In ancient times, when there were no modern mining machinery, mining, beneficiation and smelting were completely dependent on manpower. Therefore, in areas with many people, the more convenient it is to develop mineral resources.

Why were prices cheap in China and India in ancient times? Because the two countries have abundant human resources! For example, in a deserted place like Siberia, even if a super large mine is discovered in this era, it is not possible to mine it. Without him, there is no one in the area!

In ancient China and India, once a large ore vein was discovered, tens of thousands of coolies could be mobilized to mine, beneficiate and smelt. Therefore, in general, the prices in ancient China and India were much cheaper than in Europe.

However, Japan is an exception. Japan is very rich in human resources, with a population of 17 million in this era, 2 million more than France. However, Japan is poor in mineral resources, and although it has a large number of cheap labor, the country is not very rich in mineral resources. So, the price is quite high.

Of course, that was because the Japanese prospecting technology in this era was relatively poor, and large-scale minerals could not be discovered. Later, with the discovery of super mines such as Iwami Silver Mine and Ashio Copper Mountain, Japan became rich in money for a short period of time. Needless to say, the silver produced by Iwami Silver Mountain is the world's currency, so it's amazing. Copper from Ashio Copper Mountain, which was discovered only in the 17th century, is also very popular.

During the Tokugawa shogunate, the Edo shogunate was able to use a large amount of copper from Ashio Copper Mountain to cast "Kanei Tsuho", but it was also able to export large quantities.

In the 17th century, the price of copper in Europe fell from 15 to 1 to about 44 to 1 because of the huge production of copper in Sweden. But as the Dutch brought copper back to Japan from Japan, the price of copper fell directly to more than 80 to 1 copper-silver ratio, which was fully doubled. In this way, the Dutch also made huge profits.

At that time, not only did the Dutch bring Japanese copper back to Europe for sale, but the Qing Dynasty, when it was first established, also relied on importing blister copper from Japan to mint copper coins.

In addition, at that time, Southeast Asia also relied on copper imports from Japan, which was used to mint its own currency, and even used to cast cannons......

It can be seen how large Japan's copper production at that time was not only able to meet domestic demand, but also exported in large quantities to Europe, the Qing Dynasty and Southeast Asia. At that time, the most famous copper mine in Japan was probably Ashio Copper Mountain.

At that time, the annual output of Ashio Copper Mountain reached 1,200 tons, that is, 2.4 million catties, and if it was cast into a small copper coin of about 3.5 grams, it could cast more than 340 million pieces. According to the calculation that 1,000 wen is equivalent to 1 tael of silver, it can be worth about 343,000 taels of silver.

And Ma Lin, a history student, has read history and knows that during the heyday of the Qing Dynasty, the annual output of copper was only more than 10 million catties. At that time, the copper of the Qing Dynasty almost relied heavily on Yunnan copper produced in Yunnan, and the proportion of Yunnan copper in the entire Qing Dynasty once reached 95%. Of course, this is the data of the Qianlong period. At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, during the Kangxi period, it still relied on copper imported from Japan......

"yes, how did I forget about Yunnan copper?" Marin patted his head and thought of what the problem was.

A big difference between the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty is that the Qing Dynasty developed Yunnan copper in Yunnan, so it no longer relied on imported copper in the middle and later periods. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, it was very dependent on Japanese copper.

Ma Lin remembered a paper he had read by chance in his previous life, saying that during the Ming Dynasty, Yunnan's copper production in Yunnan was not taken seriously, and the annual output at that time was only a hundred thousand catties, which was not very important. However, since the Qing Dynasty defeated Wu Sangui and took control of Yunnan, in view of the fact that, like the Ming Dynasty, there was also a serious shortage of copper coinage, so it vigorously developed the copper mines in Yunnan. By the Qianlong period, the annual output of Yunnan copper in Yunnan had reached more than 10 million catties, accounting for most of the country's output.

That is to say, the Ming and Qing dynasties were also short of copper at the beginning, but the Qing Dynasty later alleviated the shortage of copper through the development of Yunnan copper. It is said that the copper coins of the Qing Dynasty at that time were basically cast with Yunnan copper. At that time, several large copper mines such as Dongchuan in Yunnan almost became the treasury of the Qing Dynasty......

The Ming Dynasty was more miserable, because Yunnan copper was not developed, so there was a serious shortage of copper in the country. Fortunately in the early days, because there were treasure banknotes on the top, it could also alleviate the need for copper coins. In the middle and late periods, with the abolition of treasure banknotes and the high development of the economy, there was a huge shortage of copper. Fortunately, it happened that the Europeans sent a large amount of silver, which relieved the pressure of the lack of currency in the Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, the Ming Dynasty would have had a serious money shortage.

It was also Marin's bad luck that he happened to meet the Zhengde Dynasty. At this time, the Ming Dynasty court was discussing the abolition of treasure banknotes. And once the treasure money is abolished, then the Ming Empire can only rely on copper coins as the main currency. At that time, you will find a very, very short of copper. Even now, the Ming cabinet has also discovered the lack of copper. Therefore, a warning was issued for Kong Tai to collect a large amount of copper.

If you want to continue to import cheap copper from Daming, unless, Daming is not short of copper......

"Do you want to tell the Ming Dynasty about the potential of Yunnan copper?" Marin fell into deep thought......

To be honest, as a college student with both history and geography in later generations, Ma Lin not only knew the important historical position of Yunnan copper in the Qing Dynasty, but also knew about another super copper mine, Dexing Copper Mine.

The Dexing Copper Mine was one of the largest copper mines in China in later generations, and, most importantly, it was an open-pit mine! I don't know how the ancients did it, but they actually missed such a large copper mine, and there was a special shortage of copper......

Ma Lin remembered that the Dexing Copper Mine seemed to be in the area of Guanmao Mountain in the northeast of Dexing City, at the junction of Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces......

"No wonder......" Thinking of this, Marin suddenly realized......

After all, it is the junction of the three provinces, and it must be a remote mountainous area, so it is no wonder that the Dexing copper mine was not discovered in time. If it is located in an area with convenient transportation, such as Tongling in Anhui Province, this kind of riverside area has long been discovered.

Dexing Copper Mine, which is a super large mine with copper metal reserves of more than 10 million tons, has a copper output of more than 100,000 tons a year in later generations, which is very scary.

If, the Ming Dynasty developed the Dexing copper mine...... It is estimated that the financial problems will be greatly alleviated...... After all, copper meant money in ancient times......

With the money, the Ming Empire will definitely not collapse so quickly. As long as the Dexing Copper Mine and the Dongchuan Copper Mine, the main force of Yunnan copper in the Manchu Dynasty, are developed, the Ming Dynasty will not be short of money at all. What the? The household department has no money? Dig copper coinage! Mint a few hundred million more coins and you're done......

Moreover, the Ming Empire is not afraid of more money at all. Because, the money of the Ming Dynasty itself was seriously lacking and insufficient. With two major copper mines as the base, the economy of the Ming Dynasty could be stabilized.

"But what's in it for me?" Marin fell into deep thought......

After thinking about it for a long time, Ma Lin still decided to help the Ming Dynasty. However, Dongchuan Copper Mine and Dexing Copper Mine, he only planned to tell the Ming Dynasty one. Because, if the Ming Dynasty is too rich, Ma Lin is also very stressed......

After thinking about it, Ma Lin finally decided to tell the Ming Dynasty about the Dexing Copper Mine and temporarily conceal the Dongchuan Copper Mine. Because, even if the Ming Dynasty was told the reserves of the Dongchuan copper mine, it would be very difficult to develop there. After all, the Dongchuan Copper Mine is located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, which is extremely inconvenient for external transportation. Even if the copper is produced, it will be troublesome to transport. Didn't you see that the development of Yunnan copper began during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, and it was not until the Qianlong period that it was able to meet the domestic demand?

Dexing Copper Mine is different, it is located at the junction of Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. This place, close to the southeast region of the most core of Daming, is rich in human resources and has convenient transportation. As long as you go out of the Shangrao Mountains, you will soon be able to reach the Yangtze River to the north, which is very easy to develop. In this way, the Ming Dynasty wanted to develop the Dexing copper mine, and the effect would soon be seen. Unlike the development of Yunnan copper, it will take many years just to build the road to Yunnan. Moreover, the southwest region of the Ming Dynasty was unstable, and a huge copper mine was developed, and the ghost knows if it would jump out of a toast to seize the copper mine.

Therefore, it is better to let Daming develop the Dexing copper mine close to the southeast core area. And once the crisis of copper shortage in the Ming Empire was alleviated, Marin could smoothly purchase a large amount of cheap copper from the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, it is more effective than the development of Japan's Ashio Copper Mountain.

Because, Japan is now torn apart. And the order country to which Ashio Copper Mountain belongs, Shimono Province, does not seem to be strong. Even if Marin had informed him of the existence of the Ashio Copper Mountain, the small country would not have been able to develop it immediately.

The Ming Empire is different, this empire certainly has various problems, and its enforceability is definitely strong enough. Perhaps in regions such as the southwest and Saibei, the Ming Empire did not have enough control. However, in the Dexing copper mine near the core area of the southeast, as long as the Ming Empire is ruthless, it will definitely be able to develop it quickly. Personnel and funds, the Ming Dynasty is not lacking. As long as it erupts, copper can be produced in a short period of time. When the time comes, Marin can also benefit.

In addition, providing information on the German copper mine can also be regarded as a great contribution to the Ming Dynasty and can increase the favorability of the Ming court. When the time comes, it will be much easier to do other things.

As for Ashio Copper Mountain...... Marin thought about it, but decided to notify Shimono Province and let them develop it first. With the strength of the following wild country, the copper mountain will be developed, and the devil knows how many years. And when they developed the copper mountain, the liver Fu Nobunaga almost grew up, just right, swallowing this copper mountain......

In other words, the existence of the Dexing copper mine, which ruled the Ming Dynasty, could allow Marin to get enough cheap copper in a short period of time. As for the Ashio Copper Mountain, Marin is only using it as a future profit point now. Anyway, as long as the Ming Empire develops the world-class copper mine of Dexing Copper Mine, whether it is the Ming Dynasty itself or Marin, there will be no shortage of cheap copper in a short time. When the time comes, Marin can completely take the silver and come to Daming in exchange for cheap copper for ships. Then, cast into a 12-pounder Napoleonic cannon, it was shown in Europe. And other European countries, because it is difficult to get in touch with the Ming Court, can only watch Marin, a big dog, show off more copper......