Ming East India Company

"Can't make it?" Bu Jialao was startled and quickly explained in fluent Chinese:

"Sir, you are joking. Our factory has supplied artillery to the armies of Japan and the Portuguese for many years, and they all say that our products are of first-class performance. How could there be any claim that we cannot manufacture them?"

Shironodo:

"The artillery factory used to be first-class, but its efficiency is not what it used to be. For example, if I order 20 Kövlin guns now, can you manufacture them?"

"As long as you give me half of the deposit as promised, I'm sure I can make it," Bu Jialao said confidently.

Because of its small scale of operation, the Bjarau artillery factory always followed the model of paying a deposit before casting the cannons, which was also a common practice in European arms factories.

"Is that so? Then let me ask you a simple question: does your factory still have copper?" Shiro asked in return.

Upon hearing this, Bugalao's eyes immediately dimmed. Baiye was right; the Bugalao artillery factory indeed had no bronze left.

At that time in Europe, bronze was commonly used to cast ship guns and field guns, and the Bjarau artillery factory was no exception.

Previously, in preparation for the Ming Dynasty's demand for cannons, Bjarau had purchased a large quantity of copper at a high price in advance. However, the orders did not come, and the company had to sell the copper prematurely, resulting in a huge loss. This is the reason why the Bjarau Cannon Factory has fallen into such a predicament.

Bu Jialao quickly explained, "Sir, please rest assured, as long as you give me the deposit, I will be able to acquire a large quantity of copper immediately, and I can guarantee on-time delivery."

For Bauerau, as long as he has orders, he can use them as leverage to request extensions from creditors in parliament, or even use them as bargaining chips to borrow new money. As long as the money is flowing, the factory will not go bankrupt.

But Bai Ye shattered his illusions completely with a single sentence:

"Stop daydreaming, Mr. Baugarau. Haven't you noticed that copper is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain?"

Bu Jialao thought about it for a moment and realized that it made sense. He used to buy copper directly from Portuguese merchants in Macau, but recently the merchants had been strangely not bringing back any copper.

The last time, we bought those copper materials from the neighboring Ming Dynasty, and the price was ridiculously high.

Bu Jialao is a bit strange:

"I don't know what's going on, but lately the merchants seem to be bewitched; they're not bringing back any copper. Maybe things will get better in a while!"

"Don't even think about it, my dear factory manager. You spend all your time in the blacksmith's furnace and never see the world. Let me tell you the truth: you Portuguese merchants won't be bringing you copper anymore."

Baccarat was struck dumb. Without copper, what could the artillery factory still produce?

Baiye began to speak in detail.

After Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified the country, he realized that the loss of precious metals from the East was too severe.

Although Japan is an island nation, it is located on the Pacific earthquake belt. While enduring the ravages of earthquakes and tsunamis, it has also reaped huge deposits of precious metals.

This is precisely why, despite its low overall productivity, the East during the Warring States period was able to purchase "luxury goods" such as silk and porcelain in large quantities.

However, sitting idle and spending money will eventually lead to exhaustion. Therefore, after Toyotomi Hideyoshi pacified the East, he dispatched officials to control mines in various regions and at the same time continuously reduced the volume of precious metal trade.

In particular, Toyotomi Hideyoshi took strict measures to prohibit the export of copper coins, which were used extensively in daily life.

Copper, being a large, dense, and inexpensive metal, was never a good "balance stock." Now that it's under control, naturally no one is willing to bring copper to Macau anymore.

After hearing Bai Ye's account, Bu Jialao's heart sank. Without copper, even Jesus couldn't build a cannon!

So he could only say painfully:

"In that case, it seems this deal is off."

Unexpectedly, Shirane burst into laughter:

"If I couldn't do it, why would I come to you?"

"I'll take care of the copper. Now, please give me a price. How much does a Kövlin cannon cost?"

Bu Jialao was overjoyed and quickly began to count silently:

"Around 1,300 pesos."

Shironodo:

"If you're here to do business with me, then let's talk honestly. If you want to make a wish, then go to the church next door and ask your God to make it."

Baccarat begins to lower prices:

"How about 1,100 pesos... Oh, no, no, no... We can lower it to 900 pesos... at least 800 pesos, otherwise we'll lose money..."

Butler Tang, who was standing nearby, also chimed in:

"Sir, this cannon is already very cheap. In the past, my master would have offered eight or nine hundred pesos to the Portuguese in Macau."

Shirono focused intently on calculating the accounts:

"Is that so! Let me do the math for you."

Building an 18-pound Köfflin cannon would require approximately 12,000 catties of coal and cost around 38 taels of silver.

As for manpower, your craftsmen's monthly salary is about 2 taels. If we calculate it at most 5 months, the average cost of craftsmen for one cannon is about 10 taels.

To cast a cannon, you'll need about 300 cannonballs per cannon. The cannonballs can be made from scrap iron, weighing about 2,000 jin (approximately 1,000 kg), or about 40 liang (approximately 20 kg). The casting process will use about 10 liang (approximately 50 kg) of charcoal. Add to that the labor and furnace repair costs, and let's say 6 liang (approximately 30 kg).

Another major expense is gunpowder, which I'll include in the cost as well. A single cannon uses about two thousand catties of gunpowder, which, according to the standards of ordinary gunpowder in Guangzhou, is only about 50-100 taels. Don't tell me you produce your own gunpowder; in such a small place, making both cannons and gunpowder would be a recipe for disaster.

The gunpowder container would probably need a cloth wrapping, oil paper, a gunpowder barrel, a binding rope, a cartridge case, and hemp rope for loading the cartridge case. I've already estimated that that to be 30 taels, which is quite a lot!

As for cannon carriages, they aren't necessarily needed on ships, but let's just include them for now; that's no more than 30 taels.

If I factor in all the potential equipment damage and repairs that may occur during the production process, each cannon will cost only 300 taels.

Converted to pesos, that's only about four or five hundred...

May I ask where this extra money, almost double, came from?

Previously, your biggest cost was purchasing bronze. Now I'm providing it to you for free, yet you still charge the same price. Do you think I'm some kind of fat pig to be slaughtered for the New Year?

At this moment, Bu Jialao was sweating profusely. He never dreamed that this young man opposite him would know the core cost data that he had spent years of forging cannons so clearly.

Bugalao had no choice but to negotiate.

"Sir, to be honest, the cost is indeed as you say. However, I'm in business to make money. Who can do something without profit? Please, be lenient."

"Besides, sir, in the Ming Dynasty today, there is no one else but us who can forge cannons for you."

Butler Tang also noticed Bai Ye's desire for cannons, so he took the opportunity to raise the price.