kvmb Chapter 246 Treasure Offering
Chapter 246 Treasure Offering
After all, the Fuchuan was a large ship, so it was faster than a small sailboat. The last time they came back, it took them nine days, but this time, it took them less than six days, and that was not even with a favorable wind. This time was half a month earlier than the time agreed with Captain Almeida.
When Captain Almeida saw Min Xi, he was very surprised: "You are finally here, why didn't I see Yun?"
Min Xi explained: "Something happened at his home, so he went home first. I will trade with you. I brought you the most famous Jingdezhen porcelain."
Captain Almeida was very happy: "Really? I also went to Guangzhou these days and asked about the prices of those porcelains. What is the price of the porcelains you brought back?"
Min Xi told him the price, and Almeida was delighted: "It's cheaper than the price I asked. Let me see the goods."
After seeing the porcelain, Almeida was very satisfied. That was natural. The porcelain was selected by Min Xi. Since it was related to his own interests, the goods were of course the best.
After seeing the quality of the goods on the Jazz, Shopkeeper Wang knew that Min Xi was not lying.
Both parties were very satisfied with the goods and began to quote prices. Although they were both relatively satisfied with the prices, they still had to bargain.
Min Xi acted as an interpreter and a middleman to mediate. After two or three days of bargaining, they finally came to an agreement on the price. The next step was to settle accounts and exchange goods. The insufficient part was replaced with silver.
Min Xi told Captain Almeida about his and Yun Ji's plan. They were unable to leave Ming Dynasty for the time being and wanted to postpone their trip until autumn. They hoped that they could wait in Macau for a few more months.
Captain Almeida frowned and said, "How about this? During this time, we load a ship with goods and go to Malacca or Adam for trade, then buy goods from there and sell them again. I guess you should have finished your work by then, and then we will set off together to return to Portugal."
After listening to what Min Xi said, he found that Almeida was also a natural businessman who could calculate. In this way, the crew would not have to wait here for months in vain, but could make a short trip to earn the difference: "Captain Almeida, I regret to tell you that there will be hurricanes in our waters starting from May, and it will last until October. It is best not to go out to sea during this period."
Captain Almeida heard this and exclaimed in surprise: "Really?"
Min Xi nodded: "If you don't believe me, you can ask your fellow countrymen who have lived in Macau for a long time."
Captain Almeida shrugged and said, "Okay, safety first, then we'll stay in Macau for a few months." It is common for ocean-going ships like theirs to stay in the port for several months, sometimes because of weather, sometimes for repairs of ship damage, and sometimes because of various infectious diseases. They are actually used to it.
After trading the goods, Min Xi and Diego followed the ship back to Quanzhou, and this time they brought Old Hughes with them. It was Old Hughes who insisted on following them, saying that Macau was too humid and he felt pain in his bones, which was torture every day.
It was no wonder, he had an old leg injury, the Mediterranean climate in Lisbon was relatively dry, the leg pain was bearable, but the humidity in Macau was really unbearable. Min Xi did not refuse, the old man was old, how many places could he walk, if he was willing to go with him, then let him go, it was agreed that he would take care of him in his old age.
After arriving in Quanzhou, Yun's shipload of cargo was not unloaded in Quanzhou, but was intended to be sent to Beijing, so that Min Xi, Diego and others could follow the cargo north.
The reason for returning to Quanzhou was, firstly, to load the goods onto the grain ships, and secondly, to arrange for people to plant the crop seedlings that Min Xi had found.
Min Xi originally planned to ask Yun An to find someone to plant the plants, but he thought that Yun An only knew some businessmen. If he entrusted the business to them, they might monopolize the business and sell it at a high price, which would be detrimental to promotion. After much deliberation, he decided to directly offer it to the local government, who would arrange for people to plant and promote it. This would be done in one step. But how could he meet the prefect of Quanzhou?
Min Xi looked at what he had left and planned to take some sweet potatoes and corn back to Yingtianfu. He frowned and came up with a plan.
He called Yun'an over to ask, "Yun'an, if I want to go to the government office to see the prefect, how can I see him?"
Yun An looked at him in surprise: "You want to see the prefect? Why?"
Min Xi said: "I have to give these crop seeds I brought back to reliable people. I think it is most appropriate to give them to the government, so they can directly promote them to the people."
Yun An asked hesitantly, "Are you sure the official will take care of this?"
"Don't care? The prefect of Quanzhou has a bad reputation?" Min Xi was a little surprised. This was related to people's livelihood. Any official who was a little bit normal would not ignore it. But it was hard to say. There were corrupt officials in every dynasty.
Yun An waved his hands hurriedly: "No, no, no, the prefect of Quanzhou does not have a bad reputation. I just think this is a small matter, there is no need to find the prefect, I can help you find the right person to plant it."
Min Xixin said that this was no small matter: "The key is not the planting, but the promotion. I still want to give it a try, just in case the prefect is willing to take care of it."
Seeing Min Xi's insistence, Yun An stopped trying to persuade him. When Yun Ji went to sea, he fell ill and Yun Ji did not take him with him. He had never been on a ship and did not know much about Min Xi's background. But he also knew that Min Xi and his elder brother were close friends for life and death, and they had been living together in a foreign country for many years. Their deep feelings probably surpassed those of him, a close follower who had accompanied him since childhood. After all, no matter how much he called him elder brother, he was just a servant.
Yun An suggested: "Just go to the prefect in the name of offering treasures."
"Go directly to the government office and ask to see the prefect?" Min Xi was very surprised. Is it so simple and crude?
Yun An said, "To be honest, I don't know how to meet the prefect. I usually only deal with the Maritime Customs and the Taxation Department, and I have never met the prefect in person."
Min Xi thought about it. In their time, if they wanted to see the mayor, they would just go to the municipal building to find someone, but they would usually be stopped by the guards. But if they really wanted to report something to the government, each department had grassroots personnel, so it was not difficult to do it. The prefectural government should also have such clerks.
Anyway, let's give it a try first. People from their era were not afraid of seeing officials.
Time was running out, so Min Xi didn't hesitate. The next day, he took Diego and sweet potatoes, corn, and peanuts to the government office. As he expected, there was a gatekeeper guarding the government office, and no one was allowed to enter. Ordinary people were in awe of officials and didn't dare to stay there casually. Anyone who dared to disturb the government would be beaten with a stick. Even those who went directly to the higher level to file a complaint would be beaten with a stick before they could tell their grievances.
Min Xi straightened his clothes and walked directly to the government office, bowing to the gatekeeper: "Excuse me, sir. I have returned from the European country of Flanders and brought some new and interesting things from the New World. I want to present them to the government, but I wonder which sir I should talk to?"
For the first time, Min Xi felt the inconvenience of having no official title. He had to be humble and submissive in front of the doorman.
The concierge was drinking tea and chewing tea leaves. When he heard Min Xi's words, he became interested. He spit out the tea leaves in his mouth, looked at Min Xi, and then looked at Diego standing behind him: "You said you came back from Fulanji? Did you go to Fulanji?"
Min Xi nodded: "Yes. A few years ago, I went out to sea with my boss. We encountered a storm at sea and the boat capsized. I was rescued by a passing Fulangji ship and taken to Fulangji. I lived in Fulangji for three years and just came back a few days ago."
"How far is Fulanji from our Ming Dynasty? Is the person behind you from Fulanji?" The doorman looked curious.
Min Xi replied: "I can't tell you exactly how far it is. If the boat ride goes smoothly, it will take four or five months. This is the little brother I met in Fulangji. May I ask, sir, which lord should I meet?"
The doorman didn't seem to react: "What are you going to do?" It turned out that he heard that Min Xi had returned from Fulanji.
Min Xi had no choice but to repeat his request, saying that he had something to offer to the government.
The concierge craned his neck curiously to look at the basket in Diego's hand: "What do you want to offer as a gift?"
Min Xi said: "Some food, grain seeds brought back from Europe, may be able to be planted in Ming Dynasty."
The concierge obviously didn't take it seriously and waved his hand: "Take it back and plant it yourself."
Min Xi said seriously, "Please introduce me to someone, sir. Or if the prefect is here, please let him know for me."
"Hey! You still want to see the prefect? Do you know how noble the prefect's status is? How can you see him whenever you want? Go away, go away! Otherwise I will ask someone to kick you out." The doorman waved his hand to drive people away like he was shooing away flies.
Min Xi suddenly became angry: "You are just a gatekeeper. You eat the people's salary, but you do nothing for the people. If everyone is like you and just sits in office and does nothing, it would be strange if the Ming Dynasty could prosper!" He originally wanted to say that it would be strange if the Ming Dynasty did not perish, but he knew that disaster comes from the mouth, and cursing the Ming Dynasty's demise would not end well no matter how reasonable it was.
Although the concierge didn't understand what Min Xi said, he knew it was definitely not a good thing. He stood up and tried to drive him away with a big stick at the door: "How dare you curse me? If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know who I am!"
He was about to hit Min Xi when another doorman who had gone to the toilet came out and asked, "What happened?"
The previous doorman said, "He brought some junk and said he wanted to see the prefect. I told him that the prefect didn't have time to see him and asked him to leave, but he scolded me!"
"Is that so?" The later doorman was much older and looked much more stable.
Min Xi showed no fear: "I brought some grain seeds from overseas and wanted to present them to the government. I could meet any official, but not only did he not introduce me, he also kicked me out."
The older doorman came over after hearing what he said and asked: "What kind of food did you bring? Let me see."