Japan, which is undergoing profound changes unseen in two thousand years, is slowly changing in a bizarre chaos.

After a few days, Hong Jing came to understand so clearly.

The first point is that the so-called idea of ​​nationalism has not yet sprouted. Everyone who interacts with me never calls me Japanese. Instead, I call myself Satsuma, Hayato, and Kagoshima. Businessmen from other places also call themselves Nagasaki and Osaka.

People say so.

There is not even a ghost of any imperial citizens. Even the idea of ​​unifying the country is not the consensus of the entire society. Most people above the "human" class think that all major celebrities

Divide and conquer is an inherent ritual.

The second is a common existence. Although the social system of feudalism is still relatively stable, people from all walks of life are dissatisfied with the non-circulable status hierarchy, and even there are uncontrollable waverings within the samurai.

Although heroes come from all over the world in troubled times, there is not much market for the idea that if you have a gun, you are a grass-headed king. However, the dissatisfaction of wealthy farmers and businessmen with their low political status, and the dissatisfaction of lower-class samurai with the blocked channels for advancement are all obvious.

This country is longing for change, but no real visionary people have emerged yet!

Everything is budding!

Hong Jinglai and North Korea still have plenty of opportunities to proactively get involved in the trend of world capitalism and catch up.

"Master Hong seems to be doing a lot of research these days." Liu Chengyong seemed to have been waiting for a long time when he saw Hong Jing coming back to the library.

"I do have some understanding." Liu Chengyong must have something to do with him, otherwise he wouldn't be waiting here. Hong Jinglai followed him into the house in a leisurely manner.

The two of them sat down, with no one else around. Liu Chengyong took off the kettle from the fire pit and poured a cup of hot tea for Hong Jing.

"Lord Hong, as the judge of Dongnae who handles all the large and small islands off the coast of Gyeongsang and is also in charge of preparing Japanese troops, he must have some hope in taking the initiative to travel to Japan, right?"

The light in the room is a little dark, the candlelight is flickering, and there is a flickering candlelight blown by the wind.

Liu Chengyong, a businessman, asked Hong Jinglai a question about such a sensitive topic. To be honest, this was over, but Hong Jinglai didn't feel offended because he was sure that Liu Chengyong had something to say.

"Liu Dafang asked me this, what do you want to teach me?"

"I see that your Excellency is particularly concerned about the east and west oceans and the barbarians on the left and right. Could it be that you belong to the Northern School?"

"Really looking forward to it!"

"I think that before I failed in the imperial examination, I did not return home to prepare for the examination, but went to Yanjing. It must have been to pursue Western learning."

"It has something to do with it."

"Nowadays, there are six large mills along the Han River, all of which use steam engines. It is said that Min Lingjian brought them back from the Qing Dynasty. In fact, your Excellency must have promoted them a lot."

Hong Jinglai knew that the meaty show was coming, so he smiled and nodded, silent, and looked at Liu Chengyong to continue speaking.

"Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold, the Dutch merchant merchant in Nagasaki, has a good relationship with me. Would you like to meet him?" [Note 1]

I know you Laishang must have hooked up with more than just Japanese people!

In North Korea, a country known as the "hermit country", how could it be possible that Lai merchants, who had the right to sail ships openly and openly, could only trade safely with a few Japanese daimyo.

Since we have been to Kanazawa and Toyama as far away as Hokurikudo, there is no reason why we should know nothing about the Nagasaki Dutch who are just around the corner.

If you say this, no one will believe it!

Everyone was doing business in Nagasaki, and it was the most normal thing to meet and hook up with a few Dutch people without looking up or down.

It’s not that Hong Jinglai doesn’t know foreigners, Shekov is a foreign friend of our Lord Hong. However, this Shekov is serving as a cavalry captain under the Far East Governor and has no hope of returning to St. Petersburg.

Not to mention that Tsarist Russia is still a thoroughly agricultural country, and serfdom is firmly rooted in the soil of Tsarist Russia. It is absolutely impossible to understand the latest scientific and technological developments in the West, the progress of industrial civilization, etc.

Those activists in Russia either went to Siberia to plant potatoes or went to the barracks in Kronstadt to eat army sticks. How could they have any chance of spreading the news to Hong Jinglai?

As for the Dutch, although they have been reduced to a second- or even third-rate country due to four consecutive Anglo-Dutch wars and France's successive invasions of the Netherlands, they are ultimately in the center of Western Europe, a place where all directions converge.

Whenever there are any new discoveries or new technologies in Europe, the Netherlands can always get first-hand or second-hand information. If Hong Jinglai can get in touch with the Dutch, there will naturally be many benefits.

As for the Napoleonic War and France's complete annexation of the Netherlands, this should not affect the annihilation of technology.

"That's very good, hahahaha. Liu Dafang made such arrangements, I..." Thinking about it this way, there is nothing bad about Hong Jinglai in this matter.

As for communicating with foreign countries or colluding with barbarians?

Besides Hong Jinglai, is there another official or scholar in Korea who would run all the way to Nagasaki to find the Dutch?

"It's just a matter of personal responsibility. Your Excellency is responsible for taking care of the foreign countries, and you should be knowledgeable about all the foreign countries."

"In this case, during my term of office, Lai merchants will have 40 overseas licenses. You can give them to me and I will sign them first."

"No, no, no, I'm not looking for temporary gains. I have a bright future. I just hope that I can support you more in the future."

After speaking, Liu Chengyong took out a handwritten redemption ticket, and it actually said two hundred taels of red gold!

"Too expensive!"

"How about the official debt given to the lord by someone with a small power?"

Everyone had said this, so Hong Jinglai no longer hesitated, accepted the cashed ticket and stuffed it into his pocket.

Then Liu Chengyong went out and shouted, and not long after, a clerk from Laishang led the Shimadzu samurai who had disembarked from the ship to trade.

"Theoretically speaking, it is not etiquette not to mention names, but adults should know that we are in a foreign country after all..."

"Well, it's always inevitable..."

"This samurai-sama serves as the envoy of the Satsuma Kingdom and is permanently stationed in Bozu. He is considered a person who can communicate with others."

Being able to communicate means that it can be negotiated. To put it more deeply, it doesn't mean that as long as you can make money, there is absolutely no bottom line. At least it is better than the rigid feudalism that is stuck in its own ways and follows the old ways.

"What does Liu Dafang mean by this?"

"Your Excellency, you should have made it clear through your investigations in the past few days. The poor people in Satsuma Domain are poor and they must find a way out."

"Yeah?" Hong Jinglai nodded and motioned for him to continue.

"There are thousands of islands off the coast of Gyeongsang. Can you, sir, designate a small one as a resting place for trade?"

"I can only serve for three years. What can I accomplish in three years?"

"If you do well, you can become rich in three years!" Liu Chengyong took out a small bag of tips from his arms.
Chapter completed!