Walker's merchant ship slowly entered the harbor, and at this time his mood became very good. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 info He's just a businessman who doesn't have much power, he owns a few sea ships and a small chamber of commerce, and he doesn't have any influence on the big guys. For him, it's good to make money, and there's nothing else to think about.

And the young nephew McPherson is in the rebellious period of his youth, not as calm as his uncle. There are always so many injustices, and there is always a desire to change the world.

After entering the port for mooring, Walker greeted the French officials on the dock with a smile. Walker, who came from a well-to-do family, was also well educated from an early age, spoke Latin and French, and read a lot. He chatted with the harbour officer in a half-pleasant manner, and then paid a series of fees, of course, with the usual need for some extra money to fall into the pockets of the harbour master and his colleagues. There is hardly any place in this era that is clean and honest enough, and after the emergence of the Tang Dynasty, the world was particularly surprised to find that it was almost puritanical anti-corruption and honesty. The severity of the punishment for corruption and bribery in the Tang Dynasty is jaw-dropping to Europeans. Of course, this also makes the Tang people have words such as nobility and morality in the hearts of people in many countries and nationalities

After taking the money, the Frenchman was obviously in a better mood, and he asked, "What goods did Mr. Walker bring with him to sell?" Is it a Datang product? ”

This is not surprising, in fact, businessmen in many countries are now reselling Datang goods as their business, and a considerable number of American businessmen directly come to Datang's Florida, Pengzhou and other places to buy Datang goods, and then ship them to Europe or other regions for sale. There are even some American businessmen who buy Datang goods and smuggle them to Canada, which restricts the entry of Datang goods, to make profits.

Walker said: "No, this time, in addition to some furs, crafts and other special products, the main thing is food, do you have a way to introduce it?" ”

When the port officer heard this, his expression became embarrassed, and he said: "Speaking of which, grain is indeed a very scarce thing now, and now those mud-legged people have gone to make revolutions or wars, and there are few honest people who cultivate the land, and many farms are deserted. However, despite the increase in food prices, there is not much shortage of food in France now. ”

Walker was surprised: "Why is that?" ”

The port official explained: "Every month, Datang will come to France by several 10,000-ton ships, transporting a large amount of wheat, corn, soybeans and potatoes, even if all the farmers in France do not farm, I am afraid they will not starve to death." In the past, when prices were not limited to soaring prices and speculation, food prices were very scary. However, when the Jacobins came to power, they immediately killed some grain merchants who were reluctant to sell their warehouses, and stipulated that the price of grain should not exceed the limit. In this way, the local grain merchants did not dare to mess around, and the Tang people supplied a lot of grain, our local grain merchants only bought grain from the Tang Dynasty grain merchants, because the price was relatively cheap, and now the relationship between Tang and France is closer, and the lords of Paris said that they should give priority to the merchants of the Tang Dynasty. Grain merchants are not willing to buy grain at a higher price, because buying it is also storage, and it will not produce any profit. ”

At this moment, Walker was dumbfounded, he thought that the most secure business was the most secure, but he didn't expect to smash the plate. He said with annoyance: "I should have thought that compared to the United States, Datang's agricultural production is more powerful, there is no reason for us to sell grain, they will not sell it." ”

The United States has a superior geographical location, a suitable climate, and good conditions for agricultural development. However, Florida, Pengzhou and Texas in the southeast of the Tang Dynasty are also agricultural areas. The population of the United States is 4 million, and the population of Datang in the three southeastern states (the three new southeastern states, namely Florida, Pengzhou and Texas, and Yuzhou is listed as a maritime state) is also about 4 million, plus more use of large agricultural machinery, so the output is extremely amazing. In order not to overdo the production, almost all farms in the local state of Datang are fallow in rotation, cultivating a part of the land, and diversifying the planting as much as possible to develop more cash crops. But even so, Datang Agriculture's production capacity is in a relatively low state. As a result, only a very small number of new immigrants from the Tang Dynasty will be diverted to agricultural production, because the Tang Dynasty really does not need so many people to farm.

The port officer said another reason: "In the previous food shortage, the British fleet forced the merchant ships outside to not be able to enter, and only the merchant ships of the Tang Dynasty dared to come to France because they had warships to escort them." So they've been selling grain in France for years, and you're only coming now, it's too late. ”

This is also because of the lack of information, and this is not the information age of later generations, and everything is almost instantaneous. Many merchants like Walker do business like gambling, buying a batch of goods and then selling it in another region based on experience or pure luck. Walker also did not know at all in the United States that Datang grain was sold in France, and American journalists did not appear in the category of economic journalists, and would not report such news.

Walker's face turned pale, and McPherson didn't know how to comfort his uncle. Although the food in his hands will not bankrupt Walker, it is enough to break his bones. This time the trade has been almost non-existent, and Walker's assets may have shrunk by at least a third.

McPherson said, "Otherwise, we will sell to other countries, and many countries will be at war." ”

This is a solution, but it may be riskier to go to other countries, and at a time when trade protection is rife, many countries may refuse to allow American merchant ships to enter their ports.

Just after Walker hesitated for two hours, a Datang businessman came to the door. McPherson knew Chinese and naturally acted as a translator for his uncle. The polite Tang merchant briefly expressed his intentions, and then McPherson's expression became strange.

Walker hurriedly asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"This gentleman is a Datang grain merchant who wants to buy our grain," McPherson said. ”

Walker was surprised: "Didn't they sell their own grain, why should they buy our grain?" ”

McPherson inquired for a moment, then said to his uncle, "His offer is very low, so low that we will lose a lot." He did not hide his intentions, he was going to buy our grain and sell it to the French. ”

"What?!"

This is a very simple logic, the French only buy the grain of the Datang grain merchant, and the Datang grain merchant bought Walker's grain, changed hands and sold it to the French at a relatively high price, and made a difference in price without much effort.

"These Tang people are really bad, this is clearly trying to kill us." McPherson said unpleasantly.

Walker gritted his teeth and said, "Sell!" If we don't sell, we will lose even more, and we will empty the holds, and we can also buy other goods, and at least we can make some money when we go back. ”

The two were silent again, each with their own thoughts. Walker's idea is why he is not a businessman of Datang, and with the support of a powerful country, he will definitely be able to make more money. And McPherson's idea is that this world is really unfair, Datang's behavior is despicable and shameful, and he must rebel against her for the sake of the interests of Americans. (To be continued.) )