……

The Han Dynasty's military campaign against Nanao was proceeding in an orderly manner, and the situation in Nanyang became more and more tense, and even a merchant and civilian could already feel the difference in the atmosphere on the sea.

However, only the mainland of South Australia, which is 6,000 nautical miles away, is not aware of this, the people are still living a farming life with two meals a day and sunset, and the officials are still constantly running for their own interests.

It seems that nothing has changed, like a "paradise".

Of course, not everyone is unaware of the situation is wrong, for example, Li Shen, the left minister, has obviously noticed that the trade between merchants from various countries in the South Seas and the Jin country has fallen off a cliff in the past six months.

"What the hell is going on?"

Looking at the account books submitted by Jingao Hong Kong for nearly half a year, Li Shen couldn't believe everything he saw.

"From August of the 35th year of the Shengyuan Dynasty to the beginning of the 36th month of the Shengyuan Dynasty, foreign merchant ships became increasingly scarce, and a large number of bulk commodities such as tea, porcelain, and silk were expected to be sold in the port warehouse.

Looking at the words on the financial account books, Li Shen's breathing couldn't help but get worse, and the first thing he thought was that Bei Haila might have embezzled foreign trade bank, and deliberately made a fake account book to fool himself.

But if you think about it carefully, Behela is afraid that he is not so bold, and a small amount may be possible, but it is related to the matter of millions of taels of silver, does he have the courage to make false accounts?

What's more, part of the silver profited from foreign trade belongs to Honglin's inner treasury, which is the emperor's money, and Bei Haila will not dare to fight this money idea if he dares a hundred times.

After excluding those unrealistic ideas, there is only one possibility left, and the foreign trade business of Hong Kong, Macao and Hong Kong has indeed plummeted, but what is going on? Why was there no warning?

At this moment, Li Shen's subordinates came to report: "My lord, the Marani merchant Gerang is asking to see me outside, and he said that he wants to break off commercial relations with our court. ”

was worried about how to find the reason for the plummeting foreign trade business, Li Shen immediately said when he heard this: "Quickly bring him to see the official." ”

The next moment, a dark-skinned Nanyang merchant with a gold string around his neck and a jade ring on his finger entered the Prime Minister's Mansion with a grovel face.

Without waiting for Grand to salute, Li Shen immediately put on a smiling face and took the initiative to step forward: "Mr. Grand, please take a seat, it just so happens that the official has something to ask you." ”

After Grande sat down, he said apologetically: "Lord Zuo, I am sorry for my decision, and please understand, I am just a businessman, and the most important thing for a businessman is his interests. ”

Li Shen smiled when he heard this: "What? Mr. Grand, is it not the goods of my Celestial Empire that you are satisfied? ”

Grand said: "Lord Zuo, if it was in the past, your country's goods were definitely best-selling in Nanyang countries, and we have a joke in Nanyang,

That is, even if a beggar buys a batch of tea from your country, he can get rich overnight.

Over the years, we have also made a lot of money from our business dealings with your country, and we are very grateful for your country's gift to us foreigners. ”

Li Shen was not interested in these compliments at all, and asked directly: "In that case, why is Mr. Grand now trying to terminate the business contract with us?" ”

Ge Lang sighed and said, "It's not a secret, it's because the merchants of the Nanyang countries have begun to do business with the Han Dynasty.

The quality of their tea is better than that of your country, the porcelain is even more exquisite, and there are cotton cloth and silk, which are large in quantity and good in price, so ......"

In the middle of the sentence, Grand cautiously glanced at Li Shen's face, and seeing that he didn't react, he continued: "So I'm really sorry......"

Li Shen smiled: "Mr. Grand, this official wants to ask you to think about it again, after all, you have also cooperated with the Celestial Empire for so long, isn't it a pity to give up so much?"

As for the price, I will send someone to inform Jingao Hong Kong, and I will give you the greatest discount. ”

When Grand heard this, he sneered in his heart.

The price concession in Jinguo is really like Xu Shu entering Cao Ying - useless.

The so-called policy at the top, there are countermeasures at the bottom.

Commodity prices may be able to keep them down, but they can't sustain the increase in other costs.

For example, dozens or even dozens of miscellaneous taxes, such as ship fees, filial piety fees for local officials, water increase fees, and harbor protection fees, all add up to far more than the value of the goods themselves, which can be said to make foreign merchants complain.

This is also the reason why there is no customs responsibility, which leads to a mess in the taxation of Jinguo's foreign trade, and there has been no unified tax standard.

On the other hand, the Han Dynasty is different, the classification of goods is clear and the price is not to mention, even the commercial tax is according to the different categories and there are standard regulations, there are not so many twists and turns, and the quality and quantity of goods are varied, I don't know how many streets of Jinguo have been thrown, the key is that the price of goods is much more preferential than Jinguo.

In such a comparison, Nanyang merchants naturally favored the goods of the Han Dynasty.

Grand also just wanted to quickly clear up the relationship with South Australia, and then use the money in his hand to purchase sugar and cotton cloth, which were huge profits, and according to the extravagance of the monarchs of the South Seas, he would definitely be able to make at least three times the profit.

"I'm sorry Lord Zuo, I also have my considerations, I can't hide it, I have ordered a large number of goods with the merchants of the Han Dynasty last month, and I don't have any extra money in my hand to purchase your country's goods.

Of course, I know the rules, and according to the original contract, I am willing to pay three times the liquidated damages. ”

As he spoke, Grand ordered a man to carry it into a box, which contained three thousand taels of silver neatly arranged.

Li Shen's face finally changed slightly, but he still maintained his due demeanor and said: "Okay, since Mr. Grand's mind has been decided, the official is no longer embarrassed, but the official still hopes that Mr. Grande will think about it.

In the future, if there is an opportunity, Mr. Grand is always welcome to continue doing business with the Celestial Empire. ”

Ge Lang got up with a smile: "Definitely, the business is not in benevolence, and you will have to walk around with Lord Zuo Xiang in the future, you are busy with official business, I will not bother, and I will leave." ”

After speaking, he immediately left the Prime Minister's Mansion, for fear that Li Shen would regret it if it was too late.

After Grande left, Li Shen's face suddenly became gloomy.

The subordinate Zhang Quan came to Li Shen with a bowl of tea and asked, "My lord, let him go like this?" Shouldn't he be knocked on again? ”

"Shut up, you know what!" Li Shen scolded angrily, "Everyone has made it clear that they want to cut off all contact with us, and at this time you are still thinking about how to slaughter a sum?" Do you really want Dajin Kingdom to become the laughing stock of the whole world from now on? ”

"Damn it!" Zhang Quan immediately slapped himself, for fear of provoking Li Shen's anger.

Li Shen glanced at him in disgust, and said impatiently: "Okay, okay, prepare to drive immediately, the official is going to enter the palace to face the saint, such a big thing, if you don't tell the Lord of Long Live, who knows what will happen in the future." ”

Zhang Quan immediately climbed to prepare for the car.

Li Shen sighed helplessly, closed his eyes and said softly: "This big golden country, alas~"

As everyone knows, in the palace hall at this time, Honglin began to discuss with hundreds of officials for the next major event.

And this incident is Honglin's seventeenth daughter, who is about to marry Fukang.

The marriage of the princess, whether it is ancient or modern, Chinese and foreign, is a well-known event, and the good-looking Honglin naturally plans to marry the seventeenth princess in a beautiful way.

It's just that the scenery of this wedding is going to be held, and it must be indispensable to ask for money, so Honglin began to fight the idea of the treasury.