For Guo Kang's obsession, Theodora was a little helpless.

"Hey, why do you think about selling these things every day?" She sighed.

"We're going to talk about business with the Ming Dynasty, don't you understand?" Guo Kang also shook his head: "The current situation is that we need to import iron pots, import silk, and it is estimated that we will also import cotton cloth in the future." And sugar, and porcelain, and so on and so forth......"

"All in all, whether we eat, wear, or use, we need to import a lot of oriental materials. All commodities, all we have to ask for the Ming Dynasty, not they need us. ”

"If this kind of trade can be carried out, it will make our life very comfortable in the beginning, but after a long time, it will definitely go wrong. The materials we export are far less than those we import, and we have to make up for this difference with high-value materials such as gold, silver, and rare products. In the future, when the volume of trade rises, it will not be enough to fill in the 'Alemanni silver'. No matter how big the savings are, they can't stop sitting on the empty side. ”

"You can't count on any of these things." Theodora pointed to the model: "How much deficit can be recovered by this?" ”

"I can't really think of any commodity that can be equal." Guo Kang spread his hands.

"What else can you do?" Theodora was a little surprised.

"Nothing." Guo Kang said firmly: "As long as there is a little bit of contact with agriculture, there is no hope." ”

According to the experience of the previous world, not to mention these serious goods, they are not serious, and they are useless in the end.

At that time, the British just couldn't find a normal way to reverse the deficit. Even if the Qing Dynasty's tariffs were much lower than his own, even if he had the cost advantage of industry and colonies, he could not compete with others. In the case that conventional means were useless, they finally began to make a desperate bet and vigorously develop the tobacco trade.

Historically, however, after the First War, the tobacco trade was actually only partially opened. The British didn't take it seriously at the time, thinking that this would be enough. But more than a decade later, they found that the trade deficit at this time still had not reversed, and could only continue to push.

Eventually, in the late 60s of the 19th century, after the end of the Second War between the two sides, the scale of the tobacco trade was further expanded, and the Qing Dynasty's anti-smoking efforts were considered a complete failure. By 1876, the Qing government had completely abandoned and legalized the tobacco land, and the British effort was finally completely successful.

But the problem is that after the Qing Dynasty abandoned treatment, the tobacco industry also appeared in the local area. Tobacco has developed slowly over the past decade or so, and has expanded rapidly after it has been fully legalized, leading to fierce confrontation with foreign tobacco. Just five years later, in 1881, the British consul reported that Persian tobacco was no longer profitable and that Indian tobacco had been expelled from many provinces. If this continues, you will soon be unable to make money again.

Sure enough, in 1882, the Qing Dynasty's export of tobacco had surpassed its imports and officially became an exporter. And the main object of his exports is none other than Britain itself.

The British, of course, could not accept this situation, and in 1885 forced the Qing Dynasty to set a gold cap on foreign cigarettes to reduce the cost of sales. But even with many advantages, foreign tobacco still can't compete with local tobacco. By 1891, foreign tobacco imports had fallen by about 15 percent, and the market value had fallen by 35 to 40 percent.

The Qing Dynasty tobacco has adhered to the principle of free trade, crossed the ocean, and sold well in the United Kingdom. London and Liverpool both became the centers of the Qing Dynasty's dumping of tobacco to Britain, and a number of Qing Dynasty-style tobacco houses also appeared, teaching all kinds of new ways to play and exporting culture to Britain.

By 1906, the Qing Dynasty had exported 11 times as much tobacco as it imported. Thanks to the efforts of both sides, the people of the British Empire finally lived a happy life with a large amount of money.

The flood of smoke and soil led to the collapse of social order, and even had a negative impact on the British ruling model, which was finally unacceptable to the British government. Britain had no choice but to change its attitude and began to vigorously promote a ban on smoking, and demanded that the Qing government also implement a ban on smoking. At this time, the Qing Dynasty had basically lost its ability to control, but it still opened its mouth and demanded benefits.

Finally, in 1907, Britain was forced to sign the humiliating Sino-British Smoking Treaty with the Qing Dynasty. The treaty stipulates that the import of Indian tobacco into the Qing Dynasty will be banned year by year, and at the same time, the import tariff on foreign tobacco will be increased. The Qing Dynasty also extended its hand into the British sphere of influence, stipulating that smoking should also be banned in the concession areas, and allowing Qing officials to be stationed in India and in the port of Calcutta to oversee auction and packing operations.

The results of decades of war were abandoned after holding out for a long time. Not only did it make the previous efforts ridiculous, but it also made the "freedom" and "morality" advocated by Britain a joke, which was simply a continuous slap in the face of Queen Victoria. Of course, because of the forced situation, the fan will be fanned, and everyone obviously can't take care of so much at that time.

Therefore, the conclusion is also very simple: when it comes to agricultural products, don't try to fight Seris on any product. This guy is a terrifying giant, even if he lies down and kills himself, he can kill one piece.

The situation at the end of the Qing Dynasty was not good, let alone the era before. Guo Kang is convinced of this.

Theodora, though somewhat reluctant, accepted his point of view.

"Then what do you mean, we can only pass these...... Not a very mainstream commodity, earning back a little is a little bit? She thought about the problem and reacted quickly: "You study Steam Brother or something every day, is this also the idea?" ”

"It's just a direction to work on, and if you can hold on for a while, it's a while." Guo Kang thought for a moment and said, "If we really have any hope of integrating the entire Mediterranean world, then there is a bit of hope for countervail." These technologies are designed to buy time for this goal. ”

"So pessimistic......" Theodora muttered with some surprise.

Guo Kang spread his hands and didn't know how to tell her for a while.

These are actually the lessons of the blood and tears of Europeans in his world, "later generations". Because almost all bulk products will face the same problem.

Iron pots, for example, were mainstream exports for most of the time from the Tang and Song dynasties to the time of his life—even in the industrial age. It probably stopped for a hundred years or so, and then the Seris started selling iron all over the world again. This thing is simply an invincible commodity, and it is purely unreasonable to compete with others in this aspect.

Historically, this has probably been the norm, and the fact that "Ceris can't dominate across the board" is an unexpected. When the unexpected time period passes, the world will return to its "historical normality......

"If you think about it, even the war at the end of the Yuan Dynasty failed to completely interrupt the export of oriental goods. Now, in order to compete for the ocean and feed the war with war, the Yuan and Ming sides are running around like crazy. He shook his head and spoke of the example in front of him: "Even if we don't care, they will come to the door, even our enemies, and make the situation worse." That's why I think it's a must-do, but it's just as uncomfortable to do it. ”

(End of chapter)