scratches inside the can to determine whether it is authentically produced in Jiangnan.

……

Your Majesty will lead the army in person.

Most of the Guards Corps accompanied the emperor on the expedition.

The remaining troops of the 2nd Corps, which had been resting in Jiangnan, were also ordered to go on the expedition.

The main force of the 1st Corps stationed in Jiangning remained in place to guard the river defense.

Anyone with a little knowledge of geography would know that there was only one suitable place for the Northern Army to cross the Yangtze River in the lower reaches - Yanziji.

In addition to being able to attack the important town of Jiangning directly, more consideration is given to hydrological factors.

The river surface at Yanziji is narrow, and the Northern Army can cross the river with the largest number of landing forces in the shortest time, while the river surface in other areas is too wide.

The Northern Army has always had weak navy and strong infantry and cavalry.

Therefore, the only option was to station troops in Luzhou (Hefei), build ships in Chaohu Lake, and then directly enter the Yangtze River from Rushu River, quickly capture Yanziji, and arrive at the city of Jiangning.

……

This was how Agui’s previous strategy was arranged.

First, the main force of the Wu army was attracted to the Jiangxi battlefield, and then the army was lured to the south by defeating it. Then, on the northern front, the army suddenly attacked Chaohu Lake, Rushu River, and Yanziji, besieging Jiangning and quickly opening to the south of the Yangtze River.

however,
Li Yu decisively organized an unprecedented battle in Jiangbei, which shattered his grand strategy.

For this reason, the State of Wu even temporarily gave up Jiangxi.

……

The army set out, advancing by land and water, stretching for more than twenty miles.

Artillery, baggage, and food are transported by water, with mature routes and mature plans.

among them,

Important military supplies such as artillery and ammunition were contracted by the Transport Bureau, while the remaining baggage and food were handed over to civilian fleets.

Before you know it,
The Wu State cultivated a large-scale "Second Navy" in the south of the Yangtze River.

When redeployment is required, the order is passed directly to the president, who then passes it on to the various "shipping associations" under him.

With orders and profits, there is motivation and efficiency.

……

The shipping industry is highly concentrated.

The branch president shouted at the dock, and a large number of private boat captains brought their own boats and sailors to the designated location to undertake the transportation tasks assigned by the government.

Remuneration is based on the size of the vessel.

When materials are loaded onto the ship, the captain will sign a document indicating the type and quantity of the materials being transported, the departure time, and the scheduled arrival time.

At the same time, hand in your membership certificate.

……

Sailing is a high-risk occupation.
No one can tell how high the waves will be or how shallow the reefs will be.

The Transport Department has clear regulations on this:

All boatmen who undertake water transport for the government,

If a person dies in war, he or she can be given a pension according to the treatment of a soldier. If there are male children over 10 years old in the family, they can be enlisted in the army first.

In case of death due to an accident, a pension can be given at half the rate of a soldier, and the same arrangement shall be made for male members of the family.

Those who go missing during the journey and whose reasons cannot be determined will not be compensated or held accountable.

……

Li Yu believes that industry associations, a non-governmental organization with a slightly official color, are a non-governmental force that cannot be underestimated.
Efficient and low cost.

Therefore, there are various industry associations under its jurisdiction.

Folk jokes:

"Presidents are everywhere, and vice presidents are as numerous as dogs."

Each association will issue a metal badge to new members.

It will state:
The name of the association, the name, place of origin and firm of the licensed member.

……

Poyang Lake, Hukou.

"Tan Aiqing, what did you see?"

"I have seen the strongest logistics system established by Your Majesty, which is the guarantee for our Wu army to win the battle."

Li Yu leaned on the side of the boat and said with emotion:

"But what I see is silver."

"Your Majesty is holy."

Tan Muguang felt emotional in his heart that this logistics system had obvious advantages but also obvious disadvantages - it was a waste of money.

After thinking for a moment,
He asked in a low voice:
"I wonder if we can ask the Transport Department to increase the number of directly-managed transport ships? This will save the shipping costs paid to civilian boatmen."

……

Li Yu shook his head.
Pointing to the endless civilian fleet on the Yangtze River, he asked:
"How many new ships are there?"

"Maybe 4% of them are very similar in shape and easy to identify. As far as I can remember, they are all produced by Jiangnan Shipyard."

"Lord Kuai, please introduce them."

Kuai Bo, the Director of the Shipbuilding Bureau standing nearby, introduced respectfully:

"This is one of the five general-purpose ship types designed by the Shipbuilding Bureau. It is based on the Caochuan with some modifications. The length of the ship is 5 feet, the width is 5 feet, the depth is 9 feet, the thickness of the shipboard is 3 inches, it has two masts, and it can be fully loaded with 5 dan of rice. The shipboard is made of Fujian pine and fir, and the rudder is made of Guangdong ironwood. The market price of a ship is 2 taels."

Tan Muguang observed for a while and said:

"It seems to be a little smaller than the common canal boats, and the mast is shorter too."

"Yes. Small boats can go to more waters, and the price is low, so it is easier for ship owners to buy them."

Tan Muguang thought about it and added:

"Director Kuai, if we encounter a turbulent current, the pine and fir boat will not be strong enough, right?"

"We can't help it. The area we currently control doesn't have qualified hardwood, so Jiangnan Shipyard replaced the side keels and tendons of this type of ship with iron components to make up for the inherent deficiency of wood."

……

Li Yu suddenly spoke:
"The General Staff needs to have a good understanding of the ship's performance. After a while, send a few people to the Jiangnan Shipyard for a month."

"Yes."

Tan Muguang suddenly asked a question:
"If we conquer Guangdong, can we get wood for building ships?"

Kuai Bo quickly explained:
"Yes. There are some ironwood trees in the mountainous areas of western Guangdong, such as Xining County, Luoding Prefecture."

Tan Muguang's eyes lit up instantly.

……

Seeing him so excited, Li Yu poured cold water on him:
"Don't be too happy, both of you. After hundreds of years of continuous felling during the Ming and Qing dynasties, I'm afraid there are only a few ironwood trees left in western Guangdong."

"Once the Fifth Army has taken Guangzhou, I will have Miao Youlin send troops into the mountains to assist your shipbuilding department in searching every mountaintop."

Kuai Bo was dejected.

He has never been to Luoding Prefecture, but he has heard from timber merchants that excessive logging has reduced the number of ironwood trees in western Guangdong. The situation in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces is slightly better.

……

(End of this chapter)