Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 826 Border Trade Market ([-])

On July 1650, 7, Bao'an Township, Ping'an County.An unexpected light snow brought a festive atmosphere to this prosperous border trade town. Today is the fifth day after the East Coast New Year. Some hardworking businessmen opened their stores early and officially started The business started, which made many Brazilians who came to trade breathe a sigh of relief.God, if these heathens don't open their doors, some of them might starve.

Now the Brazilians on the "mountain" (commonly called by the people on the east coast, actually the plateau) are used to this kind of border trade with people on the east coast—of course, the location is strictly limited to Baoan Township—they have four or five towns on the mountain, The number of gentlemen (whites) and mestizos exceeded [-], and there were even more Guaraní servants and servants.Most of the whites among these people are merchants or handicraftsmen, specializing in business on the east coast.

They produce sewing needles, buttons, belts, pins, fishhooks, iron candlesticks, wooden barrels, furniture, pottery, wooden components, ready-made clothes, glasses and other gadgets that are used in daily life, and then transported by merchants Go to Ping'an Township at the foot of the mountain and sell it to people from the east bank.In fact, these craftsmen from Portugal, Britain, Italy, and Germany used their hard work to supply the daily needs of the East Coast—these are materials that are extremely scarce on the East Coast, which lacks manpower.Of course, they have also gained a lot of income from this process, which can be seen from the row upon row of Portuguese shops on both sides of the most prosperous Cross Avenue in Baoan Township. You must know that the profits of these shops are very good.

As early as February and March in the beginning of 1648, the monthly border trade volume of Baoan Township had already exceeded 6000 yuan, and then continued to grow. When the monthly border trade volume was the highest, it reached a peak of 8000 yuan. However, with the growth of the population on the east coast and the expansion of market demand, the amount of this kind of border trade is still maintained at more than 2 yuan all year round.In addition to selling handmade products, Brazilians also carry some cowhide, goat hide, tallow, tropical dried fruits, spices, cane sugar, shredded tobacco, feathers and tea from time to time (the Portuguese East India Company shipped rough tea from Macau, but because of poor quality In recent years, it has been a bit unsalable) and other light commodities come for sale, and the sales volume is not bad.

And they import a lot less from the east coast, because the mountain roads are inconvenient to transport, and the bulk trade between the east coast and Brazil is often transported by sea ships, so most of these land border trades buy light commodities, or they buy goods from the mountains. Materials essential for maintaining production and life in Brazilian settlements, such as: wheat (flour), cotton cloth, dyed leather goods, agricultural tools, hardware tools, medicines, soap, soda ash, steel bars, etc.The amount of purchases is not particularly large. Generally speaking, the border trade market in Baoan Township is probably the only place where the foreign trade of the East Coast Republic has exceeded. The silver dollars that flow into Brazil from here every year are almost 4 yuan. The acceptance bills issued by the bank also cost 6000 yuan, and the Brazilians made a lot of money.

Blanco de Sousa Almeida entered the territory of the East Coast Republic through the Gerard Mountains for the first time in so many years, and what he saw was such a lively trade scene in front of him: on both sides of the wide and straight road, There are buildings of various styles everywhere, including Portuguese style, East Coast style and even Oriental Ming Dynasty style buildings. Coupled with signboards in various fonts, it makes people feel quite dazzled.

"Last year, all kinds of crude tea were unsalable, and the tea resold by the East India Company at 50 riyals per pound could not be sold much. I have to say that the taste of people on the east coast is getting higher and higher. I suggest that in the future, we should try our best to avoid Macau imports mid-to-high-grade green tea like Wuyi tea, instead of these crude teas. To be honest, I don’t think Tatars are very good at buying these crude teas. Ranco's servant Silva said to him.

"Even if you want to buy high-quality green tea in the future, it will be impossible." Blanco said in a depressed tone immediately after hearing this, "Since the Tatars occupied the southern part of the Ming Dynasty, tea, raw silk, porcelain and other commodities have been cut off. Some sources. Regardless of the small scale of the tea business, the shortage of raw silk and porcelain has made every European businessman complain. They are now desperately hoping that the situation in the Ming country can be calmed down quickly so that the trade can continue. But it seems It’s hard to say, even if the newly occupied Tatar rulers are willing to do business, this will not be completed in a short period of time. You must know that because of the war, the order of raw silk and porcelain production areas has been very chaotic over the years. Now even the Tatars It’s hard to get enough of these items yourself, let alone have a surplus to sell.”

"In this case, let's stop this business after the batch of tea leaves are slowly sold out." Silva, who is in charge of the Almeida family's business here, immediately understood.

The two continued to walk forward. Both sides of the road were full of merchants, peddlers or servants with various faces. Those yellow-skinned people were naturally from the East Coast, while the white people were hard to tell. Maybe they were from the East Coast, maybe not.Some of them stood at the door of the shop to attract business, and they used a very strange Portuguese accent-maybe only locals or Portuguese people who often do business with them can understand, for Blanco, who is the first time For those who come here, listening to this "Portuguese" feels like listening to Chinese.

There are quite a few strange foods on the roadside food stalls, most of which come from the Ming Dynasty in the East, and a small part from other places. There are also some foods that are obviously a fusion of styles from various places, which makes people appetite.Some merchants or peddlers were arguing on the side of the road. They spoke a language that was difficult to understand each other, and communicated with guesswork.Blanco paid attention and found that these people seemed to be bargaining.

"People on the east coast are very stubborn in doing business. They often insist on their own opinions on the price. If necessary, they will even bargain with you for two or three days without getting tired of it." Noticed that his master was looking at the small businessmen who were bargaining , Silva immediately mocked in an exaggerated tone: "But once they feel that you will not give in, and this business will obviously make him profitable, the price position he insists on will be like a dam washed away by a flood." It dissolves quickly, and then the business is sealed within a minute, and the money is paid and the delivery is delivered, which often makes people feel at a loss and dumbfounded.”

Blanco laughed when he heard the words, obviously he himself had this kind of experience.

Squatting on the side of the road ahead were some hawkers carrying poles and selling vegetables.This time, without the introduction from his servant, Blanco also knew that these peddlers were actually farmers from nearby villages, and they had set aside a special area in their own land to grow all kinds of vegetables.Due to the abundant sunshine, precipitation, warm climate and fertile soil here, the vegetable seeds planted can often bring them great benefits.Especially in Baoan Township, a town with a strong commercial atmosphere, the vegetables harvested in autumn are stored in dry underground vegetable cellars, and they are sold in the market in winter, and they are often sold out without waiting until noon.Whether you are from the East Coast or the Portuguese, you are not afraid to treat yourself to a delicious vegetable meal at noon.

"People from the east coast have brought this place and some towns in the south under the management of Ping'an County. I heard that this county has the most prosperous business and the second largest population in the entire east coast..." Blanco strolled As he walked, he said, "Then our shop here will be well managed. The family decided to try planting tobacco in the second half of the year. Maybe next year, our shop will be able to sell things produced in our own manor. In addition, The bean cakes from the people on the east coast are a good thing. Tobacco plantations need them. Order more and ship them back. Well, this is not your job. I will arrange for someone else. By the way, can you get soybean seeds from the people on the east coast You know I'm not talking about the bad seeds, but the newest varieties they've bred. Yes, 'Mandihuang', 'Mancanghuang', and 'Mancangjin'. The yield of these varieties is far beyond ordinary Seeds. I don’t care what method you use, you must get me a batch in a short time, and these seeds will be planted in the plantation in St. Paul in the spring, and there is not much time for you to squander.”

"In addition, I heard that the people on the east bank have recently bred some new breeds of goats and sheep, and they have tried to buy some to bring back. If they can't buy them, they can find a way in private. In the past, the bighorn goats they bred were very good and produced meat. The rate is high, and the meat is very tender. The new Wujiang sheep this time must be very good, and the family ranch needs them." After thinking about it, Blanco ordered his servants again.Since he tasted the sweetness on the bighorn goat, Blanco is now more and more enthusiastic about being a biological spy, and he is also becoming more and more interested in various new varieties of animals and plants bred in the breeding station of the people on the east coast.

Silva naturally did not dare to neglect Blanco's instructions. Although doing such a thing is risky, the benefits after success are also huge.Blanco's family owns a vast ranch and plantation in Sao Paulo, which can effectively amplify the benefits of these fine varieties.

"Okay, having said all that, it's time to treat our stomachs. Eric, do you have any restaurant recommendations? You know, my first time here and you've been working here for 18 months It’s gone.” Brushing off the few snowflakes on his clothes, Blanco turned around and looked at the various shops around — quite a few of them were restaurants, of course, Chinese restaurants — and then asked his faithful servant Eric Silva consulted.

"I think we can try dumplings." After thinking for a while, Silva immediately gave the answer.

(End of this chapter)