Win the Ding 1617

Ryukyu is known as three provinces and 36 islands, but in fact, just like its geographical name, it belongs to the form of an archipelago.The largest Ryukyu main island is only more than 700 square kilometers, and the second-ranked Amami Island is only more than [-] square kilometers.

But under such terrain conditions, looking out from the tower of Shuri Castle, you can see sugarcane leaves being blown in the wind everywhere, and there is a faint rustling sound.

Now it is late June, and in a few days, the sugar cane will produce a lot of sugar and is ready to be harvested.A large amount of sugarcane was cut down by the sugarcane farmers with a knife, the heads and tails were removed, and they were bundled and sent to Shuri Castle to trade rice and other daily necessities with the Nanzhong merchants here.

"Since the Lord forced back the Shimadzu family of the Japanese Satsuma, relieved the people's poverty, and rescued the people from the fire and water. He also sent merchants to Ryukyu to exchange rice for sugar cane, and half a catty of sugar cane for half a catty of rice. Immediately, the people of Ryukyu were not afraid of hunger and cold. Everyone in Ryukyu is grateful for your kindness!"

On the city tower, Ryukyu Wang Shangyi, who accompanied Shou Han to enjoy the scenery, flattered like a tide, and it was really difficult for him. I don’t know how he came up with such a refurbished flattery.

Since the Shimadzu family forced sugarcane plantation in Ryukyu, a large number of rice fields have been turned into sugarcane plantations. Younger people can only grow sugarcane and no longer rice.Every sugarcane harvest season, sugarcane farmers will exchange thousands of sugarcanes weighing nearly [-] catties per mu of land for a year's rations and pocket money.

In order to be able to sit down on the throne, Shang Yi has always been very concerned with the domestic sugar cane and rice prices and trading conditions, and he has to admit it.The price given by the Nanzhong businessman is much more reasonable than that of the Shimadzu family.

"Lord Shang, from this year onwards, we need to change the way we trade."

The change proposed by Shou Han is also very simple. Instead of implementing direct transactions of rice and sugar cane, he found a compromise equivalent, Nanzhong Tongbao.

"Your sugarcane here is the same price as my sugarcane in Nanzhong. I will give you Tongbao or silver dollars. You can use Tongbao and silver dollars to buy everything you need at the rice store, hardware store, cloth store, and silk shop of the Hanyuan Company." thing."

Sugar cane for copper coins and silver dollars?

This seems to be good, no more rice as the target of the transaction.

As for Nanzhong Tongbao and silver dollars, King Shangyi has also seen them, in terms of appearance and material.They are no less than the best Tongbao Yongle Tongbao and Jiajing Tongbao in this dynasty.Use sugar cane all over the mountains and plains.In exchange for such money, it sounds like it is much better than changing to a single rice that can only fill the stomach.

With money and silver, you can send people to go to Zhejiang, Fujian, or even Tianjin by boat.Shop for all kinds of goodies that make your heart skip a beat.

"It's not just the things used by these ordinary people. All kinds of items that you and the adults need in daily life. You can buy them in the store."

As soon as these words came out, Zeng Lin and the others immediately nodded frequently.

On the night when Shou Han entered the city, Lord Shang hosted a banquet for Shou Han and his party in the palace.Before the feast begins.The guards of the Han Dynasty gave gifts to these upper-class figures in the Ryukyu Kingdom.

The one for Lord Shangyi is a five-foot full-length mirror, which is made of red sandalwood and covered with gold as the frame, which looks extremely magnificent.For Shizi Shangxian, there is a three-foot mirror. Although it is a little smaller, the two of them can lift it flexibly. What's more ingenious is that there is a bracket installed behind the mirror frame, which can be extended to place the mirror on the ground.

For the Prime Minister Zeng Lin, the Sanfa Division, the Biao 15 people, and the gentry, there are mirrors ranging in size from two feet to five inches, depending on one's official position. A pot of porridge.It doesn't matter if Mrs. and Miss are, but mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, eldest wife and concubine cannot share a mirror.

So, the next day, all the lords had scars on their faces, pain and joy, and begged Master Zeng Lin to ask him to buy a few more mirrors from the Hanyuan firm through his son-in-law's channel.

"I am willing to sell all my harvested land, the several intercut lands, and the sugar cane in the next few years to the Han Yuan Company, as long as they can sell me the glass mirror!"

In addition to the so-called glazed mirror, the cotton cloth spun by using Guoxiama looms and Indian cotton made almost the entire gentry crazy.I have never seen such a delicate and soft cloth, even the Songjiang fine cloth bought from Songjiang Mansion, although some cloth is better than this, but the price!

In addition to cotton cloth, there is also sackcloth made of ramie. In a tropical island environment like Ryukyu, owning a cool and breathable garment is like owning a hand-sewn garment of a major international brand.

The shopkeepers of the Han Yuan Company cleverly used their own advantages. They did not bring silk and other products that Jiangnan had an advantage in to Ryukyu on a large scale, but took out their own technical things all at once. caught the eyes of the Ryukyu people.

There is one more thing that makes the gentry flock to it!

It is the suspender stockings made of ice silk and the sexy underwear made of silk, which make adults and gentlemen feel embarrassed to speak, but they are itchy.It is often difficult to speak when the face is flushed.Every time such a guest came, in the temporary shop, the clerk would invite the guest aside, first serve a cup of tea, and then asked in a low voice, "Do you want some secret things from the boudoir?"

"That's right, that's right! That's what I want!" The gentlemen who heard this were as if they were granted an amnesty by the emperor.When the clerk took out the samples, the husband often didn't even pay back the price, dropped the money, turned around and left.

Such prodigal purchases, although a large number of good things have become reserves in one's own warehouse, but the money in one's own warehouse has flown into other people's pockets as if it had grown wings. In front of Lord Shangyi.

Thanks to the blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!

Li Shouhan's proposal to change the form of sugarcane trading immediately made Ryukyu Wang Shangyi, Prime Minister Zeng Lin, Sanfasi, and Biao 15 people all smile, and finally they don't have to worry about the family's prodigal wives emptying out their wealth!

"But it's kind of troublesome."

Shou Han started pretending to be a pig and eating a tiger.Oh, in fact, the guy on the opposite side may not even be considered a civet cat.

"Rice, ironware, cotton cloth, vegetable oil, soybean oil, these are all goods that take up a lot of space! It is impossible to always put them on the ship. Moreover, if you buy sugar cane, you have to transport it away immediately or press it. Otherwise, it will be rotten. ah!"

I don’t know if it’s because I discussed too much with the concubines at home about human physiology and performance art under the tropical sun. For a while, the blood supply to the brain was insufficient. Faced with such a straightforward request from Shou Han, no one from the Ryukyu monarchs could react. !

"Cough! Cough cough!" Li Shouhan, who was speechless for a while, could only use coughing to cover up his helplessness and embarrassment.

"What my lord means is," but Mao Sihai is quite able to relieve the guards at this time. "See if your land can sell some land to the Hanyuan firm, so that the firm can store all kinds of goods here, settle the staff to live, and open a store."

"If the land by the river can be sold, I plan to buy some land there and build a mill. In this way, the sugarcane purchased can be rough-rolled. The raw sugar will be transported back."

Can you still do this?The monarchs and ministers of Ryukyu woke up like a dream, and their brains were quick to make calculations: the best harvest per mu of sugarcane fields in Ryukyu is about [-] jin (five tons, now in my country's Guangxi, Leizhou Peninsula and other major sugar producing areas have an average yield of five to six tons per mu.).Calculate according to one catty of sugar cane to produce one or two sugar juices.One mu of land equals one thousand catties of sugar.In this way, it is a good calculation to set up a mill in Ryukyu.

"I don't know what method Ryukyu adopts to grow sugar cane? How many sugar cane are harvested each year?"

There are so-called differences in the cultivation of sugarcane, such as spring planting, autumn planting, and perennial root.Or the so-called new cane planting and perennial roots.Spring planting sugarcane is planted in spring, and the growth period is from August to 8 months.Harvest in the winter of the current year or the spring of the following year.Autumn cane is planted in autumn and harvested after growing for about one and a half years.Cane planting in spring.Its germination coincides with the temperature rise in spring, and the peak growth period is the strong light and high temperature season from June to October, which is conducive to growth.The ripening period is in cool and dry winter, which is conducive to the accumulation of sugar.Autumn sugarcane planting has high temperature, rapid germination, high germination rate, early and long tillering and elongation time, early maturity, and has the advantages of high yield and high sugar.However, the growth period is as long as one and a half years, the land utilization rate is low, and it is also a place for pests to overwinter, causing serious damage.

Since Ryukyu is located in the tropics, the planting method of perennial roots is adopted.That is, when harvesting, only the sugarcane stems are harvested, and the roots are still left in the soil, allowing it to continue to take root and germinate and become perennial roots.Similar to spring plants, perennial roots can be harvested after one year of growth.

If it is in Nanzhong, it is inevitable that someone will report to Shou Han the amount of planting, the method of planting technology, the approximate yield per mu and the total output, etc.Unfortunately, this is Ryukyu, not Nanzhong.From the Ryukyu King down, they are all masters who don't know the hardships of farming.

Looking at the group of paunchy princes and ministers in front of him, Shou Han couldn't help but secretly scolded himself "absurd!" Originally, he wanted to discuss it, and asked these gentlemen to promote the rotation, intercropping and intercropping of sugarcane fields in Ryukyu to strengthen the The utilization rate of the land and the maintenance of the fertility of the land ensure the growth effect of the crops.But now it seems that this is not necessary.

However, it seems necessary to promote intercropping and intercropping in sugarcane fields.

The so-called intercropping is to take advantage of the characteristics of sugarcane's long growth period, large row spacing, late closure of rows, and about 2-3 months after planting or transplanting to closure of rows. Planting other short-term crops between rows can increase the multiple cropping index. Improve the utilization rate of light energy, increase the yield of crops, cover the ground earlier, improve the ecological environment of sugarcane fields, reduce water evaporation, and prevent weeds from growing.The interplanting is to interplant the sugarcane between the rows of the previous crop before the previous crop is harvested, which can make full use of the land and prolong the growth period of the sugarcane.

Based on his own strategic layout and future plans, Shouhan intends to let Ryukyu grow vegetables in the sugarcane fields!The location of Ryukyu is really suitable as an intermediate station and supply point on the trade network!Naha Port, located on the southwestern coast of Ryukyu Island, is about 170 nautical miles southwest to Hirara Port of Miyako Island, about 340 nautical miles to Keelung Port in Otaru, 180 nautical miles to Amami Oshima in the northeast, and 380 nautical miles to Kagoshima Port of Satsuma Domain. 405 nautical miles from the northwest to Ningbo Prefecture, 460 nautical miles from Shanghai County, Songjiang Prefecture.In front of the big ships with excellent performance, such as Guangzhou and Changsheng, starting from here to any of the above-mentioned ports is almost a matter of a few days.

Although the Ryukyu monarchs and ministers were confused by what Shou Han said, it seemed quite reasonable.In this way, people will not be idle and the land will be idle.

"My lord, from your point of view, what kind of crops should I plant in the sugarcane field in Ryukyu?"

"It seems to depend on your country's monarch and ministers. However, from Shou Han's point of view, it seems that it should be better to grow some vegetables."

Like a chicken pecking at broken rice, Lord Shangyi kept nodding, causing everyone in the Ryukyu behind him to also keep nodding in agreement.

"Vegetables and fruits are scarce things in sea life. In the future, I will ship to and from Ryukyu in the South China Sea. I will replenish at your place, clean water, vegetables and fruits, all kinds of meat, etc."

That's all for the Shang family father and son, they are always in the deep palace.I don't know how hard it is to harvest crops.oh.If the landlord's yard can be considered a deep palace.On the contrary, Mao Sihai's cheap father-in-law, Zeng Lin, lowered his head and couldn't stop thinking, his small eyes couldn't help shining with secret joy.

"There are a lot of ships going to and from Ryukyu. If all the passing ships are here to replenish fresh water, vegetables and fruits, it will be a good deal!"

In the mansion on Kumejima these days, Zeng Lin, who was almost dizzy by the position of Prime Minister who fell from the sky, gradually woke up from the initial ecstasy, looking at the piles of greeting cards and The gift list, he felt more and more that if he wanted to continue in this position, he had to hug Nan Zhongjun's thick legs very firmly!

He had a secret discussion with his son-in-law Mao Sihai, who was getting more and more pleasing to the eye, and he knew that what Mr. Li wanted most at the moment was to choose a place to build a house on the main island of Ryukyu, to build collapsed houses, warehouses, warehouses, and to build a wharf that could berth large ships.There is also the sugar mill just mentioned.

This is a great thing!Not only can you profit from it, but you can also hug Nanzhongjun's thick thighs more closely and firmly!

"Xiaobang Xiaochen, on behalf of my king, would like to thank the great general of the Celestial Dynasty for his kindness! I don't know what land you want to buy? What kind of land is it?"

The most favored land by Shouhan and his subordinates is the piece of land near Naha Port, where houses, forts and defense facilities can be built, and special berths and wharfs can also be built.Just like buying land to build similar facilities in other places, the South China Army must be on the coast or along the river, and the facilities on land can be supported by artillery fire from the water.

What attracted the attention of Shou Han and the others was the piece of land on the northeast coast of the Manhu waterway in the port. The water depth here is about nine meters. After the dock berth is built, it can berth ships of the same level as the Changsheng.

More and bigger ships will berth here in the future.Naha Port will be the busiest transit port for the South China Army to the mainland and the north.

After some arguments that were not considered bargaining, Nanzhong Army and Hanyuan Company bought almost all the coastal land around Naha Port at present by converting the price of sugarcane per mu for three years per mu of land.

"Ha! It is said that the Nanzhong Army is shrewd in business! I don't think so. How can the sandy beaches and rock piles by the sea compare with the land that can grow sugar cane? What's the price per mu for three years? It's really a lot of money. You young master who has no place to spend!" Shizi Shangxian couldn't help feeling elated when he watched his father heavily use the Ryukyu king's seal on the land purchase contract.

"After this contract is signed, Ryukyu will be in the hands of our Nanzhong Army!" When the Shouhan general pressed the gold seal of the Nanzhong Army President and responsible for money, food and civil affairs on the contract, all the Nanzhong Army people present , almost all of them think this way.

"My lord, from now on my ships will continue to come on waves. For all the goods imported from Nanzhong to Ryukyu, what standard do you think should be used to pay taxes?"

Could it be that the Ryukyu Palace can still collect taxes on the goods that come in from the Nanzhong Army? !This is a great thing!Although collecting taxes on maritime trade is nothing new in Ryukyu, have you ever thought about collecting taxes from the Shimadzu family before?Those vicious Banner warriors don't need to cut off your big head with a sword!

"This, this, Ming Dynasty is the country of my Ryukyu parents, and the Nanzhong Army rescued me from danger and repaid my great kindness with ample food and clothing. The deep kindness has never been repaid in case, but what kind of face is it to receive the Nanzhong Army? This matter is absolutely unacceptable! After collecting the tax from the Nanzhong Army, how will Xiao Wang go to see his ancestors underground in the future?"

"The Lord Shang is worried about Li's sincerity? There are many types of goods in maritime trade, and it may be difficult to clarify the tax rate for a while. So, how about we try it out at a tax rate worth half a hundred? If there is no one under the Lord's hand to carry out the For these trivial and complicated matters, we can spare some people from the Nanzhong Army and the Hanyuan Company to serve the prince."

That is.According to Shouhan's suggestion, the Ryukyu Kingdom only needs to sit in the palace and drink tea and chat. People from the South China Army will take care of things like basking in the wind and sun on the pier, and arguing with people on various ships. .According to the standard of [-] to [-], the Nanzhong Army will pay the tax in full to the Ryukyu Palace.

Is there such a good thing in the world?Ryukyu King Shangyi was almost knocked out by the big pie that fell from the sky.

But Shizi blinked and thought of a very serious problem. "What if these tax collectors from Nanzhong don't work hard, so what should I do if I report more and less? No! We still have to make a way out, so that these guys don't deceive us!"

"At least 20 taels of tax silver must be paid to the Ryukyu Palace every year!"

The son can be regarded as a lion who opened his mouth.

20 taels?Why don't you go to sea to grab it? !

Seeing the changes in the expressions of the members of the Nanzhong Army, King Shang Yi immediately noticed.He pretended to be majestic and reprimanded his son: "Stupid thing! The South China Army is benevolent and righteous. How can it be a dog for some small profits?!"

Under the superficial harmony of the two sides, they each had their own calculations.

In the end, the Nanzhong Army and the Ryukyu Kingdom reached a "Tariff Agency Agreement", the agreement stipulated.It began in July of the fifth year of Chongzhen.The Ryukyu Maritime Trade taxation activities were handed over to the Nanzhong Army for collection.Until the seal on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month in the fifth year of Chongzhen, no less than 6 Nanzhong silver dollars should be handed over to the treasury.

For the smooth progress of taxation, the Nanzhong Army can stay in the Naha Port of the Ryukyu Kingdom with two sentries for the navy and the land battalion.To guard against small people at sea.

"Father, do you think that the people from the South China Army can give us the full amount of [-] silver dollars?"

"You are confused!"

On the pier, the father and son of the Shang family still sent off Li Shouhan's Changsheng ship with one knee and three kowtows, and returned to the palace as if they were relieved of a heavy burden.

"In the past few days, how many ships have arrived at my Ryukyu from Nanzhong? Have you seen it?"

"According to reports from Zeng Lin, the guy who is crawling around, there are about ten ships."

"Do you know what is shipped here?"

"When the people of the Curry Guard went to the pier to watch the fun, they saw some big guys, all made of so-called nine-turn steel, which is said to be used for squeezing sugar, and the effect is better than our stone ones. The squeeze reel is much stronger!"

King Shang Yi threw a stack of lists in front of Shang Xian.

"Hey, take a look! This is a list for the customs officers to go to the dock to collect taxes! It's a penny! The reels, ashes, steel bars and other things loaded on these ships are clearly listed one by one!"

Looking at the clear details on the tax bill, Shang Xian secretly blamed himself for being a villain.

"Also! The [-] silver dollars from these tariffs have already entered the palace's treasury!"

"Don't always use your little thoughts to speculate on the thoughts of these big men. If they all think the same as your head, would the great grandfather send people with the surname 36 to Ryukyu to help us build ships?!"

The bloody Shangxian who was scolded by his father bowed his head and dared not say a word. He didn't know if the words he gave in the past were swept away by the wind and waves at sea.

"Son! You have to remember that the father is getting old, and I believe he will go to see the ancestors soon. This Ryukyu will be handed over to you in the future."

"As the lord of a country, the most important thing is to assess the situation, seek advantages and avoid disadvantages."

The father taught his son the way of being a king, which is also the skill of how to survive in this troubled world.

"What you have to do now is to have a good relationship with Zeng Lin and Mao Sihai, the son-in-law, and go to the construction site at Naha Port at least once a day."

Zeng Lin is now the Prime Minister of the Ryukyu Kingdom, in charge of the administration of the Ryukyu country.On the other hand, Mao Sihai was appointed by the Shouhan and stayed in Ryukyu as a representative of the South China Army, coordinating business and customs affairs here.

This Weng and son-in-law, one inside and one outside, regard Ryukyu to death!

"Go and see if they are building houses, building docks, etc. There are things that we need to decide for them, such as recruiting civilians, collecting materials, and so on."

Remember, although the Nanzhong Army has a kind face, it is more terrifying than the murderous Shimadzu family!

King Shang Yi's words were imprinted in Shang Xian's heart like a knife and ax chiseling. (To be continued..)