Win the Ding 1617

Some of the ships moored on the sea may be impatient to wait, or unwilling to pay high tariffs, or both. The two plywood boats in the distance suddenly came with the westerly wind and raised their full sails. He rushed straight towards the entrance of the strait in the distance.

"Hey! Look at them! This is the demeanor we Dutch people should have!" The people on the Fortune ship could tell from the appearance of the plywood boat that they were from their own country, and they couldn't help admiring their bravery and tyranny Behavior,

With the help of West Wind, the two boats arrived at the entrance of the strait in one go, and it seemed that they were about to pass through the bank.

"It's comfortable! If I were on that boat, I wouldn't have to work so hard!" A small businessman on board the Fortune was grinned by the bulging hard object in his crotch, and saw the two The ship couldn't help but slapped the deck of the ship vigorously, applauding for it.

"Don't rush to applaud, wait and see, maybe you won't say that after a while."

From the mast above his head, a word from the sailor floated down coldly.

As if to comment on this sentence, thunder suddenly sounded from the entrance of the strait.

"boom!"

"Boom boom boom!"

There were four beeps in a row. Although there were ships blocking the sight of the distant scene, people were keenly aware of the dangerous information.

Waves of wailing came faintly from a distance, and tall smoke columns rose from the sea, and red flames were mixed in the smoke columns. The flames danced on the sea surface, which was very beautiful and strange.

In the midst of this half-sea and half-flame scene, the little businessman who was still applauding for the people who broke through the barrier just now was so startled that his jaw almost fell to his feet.

"Damn heretics. Tyrannical Eastern monarchs, they treat a group of peaceful businessmen like this!"

Um?This sounds a little awkward. If the people on these two boats did not violate the rules set by the monarch here, how could there be such a result and fate?Looking at the sinking and floating human heads on the sea, and the two ships that were pierced through the deck below the waterline by unknown weapons.As a philosopher, mathematician, and physicist, Descartes felt that the monarch at the destination became more and more attractive.Obviously, a large amount of seawater poured into the cabin, which caused the ship to tilt. It is believed that in a short period of time, the two brave men will be swallowed by the seawater.

Those who jumped to survive were rescued by boats or ropes from nearby ships.Sailors and passengers brought blankets and rum for them.Let these people who have just been swimming in the sea get warmth and a sense of security as soon as possible.

"Hey! I said, what happened to you? Two cannonballs sent you into the sea?" A sailor asked a survivor rescued by Fortune about the situation at that time.

"I don't know. I was in the cabin and didn't dare to go on the deck. I only heard two loud bangs. I felt as if a strong man swung a huge hammer and smashed the deck. The people on the boat began to shout, A cabin was punctured, and sea water poured in. Then, the sailors on the deck shouted that it was on fire."

Standing on the crossbar of the mast, holding the sail rope in one hand and the binoculars in the other, Descartes observed the situation of the two ships in the distance with great interest.

As a former artillery officer, Descartes thought he knew all kinds of artillery and weapons in the world today, but it seems that no weapon can achieve such lethality and destructive power, let alone have the function of arson.

Burning on the sea surface for a while, the two boats began to sink slowly. As the bow of the boat entered the water, water flow began to appear around the boat, and soon two huge vortices formed, emitting a burst of weird and shocking waves. The sound of fear.

One of the sailors guarding him was very curious and asked him a question that fit the current situation.

"Sir, I have served on ships for many years, and I have seen shipwrecks several times. Why do there are whirlpools and weird noises every time the ships are all in the water? Is it really like the legend, is it Posei?" Winter's roar beneath the water's surface?"

"When the ship sank, a low-pressure area was formed around the ship, and the water rushed in faster, so because of the sinking of the ship, the water had a downward force and a force to flow in the middle, forming a vortex .At the same time, because there is a lot of space inside the ship when the ship sinks, it seems that there is a hole in the part of the sea area, so after the sinking, a large amount of water around will quickly pour into the hull to fill the air inside the ship, so there are bursts of strange noises .”

The ships on the sea were extremely quiet, as if they were silently mourning for the two sunken ships, or maybe they were shocked by the powerful violence.

Soon, the appearance of two two-masted sailing ships broke the short but deathly silence on the sea.

The sailors skillfully manipulated the square sailboat, allowing the ship to bypass the water surface where the two ships sank just now. The sail on the mast followed the movement of the ship to maximize the use of wind power. The square sailboat was like two flying fish on the water. Come galloping in the rippling blue waves.The two huge cannons at the bow, with their dark muzzles exposed, are coming straight towards these ships.

On the bow of the ship, several officers who looked like officers held up large copper horns and shouted: "Listen up, all the ships on the opposite side, you have entered the waters of the Daming Old Port's Proclamation Commissioner, and we will carry you according to the relevant tax rate. Inspect, collect statistics, and collect taxes. I now order you in the name of Li Shouhan, the president of the Southern Central Army of the Ming Dynasty, to drop anchor and lower the sails immediately, otherwise we will take necessary forceful actions! Don’t say it’s unpredictable!”

This passage was repeated twice by the officers in Chinese, Dutch, and Spanish. All the ships dropped anchor and lowered their sails obediently. The captain and owner stood at the bow and took off their hats to the officers on the two square sailing ships. Take a bow.

"What cargo did you bring? How many people were on board?"

The tax collector repeated it twice in his not-so-fluent Chinese and Helan dialect.The people on Fortune began to count their goods and people hastily.

Um?This taxing guy seems to be Fuso? ?Look at the obvious marks left by shaving on the top of the head, and look at the way he walks.More and more like Fuso Islanders.

Several small businessmen who took the fortune immediately saw hope. They also lived in Fusang and knew the characteristics of this group of people well.

"Could it be that the master is from Dongying? I also lived in Dongying, and there is one of my women and children there. I am going to visit them this time. I wonder if the master can make it easier?"

Using the same stuttering Japanese, the small businessman made friends with the Fuso tax collector. While making friends, he quietly stuffed a hard and shiny thing in his hand.

"Baga! How dare you bribe the superior!"

That Fusang man, Goro, was the first group of Japanese laborers who went to Jiulongjiang to work in plantations, because of his diligence and willingness to work.Soon he stood out from a group of native laborers.First, he was promoted to foreman and managed nine laborers, but after a few years, he received a Huaxia household registration.Became Japanese-Chinese.It just so happened that the banknotes were added to the bank.Recruit people everywhere, because he used to work in the Nanban business house when he was in Japan, and he can speak a few words such as Dutch and Spanish.So he was selected here to act as a tax collector. Just when he wanted to thank the lord Ende with all his heart, this businessman actually came to bribe him in front of a group of people. Isn't this a public slap in the face?

Since the opening of the Manga Customs, dozens of people have become dead on the wooden frame, and more than a hundred people have become lifelong hard labor in the mine. God knows which of these soldiers is the inspection department, the business department, Secret agents and undercover agents in the Statistics Office?I don’t change my name now, I still want to live here for a few more years!

He waved his hand and knocked a ruby ​​handed over by the businessman to the deck, "Who is the owner of the ship? Come out and speak!"

Mr. Basten walked out of the cabin calmly. The moment he walked out of the cabin door, he paid attention to etiquette and checked whether his clothes were neat.

"Now, as a tax collector of the South Central Army, I will explain to you the taxation regulations of the Malawi Customs. Ruby, sapphire, lapis lazuli, diamonds and other items belong to the luxury category, and [-]% of the luxury tax is charged. This guy intends to bribe the tax Personnel, plus a fine of [-]%, and a tax of [-]%.”

"Gold and silver, cotton cloth, Indian prescriptions and other handmade items are general goods, and they will be collected according to the standard of four draws and one."

"Cotton, wheat, jute, and horses. They are encouraged to be imported and listed as tax-free. Have you ever had them on board?"

As a tax collector, Goro was explaining to the shipowner the scope, rate, and type of tax collection. Among the soldiers who boarded the ship with Goro, two of them carried buckets of paste and found a relatively dry and flat board. Wipe it with a sackcloth dipped in clean water a few times, smear the paste on the wooden board with a brush a few times, and then stick a notice written in both Chinese and Spanish on it.

"This is the collection scope, tax type, tax rate, and the names of tax-free items and tax-refundable items for our Nanzhong Army's Manchuria Taxation Customs. You can go and see for yourself. If the tax rate and tax type are unclear during the tax collection process, the collection If the tax amount does not match the actual amount, etc., you can go to the tax department to file a complaint after arriving in Penang tomorrow. You can report the tax collectors’ behaviors such as taking cards, extorting bribes and accepting bribes during the tax collection process.”

The Fortune is a large ship with a theoretical deadweight of [-] tons, but Mr. Van Basten, who is desperate for money, actually stuffed a thousand tons of cargo on board, and this does not include those people who took the Fortune with them. The total displacement of the cargo should have exceeded [-] tons!For these goods and those horses, Mr. Basten decisively compressed all kinds of supplies to the minimum standard. The grain is five days, and the water is three days.Fruits and vegetables are even more pitiful. They only guarantee the needs of a few dozens of people. If they don't stop at various islands along the way for supplies, they may not be able to sail directly from the west coast of India to the Lingjiawei sea.

"Mr. Tax Collector, besides the jute I don't have on board, I have [-] tons of wheat, [-] tons of cotton, and [-] stallions. My friend Governor Li Shouhan, I wonder if these are all tax-free goods?"

There was a faint smile on the corner of his mouth. When these goods were boarded in India, they were slightly ridiculed by the merchants on board. People thought that these goods took up space but were useless. The profit spread, I can't think that Mr. Van Basten, who is known for his business shrewdness, will make such a low-level mistake. Instead of transporting these goods, it is better to exchange some spices and sell them in Nanzhong than to transport these wheat and cotton. Come more valuable.

but.Customs gave them a solid lesson.

Those spices and handicrafts produced in India are all general goods, and a tax of 20.00% is levied. Of course, after paying these taxes, you can get security in the Managa Strait. There are South China Army sailors Escort, if you pay another insurance fee, then even if you encounter pirates, hurricanes, reefs and other misfortunes in this waters.So.South China Army will also give compensation according to the amount you have insured.

Accompanied by the captain, Goro, the tax collector of the South China Army, took several sailors to the cargo hold to check the cargo, while Mr. Basten himself was in the eyes of everyone full of envy, jealousy and hatred.He ordered the accompanying two Indian maids to set up a small table on the deck.Make good tea.Invite Galileo, Descartes, Frank and others to taste the magical oriental leaves during this rare leisure time.

He has already made up his mind that this ship of cotton, wheat and horses will be handed over to Governor Li's businessman.In addition to buying those best-selling weapons, you must buy a lot of this magical oriental leaves to go back. I believe that the profit will not be less than that of the magical oriental cloth.

Those who restrict and prevent the import of foreign goods by imposing high import taxes and various import surcharges, for the raw materials they need, adopt the form of tax reduction or exemption or tax refund first to encourage imports, thereby increasing the cost of imported goods. The cost thus weakens its competitiveness, plays a role in protecting domestic production and domestic market, and improves the competitiveness of export products.This kind of behavior is called tariff barriers by economists and detested by trade scholars.

However, in this era, it is regarded by businessmen as a rich road paved with golden bricks.

And Mr. Basten is the leader walking on this avenue with his head held high, oh, or the leading party?

"I used the gold coins I brought from the Netherlands to help me buy cotton, wheat, and stallions from their stables in the jurisdiction of the Mughal Empire. Then I transported them to the territory of the South Central Army Sold it to Governor Li, and exchanged with him for his extremely finely woven cloth whose price is far lower than Indian cotton cloth, as well as the weapons that Indian princes, princes and dukes in Europe, and chiefs in the Middle East love very much. And armor, porcelain, and artillery and gunpowder needed by the armies of various countries. The import and export of these goods are all tax-free. I transport these goods to India for gold coins and gems, to the Middle East for horses, and back to Europe. What can I get back? It seems that there are only gold coins?!"

Basten blinked some sallow eyes, drawing the golden road map of this business transaction in his mind from time to time, yes!What else is there in Europe?In a land full of war and killing, what else is there?

But Mr. Descartes, Mr. Galileo, and Mr. Frank were not as complicated as his inner thoughts. Not only did the three of them rush to have tea with Mr. Basten, but they also invited several priests who were traveling by boat.

For these servants of God, Mr. Basten has always kept a respectful distance. Although he also hangs a cross on his chest, what he believes in most is the gold that makes the cross, or in other words, Marshal Zhao Gong of China.

Oh, or the Chinese god system is more perfect, people can choose their own worship object, not the so-called omnipotent God.

"Oh! Is this the famous Batavia porcelain?" A priest who obviously had no experience in the world, as soon as he sat down, he began to marvel at the tea set on the table.The two Kshatriya caste maids from Tianzhu couldn't help rolling their eyes, and quietly expressed their contempt.

Batavia, as the stronghold and center of the Dutch in Asia, acted as a distribution center for the concentration and transshipment of special products from China, Japan and other places, and such a function also mistook many oriental products for those European country turtles. These things shipped from Batavia are the products of Batavia. (It's not the first time they have done this kind of thing. The most famous one is Arabic numerals. Poor third brother! Their cultural achievements have been plagiarized by bearded beards.)

As big importers of porcelain, both the Dutch and the British turned a blind eye to this mistake, and even promoted it intentionally or unintentionally, with only one purpose, so that people could not find the real origin of these fine porcelain.

Unfortunately, Shouhan used the kaolin resources in Annan and combined with Guangdong's porcelain firing technology to develop bone china more than a hundred years in advance. This group of soil turtles called this kind of porcelain that they had never seen before "" Batavian Porcelain".And all kinds of tableware and tea sets are collected as top grade.Sadly.The teapots and cups that Chinese people use to drink tea are used as coffee sets by people in the European countryside.It can be described as a typical example of one device, two systems, and the combination of Chinese and foreign countries.

Seeing the shadow of the tea leaves faintly visible through the thin cup wall, several missionaries were amazed. They were more and more yearning for the mysterious East and the prosperous China.

"This is not the best porcelain, it can even be said to be second-class. Because we are sailing at sea, these fragile porcelains are too delicate and are serious consumables. The really good porcelain, I once donated to the Pisa Cathedral A seven-foot statue of the Madonna."

The best ostentatious effects are often casual understatements.Basten's words surprised the missionaries present.They have all seen the statue of the Virgin Mary in the Pisa Cathedral, which is also known as the treasure of the church together with the bronze statue of John the Baptist.In the baptistery.The Virgin Mary, with a very kind expression, looks even more magical and dazzling under the reflection of the light refracted through the candlelight and the window.

As the patron saint of the city, the Virgin Mary has an unparalleled status in Pisa.This statue of the Virgin has been in place since the beginning.It has been worshiped by countless believers and citizens.People knelt down at her feet and wept, trying to be redeemed.

"The Virgin Mary is your donation?" A priest was a little surprised, and he began to re-examine Mr. Basten's wealth and status.

"Yes. I use this statue of the Virgin to beg the church to help me save a friend's life."

"I would like to praise your noble character. Thank you for helping people who have never met before in a critical moment." Mr. Galileo took the lead in saluting Mr. Basten with a cup of tea.And Descartes and Frank can roughly guess the mystery.Only the group of priests didn't know it.They didn't know why the old man in the expensive silk robe and ramie shirt said that.

"Please allow me to introduce our new friends to you. During this long and lonely journey, how happy it is to meet a few friends with the same interests and hobbies." Mr. Descartes began to tell Basten Mr. introduced this group of new friends who met on the boat. "They have their own unique attainments in mathematics, physics, chemistry, metallurgy, geometry, drawing, medicine, etc. The communication with them along the way made our journey very enjoyable."

"Yes! I have promised to publish a book for their trip to the East. I believe this book will be a great book surpassing Mr. Marco Polo. For this, I have asked every priest, although they are the shepherds of the Lord, A royalty of three silver coins was paid as an advance for their great work."

"I would like to ask, what is the name of this great work you are talking about?"

Publisher Frank waved his hand generously, "Oriental Experience. I believe it will surpass Marco Polo's memoirs. It contains my group of friends and my own experience in the mysterious East."

"As your friend, I would like to suggest to you that the work you are going to publish should be printed and published in Nanzhong, because as far as I know, the printing cost here is much lower than in Europe, so low that you don't To the point of wanting to believe."

Before they had time to exclaim, accompanied by the captain, Goro and others came up from the cargo hold.Apparently, the goods in the cargo hold matched the declared goods.

"Good sir, you are very cooperative. As the tax collector of the South China Army, I thank you and wish you success in business."

Goro deftly filled out the tax stamps in triplicate on the notebook with a dip pen, and was about to tear it off and hand it over to the captain of the Fortune, when suddenly there was a loud noise from the deck on the second floor, followed by two Sailors twisted a passenger's arm and escorted him to the first deck.

"We conducted random checks on the passenger's carry-on cargo. Among his cargo and luggage, we found two Indian gems. Although they were not big, they exceeded the value of his cargo. This guy! How dare he deny that it wasn't him of!"

Among the crowd watching the excitement, Basten's assistant manager exchanged glances with him in a very secretive way, to understand each other.There was a bloodthirsty smile on Basten's face. For those who dared to defy and disobey his will, and challenged his dignity and prestige, he was happy to help them to meet God.

For attempts to smuggle in the form of entrainment and possession, the South China Army has never been soft in its fight.And Goro just needs such a person to prove his work achievements.He stared at a pair of small eyes: "Sir, do you understand his behavior?"

"Oh! No! I just know that he is a passenger on my ship, I don't know anything else." Mr. Basten left himself very innocent.

Mr. Basten's words were just like the executioner tightening the last button of the noose around the neck of the small businessman. As the highest-ranking official of the South China Army on this ship, Goro looked at the man who was found smuggled with gems. Guy, as if already looking at a dead man.

"No! Those two gems are not mine!"

The voice of the businessman was close to the wailing of dying. The two ships that tried to pass through the checkpoint to evade taxation before let them know what would happen if they were found to be trying to evade taxes.

"For the sake of Catholics who believe in God, and for the sake of the Virgin Mary, please help me!"

The businessman, who was dragged off the ship by two sailors like a dead dog, wailed all the way and begged the passengers on the same ship to help him.

However, all the people on the boat just watched him silently, and a few soft-hearted women kept sobbing and crossed themselves on their chests.

"Sir, let me ask you one last time. Are there any undeclared items on board? If so, it's still too late. Otherwise, once the tax officials in the waters of Lijiapo check it out, your results will be the same as those of the two previous ships. Same."

"Oh! Don't worry about this! I definitely did not bring any smuggled goods!"

Mr. Basten raised his hands, defending Goro, and at the same time bit the "goods" hard.

"I can assure God there is no smuggling of goods."

"Of course, kidnapping people doesn't count."

Looking at the brig going away, Mr. Basten looked back at Descartes and Galileo and others.

"The price given by Governor Li is much more suitable than buying horses. What should I bring back next time? Population? Or horses?" (To be continued...)

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