Guo Dajing asked Lin Tiansheng to buy corn seeds because he knew that this high-yielding crop had been introduced in the late Ming Dynasty, but he did not know where exactly it was and the scale of its cultivation.
Unexpectedly, Lin Tiansheng inquired through his own contacts and found that it didn't take much trouble to buy it from Fujian.
Okay, okay, these thousands of stones of corn seeds are worth tens of thousands of elite soldiers.
Next year's Jinzhou battle has to be fought at the risk of life. Otherwise, how can I be worthy of my hard thinking, various arrangements, and meticulous preparations?
Guo Dajing did not ask how much the mirrors were sold or how much profit he made, so he arranged for people to move and unload the goods, and personally accompanied the Lin brothers to move into the secluded house.
Lin Wan'er seemed to be planning to stay there for a long time. The Lin family sent all the servants, maids, and more than a dozen boxes of useful things. Although there were only four people waiting on her, the pomp was the best on the island, even better than Guo Dajing's.
After Guo Dajing and Lin Tianyou chatted for a while, they accepted the three thousand taels of silver without asking any further questions. After entering the house for a while, they took out a box with more than forty silver mirrors shining brightly inside.
He hasn't finished speaking yet. This job is so enjoyable! Lin Tianyou didn't know what to say. He looked at the large one-foot-square mirror and his eyes widened.
"I just want this mirror to dress up." Lin Wan'er pointed, pouting and complaining: "That side is too small, so I can't take a full picture."
Lin Tianyou coughed dryly, rolled his eyes at the girl who didn't know how hard it was to make money, and without saying much, reached out and closed the lid of the box.
The Lin family can purchase so many goods, and it can be said that they respond to every request, and Guo Dajing doesn't care about it. You can earn as much as you want. If you give more, I will get more, and if you give less, I won't mind.
As the craftsmen's skills continue to improve, the area of flat glass is getting larger and larger, and the yield is getting higher and higher. The cost of the silver mirror is less than one tael, even if it is one hundred taels, Guo Dajing will make huge profits.
.
"The Lin family purchased some of the transparent crystals that General Guo wanted." Lin Tianyou asked his servant to bring a small box and opened it for Guo Dajing to look at. "We are short of time and the quantity is not very large."
Guo Dajing took a look, smiled and thanked him.
These transparent crystals vary in size, but there is always about thirty yuan, which is also listed on the list, so he does not need to pay for it.
"There is also a jade craftsman." Lin Tianyou was not happy with his work. He talked about each item one by one, and said, "I have also hired him. It's just that the price is very small. As long as he can have enough to eat, he wants to live on this island."
Last two years."
Avoid disaster?!
Guo Dajing's first thought was these two words, but he didn't know whether the jade craftsman he hired committed murder or arson, or how serious the crime was.
In response to Guo Dajing's inquiry, Lin Tianyou explained with a smile and sent for the two jade craftsmen.
A middle-aged man, tall and thin, with an elegant appearance, he looks more like a scholar.
The other one was actually a woman, about the same age as Lin Wan'er, and her plain clothes and jade skirt could not hide her beautiful face.
"Gu Sitong, a grassroots man, has met General Guo."
"Gu Yan'er, a civilian girl, has met General Guo."
The two of them bowed and saluted, their expressions a little uneasy, showing that they were a little timid towards Guo Dajing.
Guo Dajing raised his hand to support him and said with a smile: "Brother Tianyou has told you and your daughter everything. You can live on the island with peace of mind. If you feel uncomfortable living there, you can take the boat next time the Lin family comes.
The ship returns."
"Thank you, General Guo, for taking me in." Gu Sitong showed gratitude and saluted again with his daughter.
Guo Dajing pondered for a moment and said, "Would Miss Wan'er have any objections to letting them live here?"
"No problem!" Lin Wan'er was sitting aside drinking tea. When she heard this, she rushed to agree, "On the boat, Yan'er and I chatted very well. It's a big place here, so they don't get in the way if they live in the front yard."
"Thank you, Miss Lin." Guo Dajing looked at the Gu family and his daughter and said warmly: "You guys have a rest for two days, and I will come back to handle the work."
After the Gu family thanked them, they resigned and went to the front yard to find a house to settle in.
"Brother Tianyou, tonight Guo is going to meet the Japanese who came with the boat." Guo Dajing said apologetically: "I will help you two tomorrow."
"General Guo, please take care of yourself and don't take care of my brothers and sisters." Lin Tianyou said with a smile: "We have been sailing for a long time and it's just a good night to rest and refresh ourselves."
After a pause, he pretended to be casual and said: "As for the goods that the Japanese need, please ask General Guo to inquire on your behalf."
Guo Dajing nodded in agreement, called the steward, and told him to follow Lin Tianyou's instructions and deliver whatever he needed, and then stood up to leave.
Guo Dajing was very surprised and pleasantly surprised by the Japanese merchants brought back by Fujino Masaru.
Overseas trade, especially trade with the Japanese country, is very profitable, and making money from it is naturally what Guo Dajing hopes to do. At the same time, the sulfur and copper from the Japanese country are also strategic materials that he needs in large quantities.
As for the Lin family, they have long coveted the huge profits from Japanese maritime trade, but they have neither the strength nor the qualifications to get involved.
Guo Dajing was not very sure whether he could promote cooperation between the two companies and whether he could sell the mirrors in his hands to the Japanese country.
The key is that he does not know the trade route from Japan to the Ming Dynasty. Although it seems from the map that one can reach Japan from Liaodong along the coast of Korea, he is not sure about the actual situation.
Guo Dajing thought about the horse as he walked, and when he arrived at the inn, he finally had a rough idea.
After secretly putting a few silver mirrors into his arms, Guo Dajing asked the steward to lead him to see Fujino Masaru.
Fujino was drinking tea and chatting with Kobayashi Koichi. Hide Fujino, who came after hearing the news, was a little bored and sat aside, twirling a strand of hair beside his ear with his fingers.
Guo Dajing walked into the room, Fujino Masa hurriedly stood up to greet him, and Kobayashi Koichi also bowed. This was the formal meeting between the two parties, and Fujino Masa made the introduction.
"Please sit down, please sit down." After Guo Dajing returned the courtesy, he extended his hand politely. Fujino Hide stepped forward to pour tea for the guests and hosts, then returned to sit down.
Kobayashi Koichi looked at Guo Dajing and saw that he was tall and strong, which was in line with Fujino Masa's description. He was a brave and skillful general on the battlefield.
"Mr. Xiaolin is a businessman of the Tokugawa family?" Guo Dajing took a sip of tea and asked straight to the point: "Or are you just a businessman who has been allowed to go to sea by your shogunate?"
Kobayashi Koichi answered truthfully: "I am a businessman of the Ii family, and Ii-sama is a retainer of General Tokugawa."
"Ii Naomasa? Akei?" Guo Dajing narrowed his eyes and looked at Kobayashi Koichi uncertainly.
Naomasa Ii's nicknames are "Aka Yaksha" and "Aka Oni Ii". He is famous as a politician and diplomat of the Tokugawa clan, and is called the founding father of the shogunate in history books.
Guo Dajing has played Warring States Warriors, so he knows a little bit, but he is not very detailed. If he talks too much, the secret will be revealed.
Kobayashi Haoichi was taken aback, showing an expression of disbelief, and said: "General Guo actually knows the origin of Lord Jingyi?"
That is the descendant of Naomasa Ii!
Guo Dajing smiled, stopped mentioning the matter, and asked about Kobayashi Koichi's purpose.
After all, Kobayashi Koichi did not come here by invitation. By coming to the door himself, Guo Dajing had a certain amount of initiative.
Silk, raw silk, porcelain, cane sugar, Kobayashi Koichi needs these commodities, and he purchases them directly. He does not want Chinese businessmen or Dutch or Portuguese middlemen.
It is understandable that Guo Dajing does not like middlemen either. If that were the case, cooperation could be achieved through the Lin family.
Because Koichi Kobayashi was a Japanese and a merchant who was granted free sea trade by the shogunate with a Zhu Ling, this solved the problem of the Lin family's qualifications to trade in Japan.
Moreover, Guo Dajing hoped to establish a new route from Liaodong to the Japanese Kingdom, or to Busan and Tsushima Island where the Japanese Dynasty opened a market.
After all, the strength of the Lin family is still far behind those of those large sea merchants. And on the vast sea, there is no strict distinction between sea merchants and pirates.
In the northern part of the Yellow Sea, sailing and trading is more peaceful. Sail eastward along the coast of Korea, past Jeju Island, to Busan and Tsushima Island. Judging from the distance, they are not very far.
"Yes, sailing across the sea from the Goto Islands..." Kobayashi Koichi told a story about a not-too-popular route from the Goto Islands to Tianjin.
Guo Dajing pondered the route Kobayashi Koichi mentioned on the map in his mind. It was similar to his original imagination. It would be more convenient if a relay station could be built on Jeju Island.
"Can your ships sail directly to Lushun, Pi Island, or Guanglu Island for trade?" Guo Dajing put forward the conditions.
If he could make money in the simplest and most trouble-free way, Guo Dajing would naturally not want to sail to Busan, Tsushima, or even enter Japan for trade.
"Of course." Kobayashi Haoichi smiled and said, "As long as there are goods worthy of our voyage."
Guo Dajing smiled and said: "Not only purchasing, but also selling. I need a large amount of sulfur and copper materials. As long as the price is right, I will charge whatever is shipped."
"Barter?" Kobayashi Hao blinked.
"Silver money is also acceptable." Guo Dajing took a sip of tea and said, "In addition to raw silk, silk and other goods, I also want to ask Mr. Xiaolin to be the exclusive agent of the Japanese country, responsible for selling silver mirrors."
Fujino's eyes flashed, and he finally knew that Guo Dajing had mastered the manufacturing method of silver mirrors, instead of just a few rare items.
Guo Dajing took out the silver mirror from his arms, placed it on the table, and stretched out his hand to signal to Xiao Lin Haoyi.
Kobayashi Koichi had the same reaction as everyone who saw the silver mirror for the first time. He was stunned and then surprised. When he saw his extremely clear reflection in the mirror, he was so shocked that his mouth opened wide and his eyes widened.
Guo Dajing drank tea and said calmly: "The agents in Ming Dynasty and the agents in Xiyi have been confirmed. A certain person originally wanted to ask Mr. Fujino to do business in Japan——"
Fujino waved his hand and said in a timely manner: "I am not interested in doing business. Of course, if there is no one, I can only do it reluctantly."
Xiao Linhao suddenly raised his head and said to Guo Dajing: "I am willing to be the exclusive agent, but the specific regulations need to be carefully discussed."
Guo Dajing deliberately did not answer immediately. He pondered for a moment and then said: "It may be slightly adjusted, but the overall rules cannot be changed. After all, other agents must also be taken care of."
"Understood, understood." Xiao Linhao nodded in agreement and said with a smile: "With the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and North Korea, there will be no obstacles to doing business from Liaodong to Busan."
Guo Dajing said sternly: "My Ming Dynasty has opened the sea since Longqing and has opened Yue Port for trade. However, trade with the Japanese country is still prohibited, and all ships going to sea are not allowed to go. Otherwise, they will be punished with the crime of 'travelling with the Japanese'."
Xiao Linhao blinked and seemed to understand. This was a cover-up. The Ming military, or Dongjiang Town, was doing business to make money, but they could not openly violate the imperial ban.
"I understand, I understand." Xiao Linhao suddenly said, "I must abide by the laws of the imperial court."
Guo Dajing smiled and said: "Guo has many North Korean friends. You can transport it to Busan or Tsushima through them and negotiate with Mr. Kobayashi for transactions."
Xiao Linhao nodded and said: "I can also go to Pidao or Lushun to trade, but you need a pass certificate."
"No problem." Guo Dajing said, "But Guo still needs to consider the specific operation."
When it came to North Korea, Guo Dajing suddenly thought of a low-risk trade method. Through Lin Qingye and Cui Xiaoyi, North Korea's ships were used for trade.
North Korea has a navy, so it should not be difficult for Lin Qingye to get a few ships. Under the control of reliable people, such as Choi Xiaoyi and other volunteer officers, there will be basically no obstacles along the way between Liaodong and Busan.
Lin Tiansheng could do this, but the ships he owned did not reassure Guo Dajing.
Of course, Guo Dajing still needs to discuss it with Lin Tianyou. If the Lin family has this confidence, it will indirectly open up sea trade with Japan.
Guo Dajing ordered the steward to prepare food and drinks, and sent his own soldiers to invite Lin Tianyou to come over. He then went home and told his wife.
Lin Tianyou arrived very quickly, and the food and wine were served one after another. We sat around, talked, and finalized many cooperation matters.
Guo Dajing did not expect that Lin Tianyou agreed readily. No one else was needed, but the Lin family would undertake the transportation and trading.
That is, the Lin family purchased raw silk, silk, porcelain, cane sugar and other commercial goods, transported them to Liaodong, used Lushun, Guanglu Island or Pi Island as relay points, and then sailed to Busan or Tsushima Island to trade with Kobayashi Koichi.
Kobayashi Koichi said that he could get the certification documents from the shogunate for the Lin family. Even if the Lin family went to Nagasaki for business, there would be no hindrance.
Money deceives people!
Guo Dajing couldn't help feeling that the Lin family had been coveting the Japanese sea trade for more than a day or two. With this good opportunity, they should seize it quickly.
I can understand my feelings, but do the Lin family have such good teeth and such a big stomach?
Guo Dajing had some doubts in his heart, but he didn't show it at the table, and was prepared to remind Lin Tianyou when no one was around.
Kobayashi Koichi was also very happy. Not only did he become the exclusive agent of Silver Mirror, he also had an agent in Ming Dynasty, so he could directly obtain the needed goods.
You should know that people like Li Dan, Zheng Zhilong and others, who were great merchants, had agents in the country who were responsible for purchasing goods, and then they would sell them to Japan or other countries in Southeast Asia.
The most important thing for an agent is to have connections and be able to purchase enough goods. The Lin family obviously meets this condition, albeit reluctantly.