On the outskirts of Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Suleiman of the Ottoman Empire was inspecting a cement factory that was about to be completed and put into operation.
"Your Majesty the Sultan!"
"All the equipment in this cement factory is imported from the Ming Empire, and it is also the most advanced cement production equipment, which can realize semi-automatic production. The cement produced is enough to supply our entire great Ottoman Empire!"
Suleiman was happily listening to the person in charge of the factory bragging about the scale, equipment and technology of the cement factory in front of him.
Cement is a very important thing. Whether it is used for infrastructure construction, building castles for war, or building dams, canals, etc. during disaster relief, cement plays a huge role in all aspects.
One of the important reasons why the Ming Empire was able to efficiently rule a huge empire was that it relied on the transportation network covered by railways and highways to quickly transport people and materials to any corner of the empire, thus forming an extremely efficient rule.
Suleiman was very clear about this, so in his industrial development plan, textile factories, cement factories and steel plants were the three most important factories and needed to be built with priority.
With the cement factory, Suleiman could learn from the Ming Empire in building roads connecting every part of the empire, and he could also build taller buildings and stronger fortresses. In short, it had many and great functions.
In the past, all cement in the Ottoman Empire was imported from the Ming Empire. Not only was it expensive, but the key was that the quantity was small, which was far from meeting the Ottoman Empire's own development planning needs.
"Not bad!"
Suleiman nodded with satisfaction.
"Your Majesty the Sultan!"
"Not good, not good!"
At this time, Ibrahim came hurriedly and shouted before the people arrived.
"What happened?"
Suleiman looked at Ibrahim and asked quickly.
"Your Majesty the Sultan!"
"The Ming Empire has issued the latest order. In view of the large-scale and substantial food reduction across the world this year, in order to ensure the food security of the Ming Empire, the Ming vassal states, and colonies, the Ming Empire will strictly restrict the export of food from now on!"
Ibrahim told the Ming Empire's latest policy.
"What?"
"Strictly restrict the export of food?"
Upon hearing this period, Suleiman couldn't help but jump up.
Not long ago, I just arranged for Ibrahim to go to the Danube River Basin to inspect the food production situation, and also issued an order requiring various parts of the Ottoman Empire to grow more food, grow less cotton and raise sheep.
At that time, Suleiman was worried that if the Ming Empire did not export food one day, the entire Ottoman Empire would fall into an unprecedented famine.
Who would have known that only a few months later, the Ming Empire would actually restrict food exports.
There's going to be a big problem now.
"Let's go back!"
Suleiman was no longer in the mood to see his cement factory and took the lead directly back to the palace.
In the car, Suleiman asked about the specific situation in detail.
“Isn’t the Ming Empire’s food production far in excess?”
"Now even this year's massive reduction in grain production should have little impact on the Ming Empire, right?"
"No, Your Majesty, this year's situation is a bit special, a bit similar to six or seven years ago."
"Extreme climate has occurred all over the world. According to the information released by the Ming Empire, at first it was at the beginning of the year and in March, the weather was still cold, which affected sowing."
"Then there were large-scale droughts and floods around the world. The Ming Empire's home region of South Africa suffered major floods, inundating countless fertile fields, while the northern region suffered a major drought."
"On a global scale, Tianzhu is also experiencing a severe drought, and it is almost certain that food production will be significantly reduced. The Black Earth Province and Huangjin Continent of the Ming Empire are also experiencing drought, and food production is severely reduced."
"In Western Europe, floods have occurred. Almost all potato cultivation has suffered from mildew and the harvest is about to fail. We in the Ottoman Empire and Persia have also suffered from severe drought."
"It's just because our main crop now is cotton, which is relatively drought-tolerant. In addition, we have a lot of land to raise sheep, so the impact of drought is not big."
"But for the Ming Empire, such large-scale droughts and floods had a huge impact on its grain cultivation. This year's grain harvest will drop significantly, and many places may have no harvests."
Ibrahim also quickly told the situation announced by the Ming Empire.
Now only the Ming Empire has accurate control and understanding of the global climate and can know the global climate conditions.
"So the Ming Empire restricted food exports?"
After hearing this, Suleiman frowned, and his already pale face became even paler.
"Yes!"
"The Ming Empire must restrict the export of food because not only the Ming Empire itself has a huge population of more than 400 million, but the Ming Empire's overseas colonies and vassal states also have a huge population."
"Even if many colonies and vassal states have a large amount of arable land, they grow very little food, and they only grow one or two crops with good economic value, or simply exploit certain minerals to sustain themselves.
All food is imported from outside."
"This is a very typical example of globalized economy. Take the Shu Kingdom on the Tianzhu Continent as an example. Although the Shu Kingdom is on the fertile Tianzhu Continent, not a single grain of food is grown in the whole country.
To grow cotton and spices, all the food is imported from the neighboring country of Ning."
"In addition to considering the food security of its own country, the Ming Empire also had to consider retaining part of the food for these overseas vassals and colonies. Therefore, considering the substantial reduction in production, it is normal to restrict the export of food.
It’s something.”
Ibrahim explained in detail.
"I see!"
"If the Ming Empire does not export food to us now, how long can the food in our hands last?"
Suleiman nodded, thought for a while and asked again.
"With the food we have now, I'm afraid we won't be able to last even half a month."
"The grain exported to us by the people of Ming Dynasty has always been fixed, and they will not sell too much grain to us at one time. And the grain we grow ourselves, based on this year's situation, is probably a drop in the bucket."
Ibrahim thought for a while and said.
"Only half a month?"
When Suleiman heard this, he was immediately dumbfounded.
All this time, everyone has been eating cheap and high-quality Ming Dynasty grain, and has never felt that there is anything wrong with this grain. Unexpectedly, it is so fragile.
The entire Ottoman Empire only had enough food to last for half a month without food input from the Ming Empire. Such a huge problem had never been discovered before.
"Immediately find ways to purchase food from outside."
"In addition, I will write a letter in my name to His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Empire, begging His Majesty the Ming Emperor not to restrict the export of grain to our Ottoman Empire for the sake of the friendly relations between the two countries."
Suleiman frowned, thinking constantly, and then gave a very decisive order.
"yes!"
Upon hearing this, Ibrahim quickly replied solemnly.
Immediately afterwards, Ibrahim also quickly went to the concession outside Istanbul that was assigned to the Ming Empire.
In the second war between the Ottoman Empire and the Ming Empire, the Ottoman Empire ended in failure. This time it not only lost a large amount of land and suffered huge war indemnities, but also leased a piece of land on the south bank of the Istanbul Strait to the Ming Empire.
.
The Ming Empire had a navy stationed here for a long time, always intimidating the heart of the Ottoman Empire. At the same time, there were a large number of Ming merchants and trading firms stationed in the concession, and it prospered and developed rapidly.
Now, Yanran has become another prosperous city.
And compared to Istanbul, the Concession was lined with high-rise buildings, feasting and bustling, and it was the favorite place for aristocrats throughout the Ottoman Empire, because you could buy anything you wanted there, and as long as you had money, you were the boss.
The headquarters of the Ottoman Empire Branch of Tianjin Ocean Trading Company is located in the concession. This building with more than ten floors controls almost the entire foreign trade of the Ottoman Empire.
Most of the slaves plundered by the Ottoman Empire from various places, the Ottoman Empire's own specialties, the export of cotton and wool, and the large quantities of goods imported by the Ottoman Empire passed through the Tianjin Ocean Trading House.
This is the most powerful trading house in the Ming Empire. Relying on its strong comprehensive strength, high standard service level and good reputation, it has an extremely large business around the world. It is the most powerful trading house in the Ming Empire.
It single-handedly monopolized the Ming Empire’s external arms trade and grain trade.
All arms, weapons and grain sold to the outside world are handled by Tianjin Ocean Trading Company. Not to mention the sale of arms and weapons. This is a very profitable and profitable business. Even if you just change hands and become a middleman, Tianjin Ocean Trading
It's also a great profit.
Not only is the profit from the arms trade itself, but also the benefits it brings in other aspects. For example, if you want to purchase arms and weapons, you need to allow Tianjin Ocean Trading House to do other transactions, or transfer some businesses to
Let them do it.
As for the trading of grain, Tianjin Ocean Trading House has always been a loss-making business. Of course, the price of grain trading is very low and there is almost no profit. No one will be jealous of this business.