"Master, there is nothing in this world that cannot be sold. If there is, it can only be because we cannot agree on the price."
Shuan Zhu's words wake up the dreamer.
Yes, there is nothing in this world that cannot be discussed.
No big deal, just add more money.
If the money is in place, Victoria can also take a nap.
According to a secret report from the Guanggan Office, the power of trade with Western countries in Guangdong is actually controlled by the Dutch East India Company, and the British, French, Spanish, Portuguese and other Western merchants are actually three-way traders.
The profits went to the Dutch, a second-rate dealer.
This made businessmen from various countries very dissatisfied with the Dutch East India Company and Guangdong Customs.
Among them, the British gentlemen responded most positively.
In the 22nd year of Qianlong's reign, in addition to Guangdong Customs, the Qing government actually also had Zhejiang Customs, Fujian Customs, and Jiangsu Customs (Jiangsu), that is, four ports for trade.
But that year, Emperor Qianlong issued a sudden decree: "The port is set to be in Guangdong, and foreign ships are allowed to dock and trade in Guangdong."
That is to say, the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian customs are directly closed, and the Guangdong customs is left alone, creating a single port for trade.
The reason why the family of four became one has something to do with the British businessmen.
At the macro level, the great voyages and geographical discoveries of Western countries have created the Western trade system that now spreads all over the world.
In order to pursue profits, Western countries have established countless colonies and trading points around the world. China, a large Eastern country with vast territory and abundant resources, has naturally become a long-coveted trade target of Western countries.
Because Eastern goods are the most popular in Western countries.
However, neither the smuggling of the Ming Dynasty nor the four customs of the Qing Dynasty were far from meeting the needs of Western businessmen pursuing profits.
They are trying to gain more trade power, and more trade points.
At the same time, businessmen from various Western countries also brought ideas, culture and religion that were incompatible with China, which must have disgusted the Tatar rulers who occupied China.
In addition, it was the armed merchant ships of Western countries that aroused the Qing court's vigilance.
Yang Yingju, the former governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, once reported: "Foreign ships are as tall as houses, and they come and go erratically, especially when they are loaded with artillery and equipment, and they gather in the harbor of China."
These armed gunboats, which the Qing army had never seen before, were undoubtedly a huge threat to the Qing army, which did not pay attention to the navy.
"Coastal defense tranquility is above all else" was the basic attitude towards coastal defense in the three dynasties of Kangxi, Yongzong and Qianlong.
In order to deal with Taiwan held by Ming and Zheng, Kangxi even ordered coastal residents to move inward, causing millions of Han people to die in the southeast coast.
On the contrary, they spared no effort in northern Xinjiang, and it took three generations of ancestors and grandsons for hundreds of years to finally conquer Junggar.
This point is completely different from the later Qing Dynasty that emphasized coastal defense and ignored fortification defense.
It was at this critical juncture that a British man named Hong Renhui, a China expert of the British East India Company, arrived at the mouth of Dagu, Tianjin on a small three-tailed ocean ship "Successful".
That is the area where Jia Liu is now.
Probably also the first British ship to reach the northern coast of China.
The purpose of Hong Renhui's journey north to the capital was to go to the Qing court to accuse Guangdong Customs of corruption and extortion and the monopoly trade of Guangdong foreign companies on orders from the British East India Company.
That is to say, he came to file a petition.
Since Hong Renhui self-reported his identity as a fourth-grade British official, and his purpose was to redress his grievances to Beijing, facing such a British official who seemed to have a diplomatic mission, the Qing generals in Dagukou could only report it layer by layer.
When the Qing court accepted this case of foreigners filing a complaint, Hong Renhui submitted a complaint listing seven charges against Guangdong Customs.
At the same time, on behalf of the British East India Company, he proposed that the Qing Dynasty lift the sea ban and realize free trade between the two countries.
The result of the trial was that Li Yongbiao, who was the Guangdong Customs Supervisor at the time, was dismissed from his post for investigation, and Hong Renhui was also deported to Macau for three years for "illegal access to Haikou".
That is to say, each player plays 50 big boards.
Qianlong not only failed to accept the British East India Company's request to expand trade, but directly ordered the closure of the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian customs, leaving only the Guangdong Customs.
Perhaps in Qianlong's eyes, preventing foreign barbarians was more important than making profits from trade. If the Qing Dynasty wanted to survive for ten thousand years, it could not take money from foreign barbarians.
The specific story of this matter was reported to Governor Jia Jia by the prefect Zhu Dawen who came from Tianjin to the industrial park.
At the same time, he told the Governor the inside story, that when Hong Renhui came to Tianjin, Ling Yu, the bannerman of the Tianjin prefecture at the time, sympathized with Hong Renhui, who was blond and blue-eyed but spoke fluent Chinese.
He expressed his willingness to help him go to Beijing to file a petition, but pointed out that this matter was risky, so Hong Renhui must give him five thousand taels of silver as a reward.
After bargaining, the two parties agreed to settle the transaction for 2,500 Spanish silver dollars, giving 2,000 first and 500 after the deal was completed.
Then, Lingyu reported to the court that a fourth-rank official from England came to the capital to redress his grievances.
In fact, Hong Renhui was just an interpreter for the East India Company.
"You see, our banner people still have talents."
After hearing this, Jia Liu said proudly to his left and right, and asked where Lingyu was working now. He was told that he died of illness two years ago, and he couldn't help but feel regretful.
What Zhu Dawen said gave Jia Liu a basic understanding of the current needs of British gentlemen. Combined with the secret report from the Rod Sticking Department, he had a rough idea.
That is, he might be able to get one or even multiple steam engines from British gentlemen without paying a penny, thereby laying the foundation for the industrialization of the Qing Dynasty.
Thinking of this, he looked at Zhu Dawen: "I intend to send people to negotiate with the Yingji East India Company. Would Governor Zhu be willing to go as an envoy? If the negotiation is successful, I will report to the court the great achievements of Governor Zhu and appoint him.
Take the position of Tianjin Customs Road Station."
The magistrate is an official of the fourth rank, and the Daotai is a senior official of the fourth rank.
Although Tianjin is a big city, its oil and water revenue pales in comparison to the Customs and Excise Department.
The position of Guangdong and Guangdong Customs Supervision (also Daotai) is comparable to the Lianghuai Salt Administration and Jiangnan Weaving, and even worse.
For Zhu Dawen, who had been working hard in officialdom for nearly thirty years and still only ranked fourth in rank, it was undoubtedly a piece of cake that fell from the sky, so he excitedly expressed his willingness to lead a delegation on a mission.
"Well, we will make preparations for this matter tomorrow. The relevant traveling personnel will be transferred to you as soon as possible. After you arrive at the English East India Company, you will not only be the plenipotentiary representative of the governor, but also the plenipotentiary representative of our Qing Dynasty. We must not lose our country.
grid"
After some instructions, Jia Liu changed the subject and asked Zhu Dawen to tell the British East India Company that Zhili would fully open the sea ban and set up a Beiyang Trade Affairs Office in Tianjin. The East India Company could directly bypass the supervision of the Guangdong and Guangdong Customs and transfer their
Merchant ships come directly to Tianjin to engage in trade. Not only can they do business, but they can also choose a place in Tianjin to imitate Macau and rent it for them to live as British merchants. If necessary, the governor can also provide him with other British help."
The condition was that the East India Company must provide the Qing Dynasty with a steam engine and no less than five technical personnel, and in addition provide protection and all conveniences for the Qing Dynasty's Western expedition.
After listening to what the Governor said, Zhu Dawen couldn't help but be surprised. If it is extremely rare to allow trade, providing a place of residence seems to be too much.
Jia Liu saw what the other party was thinking and said bluntly: "Are you trying to say that this governor's move is suspected of treason?"
"this"
Zhu Dawen didn't dare to say it directly.
"Being a traitor is a traitor. It doesn't matter. If you don't want to give up your children, you can't trap the wolf. It's okay to make some necessary concessions for the sake of the Qing Dynasty. As for the reputation, I will take the responsibility for it. You just have to do what I ask."
Jia Liu may have been thinking that he would get his wish, that he could finally bring in the great powers.