While Xu Chengdong was wondering why Feng Ziying met the Shanshan and Shaanxi merchants and the Hui merchants and the Dongting merchants first, Feng Ziying was also thinking about how to talk to these merchants.
Unlike merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi, Huizhou merchants are mainly engaged in business. Perhaps it is because Suzhou has always been an important economic center. Suzhou's silk weaving industry is the best in the world, and it has also formed a very specialized division of labor. Suzhou Silk Marketing
At home and abroad, even in the Great Zhou Dynasty, it is the most popular goods. Although the silk industry in Hangzhou, Yangzhou, Jinling and other places is also quite prosperous and developed, it is still inferior to Suzhou.
Dongting merchants played a big role here, including the tea making industry in Nanzhili and the porcelain making industry in Jiangxi, which also had the shadow of Dongting merchants.
Because of this, Feng Ziying has to take a high look at this group.
After all, sea trade still relies on the growth of several major export industries to last long. Although from the current point of view, the overseas market will not grow indefinitely, whether it is the Francois, the Hongmaofans or the English, or even the entire Europe and the Mediterranean.
Everyone was hungry for silk, porcelain and tea from the Zhou Dynasty, but the number of people who could really afford it was still limited in Europe and the Mediterranean coastal areas.
However, Feng Zi feels that for at least five to ten years, Da Zhou’s exports of these three types of commodities to the entire Europe and the Mediterranean region do not need to worry about the market. What needs to be worried about is the output and transportation factors.
Dongting businessmen have considerable strength and influence in these major industries, which gave Feng Ziying the idea of meeting and talking with the leading figures in this group.
He wanted to see if the leading figure in this group had a broader vision, or if, with his own inspiration and reminder, he could form a tacit understanding with himself and do certain things according to his own intentions.
So when Xu Chengdong stepped into Feng Ziying's study, he was also surprised, because the other party did not choose the living room, but the study. This kind of treatment made Xu Chengdong a little frightened.
The conversation seemed very relaxed and casual. First, Feng Ziying asked, Xu Chengdong answered, and then gradually evolved into Xu Chengdong taking the initiative to introduce the current situation of Dongting merchants and what contributions they had made to the court.
But Xu Chengdong soon discovered that Feng Ziying's interest was not in how much money the Dongting merchants had donated to the court, how many times he had visited Dongting merchants, or even in the businesses of the Dongting merchants in the capital, Yangzhou, and Jinling.
He realized that his guess was correct. Xiao Feng Xiuzhan was indeed not interested in making a living by doing business. In this regard, Dongting merchants in the north were inferior to Shanxi merchants and in the south were inferior to Hui merchants.
"Sir, although most of us merchants from Dongshan and Xishan mainly work outside, we also have many people who stay in Suzhou. For example, Gusu Silk is our pride, and the frightening output is also increasing year by year.
In addition, we are also cooperating with local merchants in Songjiang. Seventy percent of Songjiang dyeing workshops are opened by our Dongting merchants, and we are evenly matched with Huizhou merchants in Yangzhou printing workshops..."
Feng Ziying looked at the other party a little higher.
This guy has a very sensitive sense of smell and quickly senses his interests. He can also adjust the topic in a timely manner, making it worthwhile for him to take the time to meet him.
"I have also heard what Mr. Xu said. Dongting merchants are all over the south of the Yangtze River. Suzhou silk and tea are prosperous because of you. They are indispensable. However, when the imperial court opens the sea, the demand for silk, tea and porcelain will definitely increase greatly. I don't know.
Have you ever had any thoughts on this?"
Xu Chengdong's heart moved slightly, here he comes.
"We have also heard about the imperial court's strategy of opening up the sea, but the specific strategy is not yet clear. However, we also thought that if the maritime ban is lifted, the number of overseas goods will definitely increase greatly. The Hongmaofan and Folangji people have always been hostile to our great Zhou Silk Road.
Cha Porcelain has been admired for a long time, but it is a pity that the imperial court has banned the sea. They can only covet it or get a small amount through other methods. Now that the imperial court is letting go, there will definitely be a surge. We are also discussing this matter..."
Feng Ziying also knows that it is impossible for others to cater to her opinions as soon as they come up. Business leaders like these always take one step at a time and see the next three steps. What she has to do now is to guide and encourage, but in the final analysis, they have to do it themselves.
, it is impossible for the imperial government to replace him.
Feng Ziying has never been very fond of the government-run model. Given the current state of government administration in the Zhou Dynasty, the government's ability, efficiency and quality of officials are not reassuring, so business-run is best.
If some emerging industries have difficulty getting started, the government can provide policy and financial support and provide timely supervision, but that is all and must not get involved.
"It seems that the reputation of Dongting merchants is well-deserved. Everyone has only seen the prosperity of maritime trade, but you can see that the prosperity of maritime trade will bring about an increase in demand for several major industries. Compared with you, you are also somewhat prepared?" Feng Ziying was quite interested.
asked.
"It's just a preliminary idea, but the Xu family intends to do this. For example, our silk shop in Suzhou intends to expand its scale. The Xu family still has some advantages in this regard, and as far as I know, the Weng family has also taken actions in this regard.
…”
Since Xu Chengdong had figured out the other party's intentions, he naturally reciprocated the favor. It was of course a big deal for the Xu family to make friends with such a promising person. Maybe one day this person would be a minister or even a minister.
"Well, very good..." Feng Ziying nodded, "The three major industries of silk, tea and porcelain should be more connected with maritime merchants, and judge the growth rate of export sales from their export situation, and then determine
Our own production scale and even expansion plans in the coming year and even the next few years..."
…
Xu Chengdong found it more and more interesting.
He felt that the person sitting opposite him was not an editor from the Hanlin Academy. He was a colleague in the club who was well versed in this field. He was constantly giving some industry suggestions based on his introduction.
This feeling is both relaxed and harmonious, and you can even occasionally discuss some new trends in the industry. This feeling is so mysterious.
"...Sir, are you saying that the imperial court will support firearms manufacturing just like it supports the Denglai shipbuilding industry? Er, allow merchants to participate?"
When he heard the news, Xu Chengdong could hardly believe his ears. How could this be possible? Firearms manufacturing is an important weapon of the country. How could businessmen be involved?
Dazhou's ability in this area is indeed very weak. There is only one firearms bureau in the capital city. It can produce hundreds of three-eyed blunderbuss and artillery and other crude products every year, and most of them are used for magic machines.
The existing guns and artillery maintained by the battalion were maintained. Feng Ziying went to see them once. Its decayed and decadent state was unbearable to see. It is no wonder that the Nine Sides Division has always been in a subtle state of semi-resistance to the use of firearms.
Nowadays, except for the Shenji Battalion in the Beijing camp, which can barely be regarded as a purely firearms army, the current armies of the Great Zhou Dynasty are all still based on cold weapons. The training status and actual combat effectiveness of this Shenji Battalion are worrying. Feng Ziying estimates
Even the Ministry of War probably doesn't have much confidence in how useful this army will be in battle.
In fact, in Guangzhou and Quanzhou, as long as you set the price, you can easily buy various quantities of muskets and artillery from Franji and Hongmaofan merchants. Of course, the quantity will not be very large. After all, these materials are...
The Ji and Hongmao merchants did not impose an embargo on the Great Zhou Dynasty, but they still had to impose a blockade on the Nanyang natives.
However, if it is discovered in the future that Zhou's colonization strategy in Nanyang may pose a threat to them, I am afraid that restrictions and embargoes will be imposed on Zhou, but at least not yet.
"The imperial court has this intention." Feng Ziying nodded, "But there will definitely be some conditions. For example, if you want to get an order from the imperial court, what should be done in terms of status, scale, quality, and confidentiality? If the imperial court has requirements, of course the imperial court will
Provide corresponding support and support, such as low-interest loans from banks, such as deposits for ordering, such as rewards for new technology inventions and innovation improvements,..."
Xu Chengdong was shocked by the sudden news.
This was so unexpected, even far beyond his previous imagination.
He never expected that the other party would discuss such a "profound" issue with him. Is it possible just because of Shen Jue's letter?
There is no such thing as a pie in the world.
"..., the first heavy iron material in firearms manufacturing, whether it is a blunderbuss or an artillery piece, the quality of the cast iron material determines its own quality. Although we are laymen, we should also be aware of this. If Mr. Xu and you Dongting merchants are here
There is also interest from other parties, and the imperial court is also very welcoming..., there are many places rich in iron ore in the north, but the imperial court does not have so much energy to explore, mine and smelt, so the imperial court is interested...,"
"..., we are looking forward to the performance of Dongting merchants. As for why we chose Dongting merchants, well, Dongting merchants perform better in the industrial field. Of course, the court will not refuse other merchants who are interested in entering, but we prefer
Someone with experience in this area comes..."
"..., technical requirements,..., industrial scale,..., quality assurance,..., these are all decisive factors. Of course we know that we do not have this strength in Dazhou now, and the technology is even worse. Otherwise, how could we
If you come up with such an idea, it is of course your job to think of a solution. The owner of Ningbo Shipping Company is already trying to recruit shipbuilding craftsmen and technicians from Hongmaofan and Folangjiren. If one hundred taels of silver is not enough, just three hundred taels.
If three hundred taels is not enough, five hundred taels,...,"
"...," Lu Song went to Manlajia if he couldn't find any. If it didn't work, he simply went out and went to the Xiyi people's hometown to recruit..., you can do the same, no matter what method, as long as you can recruit technicians,...
…, It doesn’t matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice, it is a good cat; if it can build ships and firearms that meet the needs of the court, it is good,…”
This chapter has been completed!