Fenghou

The first thousand and 330 chapters of the establishment

Hundreds of people are moving heavy boxes from the big boats to the pier. There are already nearly a hundred large boxes on the pier, and each big box weighs two hundred catties.

Chao Kun ordered the soldiers to open a box. Inside were pieces of blackened silver ingots, each weighing up to ten catties, which seemed to be of relatively rough quality.

"Is it coarse silver?" Chen Qing frowned.

"Reporting to Your Highness, their silver refining skills are not good, they are all crude silver!"

"That's not actually 80 taels of silver?"

"no no!"

Chao Kun quickly waved his hand and said, "80 taels is the amount of fine silver. We have estimated that one catty of rough silver can be refined to about 14 taels of fine silver, and two taels are waste residue. The other party also admitted that, so the rough silver we got totaled There are 96 taels, a total of [-] catties."

"This business is doing well!"

Chen Qing was very satisfied, and exchanged pig iron for silver, and their piles of old soldiers were also sold.

"What's this?" Chen Qing walked to a dozen or so smaller boxes.

"This is gold, all of which are gold sand. There are a total of 3 taels. If there are a few big names who don't have enough silver, they will pay with gold sand. The ratio is one to three."

Chen Qing nodded, "And then? Besides silver and gold, did you buy any other goods?"

Chao Kun said with a wry smile: "Japan is still really poor, and there are no special products, or some worthless bamboo, wood, and poor quality cloth. The price of rice is more expensive than that of Jiangnan. The only useful thing is dried fish. They are very big, and there are also pearls, conchs, etc., but there are not many expensive ones, so the humble fleet had to come back with dried fish, one penny a piece, very cheap, and bought all the dried fish they had accumulated for two years .”

"Dried fish is also good. It can improve the soldiers' food. It's better than returning with an empty boat!"

Chen Qing asked again with a smile: "Where are the pirates? With so much silver and gold, aren't pirates greedy?"

"We have three warships escorting us. We tested an iron fire mine in the seaport of Hizen country, and it blew up an old ship. Over pirates."

Chen Qing couldn't help laughing, the pirates also knew that life was more important than silver.

Chao Kun waved his hand, and the soldiers brought up two smaller boxes, Chao Kun said: "This is some treasures presented to His Highness."

"What treasure?"

Chao Kun opened the box, and inside was a box of precious conch shells, and a small box. Chen Qing picked up the small box and opened it, and the treasure was shining brightly. Inside were twenty pearls the size of longan. thing.

"Where is this box?" Chen Qing pointed to another slightly larger box and asked.

"This is a treasure I got by accident. A fisherman sold it to us for only twenty pennies."

Opening the box, there were several large pieces of black-painted jelly, weighing a total of one hundred and fifty to sixty kilograms. Chen Qing sniffed it, crushed it a little bit, and shouted back, "Old Zhou, your baby is here!" Already!"

"What baby?"

Zhou Kuan was looking at the fineness of the gold sand, but his ears were pricked up. He hurried over, looked down at the colored jelly, and his expression changed, "Amberx!"

"That's right! I've never seen such a big ambergris!"

Zhou Kuan gasped, "It's rare to find ambergris weighing twenty catties. The largest piece weighs over a hundred catties. These pieces are not small. How much does it weigh?"

"Report to Counselor Zhou, a total of 160 four catties!"

Zhou Kuan likes spices, he rubbed his hands and smiled and said, "I don't want too much, just give me a catty and I'll be satisfied."

"You have your share!"

Chen Qing said to the soldiers: "Send it to Tianxiang Pavilion, let Tianxiang Pavilion cut it into small pieces, put it in a box by two, and then send it to my house."

"Your Highness wants to reward the officials?" Zhou Kuan came to his senses.

Chen Qing nodded, he took another largest conch and handed it to Zhou Kuan, "This is for your grandson!"

"Your Highness, I have two grandsons!" Zhou Kuan said with a cheeky smile.

Chen Qing had no choice but to take another big one for him.

"Let me cut another catty of ambergris, and I don't care about the rest."

Chen Qing picked up a palm-sized piece of ambergris from the bottom of the box and handed it to him, "This is enough, at least two catties!"

Zhou Kuan was overjoyed, and went to see his Jinsha again with ambergris and conch.

Chen Qing then asked his soldiers to carry the ambergris to Tianxiang Pavilion. Tianxiang Pavilion is a government-run shop that specializes in selling Nanyang spices, and also sells ambergris.

……

In the afternoon of that day, Chen Qing held a meeting in the Internal Affairs Hall. In the large courtyard of the Internal Affairs Hall, more than [-] large boxes filled the yard, and all the lids of the boxes were opened.

The counselors and the main officials of various departments also visited together. They heard that this was silver exchanged for 50 catties of pig iron and a batch of old soldiers. The officials were all amazed. A hoe weighing a few catties only costs a few hundred renminbi, including the blacksmith's wages.

Calculated from this trip to Japan, the huge profit is almost a hundred times, and there are 3 taels of gold sand. This trade is really cost-effective!

In the conference hall, five counselors discussed with Chen Qing the establishment of the Foreign Trade Administration. Chen Qing said to everyone: "Everyone has seen the huge profits from overseas trade. This is an important shortcut to solve our financial shortage. Let’s talk about the establishment of an overseas trade agency!”

Zhou Kuan said with a smile: "The Financial Secretary is firmly supportive. This time, the 5 catties of crude silver can be refined to more than 80 catties, which is equivalent to 400 taels of silver, and [-] million guan. We can do many things. The old man has never been so comfortable."

Jiang Yanxian also said with a smile: "Actually, we all agree with the establishment of the Overseas Trade Agency. There is no harm, but we have to think clearly about what can be sold and what is prohibited. We need to make a regulation and then continue to revise it according to practice. , and finally formed a law."

"Counselor Jiang is right!"

Zhang Miao also said: "The Ministry of Officials considers the staffing and how to select excellent talents. You can set up an overseas business department in the department to select outstanding talents, but the most urgent thing is to build a framework."

Chen Qing nodded, looked at Zhang Xiao again, and said with a smile: "Overseas trade, the military department is also on the scene!"

Zhang Xiaowei smiled and said: "Your Highness refers to the escort, there is no problem with that, but I have another idea!"

"Chan Zhang, please tell me!"

Zhang Xiao said calmly: "Overseas trade is actually a part of foreign trade. In addition, there is also land foreign trade. We have been doing it all the time, but it always feels relatively loose. There is no complete law or system to manage it. When the commercial tax was exempted in [-], the Sogdians and Hu merchants from the Western Regions were also exempted. They made a lot of profits.

What I mean is, take advantage of this opportunity to establish all kinds of foreign trade systems, not only official, but also private, how much tax should be collected, who will be responsible, etc., should be clarified together. "

Lu Qingshan also said slowly: "Counselor Zhang is right. I also think that a trade supervisor should be set up, with a domestic department, an overseas department, and a foreign land department. The Municipal Shipping Administration is enough, and in addition to promulgating the catalog of prohibited items, which strategic items are strictly prohibited from being exported to mainland and overseas, such as silkworm eggs, spinning wheels, textile craftsmen, porcelain craftsmen, etc. As for weapons, pig iron, etc., overseas You can go out, but not on land."

Lu Qingshan is worthy of being a minister of the court, and his views and thinking are higher. If he doesn't say it, everyone is unaware that the export of silkworm eggs should be strictly prohibited.

Chen Qing nodded, and said to Jiang Yanxian: "Counselor Jiang will take the lead in this matter. People from each department will form a preparatory team to prepare for the establishment of a trade supervisor."

The first thousand and 330 chapter two emotional intelligence

The crowd dispersed, Jiang Yanxian came to Chen Qing's official room, Chen Qing invited him to sit down, and said to him: "Everyone is just expressing their attitude today, and the specific terms need to be formulated by the preparatory group. Let them do things. You just need to grasp one direction.”

Jiang Yanxian nodded, "It takes people to do things. First of all, it's a human problem. Has Your Highness considered the candidate for the Chief Trade Supervisor?"

Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said, "What do you think of Zheng Tongquan?"

"Zheng Tongquan is a businessman!"

Just after Jiang Yanxian finished speaking, he laughed again, "There is really no one more suitable than him to be in charge of trade."

Chen Qing said indifferently: "Zheng Tongquan is not an ordinary businessman, he is very courageous, he was a big medicine merchant in Hejian Prefecture in his early years, he actually redeemed Queen Zheng's mother and daughter in Liaodong, and brought them back to Hejian at the risk of beheading Then they were sent to Lin’an by boat, and he was named the uncle of the country. He not only showed kindness to me, but also to our Prince Yong’s mansion. It is my long-cherished wish to give him a suitable position.”

"I have no objection to Zheng Tongquan. In fact, to be a trade supervisor, you must have enough experience in trade. We can't find such a person in the Yong Palace. Chao Kun is not bad, but he is too young and his qualifications are far behind. , Zheng Tongquan is indeed the most suitable candidate."

"Speaking of Chao Kun, I'm considering letting him be the overseas secretary."

Jiang Yanxian frowned slightly, "He seems to be only 26 years old! Isn't he a little too young?"

Chen Qing shook his head and said: "Overseas trade must also have enough experience. I don't worry about letting an official who has never been to sea and can't tell the difference between the southeast and the north be in charge of the overseas department. Chao Kun went to sea when he was a teenager. After being a Jinshi, he practiced in Quanzhou for another six years, and was promoted to be a judge of the Ship Supervisor. This is already a sixth-rank official. He has been able to be the chief trade supervisor for six or seven years, and it is time for Chao Kun to take over from him."

Jiang Yan first knew that Chen Qing had made up his mind, so he stopped persuading him and said, "Where are the other officials?"

"For other officials, Chiang Kai-shek and Zheng Tongquan will negotiate with the Ministry of Officials to find suitable candidates, and then show me the list."

"I understand. There is also the government office. Your Highness needs to find a suitable place."

Chen Qing said with a smile: "The official office of the Trade Supervision is the old official office of the Military Department. It takes up a lot of land, so it should be tidied up. It was originally planned to be given to the Supervision Department, but the Supervision Department has a new place. They are no longer needed. They are just for trade It will be used by the supervisor, and then the Overseas Trade Administration will put it in Quanzhou."

"Humble job, go talk to Mr. Zheng."

"Alright! Let him have a mental preparation, and I'll talk to him later."

……

In the evening, Chen Qing returned to the mansion and took a boat to Qifeng Pavilion on the island. In summer, his family lived in Qifeng Pavilion. Qifeng Pavilion occupies a large area. It is not a simple seven-story pavilion. In addition to the main attic, there is a circle of two-story annex buildings around it, and the maids can live in the annex buildings.

Two healthy women carried a large box full of conch in the living room, and the two daughters with the sharpest noses came first.

"Daddy, what a good thing is this!" Bing'er blinked her big bright eyes twice and asked.

"It's all your favorite baby!"

Chen Qing lifted the lid, and the two daughters jumped up happily, "Ah! It's a conch!"

Lu Xiu came with a few sisters after hearing the news, Bing'er pulled her mother excitedly and said, "Mother, there are so many beautiful conchs!"

Lu Xiu stepped forward and took a look. The box was full of colorful conch shells. She also had eyesight, so she knew that these were very valuable conch shells.

"I once saw conch shells like this in a jewelry store in Lin'an. The quality is not as good as this one. One can be sold for hundreds of shells, and one in a box can cost at least a thousand shells."

"It's so expensive!" Yu Lian exclaimed.

Lu Xiu said lightly: "Who is this high-ranking official in front of you, His Royal Highness King Yong, who has power all over the world, can the things he brings out be ordinary?"

Chen Qing smiled and said: "This is a batch of high-end goods specially brought in for me by the caravan that went to Japan. I don't know much about this, so I leave it to Madam."

"and this!"

Chen Qing handed the small box to his wife, Lu Xiu took it and said with a smile: "I guess this is the treasure, the smaller the more treasure!"

"Sister, what is it?" Everyone gathered around.

Lu Xiu gently pulled out the upper cover, and suddenly the precious light radiated, and twenty crystal clear beads were neatly placed on the yellow satin cloth.

Everyone suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! It's so beautiful."

Rao has seen many treasures of Lu embroidery, and was deeply attracted by these twenty beads.

Lu Xiu thought about making it into a string of necklaces, but the idea just passed by in a flash. Her husband had already given her a luminous pearl, so she couldn't be too greedy. relationship between.

Thinking of this, Lu Xiu smiled and said, "Each of you choose one, and I will take one too, and put the rest into the treasury."

"Mom, we want one too!" The two little ladies jumped anxiously.

Lu Xiu patted the child's face and smiled, "When you grow up, Daddy will give it to you. Now go play with conch shells."

The two little ladies pouted and went to play with the conch helplessly.

Everyone took six of them, and there were fourteen left. Lu Xiu put them back into the box and handed them to her husband, smiling, "Put the rest in the treasury!"

Every monarch has his own treasury, and Chen Qing is no exception. His treasury is located underground, built with large bluestones, and it is extremely strong. The formula and production blueprint of Iron Fire Thunder are stored in the treasury.

Chen Qing took the box and went to his study. His study is located on the third floor. The first floor is the lobby, the second floor is the passage and dining hall, the third floor is the study and living room, and the fourth and fifth floors are everyone's bedrooms. The sixth floor is currently closed, and the seventh floor is the security floor, where the female guards come and go.

Chen Qing went to his study, Yao Mei made tea for him, Chen Qing sat down and thought for a while, "Go and invite Madam!"

Yao Mei hurriedly went, and not long after, Lu Xiu walked into her husband's room with a smile, "What does your husband want me for?"

Chen Qing pushed the box on the table to her and said with a smile: "There are fourteen here, plus the one in your hand, fifteen can just make a string of necklaces."

Chen Qing knew his wife very well. He saw Lu Xiu's love for beads, and he also knew that she had always wanted to find a string of good pearl necklaces.

As expected, Lu Xiu was very happy. She took out her own bead and put it around. There was a trace of regret in her eyes. It was a little smaller, and it would be just right if there was another one.

Yao Mei quietly took out her own beads and put them on the table, there were exactly sixteen beads, Lu Xiu was startled, "Amei, these are yours."

"Ma'am, I really don't need this bead. Everyone should take one. I don't want to take it."

Lu Xiu was overjoyed, and quickly smiled and said, "I'll give you a piece of high-quality mutton fat jade later, and I guarantee that the value will not be lower than pearls."

Yao Mei bowed obediently, "Mrs. Xie!"

Chen Qing glanced at Yao Mei approvingly, no wonder Lu Xiu likes this girl, she really has a high EQ and is very smart, who wouldn't like such a sensible woman.

Lu Xiu put the beads on it, which happened to be a necklace of sixteen. Of course, the beads are not punched, but inlaid with gold, which will be more crystal clear.

"Let me inlay it for you!"

Lu Xiu put the box away and said with a smile: "No need, let the housekeeper go to make an appointment with the chief steward of Jubaotang tomorrow, and let their store inlay it for me."

"That's fine, the bead inlay in Jubaotang is a must."

Lu Xiu put away the beads and left, and Yao Mei obediently followed her to the living room.

Chen Qing turned his attention back to court affairs. What he cared most about was overseas trade talents. Historically, the Southern Song Dynasty's overseas trade was extremely prosperous, and the profits supported half of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Not only the Nanyang Islands, but also Dashi and the more distant western world.

Chen Qing also thought of New Zealand and Australia. These two vast lands are clearly in front of the Eastern Empire, but they are cheaper than the distant Angsa people. It has to be said that it is the biggest regret of the millennium.

He must seize this opportunity. Occupying new land requires a large population. The population needs food, and the food needs new high-yield species, such as potatoes and sweet potatoes.