Due to the sudden heavy fog on the sea surface, Deng Fei had no time to carefully check the details of the shelling of Songqian City and quickly withdrew the drone.
Faced with the unexpected weather conditions, Zhao Xin could only stop shelling.
As soon as the sun came up early the next morning, the drone on the Thor took off again and circled around Matsumae Castle. Seeing white lanterns and white flags hung up both inside and outside Matsumae Castle, Zhao Xin was sure that this time
After doing a big job, he immediately ordered the Thor to turn to Ishinomaki Port.
Early on the third day, Denzo Katsuyama and Jiroemon Murata, who had been waiting for many days, boarded the Thor.
"Master Zhao, have you brought all the food?" The two bosses seemed to have been forced hard by the Sendai clan.
Zhao Xin turned around and pointed to the cargo hold below the deck and said: "We have brought them all, a total of 50,000 shi of polished rice and 9,000 tons." He specifically allowed the Thor to be delayed for one night, so that it could be done at night when everyone on the ship was sleeping.
, put nine thousand tons of rice into the cargo hold.
Seeing the cargo hold full of food, Denzo Katsuyama and Jiroemon Murata couldn't help but be overjoyed.
Taking advantage of the time of hoisting the goods, Zhao Xin invited the two people to the conference room and explained to them that because the ship was full of grain this time, the white sugar and silk ordered before would need to be shipped next time.
Katsuyama Denzo quickly said that it didn't matter, the 50,000 koku of grain that Sendai Domain wanted was more important. Then he lowered his voice and said to Zhao Xin: "Sir, you don't know something. Hundreds of townspeople in this domain have already starved to death at home."
.If this batch of food is no longer available, the feudal lord will halve the salary of everyone below for three years."
"Ah? Isn't the Sendai clan very rich? Can't even buy some food?" Zhao Xin was very surprised.
Jiroemon Murata sighed and said: "I bought several thousand kiwi from Owari and Omi, but it's really a drop in the bucket. Now all the Kanto feudal lords are rushing to grab the food on the market, and the price has risen ridiculously."
"No, my winery has also stopped working. Now the food produced by this domain must be supplied to Edo first. Otherwise, if Edo is short of food, big trouble will happen."
"Then who will pay for the rice this time?" Zhao Xin asked with a smile.
"It's ready. The officials from the Entrance and Exit Department of this domain have brought the payment to the Ishinomaki Office. Payment will be made after the goods are inspected." Katsuyama Denzo explained quickly. But he knew that the big leader of Tang Yi in front of him was
You must not offend the master who will flip the table if you disagree with him.
Zhao Xin tapped the table with his fingers, thought for a moment and said, "I have a separate business here. I wonder if the two bosses are interested?"
When the two businessmen opposite heard that it was a separate business, they quickly said, "Your Excellency, you might as well tell me."
Although the sugar and silk have not arrived yet, the carved glasses that Zhao Xin sent last time made the two of them a big profit. Now that the God of Wealth is coming again, the two of them will naturally strive to move forward.
Give in.
"Xia, Yi, Di." Zhao Xin looked at the two of them and said word by word.
After he finished speaking, Denzo Katsuyama and Jiroemon Murata looked at each other strangely and said nothing.
"What? You're not interested?"
Denzo Katsuyama quickly explained: "Sir, don't be angry. The goods in Ezo are nothing more than furs and seafood. Apart from furs, they are quite profitable. This... there is no shortage of seafood here."
Zhao Xin laughed: "Do you think I am going to do this?"
"That is?"
"It's coal. Coal from the western part of Ezo."
Don’t think that the people of the island nation did not use coal during the Edo period. During this era, the largest coal mine in the island nation was the Chikuho coal mine of the Fukuoka Domain on Kyushu Island. With the rapid expansion of the population in the two major cities of Edo and Osaka, briquettes have
It has become an important fuel in households. The salt-producing areas of the Seto Inland Sea also use coal as fuel to cook sea salt.
Murata Jiroemon said: "But I heard that the business in Ezo is monopolized by Matsumae Clan, and only merchants from Omi can get involved. Moreover, Ezo people have always been fierce, so..."
"You don't have to worry about the Ezo people. I have established a good cooperative relationship with them. As for Matsumae Clan, haha..."
When the two businessmen saw Zhao Xin's expression, they also guessed something. But when they learned from Zhao Xin what happened in Shachuan and Matsumae Castle, they couldn't help but mourn for the head of the Matsumae clan. It's not good to offend anyone, especially
I want to provoke Tang Yi.
Zhao Xin proposed that the three parties jointly set up a business company. The two businessmen were responsible for recruiting miners in the Sendai Domain territory and mining coal mines in North Senshu (Yubari) and Beiqujiang (Ishikari). All the mined coal would be purchased by Zhao Xin.
Sold to island countries.
As for the safety from the mine to Shachuan, Zhao Xin sent people to be responsible for it. The two businessmen could also hire ships to transport the coal all the way to Beihai. As for the price of the coal, Zhao Xin gave the two very satisfactory conditions.
The only condition that Zhao Xin asked the two businessmen to pay attention to and abide by is that you can use Ainu or refugees, but you must pay them enough and keep them well fed. If something goes wrong because of this,
Then don't blame yourself for turning against others.
The three of them discussed this matter for a whole day. Finally, Denzo Katsuyama was responsible for drafting and a tripartite cooperation agreement was put on paper.
The agreement stipulates that the shareholding ratios of Zhao Xin, Denzo Katsuyama and Jiroemon Murata are 30%, 35% and 35%. The relationship between the various Ainu tribes in the Ezo area, the coal mined in Ezo
Zhao Xin is responsible for the safety of the above-ground transportation lines; the other two businessmen are responsible for recruiting miners and transporting them to Ezo, establishing mining camps, etc. The income earned by the business is settled annually.
As for the name of the company, the two businessmen suggested starting with Zhao Xin, and Zhao Xin decided to call it "Beihai Company".
The cooperation came to an end, and the next step was small talk. So Zhao Xin mentioned going to Nagasaki Port.
Murata Jiroemon explained: "This is a bit difficult. Sir, you don't know. Foreign ships need a letter sign when they dock in Nagasaki. Without this, it would be very difficult."
"What about your merchant ships?"
"Although our ship does not require a letter plate, once we get off the ship, the Nagasaki officials discover that there are foreigners on the ship. Not to mention that the goods on the ship will be impounded, and everyone will be sent to jail."
Katsuyama Denzo asked: "Sir, do you want to go to Nagasaki to find Qing merchants?"
Zhao Xin nodded slowly: "I have this idea."
"This is very troublesome. It is said that merchants from the Qing Dynasty all live in the houses of the Tang Dynasty. The surroundings are heavily guarded and they are not allowed to go out at all. Even if you get on our ship and arrive at Nagasaki, you will not be able to get in."
Zhao Xin smiled nonchalantly, and then said: "Two bosses, are you interested in taking this Thor to go to Nagasaki together? Don't worry, the Thor is not your Benzai ship. We can get there in a few days.
return."
"Sir, what do you want?"
"Since the shogunate won't open the door, then I'll just break the door!"
As soon as he said these words, the two businessmen in front of him were completely frightened. Looking at the panicked two people in front of him, Zhao Xin suggested that they go back and think about it carefully. He would finish unloading the goods, take the money, and set off.
Denzo Katsuyama and Jiroemon Murata each returned home at night, and carefully considered the matter of boarding the ship to Nagasaki until late at night. Businessmen, as long as the profits are big, they are not afraid of the gallows. The two business owners thought that now even Sendai
The feudal vassals had to beg this Tang Yi leader to sell grain; and considering that since they cooperated with him to open a business, they were on the same boat. So now it was necessary to understand whether the force of these Tang Yi people was reliable.
Thinking of the previous cannon shooting scenes in Matsushima Town and Ishinomaki Port...
The next morning, two business owners and one person boarded the Thor.
Zhao Xin smiled as soon as he saw this man. He was an old acquaintance, Shibata Kakuzo, the head of the Sendai Domain stationed at the Ishinomaki Administrative Office.
After an explanation from the two businessmen, Zhao Xin found out that after some consideration last night, the two decided to go to Nagasaki with Zhao Xin to broaden their horizons. However, this was too big a deal and they were afraid that their small shoulders would not be able to carry it.
So he reported it early in the morning to the Sendai domain officials who were waiting for rice payment at Ishinomaki Port.
When this official of the Sendai Domain heard that Tang Yi was going to Nagasaki Port to teach the shogunate a lesson, he couldn't help but be very interested. Everyone in the Sendai Domain was happy to see the Tokugawa family suffer. Speaking of which... forget it,
There are so many grievances with the Tokugawa family that it would take days and nights to talk about them.
In view of the tight time given by Zhao Xin, it was finally decided to send Shibata Kakuzo, who had dealt with Zhao Xin several times before. This person was just a small official and could be thrown out as a scapegoat at any time if something happened.
Shibata Kakuzo, who has always wanted to be an invisible man, knew that he might be a victim this time. After bowing respectfully to Zhao Xin, he said: "This time I am sending you here because I want to follow you to see the North Sea."
The town's illustrious martial arts. Please allow me, sir. I'm sorry for causing you trouble."
Zhao Xin smiled in his heart, and the Sendai clan also took the bait.
"It's not troublesome. I just have more mouths to eat." After saying that, he asked Pingtai to lead the three of them to the cabin where they would stay.
Shibata Kakuzo was depressed, and people didn't take him seriously at all.
At noon, Sendai domain officials, who had inspected the quality of the rice, led a team of escorts and sent the small sum of 50,000 taels to the Thor.
After both parties finished checking, they bowed and said goodbye.
After Zhao Xin waited for the opponent's ship to go away, he immediately ordered the course to go south, aiming for Nagasaki.