Chapter 222 Trip to Vietnam (5)

"My eldest son, the meeting place agreed upon with the Haihan people is right ahead!"

After hearing these words, Zheng Zhu came back from his thoughts and said to the steward standing next to him, "Is that strange white ship from before a Haihan ship?"

The steward responded: "I have never seen that white boat when I traded with the Haihan people a few times before, but according to the seventh son who was sent back by the Haihan people a few days ago, the Haihan people do have such a weird sailing ship.

It can travel on the sea like flying."

Zheng Zha nodded slightly. The seventh son the steward mentioned was Zheng Lin, who was sent back to Shenglong Mansion by the Haihan people. In terms of seniority, Zheng Zha and Zheng Lin were of the same generation. Zheng Lin ranked seventh among the Zheng family.

, Zheng Zha is still slightly older.

When Zheng Lin was sent back to Thang Long Province, he also brought back the refined salt samples presented by Hai Han and the trade requirements. For North Vietnam, which was in the midst of a salt shortage, this news was undoubtedly a timely help, and soon the Zheng family sent a caravan with

Contacted Haihan people and successfully completed the first transaction of two thousand kilograms of refined salt. To others, the Haihan people might be just a group of ordinary foreign merchants who only bought and sold salt for profit, but Zheng Zha was very interested in it.

These people were very curious about their origins and asked Zheng Lin carefully about the Haihan people.

According to Zheng Lin, these Haihan people only appeared on the coast of Vietnam in July. After they used a fleet to disguise a group of refugees in Qing Dynasty, they went directly to a small bay in the northeast to build a port, and then used

In a short period of time, thousands of local people were recruited to mine and mine coal there. By the time he was sent away by the Haihan people, the port had become a large-scale town, with thousands of residents under the management of the Haihan people.

Then he began to live a stable and orderly life in the local area.

It only took more than a month to build a town and port in an uninhabited land. Zheng Zha believed that this was not something that ordinary maritime merchants could do. And according to what Zheng Lin said, only clean coal was produced locally.

No saltworks were established, so the refined salt transported by the Haihan people for trade must have come from elsewhere—perhaps the destination for the locally produced clean coal.

Later, another message came from Haihan that the other party wanted to sell arms. Now Zheng Zha couldn't sit still. If it was an ordinary weapon, that would be fine. Thanglong Prefecture has a government-run weapons department that specializes in manufacturing weapons for the army.

Weapons, but the other party explained that they were selling muskets and artillery, and the Arms Department couldn't make them.

Although the current Vietnamese army has not begun to equip firearms, this does not mean that the senior military officials in Vietnam do not know the power of firearms. In fact, since the 16th century, various relatively primitive matchlock guns have begun to flow into Vietnam through various channels.

However, this sporadic inflow is simply not enough to equip the army, and can only become a plaything collected by a few powerful people. Vietnamese craftsmen have never mastered the manufacturing technology of muskets, which directly led to the inability of this weapon to be used on a large scale in Vietnam.

As for artillery, it is even rarer. The few cannons in Thang Long Palace are antiques left over from the Ming Dynasty. It is hard to say whether they can be used now.

After the Zheng family took power in North Vietnam, they also planned to purchase firearms and equipment for the troops, but they always suffered from the lack of such access. Most of the Western missionaries who could provide firearms were active in the south, and they disappeared in the north after the war between the north and the south.

It is obviously impossible for Ming Dynasty in the north to sell such advanced weapons to Thang Long Palace. The Emperor of Ming Dynasty would probably like Vietnam to be in chaos, and then send troops to clean up the mess and reoccupy this place. Although the Zheng family has the intention to strengthen the army, they do not

appropriate channels to achieve this goal.

But the appearance of the Haihan people seemed to give Zheng a glimmer of hope. Now Zheng Zha did not dare to regard the trade relationship with the Haihan people as just a way to make quick money, but quickly reported it to his father Zheng Zha. As a North Vietnamese

Zheng Zhi, the actual holder of military and political power, naturally knows what arms trading means. Since there are businessmen coming to the door willing to sell muskets and artillery to North Vietnam, he must at least check whether it is true or not. Out of caution, Zheng Zhi

He was not too worried about letting outsiders take charge of this matter, so he asked his eldest son Zheng Zha to make the trip himself to get in touch with the Haihan people and see what they meant.

The two ships sent by the Zheng family caravan this time were not sea-going ships. Therefore, when they sailed into the harbor and docked, the hulls of the ships appeared to be much smaller than the two lucky ships on the shore. Zheng Zha also noticed the white ship.

The sailboat had been cruising on the sea not far away, which made Zheng Zha, who had originally planned to observe the ship up close, a little disappointed.

After Zheng Zha disembarked from the ship and landed, he first noticed that the clothes of the people who greeted him were obviously different from those of Ming Dynasty. Almost all of them were waist-length short clothes, and their hair was short and did not even have a bun. This should be what Zheng Lin meant.

I'm talking about Haihan people.

The steward brought by Zheng Zha and Qian Tiandun had already met twice in past transactions, and they introduced the protagonists of both parties respectively. Tao Donglai also perked up when he heard the identity of the other party, although according to most people

From the perspective of others, Vietnam is just a foreign country, but Zheng Zha can be regarded as a famous figure in history. This is the first time he has come into contact with a historical figure of this level after time travel. It can be said that the existence of the time travel group has become real.

The earth began to affect the historical process of this time and space.

After the two parties exchanged a few words, Tao Donglai invited Zheng Zao and others to enter the tent set up on the shore for discussion. After sitting down, Tao Donglai said straight to the point: "As for your proposal to expand the salt trading volume, we

After careful consideration, we believe that we can provide you with 200,000 kilograms of salt in the remaining three months. Next year, we can further increase the transaction volume to 100,000 kilograms per month. This time our fleet brought three tons of refined salt.

Ten thousand kilograms, we can inspect and trade it later."

"Why is this? Could it be that you can't produce the quantity we require?" Zheng Zha asked puzzledly.

"It's not just about the output." Tao Donglai calmly denied Zheng Zha's speculation: "It's because we also need to provide a large amount of refined salt to Daming. I think Mr. Zheng can also understand that the quantity required by Daming

It’s many times more than yours.”

Although the private salt sales network in the Ming Dynasty has not yet spread, this does not prevent Tao Dong from using tiger skin as a banner and blowing the bullshit first. Anyway, the other party is now unable to verify the authenticity of this statement.

Zheng Zha snorted and said, "I guess the salt you sold to Ming Dynasty was not done in a serious way, right?"

Tao Donglai shook his head and said: "We only sell salt to regular merchants. As for where they transport it to sell it, how they sell it, and whether they will pay taxes to the government, we don't know and we won't ask. Whether it's done in a serious way, that's not the case.

Our problem."

When Tao Donglai said this, his eyes were fixed on Zheng Zao, which made Zheng Zao feel slightly uneasy. Of course he could understand that Tao Donglai's words were actually meant for him, but he always felt that the other party

Apart from clarifying the relationship, there seems to be some kind of overtone that I cannot understand.

Tao Dong came to see the other party and had no reaction after hearing it. He knew that the other party was probably too young and lacked social experience to understand his cryptic statement, so he had no choice but to say more bluntly: "Our Haihan principle of selling goods is,

Making money is the most important thing. Whether it’s salt or something else, it’s all business for us, and it’s a sale to whoever we sell it to. The difference is just making money and not making money.”

Now Zheng Zha finally understood, nodded and said: "If we require you to only trade with us in Vietnam, what do you think?"

Regional agency exclusive rights are one of the important means for the Chuan Chuan Group to expand its business activities. Because the supply of Haihan products exceeds demand, every businessman who has a trading relationship with the Chuan Chuan Group hopes to have this exclusive power in order to

Increase your competitive advantage in the region. At present, individuals or companies such as Luo Shengdong, Anfuxing, and Fulifeng have obtained regional agent exclusive rights of different levels, large or small, and every businessman who has obtained such power

, almost all of them have made a lot of money.

As long as the people sent by the Zheng family in North Vietnam are not fools, of course they should be able to imagine how useful this monopoly is. Although Zheng Zha is a little naive, he quickly realized this. Although the Zheng family is in charge of North Vietnam,

He has military and political power, but Zheng Zha does not intend to use this power to threaten the Haihan people to achieve his own goals, such as letting the Zheng family monopolize the trading channels of Haihan refined salt. Whether the Haihan people will sell goods to many people or not, the key is

If the Haihan people are offended and the other party stops selling salt to North Vietnam, that will be a really troublesome thing, not to mention that there will be arms business that needs to be discussed in detail.

Seeing that the other party was still able to keep up with his thoughts, Tao Donglai relaxed a little and began to make conditions to the other party: "If you can agree to our two conditions, then we can give you smooth service in the future.

ization, and the exclusive right to sell goods in the area north of Quang Tri.”

"What conditions?" Zheng Zha asked calmly. He was not a child, so he naturally knew that the other party could not give this kind of benefit to him for nothing. Since it was a business negotiation, he must also have to pay some price. Moreover,

The other party clearly proposed the concept of "Hue, the area north of Quang Tri", which shows that the other party is very clear about the current domestic situation, and may even send envoys to the south to discuss business with the Nguyen regime.

Thinking of this possibility, Zheng Zha's heart became a little tight - the goods that the Haihan people could sell to the Zheng family could also be sold to the Ruan family, not just refined salt, but perhaps also what they called muskets and artillery.

The Ruan family in the south is said to have captured most of the Champa Kingdom, and the wealth of the Champa royal family and dignitaries has probably become the property of the Ruan family. Faced with the military suppression of North Vietnam, the Ruan family may really

They would invest a lot of money to purchase weapons from outside. The North Vietnamese soldiers would not want to see a southern rebel army equipped with firearms on the battlefield. At least they should not use iron swords and guns to face projectiles that can penetrate armor.

.

"The conditions we proposed are very simple. First, we hope to set up business warehouses and ports on the Tushan Peninsula...well, where we are now, so that we can stack goods and station personnel in charge of trade.

, it will be more convenient to conduct transactions with you in this place in the future." Tao Donglai put forward the first condition with a smile: "Of course, for this we may need to hire some workers from the local area and station them there.

There are some armed personnel to maintain public security order. This is entirely a plan proposed for the long-term trade cooperation with you in the future. I think Mr. Zheng will not object, right?"

Zheng Zha pondered for a long time before asking noncommittally: "What is the second condition?"

"The second condition is the black soil port we are building in the northeast. I believe you already know about it. I hope you can recognize the legitimacy of its existence." Tao Dong came to see Zheng Zao and didn't seem to understand what he said.

He continued to explain: "The so-called legality includes the rights of the Haihan people to settle locally, the rights of the Annan people to accept our employment and settle in Black Earth Port, and we enjoy the power of administrative autonomy and legal judgment in the local area."

It was fine if Tao Donglai didn't explain. This explanation made Zheng Zha even more confused. He had never heard of such and such rights that the other party said, let alone fully understood its meaning. However,

Despite this, Zheng Zha still had a general understanding of what the other party wanted to achieve - the Haihan people seemed to hope that the coal-producing port they established in the northeast would gain an independent status.

Regarding the security issue of Black Earth Port, the Executive Committee has spent a lot of thought. From the time when the site was selected, security and external defense have been the top priorities of the overseas base. However, due to the current strength, Black Earth Port has

There is no sea force protection, no coastal fortification defense, and even the military and police force only has about a hundred people. It can only maintain public order internally, and its external defense force can be said to be extremely limited.

As the trade between the Crossing Group and the North Vietnamese regime unfolds, the other party will definitely notice the existence of Black Tu Port. And whether the North Vietnamese regime will be dissatisfied with this nail in the northeastern region of the country, no one can say. Black Tu Port is about 30 kilometers away from Haiphong

The nearby seaport is only 40 nautical miles away. Even the navy of the fifth generation of the North Vietnam War can get there. External military threats are still real to Black Earth Port.

Therefore, the Executive Committee wants to seize the trade opportunities and reach relevant agreements with the North Vietnamese regime as much as possible to legalize the existence of the Black Earth Port. Even if this agreement is only temporary, it is good to ensure local peace for three to five years.

——The Military and Police Department is fully confident that it can beat the shit out of any force that dares to invade Black Earth Port at that time.

Zheng Zha did not rush to express his position, but began to think about the purpose of the other party's two conditions. Tao Donglai's first condition did not seem to be a problem in Zheng Zha's opinion. This place was originally desolate, the terrain was narrow, and food could not be grown.

There is no production, and it has no practical value at all. The only thing worthy of praise here is probably the two natural harbors that are more suitable for ships to dock. Maybe the Haihan people who came across the sea took a fancy to this. As for

Zheng Zha thinks that building a business store and stationing personnel here is not a big deal. In the future, transactions between the two parties can be carried out at fixed points here, saving the time of sending messages back and forth every time. It is really convenient as the other party said.

As for the armed men Tao Donglai mentioned, Zheng Zha didn't take it seriously. What big family doesn't have a few thugs to look after the home? Since the Haihan people want to build a business warehouse here to stack goods, they naturally need to have some.

Guards are stationed here, so this request sounds very reasonable.

"I can agree to the first condition you proposed, but the second condition..." Zheng Zha was a little hesitant about the second condition proposed by Tao Donglai.

The Tushan Peninsula is fine here. The Haihan people just opened a business inn and built a small wharf. No matter how much they messed around, this place was only so big. At best, it was just the difference between a large business inn and a small one.

But the meaning of existence of Heitu Port is different from that of Tushan Peninsula. Not only are thousands of people settled there, but there is also a steady stream of coal production. This production is equivalent to generating money. This kind of place

It is unjustifiable not to put it under the government's control. But now the Haihan people actually propose to hand over that land to their own management. Isn't this extremely ridiculous? As for the reason why Heitu Port was developed by the Haihan people organization,

It was not in Zheng Zha's consideration at all - they are just a group of maritime businessmen. They built some houses on my Annan territory and want to take all the land for themselves? No way!

But the current situation is not that simple. Zheng Zha wanted to reject Tao Donglai's condition, but he had to worry about what kind of attitude the Haihan people would take to the North Vietnamese regime after rejecting the offer. Now the goods sold by the other party

It's not just refined salt, there are even important weapons of the country such as muskets and artillery. Before coming, Zheng Zhi had repeatedly told him to confirm whether the weapons provided by the Haihan people were suitable for use and whether they could be provided for a long time. As for other transaction conditions

, Zheng Zhi said that it can be considered as appropriate, but this involves the territorial issue of Annan Kingdom, how should this be considered?

Zheng Zha knew that his father attached great importance to the territorial issue. Now the Nguyen clan in North Vietnam wanted to attack the remnants of the Mo dynasty in the mountains in the north, and at the same time crusade against the Nguyen clan rebels in the south. In the final analysis, it was not all about unifying the territory of Annan.

In Zheng Zha's view, the Haihan people's request was tantamount to dividing territory and dividing the country. Even if he agreed here, he would definitely not be able to pass it when he got to the old man.

If he agrees to the conditions of the Haihan people, he won't be able to pay the commission when he goes back. If he doesn't agree, he might offend the Haihan people and disturb the source of the armament that he has finally gained some attention on. Zheng Zha is really in a dilemma for a while, not knowing what to choose.

After a long time, Zheng Zha showed a look of embarrassment on his face and said: "This second condition proposed by you is really too difficult. Please forgive me for not agreeing to it."

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