The wind blows from the South Sea

Chapter 31 Huge profits from the spice trade

Go back to the dormitory

After Feng Guohui became the new owner, all the bedding here were replaced with new ones, and beautiful bouquets of flowers were decorated on the threshold.

The room, illuminated by two European-style seven-headed silver candlesticks, was cast in a layer of bright yellow light with a slightly oil-painting texture.

Feng Guohui pushed the door open and walked in. The beautiful girl who had been waiting in the room for a long time hurriedly took a few steps, knelt down and took off Feng Guohui's shoes.

Two maids came in carrying buckets of hot water and quickly left.

Feng Guohui just sat there, letting Zuma wash and hot his feet. Every move of this beautiful creature, the snow-white gooseneck, and the charming and concave and convex figure, were full of infinite temptation.

The young man had strong firepower, so he naturally showed some abnormality.

Zuma, who was half-kneeling on the ground, was serving Feng Guohui to wash his feet. In the hot water basin, she was rubbing his big feet repeatedly with her white hands. Gradually, her delicate body trembled and she dared not move.

Poor Zuma was completely confused and didn't know what to do. Feng Guohui reached out and pressed down her little head...

A moment later

Zuma, who was blushing, covered her mouth and ran out. Feng Guohui lay down comfortably on the soft big bed. He felt wonderful. This damn landlord's life is really depraved.

but I like it.

He wakes up and holds the power of the world, but he lies drunk on the knees of a beautiful woman.

By this time

Feng Guohui finally experienced a little bit of the beauty of power. Although it was just a scratch, it made people obsessed with this powerful feeling like taking drugs.

He has always emphasized that Nanyang Company is a serious business, not a gang leader in a mixed society.

This stems from the common understanding in today's society that gangsters are a low-level business and are located at the bottom of society.

It is not easy to get ashore covered with mud and clean your skin.

In just over ten days

The rapid rise of Nanyang Company not only established a foothold in Surabaya City, but also laid the foundation of Yanwang City, which really made him extremely satisfied.

At this point, it’s time to think about what to do in the future?

During his previous displacement, Feng Guohui had neither the time nor the inclination to seriously consider it, but things are different now.

The Nanyang Company will soon grow to a scale of thousands of people. It has the land of Surabaya City and the foundation of Yanwang City in its hands. Feng Guohui can also use more than 20 silver coins, which is worth about 4 pounds.

no one knows

Feng Guohui hid the wealth of more than 10 silver coins collected in the secret room of the water house in the caravan's four-wheeled Western carriage, and mainly used it to purchase spices.

It was the carriage where he usually rested. It was pulled by two strong mules and was inconspicuous among the caravans and carriages.

Spices are more expensive to ship to Europe than gold, and they are not cheap in Java. If you want to trade spices, you must have strong financial support.

Originally, Nanyang Company was counting on Spanish businessman Gavi Torres to raise funds, but it had to get 150,000 to 60,000 silver coins to be able to prepare half a shipload of spices.

Feng Guohui calculated based on the minimum transportation volume of 300 tons. If the purchase price of local plantations in Java Island plus 32% is calculated, it is impossible to prepare a ship of spices for less than 35 to silver coins.

The difference in the middle is the difference between high-priced spices?

There are fifty or sixty kinds of spices, mainly star anise, fennel, cloves, cinnamon, galangal, nutmeg, bay leaf, grass fruit, pepper, angelica, pepper, cumin, angelica, tangerine peel, cinnamon and other varieties. , Java is rich in most of them, so it is known as the "Spice Islands".

These spices come in different varieties and have different growth cycles.

Some are perennial herbaceous plants, some are annual or biennial herbaceous plants, some are trees, and some are seedlings, and the prices are naturally different.

Now Feng Guohui holds nearly 20 silver coins in his hands, and with the funds raised by Spanish businessman Gavi Torres, it is more than enough to prepare a shipload of goods.

This boosted his confidence, and he fantasized about making a big profit.

Don't forget that the destroyed Yusuf family still has more than a dozen plantations, which produce a large amount of spices. The specific varieties that can be raised and the amount of supply need to be sent out to check one by one.

It is impossible for Nanyang Company to take away all the spice output from these plantations. In order to complete the task, some production must be handed over at the lower price set by the Dutch.

Otherwise, something big will definitely happen.

The monopoly of the spice trade by the Dutch colonists was not just a word, but the most sensitive nerve of the Bazavia Governor's Palace.

If it is touched rashly, it will inevitably lead to a merciless military attack by the white colonial government. This is almost certain.

With the current small size of Nanyang Company, it is completely unable to bear it.

The only trick I can think of is to intercept as much production as possible and smuggle it out secretly.

To be honest, the Dutch Colonial Governor's Palace was a real trap. They spared no effort to exploit the colonies, especially the spice plantations. The purchase price was very touching.

Say so

The purchase price of spices set by the Dutch colonial governor-general has not changed for nearly 70 years. Apart from allowing local spice plantations to barely have enough food and clothing and drink a little soup, the price is very restrictive.

The spices produced in the plantations must be sold to designated white companies at very low prices set by the Governor's Palace. Private sales are not allowed, production is not allowed to be withheld, and sales to other individuals and companies are not allowed.

Once discovered, they will be severely punished.

The reason why Nanyang Company is confident in starting this spice smuggling business is that it knows that in addition to the official sales channels of the white Dutch colonial government, there is a black market for spices with a long history.

There are policies and measures to counter.

Plantations also have various ways to conceal their output. White companies can't keep an eye on it anyway. The minimum concealment is 20 to 30%, and the maximum concealment is as high as 40%.

Anyway, rain and climate can cause a reduction in the production of spice plantations. As long as you think of a way, you can always hide part of the production for black market transactions.

This is because the white Dutch colonists did not care about the local market, and all the spices collected were exported to Europe to obtain huge profits, and they were eager to scratch the land.

So what about the local market?

That is, the goods flowing out of the black market of spices can not only satisfy the needs of Java Island, but also a small part can supply British Penang, Singapore and Malaya, and some can also be circulated to mainland China and Indochina.

The people who can do this smuggling business are the British. They have quite extensive channels in Java, and there are many sailing cargo ships passing between them. It is common to carry dozens or hundreds of boxes.

The Dutch colonists knew this very well, but they didn't want to offend the British too much. After all, they were the eldest brother, so they turned a blind eye and pretended not to see it.

The British followed the path of moving ants, but they certainly could not smuggle out a whole boatload of goods. If the Dutch found out, they would still confiscate them. There have been two or three cases in the past ten years.

Don't forget that the Dutch had local Chinese as their eyes and ears, and their news channels were very flexible. Their control over the colonies was much stronger than imagined.

How profitable is the spice trade?

As long as the Nanyang Company can collect a sufficient amount of spice cargo, the Spanish are willing to trade in cash on the bow, and the price will directly triple.

Shipping to Europe costs more than ten times.

In other words, a shipment of spices purchased locally on Java Island for 35 silver coins was worth at least 500 million silver coins when shipped to Europe, and they were all sold out.

The Governor-General of Batavia earns a net profit of about 2600 million from the spice trade every year. This does not include colonial officials and transport ships, as well as local Dutch customs and powerful people. Everyone is involved in this spice trade route. The brain is full of fat.

If this factor is eliminated, net profit can double again.

The Governor's Palace of Batavia sends thirty or forty ships of spices to Europe every year, and the long sea transportation takes two years to make a round trip.

Chen Lunjiong, an official of the Qing Dynasty, wrote about this.

Said: "Whenever the red-haired squid goes to places such as the Little Western Sea (the west coast of India) for trade, it must pass through Aceh to replenish rice and water.

From the Aceh Mountains, it bypassed the southeast for the first time, and ended up facing the Kalaba across the ocean.

Those with red hair returning to the Atlantic Ocean must go out to the ocean from here, then go southwest across Wuguixia (Cape of Good Hope), and go around west to the Atlantic Ocean (Europe).

More than thirty years old, all the ships are filled with spices. "

Feng Guohui was thinking about the future with great interest when he heard a noise at the door, turned around and smiled.

Zuma came back from washing outside and carefully blew out the silver European-style seven-head incense candle holder. The light in the room immediately dimmed.

There was only a glimmer of moonlight shining through the window like water, and one could see the heart-thumping graceful figure, crawling onto the bed with her hands and feet, taking the heart-stirring girl Fangfang with her.

Zuma curled up on the bed like a kitten. Feng Guohui reached out and took her completely into his arms. The delicate white skin of his tentacles made Feng Guohui feel happy.

Zuma's body visibly stiffened when he was embraced by strong arms.

However, under the careless exploration of a pair of big hands, her body soon became limp, moaning and unable to resist.

This naturally aroused Feng Guohui's strong desire to conquer. At this time, he no longer considered whether he was a boy or a master. He was burning with fire and could not control himself.

Don't worry about it, let's feel comfortable first.

Thinking of this, he immediately turned over and pressed down on Zuma, and roughly tore him away...

(End of this chapter)