Zhao Han picked up a piece of information sent by Zheng Guozhong and asked: "Where did you get these statistical data?"
Zheng Guozhong replied: "The data before the Datong Army occupied Manila came from the Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines."
"Why does the trade volume fluctuate so much and the disparity is so huge?" Zhao Han asked.
The entire document records the trade volume between the former Spanish Philippines and the current Chinese Luzon.
Zheng Guozhong explained: "When Spain ruled Luzon in the past, its main trading partners were Han merchants. Every time Chinese goods became extremely abundant, the Spanish governor would either increase tariffs, increase the head tax on Luzon Han people, or simply massacre Luzon
The Han people robbed Chinese merchant ships. After doing so, the trade volume will inevitably plummet, and then gradually recover. After the prosperity is restored, it will happen again, and then plummet again."
Is the Spanish Governor crazy?
Alas, the trade volume is too large, and the customs and taxes are too high. No, we have to increase the tax amount, massacre the Han people, and suppress the tax revenue of the Philippines!
"Does the Spanish governor think it's too much money?" Zhao Han asked doubtfully.
Zheng Guozhong explained: "Once trade prospered, the number of Han people in Luzon increased. In order to collect more taxes, the Spaniards raised business taxes and the Han people's head tax. The Han people were bound to be angry and staged many series of uprisings. The Spaniards could only carry out
Massacre. After the massacre, although trade tax revenues plummeted, local Spanish officials were able to rob countless properties."
Okay, Zhao Han understands.
When Spanish colonial officials saw that business was booming and the number of Han people increased, they tried their best to raise taxes in an attempt to make more money.
After forcing the Han people to rebel, they took the opportunity to carry out massacres.
The massacre led to a decrease in tax revenue, and the loss was the income of the Spanish royal family. However, colonial officials were able to take advantage of the opportunity to rob, and officials and missionaries made a lot of money. As soon as their terms were up, they returned home and left the mess to the next colonial government.
The peak of Sino-Philippine trade in the Ming Dynasty was in the forty years of Wanli. Then it fell all the way, and the trade volume was cut in half, and then continued to be cut in half. During the Chongzhen period, it finally recovered to half of what it was in the forty years of Wanli. Spain again
The Song Dynasty carried out massacres, so the trade volume was cut in half again and again.
Zheng Guozhong said: "Today, Luzon's trade volume with Spain has barely recovered to what it was in the late Wanli years. Many Han merchants are still afraid of the massacre and are unwilling to trade with Spain. On the other hand, the trade of other European countries in Luzon continues to rise, especially in Luzon.
The Netherlands rose the fastest. After the Netherlands lost southern Taiwan, Japan-Dutch trade sometimes chose to stop in Luzon, which incidentally increased Luzon's trade volume."
For trade between the Netherlands and Japan, they choose to dock in Luzon for supplies, and only charge port berthing fees. But if there are more docks, trade will gradually occur. For example, the Netherlands will buy more and more tobacco from Luzon.
Zhao Han asked: "Compared to the Spanish period, have Luzon's tariffs on Han merchants been reduced?"
Zheng Guozhong said: "Take cotton as an example. It has dropped from 6% to 5%. All Han merchants are happy."
When Spain first occupied Luzon, the tariff on cotton cloth was only 2%.
After the trade volume increased, the governor of the Spanish Philippines said: "Businessmen from other countries only charge 2% tariff, but the Han people should charge 3%."
Clearly discriminating against the Han people, the Han merchants were furious and said they would never do business in Luzon again. In this way, trade was deserted for a while, and it was time to do business. The Han merchants accepted the tariff. It continued to rise, and finally rose to 6%.
Merchants still had no choice but to accept it.
Zhao Han asked again: "Is there any change in Spain over the Philippines?"
The current "Philippines" does not include Luzon Island, but refers specifically to the large and small islands in the southern part of Luzon Island.
Zheng Guozhong said: "There are indigenous uprisings every year in various islands in the Philippines. The Spanish governor is busy quelling the rebellion and does not bother to cause trouble for us. There are also Han people who have settled on those islands and are migrating to Luzon one after another. Every year there are one or two
Thousands of Han people migrated to Luzon Island from the islands ruled by Spain. According to the information provided by the Han people who migrated, Spain was getting worse and worse. After the soldiers were killed in battle, the replacement rate was very slow. Even the warship was sunk in a shipwreck.
No longer rebuilt, Spain has fewer and fewer ships. The latest one was built more than ten years ago."
Zhao Han was very pleased: "This is great."
Zheng Guozhong quickly took the vaccine: "Your Majesty, I think it is best not to continue to develop southward in Luzon. It is best to hand over those large and small islands to Spain to rule. If our country takes over and drives Spain away, then it will be the same as Spain.
The trade with America will be over, the trade with America (America) will be completely gone, and America’s gold and silver will not be lost.”
No matter how badly Spain declined, it was still the hegemon of the Americas and firmly controlled the Pacific shipping lanes.
It is true that Spain cannot be driven out of the Philippines. Once Spain is driven out, trade from America to Asia will be cut off.
Zhao Han nodded and said: "That's true. When our navy has the energy to go to America one day, we will consider driving Spain out of the Philippines."
After talking about business, Zheng Guozhong said: "Your Majesty, when I return to Beijing this time, many Luzon indigenous chiefs have presented treasures to Your Majesty. Although those treasures... although some are relatively simple, they are also the wishes of the Luzon indigenous people."
Zhao Han asked: "Where are the tributes?"
Zheng Guozhong said: "It has been handed over to the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites should transfer it to the Supervisor of Rites."
Zhao Han ordered: "Just bring it."
A few dozen minutes later, the tributes from the indigenous chiefs of Luzon were brought over by the female officer and her guards.
There are two large boxes, some of which are really crude.
There is even a bamboo sculpture carved from bamboo roots. The workmanship is quite exquisite, but the craftsmanship is relatively ordinary. You can buy similar ones on the streets of Nanjing.
"What kind of knife is this?" Zhao Han picked up a knife and asked.
Zheng Guozhong said: "I don't know its name. I only know that it is a machete made by a tribe and used to cut off the heads of prisoners of war during sacrifices."
It is somewhat similar to a dog-leg scimitar, and also somewhat similar to the wood-chopping knife in some provinces of China. However, it is made with more care. The handle is made of buffalo horn and is inlaid with silver ornaments.
Continuing to pick, Zhao Han suddenly said: "Oh, this ax is very strange."
Zheng Guozhong explained: "This is the Kalinga axe, which is the special weapon of the Kalinga chief."
The shape of this thing is extremely exaggerated. It doesn't look like a practical weapon, but more like a heroic weapon in a video game. It can only be owned after recharging. Its function is more like a scepter, used to show the majesty of a chief.
.
In addition to weapons, there are more so-called treasures.
"This is for you." Zhao Han picked up a pair of tortoiseshell bracelets.
Li Xiangjun was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward!"
The most popular ones are pearl necklaces, and almost every concubine in the harem can give one as a gift.
Zhao Han can completely understand the enthusiasm of emperors in the past for all nations to come to court, and can even understand why they give more gifts in return. It is all the wishes of small countries and small clans. As the monarch of the central dynasty, how can he not be generous?
Of course, this kind of behavior cannot become a system, otherwise it will completely change its flavor.
Zhao Han said: "I have decreed to the cabinet that in the future, when tax money is shipped back from overseas territories every year, three indigenous leaders can be brought with them. They must be the most obedient tribes, chiefs or chiefs' children. Bringing them to Nanjing for a visit will cost the royal family.
Pay money. This is a reward for the loyal tribe, allowing them to appreciate the prosperity of China!"
Not only are they appreciating the prosperity of China, these indigenous chiefs will inevitably brag about what they have seen and heard in China after returning to their hometowns. The wider the story spreads, the stronger the indigenous people's longing for China, and other tribes will become more envious of these chiefs who have received awards.
Zheng Guozhong said: "On Luzon Island, the tribes that should be appeased and recruited the most are those tribes that can build terraces. Luzon Island is mountainous, just like Yunnan and Guizhou, so terrace technology is particularly important. Moreover, although some of these terraced tribes still retain
They follow the tradition of headhunting, but they are relatively docile and easy to talk to, and it is easier for them to accept Chinese culture."
"Farming tribes are indeed like this," Zhao Han said. "Let the Hanlin Academy make up a story. Since they can build terraces, they will say that their ancestors came from Yunnan and Guizhou, and they were a family thousands of years ago. In schools in Luzon, they also
We must teach children this way and guide them to change their Chinese names to Chinese surnames."
The terraced fields in Luzon are not only found in Ifugao Province in later generations, but also in other surrounding provinces.
For example, Baguio City, which is rich in gold, has many terraced fields. Today, the indigenous people around Baguio are already in contact with the Han people. Unfortunately, several large gold mines have not yet been discovered - near the Baguio gold mine, there are
It has silver mines and copper mines. It also has beautiful scenery, spring-like weather all year round, and a pleasant climate. It is simply a treasure land.
After waving Zheng Guozhong to retreat, Zhao Han began to arrange the recipients of the tributes.
Not only are they given to the harem concubines, princes and daughters, but certain ministers in the court will also receive rewards.
I also specially selected two pieces to give to my elder sister and younger sister.
Zheng Sen had been promoted to the director of Shandong Province, so Zhao Zhenfang naturally followed her husband to Shandong, and asked the e-mail staff to send him there after the spring.
After Zheng Guozhong resigned as governor of Luzon, he temporarily rested in Nanjing. The court was discussing the reform of the chief envoy. In the future, each province will have two right chief envoys. Zheng Guozhong's next position will be the right chief envoy.
Luzon Island sounds huge, but the areas that can be actually controlled now are the western, northwest, and southwest coasts, which only cover a few counties in the country. Therefore, Zheng Guozhong still needs experience, and he is very suitable to be the right chief envoy.
The new Governor of Luzon has arrived in Manila long ago, and his name is Zhang Huangyan.
After carefully selecting the two most beautiful pearl necklaces, Zhao Han returned to the harem after get off work and called sisters Fei Rulan and Fei Rumei.
"Come and take a look, this is from Chief Luzon." Zhao Han said with a smile.
In fact, it was not very expensive, but when the emperor gave it to them, the two sisters were very happy and immediately wore it on their chests.
Fei Rumei said: "After spring, it will look better when worn. It's so cold these days that it almost turns into a ball."
Zhao Han said: "It is indeed very cold. How cold is it in the north?"
Fei Rulan said: "I heard that the price of furs in Nanjing has increased a lot. Rich people are buying fur goods. Cotton-padded jackets don't look good, but furs are more popular."
Zhao Han looked to the northeast: "The three most valuable furs, sable, sea otter, and lynx, are all found in the Northeast. If you want to wear fur, you must firmly hold the Northeast in your hands!"