Chapter 2697

Ning Zijing added: "In recent years, with the assistance of our country, North Korea has mined a lot of mineral deposits, especially coal mines. Therefore, among the goods exported to Japan, coal and coke have also become a big deal. According to us

According to the information we have, the coal and coke sold to Japan through Busan Port every year already accounts for about 20% of the total trade volume."

Japan's coal reserves are not large, and even less has been mined in this era. Its production capacity and costs are far less than those of North Korea today, so even if it is transported across seas, middlemen still make relatively generous profits. However,

This kind of bulk cargo trading requires strong capital and sufficient maritime transportation capacity. Ordinary merchants do not have such strength. Both parties participating in the meeting and transaction will more or less have certain official backgrounds.

Tao Hongfang continued: "No matter which business it is, once a monopoly is formed, the profits will become considerable. Although Tsui Ma Fan has little local production, it has controlled the trade routes between the two countries for a long time, which means that

A disguised monopoly has been formed. People sit at home and money comes from the sky. This money can be earned effortlessly and will naturally be spent lavishly."

Zhu Zian understood what he heard, but he still didn't quite understand. If Ma Fan's methods were so simple and easy to understand, then why did North Korea and Japan have to sit idly by and let this middleman easily monopolize the trade between the two countries?

.If this middleman is eliminated and the two countries can trade freely, wouldn't it be more conducive to the development of trade?

However, it was too late for him to continue to ask questions at this time. The motorcade had already entered the Japanese castle. The people in the car tidied up their appearance a little before getting out of the car to meet the other party.

Zhu Zian had seen commercial shops opened by Japanese businessmen in Zhoushan before, but this was the first time in his life that he had actually dealt with Japanese people.

In his eyes, both the Japanese samurai with moon-haired men and the low and cramped Japanese-style buildings looked very novel. Although the culture of this country is said to be in the same line as China, in Zhu Zian's view, it seems that the culture has mutated

The extent is far greater than that of North Korea, which is closer to China.

Moreover, Zhu Zian didn't quite understand that since Japanese culture originated from China, why didn't the most basic furniture be copied over? There wasn't even a chair in the room where the guests were received, so they just put a cloth mat on the floor to sit on, but it didn't work.

No matter what position you do, you will feel very awkward.

It is definitely impossible to sit on your knees. Regardless of Ming Dynasty or Haihan, this posture is a way of degrading one's status. Zhu Zian looked around and had no choice but to follow Tao Hongfang and others and sit cross-legged.

The person who came out to receive them was Zong Yuta, the head of the Japanese Museum. He looked about thirty years old, with narrow eyes and long eyebrows. He was slightly fat. He was wearing a silk hakama with a black pattern and a black crown on his head.

Wearing several shining golden rings, he looks more like a wealthy businessman than an official.

Zong Xiongtai has been based in Busan for many years and has dealt with Haihan merchants a lot, so he can speak not too standard Haihan Mandarin, which saves the trouble of translation when it comes to communication.

After the three parties exchanged a few pleasantries, Wen Zhihong, the initiator of the meeting, introduced the main topic: "Master of the Clan, it has been more than 40 years since our two countries signed the Treaty of Peace and Peace in Qingchang.

During this period, the trade situation between our two countries has also undergone great changes. Especially in the past ten years, a large number of merchants from Haihan State have entered Busan to engage in trading activities. The local situation has also been greatly improved from when the treaty was signed.

changes, some old clauses are obviously outdated. Therefore, I believe that part of the treaty should be renegotiated in line with the current actual situation. Those that should be modified should be modified, and those that should be canceled should be cancelled. This will be more in line with the interests of our three countries.

balance."

After Zong Xiongtai listened, he just nodded slightly and did not express his position. His eyes turned to Haihan. It seemed that he also understood very well who among the two groups of people who came together today was the one who really made the decision.

It doesn't matter what North Korean officials say, the key is to see what Haihan means.

Tao Hongfang said: "When North Korea and Japan signed the agreement, our country did not participate in it. But more than 40 years later, our country has now become the largest participant in the trade share of Busan Port. I think it is time to sign a new agreement between the three countries.

trade agreement to ensure our country’s interests in Busan Port. And we are convinced that in the long run, a new agreement that can take into account the interests of all parties will also play a great role in the future cross-border trade activities between North Korea and Japan.

Helpful."

Now that they have decided to participate in the meeting, they will not just come to support the North Koreans. Of course, the mission must fight for Haihan's interests in the process. It will also be more convenient to turn the interest disputes between North Korea and Japan into three-party talks.

To put pressure on the Japanese side, Wen Zhihong did not express any objection to this.

After hearing this, Jong Xiongta felt a little uneasy. After the Haehan delegation arrived in Busan, he thought about inviting the delegation to Yeongdo for a meeting, but the invitations he sent were all rejected by the other party in the name of being busy with official duties. Later, Busan

The government sent people to the island to arrest people. Zong Xiongtai knew that this was caused by the pressure from the Haihan people on the government, but he did not take any resistance measures. He allowed the government to arrest a few rogues who had no roots and went back to work, hoping to use this to deal with the Haihan people.

Han releases goodwill.

However, he did not expect that the bilateral meeting he expected was dragged into a tripartite meeting due to the delay. The trade activities between Haihan and Japan were originally supposed to be the topic, but now North Korea has been forced to intervene.

Zong Xiongtai was not even interested in the suggestion made by Wen Zhihong. In the history of trade between Korea and Japan, Tsushima has always been an indispensable presence. Whether the Koreans wanted to sell things to Japan or

If you want to buy Japanese products, you can never bypass Tsushima.

Especially in the past forty years, Tsushima has almost completely monopolized direct trade between Japan and Japan, and has no intention of re-discussing the trade agreement. If it must be discussed, Tsushima will probably only discuss it on the basis of the original agreement.

In addition, Haihan merchants are prohibited from engaging in intermediary trade activities between North Korea and Japan.

Yes, that's right. Since Haihan's business power entered Busan, it has been difficult for Tsushima to completely monopolize the trade between Korea and Japan as it did in the past. Many Haihan merchants are aware of the business opportunities and simply avoid it.

Passed Tsushima and engaged in cross-border trade between Korea and Japan.

From the perspective of the Tsushima Domain, this behavior is tantamount to smuggling, but because the practitioners are Haihan merchants, Tsuima Domain does not want to repeat the mistakes of the Hirado Domain, so it has always been able to turn a blind eye to it.

One eye. As long as such behavior has not shaken the foundation of Tsushima, it will be over if you tolerate it.

But now that the Haihan people have come to the door and want to negotiate a three-party trade agreement, this is obviously to make the past small actions public. This is undoubtedly a very dangerous signal for Zong Xiongtai.
Chapter completed!