Ming East India Company

"Really? So, was that Spaniard who was chatting so animatedly with Mr. Ovalinga at the City Hall today a tourist here?"

Baiye mocked:

"You've already reached the end of your rope, and you're still trying to negotiate with me? Don't you realize it's getting cloudy with all that sweat dripping down your forehead?"

Bu Jialao then realized that Bai Ye had seen through his trump card, but he still wanted to make a last-ditch effort:

"Sir, but our Bugalau Artillery Factory also needs to make a profit. If we can't make a profit and can't pay off the debt to the city hall, then the Bugalau Artillery Factory will have to be sold sooner or later. And then we won't be able to provide you with qualified products!"

"You don't need to worry about that. I will pay off all the money you owe the city hall, and I will provide you with the copper you need free of charge. However, there is one thing..."

A sinister smile played on Baiye's lips:

"Your arsenal must belong to me."

Upon hearing this, Bu Jialao felt as if he had been struck by lightning:

"You shameless, filthy liar! So you and those Spanish bandits had the same idea: to steal my property."

"No, no, no," Baiye shook his head and said:

"I am fundamentally different from the Spanish. The Spanish have their own cities, ports, arsenals, and even copper and iron mines in the Far East. They have no need for the Bucharau artillery factory, which is a liability."

For the Spanish, the only purpose of buying your factory is to eliminate competition. I can guarantee that once your factory falls into Spanish hands, it will never produce a single breech-loading machine again.

Shirono picked up the teacup on the table and took a few sips with gusto:

"But we are different. We need Mr. Bugalau's technical and management skills, and we also need to recruit more artillery technicians and even Portuguese officers through you."

"In our hands, although you've lost ownership of the factory, you remain its operator. Here, you have a larger platform and more room to maneuver. We will help your arms sales reach the Ming Dynasty."

After speaking, Bu Jialao fell into deep thought and began to carefully consider Bai Ye's words.

It must be said that Bai Ye's assessment of the Spanish was very reasonable, which was also the situation that Bu Jialao was most worried about. If the factory was left to languish in the hands of the Spanish for a few years, even if it could be returned to his own hands, it would be basically ruined.

However, he was really unwilling to hand over his business, which he had built up over many years.

Shirane seized the opportunity to extend an olive branch:

"Mr. Borgara, if you still have concerns about cooperating with us, then I have another benefit for you: we will only retain control of the Borgara artillery factory for ten years."

Ten years from now, the factory will still belong to you, Mr. Bugalao; we will simply be renting it for ten years. You should have no more concerns now!

Just then, Butler Tang, who was standing nearby, also began communicating with Bugalao in Portuguese:

"Sir, as you know, if we cannot find funding within two hours, this factory will fall into the hands of the Spanish."

And to be honest, this Ming Dynasty owner is much easier to fool than the Spanish. Although this Ming Dynasty man knows a little about cannon manufacturing, he knows absolutely nothing about the specific technical details. As long as you do something slightly underhanded during the business process, he will not be able to tell.

When the ten-year period is up, the factory will still be ours!

Bu Jialao was still a little worried:

"But what if he doesn't keep his promise? We don't have the strength to compete with him. Besides, this person probably has quite a background, and there should be official Ming Dynasty backing him."

At this time, the Portuguese were not comfortable in Macau. As Western countries were developing their influence in the Far East, the Portuguese, as pioneers in opening up a new world, were about to be swept away.

Therefore, in order to maintain its colonies and colonial interests in the Far East, Portugal has always been relatively submissive to the Ming Dynasty. It even offered to help the Ming Dynasty when the war with Korea broke out, but the Ming Dynasty refused.

This is why Bu Jialao, who has now lost the protection of the city hall, is actually very wary of the Ming government and very concerned about Bai Ye's background.

Butler Tang chuckled:

"Sir, you jest. When he came in just now, I did suspect that he was either a wealthy young master from the Ming Dynasty or an official in disguise."

But now I'm almost certain he's just a wealthy merchant from the Ming Dynasty.

"Oh, how did you determine that?" Bu Jialao was very puzzled.

"I know exactly what kind of people the officials of my Great Ming are. They only know how to read those worthless articles and are completely ignorant of the arts of commerce and mathematics. It is impossible for them to personally and carefully calculate the minute costs of manufacturing cannons like he did, let alone calculate them to such a detailed extent."

Secondly, people who can squander tens of thousands of taels of silver at will must be the family members of officials of the sixth rank or above in the Ming Dynasty. These people are not the type to have a good talk with us. If we can't reach an agreement in a few words, they will contact the officials in Xiangshan or send other lackeys to plunder and extort money.

The fact that they're willing to seriously discuss business with us suggests they likely come from an ordinary business family that is wealthy but lacks significant influence.

Butler Tang's words put Bu Jialao at ease, and this was indeed a pretty good deal.

Butler Tang then reminded him:

"Moreover, if we cooperate with him, we might be able to open up the market in the Ming Dynasty. Small Japan can consume so many guns and cannons. If the market in the Ming Dynasty is opened up, then the money will really roll in!"

These words completely ignited Bu Jialao's greed. He had always wanted to sell firearms to the Ming Dynasty, but after decades of effort, he had not achieved any results. Now, if he could take advantage of this "distinguished guest," his future would be limitless.

Having figured it out, Bugalao immediately put on a smile:

"Sir, in that case, we are willing to cooperate with you. From this day forward, the Bugarau family will be your loyal servants."

Once the agreement was reached, things became simple. Bai Ye, using the alias "Bai Facheng," reached a deal with the Bu Jialao family:

From then on, the Bugalau Artillery Factory belonged to Baiye, and Baiye would arrange subsequent orders and production plans, while the Bugalau family would be responsible for the management of specific technical personnel.

Shirane paid the other party a salary ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 pesos per year.

That afternoon, with only five minutes left before the deadline, Bugarau and Baiye paid back the 20,000 pesos owed to the city hall, and the Spaniards had no choice but to leave Macau in disgrace.

After reaching an agreement, Shirane and Bugalao flattered each other at a banquet held in Ovalinga before returning to their respective residences.

In the evening, Butler Tang left the Bugalau artillery factory and, under the cover of darkness, arrived at Bai Ye's residence.

After three rapid knocks, a voice came from inside:

"You've arrived."