Chapter 2703
Compared to Mune Yuta, who is fat and fat and looks like a rich man, Mune Yoshizhin, the lord of the Tsuima Domain, does not have much aura of wealth. He is thin and has a dark complexion, which looks like the imprint left by a long-term career as a sailor or fisherman. The clothes are simple and elegant, and there are no glittering accessories on her body. However, the shrewdness in his eyes was in line with Zong Xiongtai.
The Tsushima Domain is based on sea trade. It is expected that the lord of the domain would often travel to various places when he was young, so that he could master the trade network that his family has worked hard to manage, so he has such a weathered appearance.
It was obviously not the first time that Zong Yizhen and Wen Zhihong met. After the two briefly exchanged greetings, Zong Yizhen turned his attention to Shi Chengwu and his party. Like Zong Xiongtai, Zong Yizhen can also speak Haihan Mandarin, but perhaps because he doesn't deal with Haihan directly so much, his pronunciation is indeed not as standard as Zong Xiongtai, and everyone in the delegation has to concentrate to understand it.
"I have read the memorandum on the results of the discussions in Busan a few days ago. There are two things that must be explained. First, our country and Haihan have already had a trade agreement. All trade activities between the two countries can be regarded as Within the scope of this agreement, there is currently no need to redraft it. Second, no third party should intervene in the trade agreement between North Korea and our country, whether it is revised or not.”
When Muneyizhen opened his mouth, he first emphasized the authority of the current trade agreement and denied the need to re-formulate the three-country trade agreement. His approach is actually similar to Zong Xiongtai's previous attitude, but speaking it as his identity will have more weight.
Wen Zhihong responded: "Lord, the trade situation today is very different from that of a few decades ago. Anyone with a discerning eye can see clearly. Rules are dead, people are alive. Use the rules formulated decades ago. Rules are used to manage the current situation of great changes. Many disadvantages have emerged. We should have made changes to adapt to the times. ”
Zong Yizhen snorted coldly and said: "This is an agreement between countries. How can we easily change it at any time? Besides, you and I are just local officials. What qualifications do we have to modify the trade regulations formulated by the country?" ?”
Wen Zhihong said: "I have been authorized by the court to handle relevant matters on behalf of my country. If the lord of the feudal lord feels that he cannot represent Japan, then there is no need to discuss the matter with Tsushima. Can the lord of the feudal lord accept this?"
The other party came prepared, which made Zong Yizhen feel even more headache. The news brought back by Zong Xiongtai a few days ago also claimed that the Busan government's move was only a local act and was not the intention of the North Korean court. Zong Yizhen planned to refuse to modify the trade agreement between the two countries on this ground. But how could he have expected that after the Haihan Mission used the radio to report recent activities to the country, the plan for trade negotiations immediately received the support of the Executive Committee, and coordinated the North Korean court to authorize the Busan government, Li Zhi's personal handwriting The edict had been delivered to Busan one day ago.
North Korea reacted so quickly. In addition to exerting pressure on Haihan, it actually intended to take advantage of the situation to benefit itself. If space for negotiation is gained, North Korea will have the opportunity to modify parts of the old agreement that are not beneficial to itself in terms of tariff standards, trade scope, settlement methods, etc.
The reason why Wen Zhihong is so positive about this is naturally because Busan will gain huge benefits from this. In terms of development prospects, how can this small island of Tsushima compare with the Port of Busan, which has superior conditions? Moreover, there is a Nagasaki Port directly under the jurisdiction of the shogunate in the south. Its trade conditions are no less than that of Busan Port. In recent years, with the gradual improvement of port infrastructure, it is also rising. Once Tsushima's special status in trade between the two countries is restricted, a large amount of wealth will inevitably flow to Busan and Nagasaki, which have a better trade environment.
Such a trend is naturally unacceptable to Tsushima. Tsuima Fan's prosperity benefited from its special geographical location, but due to the limitations of the island's natural conditions, it has almost reached the upper limit of development. Mune Yizhen even launched a major project such as digging artificial canals on Tsushima Island in order to shorten the voyage by dozens of miles, in order to strengthen the trade environment on the island. But no matter how hard we try, it is impossible for Tsushima's natural environment to undergo major changes, and it is impossible to create a huge deep-water port and a vast coastal plain like Busan Port or Nagasaki Port out of thin air. Now there is Haihan coming to this The region has introduced more efficient shipping methods, which can be described as a series of blows.
All Zong Yizhen's current attempts to improve Tsushima's trade environment are actually mending a cracked cauldron. It is impossible to repair it until it is as perfect as new. At most, it can still be used, and it is used. It may crack again.
He knew that he was a tinker, and he also knew that this could not be hidden from the outside world, but it was only a day if he could delay it for one more day. Otherwise, would it be possible for the Zong family to give up the industry passed down by their ancestors and return to fishing for a living? Survival status?
Zongyi Zhen's attitude has nothing to do with whether he sees the current situation clearly. Giving up the franchise means giving up the way to survive in Ma Fan. Doing so is tantamount to committing suicide. Therefore, whether Wen Zhihong intends to reason or to put pressure on Haihan, it is difficult to shake Zong Yizhen's determination.
Unless Tsushima can find another way out besides trade with Japan. But this is even less likely than the possibility of digging a gold mine on Tsushima Island, and Soyoshi doesn't have any hope for this.
Shi Chengwu saw the two families quarreling and arguing back and forth. After arguing for a long time, there was no sign of reaching a consensus. Finally, he impatiently interrupted: "Lord Lord, I think you must be clear about one thing. What we want to discuss at the moment is not Whether the current situation needs to be changed, but how to win more benefits for Tsushima in the process of change, is the goal you should focus on. ”
Zong Yizhen said: "Your Excellency, whether you agree with Ma Fan or not, Haihan will forcefully push forward this matter?"
Ishige Takeda: "With all due respect, your domain does not have the conditions to build a large-scale trading port. If you want to continue to occupy a place in the trade between Japan and Japan, it is no longer feasible to rely on convenient terrain. The domain lord should change his mind as soon as possible and think about Tsuima. What competitive advantages does the feudal clan have and how to integrate it into today’s trading system as soon as possible?”
"Then what if I don't cooperate with you?" Zong Yizhen asked coldly.
Ishige Takedo: "Then our two countries will jointly adopt sanctions and gradually reduce trade activities through Tsushima. Tsushima's share of cross-border trade will become smaller and smaller until it loses commercial value and is replaced by your country. It won’t take long for the shogunate and the Korean court to give up, and obvious results may be seen in one or two years.”
(End of chapter)