Chapter 263 The Blessings of Science (First Update, Please Subscribe)

In July 1866, the protracted American Civil War finally ended.

There was no winner at the end of this civil war. The war caused the deaths of more than 1.15 million American soldiers, injured 600,000 soldiers, and affected an unknown number of civilians.

Although the war began over slavery, slavery did not end in the American South when the war ended.

Not only did it not end, but Washington even had to recognize the independence of the South, even though President McClellan tried to end the war through negotiations and even said he would give up freeing the slaves in order to quell the war.

However, due to the extreme distrust of the North, the South has unwaveringly chosen independence, which is why the negotiations have been so long and even resulted in several major fights last year.

But in the end, the people in the North were tired of the war, and faced with the determined centrifugal South, they gave up!

America is divided!

Before the Independence Day, the two sides signed a treaty. According to this so-called peace treaty, the United States was divided into two countries. All this seemed to be logical. After all, after more than one million people died, it was impossible for the two sides to come together again.

The split was doomed from the day the negotiations began.

What does it mean for America to be divided?

Zhu Xianhai is not sure for the time being, but what is certain is that Nanhua’s “era of huge profits” has ended with the signing of this treaty.

"Alas, the good days are over..."

With such sighs, he left Nanhua and went to inspect the newly built farms in the Beihe area. After all, the export of agricultural products such as flour and beef is also the engine for promoting the economic development of Nanhua and cannot be ignored.

Especially now that the American Civil War has ended and South China needs to undergo economic transformation, it needs to pay more attention to future agricultural development.

Although Zhu Xianhai had planned to distribute land to immigrants when he first came to Nanhua, during the implementation process, based on profit and other considerations, he finally chose large-scale farms, turning immigrants into farm workers and paying them according to the technical content of their work or the size of their labor contribution.

What are the benefits of large-scale farm operations?

Of course, it is to maximize profits, and the company can adjust the production of crops and livestock breeding according to market demand. For example, in the past few years, the company has been inclined to cotton planting. That is because the American Civil War led to high profits in cotton planting, and at that time, of course, cotton had to be planted on a large scale.

But after the Civil War, the global "cotton fever" bubble will burst immediately. So as early as last year, when the North and South of the United States began negotiations, before the negotiations between the North and the South, the company made a large-scale reduction in cotton planting.

"Although the peace talks between the North and South of the United States have not yet reached a conclusion, cotton exports from the South have resumed. From the beginning of the year to now, cotton prices have fallen by more than 60% compared to last year. Fortunately, the company cut down on cotton planting on a large scale last year. Although the farm's profits have dropped a lot, the basic profits can still be guaranteed..."

At the breeding farm of Xinlinyi Farm, Zhu Xianhai just nodded slightly while listening to the explanation of farm manager Li Xudong. After Lincoln's defeat in the election, he deliberately adjusted the cotton planting of Nanhua in order to avoid economic bankruptcy. In the global "cotton planting boom" triggered by the American Civil War, the most obvious example was Egypt - it shifted too much economic focus to the "profitable" cotton planting industry, which made the country's overall economic situation already present a serious deformed state; and with the gradual decline in global cotton prices, bankruptcy is inevitable.

The "cotton planting fever" bubble even affected China. Historically, many farmers suffered heavy losses when the cotton planting bubble burst because they planted a large amount of cotton. What is the biggest advantage of Nanhua's farm system? The company can directly control the types of agricultural products to be planted, which allows Nanhua's farms to withdraw from this "bubble" and turn to emerging industries.

"My Lord, thanks to you for standing up against all odds, otherwise we would have been trapped by the sharp drop in cotton prices this year!"

Liu Baoyuan said with a smile.

"I heard that the cotton price this year is not even enough to cover the cost. I wonder how many people will lose money."

What does their loss have to do with Nanhua?

It doesn’t matter!

Even in China, it would be a good thing for South China if the farmers went bankrupt - if they didn't go bankrupt, why would they immigrate?

Well, Nanhua wins!

"Not even enough?"

Zhu Xianhai smiled.

"If that's the case, we can take the opportunity to buy at the bottom. After all, production also requires raw materials. And as for agricultural products, the losses this year are so great that the cotton planting area next year will definitely be much smaller. It is estimated that there will be another wave of increases next year. With this kind of decline and rise, the profits are still very considerable."

Buy cotton at a low price and then sell it at a high price. You can make two profits from one business, which is simply a great win. Of course, this is also due to sufficient capital. Ordinary people would definitely not be able to do this business, but it is different for the company.

"Alas, what a pity, this kind of business can only be done once!"

Looking at Liu Baoyuan's pitiful expression, Zhu Xianhai shook his head and said.

"The huge profits brought by the war will inevitably end with the end of the war. Losing the huge profits now is no big deal!"

When saying this, Zhu Xianhai felt a pang of pain in his heart!

But whenever he thought about the end of the huge profits, he felt pain in his heart. How could he not feel pain in his heart? The good days of Americans killing each other were over... Hey, why are the Northerners so weak?

"Right now, the era of cotton is over, and the focus from now on will be on the export of beef cattle."

Adjusting his mood, Zhu Xianhai said:

"Urbanization in Europe has led to an increasing demand for meat, but there is not enough land in Europe to raise cattle. But it is different here. We have the best pastures in the world, and we have begun to export fresh frozen meat to Europe. The profit is very considerable. In the next few decades, this business will definitely bring us extremely rich returns!"

In 1864, two years ago, Dahua General Machinery Company tried mechanical refrigeration and used an air conditioner using ammonia as a refrigerant on a ship for the first time. It was a success. The "Norfolk" transported 1,200 tons of frozen beef from South China to the port of Le Havre in France, thus opening up the export of South China beef to Europe.

In the past two years, Nanhua's beef and mutton exports have promoted Nanhua's industrial development. After the Industrial Revolution, Britain, France and other European countries experienced rapid economic development and a sharp increase in urban population, which led to a huge demand for meat. However, the number of cattle and sheep in Europe was insufficient, resulting in a shortage of meat. At this time, Nanhua and Argentina stimulated the sheep farming industry due to the large-scale export of wool, but there was no way to deal with the excess beef and mutton. Nanhua sent the excess cheap frozen meat to distant Europe through refrigerated ships, thus making extremely lucrative profits.

Historically, Argentina relied on beef exports to become a nearly developed country. Of course, they were eventually beaten back to their original form. But one thing is certain: in the next few decades, the demand for beef in the European market will be unprecedented.

Nanhua can definitely add a new engine to agricultural development by developing animal husbandry centered on beef cattle breeding. Now is the time to further expand the beef export trade.

The fundamental reason for developing agriculture is to exchange the funds and machines needed for economic development through the export of agricultural products including beef.

But deep down, Zhu Xianhai still felt a little regretful. After all, the current chemical pharmaceuticals were not advanced enough. Otherwise, it would be nice to let Europeans enjoy the "gift of modern farming" such as hormone-treated meat a hundred years in advance.

It's a pity that the chemical industry is not developed enough. There are only theories but no implementation. It is definitely a torture for individuals. However, we can also make targeted breakthroughs. We can first develop drugs such as clenbuterol. Then we can develop modern large-scale industrialized breeding.

By that time, it would be impossible not to get rich. Of course, such meat could only be sold to Europe, allowing Europeans to enjoy the gift of modern science.

Actually, since I traveled to this era, Europeans have also had a good time. For example, canned food. Thanks to Zhu Xianhai's efforts, luncheon meat has already been introduced to this world in advance. The luncheon meat produced in Fanhua is not only made of pork shoulder meat, but also contains a lot of small parts such as lymph. Those things are mixed in the luncheon meat and cannot be distinguished at all.

Of course, its price is absolutely cheap, and it is exclusive to luncheon meat for export. If it were not for the charm of modern science, how could Europeans eat such cheap canned meat?

This kind of blessing is definitely a blessing from science!

"My Lord, it takes a lot of refrigerated ships to transport frozen meat to Europe. We don't have that many refrigerated ships right now!"

Li Xudong frowned. What is the biggest problem in transporting frozen meat to Europe? It must be the refrigerated ships. Without so many refrigerated ships, the meat cannot be shipped out. Why can Nanhua monopolize the export of meat to Europe? To put it bluntly, it is because Nanhua monopolizes the refrigerated ships.

"So it's just a boat. There's no problem with that."

Zhu Xianhai smiled.

"We have a lot of idle ships right now. Those ships are high-speed ships with a speed of more than 18 knots. When it comes to transporting frozen meat, their speed advantage is even more obvious. We can convert them into refrigerated ships at the shipyard to transport frozen meat to Europe."

Now that the Civil War is over, those "ghost ships" are no longer useful. I was originally wondering what to do with those ships. They can't just sit there idle, so now they can be put into commercial routes...

I have set up a book club: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.

(End of this chapter)