Chapter 1677 Social Status
If local people in Manila were asked to describe the difference between the Spanish rule and the present, it would probably be the significant change in the social status of the Han people. During the Spanish rule, the Han immigrants in Manila could only be regarded as third-class citizens. Even Ming businessmen like Ran Tianlu, who were doing well in the local area, would not have had an easy life if they were not protected by Father Blanco. . Many foreign businessmen have been in Manila for a year or two and are not even qualified to set foot in the city. They can only complete transactions in the Manila Port and Cavite Port.
However, after Haihan drove away the Spanish rulers, he immediately supported a group of Han people in the local area to take over the positions vacated in various official institutions. The social status of the Spaniards was suddenly reversed with that of the Han people, and became the current the bottom of society. Many Spanish immigrant families resisted during Haihan's attack on Manila and their property was confiscated after the war. They now have to rely on selling their labor to make ends meet. The Han people who were originally looked down upon by the Spaniards finally had a day of pride and pride.
In addition to large and small warehouses, the area between the west gate of Manila City and the port also has a large area of Han settlements, where about 2,000 Han immigrants live. The main business of these Han people is navigation and commerce, and many of them have experience as sailors on Spanish merchant ships. There are also many people who rely on their own background to serve as a bridge for trade between Spain and the Ming Dynasty. In addition, before the siege, the Haihan Army was worried that there were too few translators and would encounter a lot of trouble when taking over Manila. However, these local Han people made this seemingly difficult problem easily solved.
The Qin family living in this Han community is the epitome of a very typical colonial Han family. The ancestors of the Qin family were deceived from the southern Fujian area of the Ming Dynasty to Luzon Island during the Wanli period under the pretense of traveling to Southeast Asia to make a fortune. They were almost sold to the Spanish colonists as slaves on the basis of selling piglets. At that time, the Spaniards had not long occupied Manila. The ancestors of the Qin family had worked hard for their masters all their lives, and finally they were able to obtain the freedom of the next generation. However, since the Qin family itself had neither family nor background here, they used the wealth of several generations. At that time, he had just opened a shop outside Manila that specialized in selling plain goods.
The owner of the family, Qin Shengyao, is nearly fifty years old. The knowledge he accumulated from many years of working in local shopping malls finally came into play in the Manila war. From the beginning of the war, Qin Shengyao strictly prohibited his family from participating in it, and even paid special expenses to have several family members who served in the Manila fleet and port forts return home early to prevent them from being involved in the war and implicating the family. After the war, when the Haihan Army conducted a census in this area, the Qin family was evaluated as having "clean wealth and active cooperation" and got the opportunity to become an official.
The reason why Qin Shengyao acted like this was mainly because he had frequent contacts with Ming merchants and had heard a lot about Haihan. In particular, the Spanish colonial government ordered that some war news be prohibited from spreading locally, which made Qin Shengyao realize the terrifying strength of the Haihan Army. After all, like when Spain lost its stronghold in Taipei, went to attack Sanya and failed at the enemy's doorstep, such embarrassing battle reports would definitely not spread in Manila, and the news brought by Ming merchants was a lot more embellished. There are ingredients in it. The rumors Qin Shengyao learned about the strength of the Haihan Army naturally contained more exaggerated elements.
But this also saved the Qin family. It was precisely because Qin Shengyao was very afraid of the Haihan Army that he tried to prevent his family from participating in the war. Otherwise, in the post-war liquidation, even if the Qin family would not be imprisoned, they would definitely be punished by having their property confiscated. It is unavoidable, let alone getting the opportunity to become an official under the new ruler.
Of course, if it was just that they did not help others in this war, the Qin family would not be favored. The Haihan Army chose the Qin family as its support target. Another important reason is that the Qin family has always adhered to the cultural traditions of the Han people. They speak Chinese, write Chinese characters and wear Hanfu. They have not become confused just because they have lived in the Spanish colonies for several generations. own origin. Qin Shengyao's two sons, Qin Huaming and Qin Huacheng, also adhered to this tradition. Therefore, they gained the favor of the Haihan Army in the census, and thus got the opportunity to become officials.
Qin Shengyao did not step forward to take the official position offered by Haihan himself, but left the opportunity to his two sons. After receiving a brief training, the eldest son Qin Huaming became a non-staff temporary worker under the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Haihan. However, with the title of "officer", he could be regarded as a sesame official. The second son, Qin Huacheng, had served in the Manila Fleet in the past and received military training for a period of time, so he was appointed as the captain of the Xicheng Police Force. He led more than 60 young men who were also selected from the local Han people and were responsible for Xicheng. The security work in the Han-populated area outside the door and the Manila port.
The two sons of the Qin family are working for the new government, and their status has immediately increased. In the past, except for business partners, few people came to the Qin family, but now they have a bustling scene. There are all kinds of people who come here to visit Qin Shengyao every day, including neighbors who hope to be taken care of by the Qin family, and admirers who want to learn from Qin Shengyao and learn how to get on the big ship of Shanghai and Han. Some even think that The Qin family must have personal relationships with some high-ranking officials of the Haihan Army, and they hope to have Qin Shengyao connect them and introduce them to Haihan officials.
Although Qin Shengyao was proud, he was not overly inflated because he suddenly became a popular figure in the area. He knew very well how much he weighed, and he also understood that the reason why the Qin family was able to gain power now was not because of Qin Shengyao's ability or his connections with high-ranking officials in Haihan, but because of timing and luck. To win the admiration or even money of others is tantamount to ruining one's luck. If the Haihan people find out, the consequences will be unpredictable.
Therefore, Qin Shengyao was polite to the visitors, but if it was something that was not within his ability, he would not agree to it anyway. In particular, requests such as those asking him to introduce senior officials from Haihan were resolutely rejected.
On this day, Qin Shengyao sent away another visitor whose request was not met. Naturally, the man's face was not very good when he was rejected. He cursed all the way out of the Qin family's courtyard gate. Qin Huaming happened to come back from outside and ran into this scene, so he could only get out of the way with a wry smile. After he returned home and saw his father, he talked about the scene he had just seen at the gate and asked about the reason for it.
Qin Shengyao said: "Nading's family brought a generous gift, hoping to use it to introduce his father to high-ranking officials in Haihan. However, his family just married a Spanish in the city last year. This time, I heard that his son-in-law also gave him a gift." The Haihan Army captured him, and the Ding family probably wanted to use the relationship to save his daughter and son-in-law, but at this juncture, everyone is in danger, how can a father dare to agree to such a thing rashly? "
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Qin Hua Ming said: "Since we are giving gifts, why don't the Ding family go directly to give them to the Haihan people, but they go through such a big circle and start from my family?"
Qin Shengyao sighed and said: "It's not just people's fear. There are rumors outside that my father has a personal relationship with the general of Haihan Army, so he sent you two brothers to work in Haihan Yamen. That Ding family wants to give gifts to Haihan High-ranking officials were not allowed to enter. Hearing that his father had such a way, he naturally found his way here. Little did he know that the Haihan officer whom his father saw that day was just a lieutenant who led the general's horse. It’s just a class, and now that everyone is gone, there is no way to send messages to the top.”
The Haihan officer Qin Shengyao was talking about was Sun Bing, commander of the first company of the Marine Corps. Because the area outside the West City Gate is close to the coastline, it was the navy that took over the defense at that time. In accordance with the requirements of his superiors, Sun Bing first selected the local Han families with relatively clean backgrounds, and the Qin family was naturally among them. Sun Bing came to talk to Qin Shengyao, and after learning about the Qin family's situation, he He recommended it to the Provisional Management Committee, and then arrangements were made for the two brothers of the Qin family to become officials.
Qin Shengyao was right when he said that Sun Bing was a captain. His military rank was captain, but it was not necessary to lead the general's horse and kick the pedal. After all, Wang Tom commanded most of the battles at sea and rarely went out on horseback. Moreover, Wang Tom actually doesn't care about these trivial matters among the people. Even if Sun Bing can be asked to deliver the message, it will probably not have any effect.
Now that Tom Wang and his marines had left Manila and headed north, Qin Shengyao didn't know anyone else in the Haihan Army. In terms of personal friendship with Haihan officials, it might not be as good as his two sons. After all, the Qin brothers have to deal with Haihan officials almost every day, which is much better than him, an old man who has been idle at home recently with nothing to do. Qin Hua Ming said: "It is said that the Ding family's shipping company has saved a dozen cargo ships, but they are temporarily unable to go to sea due to the ban. Maybe they can be used in the future. The second brother is now working in the police force. If you want to inquire about the imprisoned prisoners, News, we can think of a way.”
Qin Shengyao waved his hands repeatedly and said: "I can't help it. If this drags your second brother down, it will be too much!"
"What are you dragging me down?" Qin Huacheng, the second eldest brother, also came back while he was talking, and happened to hear the conversation between his father and his brother.
Qin Shengyao didn't hide anything from him and told him what happened just now. After hearing this, Qin Huacheng laughed and said: "Father, you think too much. The Haihan people are not that unkind. If you just want to inquire about the prisoners, there is no obstacle. If you find out the name of the Ding family's son-in-law, I will be on duty tomorrow. Just ask someone and you will know.”
But Qin Shengyao still has concerns about this: "If the Haihan people want to trouble the Ding family to settle accounts after the fall, wouldn't it be asking for trouble if I, the Qin family, do this for them?"
Qin Huacheng said: "What my father doesn't know is that the man in power in the city is no longer a military general, but a civil servant named Mr. Qiu who came from Sanya. This Mr. Qiu is not as arbitrary as the previous General Haihan. , and the whole family will not be imprisoned because of one person's crime. Besides, the Ding family is also Han, and now that the government intends to support the Han people to suppress Xifan, it should not be possible to kill the Ding family just because of such a trivial matter. If it succeeds, the Ding family will owe my family a favor. If they purchase goods from Daming in the future, the Ding family shipping company will have to give them a cheap price. "
Qin Shengyao felt a little moved when he heard what he said. In the past, because the Qin family shop did not have its own sea-going ships, most of the goods imported from Ming Dynasty were entrusted to Ming merchants to bring them when they went south. However, the cost of this procurement method would inevitably be relatively high. Another way is to hire a ship to go to Daming for purchasing. In this way, you can also bring a batch of goods to Daming for sale. You can do business on both trips, and the profits will be relatively rich.
However, Qin's shop had a modest relationship with local shipping companies in the past, and it was often difficult to book suitable shipping schedules at low prices, so it has always adopted the former method to maintain supply. If we can have the opportunity to establish a good relationship with the local shipping company, we may be able to hire cargo ships from the Ding family shipping company to trade in the Ming Dynasty, as Qin Huacheng said. Of course, we can now add another destination, Sanya, known as the first trading port in the South China Sea.
"It's just that my father has just rejected the Ding family, and now he takes the initiative to seek them back. Wouldn't it be a slap in the face?" Qin Shengyao thought about it, but still felt a little embarrassed about it.
Qin Huacheng said: "It doesn't matter. There is no need to embarrass my father. You can just pretend to be the bad guy in this play, and I will be the red face next time."
Qin Shengyao asked quickly: "Tell me first, how to sing this red face? If it's inappropriate, it's better not to take the risk."
Qin Huacheng said: "It's simple. Tomorrow I will go to Ding's house to investigate the matter of his son-in-law, and then I will find an opportunity to deliberately reveal something, saying that there is still a chance of reversing the matter. They will inevitably stick to it themselves, and then we will negotiate the terms. Not too late.”
"Is this feasible?" Qin Shengyao still felt a little unsafe.
"Father, I think my second brother's idea is feasible. You might as well give it a try." Qin Huaming also stood up for Qin Huacheng and said, "If there is really any risk, then it will not be too late to give up then."
Qin Shengyao couldn't talk to the two brothers. After some hesitation, he finally agreed to their idea. He just repeatedly warned that if the son-in-law of the Ding family has been convicted by Haihan, he must not make any mistakes. At most, he should inform the Ding family of the news and stop meddling in other people's affairs. The two brothers agreed wholeheartedly, but in their hearts they were already thinking about how to get more benefits from it.
The next day, Qin Huacheng went to the police station to report, and after that, he arranged routine patrol tasks. In the first few days, the Haihan Army was mixed with them, but as the Haihan Army gradually withdrew in the past few days, this patrol mission became a task performed by their group of security police alone.
(End of chapter)