Chapter 129: Garrison in Ryukyu

After such a prodigal purchase, although a large number of exquisite goods became reserves in his own warehouse, the money in the warehouse flew into Qin Hao's pocket as if it had wings. For a time, all kinds of discussions started. Placed it in front of Prince Shangren.

"Your Majesty, shouldn't we mention the salary of Ryukyu!"

"Your Majesty, the common people feel that the tax on sugarcane fields is too high, and they hope it can be reduced by 10%!"

"Your Majesty,"

The ministers of Qiuqiu said one thing after another, which made King Shonin confused. He had never seen these ministers so actively thinking about the people of Ryukyu in the past.

King Shannin had no way to solve it himself, so he presented the problem to Qin Hao. After all, it was Keelung who produced such exquisite goods, otherwise the wealth of Ryukyu monarchs and ministers would have been wiped out so quickly.

"This is a bit troublesome."

Qin Hao had a wry smile on his face, but in his heart he had already begun to pretend to be a pig and eat the tiger.

Oh, no, actually the guy opposite may not even be considered a tanuki.

"King Shonin, look, rice, ironware, cotton cloth, vegetable oil, soybean oil, these are all goods that take up a lot of space! If we transport them to Ryukyu, we can't always put them on the ship. And if we buy sugar cane, we have to transport it away immediately. Or squeeze the sugar, otherwise it will rot!"

Faced with Qin Hao's straightforward request, the Ryukyu monarchs and ministers wondered if they had discussed too much about human physiology and behavioral arts with their concubines at home under the temperate sunshine. No one can react!

"Cough! Cough!" Qin Hao, who was speechless for a while, could only cough to cover up his helplessness and embarrassment and his remembrance of the intelligence of Ryukyu monarchs and ministers.

"My lord," Yan Yi, who was able to relieve Qin Hao's worries at this time, analyzed, "Let's see if your land can sell some land to the Qin and Han companies, so that the companies can store various goods here and settle down workers. It’s easy to live in and open a shop.”

Qin Hao took advantage of the situation and expressed his thoughts: "If the land by the Naha Port River can be sold, I plan to buy some land there and build a pressing mill. In this way, the purchased sugar cane can be rough rolled and transported. What comes back is jaggery, which is very convenient.”

Can you still do this?

Ryukyu's monarchs and ministers just woke up from a dream.

It turns out that land is needed. This is a simple matter. Although Ryukyu is a small country, it has a lot of land. Taking out a few islands and demarcating an area is not a problem at all.

"Give me as much land as you want!"

Thank you to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for your blessing!

Qin Hao's proposal to change the form of sugarcane trading immediately made Ryukyu King Shangren, Prime Minister Wang Chao and officials all smile. Finally, they no longer had to worry about the prodigal ladies at home draining their wealth!

And the quick-thinking officials have already made plans for the sugarcane fields: the best yield from Ryukyu's sugarcane fields is about a thousand kilograms per acre.

Calculated based on one tael of sugar juice produced from one pound of sugar cane. One acre of field is equivalent to one thousand kilograms of sugar. Based on this calculation, it was a good plan to set up a sugar press in Ryukyu.

"I wonder what method Ryukyu uses to grow sugar cane? How many sugar canes are harvested every year?"

Sugarcane cultivation generally has two methods: spring planting and autumn planting.

Spring planting of sugarcane is sown in spring, with a growing period from July to 11 months, and harvested in the winter of the current year or in the spring of the following year. Autumn sugarcane is planted in autumn and harvested after about one and a half years of growth.

When planting sugarcane in spring, its germination coincides with the rising temperature in spring. The peak growth period is in the strong light and high temperature season from June to October, which is conducive to growth. The ripening period is in the cold, dry winter, which is conducive to the accumulation of sugar. But it has a fatal flaw, which is that the yield is very low. Generally, the harvest from one acre of land is only about a hundred kilograms.

When sowing sugarcane in autumn, the temperature is high, it germinates quickly, the germination rate is very high, the tillering and elongation time is early, and it matures early. It has the advantages of high yield, high sugar and high juice. However, the growing season lasts for one and a half years, and the land utilization rate is relatively low. In winter, sugarcane fields are a place for pests to overwinter, causing serious damage and generally causing losses.

Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you are in Keelung, someone will inevitably report to Qin Hao the amount of planting, what kind of planting technology is used, the approximate yield per mu and the total output, etc. All the figures are available.

It's a pity that this is Ryukyu, not Keelung. From the King of Ryukyu on down, there are all lords who don't know the difficulties of farming. How can they know about the cultivation of sugarcane fields.

Looking at the group of pot-bellied princes and ministers in front of him, Qin Hao couldn't help but secretly cursed, "Absurd! Idiots!"

I originally wanted to discuss it and let this group of gentlemen implement rotation, intercropping, and intercropping of sugarcane fields in Ryukyu to enhance land utilization, maintain land fertility, and ensure crop growth.

But now it seems that this is not necessary.

Based on his strategic layout and future plans, Qin Hao plans to let Ryukyu grow vegetables and fruits directly in the sugarcane fields!

Ryukyu’s geographical and strategic location is really suitable for being an intermediate stop and supply point on the trade network!

Naha Port is located on the southwest coast of Ryukyu Island. It is about 160 nautical miles from Miyakojima Hirara Port to the southwest, 330 nautical miles to Keelung Port to the south, 150 nautical miles to Amami Oshima in the northeast, 340 nautical miles to Kagoshima Port of Satsuma Domain, and 340 nautical miles to the northwest. Ningbo Prefecture in Zhejiang Province is 400 nautical miles away, and Songjiang Prefecture in Jiangnan Province is 400 nautical miles away.

In the face of first-class battleships with excellent performance such as the Bloodthirsty Wolf and the Wansheng, it almost takes a few days to get to any of the above ports from here.

"General, in your opinion, what kind of crops can we grow in the sugarcane fields of Ryukyu?"

"This seems to depend on the ruler and ministers of your country. However, from Qin's point of view, it seems that it would be better to plant some vegetables and fruits."

Like a chicken pecking rice into pieces, Prince Naohito kept nodding his head, causing the Ryukyu people behind him to keep nodding in agreement.

"Vegetables and fruits are scarce things in life at sea. In the future, my ships from Keelung to Ryukyu will have to provide supplies at your place, including clean water, vegetables and fruits, various meats, etc."

It's just the father and son of the Shang family. They have always been in the deep palace and don't know how difficult it is to farm. Oh, if the landlord's yard can be considered a deep palace.

On the other hand, Ryukyu's new Prime Minister, Wang Chao, lowered his head, stroking his fingers and thinking about his family fortune, his small eyes constantly shining with joy.

"There are many ships coming and going from Ryukyu. It would be a good deal if the passing ships would replenish water, vegetables, fruits, etc. here!"

In the past few days at his residence on Kume Island, Wang Chao, who was almost stunned by the sudden announcement of the position of Prime Minister, gradually woke up from the initial ecstasy and looked at the high piles of invitations and invitations. Gift list, he felt more and more that if he wanted to continue in this position, he would have to hug Keelung Jun's thick legs very firmly!

After discussing with Yan Yi, he knew that what the general wanted most right now was to choose a place to build a house on the main island of Ryukyu, to build a collapsed house, a warehouse, a warehouse, and to build a dock that could berth large ships. By the way, there is also the sugar pressing workshop mentioned earlier.

This is a great thing! Not only can you make profits from it, but you can also hug Keelung Army's thick thighs more closely and firmly!

"I would like to thank the general for his kindness on behalf of my king! I don't know what land you are talking about buying. Where do you want to buy it? How much is it?"

The land that Qin Hao and his naval subordinates are most optimistic about is the plain near Naha Port, where houses, forts and defense facilities can be built, as well as special berths and docks.

In order to control the lifeline of Ryukyu, the construction of Keelung Navy must be close to the coast or along the river, and the facilities on land can support each other by launching artillery shells.

What attracted the attention of Qin Hao and others was the piece of land on the northeastern shore of the Changhu Waterway in the port. The water depth here is about ten meters. After the dock berth is built, ships like the Wansheng can be berthed.

In the future, more and larger ships will be anchored here, and Naha Port will be the busiest turnover port for the Keelung Army heading to the mainland and the north.

After some arguments that were not considered bargaining, Keelung Army and Qinhan Company purchased almost all the coastal land around Naha Port at the price of three years of sugarcane per mu of land.

"Ha! They say Keelung Jun is a shrewd businessman! I can't see it like this. How can the beaches and piles of rocks on the seaside be compared with the land where sugar cane can be grown? And three years of per-acre yield at a fixed price? Isn't that really a lot of money? The young master of the local beauty!" The prince Shangyi couldn't help but feel overjoyed when he saw his father using the Ryukyu King's Seal heavily on the land purchase contract.

"Once this contract is signed, Ryukyu will be in the hands of our Keelung Army!" When Qin Hao pressed the gold seal of the President of the Keelung Army and in charge of money, food and civil affairs on the contract, the contract came into effect. Keelung was present. Almost everyone in the army had this idea.

"Prince Shang, from now on my ships will come continuously on the waves. For all kinds of goods imported from Keelung to Ryukyu, what standards do you think should be used for taxation?"

Hearing this, King Shonin was shocked: "Does it mean that the Ryukyu Palace can collect taxes on the goods coming in from the Keelung Army?!"

This is a great thing!

Although collecting taxes on maritime trade is not a new thing in Ryukyu, have you ever thought about collecting taxes on the Shimazu family before?

Those ferocious-looking Hatamoto samurai don't have to cut off your big head with a single blow of the sword, that's fine! If you still want to get money, you just want to eat the peach!

"This, this, the Keelung Army rescued me from danger and repaid me with abundant food and clothing. If I haven't repaid the kindness, how can I collect the tax from the Keelung Army? This is absolutely impossible! Collect it. With the tax from the Keelung Army, how will the little king go to see his ancestors underground in the future? "King Shangren is still timid.

"Is Prince Shang worried about Qin's sincerity? There are many kinds of goods in maritime trade, and it is sometimes difficult to clarify the tax rate. In this way, how about we conduct a trial trial at a tax rate of 5% per 100? If the prince does not have anyone to do it for the time being, For these trivial and complicated matters, we, the Keelung Army and the Qinhan Company, can spare some manpower to serve the prince."

Qin Hao's meaning is obvious. According to his proposal, the Ryukyu Kingdom only needs to sit in the palace, drink tea and talk, and enjoy the wind and sun on the dock, and argue with people on various sea ships. The people from the army did the work on their behalf. According to the standard of 5 out of 100 taxes received, the Keelung Army will be sent to the Ryukyu Palace in full.

Is there such a good thing in the world? Ryukyu King Shangren was almost knocked unconscious by the big pie falling from the sky.

But the prince blinked and thought of a very serious problem. "What if these tax collectors from Keelung work hard and pay too much for less? No! We still need to draw a line to prevent these guys from deceiving us!"

"You must pay at least 200,000 taels of tax money to the Ryukyu Palace every year!" The prince said loudly.

Two hundred thousand taels? Why don't you go to sea and grab it? !

King Shangren noticed immediately when he saw the faces of the Keelung Army changed. He pretended to be dignified and reprimanded his son: "Foolish thing! The Keelung Army is kind and righteous. How could they be so petty and mean for some petty gains?!"

Under the apparent harmony between the two sides, each of them made their own calculations.

Finally, the Keelung Army and the Ryukyu Kingdom reached a "Tariff Agency Agreement", which stipulated that from July of the first year of Chongzhen. Ryukyu's maritime trade tax activities were collected by the Keelung Army.

Half of the tax was used for public facilities construction, and the remaining half was given to the Ryukyu royal family for their own use.

In order to ensure the smooth progress of tax collection, the Keelung Army could station three teams of navy and army (600 people) in the Naha Port of the Ryukyu Kingdom to guard against treacherous people at sea.

Since then, Prince Shangyi never mentioned the three words "two hundred thousand" again.

"Father, do you think the Keelung Army can collect all the silver dollars for us? And will they capture Amami Oshima and hand it over to us when they go north to Japan this time?"

"You are confused!"

At the dock, the Shang family father and son still sent off Qin Hao's Wansheng with the ceremony of kneeling and kowtow three times, and returned to the palace as if relieved.

"How many ships have arrived in Ryukyu from Keelung in the past few days? Have you seen them?"

"According to the report from Wang Chao, that traitor, there are about ten ships."

"Do you know what they are transporting?"

"When the guards went to the dock to watch the excitement, they saw some big things, all of which were forged with so-called fine steel. They are said to be sugar presses, which are much more effective than our stone presses!"

"How is the military of Keelung?"

"Strong soldiers who have fought hundreds of battles are indestructible!"

"Then you are still looking for death. Don't always use your little thoughts to guess the thoughts of these big men. If they are all the same as what you think, would the great ancestor have sent thirty-six surnames to Ryukyu to help us build ships?!"

Shang Yi, who was scolded by his father, lowered his head and dared not say a word. His former clever appearance was swept away by these scolding words.

"Son! You must remember that your father is old and will soon meet his ancestors. Ryukyu will be handed over to you in the future."

"As the ruler of a country, the most important thing is to judge the situation and avoid harm. This era is not yours to decide. When I die, you should be your king of Ryukyu. As for other things, don't ask about them."

The father taught his son how to be a king, which is also a skill to survive in this chaotic world.

"What you have to do now is to have a good relationship with Wang Chao and Yan Yi, and go to the construction site at Naha Port at least once a day to reward them well."

Wang Chao is now the Prime Minister of Ryukyu, in charge of the administration of Ryukyu. Yan Yi was appointed by Qin Hao to stay in Ryukyu as a representative of the Keelung Army to coordinate business and tariffs.

One inside and one outside, watching Ryukyu closely!

"Go and see if they need us to help them build houses and docks, such as recruiting laborers and collecting materials. Remember, although the Keelung Army looks kind, they are more terrifying than the Shimazu family with murderous faces!" King Shangren's words were engraved in Shangyi's heart like a knife and an axe. [If you like this novel, I hope you can share it on Facebook. The author will be grateful. ]