Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 1121 The Good Times of Trade ([-])

On the afternoon of February 1657, 2, Thiago returned to Chengguan Town, Dongfang County, the capital of the east bank.

In the morning, Section Chief Bai of the East Coast Ministry of Industry and Commerce took him to visit the naval shipyard at the mouth of Dayu River for the last time. While introducing him to some light hardware products that will be exported to Spain, he advocated that the Kingdom of Spain should buy Part of the cutting-edge warships to cope with the increasingly complex international situation.

The Dayu River Naval Shipyard is also an established enterprise on the east coast. Except for the two years during the economic depression period (meaning that there were no new orders), its profitability has been good.The long-term, stable and high-speed development has also led to the spontaneous gathering of a supporting industrial cluster around Dayuhe Factory - most of which are small private workshops or self-employed.

Some small workshops visited by Thiago and others in the morning are that in these mixed factories—that is, the factory system + off-factory work system, the factory owner not only hires full-time workers to concentrate on production, but also buys products from some part-time amateur workers— Inside, "capitalists" often work together with master craftsmen and apprentices. Most of the business owners transformed from craftsmen have not yet completed sufficient original accumulation. normal thing.

The products produced by the small workshops are mainly light hardware products for shipbuilding, such as wood screws and iron nails, which are semi-mechanized and semi-manually produced with extremely low cost and high efficiency; another example is the small workshops that produce saws and files. The tools they produced were exported to Peru and Persia, but in recent years, some factory owners have used newly invented saw grinding machines and gear setting machines to produce such tools, and the cost has dropped rapidly, which has caused a certain degree of prejudice to traditional craftsmen. Fortunately, the market is far from saturated, whether it is machine-made or hand-made setters, it seems that they can be sold for the time being, so these craftsmen can still survive, but if they do not take the initiative to change the production mode However, if you buy machines for semi-mechanized production, you will be eliminated sooner or later.

Of course, we should also be pleased to see that most of the artisans who come to the East Bank are not old-fashioned people. A considerable number of these people have already realized the problem and have begun to gradually change their production models, that is, to expand production stores, hire one or two A casual craftsman and a few unskilled teenagers went to the central transmission room of the Dayuhe Naval Shipyard to rent steam power and use newly purchased machines for production—the wave of industrialization and mechanized mass production has now covered the East and West. There are more and more subdivided industries on the shore, and will eventually sweep the country, causing revolutionary changes in productivity.

"Special Envoy Bravo, Mr. Thiago, our government is also very concerned about the plight of your country in the Caribbean Sea. The British have fought undeclared wars in your country for decades, and brazenly sent troops to capture your country. It is unjust and immoral to your country to establish a stronghold in the Carolinas while still establishing a stronghold on the island of Jamaica in the United States. Based on this consideration, I hope that your country can seriously consider our previous proposals, which is beneficial to your country It will be beneficial.” In the state-run Dongfang Hotel in Chengguan Town, Bai Yutang had already left, and Mo San, the foreign minister of the East Coast Republic of China, said solemnly: “Of course, if your country insists that the land issue cannot be considered, then we can retreat Secondly, I solemnly suggest that your country purchase some warships produced in our country—the 'Madao' class frigate only costs 3.5 yuan (of course it is a castrated version). The price is favorable and the firepower is strong. It is very suitable for the complicated situation in the Caribbean Sea. It will be of great benefit to restoring the strength of your country's Windward Fleet."

Mo San's words seemed to give the Spaniard two choices, but he actually said the same thing.Gein, because the Spaniards are so poor that their trousers are almost broke, 3.5 escort gunboats, ten ships are 35, if some normal spare parts are added, the total amount will definitely exceed 40.With such a large amount of money, what do you let them buy with such financial difficulties?In the end, don't you still have to find a way from the land!

Baron Bravo was not a fool, he knew what was going on after hearing what Mo Sanyi said, and he couldn't help sighing in his heart that the people on the east bank were really pressing every step of the way, and their obsession with the land was amazing—those semi-arid lands full of wind and sand What's so good about the steppe (well, the Spaniards' perception of Patagonia has finally shifted from "desert" to "semi-arid steppe")?The soil and precipitation are not even as good as those of Granada, Andalusia, and the Moors. Why do they have a soft spot for this "bad land"?Is it just to connect the East Coast with Patagonia?What a terrible attachment!

However, for the land south of the Negro River requested by the people on the east bank, from the Baron Bravo to the Governor of Peru, I am afraid that they dare not easily agree.It’s not that they have integrity. In fact, these people have never been to this slightly dry platform. I’m afraid their perception of it is barren and arid, but they can’t stand King Philip and a group of gentlemen from the West India Affairs Office. Their self-esteem is too strong , unwilling to sell land year after year-you know, they have just "sold" the area south of 42 degrees south latitude for a few years, and if they sell the land south of the Negro River again, this I really can't hold back my face.Perhaps in a few years, these gentlemen will gradually succumb to the embarrassment of reality, and no longer regard it as a shame to sell land year after year, but they haven't been trained by the sinister situation yet, have they?

Therefore, Baron Bravo must break the unrealistic illusions of the people on the east coast: "Please wait a moment, Minister Mo, our government has no new changes in the disposal of the land south of the Negro River, so before the new order is issued , I am temporarily unable to discuss this issue with your country. In addition, although buying your country's warships is a very good idea and will help improve the situation in the Caribbean Sea, I can only report the truth and have no right to Please forgive me for in-depth discussions with your country."

Mo San was a little silent when he heard the words, and said after a long while: "Then, Mr. Thiago, I believe you have personally inspected the various materials we are about to send to your country, and also briefly visited some industrial areas in our country. We have a clear understanding of the capabilities of our government. Please forgive me, in today’s Old Continent, only Amsterdam and Leiden in the Netherlands, the Black Country in England, Wales, London and other places have such large-scale mature industries District—Of course, although their total industrial area production exceeds ours, their efficiency and cost are undoubtedly inferior to ours—other countries, including your country, will only be farther and farther away from them in the future. You understand me It means, yes, that’s right, the gap between your country and England will become wider and wider. Their soldiers are brave and good at fighting, they produce a lot of goods, and their warships are cheap and durable. How can your country compete with them? Fighting? Today they can arm a large fleet for an expedition to Jamaica for only one-third of your country's price, and tomorrow they can easily arm a larger force to invade Florida, and even their own warships and troops You can also attack your country with the help of the French—isn’t that what the war in the southern Netherlands is like now?—how will your country resist the enemy then? Well, maybe you think your country is sure to hold the mainland, but What about the colonies? How to defend the rich Caribbean regions such as Florida, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Cuba? Is it possible that your country can still rely on the frightened rats of the Windward Fleet to compete with the British? This is why It's too naive."

"You asked our navy to station in the Caribbean Sea to eliminate pirates in advance, and then Balboa on the peninsula, on behalf of King Philip, asked our navy to compete with the British. For this reason, you even clearly stated that the New Spain market can be fully opened..." Mo San raised his hand Suppressing Baron Bravo, who was hesitant to speak, he raised his voice and said: "But our government has its own interests in mind. Although it has a good relationship with your country, it is not enough to send troops to brazenly challenge a country that has just fought in the Anglo-Dutch War. China is a brilliant naval power, unless we can get huge benefits in return. Just the opening of the New Spain market is enough for our navy to dispatch pirates in the Caribbean Sea, but it is not enough for us to prevent the British from invading your Colonies, do you understand? You need to pay more chips."

In fact, if it had been in the past (that is, when the British had not yet intercepted the Spanish treasure fleet off the coast of Cadiz), the people on the east coast might not be able to fight the British for the New Spain market.But as the saying goes, this time is also the other time, and now the old Spaniards are being overwhelmed by the vigorous British, and they are almost reduced to the laughing stock of the whole of Europe. It would be too stupid for the people on the east coast not to raise prices and improve conditions—for Spain For a country like the Kingdom, which is sinking day by day, it is of course possible to take advantage of it, not to mention a little piece of broken land in Patagonia, which is nothing!The Spaniards are unwilling to give in now, but if they are hit hard once or twice, how can they know that the situation will not change?

Baron Bravo and Thiago looked at each other.They are all veterans of diplomacy. Knowing that the people on the east bank are watching the fire from the other side at this time, they have already made up their minds that they will not see the rabbits or scatter the eagles. If they want them to end up in this muddy water, they must pay a price.The land south of the Rio Negro, although not very important, cannot bring the naval power of the east coast into the Caribbean Sea, so can some articles be made on some ports in the island of Puerto Rico?If that doesn't work, then it's not a bad idea to give some messy islands (preferably those that have been repeatedly infested by pirates or foreigners) to the east coast.It's just that it's probably very difficult for His Majesty the King and the West India Affairs Council to pass this test. Alas, it depends on the situation. I will report it first and let the gentlemen in Madrid decide.

(End of this chapter)