Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1417
"The wealth of Sanavria, probably only the port tax officer can tell the exact figure. His residence is even more famous in Manila than the governor's residence. The captains of the Royal East India Fleet are most envious of Sanav Ria's private cruise ship. He likes to show off the fastest and most luxurious carriage he owns locally, of course—" The finance officer made a contemptuous gesture: "That is by no means the result of comparing with your carriage."

"Ah, if His Majesty Philip II knew that he could get so much wealth by extorting and robbing the Chinese, how much he would regret giving up his plan to expedition to China." Weiss lit a cigar for Andrade Although the latter was a little drunk, he still stared curiously at the gold-plated Australian tinder box in the earl's hand, wanting to see what happened.

"Expedition to China, this is an unrealistic fantasy." Andrade exhaled smoke, "There are too many Chinese. Even the tens of thousands of Chinese in Parian—they are cowardly and infighting— The governor is always afraid, for fear that they will be instigated by some Chinese to make trouble."

"After that riot 30 years ago, they should know what it's like to have a cannon."

"It is said that 30 Chinese died in the riots 3 years ago, and the blood stained the river red. Many people thought that the Chinese would never come to Manila again, but look, the population of Parian is now It is several times more than that at that time. From the perspective of interests alone, the Chinese are more suitable subjects than any kind of native here.”

"But they are superstitious pagans..."

"Yes, I completely agree with this point. The Chinese are indeed full of vices. But what use are those pious and lazy people to us? Besides, they are not pious at all." Andrade drank the wine, After smoking a cigarette, the conversation was very intense, "Whether it is building roads, building houses, doing business or farming, it all depends on the Chinese! Carpenters, brickmakers, blacksmiths, sugar refiners, iron smelters... as long as you want a job, you have to do it. Let the Chinese do it. They are also paying the poll tax. They just keep pouring in."

"A lot of Chinese people have come here recently?"

"Although the governor is worried about the number of Chinese all day long, he has recently recruited a large number of Chinese craftsmen to Manila. In terms of all kinds of new gadgets, he is as rich as the Marquis of the Valley."

Having said that, he fell silent, as if realizing that it was inappropriate for him to discuss the governor with someone he didn't know very well.

Lando deliberately changed the subject:

"Tell me, who is Don Esteban Sanafri? If he is a squire, how much land does he own? If he is a merchant, what kind of business does he have?"

"According to the royal decree, Manila implements the batch transaction method for Chinese goods. The goods shipped by the 'Chang Lai' (Note) are valued in bulk by an official appointed by the governor, and then sold to local Spanish merchants in proportion. Private transactions are not allowed before the valuation. Generally speaking, the port tax officer will be sent to the valuation. But Mr. Don Basilio and Mr. Don Sanabria are obviously very friendly." Andrade showed a meaningful smile, "So he can always know the lowest price in advance, and get the best Chinese goods according to the largest share. He also has his own merchant ship, traveling between Manila and Coromandel. Silk satin and porcelain from China, ivory from India and spices, filled the hold he occupied on the royal galleon. The Vice-Prince of New Spain ordered that each galleon should carry no more than four thousand bales to Acapulco, but only Mr. Sanabria's cargo. It is close to this number. Instead of competing with him, other merchants have to borrow money from him from time to time. He has only missed twice, and the San Ambrosio galleon was sunk by the Dutch Yes, lost 30 pesos of cargo. The other time it was because of the Australians, some weirdos living on Chinese islands."

"Be careful, you're sitting in a carriage made by these geeks."

"I don't mind the goods made by these weirdos at all. Their goods are great. Not only are they in short supply here, but they are also popular everywhere from India to the Near East." Andrade said indifferently, "If I can get a stable If Australian goods were supplied, I would have been the richest man in the entire Philippines.”

At this time, the carriage drove through a large area of ​​coconut groves and bamboo forests, passed through several Tagalog villages, and sped past one after another thatched huts.These thatched huts are extremely simple, and the walls are nothing more than fences made of green bamboo from the village, covered with banana leaves as roofs.Women were busy inside and outside the house, and men gathered in groups on roadsides and house corners, and almost everyone had a cock under their arm.Weiss knew 300 years later that cockfighting was a national pastime for the Filipinos.A group of naughty children chased after the carriage to beg for rewards, and the red flag carriage sped away, leaving them gone in a blink of an eye.The road from Parian to Manila City via Birenlo was highly valued by the colonial authorities and was often repaired. However, the unhardened road surface was still full of ruts and potholes.Under the dual effects of shock-absorbing springs and sofa seats, even if the coachman whipped the horse and galloped, the passengers in the car would only feel a little shaking.

"This is the strange thing. These people only occupy an island about the size of Formosa. In the eyes of the Chinese emperor, such a remote island is nothing more than a small grain of sand on the edge of the world. It is this group of people who built the island on the island." All the Chinese goods have been transformed by them, and they are more than ten times more exquisite. The first fleet of Southeast Asian companies dealing in Australian goods arrived in Manila, and the whole city was a sensation. The governor was also shocked, because they announced The salute of the salute even overwhelmed the sound of the guns of Fort Santiago. Therefore, when the Australians refused to accept the whole batch of transaction laws, the Governor of Salamanca agreed to their request. So Mr. Sanabria is going to make a fortune in the old way, He didn't get anything. He hated them to the core. Always lobbied the governor to seize the ships and goods of the Southeast Asian company - at least fine them a lot of money..."

"Why? Just because he didn't reap the benefits?"

"It can be said that." The Chief Financial Officer sneered, "Of course, everyone knows that the majority shareholder of the Southeast Asian company is actually an Australian. Since the Australians took our two boats, Don Sanabria's claim has gained considerable support. Few people agree, but the Governor is still hesitant - the trade of the Southeast Asian Company is indispensable to the colony..."

Andrade doesn't say he strongly disagrees with the idea: Southeast Asian companies now account for half of his annual sales of abaca.

Weiss knew of the merchant fleet of the Southeast Asian company that Andrade was referring to.Because the Manila trade was able to bring back much needed logs, abaca, tobacco and copra.The Planning Institute spoke highly of Manila's trade voyage.He wanted to divert the conversation away from the Australian side, when suddenly there was a low, muffled sound, as if a huge drumstick were beating the ground.The former mercenary jumped to the car window like a conditioned reflex.

"Monsieur Salamanca is off to see his new baby cannon again," said Andrade.

The miscellaneous forests on both sides of the road passed by as the carriage galloped.Delicate, bright banana trees and slender, gloomy coconut trees are intertwined into endless hedges, and a few khaki barracks seem to be exposed through the gaps in the branches, but they pass by in a flash under the cover of large banana leaves.The cannonballs were still going on one after another, and Weiss's heart tightened suddenly.He heard the long screaming tail of the shells, which reminded him of the 76mm Tito guns that were very common in the Balkans, followed by the bang of the explosion, and a cloud of white smoke billowed from the hedge, mixed with flying grass and clods.

Weiss impulsively wanted to stop immediately and go down to see what happened.But he immediately changed his mind, stretched out his hand and rang a bell in front of his seat twice, which was a signal to hurry.Under the urging of the coachman, the two pairs of horses seemed to have wings, and the dust and fog raised by the wheels drowned other things on the road. Several Spaniards galloped over, wanting to see the dazzling car speeding like a shooting star, and finally All were left behind.Passing the narrow wooden bridge over the Pasig River, under the gray city walls, the soldiers guarding the gate seemed to be very familiar with the carriage and the coat of arms on it. present.The red-flag carriage rolled with a thunderous noise through the gravel-paved streets of the city.Pedestrians fled to the side of the road, looking at the count's carriage and the mane-shaking horse with surprise and admiration.

"I didn't know until now that people will feel pleasure from speed," Andrade said, a little sober from his drunkenness, "Ah, be careful, Earl, there is a carriage ahead!"

The carriage driving in front of them was inlaid with a large coat of arms with very complicated patterns.Although the coachman tried his best to maintain the leading position over the latecomers, his efforts were completely in vain.The overly wide body, the front and rear wheels of different sizes, and the suspension device connected by belts all determine that this is not a vehicle suitable for high-speed travel.Amidst the screams of the onlookers on the side of the road and on the building, the Hongqi carriage easily bypassed the carriage in front and left it behind.When the two cars crossed, the white satin window curtains of the carriage were lifted open, revealing a shiny head with only a few strands of hair left. The high cheekbones, aquiline nose and fierce eyes were Weiss. I met him at the banquet at the mayor's mansion.

"It seems," said Andrade, "that Don Esteban Sanabria has become your enemy."

　Note: Sangley refers to the Chinese who came to the Philippines, and it can also refer to their mixed descendants with the locals.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)