Chapter 2695
Some things may seem like a disadvantage, but they are actually an advantage. But the advantage cannot be taken in vain, and a corresponding price must be paid. In the end, who suffered the loss and who took advantage? Both sides have a weighing scale in their minds to weigh the pros and cons. The point is that both Haihan and North Korea got the benefits they wanted in this process. This is the real reason for cooperation.
It's just that these exchanges of interests under the table will not be announced in the form of announcements. Only a handful of bureaucrats with access to inside information will understand the secrets.
Of course, a newcomer like Zhu Zian who has just entered the official career has limited knowledge of international relations. Without Tao Hongfang to explain it to him in detail, it is still quite difficult to understand the twists and turns of interest entanglements on his own. Difficulty.
But even if the two countries have reached a consensus, a lot of preliminary work still needs to be completed before the implementation of this matter can be promoted. The current trade data audit is one of them. Next, we need to set up corresponding local institutions to handle tax and accounting affairs. However, these matters should no longer need to be followed up by the mission. The financial department will dispatch special personnel to take charge of it later. Maybe they are already on their way to Busan at this time.
Zhu Zian said: "So, after completing the audit work, will the mission leave Busan?"
Tao Hongfang said: "There should be one more thing to do before leaving. It is rare for such a large armed fleet to visit the local area. I think the local government will take this opportunity to play a game of pretending to be powerful."
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Zhu Zian said: "What do you mean, sir, that the Koreans want to use this opportunity to scare the Japanese?"
Tao Hongfang nodded and said: "That Mr. Wen has arranged a time for us to meet with the leading figures of the local Japanese Chamber of Commerce. He hopes that we can stand as allies and put a little pressure on the Japanese to let North Korea can benefit more from bilateral trade.”
Zhu Zian couldn't help but smile and said: "They thought well. What they lost from us must be taken back from the Japanese!"
Tao Hongfang also smiled and said: "I can't help you with this. We are going to visit Japan next, and there are many things that need to be discussed with the officials. It would be good to get in touch with the Japanese first. By the way, you I will take time to read the relevant information in the evening, and I will also attend when the time comes.”
The Haihan Mission has been busy with official duties since arriving in Busan and did not take the initiative to contact the local Japanese Chamber of Commerce. The Japanese also did not choose to take the initiative. But it was the local government that was the first to lose control. Seeing that the Haihan delegation was already preparing to set off and there was no movement, they could only step forward and take the lead in organizing a meeting, trying to use Haihan's power to resolve the dispute between themselves and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce. some issues during the period.
In the evening, Zhu Zian followed Tao Hongfang's instructions and went to find relevant information. He read and studied it all night, and he had a preliminary understanding of the situation of the local Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Busan.
Although the Chamber of Commerce is named after Japan, its actual composition is actually centered on the clan of the Lord Tsushima of Japan, and all matters related to trade are basically decided by Tsushima.
The reason for such a strange situation is mainly due to Tsushima's unique geographical location. The main jurisdiction of the Tsushima Domain is Tsushima Island and Iki Island, which are located between Korea and Japan. Iki Island is closer to the Japanese mainland, while Tsushima Island is right in the middle of the strait, and its northern end is only a hundred miles away from Busan Port. It is so far away that it enjoys unique trade advantages. Taking advantage of this geographical advantage, Tsushima gradually controlled the maritime trade channels between Japan and Korea. It is worth mentioning that precisely because it is so close to the coastline of the Korean Peninsula and has close trade exchanges with both sides of the strait, the political stance towards Ma Fan is not particularly firm and has vacillated for a time in history.
In 1419, North Korean general Li Congmao sent troops to occupy Tsushima Island in the name of fighting against Japanese pirates. The ruler of the island, Zong, accepted a North Korean official position and engaged in trade activities with Japan on behalf of North Korea for a long period of time.
But by the Imjin Japanese Rebellion in 1592, Tsushima became a frontline base for Japan to invade Korea. Toyotomi Hideyoshi used this as a springboard to lead an army of more than 100,000 people to attack North Korea. The first battle was to cross the sea from Tsushima Island and invade Pusan. At that time, North Korea lost most of its territory. If the Ming Dynasty had not sent troops to rescue it, it would have been destroyed.
The Tsuima clan also sent troops to fight in Korea at that time, and the Tsuima army participated in the battles in which the Japanese army conquered Seoul, Kaesong, and Pyongyang. The then feudal lord Zong Yichi personally led more than 2,000 feudal troops and once advanced to the north of Pyongyang. It was not until Ming Dynasty general Li Rusong led his troops to Pyongyang and the Japanese army was defeated that Zong Yizhi followed the large army to evacuate south.
However, after the war ended, Tsushima was also the first to step out as peacemaker. After repeated mediation efforts by Soyoshi, he finally succeeded in reopening cross-border trade channels between Korea and Japan, and signed the Keicho Treaty of Peace in 1609.
Tsushima, as the only trusted intermediary between the two countries, firmly held the cross-border trade through the Korean Strait in its own hands, and the feudal lord Zong family also gained the glory and wealth that continues to this day.
Today's feudal lord Muneyoshi is the grandson of Muneyoshi, and it is said that he is also a man of considerable means. After taking office, he not only vigorously developed industries closely related to trade such as shipbuilding and navigation, but also invested a lot of material and manpower to develop a business on Tsushima Island. Dig a canal to connect the east and west banks. In this way, merchant ships traveling between Tsushima Island and Busan Port no longer need to circumnavigate half of the island before entering Asu Bay, the main port of Tsushima Island, which can shorten the voyage by more than a hundred miles. However, the estimated construction period of this project is said to be more than ten years, and it is still under construction.
If it were not supported by considerable trade income, it would be tantamount to wishful thinking to carry out such a large-scale civil project that would last for several years under the conditions of Tsushima.
It can be seen from this that the lord of this generation is a ruler with a long-term vision and is willing to invest a lot of resources in building large-scale projects that will benefit future generations. But if you look at it from another angle, it is enough to reveal that Taima is very dependent on cross-border trade. It must continue to consolidate its geographical advantages through various means to ensure that its control over cross-border trade will not be lost.
Since Tsushima was an agent for a considerable part of Korea's trade with Japan, this meant that a considerable part of the profits from the trade process flowed into Tsushima's pocket. The North Korean local government, as the administrator of Busan Port, has probably been dissatisfied with this distribution method for a long time, but has never had the means to change this status quo. The arrival of the Haihan mission provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local officials.
(End of chapter)