Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 125 A Trip to Guangzhou ([-])

Xiao Zishan's blueprint for the future of Qiwei Escort was actually reorganized into an armed freight company-the social order in the late Ming Dynasty had gradually disintegrated, and long-distance transportation would not work without force escort.

Sun Kecheng was dumbfounded, thinking that this man had a big tone, wherever the business was done, the escort agency opened, not to mention that he didn't have so many brothers, apprentices and grandchildren to work, but there were officials, bandits, and locals (haos) everywhere. He didn't have the ability to make friends with the three forces.

"It's okay." Xiao Zishan didn't care, "For the time being, we only need to open a new escort route, from Guangzhou to Haikang and Xuwen."

"Haikang, Xuwen?" Sun Kecheng was a little puzzled. Haikang is the head county of Leizhou Prefecture, and Xuwen is the subordinate county below.Both places are considered remote areas in Guangdong.In terms of production, only sea salt and sucrose are the bulk.There are not many rich and powerful.He knows what the Australian maritime merchants sell, and they are all priceless and rare treasures. Wouldn't it be that this kind of business made a huge loss in Leizhou?

"Not bad." Xiao Zishan nodded.The main purpose of opening up this commercial route is twofold: one is to open up the land transportation line between Hainan and Guangzhou. Opposite Bopu Port is the Lantern Corner of Xuwen. Bopu crossed the sea and went to Guangzhou via Leizhou.The second is to obtain local sucrose.The climate and soil of Leizhou Peninsula are suitable for sugarcane cultivation. Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, there has been a Tutangliao. By the Ming Dynasty, the local sugarcane cultivation and sugar industry have been very developed. Around 1700, the annual output of soil sugar reached 10000 tons, most of which were exported.Sugar was one of the most profitable goods in China's overseas trade in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and of course those who traveled through it could not let it go.Although it is impossible to directly control the Leizhou Peninsula at the moment, it is still possible to set up acquisitions and strive for supply.

What Xiao Zishan wanted to do with the Wei Escort was to open a branch office in each of Haikang and Xuwen counties within a month, and then gradually open mules and horse shops or car shops in important villages and towns along the road, forming a post-style traffic route.As for the funds needed to open foreign cabinets everywhere, they will bear all the funds.In addition, Qi Wei was given another 3000 taels of silver to recruit personnel, make friends with the local government, and pay miscellaneous expenses.

"One month is too tense," Sun Kecheng shook his head again and again, "Qiwei doesn't have escorts in Leizhou, so he has to send someone to go there. This matter can't be done for two or three months."

"Two months, this matter is urgent." Wu Nanhai has already informed him that the harvest period of sugarcane is every autumn and winter. If the escort road can be opened up in time, there is still time to set up a village in Leizhou to harvest sugar. Next spring Sugar can be produced on a large scale - the foreign trade commodities of the traversers have also been settled.

"It's easy to say." Sun Kecheng was not so excited, "Excuse me: the shopkeepers came from a long way, this Leizhou is a remote place, you have to think twice about doing business there..."

Xiao Zishan was still a little moved. In another time and space, I don’t know how many people were racking their brains to defraud the appropriation by setting up a name, polishing other people’s things and pretending that they made it themselves, and easily defrauding hundreds of millions of ordinary people’s hard-earned tax money.The shopkeeper of the bodyguard agency, whose business situation is not good, has to "think twice" about investment projects!The realm of people is really too far apart.

"Don't worry, we have our own reasons." Xiao Zishan knew that if there was no serious reason, it would be difficult for an extremely decent business like the Escort Bureau to impress with money. Fortunately, the reason for buying sugar was ready-made: "Leizhou produces sugar." , Australia needs sucrose the most, and it is beneficial to capital. We just want to set up a farm in Leizhou to collect sugar.”

Only then did Sun Kecheng suddenly realize that he even called them "visionary", and immediately agreed.Xiao Zishan immediately put forward three requirements: first, to recruit manpower as soon as possible to expand the team of the escort agency; second, to help find experienced and reliable storekeepers and associates in the local area for the purpose of opening a shop; third, to establish a liaison system between the two parties.Brother Gao is a more suitable candidate because he is studying martial arts in the Escort, so he agreed to contact Huifu Street and the Escort every seven days.In case of emergency, you can contact us on the same day.The two sides settled down, and Xiao Zishan handed over the silver post he took from Gao Ju to Chief Security Officer Sun.The cooperation between the two parties is established.

In the next few days, Xiao Zishan kept running between Qiwei Escort Bureau and Gao Zhai, he needed the help of these local people for too many things.And Xiao Zishan has also seen the huge influence of merchants like Gao Ju in Guangzhou. Many things can be done as long as he sends a steward with a name card.It is more convenient than the leaders of modern society to approve notes and make phone calls.

Soon, Guo Yi and others’ Baojia was completed, which can be regarded as the official registration of household registration. In fact, such things as household registration yellow books were no longer needed in Guangzhou in the late Ming Dynasty. Baojia was mainly a security measure.As for their origins, they cannot be said to be Australian maritime merchants, but they are from the same hometown of the Gao family.With Gao's family in charge, the card armor in charge of the local area did not dare to neglect, and immediately got things done. Xiao Zishan knew that this kind of half-official, half-civilian "little devil" was the most difficult role to deal with in the past and now, and he was easy to deal with at critical times. After applying eye drops, he immediately took out a five-liang reward bag thickly, and the other party really smiled and became more respectful.

Except for a few people left to watch the ship, the purchasing group lived in the house on Welfare Street, rested for two days, and clamored to go out for a walk to see what this 17th-century southeastern metropolis looked like.

Xiao Zishan knew that if he obstructed it, it would only attract everyone's opinions, but it would be strange if he went out in such a swarm and did not cause trouble.After all, these people's nutrition is too sufficient, and their behavior is not in harmony with the surrounding environment.Now divide the people into groups of five or six people, each group should be accompanied by two escorts from Qiwei Escort Bureau to ensure safety.In addition, each person was given a tael of silver and a thousand cash as pocket money.

The profession of bodyguard, because he has friendship with both black and white, breeds a unique guarantee relationship.Generally, people who have "made friends" with the bodyguard bureau in the underworld want to go to the city for medical treatment, sightseeing, or purchase things. As usual, the bodyguard bureau will send someone to accompany them to take care of them. One: Those who enter the city are not allowed to cause trouble in the city, not to mention committing crimes and murders, even if they go whoring or gambling, the escorts will not accompany them as usual, and friends in the underworld also abide by this rule.As time went by, the spies who arrested the government officials in the city saw that the bandits were accompanied by bodyguards, so they would not question them as usual.Xiao Zishan knew that the traversers were too self-conscious, and when they went out in groups, they would immediately be watched by the spies in the yamen.It's better to ask escorts to accompany you.

Everyone went there happily. Beiwei brought a few students with him and was accompanied by escorts. However, they did not go for a tour, but surveyed the topography of Guangzhou on the spot, and drew accurate roads, government offices, and warehouses in the city. , city gates and other important facilities maps.Xiao Zi, Guo Yi and his party were led by Liu Gang and wandered casually on the street, mainly to explore the future business development model.

A group of people changed their clothes, came out from Huifu Street, walked through a few small streets, and came to the busy market, where there are many shops and extremely prosperous.Merchants from all over the place gathered, with various goods from the north and south, provinces, and foreign countries.In terms of age and scope, there are various antiques from three generations, including fashionable brocades, silks, embroidery, cloth, household utensils, as well as western clocks and strange things.Shops are classified by industry, each occupying a section of the street.After breakfast, the streets and streets are crowded with people, and when the time arrives, they will be overcrowded.Some people were shopping, some were watching the fun, some were eye-opening, and some were just looking at people, crowding and laughing.It’s really more beautiful than the scenes of many movies and TV shows. Several people couldn’t help being dumbfounded after watching it—thinking that in less than 20 years, in the melee of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, how many 300 years of accumulation in this prosperous southeast city in the world of mortals? The wealth and goods that were laid down were either burned or looted away. How many people who make a living and sightseeing here will be turned into dry bones, I can't help but feel emotional.

The more people go, the more crowded, the busier the business, and everyone doesn't know what to look at.Liu Gang was very familiar with the roads, and when the places were too crowded and uncomfortable, he led them to take a detour around them.As he was walking, Yan Maoda saw a large jewelry store beside the street, and he motioned for it, saying that he wanted to go in and have a look.Everyone felt curious, so they went in together to watch casually.The Cantonese boss in the store was asking a customer to look at a mirror—the pink plastic edging reminded Xiao Zishan: Isn’t this the Wenzhou mirror he bought wholesale from the small commodity market?It can be sold in jewelry stores.

"This mirror must be sold for 150 taels? Can you get some more?"

The businessman replied very respectfully: "There is nothing less. You can't find such a crystal jade mirror even if you go to Gao's shop to buy this mirror. If you want an ordinary black jade mirror, you only need a small one." 100 taels will do. Let me tell you, when this crystal colored jade mirror will be available again, even Mr. Gao doesn’t know! This rare pink one may be available in ten and a half months. It's sold for 200 taels."

Obviously, Gaojia is not only retailing, but also wholesale.It is quite smart to hold high on this point. As long as Australian marine merchants can supply continuously, controlling the source of the total wholesale channel will cover a much larger coverage than relying solely on selling goods in your own shop. Although the unit price is a little less, the sales In total, it went up.

The guest looked at the mirror for a while, and said, "Okay, I'll keep it. This mirror is very good, and it can illuminate people so clearly!"

(End of this chapter)