Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 120 Bordeaux Situation ([-])

In December 1634, with the installation of the last 12 machines, the workers began trial production. So far, the first phase of the entire Ping'an Machine Weaving Factory has been completed, and the factory has entered a tense production process.By the end of the month, the factory had produced more than 20 pieces of cotton cloth, together with the more than 5000 pieces produced in November, and stored them in the warehouse together, declaring the official success of the Ping An Machine Weaving Factory.

At the same time, the machine weaving factory of the East Bank Company on the banks of the Big Fish River is also producing in an orderly manner. The monthly output of 250 woolen cloth and 1000 cotton cloths will completely occupy the La Plata market.The high-quality and cheap east coast textiles have greatly boosted the consumption in the La Plata region. The Rodriguez Chamber of Commerce has been urging the goods, because the current production can only meet the needs of La Plata, the neighboring upper Peru and Chile. It is also very big, and I am anxiously waiting for the products to occupy the market.For this reason, Dong'an Company is now considering a small-scale expansion of production in the squeezed area by the Dayu River.

The whole country presents a flourishing scene of prosperity.

At the beginning of January 1635, just after New Year's Day, all five warships had been reorganized into the First Fleet of the Republic of China on the East Coast: "August 1th", "Eagle of the East Coast", "Red Trout", The "Beagle" and the "Sea Writer" slowly sailed out of the Dongfang Port military pier after replenishing a large amount of ammunition, drinking water and food, spare ship materials and canvas.In the next few months, this fleet of more than 5 people and 1000 large-caliber naval guns will go to the Caribbean for "trade" and "test voyage".Of course, this is just an official document. In fact, everyone knows what this powerful fleet is doing. This new country's thirst for funds is too strong!

The battleship "August [-]th" was the first time that it made such a long-distance voyage after it was commissioned into active service. The longest voyage before it was to deliver a batch of supplies to the Falkland Islands.During this trip to the Caribbean, the fleet commander, Lieutenant Commander Lu Ming, still aimed to train the newcomers on the "August [-]th" as soon as possible to form combat effectiveness.

Before the fleet departed, Ministers of Trade Xu Xin and Sun Bo temporarily joined in under the order of the Executive Committee. They carried about 5000 bolts of cotton cloth and 300 tons of potatoes. After the fleet arrived in the Caribbean Sea, Lu Ming will Arrange for a ship to take them to Bordeaux, and it's time for the commercial station there to reopen.

In mid-March, the naval ships of the East Coast Republic arrived at Cape-de-France Port in Santo Domingo, France again after more than half a year.The residents of Cape de France warmly welcomed the naval soldiers of the East Coast Republic, because they would buy a lot of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products and meat here every time they docked, and at the same time sell some commodities that local residents need, This mutually beneficial relationship between the two parties is quite harmonious.

Two days of rest in the sunny Cape de France.Two days later, Xu Xin and the "Eagle of the East Coast" and "Maritime Writer" full of cargo joined a French merchant ship and left Cape-de-France for Bordeaux.Before they left, the eye-catching battleship "August [-]th" had already left with two other gunboats and headed north.It is said that they were going to wander around the British colony.Those British merchant ships were loaded with tobacco leaves, indigo and cotton back and forth between the colony and the mainland. As a captain who was interested in privateing at sea, Lu Ming had no reason to let them go.

On May 5, the "Eagle of the East Coast" and the "Maritime Writer", which sailed through the Canary Islands of Spain, arrived in Bordeaux under the guidance of the Pasquale family ships, and docked at the pier on the Gironde River.Julian of the Pasquale family came to the pier with his servants to meet Xu Xin and the two. Julian bought 1 tons of potatoes on the spot at a price of 300 francs (12 yuan) per ton.

Today's food famine in Europe shows no signs of easing at all, and food prices keep rising.Beginning in 32, a large-scale war broke out between Poland and Russia, the traditional grain exporting countries, over Smolensk. Grain exports were interrupted for a while, which led to a new round of rise in grain prices in Central and Western European countries. In 1598, Britain imported 1.8 tons of grain from Poland, costing about 25 pounds, and the price of grain at that time was less than 14 pounds per ton; but today, the price of wheat has climbed to 50 pounds per ton at its peak. The sky-high price of nearly 200 pounds (about [-] yuan).

Although the potatoes of the Eastern Republic of China were not the mainstream food on the European table at this time, in order to fill their stomachs, I believe that ordinary people can still make the right choice between expensive wheat and cheap potatoes.Although the price of each ton of potatoes is only 60 yuan, Xu Xin is quite satisfied with this, which means that it can bring more than [-] yuan in revenue to the national treasury every year, and the ability to make money is almost comparable to that of the textile industry. .

Just hired someone to transport 5000 bolts of cotton cloth to the house bought last year as a trading station and warehouse. Julian brought several skilled workers from the family's textile factory to the door, and he couldn't wait to ask to see the goods.

"Julian, you are so impatient, haha." Xu Xin said with a smile, "Don't worry, my friend, there is no flaw in the quality of 'East Coast Cloth'. This time I brought 5000 bolts of cotton cloth as The first funds to start a business station, good times are coming. Don't you need a drink?"

Julian smiled and said, "Okay, let's have a drink."

"Wine or distilled brandy?" Xu Xin opened the wine cabinet and asked.

"Brandy, thank you."

Xu Xin poured a glass of wine for each of them, then clinked glasses and said, "Cheers to our coming era."

"Cheers." Julian took a sip of his wine, and then said: "My ship has already set off for Dongfang Port in early January. Can you provide enough goods? I need to confirm again. My family and I are in There's a big bet here. You know, there's no room for failure."

"Your ship can arrive at Dongfang Port in early April. Don't worry. If there is no accident, we have produced more than 4 cotton cloths, or even more. Think about it, these more than 2 cotton cloths have been shipped into Bordeaux, and per piece... um, by the way, what is the price you set for the cotton cloth?" Xu Xin asked.

"10-11 sous per horse (about 2.5-2.75 yuan)."

"Why set such a high price?" Xu Xin frowned, and asked a little unhappy: "For many years, the price of cotton cloth in the Bordeaux market has been hovering between 12 sous and 14 sous. In recent years, the cotton output of the West Indies The price of cotton cloth is stable, and the price of cotton cloth is even more stable at around 12 sous. My friend, at this time, we should use a price that impresses our opponents to quickly defeat them, and then occupy the entire market. But you set a price for Dongan cloth an unsuitable price, and tell me, Julian, can eleven sous a horse do it?"

"Maybe." Julian said with some embarrassment. "Now the raw materials, taxes and transportation costs of craftsmen add up to about 11 sous per horse. They are just earning a little hard money. At this price, they have no competition." The only way to go is bankruptcy."

"The targets you are aiming at are those handicraftsmen who are suffering?" Xu Xin looked at Julian bitterly, and said, "Tell me! Does the textile factory cost only 10 sous per piece of cloth? Tell me! Do this Will it only encourage them to unite and increase the scale to reduce costs? Tell me! Did the bankrupt handlooms provide them with a lot of cheap labor and skilled workers? Tell me! In this way, they Will the cost be lower?"

Julian remained silent.

Xu Xinxin drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, then walked up and down the room, and then asked, "Who set the price?"

"The price was set jointly by Mr. Flores of the Textile Guild and Baron Loris. Of course, if we insist, they will definitely consider our opinions carefully." Julian said, "In fact, my father's point of view is different from theirs. They believe that we can maintain such a flat price in the early stage, and then adjust the price according to the situation, so as to maximize profits.”

"Stupid!" Xu Xin said in his heart, "These guys probably don't think much about long-term business. They are all short-sighted ghosts who are ready to make a lot of money as soon as possible. They don't even know how huge the emerging cloth market is. It can be said that in the early days of the industrial revolution, Britain basically pointed at this living thing. Short-sighted, short-sighted!"

"The price must be adjusted." Xu Xin insisted, "The price of each piece of cotton cloth should not exceed 10 sous. At this price, the cost of handicraftsmen is too high, and they are the first to be eliminated. Next, the products of those handicraft workshops will also be trapped. Due to the unsalable situation, their quality is not as good as ours. If they want to recover some of the cost, they must make a big price cut. If they are smart enough, they should quickly dispose of the goods on hand before our products flood the market. If they Their response is very slow, and when our tens of thousands of cotton cloths enter the market together, the nightmare of loss will accompany them through every bleak night.”

Julian nodded without speaking.After a while, several skilled workers he brought had finished sampling the cotton cloth brought by Xu Xin, and said something to Julian in a low voice.

Julian breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, and said with a smile: "The quality is very good, perhaps, comparable to the best products in my father's workshop."

(End of this chapter)