Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1767 Grain Merchants

Most of the shipments were rice and cloth.The value of table salt is very low, and the demand is not as good as the former two.Lin Baiguang knew that most of these rice came from Siam and the East Indies.Vietnam's rice supply status has been surpassed by the latter-the melee between the Northern and Southern Dynasties took away too many farmers, making Vietnam's food production worse than before.The Dutch took the opportunity to replace them, and they shipped rice from the East Indies in boats and boats in exchange for sugar and silk.Because the Australians were willing to import almost unlimited rice, the Dutch East India Company got rid of the plight of a large amount of silver outflow in its trade with China for the first time, and achieved a rare trade balance.The price paid was nothing more than a large number of empty return ships: the value of rice was extremely low, and it took several shiploads of rice to exchange for one shipload of sugar and silk.But achieving trade balance was a huge success for the East India Company Council in Batavia.For this reason, the Dutch stepped up to search for rice throughout the East Indies to supply the Australians by various means-their appetite for rice was almost endless.

Thanks to our mastery of the international trade in East Asia, otherwise, this drama of currency reform would really not be able to continue.Lin Baiguang thought to himself.

The sight of a steady stream of brown rice being transported to Dachang Wharf seemed to have a calming effect.Although Dachang has not yet started wholesale grain sales, grain prices in Guangzhou have stopped rising.Lin Baiguang knew in his heart that there was always a lot of grain stored in the warehouses of various grain stores and dental stores--every year when there was a shortage of grain, it was their chance to make a fortune.

"Chief, several grain merchants have already arrived..." His secretary whispered behind him.

"I'll come right away." Lin Baiguang said.

In a reception room in the big world, more than a dozen men with different appearances, dressed in shabby or rich clothes, gathered together.They were all invited by Zhu Fuyuan, the boss of Dachang Guangzhou branch.They are all grain merchants who often travel between other provinces and Guangzhou.

Seeing him coming in, the group of people immediately came over to greet him in a chaotic manner.

"You don't need to be too polite, just sit down." Lin Baiguang waved his hand.Because many people were invited, several benches were placed in the office, and Lin Baiguang sat in the middle to let everyone sit down.

It was the first time for all the grain merchants to be summoned by Australians -- this was a bit unexpected.After the change of ownership in Guangzhou, people in Guangzhou's business circles were trying to find ways to gain access to the Australians, but so far no Australians have been seen, and even a big businessman like Gao Ju who has a deep relationship with Australians has only been seen by Liu Fu Yin It is already a great honor to drink a cup of tea.

Unexpectedly, these long-distance rice merchants, who were trapped in the guild hall, were summoned by the Australians—— According to Boss Zhu, this is an authentic Guangzhou Second House!What a great honor.

Unexpectedly, at first sight, the other party did not put on the posture of a master, and greeted them to sit down together, and even asked someone to bring tea, which is really the treatment of a distinguished guest.Several merchants were surprised and happy.

Zhu Fuyuan introduced the grain merchants present one by one.These grain merchants are so-called "hong merchants" who are engaged in the long-distance grain trade.Lin Baiguang said:

"Everyone is invited to come to me today, not for anything special, but to discuss the grain business in Guangzhou." He said, lighting a cigar, "Everyone is a grain merchant, so I don't need to repeat how much grain is. It's important. It's a matter of people's livelihood, so I hope everyone has something to say. Everyone knows everything and says everything."

Among the grain merchants Weiwei, one of the oldest, got up and said: "My lord, but I have a question, and the younger ones must answer truthfully. It's just us merchants who do long-distance trafficking. Little is known about the situation, if there is anything wrong, please forgive me, master."

Lin Baiguang nodded and smiled, "Naturally. Don't worry. Since you are long-distance grain merchants, let's talk about your business experience first. Where does the grain in Guangzhou come from, and how much does it sell every year?"

The old man was about to get up again, Lin Baiguang waved his hands and said, "Sit down, sit down. You don't need to be polite."

"Report to Master: Most of the food in Guangzhou comes from Guangxi..."

Guangxi has been an important food supplier to Guangdong since the Ming Dynasty, and Guangdong's food consumption is mainly concentrated in the most affluent and developed Pearl River Delta region.This area not only gathers the main population of Guangdong, but also due to the large-scale planting of cash crops and the digging of fish ponds, the food crops are far from meeting the demand, and the food shortage is particularly serious.So the so-called Guangxi-Guangdong grain trade is, in a sense, Guangxi-Pearl River Delta grain trade.

"The grain is shipped from Wuzhou." The old man said, "The young ones have a grain store in Wuzhou, and after buying rice, they will be transported here along the West River."

Part of the grain shipped in is unloaded in Foshan, and then distributed to various places in the Pearl River Delta, and part of it is shipped to Humen, and then resold from Humen to eastern Guangdong and Fujian.The rest are shipped to Guangzhou for sale.

"How much grain do you ship to Guangdong every year, and how much do you ship to Guangzhou?"

"The amount of grain transported from Wuzhou is uncountable. It's always about a million shi," the old man said. "We, the grain transported from Wuzhou to Guangzhou every year is about 20 shi."

Lin Baiguang calculated in his mind that 20 shi is about 19000 tons of grain, which is quite impressive according to the standards of this time and space.

"It's not a small business."

"Business is not small, otherwise who would be willing to suffer this hardship!" The old man sighed, "From Wuzhou down, the water on the Xijiang River is full of bandits, and the boatmen are wicked. You need to spend money to be safe. Even so, sometimes when encountering Wind and waves, if a boat is lost, it is really lost!"

Another businessman in his 30s answered, "Even if we arrive in Guangzhou safely, we still don't know if we can make money! We are foreign businessmen. From the official to the city, the foxes and the rats, the gods are not allowed to burn incense and filial piety! Gods We have all been incensed, and the matter is not over yet: we have to suffer from the dental practice..."

The old man coughed, and the young man fell silent for a moment.Lin Baiguang summoned them here with the intention of collecting information about Yahang. It seems that Yahang is really powerful here.

At that moment, he said kindly: "Why don't you say it? It must be that this dental practice is not easy to mess with. Don't worry, I have restored Guangzhou in the Song Dynasty, and I have made some changes. If you have any grievances, you can tell them one by one. I, Guangzhou The city government will decide with you!"

After saying this, the merchants still hesitated, and Lin Baiguang said again: "I think you all know that the Senate is the most fair and trustworthy in its actions. I have heard about the actions of the Dental Bank in the past. You just have to say something- -The Senate in Guangzhou is a businessman and revolutionist, even the relatives of the Ming Dynasty are not worth a penny here, let alone a few people who hold tooth cards from the Ming Dynasty?"

The young businessman was already eager to try, but now he said loudly: "Master Ding, what Master Lin said is right! No matter how arrogant he is, he can still get the toothbrush from Ming Dynasty. Guangzhou is now ruled by the Song Dynasty! What are you afraid of him doing?" ?”

As soon as this remark came out, all the grain merchants who had been silent before seemed to have a sense of enlightenment, and they were eager to speak. Lin Baiguang smiled and said: "Don't worry, talk one by one." He looked at the young merchant and asked , "Your Majesty's name?"

The young businessman got up quickly, bowed and said: "Return to the master: what is the little one."

"You talk first."

"Yes, I'm sorry for the villain's rebellion." He Gao said, "Sir, speaking of it, the system of teeth-sticking and tooth-making merchants is harmful to the country and the people! Sins should be killed, too!"

As soon as these words came out, the faces of all the merchants turned pale.The tooth merchant system has been used by the government since the Tang Dynasty. Although there are many disadvantages, there are many "benefits" in it, so it has been used continuously throughout the dynasties.Everyone doesn't know what the "Great Song Dynasty" is going to do in the future, so it would be too bold to say "all harm but no benefit" directly.

Lin Baiguang said: "I also know a thing or two about Yaren's notoriety. Regardless of that, let's talk about your difficulties."

He Gao shook his head and sighed: "This matter is not limited to our grain merchants. Almost all merchants who sell long-distance bulk goods are poisoned by the dentist. The goods arrive at the place. The establishment of this toothman was originally intended to facilitate foreign businessmen such as me. He was the middleman and introduced him. I sold the goods to make a profit, so I should give him some toothmaids. Now when I buy and sell, I have to be subject to Dental shop. Without going through the dental shop, you can't buy goods, and you can't sell them. The owner of the dental shop, relying on the government's dental paper, is not counting the huge profits, and willfully bully us foreign merchants. Let's say we are grain merchants, goods As soon as we arrive in Guangzhou, we have to go to the warehouse of the dental bank. Private wholesale sales are not allowed. Since ancient times, grain has never been worried about selling. He took it and sold it to local grain merchants. ..."

"Since the goods have been sold, why should the payment be withheld? Aren't they taking dental help?"

"Master doesn't know. As long as the payment is not settled, the rice grain will still be counted in his warehouse, and he will still have to charge us for the warehouse rent. Besides, if he gets the money, he can transfer it first to earn money." Some interest. It's just that we have to bear the expenses of being trapped in Guangzhou..."

"Wait a minute," Lin Baiguang asked, "How did the dental maid get the payment? The so-called dental staff should be introduced to the dental staff. The transaction is still between you and the local grain merchant."

"This master doesn't know something. According to the elders, it was true in the early years. I don't know when it was changed to the current bastard rules. They say they are idiots, but they don't actually recommend merchants and me. In fact, I took the grain from us and sold it to customers in batches. Pity us for all the hard work. The grain that was transported through the storms and obstacles was sold to them for nothing, and we got the benefits of both ends! The big profits were earned by them. I need a teething maid! It is even more difficult to get back the payment from my family."

(End of this chapter)