Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 700 Social Change ([-])

In July, the east coast has officially entered the early winter. As the temperature drops, the wilderness is bleak.

However, outside Hejin Fort under the jurisdiction of the Northwest Reclamation Bureau, the semi-monthly country fair is going on lively.Hejinbao, located on the bank of the Heihe River, now has a population of more than [-], and the number of surrounding villages is increasing day by day. On market days, villagers from all over the world bring their own goods to the market to sell, and then By the way, buy some things you need to take back: it may be floral cloth, it may be wine, or it may be salted fish brought from the sea.

Agnelli was sitting in a corner of the market. He had mended pots for three people and sharpened knives for five people in the morning.In addition, some small items such as sesame seeds, peanuts, and whale jerky in the sackcloth pockets have also sold a lot.It is conservatively estimated that his income this morning is at least [-] cents, which should be satisfactory.

But this is at the market after all!Agnelli sighed and leaned against a dead tree behind her.The market is crowded with people, and anyone whose pot is broken, the knife is blunt, or something is missing will come here to find a solution, so business should be good.But at the same time, usually the business of a tinker like Agnelli is much bleak, and he often travels long distances to many villages to meet a customer.

As a last resort, in order to increase income and fully explore the advantages of traveling around, Agnelli also started a small peddler business—this peddler license was obtained through his cousin who was an official in the Yihe area. Woolen cloth.When he first got his peddler's license, his business was really going well for a while.It's just that the good times didn't last long. With the opening of the railways in those areas, the situation of him and many of his colleagues became worse day by day.

The rolling trains brought a large number of goods manufactured in the eastern coastal areas. The original commercial order in the inland areas gradually began to disintegrate, and new business models gradually began to take shape.Agnelli still remembers that when he was doing business in Baichiyabao, the local business model was still very primitive. Every time there was a market, villagers from all over the country flocked to the agreed place and brought out their own products. Start the exchange.

At that time, it was simply the "golden age" of merchants like Agnelli who traveled around.The commodities they bring from afar are the rarest and most sought-after commodities in the entire market. In addition, they also do some handicraft work, so their monthly income can be said to be far higher than that of farmers who farm at home or work in factories. Worker.Although people have worked hard, they can't help but make money, so at that time, Agnelli and others were very satisfied and happy.

It's a pity that as the railway stretches tenaciously to Baichiyabao, the howling train replaces all kinds of carts and pack animals that are struggling to walk on the prairie, and transports the carts of goods at surprisingly low prices come over.This fast and efficient mode of transportation has greatly changed the local business and social environment. Since then, many occupations or industries that have existed in the local area for many years have gradually disintegrated and disappeared.

The first to disappear were professional cowboys driving livestock here from Dongfang County, the capital.This is a name given to them by a time traveler. In fact, these people are neither cool nor handsome. They have neither horses nor guns. Those who are frugal at night sleep in the wild, and those who are more particular are sleeping in stinky farmhouses. house or pigsty.

They rely on their own hard work to earn some decent income from the butchers in various towns.It's just that the train has changed everything. This efficient and fast transportation system not only has a huge capacity, but also charges cheaper than hiring professional cowboys. Therefore, this "ancient" profession was immediately ruthlessly eliminated by the market.Some unemployed cowboys enlisted in the army, some went to work as agricultural laborers on state ranches, and some simply applied to farm in new settlements. In short, this occupation quickly disappeared into the long river of history.

Agnelli sometimes still misses those cowboys and the scene when they took care of each other on the road together.After sighing softly, Agnelli suddenly felt a little sad, maybe his career will soon be eliminated by the roaring train with black smoke.

The impact of the massive commodities brought by these trains directly destroyed the original fragile economic model of the local area.Originally, except for vendors like Agnelli who traveled around, the locals traded with each other in the market. Consumers and producers traded face to face, which was very primitive and fair.Agnelli still remembers that before Baichiyabao had no trains, the stalls in the local market were basically owned by the producers themselves.

But the opening of the railway changed everything. First came a large amount of commodities, followed by professional merchants—these people were often not commodity producers, but pure merchants who earned the difference.After these people arrived, they quickly overwhelmed the competition of local "amateur businessmen" by taking advantage of their strong ability to organize supply of goods in coastal industrial areas and their relatively low cost.

Not to mention, with the increasing frequency of trains, some comprehensive stores covering a large area have gradually sprung up.Some of these stores are state-run stores, while others are small privately run stores.And no matter who opened the store, their existence has broken the traditional business model of regular local fairs. The market sales of goods have gradually transitioned to the hands of these professional merchants, and the large and medium-sized general stores that sell these goods have gradually changed. It has become a fixed place for mass shopping, and the business model has undergone a complete and revolutionary change.

This is how Agnelli and others were squeezed out of the hundred-foot cliff castle. In order to make a living, he, a part-time small peddler tinker, had to take his beloved little donkey, carrying some tools and commodities, and staggered. Without hesitation, he left Hundred-foot Cliff Fort, which was no longer friendly to him, and rushed to Fort Merlot, which had not yet been connected to the railway.And when the railway was built again to Fort Merlot, he had to pack his bags again and headed for Fort Hejin, away from the threat of the railway again.

It can be said that the railway has become Agnelli's most feared and hated thing at the same time.It's this smoking machine that gets you driven from one place to another like a stray dog.Of course, it was neither the police nor the businessmen who set up shops to drive him away, but something called a "market".In short, they are just a group of poor people engaged in sunset industries.

But Agnelli's nightmare is clearly not over yet.With the full rollout of the Phase II plan of the Northwest Railway of the Government Affairs Council and the introduction of a large number of Clandi road construction workers from La Plata, the opening time of the railway from Fort Merlot to Fort Hejin is likely to be advanced.This section of the railway, which was originally laid in March next year (1649), is likely to open to traffic at the end of this year or early next year, more than three months earlier than the original plan.

That is to say, Agnelli still has about six or seven months of "good life" in Hejinbao at most. Pack your bags, bring your own donkey, and continue to Chengshanbao, which is far away from the railway.

A capable day is a day!Agnelli sighed again, then fumbled out a cowhide water bag from the bag, and gulped a few mouthfuls of warm water.This water bladder is a souvenir of his discharge from the army, and it is also something he cherishes very much.I joined the army for four years, but I didn't catch up with the good time of the war, so I didn't earn much money. Although I rely on traveling around to do business to make up for the pot, my income is higher than ordinary people, but I think of my wife who can't do heavy work due to illness and The only son, Agnelli felt that he couldn't relax.

Forget it, don't want to!Agnelli took another sip of water, then looked at the sky, well, it's already noon!This is the time when there are the most people in the market, but everyone is basically eating, resting, and playing. Generally speaking, there is no business at this time.Agnelli looked at several vendors nearby. These peasants from the countryside were chatting and laughing with each other while packing up their things, planning to go to a nearby restaurant to have a meal, drink some wine, and relax.

Agnelli also closed the stall, he put his tools in a bag, and then put it on the back of the donkey.Then he used a piece of rope to tie the mouths of the sacks containing sesame seeds, peanuts, whale jerky and other commodities, and put them on the donkey's back as well.After finishing all this, he untied the rein tied to the dead tree, led the donkey out of the stall, and walked towards a nearby small restaurant. He had to go to lunch.

The market is bustling and very lively.Some vendors who sell luxury food such as sugar man and candied haws still haven’t left. They squat on the side of the road, staring at each potential customer with children, and then use their voices to attract the attention of these children, so that they can interact with adults. Crying and coming over to buy something.

There are also two troupes in the market.One was from the Ming Dynasty in the East, a dozen or so people performed what seemed to be an oriental drama, but Agnelli didn't understand it well anyway, and wasn't interested.But another troupe, Agnelli, is very kind, because they come from Tuscany—Agnelli's hometown. There are also a dozen men and women in this Italian theater troupe. Mr. Reilly's comedy.The actor who played Scaramucci, the classic braggart buffoon, was of some quality, and Agnelli liked his performance so much that he even paid them a dime for the performance.

Passing through the troupe area surrounded by many people, Agnelli led the donkey to the side of a small restaurant. After seeing him, the boss, who was very busy, nodded his head and said he would wait.Agnelli smiled, and after tying the donkey to a tree, he found a stool nearby and sat down.Unexpectedly, at this moment, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

"Agnelli?"

"Gao Jinzhong!"

(End of this chapter)