I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

On the tenth day of the seventh lunar month, in Liaoyang City, the weather was neither too hot nor too cold.

Suitable for doing anything.

Just yesterday, Emperor Wanli replied to Shen Nian's memorial requesting the construction of a new city.

As long as Shen Nian does not ask the court for money or touch the Liaodong military defenses, the young Wanli Emperor has almost no objections to Shen Nian's decisions.

Emperor Wanli also named the new city built around the Eastern Port (Vladivostok) "Winter City," meaning a cold city.

In his eyes, this extremely cold place was completely unsuitable for human habitation.

Shen Nian had no objection to the name.

His goal was to bring warmth and comfort to the people of Winterfell.

……

In the past few days, Shen Nian's strategy for revitalizing trade in Jiliao has become increasingly clear.

After summarizing, he listed three main lines.

The first main theme: infrastructure construction.

This refers to the construction of Jibei Port and Jibei Shipyard, as well as the construction of Dongcheng and Dongfang Port.

Currently, Jibei Port and Jibei Shipyard are nearing completion and construction will begin soon. With technical support from the four major seaports in the south, construction can commence immediately once personnel and materials are in place.

As for Winter City and Eastern Harbor, Shen Nian needs to wait for Shen Maoxue's progress.

Shen Nian was not in a hurry, because even if he chose a good location and gathered workers, it would be difficult to start construction immediately. He needed to raise more money.

This money needs to come from the second main line.

The second main theme: trade and commerce.

Currently, with the help of his father and father-in-law, Shen Nian has made contact with many merchants in Jiangnan. They are able to open up the sea trade route from Jiangnan to Jibei Port first, but it is much more difficult to go further north.

Because they didn't know how much stock Liaodong could provide, or whether they could sell it and make money.

Shen Nian has ordered people to compile a list of local specialties from Liaodong and the Jurchen region.

The land north of Liaodong is vast and rich in resources, with many rare and expensive mountain products and herbs that can fetch high prices in the capital and Jiangnan.

However, the Jurchens did not recognize the value of the goods and had no sales channels.

Shen Nian needs to first inventory the goods in the Liaodong region and determine the prices before he can attract more merchants.

Two days ago, Shen's father even wrote a letter to Li Shizhen, inviting him to Liaodong to collect drug specimens and prescriptions.

If Li Shizhen had included some medicinal herbs in his "Compendium of Materia Medica," which he had been working on for over twenty years but was still incomplete, many of these herbs could have fetched good prices.

In particular, herbs that nourish men's bodies, such as tiger bone, deer antler, and golden grass, are sure to sell well in various regions.

The final complete route of Shen Nian's trade route starts from Quanzhou, covers Ryukyu, passes through Fuzhou Prefecture, Wenzhou Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture, Yangzhou Prefecture, Huai'an Prefecture, Dengzhou Prefecture, and then arrives at Jibei Port and Liaodong. At the same time, starting from Jibei Port or Liaodong, it passes through the middle of Korea and Japan, and arrives at the northernmost Dongfang Port in Dongcheng. From Dongfang Port, it can continue to Sakhalin Island (Kuye Island) and the northernmost point of Nurgan Regional Military Commission.

If this trade route prospers, the people in the surrounding area will be able to live a life where they have enough to eat and sleep. However, the time it takes may be measured in decades, perhaps three decades, or five decades, or even longer.

Shen Nian's mission in this life is to first create a closed loop for this golden maritime trade route.

Shen Nian's third main storyline is about people's livelihood.

Infrastructure and commerce both require the participation of a large number of people; Shen Nian cannot simply make the horse run without feeding it.

He must balance income and expenditure, give these people hope, and instill in them the belief that hard work will lead to wealth.

Only in this way can everyone be motivated.

Therefore, Shen Nian needs to clear away all obstacles in advance that stand against ordinary people, such as bullying, injustice, privilege, war, racial conflicts, and cultural clashes.

This livelihood-related line determines the length of the first two lines.

……

Before we knew it, it was August.

August in the capital is unbearably hot, while August in Liaoyang has moderate temperatures, although there is more rain.

While teaching the siblings Shen Yanche and Shen Zhiyi, Hai Rui also wrote a book to spread etiquette and moral education.

Beyond Shanhaiguan Pass, the number of illiterate people gradually increased, and the number of rude soldiers also grew.

Hai Rui wanted to promote education here, first to train a group of students, and then have these students educate the people, removing the banditry and savagery from them.

Shen's father, mother, wife, and father-in-law all lead very fulfilling lives and have become Shen Nian's capable assistants in business.

A few days ago, Shen Yaoshan and Gu Dongxing felt that Hai Rui was tired of teaching the two children, so they suggested that they teach Shen Zhiyi instead.

But after less than three days of teaching, Hai Rui took it back.

Hai Rui didn't dislike the two men's lack of ability; rather, they spoiled Shen Zhiyi too much, wishing she could sit on their necks to read.

Faced with Hai Rui, a stern elder, the two men naturally dared not utter the slightest objection.

……

On August 20th, it was raining continuously, and the temperature dropped significantly.

The Liaodong Metropolitan Procuratorate, Shen Nian's daily office.

General Li Chengliang of Liaodong said he had something to discuss with Shen Nian, and Shen Nian immediately invited him in.

"Ziheng, there's a North Korean businessman named Park In-gui who, after hearing that Jibei Port has begun construction, wants to do maritime trade in the northern border and establish a long-term business partnership with us. He has some wealth, but he's not a North Korean official or businessman; he mainly engages in smuggling. I've cooperated with him several times, and he seems like a decent person. Are you interested in talking to him?"

After spending this time together, Shen Nian, Li Chengliang, and Zhang Xueyan have developed a good relationship and are practically on the same boat.

The prosperity of trade in Liaodong was due to the contributions of all three; if they had not performed well, all three would have been punished.

Li Chengliang has begun to address Shen Nian as Ziheng and makes no attempt to conceal his smuggling activities.

Shen Nian asked, "How wealthy is this person?"

"He has decent financial resources, probably several hundred thousand taels of silver. However, he wasn't supported by the Korean court. He's always wanted to trade in our four major seaports, but the quotas are taken and the commercial taxes are too high, so he's been smuggling goods at sea."

"Where is he? When can we talk?" Shen Nian asked.

"He is in my residence right now, and you can see him anytime you wish!"

"Then now!"

“Okay, I’ll call Ziyu (Zhang Xueyan) too. We both have experience dealing with him, and we can help you out. No businessman is without cunning, so you have to be careful when you speak. He might set a trap. If we go back on our word, it will seem dishonest!” Li Chengliang was worried that Shen Nian would be deceived.

"Yes, I understand!" Shen Nian replied.

Half an hour later, at the Liaodong General's mansion.

Shen Nian, Zhang Xueyan, and Li Chengliang sat in the front hall drinking tea.

at this time.

A man who was about forty years old, thin, and had very fair skin walked in quickly.

"Korean merchant Park In-gui pays his respects to Minister Shen, Governor Zhang, and General Li!" Park In-gui knelt on the ground and bowed.

The manners were quite impeccable.

Li Chengliang smiled and said, "Manager Pu, this is not a courtroom, there's no need for formalities, please get up!"

Immediately, Park In-gui stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "The three of you are all busy people, and I dare not waste your time, so I will speak frankly!"

"Upon hearing that Jibei Port is about to be established, I am very interested and hope to establish a long-term trade relationship with the Ming Dynasty's Jiliao region through Jibei Port. I guarantee that I will sell Ming Dynasty goods overseas, but I also ask that the three of you protect my rights and interests in Jibei Port!"

"Manager Park, state your request first!" Shen Nian said.

"As one of the first maritime merchants to settle in Jibei Port, I hope to have the same trade priority as North Korean officials and merchants, and I also hope that commercial taxes can be reduced by 30% during transactions!"

When the four major seaports of the Ming Dynasty traded with other countries, they would give priority to the officials and merchants representing the imperial court, meaning that goods would be given to them first.

The reason for this was that trade between countries would be more stable, and it would also encourage the country's court to actively promote the maritime trade economy.

Park In-gui set his sights on Jibei Port because he was neither a North Korean official nor a businessman, and because Jibei Port was closer to North Korea.

After saying that, Park In-gui looked at Shen Nian.

He must fight for priority rights, and as for tax reductions, he can accept a reduction to 20%.

Shen Nian did not reply to him, but instead asked, "Manager Pu, how much silver do you consume in a year?"

Park In-gui thought for a moment and replied, "Two hundred thousand taels a year is no problem."

Shen Nian slightly pursed her lips.

"That's too little, far too little. If you don't even have the capacity to sell a million taels of silver a year, you're not qualified to do business with me!"

Park In-gui was taken aback, thinking: Your Jibei Port is still a desolate place and who knows how many goods it can transport? Yet you dare to ask for less than one million taels of silver, which is really too arrogant!
Shen Nian thought about it.

Park In-gui's eyes darted around, and he smiled, saying, "Minister Shen, although I don't have the ability to handle a million taels of goods right now, I definitely will in two or three years. Right now, do you want to grow alongside Jibei Port? Besides... there aren't many maritime merchants who can handle a million taels of goods a year right now, and even if there are, they probably wouldn't choose Jibei Port!"

Shen Nian smiled faintly, looked at Park In-gui, and said, "Let's go back!"

"Minister Shen... I am here to do business with the utmost sincerity. Please feel free to make any requests you may have, and I will certainly fulfill them as long as they are within my capabilities!"

"Are you genuinely interested in doing business?" Shen Nian scoffed.

"You just arrogantly claimed that maritime merchants who can earn a million taels a year wouldn't choose Jibei Port? Do you know that Jibei Port was designated by His Majesty and will far surpass the four major seaports in scale? Do you know that tens of thousands of Jizhou troops have been transferred to Jibei to build the port and shipyard? Do you know that Jibei Port will be connected to Quanzhou to form a complete maritime trade route? Do you know that Jibei Port will handle the sale of all goods from the entire northern border, including inland areas such as Mongolia and Jurchen... In the future, Jibei Port will be the most prosperous port in the entire Ming Dynasty..."

"You can buy this kind of information from Jiliao for a hundred taels of silver? Is this your attitude towards doing business?"

Park In-gui was stunned, never expecting that Jibei Port would be built on such a huge scale.

In that instant, he felt somewhat unworthy of Jibei Port.

Li Chengliang and Zhang Xueyan, standing nearby, were also stunned. Shen Nian had just reported the information to the court, and they had only just learned that it was impossible to obtain such information from Jiliao, let alone spend 100 taels of silver, or even 10,000 taels.

Shen Nian paused for a moment and said, "Recently, I have been working on an investment promotion plan. My requirements are that only merchants who have annual sales of more than one million taels of silver and who must place an order for ten seven-masted armed merchant ships in advance with full payment in Jibei Port are eligible for trade priority. As for commercial taxes, they can be reduced by half a percent!"

Park In-gui was a little confused, feeling that he was no longer worthy of her.

But after Shen Nian's introduction, he became even more eager to obtain trade priority in Jibei Port.

He thought for a moment and said, "Minister Shen, how about this? Can I join forces with other merchants? If we count as one person, we can guarantee annual sales of one million taels of silver."

Shen Nian paused for a moment, then frowned slightly.

"We can make an exception, but each group can only consist of five people at most. In addition, each person must reserve ten standard seven-masted armed merchant ships at Jibei Port, pay in full upfront, and have the ships delivered in one to two years. This money will be used as a deposit of good faith!"

Li Chengliang and Zhang Xueyan silently did the math.

A standard seven-masted armed merchant ship sells for 10,000 taels of silver. Ten ships would cost 100,000 taels of silver. If five people buy them, the total cost would be 500,000 taels of silver.

Park In-gui thought for a moment and looked at Shen Nian.

"Minister Shen, if we obtain trade priority at Jibei Port, will our government and business officials be able to squeeze us out or enjoy the same rights as us when they move in?"

Shen Nian shook his head slightly.

"In my eyes, there is no distinction between government officials and private merchants. As long as you can obtain priority in trade, even your king will have to wait in line to do business in Jibei Port. Of course, our trade cooperation is for a period of five years, and if the cooperation goes well, it can be renewed unconditionally!"

Shen Nian spoke these words because he had the confidence of a great nation and because of his own position in the Ming Dynasty.

"Then...then could you provide a detailed contract for me to review?"

"Come back for the contract after you've confirmed that you can meet these conditions I've set! I'll give you half a month to prepare; after that, I'll have to find other merchants!"

"I understand, I understand!" Park In-gui bowed to the three men and then left.

……

In the front hall, Li Chengliang looked at Shen Nian with a puzzled expression.

"Ziheng, hasn't the construction plan for Jibei Port been announced yet? Can you buy the information you mentioned in Jiliao for a hundred taels of silver?"

Shen Nian suddenly laughed.

"I lied to him, but we can spread this message now. Let's not talk about Dongfang Port for now, let's spread the word about the construction of the maritime Silk Road from Quanzhou to Jibei Port in Jiliao. Exaggerate a bit, we desperately need money right now!"

"Understood, understood!" Li Chengliang nodded.

At this moment, Zhang Xueyan said again, "Ziheng, your pre-sale of ocean-going vessels is a good plan, but the shipyard in Jibei Port hasn't even started construction yet. Can the ships be delivered in one to two years?"

Shen Nian puffed out his chest.

"Let's use a borrowed hen to lay eggs! All four major seaports have shipyards. We can subcontract shipbuilding to them, profit from the price difference, and then pay them after the ships are launched. In this way, the four major seaports can make money, and we'll have extra money to do other things!"

"I will then calculate the shipbuilding capacity of the four major seaports, determine the trade priority amount of Jibei Port, and then attract foreign investment. In this way, we will have exporters and can earn at least a million taels of silver!"

"Haha, sure, sure!" Zhang Xueyan suddenly felt that doing business was much more exciting than fighting a war.

Both of them had been worried that Shen Nian would fall into Park In-gui's trap, but now they realized that they were complete novices when it came to business. (End of Chapter)