“Lord, the harbor is just ahead! However, there are too many anchored ships, and it may take a while before we can enter the port.”
Upon hearing the report from the servant below, Chen Yue furrowed her brows slightly: “Isn’t this the New Harbor? Why are there so many ships?”
The servant, however, explained carefully: “I’ve inquired, and it seems that this harbor does not impose customs duties. Hence, there are numerous maritime merchants.”
Chen Yue was immediately surprised, no customs duties? Which official establishment would have a harbor without taxation? Even in Panyu, the levied Guanjin taxes are not a trivial amount. In Yang County’s Jinkou Dukou, aside from the Ke Shi Yi tax, there are also the Niudai tax and Hengdu tax. Could it be that this harbor is just a small one, with limited traffic, hence forsaking such a great profit?
This could directly impact his own interests, so Chen Yue promptly said, “Lower the small boat; I will enter the harbor first to take a look.”
Seasoned sailors manned the boat, and soon, Chen Yue boarded the small vessel. As they sailed around the bay and entered the seaport, upon seeing the scene before him, he couldn’t help but gasp. Was this really a small harbor? As far as the eye could see, masts were connected, and their number was countless. People were bustling like ants on the docks, unloading and loading cargo. The fully loaded ships had just left the port, and new ships were already taking their place.
This kind of harbor wasn’t much inferior to those in the southern regions!
Yet, this sight made Chen Yue even more uneasy, wishing to fly ashore immediately to investigate. A newly built harbor just a year ago, how could it have such a scale? No customs duties—could it be true?
Although the harbor was crowded with ships, Chen Yue’s small boat, being narrow, managed to squeeze ashore after a while. However, just as they stabilized and before they could discern the directions, a group of men swarmed around.
“Lord, are you here for trade? I am familiar with the dockworkers, unloading and loading cargo won’t be delayed!”
“Lord! I’m acquainted with the markets and alleys in the city. It’s better to hire someone!”
“Inspect the goods, secure lodgings, and there are mules available. Only five hundred coins…”
The voices were continuous, causing dizziness. Chen Yue finally understood that there were also recruiters in the harbor. Nevertheless, this was a good way to understand the local situation. Without hesitation, Chen Yue beckoned to a neatly dressed, articulate young man.
The man reacted swiftly and immediately ran over: “Lord, are you new to Haixing? I’m Wang Er, engaged in recruiting at the port for ten months, familiar with all the affairs in the city. We also have mule carts with fast travel. I accompany for a day, and it’s only five hundred coins!”
Five hundred coins, even for a small seafarer like Chen Yue, wouldn’t be taken seriously. After the servant handed over the money, he first inquired, “I heard that this place doesn’t impose customs duties. Is that true?”
Wang Er took the money, joy evident on his face, and immediately responded, “Ordinary goods are indeed duty-free! However, salt and iron can only be sold by the government. For imported items like spices, treasures, and other valuable goods, they probably collect around eight hundred coins for every ten thousand coins.”
For spices and other highly valuable items, considering their priceless worth, this tax rate is really negligible. Not to mention ordinary goods being exempt from taxes. No wonder it has attracted so many merchants and travelers! The proximity to Jieshi and Huanggang isn’t far, and drawing knowledgeable seafarers isn’t really difficult.
“What about other expenses?” Chen Yue asked again.
“The harbor’s ferry boats require payment, calculated based on the size of the ships, daily. Loading and unloading of goods also incur charges,” Wang Er, with his nimble tongue, swiftly listed the costs for different-sized vessels. Chen Yue roughly calculated; it was less than thirty percent of the usual customs duties, and these expenses, incurred at other ports, would still be significant savings.
“If the business is negotiated well, and both ships load and unload simultaneously, wouldn’t it cost only this much?” Chen Yue’s voice couldn’t help but rise. If that were the case, this shipping route was indeed a great opportunity!
“That’s right!” Wang Er chuckled. “Countless ships load and unload here every day. If the deal is settled, there’s no need to stop for more than a day!”
“And what if the goods can’t be sold and need storage?” Chen Yue asked again.
“There are many mansions in the city where goods can be stored!” Wang Er immediately replied. “The government-run Market Mansions are the largest, with security, and their prices are fair. However, they’re mostly occupied, and not easy to secure a place. Private mansions are pricier, but they can provide lodging for merchants, which is very convenient.”
“Do they also have government-run mansions here?” Chen Yue was greatly surprised.
Wang Er laughed heartily, “Lord, you may not know, but the city’s land is leased at high prices, making it not cheap. Therefore, the government has the most mansions. Only those wealthy clients can build mansions, and some businesses simply don’t rent out their premises.”
In just a few words, the city’s situation was explained, but none of it was something Chen Yue had heard before. Intrigued, Chen Yue couldn’t help but say, “Where is your cart? Take me into the city first.”
Wang Er briskly agreed and quickly brought a small cart. The mule looked quite robust, and the cart was clean. Chen Yue got on the cart, with the servant following behind, and they headed towards the city.
Indeed, this could be considered a city. Just under a mile west from the harbor, there were continuous warehouses, and the market extended further to the east. There were still many open spaces, all bustling with the construction of buildings. In just a few months, a city seemed to have sprung up from the flat ground, and the signs of prosperity were already emerging.
Chen Yue couldn’t take his eyes off the scenery, and his excitement surged. He had traveled to many places, but after years of continuous wars in the northern regions, when was the last time he had seen such a situation? Even Luoyang’s gold, horses, and the Southern Three Markets probably didn’t compare!
Casually driving the mule, Wang Er asked, “Where does Lord Chen want to go first?”
“To buy and sell goods, where is it?” Chen Yue inquired.
“If it’s in large quantities, you can go to the East Market. For smaller transactions, everything is in Denghai Tower. This tower is a unique attraction in our Haixing City, and the food there is extremely delicious; you shouldn’t miss it!” Wang Er immediately praised.
Chen Yue secretly smiled; could it be that Denghai Tower was paying these recruiters? Even so, they are putting in quite an effort to attract customers.
But Wang Er seemed to know what he was thinking: “Lord, don’t underestimate me, a rough person like me. I am well aware of the fluctuations in goods prices in the city. I wonder what kind of goods Lord brought this time?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Chen Yue said, “Just some raw silk, tea, and tung oil.”
Wang Er slapped his thigh, “Don’t bring too much raw silk; prices have slipped sharply now. Tung oil is on the rise; it should fetch a good price. By the way, did you bring any grain?”
Hearing the drop in raw silk prices, Chen Yue’s heart cooled considerably. This item could be sold well anywhere, so he had brought quite a bit. Tung oil wasn’t brought in large quantities. If that were the case, profits might be limited. But about the grain…
“How about it? Is the price of grain high in the city?” Chen Yue asked. As a small seafarer, how could he engage in grain trade? Even if the prices were high, there wouldn’t be much profit.
“Lord might not know. The price of grain in Haixing City is the most stable, set by the government. Profit may seem not much, but when transporting grain to a certain limit, you can get a share of the procurement quota for white porcelain and glassware. Back then, the Wu family relied on this to snatch away a large shipment of attractive goods.” As if remembering the glory of that deal, Wang Er sighed, “If there’s no grain, and you want to buy official goods, you have to use silk and gold, and the price will be much higher.”
Chen Yue was surprised, “Can’t you use money?”
“They are all valuable items; how much money would be enough?” Wang Er clicked his tongue, “In Haixing City, money is just for daily expenses.”
Bartering goods for goods was indeed a method favored by seafarers. But where else could it be done so straightforwardly as in this New Harbor? Chen Yue’s mind stirred again; it seems the local government is guarding against people using inferior money. Currently, there is still a considerable amount of Dong Zhuo’s small currency circulating, with at least three or four different types, not to mention those counterfeit coins. If they can avoid haggling over this matter, it would be a good thing.
However, those sought-after goods from Bing County could only be exchanged with grain, silk, and gold, which wasn’t good news for Chen Yue. His financial situation wasn’t particularly abundant, and it might be difficult to reach. It’s better to first see how to sell the things on his ship.
With a rough plan in mind, Chen Yue had Wang Er take him to the East Market first. Although the land prices were not low, the shops here were quite sizable, likely owned by prominent families. The purchase price for raw silk was indeed as low as Wang Er had mentioned. Many merchants probably carried their goods for stability, inadvertently lowering the market price. Tea and tung oil were still reasonably priced, but the quantities on his ship weren’t substantial enough to reach the desired figures.
After checking several shops, Chen Yue shifted his focus and headed to Denghai Tower. Upon arriving, he was immediately amazed by the lively scene. Both inside and outside the tower, many servants held signs indicating the goods they wanted to sell or buy. If interested, one could enter the shop and negotiate with the owner. Valuable maritime goods were being traded in this manner, a method Chen Yue had never seen before. If one fell victim to deception, wouldn’t it mean losing everything?
However, after careful inquiry, Chen Yue understood. It turned out that finalizing a deal here allowed one to go to the government to obtain a contract document, witnessed by the authorities on both sides of the transaction. The contract document, of course, incurred a tax, but it wasn’t too high—only four hundred coins for ten thousand coins. The seller paid three, and the buyer paid one. Compared to the usual ten percent tax, it was much cheaper. Without delay, Chen Yue immediately entered the tower. In just half a day, he found the seller and cleared the entire cargo on his ship.
Subsequently, without stopping, Chen Yue swiftly negotiated the return shipment of goods. In addition to the silk produced in Bing County, there were also hides and furs. With winter approaching, these items would sell well when transported to the southern regions.
After deducting the round-trip expenses, the profit from the cargo ship surprisingly increased by thirty percent compared to usual! This number truly made one’s heart pound. In high spirits, Chen Yue rewarded Wang Er with an additional five hundred coins.
Wang Er grinned with his eyes almost closed, repeatedly saying, “Lord Chen is sure to make a fortune, and business will prosper! By the way, I heard that Bing County is about to hold a scientific examination. Wouldn’t Lord Chen want to explore that? It won’t take much time by boat. You should know that Bing County is the most thriving region in our northern territories!”
“Bing County is not close to here…” Chen Yue hesitated a bit. He had too few people with him, and even if he traveled by water, he might not be able to protect himself. What if they encountered bandits, leaving him with nothing?
Seemingly aware of his concerns, Wang Er laughed and said, “Lord, you worry too much. Nowadays, no one dares to rob merchant convoys in Ji County. Their heads are hanging at the city gate. Even if someone gets greedy, how many heads can they have?”
“What?” Chen Yue’s eyes lit up at his words. “Is that true?”
“How could it be false?” Wang Er snorted. “Moreover, the grain convoy is about to head to the county seat these days. If you miss this opportunity, you’ll have to wait for another half a month.”
The daily delivery of grain and forage to Haixing Harbor was a staggering number that couldn’t all be stored in the city. It had to be transported along the river to various states in the northern regions. How could the size of the convoy be small? Therefore, many merchants wanted to take advantage of this opportunity and travel with the grain convoy. It was not only safe but also presented numerous business opportunities.
Truly tempted, Chen Yue bit his lip and ordered his trusted subordinate to take the ship southward first, and he, along with some servants and goods that might be sold, followed behind the grain convoy.
When they walked out of the city gate and saw the vast, newly paved sandstone road beneath their feet, the last bit of unease in Chen Yue’s heart vanished completely. They had built such a good road just to deliver goods from the harbor to the ferry crossing! Ji County, and indeed the entire northern region, truly valued trade!
What would it be like in Bing County? It was rumored that the Duke of Liang in Bing County was a person with extraordinary financial acumen. Not to mention goods such as paper from Shangdang, white porcelain, and glassware; just looking at the new harbor in Haixing, it could already rival the achievements of Taozhu Fan Li!
Filled with anticipation and excitement, mingled in the vast merchant caravan, Chen Yue, along the sandstone road, embarked on the journey to Bing County.
