Chapter 1211 Indochina
As Haihan's most important political ally and military partner, Annan submits an extremely staggering total price of arms purchase orders to Haihan every year. It is also one of Haihan's main sources of income in military equipment exports. Especially in recent years, the country of Annan has gradually become peaceful. The imperial court is also learning from Haihan's ruling ideas and strengthening the large-scale operation of maritime trade and agricultural and forestry products. The domestic experience has improved significantly, and it is no longer necessary to use it when placing orders. A large number of immigration quotas were used to offset the payment for goods, but the barter transaction model has always been retained.
Haihan has always attached great importance to the Annan market. The densely populated central and northern areas of Annan are much closer to Sanya than the Pearl River Delta region of Fujian and Guangdong. Moreover, like the Ming Dynasty, it is an agricultural country and is used for sales. Haihan's primary industrial products are perfect. Although these iron utensils were shipped across the sea, the price was lower than the cost price of similar products in Annan. According to the official agreement reached by the two countries in the early years, Annan did not have any threshold for importing goods from Haihan. It provides the greatest convenience for Haihan Industrial Products to earn scissor profits in Annan.
Although the profits of these industrial products are not as high as those of military products, they are very practical production and living tools for Annan, which has an agricultural population as the main body of society. Han Zhengshan used to think that the Haihan people only sold glass products, high-end wine, arms, etc. However, I did not expect that the operation methods in Annan were different. The goods sold to the private sector were mainly cheap daily necessities.
Of course, this is only Han Zhengshan's relatively one-sided view. In fact, in the relatively affluent northern Annan region, Haihan sells many more valuable products on the market. The glass products imported from Haihan every year in Thang Long, the capital city, are not much worse than those in big cities like Guangzhou. The most profitable military equipment is sent to the Do Son Peninsula military port in the north, delivered directly to the Annan military in person, and then distributed internally to garrisons in various places. It will not be publicly traded in civilian ports like Da Nang. .
Han Zhengshan also paid attention to the local goods sold to Haihan in Annan, which were basically primary agricultural products, mainly rice, livestock and poultry. In fact, Haihan's domestic food production already has some surplus on the basis of self-sufficiency, which can be transported to various overseas colonies north of Hainan Island. Due to the limited development level of some colonies in the South China Sea, the local grain production is not enough to support their own consumption, so they will purchase it from nearby major grain-producing countries such as Annan and Champa, and the freight to the destination can basically offset the cost of shipping from the sea. The price difference of grain was organized in Han Dynasty.
With the economic common sense that Han Zhengshan possesses, it is naturally difficult to realize what the difference in trade content between the two sides means, but one thing he clearly understands is that Haihan's local influence is so great that it is no different from that at home. . Although this place was nominally "lent" by Annan Kingdom to Haihan for management, what Han Zhengshan saw here was that both the Haihan people and the Annan people regarded this place as Haihan's territory and used the sea for exchanges. In Han Mandarin, Hai Han currency certificates are used for transactions, and the only government office is the Da Nang Management Committee affiliated with Hai Han.
Han Zhengshan asked several sailors and found out that Annan Kingdom did not set up an official organization in Da Nang and completely handed over the governance power to Hai Han. Even the warships of the Haihan Navy can freely enter the port and berth. Annan has no restrictions on this, and it seems that it is completely undefended against Haihan. Or to put it another way, the rulers of Annan do not seem to regard this place as their own land anymore, but as the Haihan territory bordering Annan.
Whether this was complete trust or fear of Haihan, it was really difficult for Han Zhengshan to judge. However, the number of Haihan's permanent troops stationed here is very small. Only one company of the army is a serious combat unit, and they are all stationed at the hillside fort near the entrance of the harbor. The Navy also has an equipment maintenance platoon stationed here, but most of the members are professional shipwrights, and they only assist passing Navy ships in completing repairs and maintenance work. The police are responsible for all peacetime security work, and the army only assumes the responsibility of external defense. This may be one of the reasons why Annan is relatively reassured. However, the scale of Haihan's fleet going south this time was huge. After entering the port, a special person was sent to the nearby Annan government to deliver an official document to avoid misunderstanding by Annan officials.
As a large trading port on the east coast of Annam with the shortest voyage from Sanya, Danang's prosperity is probably the leading port on the entire east coast, even far surpassing the Black Earth Port developed by Hai Han in the Beibu Gulf in the early days. Today, the permanent population here has reached more than 20,000, about half of whom are Haihan nationals. Some of the remaining people are quasi-nationals who are in the naturalization inspection period, and some are Annan who works here for Haihan. people. Of course, many Annan people feel that it is better to join Haihan to get better treatment, and then they submit naturalization applications to Haihan. The Annan government has always turned a blind eye to this kind of population loss. As long as both parties are voluntary, the government will not intervene and allow the population to flow on its own.
Han Zhengshan understood the situation in Da Nang, and after thinking about it, he understood why Haihan was able to continuously absorb immigrants from the Ming Dynasty. Regardless of whether it is Annan or Ming Dynasty, local officials will always be afraid of the existence of Haihan's strength. No one wants to take the initiative to cause trouble for the sake of leaving or leaving some prostitutes. What's more, in places occupied by Haihan, the nearby officials will more or less obtain various benefits from the Haihan people. These officials will generally give Haihan convenience, and whether their stance will be on the side of their own country or Haihan. It's really impossible to say.
Han Zhengshan then thought about it, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, was not the Da Nang of the Ming Dynasty. It had been occupied by the Hai Han people for more than a year, but the Zhejiang government did not take any effective measures to expel the Hai Han people. On the contrary, it was Haihan who turned against foreigners and even sent his troops to the gates of Hangzhou, forcing the Zhejiang government to recognize their rights and interests in Zhoushan Island in disguise. The national power of the Annan Kingdom is far inferior to that of the Ming Dynasty, but the ruling high-level officials were quick-thinking and directly gave this place to Haihan, without everyone having to face each other, and in exchange for all kinds of assistance and support from Haihan. It's a relatively peaceful solution.
Han Zhengshan really wanted to take a walk in Da Nang. After all, compared to Haihan, which was governed by the same Han people as the Ming Dynasty, this place was a truly foreign country. He also wanted to see the customs and customs of a foreign land, but his superiors decided against it. The designated scope of activities is limited to the port area. Even the meals are prepared elsewhere and delivered to the dock. Even a cadre of his level is not qualified to go out of the restricted area. When he was on the ship, he heard Captain Ding Xu say that the scenery in Da Nang was very good. There was even a chief who enclosed land and built buildings here and came here every year for vacation. But now he can't even get out of the dock. It seems that there is no way. What a feast for the eyes.
However, God seemed to be very favoring Han Zhengshan, and his good luck had not left him. Just when he was about to give up the idea, someone came to inform him to report to his superiors. Han Zhengshan quickly put down his job, wiped his mouth and hurried to see Tan Juren.
"Come with me to a nearby town and talk to the sheriff here to learn how they manage this place." After Tan Juren finished his instructions, he didn't ask Han Zhengshan for his opinion anymore and returned to his job. A carriage.
Han Zhengshan didn't dare to ask any more questions, so he walked quickly behind him. In addition to him, he was accompanied by Tan Juren's personal secretary, four personal guards, and the groom who drove the carriage. However, the secretary, who was a close confidant of Tan Juren, also got into the carriage. There were also local staff members who came to pick up Tan Juren. Han Zhengshan and the four guards could not get in, so they had to follow on foot. Fortunately, the place is not far away, only about a mile away, so Han Zhengshan won't find it too hard.
But soon Han Zhengshan discovered that there were several more of the same carriage, followed by guards, and they were also heading in the same direction. It seemed that all the leaders of the fleet were dispatched.
After arriving at the destination, Han Zhengshan quickly understood the situation. It turned out that the local ruling officials wanted to entertain Tan Juren and others, so he sent several carriages to the dock to pick them up. At Han Zhengshan's level, he definitely couldn't sit at the same table with the leaders, or even under the same roof. All the entourage, including the secretary, were invited to sit in another flower hall, where there was also a banquet. , and those who came to accompany him were local peace officers, immigration officers, business executives, etc. Like Han Zhengshan, these people are all naturalized citizens, and there is no difference in status when communicating.
When Han Zhengshan saw the food on the table, he immediately complained in his heart. This was not because he had any taboos about eating, but because he regretted that he had eaten too fast on the dock just now and his stomach was already half full. Now, Being pulled over to face such a seafood feast, I probably couldn't eat much.
"My colleagues have come all the way here. We don't have any specialties in Da Nang, but there is certainly no shortage of seafood. You can take care of it! The master chefs have been trained in the Victory Fort. The taste is guaranteed to be authentic. Don't be polite. , leaders often say, you can have enough food and clothing by yourself, come on, let’s use chopsticks.”
The local immigration officer in Da Nang also serves as the publicity officer. He is in charge of the reception of the foreign cadres here, greeting everyone warmly. However, considering that after dinner, there might be an interview with the chief, no one dared to be too liberal. It was definitely not suitable to drink freely here, otherwise it would be a big deal to lose their composure in front of the chief later. Han Zhengshan was not a drinker in the first place, so he just clinked the glasses symbolically, wet his lips, and then put the glass back on the table.
Han Zhengshan soon struck up a conversation with the local police chief. Coincidentally, the police chief named Qin Biao worked as a police officer in Qiongzhou Fucheng before joining Haihan, and he was a companion with him. After the two of them revealed their identities, they naturally felt more cordial. After eating for a while, they got off the table and sat next to each other to drink tea and chat. Qin Biao still lamented when he talked about his experience of joining Haihan.
"I think back then, when there was great chaos in Qiongbei, the pirates were all out of the city. If the chiefs hadn't led troops to rescue them, Qiongzhou Island would have turned into a den of bandits. Later, the chiefs drove away the pirates and took over Qiongbei. Just to earn a living, I joined Haihan. After joining, I was assigned to work in my old job. Two years ago, I heard that overseas colonies were calling for magistrates, so I signed up and crossed the sea to come to Da Nang. Hong Kong.”
As Han Zhengshan listened, he thought in his mind that Haihan occupied Qiongbei in the name of fighting pirates. This kind of behavior of occupying the magpie's nest and doves may also have many small tricks behind the scenes. However, now that Haihan has established a country, Ming Dynasty has no power to do so. Then take back Qiongzhou Island, which has been renamed Hainan, from its hands. Even if Qin Biao knew the inside story, as a Haihan official, he was determined not to mention those shady things again.
Han Zhengshan responded immediately: "Brother Qin came to Da Nang to serve as an official. He must have gained a lot, right?"
Qin Biao somewhat misunderstood what he meant, and quickly waved his hand and said: "What the chiefs hate most is corruption. I am determined not to get money that should not be made. If I violate the law while holding an official position, the punishment will be doubled!" ”
Han Zhengshan said quickly: "I'm not talking about money, I'm just talking about the gains from this career experience."
"Oh!" Qin Biao suddenly said: "If I didn't come to Da Nang, I would probably be an ordinary policeman if I stayed on Hainan Island. It would be good to be an official here. Da Nang has beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. The nearby Thu Bon River Basin is a grain-producing area, so I don’t have to worry about starvation during famine years. Even if I leave office in the future, I will probably continue to live here.”
"Brother Qin has managed the affairs well in Da Nang. He will probably be promoted in the future. How can he live in seclusion here?" Han Zhengshan lost no time in boasting: "I heard that those who have served as peace officers in overseas colonies will be able to work in the future. Be promoted to work in the department or even the ministry.”
Qin Biao nodded and replied: "When the superiors sent me to Da Nang, they also said that after completing the four-year term of the Sheriff, they can be transferred back to Hainan to serve. I will definitely not be able to escape if I am promoted to one level. Of course. If you take the initiative to stay overseas, you have to see what your boss wants.”
Han Zhengshan asked this question just to inquire about the treatment of the colonial sheriff. Hearing what Qin Biao said, he felt relieved. Since he can be promoted to an official position and return to Hainan Island in a few years, the experience of serving overseas is not a disadvantage. As for whether there is any benefit in it, Han Zhengshan doesn't believe that Qin Biao is really that innocent. There is no benefit at all in charge of local public security. Even if you don't reach out, people will take the initiative to put money into your pocket. He had just seen shops such as brothels, casinos, and pawn shops in the town. He would never believe the operators of these places if they didn't take the initiative to buy a reliable protection umbrella.
(End of chapter)