Chapter 1188 The First Great Geographical Discovery - Crazy Merchant
"Well..." Zhu Bai hesitated for a moment and said decisively: "Promise them."
"Uncle Twelve, if there really is a rich continent in the East and the Japanese know the route, this continent cannot be occupied by the Ming Dynasty alone. The Japanese will definitely send a fleet to the East.
." Zhu Mengjiong said.
Although Zhu Mengjiong has been in Japan and married a Japanese wife, and the Japanese daimyo are also very friendly to him, the people are far more honest and cowardly than the people of the Ming Dynasty, and their lives are also very comfortable, no worse than when he was at home. There are only a small number of samurai
He is not very friendly to him, but he still loves Ming Dynasty and puts Ming Dynasty's interests first in everything.
"Meng Jiong," Zhu Bai called his name for the first time: "Japan is in the middle of the continent from the Ming Dynasty to the east, and it is difficult to get around it. Even if their people are not allowed to accompany them this time, they themselves may not be able to discover the east.
The mainland is just worried that the trip will be in vain and the ships will be lost on the way. When the fleet from the Eastern Continent is discovered to return, the Japanese will still know about it and send their fleet."
"Since if the continent in the east really exists, the Japanese will know where it is sooner or later, why not agree to their request?"
"Not only will I agree to this request from Sagami Country, but I will also agree to it if I pass by several feudal lords in Northeastern Japan and request to send people on board the ship on the condition of providing women."
"But," Zhu Mengjiong was still unwilling.
"Meng Jiong, don't worry too much." Zhu Bai decided to reveal what Yunxi said to him before leaving: "Letting the Japanese know about this may not be a bad thing for Ming Dynasty, and it may not be a good thing for Japan."
"It may not be a good thing for Japan?" Zhu Mengjiong repeated his last sentence, thinking about it seriously and not saying anything again.
Zhu Bai breathed a sigh of relief, quickly raised his glass and said: "We are drinking now, not talking about political affairs, how can we stop drinking?" As he said that, he drank it all. Zhu Mengjiong had to put his thoughts aside for the time being and raised his glass in response.
…
…
At the same time, in a shop in Yokohama City, a father, son, uncle, and nephew were sitting together and talking about something.
"Sixth brother, are you listening correctly?" A middle-aged man who looked like a scribe said eagerly to another man who looked a little reckless.
"Of course I heard it correctly," the man replied: "It has been spread throughout Jiangsu and Zhejiang. It is said that the last time Governor Fang led the naval fleet to march along the land, he discovered a large piece of land in the east. I don't know if it is a big island or a big island.
Mainland China. His Majesty is very interested in this, and this time he sent His Royal Highness King Xiang to explore the east together with Governor Fang."
"Everyone thinks that there is a possibility of a mainland over there, or at least a large island. Although the fleet sent this time is not large, His Royal Highness King Xiang personally leads it, which shows that the current emperor believes that there is a large area of land to the east.
.The news coming from the capital is vague, but there may be conclusive evidence that there is a continent in the east."
"But third brother, even if there is really a large landmass in the East, it is just an anecdote. Why are you asking this so eagerly?" The man asked again strangely. The remaining young man in the room did not
Look past it.
"Don't you think this is an opportunity?" the middle-aged man said.
"what chance?"
"Let our Yan family get out of the current predicament and even have a chance to rise again." He looked at his son and brother with burning eyes.
This person is a member of the Yan family, named Yan Xiu. The person who just answered is his brother Yan Ren, and the young man is his son Yan Tingjing. At the end of the first year of Jianye, Yan Zhenzhi was sent to prison for being a treason.
, their immediate family members were exiled to the northwest, and those who were further away had their honors revoked and were not allowed to participate in the scientific examination for thirty years. Later, they were expelled from the family by the tribesmen who could still participate in the scientific examination, and their lives were difficult. As a last resort, they borrowed loan sharks to work in Japan.
In business, I was lucky and made a lot of money, and even got involved in loan sharking. In order to look for opportunities to make big money in Japan, Yan Xiu and his son Yan Tingjing have been staying in Yokohama for the past two years and have never returned.
Today Yan Ren shipped a batch of goods from China to Yokohama. Yan Xiu took his son to the dock to transport the goods. He heard other businessmen from China mention this matter. Yan Xiu remembered it in his heart at that time and packed all the goods.
After placing it, Yan Ren was called in to inquire about the matter in detail.
"A continent, even if it only has a few islands, will always have some special products, right? If there really is a land, and the people on this land have never had contact with countries such as the Ming Dynasty, the special products shipped from the local area will definitely be available for the first time.
Sold for sky-high prices! Even if we can only get back one or two kinds of specialties, our family can make a lot of money!"
"And now the imperial court does not restrict merchants from doing business, and even recruits merchants to accompany the army when they go out to buy the trophies obtained by the soldiers. If our family can control a route back to Yokohama from the eastern land, we can make good friends with His Highness the King of Xiang
, you can keep transporting special products back and make a lot of money, just like those land dealers in Nagasaki." Yan Xiu explained again.
After listening to his words, Yan Ren and Yan Tingjing were also moved. Monopolizing a route, even if there was only one specialty, would be extremely profitable. Although the Yan family was out of the dilemma of compound interest at this time, life was still tight.
It's really important.
"But," Yan Ren added, "the risk is too great. Let's hire our own ships to follow the navy, because we don't know whether there is land in the east, and it is estimated that no ship will be willing to go there with us. If we buy one for this
Ship, I heard that the road to the East passes through a very cold land, and ordinary ships cannot pass it. How expensive is this ship? If the trip is in vain or the ship crashes, our family will lose the little capital it has finally saved.
Empty."
"It doesn't use our family's capital, I will pay for it myself." Yan Xiu said.
"Third brother," Yan Ren raised his head and looked at him: "You actually saved such a large sum of money in private, are you worthy of the clan members who still eat bran-thick vegetables in your hometown!"
Hearing this, Yan Xiu hurriedly defended: "Sixth brother, you are thinking the wrong way. I don't have the money to buy a good ship, and I don't plan to buy a ship and follow the navy."
Seeing that Yan Ren wanted to ask another question, he hurriedly explained before his words came out: "Sixth brother, I plan to provide financial support, but it doesn't seem right. Anyway, it is to provide money for this fleet and make them agree to take me and a few people with them."
Let’s go to the East together.”
"I saw it when the fleet was anchored today. They were all men. There was not a single woman. I don't know how long it will take to explore the land in the east. There are no women on the ship."
"Didn't you bring a young woman from China to be a prostitute? I also found a young woman from a Japanese fishing village and dedicated them to the fleet. I then used all the money in my hands to buy necessary items for going to sea.
I just want to donate the goods to the fleet, but I just ask to take me, a businessman, to the East. Do you think they will agree?"
"This," Yan Ren pondered. The Ming Dynasty could recruit merchants to buy trophies during wars. It might not be impossible to let a few merchants go on a ship to explore the East. Anyway, the route is still in the hands of the imperial court. They can just do business along the way.
That's all.
But, "Third brother, this is dangerous."
"Can a business without risk make a lot of money? Only a business with risk like this can make a lot of money. And the investment is not big. Even if it fails, our family will not lose much, so it is worth taking the risk."
"But Third Brother, is your safety in danger?" Yan Ren was moved by him, but he was still worried about Yan Xiu's life. He had a good relationship with Yan Xiu and was not willing for him to risk his own death to do business.
"Yes, father, you have to risk your life! It's better for the son to take the navy's ship in place of his father and go to the East to try his luck." Yan Tingjing also said.
"Compared with the prosperity of the family, my safety is not worth mentioning." Yan Xiu first said to Yan Ren, then turned to his son and said sternly: "No! You are young and energetic and don't know how to tolerate.
If you get into a quarrel with the navy officers on the ship, they will throw you into the sea without even being able to bounce off the waves! You absolutely can't go! Just stay in Yokohama. If not, you can't stay in Yokohama and return to your hometown with the ship!"
"Father!" Yan Tingjing shouted.
"You know what I mean!" Yan Xiu stared at him.
"Okay, even if father and son are talking about business, it should be more harmonious." Yan Ren persuaded him: "Third brother, Ting Jing is doing it for your own good, so don't be so harsh to him: your father is right, you are indeed still a little young.
It is not suitable for you to get on the ship and deal with the soldiers, nor is it suitable for you to stay in Hengbing to take charge of the overall situation. It is better to return to your hometown with the ship and take care of the family business. After a few years of experience, I will let you take charge of it on your own. You can go back to sleep first." He finally said to him.
Yan Tingjing said.
"Yes, Uncle Six." Yan Tingjing agreed. Although he was a little reluctant, he still got up and left the room.
"Third brother, Tingjing is already a grown man. You should be gentler when talking to him," Yan Ren said again.
"My son, why should you speak softly? It's not enough for me to teach my own son! Forget it, let's not talk about him, let's talk about making a lot of money. I can catch up with a guard of the Yongxing Palace, but his status is a bit
"Hey, I'm afraid it will cost too much to spread the word through the layers of people to get through the joints; do you know anyone else who can speak in front of King Xiang, King Yongxing or Governor Fang?" Yan Xiudao.
"Our family caught up with a relative from this fleet who was working at another naval garrison. And when that relative heard that I was coming to Yokohama, he specially asked me to bring a letter from home."
"This is great! Tomorrow we will take the letter from home to open up this relationship." Yan Xiu said very excitedly.
"But, like this," Yan Ren suddenly hesitated again.
"Sixth brother, don't worry, our family will definitely make a lot of money this time!" Yan Xiu said in a very firm voice.
Hearing Yan Xiu's firm voice, Yan Ren couldn't help but nodded slowly.