Originally, they thought that they would only be able to see the passing ships at dawn and contact them so that they could help pass on the news. However, when they were having a bonfire barbecue by the sea, a few beams of light shone over from the sea, making their eyes hurt.
Suddenly, two of the lights were missing. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan sighed at the same time.
"What's that? Why are two of the lights not shining?" Xiaobei asked as she rummaged through her bag for the binoculars.
"It's broken," Zhang Xiaobao explained to his sister, "The big searchlight is not very good because of the technology."
"It's a military ship belonging to the Tang Empire. Merchant ships don't have this equipment. Send a telegram. We can contact them now." Wang Juan immediately determined who the ship belonged to.
At this time, only the Tang Empire had such technology. There was no need to worry that it was a ship from another country.
Sure enough, once the telegram was sent, they received a reply very quickly. There was a gunship and a supply ship on the other side. They were on a routine patrol. When they saw countless bonfires by the sea, they shone. If there was no signal from the radio, the ship would send a small boat to check.
Now, there was no need to worry about the danger of being hit by the reefs by the sea. The two ships received orders and sailed towards the nearest lighthouse.
As long as they could contact the lighthouse, other problems would not be a problem. Soon, ships would be dispatched.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan only had to wait for the ships to gather here in a few days. Then, they could take a ride back together. They also had to organize the things they brought.
They had passed through the territory of India, so naturally, they would not be traveling empty-handed. Instead, they would meet the locals and trade with them.
The method of trade was not barter. Instead, they directly paid with money. Using the Tang Empire's money was a hard currency. Any place that had trade with the Tang Empire was willing to use the Tang Empire's money.
This was because when the Tang Empire's merchants went to other places, they would use a very high exchange rate to exchange goods with the locals. The other reason was that they would slightly lower the price of their goods so that the other party would use the Tang Empire's money to buy them. However, they would rarely use the Tang Empire's money to buy other people's goods, unless the other party's goods were very good, such as pearls, gold, and other expensive luxury goods.
This had a consequence. The Tang Empire's money was very valuable outside. The Great Tang also exported many low-tech but high-quality products. As long as one used the currency of the Great Tang, one could row a boat to the Great Tang and buy things in the Great Tang. After returning to one's country or tribe, one could make a fortune.
The technological and military powers were so direct in their exploitation of the weaker countries that they didn't even need to set up trade barriers. But the Great Tang still had export tariffs, not import tariffs, so there was no need to worry about the primary products or raw materials of other places affecting the industries of the Great Tang.
Exports were different. The Great Tang's goods were of high quality and also contained a certain level of skill. When other countries came to buy them, they would add an export tax, but the Great Tang didn't care. They would take the goods back to their own country and put this tax into the cost of the goods so that the buyer could bear the cost.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan knew this, and they understood it very well. For example, when they bought luxury goods overseas, such as leather bags, the country added an export tax, and when they reached the domestic market, they added an import tax. It looked very expensive, but people still fought to buy it.
The value of the raw materials and labor time was not very high. The high price was due to the brand effect. It seemed that with such luxury goods, one's status would also be raised.
Zhang Xiaobao bought many luxury goods, including yachts and planes, which were necessary for his profession. Wang Juan didn't wear or wear any branded goods. Her clothes were specially made for her by someone in her family, and there was no brand on her clothes. Even if she just tied a piece of cloth around her neck, others would praise her for her beautiful scarf.
But not everyone could be like her. If they couldn't use their status to increase the value of the goods, they had to use the value of the goods to increase their status.
The countries and regions that had dealings with the Great Tang were like this. The cost of the raw materials was not important. What was important was that it came from the Great Tang.
Xiaobei rummaged through her bag, but she didn't find the binoculars. Instead, she found a fist-sized rough diamond that had not been cut or processed.
She looked at the bonfire and praised, "It's so cheap. What a big diamond. It's only worth 40 strings of coins. If you take it back, you can make at least 500 glass knives."
Xiaohai next to her sighed and said, "I asked you to study mathematics, but you didn't work hard. Such a big diamond can make at least 3,000 glass knives. If the craftsmanship is good, the number can be increased."
"Isn't that a fortune?" Xiaoqiang poked his head and echoed.
"Let me see how much a glass knife costs." Xiao Nan also joined in the fun.
Xu Yilong looked envious, hesitated for a moment, and negotiated, "When we go back, I will exchange 10,000 glass knives with you, okay?"
"Are you stupid or do you think we are fools? We are just saying. Do you really think we will use this diamond to make a glass knife? "Xiaobei questioned Xu Yilong discontentedly.
"I heard you say that you want to make a glass knife."
"You believe it when you hear it? Didn't you also buy two pieces? When you go back, you will be rich. Remember to pay back the money, 10% interest. According to the daily calculation, you borrowed a total of 220 strings of coins from us and bought a lot of things, right? "
Xiaobei mentioned that Xu Yilong borrowed money. Xu Yilong didn't have money with her. She followed the team and didn't spend money on food and drinks. When she was trading with others, she had to borrow money from Xiaobei.
She borrowed 220 strings of coins and bought a lot of good things in the local area. After going back, the value could increase by nearly 300 times after processing. Now she just wanted to get home quickly.
"Yes, yes, 10% interest." Xu Yilong replied, while still calculating in her heart, but she couldn't figure out how much it would be in a few dozen days.
"It's good that you admit it. Let me remind you first, Brother Xiaohai. If it's a hundred days, then you need to pay more than 13,780 times the 220 strings of coins." Xiaobei said to Xu Yilong with a smile.
Xu Yilong's face was bitter, and she nodded, "It won't be a hundred days. It's been fifteen days since I borrowed the money. As soon as I set foot on the territory of the Tang Empire, I will immediately find a bank to give you the money. It's estimated that it will take less than 50 days. How much is 50 days?"
As she spoke, she looked at Xiaohai.
Xiaohai frowned, found a branch, and drew on the ground. After drawing twice, he shook his head and took out an abacus from his bag. After a few dozen breaths, he said to Xu Yilong, "50 days, 10% interest rolling every day. It's 117.39 times."
Xu Yilong couldn't say anything, she just stuck out her thumb and gestured to Xiaohai.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also looked at their younger brother Xiaohai with gratification. They knew how to do it, but they weren't as proficient as Xiaohai, nor were they as fast.
Of course, what made the two of them even happier was that their younger brother, Xiao Hai, was indeed very talented in mathematics. However, he was not stupid. If he only had numbers and formulas in his mind all day long, the two of them would take coercive measures.
When Xu Yilong heard that 50 days was more than a hundred times, her heart relaxed. A hundred times was bearable. At most, it would be 30,000 strings of cash, which was better than a hundred days of 13,000 strings of cash.
Although her family couldn't take out 30,000 strings of cash, she could immediately run to the bank after going ashore, mortgage her things, and take out the money to pay back Xiaobei and the others. If the price of the loan was very low, she could also use her family's reputation to lend, or even borrow from others.
No matter how she looked at it, it was more cost-effective than owing Xiaobei and the others money. The interest was too high, and it was even compounded.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan didn't care about the deal between Xu Yilong and her younger brothers and sisters. They believed that the little guys wouldn't deliberately cheat Xu Yilong. They must have calculated the time before going back. If it took a hundred days, the interest would definitely not be so high.
Regarding this transaction, the two were more happy and gratified. Were Xiaobei and the others short of money? Of course not. Now they were worried about how to make good use of the money, not to earn more money, but to improve the lives of the children of Tang Empire.
Giving Xu Yilong an interest meant that the little guys were sensible. Directly borrowing 220 strings of cash or giving the money to Xu Yilong was nothing.
But that way, Xu Yilong would lose a sense of achievement. When he returned to the country, people in his circle would look down on him, thinking that he took advantage of Xiaobei and the others, and not his own ability.
According to the current situation, Xu Yilong's decision to take the risk was based on his own judgment and choice. When he went back, he could pat his chest and say to the people in the circle that he took the risk with such high interest. He believed in his own judgment.
In this way, the old man Xu Jian would be happy.
This time, they didn't fight to their heart's content, but they earned a lot of money. Along the way through India, except for the tribes they took in before, the others all made deals with the Indians.
The method of trading was to first take the money to buy the local good things, and then sell the unfinished canned food and other consumables to the locals who just got the money. The selling was not very expensive, half the price of the merchants.
Anyway, the things couldn't be used up, and they were worthless when they returned.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's team waited for six days before they gathered the ships that could take them back. Some of them were ships that had just come out of Tang Empire for long-distance trade. They carried things on board and unloaded them. A few people were left behind to trade with the local people with the cooperation of the guards, so that the empty ship could take Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan back.
There were also merchant ships that had been outside for countless days and were going back to Tang Empire with goods. They also unloaded the goods and put them in the local area first. After sending Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's team back, they would make a short trip.
No one mentioned compensation. It was all voluntary.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also didn't mention the national compensation. They wrote down every merchant ship, and when they returned, they would specifically provide the people on the merchant ships with good methods or technologies.
The people from the tribes that followed the team back to Tang Empire finally felt what it meant to be a strong country.
Especially the leader of the original tribe, Seimo Domo He, he knew what this represented. This was the unity of a country. If it was his own tribe or country, such a situation would never happen. Unless there was a threat of force, who would be willing to give up their own interests so easily?
"It seems that Tang Empire will soon occupy all the surrounding areas. At least, I will be able to see it when I am alive. So strong."
When Seimo Domo He came to the ship and saw the people on the ship looking at Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's team with happy expressions, he sighed with emotion.
There is one more chapter today, and the following chapter does not count the number of words in the main text.
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