My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 40 Trade Currency and Silver Mines

Siam, Luzon and other places are rich in sugarcane?
The Ming Dynasty did have the technology to make sugar, and it was not bad, because officials from the Ministry of Rites recorded that envoys from the Kingdom of Adan, namely the Arabs or Persia, usually praised the Ming Dynasty's frosted sugar.

They also admitted that a large part of the frosted sugar purchased from the Ming Dynasty was sold to countries further west, most likely Europe as Lao Li mentioned.

If the Ming Dynasty could successfully capture and control it, wouldn't the world's sugar trade be in the hands of the Ming Dynasty from then on?
The more Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it, the more excited he became. At the very least, the Ming Dynasty would be able to live a prosperous life - the army would be short of food and would use sugar as a supplement.

But what is rubber?

I think it must be very important, otherwise Lao Li would not have brought it up separately.

"Ming is rich in products and advanced in technology, while Siam, Luzon and other countries, except for growing fruits, sugar cane, rubber and other products, cannot be compared with Ming.

All countries can only provide raw materials to the Ming Dynasty.

And the Ming Dynasty can provide them with everything!
Therefore, in trade with other countries, the Ming Dynasty was in an absolute leading position.

So, where does one start the initial trade?

At present, the main commodities sold by the Ming Dynasty, including porcelain, raw silk, satin, tea, and cloth, are all controlled by the gentry. If you want to bypass the gentry, you can only find another way!
I'm sure you've already figured it out, Old Zhu, that's sugar!"

Zhu Yuanzhang instantly got goosebumps all over his body and a deep sense of identification surged in his heart.

He was deeply moved by the tacit understanding that heroes share similar views and the same principles.

"The Ming Dynasty purchased sugarcane from various countries, made it into white sugar, and then sold it. In this process, the scissors gap began to play its role.

In countries like Siam and Luzon, sugarcane is plentiful and extremely cheap, but what about white sugar? Let alone them, even in the Ming Dynasty, I’m afraid not everyone can afford it, right?
In this way, the Ming Dynasty would be able to gain huge profits from maritime trade in a short period of time.

These profits will be reinvested in production, scale expansion, and technology improvement. The snowball will keep getting bigger and bigger, and the stronger you get, the stronger you will become! "

Zhu Yuanzhang was so excited that he clenched his fists unconsciously. Li Han's words really touched his heart.

“Of course, I have mentioned before that maritime trade is not just about trade. The logic behind it is sea power.

Maritime power begins with controlling the waterway. On the waterway leading to the Western Ocean, there is only one waterway that can connect the Arab world, Persia and India in the west, and Luzon, Johor, Siam and even the Ming Dynasty in the east. This waterway is the Strait of Malacca!

With control of the Strait of Malacca, all maritime trade between the East and the West was in the hands of the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, the first stop of the Ming Dynasty's maritime trade was Temasek, located in the southeast corner of Johor!"

Temasek?
At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang wished he had a map in his hand so that he could read the letter while pointing out the country on the map.

"To put it simply, the control of sea power is based on military power, trade power, and culture power. The Confucian teachings of the Ming Dynasty should be used to influence the barbarians.

How did you say it, Old Zhu? To educate the barbarians, to admire the majesty of the Ming Dynasty, and to bathe in the great grace of the emperor!
By that moment, I am afraid that those sour Confucian scholars in the court and the public who speak for the aristocratic families will have to start supporting your maritime policy, Old Zhu.

This means that as long as you become strong, there will be great scholars who will debate for you. "

"Hahahaha! Old Li, ah, Old Li, you are really something. I have a great scholar to debate for me? Very insightful! Very insightful! You are really too mean, Old Li!"

When I think of those stale moralists and great scholars who desperately attacked the government for the interests of the aristocracy, I feel forced to support the ridiculous scene.

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter.
"In short, the Ming Dynasty is not something that people like, but something that people fear!
The tribute system can only gain a few good words from foreign countries, but trade and culture can make foreign countries completely submit to the Ming Dynasty!

Trade controls the economy, culture controls the mind, after achieving these two points, then the real tough guy will come next!"

A real tough guy?

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but widen his eyes. Could there be another expert?
"Have you ever thought about what currency to use for our first trade with overseas countries?

I will tell you the answer directly, it is gold and silver. However, when the Ming Dynasty dominated the trade with foreign countries with goods, it could no longer use gold and silver. "

If we don’t use gold and silver, then what can we use? Zhu Yuanzhang was very confused.

"The Ming Dynasty can sign agreements with various foreign states, stipulating that only treasure notes can be used for trade, making treasure notes an international currency, that is, a currency used by all countries for trade.

From then on, foreign countries could only use treasure notes to trade with the Ming Dynasty, or they could only use treasure notes to trade with each other.

How to obtain Baochao? One way is to exchange it with domestic goods, and the other is to exchange it with gold and silver. In this way, the Ming Dynasty only needs to print Baochao to obtain the goods and gold and silver of various countries for free.

How is it? Are you very excited? "

Zhu Yuanzhang's mind exploded. This method was simply a genius move that was unprecedented in the world!

No wonder Lao Li said that banknotes are more useful than battleships, it is indeed true!
"Of course, there is something even more ruthless, called currency tides, which can fatten up the vassal states first, then harvest them, fatten them again, then harvest them again, and harvest them over and over again.

However, this method is too contrary to the harmony of heaven and is a double-edged sword. It also poses a major hidden danger to the Ming Dynasty. If we are not careful, the Ming Dynasty will fall into an irreparable situation, so I will not elaborate on it here. "

Yes, yes, yes, Lao Li, you are right. Our Ming Dynasty is a country of etiquette and propriety, and we don’t use methods that go against the harmony of nature.

"Of course, these foreign nations can only provide raw materials, not much gold and silver.

So the beginning of all this is to let the treasure banknotes circulate.

In order to circulate and make everyone trust the Baochao, the anchoring of Baochao and silver must be achieved first.

So, back to the question just now, how to solve the problem of money?

Old Zhu, you are already thirsty and horny, right?
To the east of the Ming Dynasty, there is a country, which was called Wakoku in ancient times and is now called Japan.

In Japan, there are three super silver mines with a total silver reserve of about 1.9 million koku. The Japanese themselves don't know about it yet. Old Zhu, are you interested in taking this silver?"

One million nine hundred thousand? Stone?

Zhu Yuanzhang's brain was buzzing at this time. Calm down, calm down. I am the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and I am the one who will open the era of maritime power of the Ming Dynasty!

Don't act like you've never seen the world!
But how much is 1.9 million shi?

One shi is four jin, one jin is thirty jin, and thirty jin is four hundred and eighty liang.

How many taels are those 1.9 million shi?
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang could no longer care about anything else. He found paper and pen and started to calculate.

It’s a pity that there is no accountant in the inner hall right now, so Old Zhu has to do the calculation himself!

What about those guys who are proficient in arithmetic in the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College? I really want to gather them all over to do the math for me!

It’s so hateful! Why didn’t the private school teacher spend more time teaching mathematics?
Let us, Old Zhu, carry all the details!
It's useless!
You deserve it for teaching your whole life and never being able to pass the exam to become a scholar!

It’s true that when the book is used, it will be less regrettable!
After fiddling with it for a long time, Zhu Yuanzhang finally figured it out. Then, he looked at the pile of Chinese characters on the paper and fell into deep confusion.

Three hundred and sixty four hundred and eighty million taels!

Note 1: Johor is in Malaysia. I don’t need to tell you where Temasek is, right?

There is another chapter at midnight

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(End of this chapter)