Chapter 626 The Happy Life of a Middleman (First Update, Please Subscribe)
In the 19th century, as the door to the Qing Dynasty was opened by British naval guns, European countries finally reached into East Asia. When Western powers invaded East Asian countries one after another, only Korea remained closed and was regarded by Westerners as a "hermit country" that could not be explored.
Unlike Japan, whose borders were opened by Perry's fleet, although each invasion of North Korea came at an extremely heavy price, from the invasion of the French fleet in the "Byungin War" to the invasion of the American fleet in the "Sinmi War" two years ago, North Korea was still faced with demands for negotiations and treaties to open its borders.
North Korea adopted a stern rejection attitude. Although it failed to defeat the French and American fleets on the battlefield, its "stubbornness" of preferring defeat to negotiation forced the French and American fleets to withdraw one after another.
After the "Sinmi Foreign Disturbance" two years ago, "Monuments to Rebuke Peace" were erected all over North Korea, and xenophobia reached its peak.
However, even so, North Korea's borders were not completely closed, at least not to the Qing Dynasty. Although on the surface the maritime trade between China and North Korea was basically stagnant due to the maritime ban, in fact, there were always merchant ships from China traveling back and forth along the coast of North Korea, engaging in maritime trade tacitly approved by both countries.
“We’re finally there!”
Standing at the bow and looking at the fishing village on the shore, Chen Sheng's eyes were full of desire. It took him two and a half months to travel from Daming to Haizhou and from Haizhou to Korea. But it didn't matter, as long as he could get the business done.
"Manager Xu, are you sure nothing will happen if we go up there?"
"Don't worry, Shopkeeper Chen. We have been doing this business for many years. When the goods are landed, the county magistrate will send someone to take 10% of them. We just need to sell the goods. All crows are evil. As long as you give benefits to those officials, nothing can happen to you."
What Xu Tianyuan said was right. When the ship approached the wooden pier and just started to unload the cargo, several people who looked like officials came on board. They checked 10% of the cargo and demanded some benefits. Then they ignored them and left.
"This place is quite orderly. They do the work as long as you pay them."
While sighing, Chen Sheng looked at the shabby-looking town in front of him. The stench in the air made people feel that this place was more like a toilet than a town. The muddy road full of feces and pigs also made people feel extremely uncomfortable.
But Chen Sheng didn't care about these things at all. He just stared at the dozen or so shops on the roadside. According to Manager Xu, these shops were all owned by Qing Dynasty merchants.
From now on, our business will be opened here.
…
“This place is really nice!”
In the backyard of the store, Chen Sheng, who was leaning on the bed, stroked the soft waist of the Korean woman and admired her beautiful face. He said to Jin Zainan who came in:
"We just transported 246 people today. When they arrive in Shuri, the money will be in our pockets. Thirty dollars per person, we can earn at least 6,000 dollars this trip, 6,000 dollars..."
In the past, it would have taken a lifetime to earn that much!
Chen Sheng simply didn't want to believe that everything would go so smoothly. Ever since he arrived in Jemulpo a month ago, as the pioneer of a "new business", he had entered this blue ocean and sent more than 600 Korean women to Shuri in just one month. There were boats from there to take them to Linhai.
A Korean woman only had five pieces of cloth.
He is not raising the price maliciously. If he wants to expand his business, he has to give the North Koreans some profits so that they will work hard to collect the money.
Five pieces of cloth, even if bought in Shuri, are only worth one dollar.
One dollar for a woman.
This business is a sure win!
"Brother, if we can keep this business going for a year, we'll be millionaires!"
Jin Jae-nam said expectantly.
"When the time comes, I can deposit the money in the bank and earn more than a year's worth of interest..."
"Look at how unmotivated you are."
Chen Sheng laughed directly.
"If you want to be rich, you still have to build a factory. When you make money, we will also build a factory. The machines in those factories are all very profitable. With machines and factories, why worry about not having money?"
If we say that they learned something from the Ming Dynasty, it is probably that they want to make a fortune by setting up factories, but how many of those who set up factories lose money?
"Brother Chen is right. When the time comes, we will also set up a factory. If that doesn't work out, we can just buy Boss Liang's factory. Then we will be the director of Yusheng!"
Chen Sheng said as Jin Zainan imagined the scene of returning home in glory.
"It's okay to think about it, but our business still has some risks. You better keep an eye on it and make sure nothing goes wrong. The North Koreans..."
Shaking his head, Chen Sheng sighed.
"You are all too stubborn. If the government finds out about our business, we might lose our heads!"
"Brother Chen, look at what you said. Those adults are all people who can't stand the sight of money. As long as you use enough money, they will definitely turn a blind eye."
All crows are black. As long as you give those officials benefits, the big things will naturally be resolved into a small matter.
Besides, it’s just buying some people, not killing or robbing.
It was very common for ordinary people in Korea to sell their children to make a living. In fact, it was the same in the Qing Dynasty.
It takes two to fight!
"I am also doing a good deed! Only when they come to our Ming Dynasty can they live a good life!"
After saying this to himself, Chen Sheng sat on the couch. A young and beautiful Korean maid immediately came forward and prepared a pipe for him. After taking a puff, she said intoxicatedly:
"These days are so comfortable!"
When you are well fed and well clothed, you will want to have sex. Since he became rich, Chen Sheng has developed many bad habits, some even disgusting. He even started smoking opium like other Qing Dynasty businessmen.
After taking a few puffs of the opium, Chen Sheng looked at Jin Zainan who was sitting on the couch with him and said.
"I heard that in North Korea there is a saying that 'Southern men and Northern women', and that northern women are prettier. If that's the case, let's try buying more people from the north in the future."
"That's right. When it comes to women, the ones in the north are prettier. There are many nice girls in the north. I've seen them and I'm not lying to you. By the way, Brother Chen, there's a girl we brought here this time. She's an illegitimate daughter of our family. She's very pretty. Do you think we should keep her for ourselves or send her to Chief Ding's residence..."
Ding is the governor of Ryukyu in the Ming Dynasty. It is not a high position, but it is not a low position either. Anyway, those of them who are doing business abroad must be taken care of by others.
So it is reasonable for him to send two maids to take care of the daily life of the superior without charging any money.
"Of course, it was sent to Commander Ding's residence. Although he is in Shuri, our business cannot be done without his care."
After taking a few puffs of his cigarette, Chen Sheng hugged the docile Korean maid and said with a rather arrogant smile: "When we expand our business, we will also buy an iron-hulled immigration ship. We can transport thousands of women at a time. Korean women look much better than Southeast Asian women. The appearance of those Southeast Asian women... only people from places like Vietnam and Cambodia can be attractive. These Korean women are gentle and can serve people. They are no worse than Japanese women. They will definitely be in great demand in the Ming Dynasty. By that time, we won't have to go through others and can do it ourselves..."
Everyone has ambitions, and Chen Sheng has his own ambitions. Now he is just like a contractor, just doing a resale business. The big share was earned by his fellow villager.
In the future, if I want to continue this business, I will definitely have to work alone. Only by working alone can I make big money.
Afterwards, Chen Sheng talked to Jin Zainan about some business matters, and then waved his hand to let him leave. After he left the room, Chen Sheng glanced at the maid beside him, and just made a gesture, and the docile maid knew what to do.
"Um……"
When the Korean maid leaned over obediently, Chen Sheng put his pipe on the table, looked at the ceiling, hummed a few times with his eyes closed, and then said:
"This is life..."
(End of this chapter)
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