Hirado is an unusually prosperous place, an incredibly cosmopolitan port. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

Here are merchants and merchant ships from different countries, as well as a wealth of products and treasures transported from different countries.

There are all kinds of exotic goods from the western lands, all kinds of rich local products from Southeast Asian countries, and countless precious items from a neighboring eastern country that merchants regarded as treasures.

That great country has a long and glorious history, a glorious and endless civilization, a precious and diverse product, and a resolute and wise people.

Official and private cultural exchanges and maritime trade between the two countries have also continued for a long time...... Until a certain war more than a dozen years ago.

Since that war, all trade ties between the two countries have been severed on the surface.

"This is undoubtedly a huge loss for our daybook."

Whether it was when he studied this history in the past, or when he came into contact with this history in person now, Xiuguang has never changed this opinion, and has always cherished infinite regrets and reveries about it.

If Xiuguang is asked to judge the war, then he will undoubtedly look at it with the objective eyes of modern people.

In that war, which outweighed the losses, all sides suffered countless losses, leaving themselves poor and weak. The most important loss for the Toyotomi family and the entire country of Hinomoto was the loss of the wealth of trade with that great power, and the loss of a large amount of money and manpower. These factors eventually led indirectly to the demise of the Toyotomi family.

It's really a war that doesn't outweigh the losses, and for both sides...... Or rather, all three.

So, it's a really amazing thing.

With Xiuguang's age and experience, he may not be qualified to judge this war too much. However, he believes that perhaps it is precisely because he can observe this war and this period of history from the outside as a modern person that he can see more comprehensively and analyze more thoroughly than some people in the current situation at that time.

……

……

"Xiuzong, what do you think is the most profitable thing to do?"

The next morning, after discussing with Nagasaki Daikan Murayama and others, Hidemitsu caught Hidemune and asked him this question.

"W-What...... Commerce? ”

There are also some sleepy-eyed Xiuzong who are a little confused.

"That's right, business. So, in business, which countries do we trade with the most profitable? ”

"Uh...... Your Highness, why do you ask me why a samurai who has never studied business is doing...... Those countries in the West? There is also Lu ...... Is it called Luzon? I've heard that trade is quite prosperous on that side. ”

Although he doesn't know anything about business at all, Xiuzong still gave a few answers.

"Well, yes, yes, Hyogoro is still pretty good. But there's another very important country you're missing. ”

"Forehead ......"

Xiuzong squeezed his eyebrows and looked at him for a long time, but he still couldn't think of it.

"It's Da Ming."

At this time, the Xiujia next to him took over.

"Daming is rich in products, and has a long history of trade and exchanges with us."

"That's right. The Xiu family knows a lot. ”

"Hmm. After all, I've known about these things before...... And there was a war with that side. ”

Xiujia was also involved in that war. But Hidemitsu wasn't going to talk too much about the war.

"Then Lord Xiujia should naturally also know that since then, Da Ming has severed official trade ties with us."

"yes. Well...... After all, it was after the war. ”

Xiujia nodded, and it was also difficult to speak.

"Well, anyway, the current situation is ...... We have lost our trade channels with the Ming Dynasty. This is a very serious matter. At least in my eyes. ”

Hidemitsu grabbed the somewhat drowsy Xiuzong's ears and dragged him up from the ground.

"Trade is the source of wealth, an important factor in the strength of the country and power, and it is what we need most now."

Xiuzong sat up from the ground with some dissatisfaction:

"Your Highness...... Don't we all have trade channels on the Murayama side now, as well as trade channels with Kamiya and Shimaiya...... Why do you have to get so many channels......"

"Not enough, not enough."

Xiuguang twisted his eyebrows, calculating in his heart,

"Do you think that relying only on the trade channels with Kamiya and Murayama will be enough for us to defend against the Tokugawa family?"

"Uh...... I don't really understand these things, Your Highness. ”

"We need to accumulate more wealth and capital in order to have enough power to defend against the Tokugawa family. Since that war, how much financial and human resources the Toyotomi family has lost, these are the things that need to be made up for the most. ”

This is something that Xiuguang is thinking about right now.

"Ming porcelain, silk, tea, cane sugar and a wide variety of commodities are very valuable commodities, and they are also important commodities for accumulating money and power."

"That's right. There is no shortage of trade channels. His Royal Highness Taiko has often mentioned these things to me in the past. ”

Xiujia thought about it, and then felt that there were still some problems,

"Lord Xiuguang, now that the Ming officials have stopped trading with us, it is not easy for us to obtain trade with the Ming Dynasty again. Not to mention that the Ming court would not agree, and the Tokugawa family would not be able to sit idly by and watch us resume trade. Moreover, all of this requires very formal and official negotiations, which we can't do now. ”

Xiujia's suspicion is very reasonable.

"Lord Xiujia, you're right. It's just ......."

Xiuguang smiled and looked out the window. The harbor of Hirado is clearly visible.

"We don't necessarily need formal channels......

“…… Not necessarily required? ”

"How can you trade without formal channels......"

Xiujia raised his eyebrows in confusion. And Xiuzong continued to look confused.

"That's right. The Hideke knew that official trade was now almost impossible. However, since then, there has been a lot of private trade between the Ming Dynasty and this side. ”

This is also known as the "smuggling trade".

After listening to this, Xiujia opened his mouth wide and gently tapped his palm:

"That's right! Indeed, there is still a lot of smuggling trade today. ”

"I've already asked some of the Wind Devils to investigate the smuggling trade on Hirado's side beforehand. So now is the time to act. ”

This is the last important thing on the trip to Kyushu. It is also the most important thing that Xiuguang feels.

"Someone who lives in Hirado right now is the one we're looking for."