Autumn of the 17th year of Chongzhen

Chapter 330 Changes in Guangnan
At the end of July, Guangnan gradually reached the hottest time of summer, and more than half a year had passed in the second year of Longwu. The Guangzhou area, which had not rained for many days, experienced the most refreshing downpour in summer.

After the heavy rain, the fields and cities look extraordinarily refreshing and clean, washing away the dust and heat, making people feel cool.

At noon that day, a troop of cavalry came out of Guangzhou City and rushed along the Pearl River to the Guangzhou Wharf. The chief official in scarlet robes, wearing Wusha on his head, embroidered cranes on his robes, and a jade belt around his waist, was the Grand Scholar of the Longwu Dynasty and the clothier of Guangdong Province. Political envoy Su Guansheng.

Since Wang Yan destroyed the pirates of the four surnames and established the Guangdong Navy, the Guangdong Sea was cleared up. In addition, as Jiangnan was destroyed by the war, the share of Jiangnan's foreign trade was transferred to Guangnan Shipping Department. Guangzhou became the largest trade export, making Guangzhou start more prosperous.

On the Pearl River, hundreds of large ships shuttled on the river every day, and the coolies on the wharf soon grew to nearly [-] people. The whole Guangnan was busy.

In the past, in the dark corner of the Southern Song Dynasty, the yearly income of [-] million can be achieved. Song Gaozong once said to the ministers, "Guangnan is a city with a lot of profits. It is better to promote an official for a long time. If you are willing to come, you can move a million. The power of the people is also generous." The current situation of Ming Dynasty is financial difficulties, Wang Yan and Su Guansheng have already formulated a strategy to expand the sea trade, even though Wang Yan is in Huguang, the two often exchange letters to discuss the strategy of developing trade.

Wang Yan organized a large number of caravans in Hunan to transport goods to Guangzhou for trade, which solved the embarrassing situation of no goods to sell in Guangzhou.

When he came to Guangzhou Wharf today, apart from inspecting the trade, he also came to see the hundred ships of military rations that the government had just brought in from Khmer and Siam.

On the road from Guangzhou to Shaoguan, a large number of warehouses have been built to store military rations, and such warehouses will be built all the way to Huguang to become the lifeline of the Ming army against the Qing army.

These warehouses can not only store military supplies, but also provide convenience for Hunan businessmen. They can also use the warehouses along the road as long as they pay a part of the rent.

After a heavy rain, the water level of the Pearl River rose three feet. On the embankment along the river, groups of peasants were patrolling the embankment. When they saw Su Guansheng passing by, they all saluted.

Compared with Ding Kuichu's era, although Wang Yan and Su Guansheng ruled Guangdong for more than half a year, both the gentry and the common people felt real changes.

Near the wharf, the surface of the Pearl River became lively. Hundreds of seagoing ships were parked in the river, most of them were from Portugal, Japan, and North Korea.

Among them are Ming's own ocean-going trade ships, such as the ships that smuggled rice from Khmer and Siam this time, which is a newly-emerged maritime trade firm, and the reason why they were able to accept the government's trade orders was because of this The firm was founded by Feng Yingchang, a former great salt merchant in Yangzhou, and a Yangzhou native. Among them, Wang Yan also contributed 50 taels, accounting for [-]% of the firm's shares.

With this relationship, and among the Guangdong officials, Wang Yan placed a large number of Yangzhou veterans. He Gang, Zhou Zhiwei, Wang Zhiduan, Wang Zuanjue, Qu Congzhi, Yang Zhenxi, Wu Daozheng and other Yangzhou officials were all placed in Guangdong officialdom. It can be said that Feng Yingchang's Jingyuan Trading Company has developed rapidly. Not only has it developed in Qiongzhou's shipyard, it has been able to receive orders from the Guangdong Navy and the government, and it has also been able to form a fleet for maritime trade. Thirty Daifuku ships used for sailing.

Although the development of Jingyuan Commercial Bank comes from the collusion between the government and businessmen, it also refers to the prosperity of Guangdong's business from another aspect.

At this time, Su Guansheng and his party came to the pier, and they saw groups of coolies on the boats moored by the river, carrying goods, loading them on passenger ships, or unloading items from fully loaded ships, very busy.

On the side of the pier, there are also caravans from Hunan and Guangxi, who are negotiating with sea merchants for advice and bargaining. Laughter, shouts, and yelling make the vicinity of the pier extremely lively.

In order to promote commerce and trade, Wang Yan abolished taxes in Hunan, and no longer set up tax collection cards. Su Guansheng followed suit, canceled all checkpoints in Guangdong, stopped collecting taxes, evacuated taxes, and only collected residential taxes and municipal shipping taxes. tariffs, reduce tax links, and increase tax efficiency.

Su Guansheng liked this kind of busy and prosperous scene very much. This was the prosperity of commerce and the prosperity of the country. He worked hard to turn Guangdong into the imperial court's treasury, and use the prosperity of Guangnan to support the empire's increasingly scarce finances.

When Su Guansheng was 30 years old, he won the title of a county student, and later entered the Imperial College to study. He never got the honor of a Jinshi in his life, so he was looked down upon by other officials, but Emperor Longwu promoted him to be a Dongge University scholar. This kindness, this knowledge, Su Guansheng can only repay by managing Guangdong with his heart.

At this time, by the pier, a loud voice came from the crowd, "This is a bank note, which is sold by thirteen commercial banks in Guangzhou. If you hold it, you can exchange it for the same banknote from any branch of the thirteen commercial firms." Baiyin, I am the shopkeeper of Yuesheng Commercial Bank, how could I lie to you?"

"We Portuguese, we only want real gold and silver, not a piece of waste paper. If you can't afford the money, we will sell this batch of spices to others. Please don't entangle yourself~"

"Oh~ why don't you believe it? Well~Ferdinand~ look at the previous transaction, give me some time, and I will prove to you that he is not a piece of paper." Walking around, Su Guansheng frowned, got off his horse and walked over.In front of hundreds of large wooden boxes, a Ming businessman in fancy clothes was arguing with a Xiyi in a strange costume. People around were discussing in amazement about the treasurer of Yuesheng Commercial Company, who held money in his hands. The piece of paper he took was actually worth 3 taels of silver.

"Yuesheng Trading Company has always had a good reputation. Shopkeeper Qian has always done business fairly. Why did he cheat Qi Xiyi today?" Silver, it's too outrageous~" "I don't think so, our Xiangdong Sheng, the goods shipped from Hunan, have been trading with Yuesheng, and the price has always been fair. I believe in the character of the money shopkeeper." "Trust As the basis of business, if Shopkeeper Qian dared to say that in front of so many people, it would definitely not be deceitful, and that piece of paper reminded me of something, Jiaozi from the Song Dynasty, what do you think?"

Hearing the words, the eyes of the people who were discussing on the side immediately lit up.

Su Guansheng listened for a while. He already knew that thirteen commercial firms in Guangzhou had joined forces to make a bank note. He didn't take it seriously at first, but now he became interested.

After all, a piece of paper can represent tens of thousands of taels of silver, and it can be exchanged at any time. This is not the same as the treasure banknotes in the early Ming Dynasty. It was too shocking for him, and it also made him a little vigilant.

(Thanks to Yuedong Woxin, who can get an unlicensed monthly ticket, thank you Yuedong Woxin for the reward, please support, ask for comments, and push the book "Yaoyuezhu")
(End of this chapter)