With a smile on his face, Ding Debao greeted Yang Tengfei, president of the Shuntian Chamber of Commerce, in front of Degui Tower.
He stepped forward and held Yang Tengfei's hand, and said in a respectful tone: "Brother Yang, our Ding and Yang families are family friends.
The empire is about to undergo major changes this time, brother, I still rely on Brother Yang for support."
Among the merchant families in the Dahua Empire, the Ding family used to be the most prominent, and their overall strength was stronger than that of the Yang family.
However, their family was related by marriage to Prince Zheng and Wang Zhongce, and a large part of the family followed Prince Zheng overseas.
That was an opportunity to build a family that would last for thousands of years. They jumped from businessmen to nobles.
The Ding family would never miss this opportunity. His brother Ding Degui retired from the Qilin Guards and joined King Zheng, and is now responsible for guarding the palace of King Zheng.
There is absolutely no problem with his brother's choice.
The emperor would never leave anyone who had a close relationship with the vassal king in the palace.
If Ding Degui is working at the grassroots level, he might as well follow King Zheng to earn huge wealth. After all, King Zheng is his brother-in-law.
When King Zheng was short of people, they were the few confidants who could be trusted.
There are three cunning rabbit holes, and no big family will put all their chips in one place.
"The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is the most popular novel. The Zhuge family where Zhuge Wuhou is located, outstanding sons will serve in the Three Kingdoms. Whichever family wins in the Three Kingdoms, the Zhuge family will not decline.
The Sima family finally won the fruits of victory, which people at the time could not have expected.
The same is true for the Ding family, with the main line following King Zheng to go overseas.
The Ding Debao branch inherited part of the Ding family's business in the empire.
Most of the Ding family's property was sold to other businessmen in order to help raise funds for the founding of the country.
The Ding family has fallen from being the only top business family in the empire to an embarrassing position that is not as good as the first rate, but better than the second rate.
Even if the Ding family's strength is weakened, other forces in the mall will not dare to offend the Ding family.
Ding Debao has a trump card in his hand, and the Ding family and the Queen have some romantic relationships.
The Ding family was really at the point of life and death and asked the Queen for help. No one could bear the price.
Yang Tengfei said a few polite words and walked into the restaurant.
He was a family friend of the Ding family, and when the Yang family's fleet passed by the state of Zheng, they could also receive some extra care.
Ding Debao's strength is not strong, but the overall strength of the Ding family is much stronger than before.
Yang Tengfei is a smart man. He will never look at the Ding family differently just because the Ding family seems to be in decline.
Ding Debao invited him to the banquet today, and Yang Tengfei probably expected why he invited him.
He is the president of the Shuntian Chamber of Commerce. He can easily do things in the mall that others cannot do.
The Dahua Empire General Chamber of Commerce has now become a semi-official yamen. Its main job is to formulate industry rules and regulations and arbitrate large-scale commercial disputes.
With the differences in commercial development in various parts of the Great China Empire, local chambers of commerce became prosperous again, and private businessmen formed independent groups to deal with risks that may come at any time.
Because the Sunchon Chamber of Commerce is in the core area of the empire, they can learn about the latest policies and technologies.
The Chamber of Commerce is not as powerful as the Nanyang Chamber of Commerce, ranking second in the country.
Ding Debao led Yang Tengfei forward to the most elegant private room in Degui Building.
He took out the menu and said: "For wine, we will drink the local Erguotou from Shuntian Prefecture. I remember that Brother Yang has no dietary restrictions. Is it okay to serve as you like?"
Yang Tengfei immediately took the menu, pointed to the beef and mutton and said: "Other dishes are available, especially seafood, which I haven't eaten in a long time.
There is no need to serve beef and mutton.
In order to expand my family's wool textile industry, I just returned from an inspection trip to Tumu Prefecture.
Like other pastoral areas, the diet there is too monotonous, with mutton as the main component, supplemented by beef, and the only dish is potatoes.
Even cabbages and radishes don't grow there, but I have to go to a herdsman's house and I can't even buy vegetables.
I have been eating beef and mutton for three months, and now I smell the smell of beef and mutton, and I feel like vomiting."
When Ding Debao heard Yang Tengfei say this, he was filled with envy. He also wanted to work so hard.
The Yang family started out in the textile industry, especially the wool textile industry. The Yang family monopolized nearly 40% of the empire's wool textile industry, which was a huge fortune.
The food was quickly put on the table, mainly seafood urgently transported from Tianjin, including tuna meat, caviar, sea shrimp and other seafood.
After the two of them exchanged glasses, Ding Debao finished a few glasses of wine and asked: "Brother Yang, you went to Tumu Mansion in the northwest to engage in woolen textile business.
Does Brother Yang still know about your family's maritime trade business?"
Yang Tengfei poured the wine and said, "Brother Debao, you are looking down on me.
My father devoted all his energy to the parliamentary affairs, and I managed all the business in the family.
We have thirty-seven Yang's woolen textile factories. The sweaters and woolen coats we produce every year only rely on the domestic market, and the goods have to be accumulated in warehouses.
We must go overseas to sell these cloth clothes.
The cold northern North America, southern South America, and Europe are all places where we ship a lot of goods.
The family's maritime trade business is now managed by my younger brother and sister-in-law, Wang Sen.
The sea trading company makes a lot of money every year, providing a steady stream of funds for the expansion of our family's industry.
Without the support of profits from the maritime trade business, how could we have negotiated so many pastoral areas to supply wool to our family.
To achieve this goal, real money must be spent.”
Ding Debao was sipping wine while listening to Yang Tengfei describe the situation of their Yang family's sea trade.
After hearing this, he asked with a worried look on his face: "Brother Yang, aren't you afraid that Wang Sen will have bad intentions and take your boat away, and your family will be destitute of people and money?"
The Ding family's previous maritime trade business was all resold.
The Ding family followed King Zheng, and they no longer had the energy to continue Li's maritime trade business.
Ding Debao accepted the Ding family's property in the empire. He needed to manage business matters and go out to socialize.
He simply doesn't have time to continue doing sea trade. If he doesn't come back for a year or so, his family's business will probably become owned by someone else.
Yang Tengfei put down his wine glass and laughed: "Now is different from the past. With our power, who would dare to take away the goods?
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! He definitely has no place in the empire. Even if he escapes abroad, we still have regular business partners there.
It is not difficult at all to deal with an outsider who has no foundation.
Unless this person wants to be a pirate, then I really have no choice.
I'm not looking down on these people who are doing business on the sea. They really have the courage to be pirates and they definitely don't just want to make a steady amount of money every day.
Besides, there are checks and balances among different factions on the ship. If someone wants to take away these ships, the stewards and crew members on the ship may not agree.
Most of the people on the boat were people with families.
People who are unsentimental and ungrateful are screened out in the early stage, and those who remain are those who value love and righteousness and cannot abandon their families.
As for my brother-in-law Wang Sen, he is very capable and he is one of our own.
In this era, family affection is family affection, and interests are interests.
Our Yang family's trading company gave Wang Sen shares. He is also the owner of the fleet, so we are not afraid that he will not be careful.
He is already the owner of the fleet, so why take risks."
When Ding Debao heard Yang Tengfei introduce the situation of the Yang Family Sea Trading Company, he seemed to be enlightened and immediately understood that it would not be as difficult as he thought to build a new sea trading fleet.
He doesn't have to go to sea trade himself, he just needs to find a suitable partner and give the partner a certain share, and it's done.
Ding Debao said gratefully: "Brother Yang, I can't thank you enough.
Brother Yang's words completely solved my worries."
Yang Tengfei put the wine glass on the table, burped, and asked: "Brother Degui wants to rebuild the Ding family fleet. This is because he saw the newspaper calling for the court to open his eyes and see the world."
Ding Debao nodded and said: "Yes, Brother Yang should also understand that this big move by the court is definitely not, it is just talk.
I don’t know how other people view the imperial propaganda of seeing the world with open eyes, and I can’t comment on it.
But for us businessmen, especially those who have done sea trade.
The attitude shown by the imperial court is very obvious, and many favorable policies will inevitably appear in the future.
With the support of many preferential policies, even businessmen who don't understand posters can make money.
Not to mention businessmen like us who know sea trade and have channels."
Yang Tengfei gave a thumbs up. Because he was a little drunk, his fingers were unsteady and swayed back and forth.
"Brother Debao is right, this is indeed good news for maritime trade.
Why has this news been fermenting for a long time, but no one questioned it.
The imperial court asked all the people to open their eyes and see the world. The biggest background was that the steel battleship completed the circumnavigation of the world.
The quality of the battleships has been tested, and the Imperial Navy can rush to any battlefield in the world.
His Majesty the Emperor has a good saying.
'Truth lies only within the range of a cannon.'
Only with the protection of a powerful navy can maritime trade flourish.
When we went to European countries to do business, what we were most afraid of was not the high tariffs.
Instead, this country acted like a rogue and detained the ship and the people on an unfounded charge.
The ship and a cargo of goods were all lost. If you wanted to get the people back, you still had to bribe local officials.
Now with the deterrence of the navy, this situation will be greatly reduced.
There are always some businessmen who can keenly seize opportunities in wars.
For example, my dad has this kind of voice.
But people like us can only make big money in a safe environment."
Ding Debao said with admiration: "Brother Yang has a long-term vision, so I didn't see these things.
I just rely on my intuition and believe that sea trade has great potential in the future."
They were full of wine and food, and after discussing all the matters they had discussed, the banquet officially ended.
Ding Debao accompanied Yang Tengfei and walked out of the room together.
He planned to send Yang Tengfei out of Degui Tower in person.
As soon as they walked into the hall, they heard many small businessmen who were eating and discussing the latest news.
"The imperial court is moving really fast. Wei Yuansheng, the new right minister of the Ministry of Rites, publicly stated that the Ministry of Rites will deepen exchanges with the empire's major trading countries and fully ensure the safety of the sea trade fleet."
"What's the use of the Ministry of Rites? If they chirp a few words, others will listen.
Even if Wei Shilang had a peanut while drinking, he wouldn't dare to say that."
Yang Tengfei shook his head and whispered: "If you pay lip service but don't deliver, what's the use of the Ministry of Rites' intervention.
Among the six departments of the imperial court, the one with the least connection to this matter was the Ministry of Rites.
They are not as good as the medical department. At least they can send a few doctors to the ship.
Treat the patients on board and relieve the tension of the crew.”
"What is the Ministry of Rites? This news is worth mentioning. Your news is not exciting at all.
I heard from my second uncle’s aunt’s brother-in-law that the Ministry of Industry was going to do a big job.
The production capacity of shipyards has increased significantly, and the imperial court is preparing to open up the purchase rights to iron-hulled steam cargo ships to the private sector."
"This is good news. I saw the trading company owned by the Shaofu before and their huge iron-hulled steam cargo ship.
Each ship cannot haul 10,000 tons of cargo, but it can also haul six to seven thousand tons of cargo.
The transport capacity of this kind of ship is much better than the wooden hull ships we use now.
An iron-hulled ship can hold up to at least three wooden-hulled ships.
Iron-hulled ships can increase the power of the ship's steam engine, so that the ship can run faster and pull more cargo.
If a wooden-hulled ship is equipped with a steam engine that is too large, even if it uses a steel keel, it will easily disintegrate in the sea."
"Brother, based on your knowledge of iron-hulled ships and wooden-hulled ships, I believe your information is correct."
After Yang Tengfei heard this, he said excitedly: "The day has finally begun. To replace the iron-hulled ship, we must replace the iron-hulled ship.
These iron-hulled ships are large in size and can transport bulky and light cargo such as cloth, and they can also tow a tugboat behind them.
Now that the common people can buy iron-hulled ships, the imperial court has really done something right, and the imperial maritime trade is about to usher in a boom."
Ding Debao's eyes were bright and he kept nodding.
He was about to speak, but was interrupted by a small voice.
The originally noisy restaurant immediately became quiet, and everyone's ears stood up.
"This trivial piece of news is worth the excitement of these businessmen.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! The State Administration of Taxation has issued a notice to adjust the export tariffs for dozens of commodities.
As long as the imperial court does not increase tariffs, this matter will make all merchants happy."
Speaking of which, it clearly underestimates the power of the State Administration of Taxation.
As soon as the word "State Administration of Taxation" came out, the restaurant immediately became quiet.
This man was ignorant and told what he knew about the situation.
When he saw that the line in the restaurant lobby was dead, he immediately covered his face with his robe and ran out of Degui Building.
Ding Debao's eyes widened, he couldn't believe it.
"Brother Yang, is this true?
Your old man is in the parliament, and Brother Yang can't even get the news in advance."
Yang Tengfei frowned and said, "Who knows if this person is talking nonsense.
I hope he is true, the taxes in the empire are indeed a bit high now.
If the imperial court can really lower some tariffs, the empire's sea trade will explode in a short time."
While they were chatting, a confident man walked into Degui Building.
“Sell newspapers, sell newspapers!
The State Administration of Taxation announced adjustments to tariffs on imported and exported goods.”
People in the hall were still immersed in what they had just said.
They heard the sound of the newsboy selling newspapers and immediately came to their senses.
Upon hearing the specific content of the newspaper, everyone's eyes lit up and they immediately called the newsboy to deliver the newspaper.
Ding Debao was generous and bought two copies of every type of newspaper in the hands of the newsboy.
He handed the Hualian Newspaper to Yang Tengfei to read.
Yang Tengfei likes to read reports from Hualian Press. This is the first newspaper to use telegraph. The content of their reports has the habit of telegraph and is very concise.
After reading it, he put down the newspaper and said in surprise: "Okay, this is really good.
If the imperial court really lowers tariffs, the benefits of sea trade will be greater in the future, and the empire's sea trade will explode in a short time."
After Ding Debao read the newspaper, he also said excitedly: "I don't have much time. I must build a fleet as soon as possible, otherwise all the talents will be poached by others."
Stimulated by this good news, it was not just sea traders like them.
A large number of traditional businessmen also thought this was a good opportunity, decided to open their eyes to the world, and devoted themselves to maritime trade one after another.
