Chapter 271: Sea Merchants
In the summer end of Han Calendar 2105, Xuan Chong attended three Navy high-level banquets featuring “brothel celebrities” for entertainment.
Amidst silk and bamboo music, Xuan Chong faced the urging maidservants with a smile and polite refusal; lipstick marks on the glass cup, Xuan Chong disliked the pigment. And every time it was time to return to camp in the evening, Xuan Chong would check his watch and leave on schedule.
Xuan Chong: These women’s swaying dance poses are indeed very beautiful; but they are not worth wasting my own energy!
Moreover—Xuan Chong: I am worried about getting sick.
In his current state of vigorous vital energy, Xuan Chong has a youthful disposition. Youthful disposition is a kind of sharpness!
In some domains he is entering for the first time, Xuan Chong shows sufficient interest; for example, mathematics, an area he previously thought his aptitude was insufficient for, but now that he has entered the door, he wants to measure everything.
For instance, “art is explosion.” In the past, Xuan Chong just listened to the sound of projectiles fired from the cannon barrel; now, being able to measure the diffusion speed and attenuation state of explosive gases in the cannon barrel, and the retention state of cannonball kinetic energy. Around one cannon, Xuan Chong could enthusiastically do data modeling for three days and nights.
This feeling is like first touching a game console at ten years old; like first encountering collectible card games at fifteen. Staying up all night to arrange and compare for the strongest complete set.
Now Xuan Chong is obsessed all night calculating the optimal combination of segmented explosive charges for propellant under the allowable “chamber pressure” in the cannon barrel.
Xuan Chong looking at various black iron steampunk equipment, already aesthetically fatigued: Beauty in data is the real beauty.
Xuan Chong’s “youthful disposition” is limited to the domains he has newly entered in this life.
At the banquet, compared to those young officers whose “pockets hide scented handkerchiefs gifted by women, wholeheartedly enjoying reaching hands into hairpins and skirts, grasping warm fragrant soft jade,” Xuan Chong: “Tch, childish.”
Xuan Chong’s nitpicking: The cost of adults’ happiness, compared to children’s happiness cost, is getting higher and higher!
Little children can grit their teeth and share their candy with other kids because of simplicity, not caring about the material value behind happiness. But adults spend huge costs to organize a gathering, then carefully select “people within a certain circle gathering together to enjoy,” which must be plotting something. If (he) lets down his guard and jumps in to enjoy the happiness, it means the organizer’s certain purpose has been achieved.
Hence, after arriving at this scene full of warbling women! Xuan Chong is preoccupied and cannot enjoy happiness in this occasion, inevitably bringing in social analysis: “Who exactly is this group hosting the banquets? What are they after?”
Xuan Chong: “I want to be the most agile shark at sea; I can predict and dodge the trajectories of projectiles fired from opponents’ ‘big guns with three hundred millimeter caliber and above.’ Not to mention these sugar-coated cannonballs?”
…”box”…
Xuan Chong returned to the residence arranged for him by the Navy, swiftly climbed to the rooftop using the drainpipe, and from several kilometers away, used a ruler to observe the faces getting out of sedans at the private club in the marble building, gradually understanding the truth.
The force constantly holding banquets is those Great Sea Merchants officially designated on the South Ocean.
Xuan Chong watched those wealthy households wearing “imitation cloth” silk, always accompanied by attendant women when entering and exiting, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, maintaining an unimaginable pomp.
Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, merchants are the last stratum; why do great merchants have pomp? Because they have relations with scholars.
Sea Merchants have intricate ties with the Nanyang Navy; their armed fleets under shipping companies played a crucial role in Xian Han controlling the entire Eastern Ocean maritime frontier.
The armed fleets organized by Sea Merchants can even be called Xian Han’s second Navy.
Xuan Chong immediately began flipping through Xian Han’s coastal history, trying to understand the history of folk seafaring over the past three hundred years in Xian Han.
Not investigating means not knowing; after investigating, he realizes what traditional sea power is! Xuan Chong has to correct his cognitive bias about this world due to preconceived impressions from his previous life.
In the era he experienced in his previous life, within just twenty years, his side’s fleet reached the second largest scale, and first-rate in technology.
Therefore, Xuan Chong’s generation, who prided themselves as industrial Cthulhu, was somewhat too “smirking” about the “century navy” concept.
In fact, since the Beiyang Fleet was established, the East really is a century navy; even with the second largest global fleet scale, the concepts of Beihai, Donghai, Nanhai three fleets still come from the maritime defense concepts of the Westernization period.
The core strategic thinking of the later “denial operations” system also relies on extensions of Beiyang maritime defense strategies.
This regional navy strategy used for one hundred fifty years was given to the Qing court by never-setting-sun sea power advocates.
Britain at the time positioned Qing as the World Island eastern region regional naval power, key to checking Russia and America. Unfortunately~ Qing and Ming’s industrial capacity couldn’t even maintain regional navy scale. But this line of thinking was inherited and used for a century.
Although the later era had long changed. Dumplings in huge quantities and satisfying. But dumplings are still placed in the three bowls in front, not distributed to other great seas.
So much so that when these old-brand great power navies’ fleets go to other coastlines on Earth, it’s like Northeast tigers strolling mountain ridges, treating wild boars that scare hunters into three parts as farm pigs, casually slaughtering them. Along the free navigation of great power fleets, other countries’ navies only have speedboats and a few cannonboats from decades ago.
But once entering the bathtub northwest of Luzon, these tigers of old-brand Europe and America great power fleets are like entering the “Cretaceous,” encountering a group of monsters with sharp teeth and claws.
A frigate departing from the English Channel homeland, entering the South China Sea can encounter seven or eight new sharp warships of the same level intercepting it.
Why don’t dumplings get distributed to other soup pots? Why not learn to share? Why not go door-to-door to put a bowl of steaming hot dumplings in old rivals’ bowls.
Transmigrating here, Xuan Chong found the real reason. He couldn’t help sighing: “Because the sea power system in the revival stage has a seemingly inconspicuous key that was cut in the previous dynasty’s stage. That is supporting sea power expansion’s ‘great merchants’ great capital’.”
…Xian Han’s everything is continuing…
Military! Civilian! These two correspond to each other. On land it’s farming and war, at sea it’s ships and fishermen.
Navy powers worldwide, in confrontations, especially value “fishing rights”; thousands-of-tons warships will confront over fishing sampans.—”Why not give way, don’t ruin harmony over sampans,” sigh, people with braids and thumb rings think that way.
Fishermen’s value is not in those sampans, but in having such a group of people very familiar with the ocean currents and sea conditions in that area. Fishermen are living “boundary markers” at sea; protecting fishermen protects the sea.
When politics, military, commerce in coastal areas reach consensus on this aspect, congratulations, this is the first stage sea power nation.
And the second stage! After fishermen succeed in fishing and accumulate some capital, fishermen will engage in sea trade.
However, there is no king’s law at sea, forming a dark forest, mutual plundering. Every sea ship will repel each other at sea.
At the same time, Sea Merchants to ensure their survival will actively familiarize themselves with the human environment near various ports in the sea area. From this moment, it’s not just assisting fleets to familiarize shipping lanes like fishermen, but also able to assist fleets in interfering with regional affairs on shipping routes.
The existence of Sea Merchants is to provide effective methods and paths for the Navy to interfere regionally—namely, to make the Navy exert 200% efficacy.
Why can Britain, France’s “make-believe” navies call themselves global navies? Just with their few sampans?
In fact, when regional fluctuations occur, their frigate going over can really timely control the scene. Naval guns deployed, providing shelter zones for the military proxies supported by their Sea Merchants in that region.
And other forces in that region, even with tanks and cannons, dare not act rashly against the pickup truck proxies hiding in the shelter zones.
The economic and political role of one frigate from old-brand powers like Britain and France in the region is higher than that of warships from later progressive sea power nations.
This is what these second-rate powers emphasize even if they have to starve and puff up their faces to look fat: demonstrating their presence capability in that region.
That is, after the fleet arrives at port, giving “freedom” to their regional commercial forces. Um, even illegal and unruly freedom, they can back it up.
Of course, this is basically a joke in seas reachable by dragon claws. Even Giaochi, Khmer, Siam know clearly that arresting British merchants right in front of British fleets, British naval guns dare not open fire like a hundred years ago. Because the Great Red Dragon’s fleet’s cannon barrels are very thirsty, always waiting for an opportunity to uphold regional justice.
…Waves erode land…
The system behind maritime hegemony is no longer fishermen, but Sea Merchants!
While strong nations build fleets, Sea Merchants infiltrate all levels of coastal areas; wherever in the Navy’s influence range their interests in that region are affected, it’s “call the fleet.”
When interest groups going to sea calling the fleet becomes routine. And mobilizing influence domestically to supply funds to the Navy, and establishing cultural influence, this is sea power second stage.
Xian Han’s South now, just like the American Empire keen on filming “super warships,” also uses puppet shows and exquisite paper warship models to depict how Xian Han Navy conquers the four seas, cannons shocking the barbarians.
Xuan Chong: In contrast, in the previous life, even filming “Wolf Warrior” was ridiculed, showing no development of sea power second stage.
The “civilian” deficiency made that industrial Cthulhu fleet the biggest obstacle to global navy.
Xuan Chong couldn’t help complaining: The East in the previous life has a long history and potential to develop super sea power; but by the information age, the folk foundation of the maritime frontier still has fishermen charging at the forefront, with no great capital groups charging into battle.
Obviously, sea power was castrated. Who castrated it? This has to mention the century of humiliation; it can be said other traditional Europe and America powers jointly did it.
Xuan Chong was very curious as a child, why did Europe and America do this? Chinese Merchants are so kind locally. Paying taxes honestly, who did they offend?
After coming to Xian Han, Xuan Chong confirmed: Chinese Merchants are kind and honest because in white people’s eyes, the great Eastern Empire temporarily forgot the Navy. Once remembered, these Chinese Merchants are all potential “great mages” who can summon naval guns when “rampaging unchecked.”
Thus, Nanyang Sea Merchants with traditional maritime capital fell on the eve of “Huaxia fleet reshaping.”
By the time Xuan Chong was born, Nanyang great merchant groups no longer had the huge energy to influence the central government like in the Republic era—Republic fleet’s air squadrons were funded by Nanyang merchants.
Like an ecological circle Great Extinction, top of the food chain all wiped out. Remaining miniaturized relic species regressed to the initial state of “eating bugs, fruits, leaves.” Going to sea still copying “Yiwu” small commodities export; Eastern overseas merchants still purely holding account books, not holding sabers and spears.
Xian Han is different, equivalent to super great Sea Merchants like “Wang Zhi” and “Zheng Zhilong” on the main historical line surviving to modern times; they were active from the age of sail warships to today. These large carnivorous species in “ecological niches” are all there.
Although they withdrew from maritime main fleet decisive battle sequences, they didn’t abandon maritime business!
Since Heng Han, Hangzhou and Guangzhou are now truly world-class trade centers. The line of living off the sea has already formed scale effects.
This group of Sea Merchants is the social group in entire Xian Han most concerned about “sea power.” Nowadays, they continuously donate gold, while infiltrating Navy officers.
“For a nation to build a strong Navy, it needs a century of industrialization. But to build a system effectively feeding on ocean interests, it needs centuries of folk development.”
Xuan Chong holding a worn pen recorded on a small page, this small page will be posted in his captain’s cabin.
In his pre-transmigration student life, to cope with exams, afraid of forgetting things, he also posted such notes; and now, Xuan Chong on his portable notepad, recorded: “Sea Merchants’ attitude is the popular will of Southeast sea-eaters.”
…Observe “wind direction” to borrow momentum, but not be “swept up”…
Great Sea Merchants have a fish-water relationship with Xian Han’s Navy strategy. They will send the best enjoyed portion to Navy generals to share.
But they are large merchant capital groups, in acting style not as simple as fishermen in previous life. Any Navy generals not aligning with their line will face their covert sabotage.
These Great Sea Merchants all started from fishermen hundreds of years ago, behavioral logic is “reduce risk.”
Late Ming “Zheng Zhilong” that ultimate existence is an “international company” that can resist all risks; Western overseas companies of the same period inherited from Age of Discovery handling overseas small country business by hiring retired soldiers for security, mastering black hand forces that make most small country political family clans dare not completely break faces.
Don’t look at now, various dances, gentle villages offered! But after eating, taking, sleeping, if at key moments interests don’t align, the reins on the head tighten.
So a month later, Xuan Chong watching those young officers already taken by gentle villages, coming out holding up pants, as if seeing reins already on their necks.
In Xuan Chong’s eyes, these colleagues have become “not knowing what exactly is in their brains all day” stupid college student state.
No matter which era, no matter how high the education, or how high the social stratum; once males are trapped by lower body matters, body focused on secreting below, brain can’t turn, starts following others’ set routines, for their set.
Xuan Chong’s little brain obviously not trapped.
…What is the root of interests?…
Xuan Chong: Can Xian Han Navy maintain technical advantage? Currently, related industrial chains and regional economy, Xian Han’s sturdy ships and sharp cannons are superior.
Post-Industrial Revolution Xian Han has no maritime defense crisis; even Western barbarians’ best ship cannons can’t match Han Land homeland technology accumulation.
Nowadays entire Guangzhou-Zhuhai port’s shipbuilding industry is no less than any country in Europe;
Speaking of sail warship era, due to Xian Han lacking quality oak, maritime confrontations still suffered a bit.
But in ironclad ship era, various ship tonnages, just like local cockroaches, dare to compete first-rate in size.
Xian Han Fujian Guangdong area leads surrounding island nations in steel smelting industry and shipbuilding industry by a cliff.
Entire Nanyang is Fujian merchants’ back garden, similar to Europe treating Africa as resource refresh point, previous life North America treating South America as reserve.
Xuan Chong: But Xian Han Navy actually has “sudden decline” risk, because current confrontations are to cope with Eastern Shu this regional great enemy; once great enemy gone, will Sea Merchants still have enthusiasm to maintain fleet? Will they still be keen on investing in shipbuilding industry in Han Land?
…Finance’s liquidity will ultimately lead to betrayal…
Unlike Taixi maritime plunder, establishing slave trade points, Han merchants’ attitude in colonies is cunning rabbit three burrows.
After investigating Nanyang region’s Chinese-speaking circle expansion range, Xuan Chong discovered a shocking fact: Fujian culture has become a cultural circle no less than Central Plains, entire South China Sea region has become a super civilization circle no less than “Mediterranean.”
A “Rome” ring has formed in Nanyang. If now Lingnan and North split, this side’s volume is no less than Lianghuai economic circle.
After Xian Han established, central strengthened authority over all land places; Sea Merchants as groups mastering massive wealth, on one hand attach to officialdom, on the other expand in Nanyang; per Go rules, need to make two “living eyes.”
Sea Merchants now consistent with Xian Han Imperial Court on “Eastern Shu” strategic objective, have contradictions in other aspects.
Xuan Chong flipping history, found someone in court had foresight long ago.
Over two hundred years, every Sea Merchant established their “goods” fencing points in some villages in Nanyang localities, also dispatching clansmen to settle in these villages. These Nanyang villages also hung Sea Merchant flags. And the contacts left in local villages, by marrying locals, gradually became village elders.
Such overseas village establishment exceeds Imperial Court control, and court actually minds it.
Three hundred years ago, early Nanyang Age of Discovery, Sea Merchants don’t eat nest-edge grass, but easily eat others’ nest-edge grass. Occasionally some villages robbed, intolerable.
Han Calendar 1744, Nanyang great firefight begins; this firefight battle unlike Xuan Chong main world timeline late Ming, did not produce “Zheng Zhilong” that Southern Region sea power unifying monster.
At the time Xian Han court was strong period, and a Lingnan Governor who could speak in central appeared; this Governor at the most critical moment of Nanyang Sea Merchants great war, called to stop mutual attacks between Sea Merchants!
From later generations’ view, this Lingnan Governor was not for “avoiding bloodshed,” but once Nanyang Sea Merchants unify into a super monster, court would have tail too big to drop.
And court at the time was operating Western Regions, lacking finances, needing taxes, needing to collect from Southern Region Sea Merchants. So this Governor’s policy was adopted.
And Sea Merchants mutually didn’t want strife to spread to land, affecting family women and children. When court willing to mediate, mutually agreed on martial world rules: sea battles ok, but not allowed to harm families on shore. Otherwise unethical.
Various Great Sea Merchants after shaking hands in conference hosted by Governor, circled their shore contacts.
To occupy territory, they assigned elders who followed them conquering seas to various colonial points as “Baozhang.”
This belongs to enclosing land under court supervision, almost every long-standing coastal village in entire Nanyang has someone behind. Henceforth, per court divisions of South Ocean force ranges, divided into eight great Sea Merchant factions.
What, why called “Sea Merchants” not “sea pirates.”
Sea Merchants: Tsk tsk, child you are too naive! Victors kings losers bandits, uncle I capsized. You call me pirate, I don’t pick your courtesy, but now I pay taxes to court, supply provisions to court Navy’s various bases, you still call me thief! You want to get iron fist.
This Governor surnamed Zhou, Xuan Chong’s current fleet commander Zhou Xu is this gentleman’s descendant.
In Navy dormitory, after investigating a month, Xuan Chong closed notebook: logic loop closed, I know “why I was invited to join,” “who hopes I join,” “hope I join to participate in what.”
However Xuan Chong jumps out of the box, draws on map: “After Eastern Shu destroyed, shipbuilding industry likely to have a wave of transfer. This wave of industries, I need to think well, see if our family can eat this portion of ‘backward industries’.”
