"Hmmm! Yao'er is right! But it's a bit serious to say that it harbors evil intentions! At most, they used each other to open the way and set up strongholds, collect intelligence, and under the guise of aid, take the opportunity to increase their influence and export cultural ideas, etc., all of which were effective means for these Western colonizers! Hardly surprising! Liu Fan nodded when he heard Zhang Yao's point of view, explained to her, and then continued to ask, "Then Yao'er, what should you do about absolute control?" ”

Zhang Yao suddenly said: "I see! My husband knows a lot! As for absolute control! That's easy to understand! It's our Jiaozhou that has the final say! No matter who these Xiyi people are, they must follow our rules! Eat our food, listen to us! ”

Liu Fan smiled and said, "What Yao'er said is reasonable! Eat our food, you should do what we say! Well! I think that according to this agreement, an article is added, so the Portuguese in Jiaozhou must abide by the laws and customs of the Ming Dynasty. We have the home advantage, as long as we are careful, there is still room to operate! I don't believe that with me, Liu Fan can't suppress a declining Portugal! ”

Zhang Yao covered her mouth and snickered, "Okay, good!" I know you're awesome! That mighty Lord Liu! Isn't it time for you to eat? ”

"Huh!" Liu Fan choked, and faced Zhang Yao to ridicule Liu Fan and sneered, "Eat!" Dine! With that, he picked up the dishes and chopsticks and quickly destroyed the food in front of him.

Zhang Yao saw that Liu Fan had regained his former self-confidence, a smile suddenly bloomed on his face, he watched Liu Fan gobble up with a smile on his cheeks, and took out a handkerchief from time to time to gently wipe the rice grains at the corner of Liu Fan's mouth, and said coquettishly, "Slow down!" And everyone will rob you! What's the hurry! ”

Liu Fan continued to swallow a mouthful of food, and said vaguely, "Yao'er's own cooking is more delicious!" ”

Zhang Yao wrinkled, and said disdainfully, "Hmph! You know what sounds good! ”

The next morning, in the garrison mansion, Liu Fan invited Sun Yuanhua to accompany him, and summoned Jia Xiuli, Bai Laila and others and said, "The official and the prefect have already read the agreement on trade!" Your request has been basically approved by the official and the prefect! But there is one thing that must be informed to you, we only represent Jiaozhou, and other places in the Ming Dynasty do not belong to the scope of discussion between you and me, and the prefect proposed that the authority of my Ming must be maintained, in addition to the original agreement, there must be an additional article, all Portuguese merchants who come to my Ming must abide by the laws and customs of the Ming Dynasty, and must not use malicious means to conduct commercial competition, and must not suppress local merchants, Jiaozhou has the right to supervise commodity prices, and can stabilize prices when necessary. Maintain the balance of interests in the Jiaozhou market! If you agree to this, the agreement can be signed! If you don't agree! Just when I didn't say it! The previous agreement is null and void! ”

Jia Xiuli was shocked and asked anxiously, "General! We have already handed over the jurisdiction of the original agreement to you, why should we attach another clause? And the pricing power of this commodity should be left to the market! I'm afraid that the general's forcible intervention will cause chaos in the market! We can't agree to this! ”

Liu Fan's face was a little unhappy when he heard this, and he frowned and said, "We are just supervising!" I don't usually meddle in the affairs of businessmen! Are you questioning my character? And I haven't talked about tariffs yet! Macau's geographical location in the south is not very good, and with our Shandong conditions, we will not go anywhere in the next 10 years! The trade side is all for you! It seems that the tariff matter is going to be reconsidered! ”

Liu Fan's words poked at the key point of Jia Xiuli, the reason why Jia Xiuli paid such a big price is not for any exchange, to be honest, Portugal has been operating in Macao for so long, and it has long had its own purchase and sales channels in the south, but wants to establish a stable business relationship with Liu Fan, open the market in the north of the Ming Dynasty, and make huge profits from it. The problem of tariffs is really his dead end, once Liu Fan wantonly raises too high tariff prices, then all their efforts will be in vain! Moreover, Portugal is now seeking independence, and the success of this trade is related to the future of all Portuguese, and he cannot afford to think about it!

Jia Xiuli's face changed, and he waited for a long time before gritting his teeth and saying, "Okay!" We agreed to the general's conditions! But we also have one condition, that is, we must participate in the pricing of tariffs, and you cannot arbitrarily increase the price of tariffs! Both sides must negotiate a settlement! Otherwise, I would not be able to explain it to the Governor! ”

Liu Fan had a toothache when he heard this, but in fact, he didn't want to talk about tariffs, what are tariffs? That is a symbol of a country's sovereignty, and a country that loses its tariffs is not a completed sovereign state! Just look at the situation of the late Qing government! How miserable it will be once you lose tariffs! But Liu Fan can't help it! If you don't mention it, you can't do it In the south, most of the maritime merchants are smugglers, and even a large part of them are half-merchants and half-bandits. Taking Jiangnan City as an example, the annual tax revenue is only more than 10,000 taels of silver! Nima! It's no different than nothing! Look at Zheng Zhilong, a pirate leader, whose forces only cover Fujian and Guangdong provinces, and his annual income from protection fees alone is more than 10 million taels! What if Portugal also learned from those maritime merchants in the south? Liu Fan has to guard against it! You say they don't know? Have those people been in vain for decades? And Daming's business tax is outrageously low, how much? Thirty taxes one? If you do it according to the tax law of the Ming Dynasty, Liu Fan will pay to his grandmother's house!

Thinking of this, Liu Fan's eyes sharpened, and he said in a deep voice: "The matter of tariffs cannot be changed!" It has to be our decision! But I'm not an unreasonable person, since the two sides are business cooperation, then everything can be flexible, so be it! I allow you to participate and supervise the whole process of tariffs, but you only have the right to suggest! There is no decision! We are a cooperative, not a defeated country! Don't use your colonial set on my Da Ming! You don't have that qualifications yet! Got it? ”

Seeing Liu Fan so resolute, Jia Xiuli knew in his heart that this was Liu Fan's limit! After carefully considering the gains and losses, Jia Xiuli could only nod helplessly, "Okay!" Just do as the Shogun says! ”

Liu Fan's face turned bright, haha, stood up, stepped forward to shake hands with Jia Xiuli and said, "Okay!" Then I wish us a happy cooperation! ”

"Happy working together!" Jia Xiuli held Liu Fan's hand and smiled helplessly. )