Chapter 2697
Ning Zijing added: "In recent years, with the assistance of our country, North Korea has mined a lot of mineral deposits, especially coal mines. Therefore, among the goods exported to Japan, coal and coke have also become a big deal. According to us According to the information we have, the coal and coke sold to Japan through Busan Port already accounts for about 20% of the total trade.”
Japan's coal reserves are not large, and even fewer have been mined in this era. Its production capacity and costs are far less than those of North Korea today, so even if it is transported across seas, middlemen still make relatively generous profits. However, this kind of bulk cargo trading requires strong capital and sufficient maritime transportation capacity. Ordinary merchants do not have such strength. Both parties participating in the meeting and transaction will more or less have certain official backgrounds.
Tao Hongfang continued: "No matter which business it is, once a monopoly is formed, the profits will become considerable. Although Tsuima Fan has little local production, it has controlled the trade routes between the two countries for a long time, which means that A disguised monopoly is formed. People sit at home and money comes from the sky. This money can be earned effortlessly, and it will naturally be spent lavishly. ”
Zhu Zian understood what he heard, but he still didn't quite understand. If Ma Fan's methods were so simple and easy to understand, then why did the two countries have to sit idly by and let this middleman easily monopolize the trade between the two countries? . If this middleman is eliminated and the two countries can trade freely, wouldn't it be more conducive to the development of trade?
However, it was too late for him to continue asking questions at this time. The motorcade had already entered Waguan Castle. Several people in the car tidied up their appearance a little before getting out of the car to meet the other party.
Zhu Zian had seen commercial shops opened by Japanese businessmen in Zhoushan before, but this was the first time in his life that he had actually dealt with Japanese people.
In his eyes, both the Japanese samurai with Tsukiyo haircut and the low and cramped Japanese-style buildings seemed very novel. Although the culture of this country is said to be of the same origin as China, in Zhu Zian's view, it seems that the degree of cultural variation is far greater than that of North Korea, which is closer to China.
And Zhu Zian didn't quite understand that since Japanese culture originated from China, why didn't they copy the most basic furniture? There wasn't even a chair in the room where the guests were waiting, so they just put a cloth mat on the floor to sit on. It didn't work. No matter what position you do, you will feel very awkward.
It is definitely impossible to sit on one's knees. Regardless of Ming Dynasty or Haihan, this posture is a way of lowering one's status. Zhu Zian looked around and had no choice but to follow Tao Hongfang and others and sit down cross-legged.
The person who came out to receive them was Zong Yuta, the head of the Japanese Museum. He looked about thirty years old, with narrow eyes and long eyebrows. He was slightly fat. He was wearing a silk hakama with a black pattern and a black crown on his head. Wearing several shining golden rings. Rather than being an official, he looks more like a wealthy businessman.
Zong Xiongtai has been living in Busan for many years and has dealt with Haihan merchants a lot, so he can speak Haihan Mandarin that is not too standard, which saves the trouble of translation when it comes to communication.
After the three parties exchanged a few pleasantries, Wen Zhihong, the initiator of the meeting, introduced the main topic: "Master of the Clan, it has been more than 40 years since our two countries signed the Treaty of Peace in Qingchang. Here, During this period, the trade situation between our two countries has also undergone great changes. Especially in the past ten years, a large number of merchants from Haihan State have entered Busan to engage in trading activities. The local situation has also been greatly improved from when the treaty was signed. Therefore, I believe that some of the contents of the treaty should be renegotiated in line with the current actual situation. Those that should be modified should be modified, and those that should be canceled should be cancelled. This will be more in line with the interests of our three countries. Balance.”
After Zong Xiongtai heard this, he just nodded slightly and did not express his position, but his eyes turned to Haihan. It seemed that he also knew very well who among the two groups of people who came together today was the one who really made the decision. It doesn't matter what North Korean officials say, the key lies in what Haihan means. Tao Hongfang said: “When North Korea and Japan signed the agreement, our country did not participate in it. But more than 40 years later, our country has now become the largest participant in Busan Port’s trade. I think it is time to sign a new three-country agreement. trade agreement to ensure our country’s interests in Busan Port, and we are convinced that in the long run, a new agreement that can take into account the interests of all parties will also play a great role in future cross-border trade activities between North Korea and Japan. Helping role.”
Now that they have decided to participate in the meeting, they will not just come to support the North Koreans. Of course, the mission must strive for Haihan's interests in the process. Turning the conflict of interests between North Korea and Japan into a tripartite meeting would make it easier to put pressure on Japan, so Wen Zhihong had no objection to this.
Zongxiong felt a little uneasy after hearing this. After the Haehan delegation arrived in Busan, he thought about inviting the delegation to Yeongdo for a meeting, but the invitations sent there were all declined by the other party in the name of being busy with official duties. Later, the Busan government sent people to the island to arrest people. Zong Xiongtai knew that this was caused by the pressure from the Haihan people on the government, but he did not take any resistance measures. He allowed the government to arrest a few rogues who had no roots and returned to the island for business, hoping to use this to Show kindness to Haihan.
But he did not expect that the bilateral meeting he expected was dragged into a tripartite meeting. The trade activities between Haihan and Japan were originally supposed to be the topic, but now North Korea has been forced to intervene.
Zong Xiongtai was not even the least bit interested in Wen Zhihong's suggestions. In the history of trade between Korea and Japan, Tsushima has always been an indispensable presence. Whether Koreans want to sell things to Japan or buy Japanese goods, they have never been able to bypass Tsushima.
Especially in the past forty years, Tsushima has almost completely monopolized direct trade between North Korea and Japan, and has no intention of renegotiating the trade agreement. If it must be discussed, Tsushima will probably only add one more clause to the original agreement, which prohibits Haihan merchants from engaging in intermediary trade activities between Korea and Japan.
Yes, that's right. Since Haihan's commercial power entered Busan, it has been difficult for Tsushima to completely monopolize the trade between North Korea and Japan as it did in the past. Many Haihan merchants realized the business opportunities and simply bypassed Tsushima to engage in cross-border trade between Korea and Japan.
From the perspective of the Tsushima Domain, this behavior is tantamount to smuggling, but because the practitioners are Kaihan merchants, and the Tsuima Domain does not want to repeat the mistakes of the Hirado Domain, it has always been able to turn a blind eye to it. Only one eye. As long as such behavior has not shaken the foundation of Tsushima, it will be over if you tolerate it.
But now that the Haihan people have come to the door and want to negotiate a three-party trade agreement, this is obviously an attempt to make the past petty actions public. This is undoubtedly a very dangerous signal for Zong Xiongtai.
(End of chapter)