The wind blows from the South Sea

Chapter 89 Money is rolling in

a few days later

December 1859, 7

Surabaya City

After more than three months, the Nanyang Company once again secretly concluded a smuggling trade with the Spaniards for two shipments of spices, totaling more than 530 tons and worth 218 million silver coins.

This transaction has basically consumed 77% of the spices that Nanyang Company has hoarded recently, greatly strengthened the company's finances, and replenished the nearly depleted reserve funds.

Basically, each meal of spices (note, unified goods, including various types of spices) is worth more than 50 silver coins. The Spanish businessmen are also very arrogant. They directly shipped tons of high-quality Mexican silver for trade, which was offset by two million Luzon silver coins.

The remaining part was offset by the cost of more than 360 Spanish stallions and the transportation of 6200 Chinese immigrants (note, from Luzon Islands to Surabaya). Both parties were happy.

In the first and second half of every year, a large silver-carrying ship from Mexico arrives in Manila, each ship carrying at least three to four hundred tons of silver ingots. There is no doubt about its ability to pay.

Nanyang Company has booked a total of 150 tons of silver for the second half of the year, and what it will have to pay will be six shipments of spices, which is almost half of the spice production in the entire East Java region.

Now that they have broken up with each other, Nanyang Company doesn’t pretend anymore, it’s all about doing as it pleases.

It is Nanyang Company's established plan to produce and issue its own coins. In this era of chaos in currency issuance, it does not appear to be out of the ordinary.

After entering July, Nanyang Company was not prepared to continue paying taxes in the Surabaya region in the third quarter. It slowly revealed its wolf tail and sharp claws, preparing to face the attack of the Dutch whites in the form of a separatist warlord.

There are pounds, francs, Spanish pesos, Dutch guilders, money made by the Qing Dynasty, as well as iron money, lead money, copper and iron money issued by indigenous kingdoms in various places, and privately minted money issued by big merchants.

The regular sound of "chichichichi..." unique to the operation of steam engines came from the huge west courtyard. Feng Guohui, Zheng Xiucai and others stood next to the rolling machinery, each holding a shiny piece of steel that had just been produced. Silver Coin whispered with a look full of joy.

Is there anything wrong with having one more Nanyang coin?

Relying on the 50 tons of Mexican silver just traded, 200 million Nanyang silver coins can be produced. The unit of one silver coin is one yuan, which is 200 million yuan.

On the front of the Nanyang silver coin, there is a large frontal portrait of Feng Guohui wearing a handsome uniform and a military cap. It looks clear and full, and the lines of the character are lifelike.

"Commander, this set of imported British equipment is really good. The silver coins produced are exquisite in workmanship and uniform in regulations, especially the decoration. The front image of the commander is clear and full, and the quality is very high."

"Don't forget that the fineness of Mexican silver is good, reaching 93.05%, with relatively high ductility and silver content. Each silver coin contains 25 grams of silver, which is exactly 1:1 exchange with the Luzon silver coin."

"Sure enough, it is the craftsmanship of a master. The base plate of this set of silver coins is well engraved, and the quality of the silver coins produced is certainly high."

In the future, Nanyang silver coins will be widely used in commercial trade in East Java, and their exchange rate with Luzon silver coins is 1.1:1.

The main reason why Feng Guohui chose Spanish businessmen instead of British businessmen for transactions was that Spanish power could not pose a threat to Surabaya.

That is, 1.1 crude Luzon silver coins can be exchanged for one Nanyang silver coin.

Nanyang silver coins are rolled and formed with an engraved base plate, and each silver coin weighs a uniform 25 grams. The pattern of the silver coin is exquisite and clear, full and three-dimensional, similar to the unified shape of Yuan Datou's silver coin in later generations.

In this day and age, powerful local kings or big businessmen mint their own currency privately and circulate it within their respective jurisdictions.

Generally speaking, most of the crooked melons and cracked dates cast by Luzon silver coins are actually cast. If the weight is too heavy, use a file to file it a few times. The silver content of each coin is roughly between 24.7 and 25.05.

Inside the Feng family mansion in Surabaya City

This extra 0.1 is the seigniorage collected by Nanyang Company.

Throughout the Dutch East Indies, there are more than forty kinds of coins with various names, and there are more than a dozen kinds of coins in main circulation.

The British are different. If they make the British jealous, they have 100 ways to intervene. "Gangster logic" refers to the thinking of the British.

"It's really good. It can be produced and circulated on a large scale. This set of silver coins will be called Nanyang coins. The next step will be to produce corresponding copper coins." Feng Guohui nodded happily, and the Nanyang coins that will be circulated throughout the Nanyang region in the future were born. .

If you don't have enough confidence, it's better to be careful and don't let the British swallow you with your skin and bones.

The surrounding circle is decorated with laurel flowers, and below is the pattern of bundled wheat ears, which means that under the leadership of the Nanyang Army Commander, there will be a bumper harvest and a full warehouse of rice.

On the reverse side of the Nanyang silver coin, there is the highly recognizable Taigeuk flag pattern, surrounded by the words "Made in 1859 in the Gregorian calendar, Nanyang Company has not produced the first edition of silver in this year".

The currency value of a piece of Nanyang silver coin is collectively referred to as "one yuan".

In the future, the old Luzon silver coins will be recovered through the issuance of Nanyang silver coins, and after re-casting, new Nanyang silver coins will be produced in the circulation market, thereby slowly replacing the old with the new.

This mint is located in the west courtyard of the Feng family mansion. A complete set of coin stamping production machines, from rolling silver laths, stamping silver coin blanks, to molding, can be operated by only a dozen people.

The daily output reaches more than 16 pieces. It will first be used in more than a dozen Nanyang daily necessities department stores, and then expanded to lumber factories, Nanyang banks, various shops in Surabaya City, casinos and all levels of society, and is widely used in industry and agriculture. Product trading and circulation.

After arranging the large-scale production of the mint, Feng Guohui, Zheng Xiucai, Feng Zhaoliang and others came to the Zhenghua Hall of the Second Entrance Courtyard, chatting and laughing, and ordered the maids and maids to bring tea and fruit, and sat down to chat. Three days ago, on July 1859, 7.

A large-scale and grand Nanyang Army establishment and dress-up ceremony was held in Tieshan Town. More than 5730 people from all over the army collectively changed their uniforms. All of them put on khaki uniforms and wide-brimmed denim military hats.

This wide-brim cowboy hat is similar to an American cowboy hat. It is very suitable for the hot sunshine environment in South Asia and can block direct sunlight.

At the grand ceremony, the Nanyang Army was formally established. Feng Guohui served as the commander-in-chief of the Nanyang Army without hesitation, and his troops were reorganized into 8 infantry regiments, each with more than 600 troops.

In addition, two artillery battalions, one cavalry battalion, and one Guards battalion were organized directly under the command, which straightened out the strength of the entire army. Most of the additional recruits also successfully completed closed training.

The only thing missing is the two artillery battalions, which still need two months of closed and concentrated training.

This is why Feng Guohui is honored as "The Marshal". He is now running wildly on the road of warlords, and even eight horses can't hold him back.

In the establishment of the Nanyang Army, the original 5st to th battalions were upgraded to regiments, and each battalion commander was promoted to regimental commander.

The new 6th regiment was headed by Feng Zhaohui, the new 8th regiment was headed by Feng Zhaocai, and the new th regiment was headed by Wang Erzhu, who was originally the company commander of the original soldiers beside Feng Guohui.

As for Feng Zhaohui and Feng Zhaocai, they are the second batch of relatives of the Feng clan who came to Nanyang. They are one generation older than Feng Guohui and the same generation as their second uncle Feng Zhaoliang.

From this point of view, Feng Guohui is suspected of appointing relatives and vigorously promoting his neighbors.

As the saying goes, it’s better to kiss or not~ people from my hometown.

Although there are many ethnic Chinese in the area around Surabaya City, the source of various ingredients is very mixed, including Nyonya, newcomers, and overseas Chinese from Malacca or Luzon Islands.

But those who can be trusted and reused by Feng Guohui are still fellow villagers, or brothers who have lived and died together. This is very important.

He would rather not use those who are not familiar with the basics.

Even if these acquaintances and relatives are not very educated and lack some intelligence, these are not important.

The important thing is that Feng Guohui understands them and trusts them. They loyally support Feng Guohui's authority, and their lives and future prosperity are firmly tied to the Nanyang Company's chariot. They are like grasshoppers on a rope.

There are only a few thousand people, and Feng Guohui only needs them to faithfully execute orders.

While drinking tea and chatting in the lobby, Feng Guohui asked Zheng Xiucai and Feng Zhaoliang to vigorously promote the new Nanyang currency and abolish the circulation of various miscellaneous coins throughout East Java. Only British pounds, francs, Dutch guilders, Qing copper coins, and Luzon silver coins were recognized. 5 types of coins are in circulation.

This work cannot be slackened and must be continued persistently.

Among them, the latter two are the key recycling targets. The Qing Dynasty copper coins and Luzon silver coins were recovered and re-melted into Nanyang silver coins and copper coins, which were circulated in the market again.

One yuan of Nanyang silver coins is equal to 100 copper cents, 10 coppers are divided into one dime, 20 coppers are divided into two cents, and 50 coppers are divided into five cents.

In the next step, copper coins of one dime, two dimes and five cents will be produced in large quantities. Depending on the currency value, the copper coins will gradually increase in size and thickness.

The obverse side of the one-diao copper coin has the word "one dime", with a laurel pattern around it, a wheat ear pattern below, and a Taegeuk flag pattern on the reverse side.

The two-cent copper coin has the word "Two Jiao" on the front, the five-cent copper coin has the word "Five Jiao" on the front, and the back also has the Tai Chi pattern.

The cent coins are made of fine steel, and are also divided into steel coins with three currency values: 2 cent, 5 cents, and cents, thus forming the entire coin circulation system.

Feng Guohui was very concerned about the development of Nanyang Bank. Based on the insights of later generations, he guided Nanyang Bank to gradually open branches in various towns in East Java, gradually expand from lending business to storage business, and gradually develop more business categories in the next step.

This is a promising business, and its future development prospects are no less than those of Nanyang daily necessities stores, or even more promising.

You can make a lot of money just by collecting savings and earning interest.

Nanyang Bank has issued loans to more than 4100 residents in Tieshan Town, with a total amount of more than 22 silver coins, and the interest income collected from this every year exceeds 1.3 silver coins.

With the rapid increase in the number of people moving into Tieshan Town, the branch business of Nanyang Bank in the town is getting bigger and bigger, and it has begun to collect deposits.

In the next step, when the time is ripe, deposit and withdrawal services will be launched throughout East Java to further facilitate customers.

Feng Guohui planned to have the shopkeepers of each Nanyang Bank branch go to Tieshan Town branches to learn from their experience, and then implement it in their respective towns after returning, so as to truly build the reputation of Nanyang Bank.

Only in this way can money come rolling in.

(End of this chapter)