living in 16th century england

Chapter 38
In June 1510, the Plymouth Shipping Company ended its price-finding operation.Relying on the commercial treaty signed by Henry VII, the sweep of goods in Western Europe and Northern Europe began.

Usually it goes like this: they come, and then one or several items are sold out, very exaggerated.Not even bricks if there is spare tonnage on board.

Of course, they will also unload some goods and sell them at normal local prices.The so-called normal price is to make local traders feel profitable.Some commodities can still be profitable as long as they are shipped inland.

Empty every time?In some places, local traders and exporters think that this price can be mentioned?
Please note that the prices of many commodities cannot be set at will by just a small businessman or handicraft.

In this era, it is common for guilds to monopolize production.Whether they do it with fists and knives or the laws of power makes no difference in essence.

What the hell did the guild do to monopolize?
First, control the supply of raw materials.

Second, stipulate the number of handicraft workshops.

Third, innovation is not allowed to increase production efficiency.

Fourth, control the production quantity of the workshop.Can be replaced by quota.Is this word taller?
Fifth, specify the price.

Sixth, force peers to join the association.

Seventh, monopoly technology.You can only improve if I improve.

Eighth, use all means to control prices.Regulation and control are not the same thing.You can stipulate that every human being who basks in the sun pays you a sunshine tax.But whatever means you make sure of that, that's called control.

Ninth, use power to suppress people.Those with vested interests in the guild are usually councilors or leaders of a city.

No matter how modern times beautify them, they are actually the underworld in a certain sense.Their lowest-level core power comes from violence.They are not to produce more products to meet people's needs, but to maximize profits.

For example, in some places in England later, the local guilds stipulated that woolen producers could only have one loom.Think about it, how can those who own looms listen to them?

Preventing latecomers from catching up is one of the important considerations of capitalists, and this has never changed.

Matthew also wanted to start a guild, but he finally chose to take the upper-level route.To do this, at most local tyrants in one city and one place, the upper limit is not high.Turning England into his rear is Matthew's goal.

In the age of great voyages, wealth should come from the sea, instead of squeezing those poor handicraftsmen.

In many ports, the source of goods is usually provided by various guilds.As long as the money is in place, it is very convenient for centralized shipment.After a few trips, naturally, someone wanted to raise the price.

However, something happened that surprised them.These bastards wouldn't give a penny more.Rather pack a pile of bricks and leave Hong Kong.And then...not coming for months.Once the number of times increases, the act of raising prices will disappear.

But these people have money.Clearing out inventory is a good thing anyway.Expanding production to earn more money has become an inevitable choice for many guilds.

But now there are only six boats, which are inconspicuous on this long coastline.

How many coastal ports are there in Northern Europe and Western Europe?There are 86 in the UK alone, and many more.Many commodities can be called one price for one place.The only problem is that the market capacity in various places is not large.But the cost of sea transportation is ten times or even a hundred times cheaper than land transportation.I'm really not afraid of losing money if I can't sell it.

There was a dull explosion of "tong", and the artillery shook slightly.A big tree in front suddenly "clicked" and fell slowly.

A group of people howled excitedly, and some even hugged each other.

The blacksmith looked delighted and triumphant.

Blacksmith is actually his name.That's right, a blacksmith is called a blacksmith, a blacksmith who is not a blacksmith, if you pronounce it, it is Smith.Yes, Smith means blacksmith.

To use a profession as a name, isn't it filthy?Unfortunately, this is very common in the West.

Smith & Wesson can be translated into Blacksmith Village, or Blacksmith West Village.I am happy to see you.

So, is the blacksmith taller?Or is Smith taller?
This is actually a false proposition ~ because any height you feel is actually given by your mother tongue.

Matthew got on the horse: "I've seen it, but it's not a success."

Smith jumped three feet: "This doesn't count? How can it be considered a success?"

Matthew: "Measure the direct shooting distance, and adjust the powder charge~ it should not be smaller than a copper cannon of the same caliber. After the gunpowder is fixed, fire 50...no...30 rounds in a row."

Smith's face suddenly collapsed: "..."

Matthew turned the horse's head: "By the way, be careful of the spontaneous combustion of the gunpowder, and don't kill people."

He stopped again: "The gunpowder can be wrapped tightly with cloth or something, and the size should match the caliber. When using it, use a knife to pierce a hole to expose the gunpowder, and just stuff it in and face the fire door."

When Smith heard it, yes.Why didn't I think of it?Then I thought about it: "What kind of fabric? Linen?"

Matthew scratched his scalp, thought for a while and didn't tell him, that thing is too expensive: "You try it first and see if there is any cheap one."

Smith was a little messy, I asked the fabric, what the hell did the Baron say cheap?

England currently has no gunpowder manufacturing capability.It's all imported at around 10p a pound.In fact, there was a general lack of saltpeter in Europe.When many people talk about firearms, they must call Gustav. In fact, it is only because Sweden has saltpeter mines that he plays with muskets and artillery.

There is a war ahead, what should we do if there is no saltpeter?Salad.

A later British king even declared that all toilets in the country belonged to the state.Other pigpens and stables are also hard to escape. The priest calls on the believers to urinate collectively after worship, and the stools in the church are the source of high-quality nitrate soil.

At that time, it was even believed that women's urine "contained more nitrate", and they chanted slogans like "For your husband in the front line, donate a pee".

Of course Matthew wants to produce gunpowder, but he thinks it is still cheap now, that is, to collect some saltpeter for later use.That's right, when the price is low, by the way, the accumulation of a little makes a lot, and you can only get in and out.

He is now a second-rate dealer, earning the difference.It's just that few people dare to play like this in this era, and the cost is too high.

With this method, Fan Li can become very rich just by dumping rice.It wasn't just wheat that Matthew was messing around with now.In the age of information occlusion, it is so easy to make a fortune after knowing the price accurately.

The man in the helmet stretched his head to look around: "...won't you go and see the cannon?"

Matthew: "An iron tube, what's so interesting?"

Helmet man: "...you don't seem to care, is it because you've seen better ones?"

Matthew was a little annoyed and ignored him.

Helmet man: "Did you find the slag remover?"

Matthew: "Can you ask less questions?"

The man in the helmet was used to it, so he didn't take it seriously, "Okay, but I can tell you something... I heard that the king ordered that a group of homeless people from all over the world be sent to you."

This shocked Matthew: "Homeless? How many are there?"

The man in the helmet turned his head aside: "How much is it?"

Soldier: "...2000, Se'er."

Matthew: "...Are you sure?"

Helmet man: "Is this still fake?"

Matthew glanced at the soldiers behind him and stopped asking.

I thought, Henry VIII clearly knew the situation here, even how many people were missing.But no one came to ask about marrying a commoner.Sure enough, he was also playing dead.

Matthew: "Would you like to go to the pub for a drink?"

The man in the helmet smiled and said, "As long as you treat me, that's fine."

Now Matthew is no longer carrying glasses and beer.Because there are ready-made in the tavern.It can be described as his special cup.

There were not many people in the tavern, and they were all foreign captains and sailors.The trade fleet recruited and took all decent native sailors with it.However, several teenagers were diligently cleaning, wiping the tables and chairs.

These are orphans, only one is a local, the others are recruited from other places.

Helmet man: "I heard that the Hawkins family had a fight with someone the year before last. Is there such a thing?"

Matthew didn't deny it either: "That's all in the past tense...why are you asking this?"

The man in the helmet: "I'm curious, why are those councilors and sheriffs now admiring the Hawkins family so much? It is said that they are planning to choose your father as sheriff?"

Matthew: "Simple...because I bought everything from them."

The man in the helmet stuttered in surprise: "You...you just squander the king's investment like this?"

Matthew took out the tobacco rod, and slowly filled the shredded tobacco: "Who told you that I lost money?"

The man in the helmet was speechless for a moment, and then hesitated: "...Everything can make money?"

Matthew was about to stand up, but a boy came over with a candle.

Matthew lit it and said thank you.

"It's okay to tell you, although it took a little effort, the profit is more or less... um... except for soap, which just doesn't lose money."

Helmet Man: "How did you do it?"

Matthew smiled: "Do you know what is the most profitable commodity in Plymouth?"

Helmet man: "Franco cannon?"

Matthew was annoyed: "It's not that, it's a tin product, understand. But that guy's production capacity is insufficient, so he can't sell the price. I let him make at least [-]% more. Your wine glass is a tin product, so is this flagon, and that So are the candlesticks."

Helmet: "...so?"

Matthew nodded him with his hand: "So, I rounded up all the tin ore in Cornwall. When the Portuguese comes again in the future, he will not be able to buy even a piece of tin ore. All the tin craftsmen in Plymouth can only buy from I'll get the materials here."

Helmet man: "...you...you, can you still do this in business?"

Matthew: "Of course, let's put it this way, if I have more funds, I can make many people stop selling raw materials, and everyone can produce industrial products with one brain, and everyone will earn more."

Helmet man: "...well, you are indeed a business genius, I said ~ what else is good, can you bring me?"

Matthew wondered: "Good thing? Don't you have a salary?"

The man in the helmet paused for a few seconds: "I want to earn more money and marry Anna as your brother-in-law."

Matthew chuckled: "...you are really straightforward. But, have you ever thought about being a door-to-door son-in-law?"

The head of the helmet shook like a rattle: "May my child be named Hawkins? You can only follow Anna when you go out? Absolutely not."

Matthew was expressionless: "Anna will have 1000 pounds of property in her name, as well as 400 acres of good land in Plymouth and a manor near London."

Helmet man: "..."

Matthew took a puff of cigarette, and the smoke was lingering: "...my sister will manage all the land, sheep, manor, and winery of the Hawkins family in the future... tell me... your choice?"

The helmeted man stood up: "..."

Matthew: "..."

Helmet man: "...you want to seduce me with money? It can't be done. I want to marry Anna, but not for her property or dowry. Haven't you ever thought of the word love?"

The more he talked, the more angry he took off his helmet and threw it on the ground angrily, roaring: "You're insulting me, you know? You're insulting me! I'm going to fight you...!"

Suddenly, there was a soft "clang".This unlucky guy was knocked unconscious by an armored soldier.

Nima, what's the matter?Matthew's eyeballs almost fell out.

"Mr. Hawkins, are you okay? Please rest assured, it is our job to eliminate all possible dangers."

(End of this chapter)